Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding multilayer videos

1. A method for generating a higher-layer stream in a multilayer video encoding system in which a lower layer uses a codec that is different from a codec used by a higher layer simultaneously, the method comprising:

including, in a higher-layer stream of the higher layer, an identifier for identifying a codec to be used for decoding the higher-layer stream; and

including, in the higher-layer stream, information indicating features of the higher-layer stream and information indicating a relationship between the higher-layer stream and a lower-layer stream of the lower layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information indicating the features of the higher-layer stream includes layer Identifier (ID) information for identifying the higher layer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information indicating the relationship between the higher-layer stream and the lower-layer stream includes lower-layer stream type information indicating a stream type of the lower layer, and lower-layer format identifier information indicating a format identifier of a codec for a user private stream if the stream type of the lower layer corresponds to the codec for the user private stream.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the codec used in the lower layer includes at least one of an MPEG-2 codec, an H.262 codec, an MPEG-4 codec, an H.264 codec, and a VC-1 codec.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the codec for the higher-layer stream includes a VC-4 codec.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower layer is a base layer and the lower layer stream is a base layer stream.

7. An apparatus for generating a higher-layer stream in a multilayer video encoding system in which a lower layer uses a codec that is different from a codec used by a higher layer simultaneously, the apparatus comprising:

a higher-layer packet generator which includes, in a higher-layer stream of the higher layer, an identifier for identifying a codec to be used for decoding the higher layer stream, information indicating features of the higher-layer stream and information indicating a relationship between the higher-layer stream and a lower-layer stream of the lower layer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the information indicating the features of the higher-layer stream includes layer Identifier (ID) information for identifying the higher layer.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the information indicating the relationship between the higher-layer stream and the lower-layer stream includes lower-layer stream type information indicating a stream type of the lower layer, and lower-layer format identifier information indicating a format identifier of a codec for a user private stream if the stream type of the lower layer corresponds to the codec for the user private stream.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the codec used in the lower layer includes at least one of an MPEG-2 codec, an H.262 codec, an MPEG-4 codec, an H.264 codec, and a VC-1 codec.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the codec for the higher-layer stream includes a VC-4 codec.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the lower layer is a base layer and the lower layer stream is a base layer stream.

13. A method for decoding a bit stream in a multilayer video decoding system in which a lower layer uses a codec that is different from a codec used by a higher layer simultaneously, the method comprising:

receiving a bit stream including a higher-layer stream of the higher layer and a lower-layer stream of the lower layer, the higher-layer stream including an identifier for identifying the codec to be used for decoding the higher-layer stream, information indicating features of the higher-layer stream, and information indicating a relationship between the higher-layer stream and the lower-layer stream;

demultiplexing the higher-layer stream and the lower-layer stream from the bit stream;

decoding the lower-layer stream; and

decoding the higher-layer stream based on the identifier and the information indicating the features of the higher-layer stream.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the information indicating the features of the higher-layer stream includes layer Identifier (ID) information for identifying the higher layer.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the information indicating the relationship between the higher-layer stream and the lower-layer stream includes lower-layer stream type information indicating a stream type of the lower layer, and lower-layer format identifier information indicating a format identifier of a codec for a user private stream if the stream type of the lower layer corresponds to the codec for the user private stream.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the codec used in the lower layer includes at least one of an MPEG-2 codec, an H.262 codec, an MPEG-4 codec, an H.264 codec, and a VC-1 codec.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the codec for the higher-layer stream includes a VC-4 codec.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the lower layer is a base layer and the lower layer stream is a base layer stream.

19. An apparatus for decoding a bit stream in a multilayer video decoding system in which a lower layer uses a codec that is different from a codec used by a higher layer simultaneously, the apparatus comprising:

a demultiplexer which receives a bit stream including a higher-layer stream of the higher layer and a lower-layer stream of the lower layer, the higher-layer stream including at least one of an identifier for identifying a codec to be used for decoding the higher-layer stream, information indicating features of the higher-layer stream, and information indicating a relationship between the higher-layer stream and the lower-layer stream, and which demultiplexes the higher-layer stream and the lower-layer stream from the bit stream;

a base-layer decoder which decodes the lower-layer stream; and

a higher-layer decoder which decodes the higher-layer stream based on the identifier and the information indicating the features of the higher-layer stream.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the information indicating the features of the higher-layer stream includes layer Identifier (ID) information for identifying the higher layer.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the information indicating the relationship between the higher-layer stream and the lower-layer stream includes lower-layer stream type information indicating a stream type of the lower layer, and lower-layer format identifier information indicating a format identifier of a codec for a user private stream if the stream type of the lower layer corresponds to the codec for the user private stream.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the codec used in the lower layer includes at least one of an MPEG-2 codec, an H.262 codec, an MPEG-4 codec, an H.264 codec, and a VC-1 codec.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the codec for the higher-layer stream includes a VC-4 codec.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the lower layer is a base layer and the lower layer stream is a base layer stream.

25. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a bit stream processable by a computer, the bit stream comprising:

a higher layer stream of a higher layer; and

a lower layer stream of a lower layer,

wherein the higher layer stream includes information used by the computer to process the higher layer stream, an identifier for identifying a codec to be used for decoding the higher layer stream, the information indicating at least one of features of the higher-layer stream and a relationship between the higher-layer stream and the lower-layer stream, and

in which a lower layer uses a codec that is different from a codec used by a higher layer simultaneously.

26. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program executable by a computer for performing the method of claim 1 .

27. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program executable by a computer for performing the method of claim 13 .