Signaling and selection for the enhancement of layers in scalable video

Abstract

A method is provided for signaling individual layer parameters in a transport stream that includes: indicating, using a supplemental enhancement information (SEI) message in the video stream, operation point information; inserting the operation point information in the transport stream using an operation point descriptor; and providing the operation point descriptor in a Program Map Table (PMT).

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for decoding a video stream, by a decoder, that includes at least one temporal layer, each layer encoded separately and signaling individual layer parameters for respective layers, the method comprising:
 (a) identifying for each said layer a video descriptor including at least one syntax element that applies to a whole layer in response to said decoder providing a request to a source of said video stream indicating a number of temporal layers;   (b) determining from said video descriptor at least one element that indicates whether a plurality of temporal layers are present in said at least one temporal layer in said video stream;   (c) identifying for each layer an operation point descriptor including at least one syntax element that:
 (i) signal individual layer parameters for each temporal layer; 
 (ii) identify an operation point for said at least one temporal layer; 
   (d) wherein the individual layer parameters signaled in said operation point descriptor are associated to a relevant encoded layer;   (e) buffering for a decoding process each said at least one temporal layer signaled in said operation point descriptor, wherein each said at least one temporal layer is individually buffered.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: identifying, using said operation point descriptor, a maximum bit rate indicated in a SEI message using a corresponding index to said SEI message. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said SEI message signals that individual layer parameters are available for at least one individual layer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one individual layer comprises an additional layer that has been added to at a later time than other individual layers. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said operation point descriptor provides at least one of a bitrate, a rendering capability, and a decoding capability. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein a receiving device is configured to select and render at least one said layer based on the operation point descriptor. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said operation point descriptor indicates a scalable enhancement. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said scalable enhancement comprises a spatial, a temporal, and/or a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said scalable enhancement comprises a view-depth and/or a view-texture enhancement. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said video stream comprises HEVC, scalable HEVC (SHVC), multiview HEVC (MV HEVC), or combinations thereof.