Method for video coding and an apparatus, a computer-program product, a system, and a module for the same

1. A method, comprising:

encoding information of at least two short-term reference picture sets into a bitstream;

encoding into the bitstream a structure of pictures description including a supplemental enhancement information message with a reference picture index that provides an indication as to which one of the at least two short-term reference picture sets is to be used for decoding by a picture in question within the structure of pictures, the structure of pictures comprising two or more consecutive pictures in decoding order and temporal identification of the two or more consecutive pictures; and

encoding pictures according to the structure of pictures description into the bitstream to permit dependencies between encoded pictures to be deduced from the structure of pictures description.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising encoding the structure of pictures description into a sequence parameter set.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising collecting at least one structure of pictures description into a description of a sequence of structures of pictures.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising including a reference to a structure of pictures description into a coded video sequence description.

5. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising including a reference to a description of a sequence of structures of pictures into a coded video sequence description.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing a slice header with an index identifying the structure of pictures, where a picture in question belongs to, and with an order number identifying the picture in question within said structure of pictures.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

encode information of at least two short-term reference picture sets into a bitstream,

encode into the bitstream a structure of pictures description including a supplemental enhancement information message with a reference picture index that provides an indication as to which one of the at least two short-term reference picture sets is to be used for decoding by a picture in question within the structure of pictures, the structure of pictures comprising two or more consecutive pictures in decoding order and temporal identification of the two or more consecutive pictures; and

encode pictures according to the structure of pictures description into the bitstream to permit dependencies between encoded pictures to be deduced from the structure of pictures description.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor comprises at least one memory that contains computer program code that if executed by the processor cause the apparatus to encode the structure of pictures description into a sequence parameter set.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor comprises at least one memory that contains computer program code that if executed by the processor cause the apparatus to collect at least one structure of pictures description into a description of a sequence of structures of pictures.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor comprises at least one memory that contains computer program code that if executed by the processor cause the apparatus to include a reference to a structure of pictures description into a coded video sequence description.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor comprises at least one memory that contains computer program code that if executed by the processor cause the apparatus to include a reference to a description of a sequence of structures of pictures into a coded video sequence description.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor comprises at least one memory that contains computer program code that if executed by the processor cause the apparatus to provide a slice header with an index identifying the structure of pictures, where a picture in question belongs to, and with an order number identifying the picture in question within said structure of pictures.

13. An apparatus, comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

decode information of at least two short-term reference picture sets from a bitstream;

decode from the bitstream a structure of pictures description including a supplemental enhancement information message with a reference picture index that provides an indication as to which one of the at least two short-term reference picture sets is to be used for decoding by a picture in question within the structure of pictures, the structure of pictures comprising two or more consecutive pictures in decoding order and temporal identification of the two or more consecutive pictures; and

decode pictures according to the structure of pictures description from the bitstream, wherein decoding pictures according to the structure of pictures description comprises permitting dependencies between encoded pictures to be deduced from the structure of pictures description.

14. A method, comprising

decoding information of at least two short-term reference picture sets from a bitstream;

decoding from the bitstream a structure of pictures description including a supplemental enhancement information message with a reference picture index that provides an indication as to which one of the at least two short-term reference picture sets is to be used for decoding by a picture in question within the structure of pictures, the structure of pictures comprising two or more consecutive pictures in decoding order and temporal identification of the two or more consecutive pictures; and

decoding pictures according to the structure of pictures description from the bitstream, wherein decoding pictures according to the structure of pictures description comprises permitting dependencies between encoded pictures to be deduced from the structure of pictures description.