When sao_split_param(x, y, Depth) indicates that the SAO application unit should be additionally divided, pqao_split-param indicates whether to additionally divide the SAO application unit for each divided region. In that whether to divide the SAO application unit at the corresponding depth is indicated, the syntax sao_split_param may be used again for the divided regions instead of the syntax pqao_split-param, where the depth of the indicated region may be changed. For example, when the region of which division will be indicated and the depth thereof are (x0, y0, saoDepth) in indicating whether to divide a region for applying the SAO and sao_split_param(x0, y0, saoDepth) indicates that the corresponding region (x0, y0) should be divided, the depth may be adjusted to “saoDepth+1” and whether to divide the divided regions (x0+0, y0+0), (x0+0, y0+1), (x0+1, y0+0), and (x0+1, y0+1) may be indicated again.
Table 6 schematically shows an example of a syntax structure for applying sao_split_param to the divided regions again.