A method for decoding a depth lookup table, DLT, in a three-dimensional or multi-view video coding system, the method comprising: receiving input data associated with coded DLT information of a current depth map; decoding a constrained table-value range for the DLT from a minimum table value (Vmin) of the DLT to a maximum table value (Vmax) of the DLT based on the coded DLT information, and wherein the minimum table value (Vmin) is greater than a minimum depth value of a full-range DLT, the maximum table value (Vmax) is smaller than a maximum depth value of the full-range DLT, or the minimum table value (Vmin) is greater than the minimum depth value and the maximum table value (Vmax) is smaller than the maximum depth value; decoding bit map values of a bit map for depth values in a depth range from (the minimum table value + 1) to (the maximum table value - 1), wherein the bit map values indicate whether the depth values are present in the DLT respectively; and reconstructing the DLT for the current depth map based on the constrained table-value range for the DLT and the bit map values for the depth values in the depth range; wherein the constrained table-value range for the DLT is indicated by the minimum table value (Vmin) and a maximum table value difference in the coded DLT information, wherein the maximum table value difference corresponds to a first difference between the maximum table value (Vmax) and the minimum table value (Vmin), and wherein the minimum table value (Vmin) and the maximum table value difference are coded using unsigned integers; or wherein the constrained table-value range for the DLT is indicated by the minimum table value (Vmin) and the maximum table value (Vmax) coded in the coded DLT information, wherein the minimum table value (Vmin) and the maximum table value (Vmax) are coded using unsigned integers. receiving input data associated with coded DLT information of a current depth map; decoding a constrained table-value range for the DLT from a minimum table value (Vmin) of the DLT to a maximum table value (Vmax) of the DLT based on the coded DLT information, and wherein the minimum table value (Vmin) is greater than a minimum depth value of a full-range DLT, the maximum table value (Vmax) is smaller than a maximum depth value of the full-range DLT, or the minimum table value (Vmin) is greater than the minimum depth value and the maximum table value (Vmax) is smaller than the maximum depth value; decoding bit map values of a bit map for depth values in a depth range from (the minimum table value + 1) to (the maximum table value - 1), wherein the bit map values indicate whether the depth values are present in the DLT respectively; and reconstructing the DLT for the current depth map based on the constrained table-value range for the DLT and the bit map values for the depth values in the depth range; wherein the constrained table-value range for the DLT is indicated by the minimum table value (Vmin) and a maximum table value difference in the coded DLT information, wherein the maximum table value difference corresponds to a first difference between the maximum table value (Vmax) and the minimum table value (Vmin), and wherein the minimum table value (Vmin) and the maximum table value difference are coded using unsigned integers; or wherein the constrained table-value range for the DLT is indicated by the minimum table value (Vmin) and the maximum table value (Vmax) coded in the coded DLT information, wherein the minimum table value (Vmin) and the maximum table value (Vmax) are coded using unsigned integers.