Inheritance in sample array multitree subdivision

A method for reconstructing an array of information samples representing a spatially sampled video information signal, which is subdivided into a multi-tree structure of leaf regions of different sizes by multi-tree subdivision, wherein the multi-tree structure is obtained using a primary sub-division and a sub-ordinate sub-division, such that a tree-root block of the primary sub-division is sub-divided leaf blocks of the primary sub-division which, in turn, form the tree-root blocks of the sub-ordinate sub-division, further sub-divided into leaf regions of the multi-tree structure, each leaf region of the multi-tree structure has associated therewith (a) a hierarchy level out of a sequence of hierarchy levels of the multi-tree subdivision, and (b) coding parameters, which are, for each leaf region, represented by a respective set of syntax elements, the method comprising:

• extracting from the data stream, inheritance information indicating whether inheritance is used, and based on an indication from the inheritance information that inheritance is to be used, at least one inheritance region of the array of information samples which is spatially composed of a set of non-overlapping sub-regions, wherein each of the set of non-overlapping sub-regions has a same resolution as that of the at least one inheritance region,
• responsive to the indication from the inheritance information that inheritance is to be used, extracting from the data stream, at least one syntax element associated with the at least one inheritance region, the at least one syntax element including an intra-prediction mode syntax element,
• decoding, in a residual decoding order, a residual signal for each of the set of non-overlapping sub-regions,
• copying the at least one syntax element associated with the at least one inheritance region as a corresponding syntax element associated with the respective non-overlapping sub-region,
• obtaining, in the residual decoding order, a separate intra prediction signal for each of the set of non-overlapping sub-regions according to an intra-prediction mode indicated by the intra-prediction mode syntax element, and
• reconstructing each of the set of non-overlapping sub-regions by adding the respective intra prediction signal and the respective residual signal.

An encoder for encoding, into a data stream, an array of information samples representing a spatially sampled video information signal, which is subdivided into a multi-tree structure of leaf regions of different sizes by multi-tree subdivision, wherein the multi-tree structure is obtained using a primary sub-division and a sub-ordinate sub-division, such that a tree-root block of the primary sub-division is sub-divided leaf blocks of the primary sub-division which, in turn, form the tree-root blocks of the sub-ordinate sub-division, further sub-divided into leaf regions of the multi-tree structure, each leaf region of the multi-tree structure has associated therewith (a) a hierarchy level out of a sequence of hierarchy levels of the multi-tree subdivision, and (b) coding parameters, which are, for each leaf region, represented by a respective set of syntax elements, the encoder comprising:

• a data stream inserter configure to:
• insert into the data stream, using a processor, inheritance information indicating whether inheritance is used, and based on an indication from the inheritance information that inheritance is to be used, at least one inheritance region of the array of information samples which is spatially composed of a set of non-overlapping sub-regions, wherein each of the set of non-overlapping sub-regions has a same resolution as that of the at least one inheritance region,
• responsive to the indication from the inheritance information that inheritance is to be used, insert into the data stream, using the processor, at least one syntax element associated with the at least one inheritance region, the at least one syntax element including an intra-prediction mode syntax element, and
• insert into the data stream, using the processor, in a residual coding order, a residual signal for each of the set of non-overlapping sub-regions,
• wherein, if inheritance is to be used, the at least one syntax element associated with the at least one inheritance region is to be copied as a corresponding syntax element associated with the respective non-overlapping sub-region,
• a separate intra prediction signal for each of the set of non-overlapping sub-regions is to be obtained according to the residual coding order, and an intra-prediction mode indicated by the intra-prediction mode syntax element, and
• each of the set of non-overlapping sub-regions is to be reconstructed by adding the respective intra prediction signal and the respective residual signal.