Abstract: Methods for concealing Scalable Video Coding (SVC) decoding errors. Lost pictures in the target layer are replaced with up-sampled pictures from a lower layer, such as the base layer. In multiloop decoding applications, lost pictures in the target layer are replaced with corresponding up-sampled pictures from the lower layer. Subsequent target layer pictures in the same Group of Pictures (GOP) are either replaced with corresponding upsampled pictures from the lower layer, or they are decoded with up-sampled pictures from the lower layer used as reference pictures. For single-loop decoding, the bit stream of each layer is buffered, for each GOP, and inspected for errors. If an error is detected in the target layer, the pictures of the highest level layer without an error are decoded and up-sampled and used as the output pictures for the current GOP.

Abstract: A system and method for recovering from data loss are described including monitoring a first bit rate video data bit stream to determine if there is frame loss or damage, multiplexing decoding parameters of a second bit rate video data bit stream, the second bit rate video data bit stream and the first bit rate video data bit stream, if there is frame loss or damage, demultiplexing the first bit rate video data bit stream and the second bit rate video data bit stream, decoding the first bit rate video data bit stream, removing damaged frames from the first bit rate video data bit stream, decoding the second bit rate video data bit stream, up-sampling frames from said processed second bit rate video data bit stream if said processed second bit rate video data bit stream has a lower resolution than said processed first bit rate video data bit stream and merging frames from the second bit rate video data bit stream and the first bit rate video data bit stream.

Abstract: An apparatus encodes a video signal for providing a scalable video coded (SVC) signal comprising a base layer video coded signal and an enhancement layer video coded signal, wherein the base layer video coded signal has more random access points, e.g., Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) slices, than the enhancement layer and in those access units where the enhancement layer has an IDR slice, the base layer has a non-IDR slice. Transmission of the SVC occurs in packet form using the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) such that non-random access point slices are conveyed in Simple Time Aggregation Packets (STAP), each Simple Time Aggregation Packet comprising a Payload Content Scalability Information (PACSI) Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) Unit.

Abstract: An apparatus encodes a video signal for providing a scalable video coded (SVC) signal comprising a base layer video coded signal and an enhancement layer video coded signal, wherein the base layer video coded signal has more random access points, e.g., Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) slices, than the enhancement layer and in those access units where the enhancement layer has an IDR slice, the base layer has a non-IDR slice. Transmission of the SVC occurs in packet form using the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) such that non-random access point slices are conveyed in Simple Time Aggregation Packets (STAP), each Simple Time Aggregation Packet comprising a Payload Content Scalability Information (PACSI) Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) Unit.

Abstract: Methods for concealing Scalable Video Coding (SVC) decoding errors. Lost pictures in the target layer are replaced with up-sampled pictures from a lower layer, such as the base layer. In multiloop decoding applications, lost pictures in the target layer are replaced with corresponding up-sampled pictures from the lower layer. Subsequent target layer pictures in the same Group of Pictures (GOP) are either replaced with corresponding upsampled pictures from the lower layer, or they are decoded with up-sampled pictures from the lower layer used as reference pictures. For single-loop decoding, the bit stream of each layer is buffered, for each GOP, and inspected for errors. If an error is detected in the target layer, the pictures of the highest level layer without an error are decoded and up-sampled and used as the output pictures for the current GOP.

Abstract: An apparatus encodes a video signal for providing a scalable video coded (SVC) signal comprising a base layer video coded signal and an enhancement layer video coded signal, wherein the base layer video coded signal has more random access points, e.g., Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) slices, than the enhancement layer and in those access units where the enhancement layer has an IDR slice, the base layer has a non-IDR slice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fast channel change when changing the channel from a channel being viewed full screen as a main picture to a channel being viewed in a secondary channel program display window (e.g., a picture-in-picture (PIP) window). In one implementation, during the channel change, a secondary video stream for a secondary channel program is up-sampled and displayed full screen while receiving the corresponding regular video stream for the video program, of which program contents are identical to those of the secondary video stream. The program contents of the up-sampled secondary video stream is then be replaced seamlessly with those of the corresponding regular video stream at the time when an instantaneous decode refresh (IDR) frame of the corresponding regular video stream is received.

Abstract: There are provided methods and apparatus for fast channel change when changing the channel from a channel being viewed full screen to a channel being viewed in a secondary display window (e.g., picture-in-picture (PIP) window). In one implementation, the base layer stream of the SVC encoded stream is used as the secondary stream for the secondary display and the corresponding enhancement layer stream is used as the corresponding regular stream. Upon channel change request, the decoded base layer picture of the SVC encoded stream is up-sampled, and the up-sampled base layer picture is displayed full screen while receiving the corresponding SVC enhancement layer stream. Then, the up-sampled base layer picture is replaced by the decoded enhancement layer picture upon confirmation of successful receiving and decoding of an enhancement layer instantaneous decode refresh (IDR) frame.

Abstract: A system and method for recovering from data loss are described including monitoring a first bit rate video data bit stream to determine if there is frame loss or damage, multiplexing decoding parameters of a second bit rate video data bit stream, the second bit rate video data bit stream and the first bit rate video data bit stream, if there is frame loss or damage, demultiplexing the first bit rate video data bit stream and the second bit rate video data bit stream, decoding the first bit rate video data bit stream, removing damaged frames from the first bit rate video data bit stream, decoding the second bit rate video data bit stream, up-sampling frames from said processed second bit rate video data bit stream if said processed second bit rate video data bit stream has a lower resolution than said processed first bit rate video data bit stream and merging frames from the second bit rate video data bit stream and the first bit rate video data bit stream.

Abstract: There are provided methods and apparatus for fast channel change for digital video. An apparatus includes at least one encoder for receiving normal video data and channel change video data and encoding the normal video data and the channel change video data in a normal video stream and a channel change video stream, respectively, using a common system clock to provide synchronization between the normal video stream and the channel change video stream. The normal video stream and the channel change video stream are encoded for transport separately at a transport level.