Restricting inter-layer prediction based on a maximum number of motion-compensated layers in high efficiency video coding (HEVC) extensions

A method of encoding video information, comprising:

• receiving video data associated with a plurality of layers to be provided in a bitstream, the plurality of layers comprising a current layer and one or more lower layers;
• determining a layer-level restriction on a number of layers in the bitstream for which reconstruction is to be performed to decode the current layer based on inter-layer prediction, wherein the layer-level restriction comprises a restricted number that is greater than or equal to 1 but less than a total number of layers in the bitstream for which reconstruction may be performed to decode the current layer;
• and
• restricting, based on the determined layer-level restriction on the number of layers in the bitstream for which reconstruction is to be performed, the inter-layer prediction of the current layer such that decoding the entire current layer does not require reconstruction of more than the restricted number, the bitstream comprising the restricted number of layers and at least one additional layer other than the restricted number of layers.

A video coding apparatus, comprising:

• means for storing video data associated with a plurality of layers to be provided in a bitstream, the plurality of layers comprising a current layer and one or more lower layers;
• means for determining a layer-level restriction on a number of layers in the bitstream for which reconstruction is to be performed to decode the current layer based on inter-layer prediction, wherein the layer-level restriction comprises a restricted number that is greater than or equal to 1 but less than a total number of layers in the bitstream for which reconstruction may be performed to decode the current layer;
• and
• means for restricting, based on the determined layer-level restriction on the number of layers in the bitstream for which reconstruction is to be performed, the inter-layer prediction of the current layer such that decoding the entire current layer does not require reconstruction of more than the restricted number, the bitstream comprising the restricted number of layers and at least one additional layer other than the restricted number of layers.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon code that when executed causes an apparatus to:

• receive video data associated with a plurality of layers to be provided in a bitstream, the plurality of layers comprising a current layer and one or more lower layers;
• determine a layer-level restriction on a number of layers in the bitstream for which reconstruction is to be performed to decode the current layer based on inter-layer prediction, wherein the layer-level restriction comprises a restricted number that is greater than or equal to 1 but less than a total number of layers in the bitstream for which reconstruction may be performed to decode the current layer;
• and
• restrict, based on the determined layer-level restriction on the number of layers in the bitstream for which reconstruction is to be performed, the inter-layer prediction of the current layer such that decoding the entire current layer does not require reconstruction of more than the restricted number, the bitstream comprising the restricted number of layers and at least one additional layer other than the restricted number of layers.