Methods and apparatuses for multi-view video coding

1. A video encoder, comprising:

an encoder for encoding a block in a picture by choosing between temporal prediction and cross-view prediction to enable a prediction for the block, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing one of the different view points,

wherein a high-level syntax is used to indicate the use of cross-view prediction for the block, and wherein said encoder mixes a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

2. The video encoder of claim 1 , wherein said encoder encodes the picture to provide a resultant bit stream compliant with at least one of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding standard/International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Sector H.264 recommendation and an extension thereto.

3. The video encoder of claim 1 , wherein the high-level syntax comprises a slice-level syntax.

4. A video encoder, comprising:

an encoder for encoding a block in a picture using a disparity vector, wherein the picture corresponds to multi-view video content and is encoded to provide a resultant bit stream compliant with at least one of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding standard/International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Sector H.264 recommendation and an extension thereto, and wherein said encoder mixes a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

5. The video encoder of claim 4 , wherein said encoder encodes the block using at least one of a motion vector predictor that only refers to a corresponding motion vector field and a disparity vector predictor that only refers to a corresponding disparity vector field, the motion vector field and the disparity vector field included in the separate vector fields.

6. A video encoding method, comprising:

encoding a block in a picture by choosing between temporal prediction and cross-view prediction to enable a prediction for the block, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing one of the different view points,

wherein a high-level syntax is used to indicate the use of cross-view prediction for the block, and wherein said encoding step mixes a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said encoding step encodes the picture to provide a resultant bit stream compliant with at least one of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding standard/International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Sector H.264 recommendation and an extension thereto.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the high-level syntax comprises a slice-level syntax.

9. A video encoding method, comprising:

encoding a block in a picture using a disparity vector, wherein the picture corresponds to multi-view video content and is encoded to provide a resultant bit stream compliant with at least one of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding standard/International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Sector H.264 recommendation and an extension thereto, and wherein said encoding mixes a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said encoding step encodes the block using at least one of a motion vector predictor that only refers to a corresponding motion vector field and a disparity vector predictor that only refers to a corresponding disparity vector field, the motion vector field and the disparity vector field included in the separate vector fields.

11. A video decoder, comprising:

a decoder for decoding a block in a picture by choosing between temporal prediction and cross-view prediction to enable a prediction for the block, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing one of the different view points,

wherein a high-level syntax is read to determine the use of cross-view prediction for the block, and wherein said decoder mixes a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

12. The video decoder of claim 11 , wherein said decoder decodes the picture from a bit stream compliant with at least one of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding standard/International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Sector H.264 recommendation and an extension thereto.

13. The video decoder of claim 11 , wherein the high-level syntax comprises a slice-level syntax.

14. A video decoder, comprising:

a decoder for decoding a block in a picture using a disparity vector, wherein the picture corresponds to multi-view video content and is decoded from a bit stream compliant with at least one of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding standard/International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Sector H.264 recommendation and an extension thereto, and wherein said decoder mixes a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

15. The video decoder of claim 14 , wherein said decoder decodes the block using at least one of a motion vector predictor that only refers to a corresponding motion vector field and a disparity vector predictor that only refers to a corresponding disparity vector field, the motion vector field and the disparity vector field included in the separate vector fields.

16. A video decoding method, comprising:

decoding a block in a picture by choosing between temporal prediction and cross-view prediction to enable a prediction for the block, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing one of the different view points,

wherein a high-level syntax is read to determine the use of cross-view prediction for the block, and wherein said decoding step mixes a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said decoding step decodes the picture from a bit stream compliant with at least one of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding standard/International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Sector H.264 recommendation and an extension thereto.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the high-level syntax comprises a slice-level syntax.

19. A video decoding method, comprising:

decoding a block in a picture using a disparity vector, wherein the picture corresponds to multi-view video content and is decoded from a bit stream compliant with at least one of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding standard/International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Sector H.264 recommendation and an extension thereto, and wherein said decoding step mixes a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said decoding step decodes the block using at least one of a motion vector predictor that only refers to a corresponding motion vector field and a disparity vector predictor that only refers to a corresponding disparity vector field, the motion vector field and the disparity vector field included in the separate vector fields.

21. A non-transitory storage media having video signal data encoded thereupon, comprising:

a block in a picture encoded by choosing between temporal prediction and cross-view prediction to enable a prediction for the block, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing one of the different view points,

wherein a slice-level syntax is used to indicate the use of cross-view prediction for the block, and wherein the block is encoded by mixing a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

22. A non-transitory storage media having video signal data encoded thereupon, comprising:

a block in a picture encoded by choosing between temporal prediction and cross-view prediction to enable a prediction for the block, the picture being one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene, the picture representing one of the different view points,

wherein a block-level syntax is used to indicate whether motion compensation or disparity compensation is applied to the block, and wherein the block is encoded by mixing a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.

23. A non-transitory storage media having video signal data encoded thereupon, comprising:

a block in a picture encoded using a disparity vector, wherein the picture corresponds to multi-view video content and is encoded to provide a resultant bit stream compliant with at least one of the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission Moving Picture Experts Group-4 Part 10 Advanced Video Coding standard/International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Sector H.264 recommendation and an extension thereto, and wherein the block is encoded by mixing a motion vector and a disparity vector, both corresponding to the block, in a single vector field.