Parameter set and picture header in video coding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9560367-B2
Application number	US-20761005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2005
Priority date	Sep 3, 2004
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

In a start code based bistream structure for use in video coding, a picture header is used simultaneously with the parameter set in the start code. The picture header is present before the slice header in the same picture. As such, it is possible to allow the presence of at least one sequence parameter set or picture parameter set before the slice header. In a NAL unit parameter set bitstream structure, the picture head NAL unit is present before the slice NAL unit. In either structure, the picture header information must remain unchanged during the decoding of the entire picture, but should change more frequently between pictures as compared to the information in the picture parameter set.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
encoding a video signal into a bitstream, the video signal comprising a sequence of pictures, the bitstream comprising a plurality of layers including a sequence layer, a picture layer, and a slice layer in a layer hierarchy; and
providing in the bitstream, a picture header associated with the picture layer, a slice header associated with the slice layer, a sequence parameter set associated with the sequence layer, and a picture parameter set associated with one or more pictures in the picture layer, wherein the picture header associated with the picture layer precedes the slice header associated with the slice layer, wherein the picture header comprises an identifier referencing the picture parameter set, and wherein the picture header parameters are included in a slice header, and wherein a flag is provided in any other one or more slice headers when the picture header parameters are used in corresponding one or more slices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the slice header, the sequence parameter set, and the picture parameter set includes a start code.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the picture header, the slice header, the sequence parameter set and the picture parameter set are provided as network abstraction layer units, wherein each of the plurality of layers is identified with a different network abstraction layer unit type in a network abstraction layer unit header.

4. An encoder for encoding video comprising:
a processor; and
a memory including computer program codes, the computer program codes being configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the encoder to:
encode a video signal into a bitstream, the video signal comprising a sequence of pictures, the bitstream comprising a plurality of layers including a sequence layer, a picture layer, and a slice layer in a layer hierarchy; and
provide in the bitstream, a picture header associated with the picture layer, a slice header associated with the slice layer, a sequence parameter set associated with the sequence layer, and a picture parameter set associated with at least one picture, wherein the picture header associated with the picture layer precedes the slice header associated with the slice layer, wherein the encoder is further configured to provide an identifier referencing the picture parameter set in the picture header, and wherein the encoder is further configured to include the picture header parameters in a slice header, and to provide a flag in any other one or more slice headers when the picture header parameters are used in corresponding one or more slices.

5. An encoder of claim 4 , wherein the encoder is further configured to provide a start code for the slice header, the sequence parameter set, and the picture parameter set.

6. An encoder of claim 4 , wherein the encoder is further configured to provide the picture header, the slice header, the sequence parameter set and the picture parameter set are provided as network abstraction layer units, wherein each of the plurality of layers is identified with a different network abstraction layer unit type in a network abstraction layer unit header.

7. An apparatus comprising an encoder according to claim 4 and a transmitter for transmitting an encoded bitstream.

8. A method of decoding an encoded video bitstream, said method comprising:
receiving from the bitstream, a sequence parameter set and a picture parameter set, wherein the video bitstream is indicative of an encoded video sequence of pictures and the bitstream comprises a plurality of layers, including a sequence layer, a picture layer, and a slice layer in a layer hierarchy; and
receiving from the bitstream, a picture header associated with the picture layer, and a slice header associated with the slice layer, wherein the picture header associated with the picture layer precedes the slice header associated with the slice layer, wherein the picture header comprises an identifier referencing the picture parameter set, and wherein the picture header parameters are included in a slice header, and wherein a flag is provided in any other one or more slice headers when the picture header parameters are used in corresponding one or more slices.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the slice header, the sequence parameter set, and the picture parameter set includes a start code.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the picture header, the slice header, the sequence parameter set and the picture parameter set are provided as network abstraction layer units, wherein each of the plurality of layers is identified with a different network abstraction layer unit type in a network abstraction layer unit header.

11. A decoder for decoding an encoded video bitstream comprising:
a processor; and
a memory including computer program codes, the computer program codes being configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the decoder to:
receive from the bitstream, a sequence parameter set and a picture parameter set, wherein the video bitstream is indicative of an encoded video sequence of pictures and the bitstream comprises a plurality of layers, including a sequence layer, a picture layer, and a slice layer in a layer hierarchy; and
receive from the bitstream, a picture header associated with the picture layer, and a slice header associated with the slice layer, wherein the picture header associated with the picture layer precedes the slice header associated with the slice layer, wherein the decoder is further configured to receive an identifier referencing the picture parameter set in the picture header, and wherein the decoder is further configured to receive the picture header parameters from a slice header, and to determine whether a flag is provided in any other one or more slice headers in order to use the picture header parameters in corresponding one or mores slices.

12. The decoder of claim 11 , wherein the decoder is further configured to retrieve a start code for the slice header, the sequence parameter set, and the picture parameter set.

13. The decoder of claim 11 , wherein the decoder is further configured to receive the picture header, the slice header, the sequence parameter set and the picture parameter set are provided as network abstraction layer units, wherein each of the plurality of layers is identified with a different network abstraction layer unit type in a network abstraction layer unit header.

14. An apparatus comprising a decoder according to claim 11 and a receiver for receiving the encoded video bitstream.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embedded therein a software program for use in video encoding, said software program comprising:
program code for encoding a video signal into a bitstream, the video signal comprising a sequence of pictures, the bitstream comprising a plurality of layers including a sequence layer, a picture layer, and a slice layer in a layer hierarchy;
program code for providing first information in a picture header associated with the picture layer;
program code for providing second information in a slice header associated with the slice layer;
program code for providing third information in a sequence parameter set associated with the sequence layer; and
program code for providing fourth information in a picture parameter set associated with one or more pictures in the picture layer, wherein the picture header associated with the picture layer precedes the slice header associated with the slice layer, wherein the picture header comprises an identifier referencing the picture parameter set and wherein a slice header

Assignees

• Wang Ye-Kui
• Hannuksela Miska
• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Wang Ye-Kui
• Hannuksela Miska

Classifications

• H04N19/61

  in combination with predictive coding · CPC title

• H04N19/70

  characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards · CPC title

• H04N19/42 Primary

  characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation (H04N19/635 takes precedence) · CPC title