Abstract: Bordering pixels delineating a texture hole region are identified in a target image. Depth values of the bordering pixels are automatically clustered into two depth value clusters. A specific estimation direction is selected from multiple candidate estimation directions for a texture hole pixel in a texture hole region. A depth value of the texture hole pixel is estimated by interpolating depth values of two bordering background pixels in the specific estimation direction. The estimated depth value is used to warp the texture hole pixel into a reference view represented by a temporal reference image. A pixel value of the texture hole pixel is predicted based on a reference pixel value of a reference pixel from the reference image to which the texture hole pixel is warped using the estimated depth value.

Abstract: Peripheral-vision expanded images are streamed to a video streaming client. The peripheral-vision expanded images are generated from source images in reference to view directions of the viewer at respective time points. View direction data is collected and received in real time while the viewer is viewing display images derived from the peripheral-vision expanded images. A second peripheral-vision expanded image is generated from a second source image in reference to a second view direction of the viewer at a second time point. The second peripheral-vision expanded image has a focal-vision image portion covering the second view direction of the viewer and a peripheral-vision image portion outside the focal-vision image portion. The second peripheral-vision expanded image is transmitted to the video streaming client.

Abstract: The way of predicting a current block by assigning constant partition values to the partitions of a bi-partitioning of a block is quite effective, especially in case of coding sample arrays such as depth/disparity maps where the content of these sample arrays is mostly composed of plateaus or simple connected regions of similar value separated from each other by steep edges. The transmission of such constant partition values would, however, still need a considerable amount of side information which should be avoided. This side information rate may be further reduced if mean values of values of neighboring samples associated or adjoining the respective partitions are used as predictors for the constant partition values.

Abstract: Although wedgelet-based partitioning seems to represent a better tradeoff between side information rate on the one hand and achievable variety in partitioning possibilities on the other hand, compared to contour partitioning, the ability to alleviate the constraints of the partitioning to the extent that the partitions have to be wedgelet partitions, enables applying relatively uncomplex statistical analysis onto overlaid spatially sampled texture information in order to derive a good predictor for the bi-segmentation in a depth/disparity map. Thus, in accordance with a first aspect it is exactly the increase of the freedom which alleviates the signaling overhead provided that co-located texture information in form of a picture is present. Another aspect pertains the possibility to save side information rate involved with signaling a respective coding mode supporting irregular partitioning.

Abstract: Bordering pixels delineating a texture hole region in an image are identified. Depth values of the bordering pixels are recorded. The depth values are automatically clustered into two depth value clusters with a depth value threshold separating the two depth value clusters. A subset of bordering background pixels is identified in the bordering pixels as those with depth values in one of the two depth value clusters that is declared as a background depth value cluster. The subset of bordering background pixels is used to predict texture hole pixel values in the texture hole region based on multiple candidate prediction directions. Quality indicator values are computed for the multiple candidate prediction directions and used to select a specific candidate prediction direction for filling in final texture hole pixel values in the texture hole region of the image.

Abstract: The coding efficiency of scalable video coding is increased by substituting missing spatial intra prediction parameter candidates in a spatial neighborhood of a current block of the enhancement layer by use of intra prediction parameters of a co-located block of the base layer signal. By this measure, the coding efficiency for coding the spatial intra prediction parameters is increased due to the improved prediction quality of the set of intra prediction parameters of the enhancement layer, or, more precisely stated, the increased likelihood, that appropriate predictors for the intra prediction parameters for an intra predicted block of the enhancement layer are available thereby increasing the likelihood that the signaling of the intra prediction parameter of the respective enhancement layer block may be performed, on average, with less bits.

Abstract: Information available from coding/decoding the base layer, i.e. base-layer hints, is exploited to render the motion-compensated prediction of the enhancement layer more efficient by more efficiently coding the enhancement layer motion parameters.

Abstract: A target view to a 3D scene depicted by a multiview image is determined. The multiview image comprises multiple sampled views. Each sampled view comprises multiple texture images and multiple depth images in multiple image layers. The target view is used to select, from the multiple sampled views of the multiview image, sampled views. A texture image and a depth image for each sampled view in the selected sampled views are encoded into a multiview video signal to be transmitted to a downstream device.

Abstract: Scalable video coding is rendered more efficient by deriving/selecting a subblock subdivision to be used for enhancement layer prediction, among a set of possible subblock subdivisions of an enhancement layer block by evaluating the spatial variation of the base layer coding parameters over the base layer signal. By this measure, less of the signalization overhead has to be spent on signaling this subblock subdivision within the enhancement layer data stream, if any. The subblock subdivision thus selected may be used in predictively coding/decoding the enhancement layer signal.

Abstract: Information available from coding/decoding the base layer, i.e. base-layer hints, is exploited to render the motion-compensated prediction of the enhancement layer more efficient by more efficiently coding the enhancement layer motion parameters.

Abstract: A subblock-based coding of transform coefficient blocks of the enhancement layer is rendered more efficient. To this end, the subblock subdivision of the respective transform coefficient block is controlled on the basis of the base layer residual signal or the base layer signal. In particular, by exploiting the respective base layer hint, the subblocks may be made longer along a spatial frequency axis transverse to edge extensions observable from the base layer residual signal or the base layer signal.

Abstract: The coding efficiency of scalable video coding is increased by substituting missing spatial intra prediction parameter candidates in a spatial neighborhood of a current block of the enhancement layer by use of intra prediction parameters of a co-located block of the base layer signal. By this measure, the coding efficiency for coding the spatial intra prediction parameters is increased due to the improved prediction quality of the set of intra prediction parameters of the enhancement layer, or, more precisely stated, the increased likelihood, that appropriate predictors for the intra prediction parameters for an intra predicted block of the enhancement layer are available thereby increasing the likelihood that the signaling of the intra prediction parameter of the respective enhancement layer block may be performed, on average, with less bits.

Abstract: Wedgelet separation lines of neighboring blocks are predicted from each other by aligning the wedgelet separation lines of such neighboring blocks to each other, thereby reducing the side information coding rate that may be used.

Abstract: A target view to a 3D scene depicted by a multiview image is determined. The multiview image comprises multiple sampled views. Each sampled view comprises multiple texture images and multiple depth images in multiple image layers. The target view is used to select, from the multiple sampled views of the multiview image, sampled views. A texture image and a depth image for each sampled view in the selected sampled views are encoded into a multiview video signal to be transmitted to a downstream device.

Abstract: Wedgelet separation lines of neighboring blocks are predicted from each other by aligning the wedgelet separation lines of such neighboring blocks to each other, thereby reducing the side information coding rate that may be used.

Abstract: Peripheral-vision expanded images are streamed to a video streaming client. The peripheral-vision expanded images are generated from source images in reference to view directions of the viewer at respective time points. View direction data is collected and received in real time while the viewer is viewing display images derived from the peripheral-vision expanded images. A second peripheral-vision expanded image is generated from a second source image in reference to a second view direction of the viewer at a second time point. The second peripheral-vision expanded image has a focal-vision image portion covering the second view direction of the viewer and a peripheral-vision image portion outside the focal-vision image portion. The second peripheral-vision expanded image is transmitted to the video streaming client.

Abstract: Although wedgelet-based partitioning seems to represent a better tradeoff between side information rate on the one hand and achievable variety in partitioning possibilities on the other hand, compared to contour partitioning, the ability to alleviate the constraints of the partitioning to the extent that the partitions have to be wedgelet partitions, enables applying relatively uncomplex statistical analysis onto overlaid spatially sampled texture information in order to derive a good predictor for the bi-segmentation in a depth/disparity map. Thus, in accordance with a first aspect it is exactly the increase of the freedom which alleviates the signaling overhead provided that co-located texture information in form of a picture is present. Another aspect pertains the possibility to save side information rate involved with signaling a respective coding mode supporting irregular partitioning.

Abstract: The way of predicting a current block by assigning constant partition values to the partitions of a bi-partitioning of a block is quite effective, especially in case of coding sample arrays such as depth/disparity maps where the content of these sample arrays is mostly composed of plateaus or simple connected regions of similar value separated from each other by steep edges. The transmission of such constant partition values would, however, still need a considerable amount of side information which should be avoided. This side information rate may be further reduced if mean values of values of neighboring samples associated or adjoining the respective partitions are used as predictors for the constant partition values.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect, the intra prediction direction of a neighboring, intra-predicted block is used in order to predict the extension direction of the wedgelet separation line of a current block, thereby reducing the side information rate necessitated in order to convey the partitioning information. In accordance with a second aspect, the idea is that previously reconstructed samples, i.e. reconstructed values of blocks preceding the current block in accordance with the coding/decoding order allow for at least a prediction of a correct placement of a starting point of the wedgelet separation line, namely by placing the starting point of the wedgelet separation line at a position of a maximum change between consecutive ones of a sequence of reconstructed values of samples of a line of samples extending adjacent to the current block along a circumference thereof. Both aspects may be used individually or in combination.

Abstract: A target view to a 3D scene depicted by a multiview image is determined. The multiview image comprising sampled views at sampled view positions distributed throughout a viewing volume. Each sampled view in the sampled views comprises a wide-field-of-view (WFOV) image and a WFOV depth map as seen from a respective sampled view position in the sampled view positions. The target view is used to select, from the sampled views, a set of sampled views. A display image is caused to be rendered on a display of a wearable device. The display image is generated based on a WFOV image and a WFOV depth map for each sampled view in the set of sampled views.