Prediction for matched patch index coding

An encoding device for point cloud encoding, the encoding device comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• generate, for a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud, a first frame and a second frame that include patches representing a cluster of points of the 3D point cloud at different instances in time;
• identify a current index and a reference index, the current index corresponds to a current patch included in the second frame and the reference index corresponds to a reference patch included in the first frame, wherein the current patch and the reference patch match;
• identify a predictor index for the current patch;
• generate a delta index based on the predictor index and the reference index;
• and
• encode the first frame, the second frame, and the delta index to generate a compressed bitstream;
• and
• a communication interface operably coupled to the processor, the communication interface configured to transmit the compressed bitstream.

A method for point cloud decoding comprising:

• receiving a compressed bitstream;
• decoding, from the compressed bitstream, a first frame and a second frame that is associated with a delta index, wherein the first frame and the second frame include patches that represent a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud at different instances in time;
• determining, based on decoding the delta index, that at least one of the patches included in the second frame match a corresponding patch included in the first frame;
• identifying a current index of a current patch included in the second frame;
• identifying a predictor index for the current patch;
• identifying a reference index associated with a reference patch in the first frame based on the delta index and the predictor index, wherein the reference patch matches the current patch;
• and
• generating the 3D point cloud using the first frame, the second frame, and the reference patch.