Patent ID: 8345754

Claim:
In a computing device that implements a video decoder, a method of decoding video, the method comprising: with the computing device that implements the video decoder, receiving and parsing encoded information from a bitstream for a video sequence, including: parsing a sequence-level flag that indicates whether syntax elements for hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) parameters are signaled in the bitstream; if the sequence-level flag indicates the syntax elements for HRD parameters are signaled in the bitstream, parsing one or more sequence-level HRD syntax elements, including parsing at least one buffer capacity syntax element that indicates a decoder buffer capacity associated with at least a portion of the bitstream; receiving an entry point header that includes coding control parameters for controlling aspects of decoding of plural subsequent pictures after an entry point, wherein the entry point is a random access point in the bitstream after which decoding of the subsequent pictures can begin; parsing the coding control parameters from the entry point header and, if the sequence-level flag indicates the syntax elements for HRD parameters are signaled in the bitstream, parsing one or more entry point-level HRD syntax elements from the entry point header along with the coding control parameters, including parsing at least one buffer fullness syntax element that indicates a buffer fullness associated with at least a portion of the bitstream at the random access point, wherein the buffer fullness is signaled as a fraction of the decoder buffer capacity; and otherwise, if the sequence-level flag indicates the syntax elements for HRD parameters are not signaled in the bitstream, skipping the parsing of the one or more sequence-level HRD syntax elements and the parsing of the one or more entry point-level HRD syntax elements; and with the computing device that implements the video decoder, decoding video using the encoded information, wherein the coding control parameters from the entry point header control aspects of decoding of the subsequent pictures after the entry point.