Patent ID: 8189666

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for transforming encoded video information using a video decoder, the method comprising: receiving encoded video information in a bitstream; and during decoding the encoded video information, wherein the decoding uses plural reference pictures identified with local picture identifiers: identifying a temporal direct prediction mode macroblock, wherein the temporal direct prediction mode macroblock is associated with a reference picture list of one or more of the plural reference pictures; identifying a co-located macroblock of the temporal direct prediction mode macroblock, wherein the co-located macroblock uses one or more reference pictures of the plural reference pictures; identifying one or more reference pictures in the reference picture list that match the one or more reference pictures used by the co-located macroblock, wherein the identifying the one or more reference pictures in the reference picture list uses local picture identifiers; and using the identified one or more reference pictures in reconstruction of the temporal direct prediction mode macroblock; wherein the local picture identifiers are assigned to picture structures when allocated, and wherein the decoder reuses the local picture identifiers during the decoding based on availability of the local picture identifiers.