Abstract: A method comprising: encoding a first picture on a first scalability layer and on a lowest temporal sub-layer; encoding a second picture on a second scalability layer and on the lowest temporal sub-layer, wherein the first picture and the second picture represent the same time instant, encoding one or more first syntax elements, associated with the first picture, with a value indicating that a picture type of the first picture is other than a step-wise temporal sub-layer access (STSA) picture; encoding one or more second syntax elements, associated with the second picture, with a value indicating that a picture type of the second picture is a step-wise temporal sub-layer access picture; and encoding at least a third picture on a second scalability layer and on a temporal sub-layer higher than the lowest temporal sub-layer.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus, the method comprising receiving a bitstream comprising picture data units on one or more scalability layers; determining a first set of layers that are decoded from the bitstream; decoding, from or along the bitstream, a first indication indicative of an end of a coded picture, wherein the first indication is associated with a first layer identifier; decoding, from or along the bitstream, a second indication indicative of a second set of layers that are not present in an access unit; and determining an end of the access unit, when the first layer identifier is the greatest among the first set of layers, or all layers with a layer identifier greater than the first identifier among the first set of layers are included in the second set of layers.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer program products are described for video encoding. A method can include reconstructing a 360-degree panoramic source picture for inter-layer prediction and deriving an inter-layer reference picture from the 360-degree panoramic source picture. Deriving can include upsampling at least a part of the 360-degree panoramic source picture. Upsampling can include filtering samples of a border region of the 360-degree panoramic source picture using, at least in part, one or more sample values of an opposite side border region and one or more variable values associated with one or more blocks of the opposite side border region. Deriving can include determining a reference region that crosses a picture boundary of the 360-degree panoramic source picture and including in the reference region at least one of sample values of the opposite side border region and variable values associated with blocks of the opposite side border region.

Abstract: A method comprising: encoding pictures into a bitstream, the bitstream comprising at least two scalability layers, pictures being associated with access units and pictures being associated individually with one of the at least two scalability layers; indicating in the bitstream inter-layer prediction dependencies, indicative of direct reference layers, if any, of a first scalability layer and indirect reference layers, if any, of the first scalability layer; selecting an earlier picture in decoding order as a basis for deriving picture order count (POC) related variables for a current picture based on a pre-defined algorithm, the current picture being associated with a current scalability layer, wherein the earlier picture is the closest preceding picture, in decoding order, to the current picture among a set of pictures that are associated with the current scalability layer or any direct or indirect reference layer of the current scalability layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to concatenating or splicing of scalable video bitstreams. There are disclosed various methods, apparatuses and computer program products for video encoding and decoding and modifying coded video bitstreams. In some embodiments, indications are provided in the coded video bitstream to indicate a layer-wise decoding start-up process. These indications may be generated by encoders or splicers.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses and computer program products for video encoding and decoding. In some embodiments a first picture having a first resolution on a first layer is encoded without inter-layer prediction; a second picture having a second resolution on a second layer is encoded without inter-layer prediction; a third picture having the second resolution on the second layer is encoded without inter-layer prediction and without temporally referencing to pictures prior to the second picture. Further, a corresponding indication is encoded. In some embodiments one or more indications are received to determine if a switching point, referring to a picture coded using inter-layer prediction, from the first layer to the second layer exists, and if so, pictures in the first layer prior to the switching point; pictures associated with the switching point; and pictures in the second layer after the switching point may be decoded.

Abstract: There are disclosed various methods, apparatuses and computer program products for video encoding and decoding. In some embodiments a method comprises at least one of the following: encoding into a bitstream an indication that motion fields are stored, but only for inter-layer motion prediction; encoding into a bitstream an indication on a limited scope of motion field usage; encoding into a bitstream an indication whether or not to use the motion field for prediction; encoding into a bitstream an indication of storage parameters for storing motion information.

Abstract: A method comprising encoding a bitstream comprising a base layer, a first enhancement layer and a second enhancement layer; encoding an indication of both the base layer and the first enhancement layer used for prediction for the second enhancement layer in the bitstream; encoding, in the bitstream, an indication of a first set of prediction types that is applicable from the base layer to the second enhancement layer, wherein the first set of prediction types is a subset of all prediction types available for prediction between layers, and encoding, in the bitstream, an indication of a second set of prediction types that is applicable from the base layer or the first enhancement layer to the second enhancement layer, wherein the second set of prediction types is a subset of all prediction types available for prediction between layers.

Abstract: A reference picture marking process and a reference picture list management process is handled in a unified reference picture marking and reference picture list management process. A new idle reference picture list may be used for handling reference pictures that are not used for reference in the current picture. Differential coding of picture order count may be used to increase coding efficiency. The reference picture management syntax structure may be sent in the picture parameter set for improved coding efficiency e.g. in regular GOP (group of pictures) arrangements.

Abstract: There is provided methods, apparatuses and computer program products for video coding and decoding. A first part of a first coded video representation is decoded, and information on decoding a second coded video representation is received and parsed. The coded second representation differs from the first coded video representation in chroma format, sample bit depth, color gamut and/or spatial resolution, and the information indicates if the second coded video representation may be decoded using processed decoded pictures of the first coded video representation as reference pictures.

Abstract: A method comprising: associating a first set of data units into a first bitstream partition and associating a second set of data units into a second bitstream partition, where the first set comprises data units different from those of the second set; inputting the first bitstream partition into a first buffer; inputting the second bitstream partition into a second buffer; obtaining buffering parameters for at least one of the second bitstream partition and the second buffer; and using the buffering parameters in at least one of inputting the second bitstream partition into the second buffer and outputting from the second buffer.

Abstract: The invention relates to concatenating or splicing of scalable video bitstreams. There are disclosed various methods, apparatuses and computer program products for video encoding and decoding and modifying coded video bitstreams. In some embodiments, indications are provided in the coded video bitstream to indicate a layer-wise decoding start-up process. These indications may be generated by encoders or splicers.

Abstract: A method comprising encoding a bitstream comprising a base layer, a first enhancement layer and a second enhancement layer; encoding an indication of both the base layer and the first enhancement layer used for prediction for the second enhancement layer in the bitstream; encoding, in the bitstream, an indication of a first set of prediction types that is applicable from the base layer to the second enhancement layer, wherein the first set of prediction types is a subset of all prediction types available for prediction between layers, and encoding, in the bitstream, an indication of a second set of prediction types that is applicable from the base layer or the first enhancement layer to the second enhancement layer, wherein the second set of prediction types is a subset of all prediction types available for prediction between layers.

Abstract: There is provided methods, apparatuses and computer program products for video coding and decoding. A first part of a first coded video representation is decoded, and information on decoding a second coded video representation is received and parsed. The coded second representation differs from the first coded video representation in chroma format, sample bit depth, color gamut and/or spatial resolution, and the information indicates if the second coded video representation may be decoded using processed decoded pictures of the first coded video representation as reference pictures.

Abstract: A method comprising: encoding pictures into a bitstream, the bitstream comprising at least two scalability layers, pictures being associated with access units and pictures being associated individually with one of the at least two scalability layers; indicating in the bitstream inter-layer prediction dependencies, indicative of direct reference layers, if any, of a first scalability layer and indirect reference layers, if any, of the first scalability layer; selecting an earlier picture in decoding order as a basis for deriving picture order count (POC) related variables for a current picture based on a pre-defined algorithm, the current picture being associated with a current scalability layer, wherein the earlier picture is the closest preceding picture, in decoding order, to the current picture among a set of pictures that are associated with the current scalability layer or any direct or indirect reference layer of the current scalability layer.

Abstract: A method comprising: encoding a first picture on a first scalability layer and on a lowest temporal sub-layer; encoding a second picture on a second scalability layer and on the lowest temporal sub-layer, wherein the first picture and the second picture represent the same time instant, encoding one or more first syntax elements, associated with the first picture, with a value indicating that a picture type of the first picture is other than a step-wise temporal sub-layer access (STSA) picture; encoding one or more second syntax elements, associated with the second picture, with a value indicating that a picture type of the second picture is a step-wise temporal sub-layer access picture; and encoding at least a third picture on a second scalability layer and on a temporal sub-layer higher than the lowest temporal sub-layer.

Abstract: There is provided a slice header prediction method and apparatuses for 3D video encoding and decoding. In some example embodiments the following features can be derived from the header prediction method. Any decoding order of texture and depth view components may be supported. Also flexible prediction of syntax elements from any slice header appearing earlier in decoding order within the same access unit is allowed. The prediction can be turned on or off on view component basis. The syntax elements of the slice header may be categorized in a few sets and the use of the prediction as well as the prediction source for each set can be individually controlled. By using some example embodiments of the method all syntax elements of the slice header may be predicted.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus, the method comprising receiving a bitstream comprising picture data units on one or more scalability layers; determining a first set of layers that are decoded from the bitstream; decoding, from or along the bitstream, a first indication indicative of an end of a coded picture, wherein the first indication is associated with a first layer identifier; decoding, from or along the bitstream, a second indication indicative of a second set of layers that are not present in an access unit; and determining an end of the access unit, when the first layer identifier is the greatest among the first set of layers, or all layers with a layer identifier greater than the first identifier among the first set of layers are included in the second set of layers.

Abstract: A method comprising decoding one or both chroma components of a coded texture picture into one or two decoded chroma sample arrays, obtaining a reference sample array on the basis of said one or two decoded chroma sample arrays, and forming a decoded depth view component on the basis of said reference sample array; encoding one or two chroma components of a texture picture into one or two coded chroma components and reconstructing one or two reconstructed chroma sample arrays, obtaining a reference sample array on the basis of said one or two reconstructed chroma sample arrays, and using the reference sample array as a reference for prediction in encoding of a depth view component.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method, an apparatus, a server, a client and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program stored therein for multi view video coding and decoding. View random access (VRA) pictures or access units are coded into a multiview bitstream. VRA pictures enable starting the decoding of a subset of the views present in the bitstream. The views selected to be accessible in VRA pictures are alternated in successive VRA pictures so that all views are gradually reconstructed when two or more VRA pictures have been decoded.