Patent ID: 7643560

Claim:
A system for decoding of scalable digital video, the system comprising: an input configured to receive a scalable digital video bitstream comprising groups of coded units of a quality or spatial enhancement target layer and at least one additional layer, the digital video bitstream containing control data (including prediction control data) associated with a group of coded units and control (including prediction), texture, or motion data associated with individual coded units; a decoder coupled to the input, wherein the decoder is configured to decode the control data associated with a group of coded units of the target layer and the at least one additional layer, and control, texture, or motion data associated with individual coded units of the target layer and the at least one additional layer; a predictor coupled to the decoder, wherein the decoder is configured to generate prediction references for the control, texture, or motion data of a plurality of coded units of the target layer as signaled prediction control data associated with a group of coded units of the target layer or the at least one additional layer, or from prediction control data associated with individual coded units of the target layer or the at least one additional layer; and a combiner coupled to the predictor, wherein the combiner is configured to combine the generated prediction references with the corresponding decoded control, texture, or motion data associated with the plurality of coded units of the target layer to produce portions of a decoded picture corresponding to the plurality of coded units of the target layer, wherein the prediction control data associated with the groups of coded units of the target layer or the at least one additional layer and the prediction control data associated with individual coded units of the target layer or the at least one additional layer include inter-layer prediction control data, and wherein the predictor is configured to use values indicated by the inter-layer prediction control data associated with a group of coded units of the target layer when the corresponding inter-layer prediction control data associated with individual coded units of the group of coded units of the target layer are not present in the digital video bitstream.