The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing an intra prediction mode for 4×4 blocks and 8×8 blocks in the H.264 standard;

FIG. 2 is a view describing a pixel prediction process in a vertical mode;

FIG. 3 is a view describing a pixel prediction process in a horizontal mode;

FIG. 4 is a block view illustrating a moving picture encoding apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a conventional zigzag scanning;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a horizontal preference scanning in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a vertical preference scanning in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart describing a moving picture encoding method using adaptive scanning in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart describing an adaptive scanning in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and