Patent ID: 8615038

Claim:
An encoder comprising an input for inputting video signal to be encoded to form an encoded video signal comprising pictures of at least one coded video sequence; an encoded picture buffer; a decoded picture buffer; a definer for defining at least one parameter indicative of the temporal difference between two consecutive pictures of at least one video sequence, wherein said two consecutive pictures are one of the following: two consecutive pictures of the same coded video sequence; or the last picture of said at least one coded video sequence and the first picture of another coded video sequence following said at least one coded video sequence in output/display; and an output for outputting said encoded video signal including said at least one parameter, wherein said temporal difference is one of the following: temporal reference, picture distance, or absolute time difference; and further wherein said at least one parameter comprises a parameter indicative of a temporal reference gap between the last picture of the first coded video sequence and the first picture of the second coded video sequence in output/display order.