ENCODING METHOD, DECODING METHOD, TRANSMISSION METHOD, DECODING DEVICE, ENCODING DEVICE, TRANSMISSION DEVICE

The encoding method includes an encoding process of encoding a bit sequence to be transmitted, into a symbol sequence. The symbol sequence includes a plurality of symbols each having a signal level to which any one of 2n different values is allocated. n is an integer equal to or larger than 1. The encoding process includes encoding the bit sequence to be transmitted into the symbol sequence so that the symbol sequence does not include one or more prohibited patterns. The one or more prohibited patterns include one or more specific patterns which are one or more of patterns representing transition of signal levels of three or more consecutive symbols. The one or more specific patterns include one or more patterns in which signal levels of any two adjacent symbols of the three or more consecutive symbols are different values.