Method and apparatus for region-based moving image encoding and decoding

Abstract

In partitioning and encoding an image into multiple regions, the degree of freedom of the region shape has generally been low and setting regions based on image features was difficult. A moving image encoding apparatus includes a region partitioning section, an encoder, and a memory for motion-compensated prediction. The region partitioning section includes a partitioning processing section and an integration processing section. The partitioning processing section partitions the input image based on a criterion relating to the state of partition. The integration processing section integrates mutually close regions based on a criterion relating to the state of integration. Thereafter, each region is encoded. A large variety of region shapes can be produced by the integration processing section.

1 . A moving image decoding apparatus for decoding encoded data of an image which is input, the image being encoded after being partitioned into a plurality of regions, the apparatus comprising: 
 a region shape decoding section for restoring a shape of each region which is partitioned during encoding based on region shape information contained in the encoded data; and    an image data decoding section for specifying the order in which the regions are encoded based on the shape of each region which has been restored and then decoding the encoded data to derive an image of each region therefrom.