Patent attributes
This invention provides a coding method and apparatus capable of increasing the coding efficiency. According to this invention, an image processing apparatus which performs predictive coding using image data of a different frame as a reference picture includes a prediction unit which performs motion compensated prediction for each reference picture in at least one reference list formed from a set of reference pictures for prediction, a reference list update unit which updates the reference list by adding or deleting the reference picture, a reference counter unit which measures, for each reference picture, a count at which the reference picture is used for motion compensation predictive coding, and an update picture determination unit which determines a reference picture to be updated in the reference list by using the measurement result of the reference counter unit.
