The entropy coding of a current part of a predetermined entropy slice is based on, not only, the respective probability estimations of the predetermined entropy slice as adapted using the previously coded part of the predetermined entropy slice, but also probability estimations as used in the entropy coding of a spatially neighboring, in entropy slice order preceding entropy slice at a neighboring part thereof. Thereby, the probability estimations used in entropy coding are adapted to the actual symbol statistics more closely, thereby lowering the coding efficiency decrease normally caused by lower-delay concepts. Temporal interrelationships are exploited additionally or alternatively.

The entropy coding of a current part of a predetermined entropy slice is based on, not only, the respective probability estimations of the predetermined entropy slice as adapted using the previously coded part of the predetermined entropy slice, but also probability estimations as used in the entropy coding of a spatially neighboring, in entropy slice order preceding entropy slice at a neighboring part thereof. Thereby, the probability estimations used in entropy coding are adapted to the actual symbol statistics more closely, thereby lowering the coding efficiency decrease normally caused by lower-delay concepts. Temporal interrelationships are exploited additionally or alternatively.

Aspects of the disclosure provide a method and an apparatus including processing circuitry for video decoding. The processing circuitry is configured to decode coding information for a current block. The coding information can indicate that the current block is coded in a string copy mode. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a string vector (SV) and a string length of a current string in the current block based on the coding information. The string length can be N3 times L where N3 and L are positive integers, and L is larger than 1. The processing circuitry is configured to reconstruct the current string based on the SV and the string length of the current string. In an example, the current block is a luma block and L is 4.

Aspects of the disclosure provide a method and an apparatus including processing circuitry for video decoding. The processing circuitry is configured to decode coding information for a current block. The coding information can indicate that the current block is coded in a string copy mode. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a string vector (SV) and a string length of a current string in the current block based on the coding information. The string length can be N3 times L where N3 and L are positive integers, and L is larger than 1. The processing circuitry is configured to reconstruct the current string based on the SV and the string length of the current string. In an example, the current block is a luma block and L is 4.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for ordering, communicating and applying pixel intra-prediction modes.

A better compromise between encoding complexity and achievable rate distortion ratio, and/or to achieve a better rate distortion ratio is achieved by using multitree sub-divisioning not only in order to subdivide a continuous area, namely the sample array, into leaf regions, but using the intermediate regions also to share coding parameters among the corresponding collocated leaf blocks. By this measure, coding procedures performed in tiles—leaf regions—locally, may be associated with coding parameters individually without having to, however, explicitly transmit the whole coding parameters for each leaf region separately. Rather, similarities may effectively exploited by using the multitree subdivision.

A better compromise between encoding complexity and achievable rate distortion ratio, and/or to achieve a better rate distortion ratio is achieved by using multitree sub-divisioning not only in order to subdivide a continuous area, namely the sample array, into leaf regions, but using the intermediate regions also to share coding parameters among the corresponding collocated leaf blocks. By this measure, coding procedures performed in tiles—leaf regions—locally, may be associated with coding parameters individually without having to, however, explicitly transmit the whole coding parameters for each leaf region separately. Rather, similarities may effectively exploited by using the multitree subdivision.

An image processing apparatus, including processing circuitry configured to decode a bit stream to generate quantized data. The bit stream includes a flag, for each block, that specifies whether or not a difference quantization parameter is present in the bit stream. The flag is included in a first layer that is higher than a second layer in which the difference quantization parameter is set. The processing circuitry is configured to set, according to the flag, a current quantization parameter for a current sub block formed by block partitioning, which splits a block into smaller sub blocks. The processing circuitry is configured to inversely quantize the generated quantized data using the set current quantization parameter.

An image processing apparatus, including processing circuitry configured to decode a bit stream to generate quantized data. The bit stream includes a flag, for each block, that specifies whether or not a difference quantization parameter is present in the bit stream. The flag is included in a first layer that is higher than a second layer in which the difference quantization parameter is set. The processing circuitry is configured to set, according to the flag, a current quantization parameter for a current sub block formed by block partitioning, which splits a block into smaller sub blocks. The processing circuitry is configured to inversely quantize the generated quantized data using the set current quantization parameter.

A method or coding image information, according to the present invention, comprises the steps of: binarizing according to different techniques, index values of forward prediction, backward prediction, and bidirectional prediction, depending on whether the bidirectional prediction is applied when inter-predicting a current block; and entropy coding a binarized codeword, wherein whether to apply the bidirectional prediction when inter-predicting the current block can be determined on the basis of the size of the current block. As a result, provided are a method for binarizing an inter-prediction direction of a prediction unit having a specific size, and an apparatus using same.