The invention provides an encoding method, a decoding method, and a
bitstream transmission method. In an encoding method, an image is encoded to generate encoded data, a bit
stream including the encoded data is generated, the bit
stream includes a parameter, a second parameter, a third parameter, a first identifier, and a second identifier, the parameter indicating whether or not a plurality of
layers are allowed is set to a value indicating that the plurality of
layers are not allowed, and the value indicating whether or not the plurality of
layers are allowed is set to a value indicating that the plurality of layers are not allowed. In a plurality of
network abstraction layer units (NAL units) in an encoded
video sequence, the first identifier identifying a layer to which the NAL units belong is set to the same value, and the second identifier indicating whether or not to refer to a video parameter set (VPS) is set to either a value indicating that the VPS is not referred to or a value different from the value indicating that the VPS is not referred to. The third parameter indicating the maximum number of layers in the
bitstream is set to 0, thereby being set to a value indicating that the maximum number of layers is 1, and the second parameter indicating the maximum number of sub-layers is referred to.