Scalability using temporal sublayers

A method for decoding at least two lower spatial resolution pictures A0 and A1 and two corresponding higher spatial resolution pictures B0 and B1 from a bitstream, wherein A0 and B0 share the same content time stamp and A1 and B1 share the same content time stamp, the method comprising:

• decoding a picture A0 from the bitstream, wherein a temporal ID value equal to A and an output order or timestamp value equal to T0 are decoded from the bitstream for picture A0;
• decoding a picture B0 from the bitstream, wherein a temporal ID value equal to B and an output order or timestamp value equal to T1 are decoded from the bitstream for picture B0, wherein B represents a higher temporal layer than A, and wherein T1 represents a later output than T0, and wherein picture B0 uses picture A0 for Inter prediction;
• decoding a picture A1 from the bitstream, wherein a temporal ID value equal to A and an output order or timestamp value equal to T2 are decoded from the bitstream for picture A1, wherein T2 represents a later output than T1, and wherein picture A1 uses picture A0 for Inter prediction;
• decoding a picture B1 from the bitstream, wherein a temporal ID value equal to B and an output order or timestamp value equal to T3 are decoded from the bitstream for picture B1, wherein T3 represents a later output than T2, and wherein picture B1 uses picture A1 and picture B0 for Inter prediction;
• and
• outputting pictures B0 and B1 but not outputting pictures A0 or A1.

An apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• and
• memory coupled with the processing circuitry, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processing circuitry causes the apparatus to:
• obtain an indication I1 that specifies that the decoder should not output pictures belonging to a temporal layer T1;
• decode at least one picture P1 from a bitstream wherein picture(s) P1 belong to the temporal layer T1;
• decode at least one picture P2 from a bitstream wherein picture(s) P2 belong to one temporal layer T2 not equal to T1;
• responsive to receiving the indication I1, suppress output of the at least one picture P1;
• and
• output the at least one picture P2.

An apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• and
• memory coupled with the processing circuitry, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processing circuitry causes the apparatus to:
• decode a picture A0 from the bitstream, wherein a temporal ID value equal to A and an output order or timestamp value equal to T0 are decoded from the bitstream for picture A0;
• decode a picture B0 from the bitstream, wherein a temporal ID value equal to B and an output order or timestamp value equal to T1 are decoded from the bitstream for picture B0, wherein B represents a higher temporal layer than A, and wherein T1 represents a later output than T0, and wherein picture B0 uses picture A0 for Inter prediction;
• decode a picture A1 from the bitstream, wherein a temporal ID value equal to A and an output order or timestamp value equal to T2 are decoded from the bitstream for picture A1, wherein T2 represents a later output than T1, and wherein picture A1 uses picture A0 for Inter prediction;
• decode a picture B1 from the bitstream, wherein a temporal ID value equal to B and an output order or timestamp value equal to T3 are decoded from the bitstream for picture B1, wherein T3 represents a later output than T2, and wherein picture B1 uses picture A1 and picture B0 for Inter prediction;
• and
• output pictures B0 and B1 but not output pictures A0 or A1.