Patent Description:
As broadcast having High Definition (HD) resolution is extended and served nationwide and worldwide, many users are being accustomed to video having high resolution and high SNR. Accordingly, a lot of organizations have conducted many attempts to develop the next-generation video devices. Furthermore, as there is a growing interest in Ultra High Definition (UHD) having resolution <NUM> times higher than HDTV along with HDTV, there is a need for technology in which an video having higher resolution and higher SNR is compressed and processed.

In order to compress an video, inter-prediction technology in which a value of a pixel included in a current picture is predicted from temporally anterior and/or posterior pictures, intra-prediction technology in which a value of a pixel included in a current picture is predicted using information about a pixel included in the current picture, entropy encoding technology in which a short code is assigned to a symbol having high frequency of appearance and a long code is assigned to a symbol having low frequency of appearance, etc. can be used.

Video compression technology includes technology in which a specific network bandwidth is provided under the limited operating environment of hardware without taking a flexible network environment into consideration. However, in order to compress video data applied to a network environment including a frequently varying bandwidth, new compression technology is necessary. To this end, a scalable video encoding/decoding method can be used.

<CIT> discloses a method of managing a decoded picture buffer for scalable video coding. The method of <CIT> comprises receiving a first decoded picture belonging to a first layer in a bitstream into the decoded picture buffer; receiving a second decoded picture belonging to a second layer; determining whether the first decoded picture is required for inter-layer prediction reference in light of the receipt of the second decoded picture; and if the first decoded picture is no longer required for inter-layer prediction reference, inter prediction reference and future output, removing the first decoded picture from the decoded picture buffer. <CIT> discloses a method and an apparatus for decoding/encoding video signals provided to perform coding more efficiently when separately coding an anchor picture and a non-anchor picture according to anchor picture identification information because inter-view dependency between the anchor picture and the non-anchor picture is different from each other. A video signal decoding method of <CIT> comprises the steps of: obtaining flag information indicating whether a video signal is a multi-view video coded bit stream; if so, obtaining identification information indicating whether a coded picture of a current NAL(Network Abstraction Layer) is an anchor picture or not; and decoding information about a multi-view video according to the identification information.

<NPL> provides an overview of the basic concepts for extending H. <NUM>/AVC towards SVC. The basic tools for providing temporal, spatial, and quality scalability are also described and experimentally analyzed in that paper regarding their efficiency and complexity.

<NPL> presents an overview of the HEVC high-level syntax, including network abstraction layer unit headers, parameter sets, picture partitioning schemes, reference picture management, and supplemental enhancement information messages.

<CIT> describes techniques that are generally related to decoded picture buffer management. One or more pictures stored in the decoded picture buffer of <CIT> may be usable for prediction, and others may not. Pictures that are usable for prediction may be referred to as reference pictures. The example techniques described in <CIT> may determine whether a reference picture, that is currently indicated to be usable for inter-prediction, should be indicated to be unusable for inter-prediction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for describing extraction and scalability information within layered bit streams.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for representing scalability information about a variety of bit streams using in a flexible way.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for providing extraction and scalability information within a layered bit stream so that the extraction and the scalability information can be adaptively transformed in a packet level.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video decoding apparatus as set out in independent claim <NUM>. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video encoding apparatus as set out in independent claim <NUM>.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided a method and apparatus for describing extraction and scalability information within layered bit streams. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided a method and apparatus for representing scalability information about a variety of bit streams using in a flexible way.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided a method and apparatus for providing extraction and scalability information within layered bit streams so that the extraction and the scalability information can be adaptively transformed in a packet level.

Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in describing the embodiments of this specification, a detailed description of the well-known functions and constitutions will be omitted if it is deemed to make the gist of the present invention unnecessarily vague.

In this specification, when it is said that one element is 'connected' or 'coupled' with the other element, it may mean that the one element may be directly connected or coupled with the other element or a third element may be 'connected' or 'coupled' between the two elements. Furthermore, in this specification, when it is said that a specific element is 'included', it may mean that elements other than the specific element are not excluded and that additional elements may be included in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention or the technical scope of the present invention.

Terms, such as the first and the second, may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not restricted by the terms. The terms are used to only distinguish one element from the other element. For example, a first element may be named a second element without departing from the scope of the present invention. Likewise, a second element may be named a first element.

Furthermore, element units described in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are independently shown to indicate difference and characteristic functions, and it does not mean that each of the element units is formed of a piece of separate hardware or a piece of software. That is, the element units are arranged and included, for convenience of description, and at least two of the element units may form one element unit or one element may be divided into a plurality of element units and the plurality of divided element units may perform functions. An embodiment into which the elements are integrated or embodiments from which some elements are separated are also included in the scope of the present invention, unless they depart from the essence of the present invention.

Furthermore, in the present invention, some elements are not essential elements for performing essential functions, but may be optional elements for improving only performance. The present invention may be implemented using only essential elements for implementing the essence of the present invention other than elements used to improve only performance, and a structure including only essential elements other than optional elements used to improve only performance is included in the scope of the present invention.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of a video encoding apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. A scalable video encoding/decoding method or apparatus can be implemented by an extension of a common video encoding/decoding method or apparatus which do not provide scalability. The block diagram of <FIG> shows an exemplary embodiment of a video encoding apparatus which may become a basis for a scalable video encoding apparatus.

Referring to <FIG>, the video encoding apparatus <NUM> includes a motion prediction module <NUM>, a motion compensation module <NUM>, an intra-prediction module <NUM>, a switch <NUM>, a subtractor <NUM>, a transform module <NUM>, a quantization module <NUM>, an entropy encoding module <NUM>, a dequantization module <NUM>, an inverse transform module <NUM>, an adder <NUM>, a filter <NUM>, and a reference picture buffer <NUM>.

The video encoding apparatus <NUM> can perform encoding on an input picture in intra-mode or inter-mode and output a bit stream as a result of the encoding. In this specification intra-prediction has the same meaning as intra-picture prediction, and inter-prediction has the same meaning as inter-picture prediction. In the case of intra-mode, the switch <NUM> can switch to intra mode. In the case of inter-mode, the switch <NUM> can switch to inter-mode. The video encoding apparatus <NUM> can generate a predicted block for the input block of an input picture and then encode the residual between the input block and the predicted block.

In the case of intra-mode, the intra-prediction module <NUM> can generate the predicted block by performing spatial prediction using pixel values of neighboring blocks, of a current block, which are encoded already.

In the case of inter-mode, the motion prediction module <NUM> can obtain a motion vector by searching a reference picture, stored in the reference picture buffer <NUM>, for a region that is most well matched with the input block in a motion estimation process. The motion compensation module <NUM> can generate the predicted block by performing motion compensation using the motion vector and the reference picture stored in the reference picture buffer <NUM>.

The subtractor <NUM> can generate a residual block based on the residual between the input block and the generated predicted block. The transform module <NUM> can perform transform on the residual block and output a transform coefficient according to the transformed block. Furthermore, the quantization module <NUM> can output a quantized coefficient by quantizing the received transform coefficient using at least one of a quantization parameter and a quantization matrix.

The entropy encoding module <NUM> can perform entropy encoding on symbols according to a probability distribution based on values calculated by the quantization module <NUM> or encoding parameter values calculated in an encoding process and output a bit stream as a result of the entropy encoding. The entropy encoding method is a method of receiving symbols having various values and representing the symbols in the form of a string of decodable binary numbers while removing statistical redundancy from the symbols.

Here, the symbol refers to a syntax element and a coding parameter to be encoded or decoded, a value of a residual signal, etc. The coding parameter is a parameter necessary for encoding and decoding. The coding parameter can include not only information encoded by an encoder and then delivered to a decoder along with a syntax element, but also information that can be induced in an encoding or decoding process. The coding parameter means information necessary to encode or decode video. The coding parameter can include, for example, value or statistics of intra/inter-prediction mode, a motion vector, a reference picture index, an encoding block pattern, information about whether or not a residual signal is present, a transform coefficient, a quantized transform coefficient, a quantization parameter, a block size, and block partition information. Furthermore, the residual signal can mean a difference between the original signal and a predicted signal. Furthermore, the residual signal may mean a signal obtained by transforming a difference between the original signal and a predicted signal or a signal obtained by transforming and quantizing a difference between the original signal and an predicted signal. The residual signal can be called a residual block in a block unit.

If entropy encoding is used, the size of a bit stream for a symbol to be encoded can be reduced because the symbol is represented by allocating a small number of bits to a symbol having a high appearance frequency and a large number of bits to a symbol having a low appearance frequency. Accordingly, the compression performance of video encoding can be improved through entropy encoding.

For the entropy encoding, encoding methods, such as exponential Golomb, Context-Adaptive Variable Length Coding (CAVLC), and Context-Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC), can be used. For example, a table for performing entropy encoding, such as a Variable Length Coding/Code (VLC) table, can be stored in the entropy encoding module <NUM>, and the entropy encoding module <NUM> can perform entropy encoding using the stored VLC table. Furthermore, the entropy encoding module <NUM> may derive a binarization method for a target symbol and a probability model for a target symbol/bin and perform entropy encoding using the derived binarization method or probability model.

The quantized coefficient is dequantized by the dequantization module <NUM> and is then inversely transformed by the inverse transform module <NUM>. The dequantized and inversely transformed coefficient can be added to the predicted block through the adder <NUM>, thereby generating a reconstructed block.

The reconstructed block experiences the filter <NUM>. The filter <NUM> can apply one or more of a deblocking filter, a Sample Adaptive Offset (SAO), and an Adaptive Loop Filter (ALF) to the reconstructed block or the reconstructed picture. The reconstructed block that has experienced the filter <NUM> can be stored in the reference picture buffer <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of a video decoding apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. As described above with reference to <FIG>, a scalable video encoding/decoding method or apparatus can be implemented by an extension of a common video encoding/decoding method or apparatus which does not provide scalability. The block diagram of <FIG> shows an exemplary embodiment of a video decoding apparatus which can become a basis for a scalable video decoding apparatus.

Referring to <FIG>, the video decoding apparatus <NUM> includes an entropy decoding module <NUM>, an inverse quantization module <NUM>, an inverse transform module <NUM>, an intra-prediction module <NUM>, a motion compensation module <NUM>, a filter <NUM>, and a reference picture buffer <NUM>.

The video decoding apparatus <NUM> can receive a bit stream outputted from an encoder, perform decoding on the bit stream in intra-mode or inter-mode, and output a reconstructed picture, that is, a reconstructed picture. In the case of intra-mode, a switch can switch to intra-mode. In the case of inter-mode, the switch can switch to inter-mode. The video decoding apparatus <NUM> can obtain a reconstructed residual block from the received bit stream, generate a predicted block, and then generate a reconstructed block, that is, a reconstructed, by adding the reconstructed residual block to the predicted block.

The entropy decoding module <NUM> can generate symbols including a symbol having a quantized coefficient form by performing entropy decoding on the received bit stream according to a probability distribution. The entropy decoding method is a method of receiving a string of binary numbers and generating each symbol using the string of binary numbers. The entropy decoding method is similar to the above-described entropy encoding method.

The quantized coefficient is dequantized by the inverse quantization module <NUM> and is inversely transformed by the inverse transform module <NUM>. As a result of the dequantization/inverse transform of the quantized coefficient, a residual block can be generated.

In the case of intra-mode, the intra-prediction module <NUM> can generate a predicted block by performing spatial prediction using pixel values of already decoded blocks neighboring the current block. In the case of inter-mode, the motion compensation module <NUM> can generate a predicted block by performing motion compensation using a motion vector and a reference picture stored in the reference picture buffer <NUM>.

The residual block and the predicted block are added together by an adder <NUM>. The added block experiences the filter <NUM>. The filter <NUM> can apply at least one of a deblocking filter, an SAO, and an ALF to the reconstructed block or the reconstructed picture. The filter <NUM> outputs a reconstructed picture, that is, a reconstructed picture. The reconstructed picture can be stored in the reference picture buffer <NUM> and can be used for inter-frame prediction.

From among the entropy decoding module <NUM>, the inverse quantization module <NUM>, the inverse transform module <NUM>, the intra-prediction module <NUM>, the motion compensation module <NUM>, the filter <NUM>, and the reference picture buffer <NUM> included in the video decoding apparatus <NUM>, elements directly related to the decoding of video, for example, the entropy decoding module <NUM>, the inverse quantization module <NUM>, the inverse transform module <NUM>, the intra-prediction module <NUM>, the motion compensation module <NUM>, and the filter <NUM> can be represented as a decoding module in order to distinguish them from other elements.

Furthermore, the video decoding apparatus <NUM> can further include a parsing module (not shown) for parsing information related to encoded video included in a bit stream. The parsing module may include the entropy decoding module <NUM>, or the parsing module may be included in the entropy decoding module <NUM>. The parsing module may be represented as one of the elements of the decoding module.

<FIG> is a conceptual diagram schematically showing an exemplary embodiment of a Scalable Video Coding (SVC) structure using multiple layers to which the present invention can be applied. In <FIG>, a Group of Picture (GOP) indicates a picture group, that is, a group of pictures.

In order to send video data, a transmission medium is necessary, and a transmission medium has different performance depending on various network environments. For applications to the various transmission media or network environments, a Scalable Video Coding (SVC) method can be employed.

The SVC method is a coding method of improving encoding/decoding performance by removing redundancy between layers using texture information, motion information, a residual signal, etc. between the layers. The SVC method can provide a variety of scalabilities from spatial, temporal, and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) viewpoints depending on surrounding conditions, such as a transmission bit rate, a transmission error rate, and system resources.

SVC can be performed using a multi-layer structure so that a bit stream applicable to various network conditions can be provided. For example, an SVC structure can include a base layer whose video data can be compressed and processed by utilizing a common video encoding method and can include an enhancement layer whose video data can be compressed and processed by using both encoding information of the base layer and a common video encoding method.

Here, a layer means a set of pictures and bit streams classified on the basis of a spatial resolution (e.g., an image size), a temporal resolution (e.g., encoding order, picture output order, and a frame rate), SNR, and complexity. Furthermore, the base layer may mean a reference layer, and the enhancement layer may mean an enhancement layer. Furthermore, multiple layers may have dependency between them.

Referring to <FIG>, for example, a base layer can be defined by Standard Definition (SD), a frame rate of <NUM>, and a bit rate of <NUM> Mbps. A first enhancement layer can be defined by High Definition (HD), a frame rate of <NUM>, and a bit rate of <NUM> Mbps. A second enhancement layer can be defined by <NUM>-Ultra High Definition (UHD), a frame rate of <NUM>, and a bit rate of <NUM> Mbps. A format, a frame rate, a bit rate, etc. are only exemplary embodiments and may be differently determined if necessary. Furthermore, the number of layers used is not limited to the present exemplary embodiment and may be differently determined according to circumstances.

For example, if a transmission bandwidth is <NUM> Mbps, the frame rate of the first enhancement layer HD can be reduced to less than <NUM>. The SVC method can provide temporal, spatial, and SNR scalabilities according to the method described above in connection with the exemplary embodiment of <FIG>.

SVC has the same meaning as scalable video encoding from an encoding viewpoint and has the same meaning as scalable video decoding from a decoding viewpoint.

As described above, scalability has now become an important function of a video format owing to heterogeneous communication networks and a variety of terminals. SVC, that is, an extension standard of Advanced Video Coding (AVC), was developed to generate a bit stream having a wide range of bit rates while maintaining compression efficiency to the highest degree. In order to satisfy the characteristics and changes of various devices and networks, an SVC bit stream can be easily extracted in various ways. That is, the SVC standard provides spatial, temporal, and SNR scalabilities.

Meanwhile, a bit stream including multiple layers consists of Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) units that enable the adaptive transport of video over a packet-switched network. Like in a multi-layer, a relationship between a plurality of views in multi-view video coding including a plurality of multi-view videos within a bit stream is similar to a relationship between spatial layers in video that support multiple layers.

In order to transform a bit stream effectively and efficiently in all nodes in a content delivery path, scalability information about the bit stream is very important. In a current standard for video coding for a single layer (i.e., high efficiency video coding), two fields related to layer information, that is, temporal_id and reserved_one_5bits are present in an NAL Unit (hereinafter referred as an 'NALU') header. The field 'temporal_id' having a length of <NUM> bits indicates the temporal layer of a video bit stream, and the field 'reserved_one_5bits' corresponds to an area for indicating another subsequent layer information.

The temporal layer means the layer of a temporally scalable bit stream which includes a Video Coding Layer (VCL) NALU, and the temporal layer has a specific temporal_id value.

The present invention relates to a method of effectively describing extraction information and scalability information about a picture within a bit stream that supports multiple layers and signaling the extraction information and scalability information and an apparatus for implementing the method.

In the present invention, a bit stream is divided into two types: a base type supporting only temporal scalability and an extended type capable of having scalability that supports spatial/SNR/multi-view.

The first type of the bit stream relates to a bit stream supporting a single layer video, and the second type thereof relates to an enhancement layer in HEVC-based layered video encoding. Hereinafter, there is proposed an improved method for representing scalability information about the two bit stream types. In accordance with the present invention, in the extended type, 'reserved_one_5bits' of <NUM> bits can be used as layer_id indicative of the identifier of a scalable layer.

nal_ref_flag is used to indicate a non-reference picture. This information indicates approximate priority between a non-reference picture and a reference picture, but the use of nal_ref flag is somewhat limited.

A reference picture means a picture including samples which may be used for inter-picture prediction when decoding subsequent pictures in decoding order.

A non-reference picture means a picture including samples not used for inter-picture prediction when decoding subsequent pictures in decoding order.

nal_ref_flag is a flag indicative of information indicating whether a corresponding NALU is a non-reference picture or a reference picture in the entire bit stream at the time of encoding.

When a value of nal_ref flag is <NUM>, an NALU means that it includes a Sequence Parameter Set (SPS), a Picture Parameter Set (PPS), an Adaptation Parameter Set (APS), or the slice of a reference picture. When a value of nal_ref_flag is <NUM>, an NALU means that it includes a slice including some of or the entire non-reference picture.

Here, an NALU in which a value of nal_ref_flag is <NUM> can include the slice of a reference picture. nal_ref_flag has a value of <NUM> for the NALUs of a Video Parameter Set (VPS), a Sequence Parameter Set (SPS), or a Picture Parameter Set (PPS). If a value of nal_ref_flag is <NUM> in one of the VCL NALUs of a specific picture, nal_ref_flag has a value of <NUM> for all the VCL NALUs of the picture.

Meanwhile, if all non-reference pictures, particularly, non-reference pictures chiefly corresponding to the highest temporal layer are extracted, nal_ref_flag of all pictures remained after the extraction becomes <NUM>.

However, some pictures of an adaptively transformed bit stream, that is, pictures corresponding to the highest temporal layer in the remaining bit streams, become non-reference pictures although a value of nal_ref flag is <NUM>.

In other words, another syntax element (e.g., temporal_id) of an NALU header can be more effective in supporting adaptive transform (or extraction). That is, a bit stream including a desired temporal layer can be extracted using the total number of temporal layers including a bit stream and a value of temporal_id of an NALU header.

Furthermore, nal_ref_flag may also be used to indicate whether or not a corresponding picture will be subsequently used as a reference picture when decoding (reconstructing) a picture formed of an NALU including nal_ref_flag and then storing the decoded picture in a memory, such as a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB). If a value of nal_ref_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that a corresponding picture is subsequently used as a reference picture. If a value of nal_ref_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that a corresponding picture is not subsequently used as a reference picture.

A decoded picture can be indicated as a reference picture when storing the decoded picture in the DPB without determining whether or not a corresponding NALU is a non-reference picture or a reference picture based on nal_ref_flag. In this case, although the decoded picture is a non-reference picture, but is indicated as a reference picture, there is no problem because the corresponding picture will not be included in the reference picture list delivered in the slice header of a next picture when decoding the next picture of the corresponding picture in decoding order.

That is, whether or not a previously decoded picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture is indicated based on the reference picture list included in the slice header of a next picture when decoding the next picture. Accordingly, there is no problem in determining whether or not a decoded picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture even though the decoded picture is indicated as the reference picture without taking into account nal_ref_flag.

The present invention proposes that nal_ref_flag be deleted from an NALU header or the semantics of nal_ref_flag be changed. An embodiment related to the deletion of nal_ref_flag is as follows.

The flag 'nal_ref_flag' is changed into slice_ref_flag, and the position of the flag is moved from an NALU header to a slice header. The syntax of the slice header can be modified as in Table <NUM>.

In Table <NUM>, when a value of slice_ref_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that a slice is part of a reference picture. When a value of slice_ref_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that the slice is some of a non-reference picture.

The flag 'nal_ref_flag' is changed into au_ref_flag, and the position of the flag is moved from an NALU header to an access unit delimiter. The syntax of the access unit delimiter can be the same as Table <NUM>.

In Table <NUM>, when a value of au_ref_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that an access unit includes a reference picture. When a value of au_ref_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that an access unit includes a non-reference picture.

nal_ref_flag is not moved to another syntax, but nal_ref_flag is deleted from an NALU header.

If nal_ref_flag, that is, flag information of <NUM> bit indicating whether a picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture in the entire bit stream when decoding the picture, is deleted, a determination of whether or not a picture is a reference picture through nal_ref_flag can be performed through another process. After decoding a received picture, the decoded picture is unconditionally indicated as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB). That is, whether or not a decoded picture is a reference picture may not be determined, but the decoded picture can be indicated as a reference picture.

Thereafter, the slice header of a picture next to the decoded picture is parsed, and whether the decoded picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture can be indicated based on reference picture information included in the slice header.

nal_ref flag can be deleted from an NALU header, and temporal_id can be used to indicate the NALU is a non-reference picture. To indicate non-reference picture, temporal_id can be '<NUM>', a maximum number of temporal layers-<NUM> (i.e., max_temporal_layers_minus1) included in a bit stream, or a preset value other than '<NUM>'.

nal_ref_flag can be deleted from an NALU header, and reserved_one_5bits can be used as a priority_id element in order to indicate the NALU is a non-reference picture. priority_id is an identifier indicating priority of the corresponding NALU and is used to provide a bit stream extraction function based on priority irrespective of a different spatial, temporal, and SNR.

That is, if temporal_id = Ta is the identifier of the highest temporal layer, temporal_id = Ta and the NALU, that is, priority_id = <NUM> (or another specific value), is used to indicate that the NALU is the NALU of a non-reference picture.

<NUM> bit used to signal nal_ref_flag can be used as one of the following things.

If nal_ref flag is not deleted from an NALU header, the semantics of nal_ref_flag can be modified as follows.

When a value of nal_ref_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that an NALU includes only the slice of a non-reference picture. When a value of nal_ref flag is <NUM>, it indicates that an NALU can include the slice of a reference picture or a non-reference picture.

A VPS includes the most basic information for decoding video and can include contents present in the existing SPS.

The VPS can include information about a sub-layer that denotes a temporal layer supporting temporal scalability and information about multiple layers supporting spatial, quality, and view scalabilities. That is, the VPS may include multi-layer information, that is, syntaxes for an HEVC extension.

Syntaxes for a VPS is the same as Table <NUM>.

In Table <NUM>, most syntaxes have the same semantics as SPS syntaxes applied to a bit stream including a single layer, and additional parts are as follows.

As in Table <NUM>, some of an existing syntax can be incorporated into a VPS and can be deleted from an SPS. Meanwhile, a vps_id syntax element can be added to the SPS. An SPS syntax to which vps_id has been added is the same as Table <NUM>. In Table <NUM>, a deleted syntax is indicated by a line that passes the middle of the syntax.

vps_id indicates an identifier for identifying a VPS to which reference can be made in the SPS and can have a range of <NUM> to X.

A slice header includes index information about a Picture Parameter Set (PPS) to which a corresponding slice refers, and a PPS includes index information about a Sequence Parameter Set (SPS) to which a corresponding picture refers. The SPS includes information about a Video Parameter Set (VPS) to which a corresponding sequence refers. As described above, when information about a parameter set is parsed, and, then, reference to information about the parsed parameter set, it is called activation.

In order to use information about a specific parameter set, that is, in order to activate the parameter set, the parameter set needs to be gradually parsed from a slice header. It means that all slice headers and a related PPS needs to be analyzed in order to know what SPS is activated.

When extracting some of a sub-layer (i.e., temporal layer) from a bit stream including a single layer, an extractor needs to analyze (or parse) an NALU header and a plurality of parameter sets.

If information for the extraction of an NALU is included in a VPS or an SPS, the extractor needs to sequentially parse a higher parameter set from a slice header. This means that the extractor needs to understand all the syntax elements of parameter sets and the slice header.

On the other hand, without a complicated parsing process even in a video decoding process, vps_id or sps_id can be searched for and only necessary parameter sets can be activated. In this case, if a VPS or an SPS includes parameter index information to be activated, a parsing procedure for a complicated slice header and a related PPS can be reduced.

Meanwhile, only some of the elements of the syntaxes can include pieces of information necessary to extract a bit stream. Nevertheless, to analyze all syntax elements can become a big burden on an extractor. In order to solve this problem, the following method is proposed.

In the present invention, the activation of a parameter set means that signaling is performed so that an extractor can be aware that what parameter set is activated without analyzing a slice header and a related Picture Parameter Set (PPS).

In accordance with the present invention, which VPS, SPS, or PPS is active can be additionally signaled so that a burden on an extractor which needs to analyze all slice headers and a related PPS is reduced.

A VPS may be updated. One of the following three methods can be used so that an extractor can be aware of an active VPS and a related SPS or PPS without analyzing a slice header.

(<NUM>) vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id can be included in an access unit delimiter. vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id indicate the identifiers of respective VPS, SPS, and PPS used for NALUs of a related AU. In order to indicate whether or not the identifiers are present in the access unit delimiter, vps_id_present_flag, sps_id_present_flag, and pps_id_present_flag are used. The syntax of a proposed access unit delimiter is the same as Table <NUM>.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) In another method, sps_id and pps_id are excluded and only vps_id can be included in an access unit delimiter as in Table <NUM>.

(<NUM>) Another method for the activation signaling of a VPS is to use a new SEI message 'parameter_set_reference'. The SEI message includes a syntax for informing whether or not vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id indicative of the identifiers of a VPS, an SPS, and an PPS used for NALUs within a related AU are present. In order to indicate whether or not the identifiers are present, vps_id_present_flag, sps_id_present_flag, and pps_id_present_flagsyntax can be used, and an SEI syntax is the same as Table <NUM>.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) Furthermore, the activation of a VPS and an SPS can be informed by excluding pps_id and including sps_id and vps_id in an SEI message as in <Table <NUM>>. sps_id and vps_id in an SEI message can include sps_id and vps_id to which the video coding layer NALU of an access unit associated with the SEI message refer. Accordingly, sps_id and vps_id can indicate information about a parameter set having a possibility of activation.

In Table <NUM>, vps_id indicates video_parameter_set_id of a VPS now activated. A value of vps_id can have a value of <NUM>~<NUM>.

If sps_id_present_flag has a value of <NUM>, it indicates that sequence_parameter_set_id of an SPS now activated is included in a corresponding SEI message. If sps_id_present_flag has a value of <NUM>, it indicates sequence_parameter_set_id of an SPS now activated is not included in a corresponding SEI message.

sps_id indicates sequence_parameter_set_id of an SPS now activated. sps_id can have a value of <NUM>~<NUM>, more limitedly, a value of <NUM>~<NUM>.

When a value of psr_extension_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that a parameter set reference SEI message extension syntax element is not included in a parameter set reference SEI message. When a value of psr_extension_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that a parameter set reference SEI message extension syntax element including a parameter set reference SEI message is extended and used.

psr_extension_length indicates the length of psr_extension_data. psr_extension_length can have a value ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>, and psr_extension_data_byte can have any value.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) Furthermore, one or more sps_id and vps_id other than pps_id may be included in an SEI message and then signaled as in Table <NUM>.

In Table <NUM>, vps_id indicates video_parameter_set_id of an active VPS. vps_id can have a value of <NUM>~<NUM>.

num_reference_sps indicates the number of SPSs that refer to active vps_id.

sps_id(i) indicates sequence_parameter_set_id of an active SPS, and sps_id can have a value of <NUM>~<NUM>, more limitedly, a value of <NUM>~<NUM>.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) Furthermore, only vps_id other than sps_id and pps_id may be included in an SEI message and then signaled as in Table <NUM>.

(<NUM>) Another method for the activation signaling of a VPS is to include information, informing vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id, in a buffering period SEI message. Table <NUM> shows a syntax including vps_id_present_flag, sps_id_presen t_flag, and pps_id_present_flag indicating whether or not vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id are present.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) Furthermore, as in Table <NUM>, the activation of a VPS may be signaled by including only vps_id other than sps_id and pps_id in the buffering period SEI message.

(<NUM>) Another method for the activation signaling of a parameter set is to include information, informing vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id, in a recovery point SEI message. Table <NUM> shows a syntax including vps_id_present_flag, sps_id_present_flag, and pps_id_present_flag indicating whether or not vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id are present.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) Furthermore, as Table <NUM>, there may be a method of informing vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id by including only vps_id other than sps_id and pps_id in the recovery point SEI message.

Messages for delivering the vps_id or sps_id can be included in an Intra Random Access Point (IRAP) access unit.

If any one of the above-described information signaling methods is included in an access unit and utilized, an extractor can identify vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id values through the above-described signaling method in order to extract a bit stream and can manage one or more vps/sps/pps.

Furthermore, a decoding apparatus or a decoding module for performing decoding can identify vps_id, sps_id, and pps_id values through the above-described signaling method and can decode the associated AUs with the signaling method by activating the parameter sets.

Hereinafter, there are proposed extension_info() of VPS and a new SEI message to describe and signal information about a scalable layer if a bit stream supporting a layer extension is included. In order to represent a bit stream in the extended type, the following information can be signaled.

layer_id signals whether or not it deliver a priority value of a layer.

Here, a spatial layer (identified by a dependency_id value), an SNR layer (identified by a quality_id value), views (identified by a view_id value), etc. can be signaled in response to each layer_id value, and a temporal layer can be identified by temporal_id of an NALU header.

Furthermore, the region of video related to layer_id can be signaled by region_id.

Furthermore, dependency information, bit rate information for each scalable layer, and quality information for each scalable layer can be signaled. extension_info() syntax is the same as Table <NUM>.

The semantics of the syntax of Table <NUM> is as follows.

An extension_info() syntax according to another embodiment is the same as Table <NUM>.

As shown in Table <NUM>, pic_width_in_luma_samples[i] and pic_height_in_luma_samples[i], bit_depth_luma_minus8[i], bit_depth_chroma_minus8[i], and chroma_format_idc[i] can be signaled through information about different representation formats.

In accordance with another embodiment, pic_width_in_luma_samples[i], pic_height_in_luma_samples[i], bit_depth_luma_minus8[i], bit_depth_chroma_minus8[i], and chroma_format_idc[i] can be signaled through information about different pictures, that is, pictures having different resolutions.

An syntax for an activation SEI message for the signaling of a bit rate and quality information is the same as Table <NUM>.

The semantics of the syntax of Table <NUM> are as follows.

Hereinafter, a scheme to improve a Video Parameter Set(VPS) is proposed in order to efficiently extract a bitstream.

A method indicating a relationship between layer_id and a scalability dimension ID in a bit stream supporting multiple layers can include the first method and the second method. The first method informs a mapping method between layer_id and the scalability dimension ID. The second method partitions or splices the bits of layer_id, and then, informs which dimension type is present in the partitioned or spliced bit.

In a bit stream supporting multiple layers, a dimension type can mean the type of scalability, such as spatial scalability and quality scalability, and a dimension ID can mean an index of a layer for a specific dimension type.

In a bit stream supporting multiple layers, in general, a specific layer (in order to help understanding, for example, in the case where temporal scalability is supported in a bit stream of a single layer, a temporal layer (sub-layer) <NUM>) can directly refer to a next lower layer (e.g., a temporal layer (sub-layer)) in a specific dimension.

For example, in the case where spatial scalability is supported, it means that a spatial layer <NUM> directly refers to a next lower space layer <NUM>.

Accordingly, in order to indicate the above case, it is proposed that a dimension having default direct dependency be first described.

Thereafter, specific dependency is described in detail in a description loop for a scalable layer.

A scheme for signaling layer referencing using the two methods is proposed below. An improved syntax for vps_extension is the same as Table <NUM> to Table <NUM>.

Table <NUM> shows a syntax that maps layer_id to a scalability dimension ID using the first method. The semantics of the syntax of Table <NUM> is as follows.

When a value of all_default_dependency_flag is <NUM>, it indicates that all layer dimensions may not have default dependency. When a value of all_default_dependency_flag is <NUM>, the following 'num_default_dim_minus1' is signaled.

What a layer C directly refers to a layer B means that a decoder needs to use information (decoded or not decoded) of the layer B in order to decode the layer C. If the layer B directly uses information of a layer A, it is not considered that the layer C directly refers to the layer A.

Table <NUM> shows a syntax in which the bits of layer_id is allocated to a scalability dimension type and the length of an allocated dimension type is signaled using the second method.

num_dimensions_minus1 described in Table <NUM> indicates the number of layer dimensions that are present in an NALU header. That is, the number of layer dimensions present in the NALU header is checked, and a layer type present in each corresponding layer dimension and the number of bits allocated to the dimension type are checked.

The syntax 'all_default_dependency_flag, num_default_dim_minus1, dimension[j], and specific_dependency_flag[i]' for layer referencing described in Table <NUM> has the same semantics as the syntax described in Table <NUM>.

Tables <NUM> and <NUM> describe alternative syntaxes to Tables <NUM> and <NUM>. Table <NUM> shows alternative syntax indicating default dependency when the first method is used, and Table <NUM> shows alternative syntax indicating default dependency when the second method is used.

Among the syntaxes in Tables <NUM> and <NUM>, description of the syntaxes that is described in Table <NUM> and <NUM> is omitted.

A new syntax 'default_dependency_flag[i]' in Tables <NUM> and <NUM> indicates whether or not a dimension type i uses default dependency. In a corresponding dimension, a high layer (e.g., dimension_id[i]=n) directly refers to a right-under layer (e.g., dimension_id[i]=n-<NUM>).

That is, after a specific dimension type is designated by num_dimensions_minus1 and dimension_type[i], whether or not the specific dimension type uses default dependency is signaled. If it is not signaled, it indicates that information for a layer to which the corresponding layer directly refers is signaled.

Dimension types according to the present invention are listed in Table <NUM>.

In accordance with the present invention, dimension types <NUM> and <NUM>, that is, types indicative of a priority ID and a region ID, have been added in an existing dimension type.

dimension_type[i][j] can have a value between <NUM> and <NUM>. Other values can be subsequently defined, and a decoder can neglect a value of dimension_type[i][j] if dimension_type[i][j] does not have the value between <NUM> and <NUM>.

If dimension_type has a value of <NUM>, corresponding dimension_id indicates the ID of a priority layer of a bit stream in the SVC standard.

If dimension_type has a value of <NUM>, corresponding dimension_id indicates the ID of a specific region of a bit stream. The specific region can be one or more spatial-temporal segments in the bit stream.

<FIG> is a control flowchart illustrating a method of encoding video information in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the encoding apparatus encodes a Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) unit including information related to video at step S401.

The NALU header of the NALU does not include information indicating whether or not the NALU includes a slice including at least some of or the entire non-reference picture.

Meanwhile, the NALU header includes layer ID information to identify a scalable layer in a bit stream supporting a scalable layer.

Here, a bit used to signal information, indicating whether or not an NALU except the NALU header includes a slice including at least some of or the entire non-reference picture, can be used to signal the layer ID information.

Furthermore, the NALU can include information about a variety of parameter sets necessary to decode video.

The encoding apparatus can encode a Supplementary Enhancement Information (SEI) message, including information about an active parameter sets, as an independent NALU.

The information about the active parameter sets can include at least one of information on which an active VPS is indexed and information on which an active SPS is indexed.

Furthermore, information about an active parameter sets can include information on which an active VPS is indexed, information about the number of SPSs that refer to the active VPS, and information on which the SPSs are indexed.

The decoding apparatus can use the information about the parameter sets to extract a sub-layer that provides temporal scalability.

Furthermore, the decoding apparatus or a decoding module for performing decoding can use the information about the parameter sets when activating parameter sets necessary to decode a video coding layer NALU.

The encoding apparatus sends the NALU, including the information related to the encoded video, in the form of a bit stream at step S402.

<FIG> is a control flowchart illustrating a method of decoding video information in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the decoding apparatus receives an NALU, including information related to encoded video, through a bit stream at step S501.

The decoding apparatus parses the header and NAL payload of the NALU at step S502. The parsing of the video information can be performed by an entropy decoding module or an additional parsing module.

The decoding apparatus can obtain various pieces of information including in the header and NAL payload of the NALU through the parsing.

The NALU header can include layer ID information for identifying a scalable layer in the bit stream supporting the scalable layer and may not include flag information of <NUM> bit indicating whether the NALU is a non-reference picture or a reference picture in the entire bit stream when encoding the video data.

Here, a bit used to signal information indicating whether or not an NALU excepth for the NALU header includes a slice including at least some of or the entire non-reference picture can be used to signal layer ID information.

Furthermore, the decoding apparatus can obtain information about parameter sets, that is included in a SEI message, through the parsing. The obtained information for the parameter sets is necessary to decode an NALU associated with a SEI message.

Information about active parameter sets can include at least one of information on which an active VPS is indexed and information on which an active SPS is indexed.

Furthermore, the information about the active parameter sets can include information on which the active VPS is indexed, information indicative of the number of SPSs that refer to the active VPS, and information on which the SPSs are indexed.

The decoding apparatus can use these pieces of information about parameter sets to extract a sub-layer providing temporal scalability.

In addition, the pieces of information about parameter sets can be used when decoding a bit stream or in a session negotiation (e.g., a session negotiation at the time of streaming in an IP network).

In the aforementioned embodiments, although the methods have been described based on the flowcharts in the form of a series of steps or blocks, the present invention is not limited to the sequence of the steps, and some of the steps may be performed in a different order from that of other steps or may be performed simultaneous to other steps. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the steps shown in the flowchart are not exclusive and the steps may include additional steps or that one or more steps in the flowchart may be deleted without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A video decoding apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a parsing module configured to parse a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit header of an NAL unit (<NUM>);
a decoding module (<NUM>) configured to decode a first picture;
characterized in comprising
a decoded picture buffer (DPB) (<NUM>) configured to store the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture,
wherein the parsing module is further configured to parse a slice header of a second picture which is the next picture of the first picture in a decoding order,
wherein the decoding module (<NUM>) is further configured to re-mark the first picture as a reference picture or a non-reference picture based on reference picture information comprised in a slice header of the second picture,
wherein the NAL unit header corresponding to the NAL unit comprising encoded data of the first picture does not comprise information indicating whether the first picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture in the NAL unit.