Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product provide for extended margins around a viewport for immersive content. In the context of a method, the method receives panoramic video content and determines at least one motion signal. The method determines a viewport area, margin area, and background area for the panoramic video content based on the at least one motion signal and a quality level for each area. The method causes transmission of a request for updated panoramic video content in accordance with the determined quality levels. The method also receives updated panoramic video content in response to the request and causes rendering of the content for display.

Abstract: A method comprising: encoding video media content into at least a first representation and a second representation, wherein the first representation comprises a switchable inter-coded picture, wherein the switchable picture has a first characteristic that no pictures preceding the switchable picture in decoding order are used as reference pictures for any non-switchable pictures following the switchable picture in decoding order; and the second representation comprises one or more decoder reset pictures aligned with the switchable pictures of the first representation, wherein the frame rate of the second representation is smaller than or equal to the frame rate of the first representation and the resolutions of the first and the second representation are equal.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product to signal and store various segment properties in omnidirectional media, including sizes, priority ranks, and the like. The method, apparatus and computer program product access one or more media segments (30). The one or more media segments includes media data configured for streaming playback. The method, apparatus and computer program product access size information (32) or priority rank information of one or more tiles for each of the one or more media segments. The method, apparatus and computer program product encode the size information (34) or priority rank information for each of the one or more media segments in a media file within one or more metadata tracks associated with the one or more media segments or one or more sub-segments associated with the one or more media segments.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product encode, into a media description, a first information item indicative of a first locator for segment metadata for a set of representations. The method, apparatus and computer program product encode, into the media description, one or more representation-specific information items indicative of representation-specific locator for segment media data for one or more representations of the set of representations. The method, apparatus and computer program product cause storage of the media description with the set of representations.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to a method including determining a foreground area covering a viewport of 360-degree video and one or more other areas of 360-degree video, not containing the foreground area in its entirety; concluding a first set of tile streams among available tile streams of the 360-degree video to cover the foreground area; concluding a second set of tile streams among the available tile streams of the 360-degree video, to cover the one or more other areas; and requesting transmission of a first set of portions of the first set of tile streams and a second set of portions of the second set of tile streams, wherein the portions in the first set of portions have a shorter duration that portions in the second set of portions.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product encode, into a media description, a first information item indicative of a first locator for segment metadata for a set of representations. The method, apparatus and computer program product encode, into the media description, one or more representation-specific information items indicative of representation-specific locator for segment media data for one or more representations of the set of representations. The method, apparatus and computer program product cause storage of the media description with the set of representations.

Abstract: A method comprising: encoding video media content into at least a first representation and a second representation, wherein the first representation comprises a switchable inter-coded picture, wherein the switchable picture has a first characteristic that no pictures preceding the switchable picture in decoding order are used as reference pictures for any non-switchable pictures following the switchable picture in decoding order; and the second representation comprises one or more decoder reset pictures aligned with the switchable pictures of the first representation, wherein the frame rate of the second representation is smaller than or equal to the frame rate of the first representation and the resolutions of the first and the second representation are equal.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product to signal and store various segment properties in omnidirectional media, including sizes, priority ranks, and the like. The method, apparatus and computer program product access one or more media segments (30). The one or more media segments includes media data configured for streaming playback. The method, apparatus and computer program product access size information (32) or priority rank information of one or more tiles for each of the one or more media segments. The method, apparatus and computer program product encode the size information (34) or priority rank information for each of the one or more media segments in a media file within one or more metadata tracks associated with the one or more media segments or one or more sub-segments associated with the one or more media segments.

Abstract: There are disclosed various methods, apparatuses and computer program products for adaptive bitrate control for tiled omnidirectional video. In some embodiments information of a size of a viewport to view omnidirectional video data is received and an orientation of a viewport within the omnidirectional video data is determined. A first set of tiles belonging to the viewport and a second set of tiles outside the viewport are determined. A bitrate is estimated for a full picture using a first quality for the first set, and a second quality for the second set. The determination is repeated for a plurality of viewports. A representative viewport orientation is selected using the estimation results. A plurality of bitrates are estimated for a full picture for the third set of tiles and for the fourth set of tiles; and estimated bitrates and the representative viewport orientation are provided to an adaptive bitrate algorithm.

Abstract: There are disclosed various methods, apparatuses and computer program products for adaptive bitrate control for tiled omnidirectional video. In some embodiments information of a size of a viewport to view omnidirectional video data is received and an orientation of a viewport within the omnidirectional video data is determined. A first set of tiles belonging to the viewport and a second set of tiles outside the viewport are determined. A bitrate is estimated for a full picture using a first quality for the first set, and a second quality for the second set. The determination is repeated for a plurality of viewports. A representative viewport orientation is selected using the estimation results. A plurality of bitrates are estimated for a full picture for the third set of tiles and for the fourth set of tiles; and estimated bitrates and the representative viewport orientation are provided to an adaptive bitrate algorithm.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to a method, and a technical equipment for implementing the method. The method comprises generating a bitstream defining a presentation, the presentation comprising an omnidirectional visual media content; and indicating in the bitstream a definition for an external media to be overlaid on the omnidirectional visual media content during rendering; wherein the definition comprises at least an overlay placement information for the external media on the omnidirectional visual media content. The embodiments also relate to a method and technical equipment for decoding the bitstream.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to a method, and a technical equipment for implementing the method. The method comprises generating a bitstream defining a presentation, the presentation comprising an omnidirectional visual media content; and indicating in the bitstream a definition for an external media to be overlaid on the omnidirectional visual media content during rendering; wherein the definition comprises at least an overlay placement information for the external media on the omnidirectional visual media content. The embodiments also relate to a method and technical equipment for decoding the bitstream.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for the efficient streaming and processing of high-resolution panoramic video images, such as 360° panoramic video. In some implementations of example embodiments, a base layer video image set may be transmitted to and received by a viewer, and used to provide visual content at a relatively low resolution and/or bitrate in order to reduce the bandwidth requirements and/or other processing resources necessary to stream and render the video. For the portions of an image associated with a viewport of a user, one or more tiles at a higher resolution may be provided in an enhancement layer that may be merged with the base layer to provide higher resolution content in the viewer's field of view.

Abstract: A method for decoding video data blocks using variable length codes, comprising transforming information about the spatial frequency distribution of a video data block into pixel values. Prior to said transformation, a first reference value (Xref) representing the abruptness of variations in information about spatial frequency distribution within the block is generated, after said transformation, a second reference value (?) representing the abruptness of variation in certain information between the block and at least one previously transformed video data block is generated. The first reference value (Xref) is compared to a first threshold value (TH1) and the second reference value (?) to a second threshold value (TH2); and as a response to either of the first (Xref) and second reference values (?) being greater than the first (TH1) and respectively the second threshold value (TH2), an error in the block is detected.

Abstract: A method for detecting errors in an image signal. The image signal is produced by dividing an image into image blocks, and coding is performed in which at least predictive coding is performed on an image block to produce inter-coded image information for the image block. The inter-coded image information comprises at least one prediction error block containing prediction error information. A decoding is performed to recover prediction error information contained in the at least one prediction error information contained in the at least one prediction error block. A prediction error block check is performed in which prediction error information contained in the at least one prediction error block is examined to detect errors in the inter-coded image information for the image block.

Abstract: A method in reception of a multiplex signal, comprising one or more data units, and at least one framing data block in each multiplex signal. The method comprises: searching for said framing data block from a received multiplex signal; demultiplexing said one or more data units according to the information in said framing data block; generating one or more demultiplexed signals from said demultiplexed data units, and forwarding said demultiplexed signals for decoding (50). At multiplexing possible invalidity of demultiplexed video data units is detected (51), and as a response to a detected invalidity in a demultiplexed video data unit, an error indication to the demultiplexed video data signal is added (52).

Abstract: A method for decoding video data blocks using variable length codes, comprising transforming information about the spatial frequency distribution of a video data block into pixel values. Prior to said transformation, a first reference value (Xref) representing the abruptness of variations in information about spatial frequency distribution within the block is generated, after said transformation, a second reference value (&Dgr;) representing the abruptness of variation in certain information between the block and at least one previously transformed video data block is generated. The first reference value (Xref) is compared to a first threshold value (TH1) and the second reference value (&Dgr;) to a second threshold value (TH2); and as a response to either of the first (Xref) and second reference values (&Dgr;) being greater than the first (TH1) and respectively the second threshold value (TH2), an error in the block is detected.

Abstract: A multimedia terminal comprising: a first encoder (100) for producing a first bit-stream (107) of a first media type and having a first bit-rate; a second encoder (110) for producing a second bit-stream (112) of a second media type and having a second bit-rate; a multiplexer (120) for combining at least the first (106) and the second (112) bit-streams into a third bit-stream (123). The terminal comprises an input element (130) for receiving preference information (131) coupled to the first encoder (100) and the second encoder (110), said preference information (131) indicating a preferred combination of the first and the second media types in the third bit-stream and affecting the first and the second bit-rates. Thus, the transmission capacity is utilised in a more optimised manner and the proportions of different media types are better adjusted to the purpose of the information transfer.

Abstract: A methodic and apparatus for video decoding including receiving encoded video data; decoding the video data to form decoded video data and determining if the decoded the video data contains an error. When it is determined that an error is present, a message is sent to a transmitting video encoder requesting an update of at least the portion of the video data containing the error, wherein the update message is only sent if a pre-determined period has elapsed since a previous update message was sent. A complementary encoder is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting errors in an image signal. The image signal is produced by dividing an image into image blocks, and a coding stage is performed in which at least predictive coding is performed on an image block to produce inter-coded image information for the image block. Said inter-coded image information comprises at least one prediction error block containing prediction error information. A decoding stage (14, 16, 17) is performed to recover prediction error information contained in said at least one prediction error block. A prediction error block check is performed in which prediction error information contained in said at least one prediction error block is examined to detect errors in the inter-coded image information for the image block.