A picture decoder decodes P frames without having to wait for a next I frame even if a data loss occurs, and ensures quick recovery from degraded picture quality. The picture decoder sends decoding status information on received coded data to a coder. This makes it possible for the picture coder to perform coding using a frame, successfully decoded by the decoder, as a reference frame. Also, the picture decoder according to the present invention saves in frame memory a frame that is likely to be used as the reference frame, decreasing a probability that received coded data cannot be decoded because there is no reference picture in frame memory and thus increasing coding efficiency. This also keeps the reference frame memory size of the picture decoder to a minimum.