BigPatents India

An image coding method includes a step of dividing an input image signal corresponding to one picture into a plurality of pixel block signals, a predictive image signal generating step of performing intra prediction for extrapolating a prediction pixel in a direction defined every plural prediction modes using reference pixels changed in number according to a distance between the prediction pixel and an encoded reference pixel to generate a predictive image signal and prediction mode information, a step of calculating a prediction error signal from the pixel block signal and the predictive image signal, a step of selecting one prediction mode of the plural prediction modes using the prediction error signal, and a step of encoding the image signal using the prediction error signal based on the selected prediction mode. No. of Pages : 112 No. of Claims : 28