Effective prediction using partition coding

An encoder for encoding into a data stream a depth map of a video signal, the encoder configured to:

• derive a bi-partition of a block of the depth map into first and second portions;
• predict the block of the depth map by determining a first predicted value for the first portion based on values of a first set of neighboring samples of the depth map, or determining a second predicted value for the second portion based on values of a second set of neighboring samples of the depth map, the first and second sets of neighboring samples adjoining the block of the depth map;
• determine a first refinement value associated with the first portion based on a first original value associated with the first portion and the first predicted value, or determining the second refinement value associated with the second portion based on a second original value associated with the second portion and the second predicted value, wherein the first or second refinement value is applied to the first or second predicted value, respectively, for refining the prediction of the block of the depth map, and
• encode, into the data stream, one or more refinement syntax elements representing the first or second refinement value, wherein the one or more refinement syntax elements include a syntax element indicating an absolute value of the first or second refinement value.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing data associated with a video, comprising:

• a data stream stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the data stream comprising one or more refinement syntax elements indicating a first or second refinement value associated with a respective first or second portion of a block of a depth map associated with the video, wherein the one or more refinement syntax elements are encoded using a plurality of operations including:
• deriving a bi-partition of a block of the depth map into the first and second portions;
• predicting the block of the depth map by determining a first predicted value for the first portion based on values of a first set of neighboring samples of the depth map, or determining a second predicted value for the second portion based on values of a second set of neighboring samples of the depth map, the first and second sets of neighboring samples adjoining the block of the depth map;
• determining a first refinement value associated with the first portion based on a first original value associated with the first portion and the first predicted value, or determining the second refinement value associated with the second portion based on a second original value associated with the second portion and the second predicted value, wherein the first or second refinement value is applied to the first or second predicted value, respectively, for refining the prediction of the block of the depth map, and
• encoding, into the data stream, the one or more refinement syntax elements representing the first or second refinement value, wherein the one or more refinement syntax elements include a syntax element indicating an absolute value of the first or second refinement value.