ENCODING AND/OR DECODING 3D INFORMATION

1 . A system for encoding three dimensional (3D) information, the system comprising:

an input terminal configured to

receive a signal including frames in a 3D video sequence;

receive caption information to appear in a caption window associated with the frames;

receive disparity information associated with the frames;

a processor configured to

determine frame disparity maps based on the disparity information associated with the frames,

wherein the frame disparity maps are determined by dividing at least a part of a frame in the frames into a plurality of grid cells in a grid, the grid cells defining a disparity measure associated with their respective grid location in the grid, and

wherein a number of grid cells in the plurality are operable to form a caption window disparity map associated with the caption window, the caption window disparity map being dividable into equivalent size portions with the portions including an equivalent amount of grid cells; and

encode the frames, the caption information and the frame disparity maps.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to

determine disparity region data and disparity plane data including

determining a number of disparity regions associated with a number of disparity planes including

dividing an area of a frame disparity map into at least one disparity region associated with at least one disparity plane

wherein the grid cells within the at least one disparity region on the at least one disparity plane have an equivalent disparity measure; and

incorporate the determined disparity region data and the disparity plane data into the frame disparity maps.

3 . A method for encoding three dimensional (3D) information, the method comprising:

receiving a signal including frames in a 3D video sequence;

receiving caption information to appear in a caption window associated with the frames;

receiving disparity information associated with the frames;

determining, utilizing a processor, frame disparity maps based on the disparity information associated with the frames,

wherein the frame disparity maps are determined by dividing at least a part of a frame in the frames into a plurality of grid cells in a grid, the grid cells defining a disparity measure associated with their respective grid location in the grid, and

wherein a number of grid cells in the plurality are operable to form a caption window disparity map associated with the caption window, the caption window disparity map being dividable into equivalent size portions with the portions including an equivalent amount of grid cells; and

encoding the frames, the caption information and the frame disparity maps.

4 . The method of claim 3 , the method further comprising

determining disparity region data and disparity plane data including

determining a number of disparity regions associated with a number of disparity planes including

dividing an area of a frame disparity map into at least one disparity region associated with at least one disparity plane

wherein the grid cells within the at least one disparity region on the at least one disparity plane have an equivalent disparity measure; and

incorporating the determined disparity region data and the disparity plane data into the frame disparity maps.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the transmitted encoded frame disparity maps are packaged in one of picture user data and supplemental enhancement information (SEI) in a transmitted transport stream.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the transmitted encoded frame disparity maps are packaged separately from the transmitted caption information in a transmitted transport stream.

7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the caption window disparity map is dividable into equivalent size quadrants including an equivalent amount of grid cells.

8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein a quadrant of the caption window disparity map is dividable into equivalent size quadrants including an equivalent amount of grid cells.

9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) storing computer readable instructions which, when executed by a computer system, perform a method for encoding three dimensional (3D) information, the method comprising:

receiving a signal including frames in a 3D video sequence;

receiving caption information to appear in a caption window associated with the frames;

receiving disparity information associated with the frames;

determining, utilizing a processor, frame disparity maps based on the disparity information associated with the frames,

wherein the frame disparity maps are determined by dividing at least a part of a frame in the frames into a plurality of grid cells in a grid, the grid cells defining a disparity measure associated with their respective grid location in the grid, and

wherein a number of grid cells in the plurality are operable to form a caption window disparity map associated with the caption window, the caption window disparity map being dividable into equivalent size portions with the portions including an equivalent amount of grid cells; and

encoding the frames, the caption information and the frame disparity maps.

10 . The CRM of claim 9 , the method further comprising

determining disparity region data and disparity plane data including

determining a number of disparity regions associated with a number of disparity planes including

dividing an area of a frame disparity map into at least one disparity region associated with at least one disparity plane

wherein the grid cells within the at least one disparity region on the at least one disparity plane have an equivalent disparity measure; and

incorporating the determined disparity region data and the disparity plane data into the frame disparity maps.

11 . A system for decoding encoded three dimensional (3D) information, the system comprising:

an input terminal configured to

receive encoded frames in a 3D video sequence;

receive encoded caption information, operable to appear in a caption window, associated with the encoded frames;

receive encoded frame disparity maps associated with the encoded frames;

a processor configured to

decode the received encoded frames, the received encoded caption information, and the received encoded frame disparity maps;

identify a location of a caption window in the decoded frames;

determine caption window disparity maps utilizing the decoded frame disparity maps based on the location of the caption window in the decoded frames; and

display the caption information in the caption windows utilizing the determined caption window disparity maps.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to decode the encoded frame disparity maps including incorporated disparity region data and disparity plane data obtained by

determining a number of disparity regions associated with a number of disparity planes by

dividing an area of a frame disparity map into at least one disparity region associated with at least one disparity plane and the grid cells within the at least one disparity region on the at least one disparity plane have an equivalent disparity measure.

13 . A method for decoding encoded three dimensional (3D) information, the method comprising:

receiving encoded frames in a 3D video sequence;

receiving encoded caption information, operable to appear in a caption window, associated with the encoded frames;

receiving encoded frame disparity maps associated with the encoded frames;

decoding, utilizing a processor, the received encoded frames, the received encoded caption information, and the received encoded frame disparity maps;

identifying a location of a caption window in the decoded frames;

determining caption window disparity maps utilizing the decoded frame disparity maps based on the location of the caption window in the decoded frames; and

displaying the caption information in the caption windows utilizing the determined caption window disparity maps.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the encoded frame disparity maps include incorporated disparity region data and disparity plane data obtained by

determining a number of disparity regions associated with a number of disparity planes by

dividing an area of a frame disparity map into at least one disparity region associated with at least one disparity plane and the grid cells within the at least one disparity region on the at least one disparity plane have an equivalent disparity measure.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the received encoded frame disparity maps are packaged in one of picture user data and supplemental enhancement information (SEI) in a received transport stream.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the received encoded frame disparity maps are packaged separately from the received caption information in a received transport stream.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the caption window disparity map is dividable into equivalent quadrants including an equivalent amount of grid cells.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a quadrant of the caption window disparity map is dividable into equivalent quadrants including an equivalent amount of grid cells.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) storing computer readable instructions which, when executed by a computer system, perform a method of decoding encoded three dimensional (3D) information, the method comprising:

receiving encoded frames in a 3D video sequence;

receiving encoded caption information, operable to appear in a caption window, associated with the encoded frames;

receiving encoded frame disparity maps associated with the encoded frames;

decoding, utilizing a processor, the received encoded frames, the received encoded caption information, and the received encoded frame disparity maps;

identifying a location of a caption window in the decoded frames;

determining caption window disparity maps utilizing the frame disparity maps based on the location of the caption window in the decoded frames; and

displaying the caption information in the caption windows utilizing the determined caption window disparity maps.

20 . The CRM of claim 19 , wherein the encoded frame disparity maps include incorporated disparity region data and disparity plane data obtained by

determining a number of disparity regions associated with a number of disparity planes by

dividing an area of a frame disparity map into at least one disparity region associated with at least one disparity plane and the grid cells within the at least one disparity region on the at least one disparity plane have an equivalent disparity measure.