Methods and apparatus for multi-view video coding

Abstract

There are provided methods and apparatus for multi-view video coding. A video encoder includes an encoder for encoding a block in a picture by choosing between temporal prediction and cross-view prediction to enable a prediction for the block. The picture is one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respects to a same or similar scene. The picture represents one of the different view points. A high-level syntax is used to indicate the use of cross-view prediction for the block.

1 . A video encoding method, comprising: encoding a block in a picture, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing a current one of the different view points, characterized by using at least one of two cross-view reference picture lists for encoding the block, the two cross-view reference picture lists corresponding to reference pictures having at least one of the different view points other than the current one ( 365 ), wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and view identifiers corresponding to the crossview reference pictures are indicated in the bitstream for each of the two reference picture lists, and wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and the view identifiers corresponding to the cross-view reference pictures are indicated in a slice header, and wherein said encoding includes at least one buffer for storing reconstructed pictures corresponding to multi-view content for different view points of a same or similar scene. 
     
     
         2 . A video decoding method, comprising: decoding ( 435 ,  445 ) a block in a picture, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing a current one of the different view points, characterized by using at least one of two cross-view reference picture lists, for decoding the block, the two cross-view reference picture lists corresponding to reference pictures having at least one of the different view points other than the current one, wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and view identifiers corresponding to the cross-view reference pictures are indicated in the bitstream for each of the two reference picture lists, and wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and the view identifiers corresponding to the cross-view reference pictures are indicated in a slice header, and wherein said encoding includes at least one buffer for storing reconstructed pictures corresponding to multi-view content for different view points of a same or similar scene. 
     
     
         3 . A video encoder, comprising:
 an encoder ( 100 ) for encoding a block in a picture, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing a current one of the different view points, characterized in that the encoder uses at least one of two reference picture lists for encoding the block, the two reference picture lists corresponding to reference pictures having at least one of the different view points other than the current one, wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and view identifiers corresponding to the cross-view reference pictures are indicated in the bitstream for each of the two reference picture lists, and wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and the view identifiers corresponding to the cross-view reference pictures are indicated in a slice header, and wherein said encoding includes at least one buffer for storing reconstructed pictures corresponding to multi-view content for different view points of a same or similar scene.   
     
     
         4 . A video decoder, comprising: a decoder ( 200 ) for decoding a block in a picture, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing a current one of the different view points, characterized in that the decoder uses at least one of two reference picture lists for decoding the block, the two reference picture lists corresponding to reference pictures having at least one of the different view points other than the current one, wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and view identifiers corresponding to the cross-view reference pictures are indicated in the bitstream for each of the two reference picture lists, and wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and the view identifiers corresponding to the cross-view reference pictures are indicated in a slice header, and wherein said encoding includes at least one buffer for storing reconstructed pictures corresponding to multi-view content for different view points of a same or similar scene. 
     
     
         5 . A storage media having video signal data encoded thereupon, comprising: a block in a picture encoded, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing a current one of the different view points, characterized in that the block is encoded using at least one of two reference picture lists, the two reference picture lists corresponding to reference pictures having at least one of the different view points other than the current one, wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and view identifiers corresponding to the cross-view reference pictures are indicated in the bitstream for each of the two reference picture lists, and wherein the number of cross-view reference pictures and the view identifiers corresponding to the cross-view reference pictures are indicated in a slice header, and wherein said encoding includes at least one buffer for storing reconstructed pictures corresponding to multi-view content for different view points of a same or similar scene.