Method and apparatus for video coding

1. A method for video decoding in a decoder, comprising:

decoding prediction information of a current block from a coded video bitstream, the prediction information being indicative of a merge flag being false;

decoding at least an additional flag in response to the merge flag being false, the additional flag being for selecting a specific inter prediction mode from a subset of available inter prediction modes, inter prediction modes in the subset being associated with the merge flag being false; and

reconstructing samples of the current block according to the specific inter prediction mode,

wherein the subset comprises two or more of a merge with motion vector difference (MMVD) inter prediction mode, a subblock based temporal motion vector predictor (SbTMVP) prediction mode, a combined inter and intra prediction (CIIP) inter prediction mode, a triangle inter prediction mode, an affine merge inter prediction mode, an advanced motion vector predictor (AMVP) inter prediction mode, and an affine AMVP inter prediction mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the inter prediction modes in the subset uses a motion vector difference in prediction.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AMVP inter prediction mode is not in the subset.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AMVP inter prediction mode is in the subset.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

decoding, when a first flag is indicative of an affine mode, a second flag that is used to select one from the affine merge inter prediction mode and the affine AMVP inter prediction mode.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

decoding flags respectively corresponding to the inter prediction modes in the subset to select the specific inter prediction mode.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

decoding flags respectively corresponding to the inter prediction modes in the subset that are ordered before a last one in the subset; and

selecting the last one when the flags are false.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

decoding an index that is indicative of the specific inter prediction mode from the inter prediction modes in the subset.

9. An apparatus for video decoding, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

decode prediction information of a current block from a coded video bitstream, the prediction information being indicative of a merge flag being false;

decode at least an additional flag in response to the merge flag being false, the additional flag being for selecting a specific inter prediction mode from a subset of available inter prediction modes, inter prediction modes in the subset being associated with the merge flag being false; and

reconstruct samples of the current block according to the specific inter prediction mode,

wherein the subset comprises two or more of a merge with motion vector difference (MMVD) inter prediction mode, a subblock based temporal motion vector predictor (SbTMVP) prediction mode, a combined inter and intra prediction (CIIP) inter prediction mode, a triangle inter prediction mode, an affine merge inter prediction mode, an advanced motion vector predictor (AMVP) inter prediction mode, and an affine AMVP inter prediction mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each of the inter prediction modes in the subset uses a motion vector difference in prediction.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the AMVP inter prediction mode is not in the subset.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the AMVP inter prediction mode is in the subset.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

decode, when a first flag is indicative of an affine mode, a second flag that is used to select one from the affine merge inter prediction mode and the affine AMVP inter prediction mode.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

decode flags respectively corresponding to the inter prediction modes in the subset to select the specific inter prediction mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

decode flags respectively corresponding to the inter prediction modes in the subset that are ordered before a last one in the subset; and

select the last one when the flags are false.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

decode an index that is indicative of the specific inter prediction mode from the inter prediction modes in the subset.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform:

decoding prediction information of a current block from a coded video bitstream, the prediction information being indicative of a merge flag being false;

decoding at least an additional flag in response to the merge flag being false, the additional flag being for selecting a specific inter prediction mode from a subset of available inter prediction modes, inter prediction modes in the subset being associated with the merge flag being false; and

reconstructing samples of the current block according to the specific inter prediction mode,

wherein the subset comprises two or more of a merge with motion vector difference (MMVD) inter prediction mode, a subblock based temporal motion vector predictor (SbTMVP) prediction mode, a combined inter and intra prediction (CIIP) inter prediction mode, a triangle inter prediction mode, an affine merge inter prediction mode, an advanced motion vector predictor (AMVP) inter prediction mode, and an affine AMVP inter prediction mode.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein each of the inter prediction modes in the subset uses a motion vector difference in prediction.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions which when executed by the computer further cause the computer to perform:

decoding, when a first flag is indicative of an affine mode, a second flag that is used to select one from the affine merge inter prediction mode and the affine AMVP inter prediction mode.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions which when executed by the computer further cause the computer to perform:

decoding an index that is indicative of the specific inter prediction mode from the inter prediction modes in the subset.