Method, apparatus and system for multiple-layer scalable video coding

A system for encoding and decoding a video sequence of pictures, comprising:

• an encoder capable of
• generating data associated with a source video sequence, at least a first body of data being sufficient to permit generation of a first view able video sequence of lesser quality than is represented by the source video sequence;
• generating at least a second body of data, dependent upon the source video sequence and a reconstructed portion of the first body of data, being sufficient to enhance the quality of the first viewable video sequence generated by the first body of data;
• a decoder capable of
• undoing the adjustment made by the encoder.

A system for encoding and decoding a video sequence of pictures, comprising:

• an encoder capable of
• generating at least a first body of data;
• generating at least a second body of data, dependent upon the video sequence and a reconstructed portion of the first body of data;
• and
• causing the computer to reuse circuitry associated with generating the at least first body of data for generating the at least second body of data;
• a decoder capable of
• performing decoding operations on the first and second bodies of data;
• and
• causing the computer to reuse circuitry associated with generating the at least first body of data for generating the at least second body of data.

A method for encoding and decoding a video sequence of pictures, comprising:

• generating data associated with a source video sequence, at least a first body of data being sufficient to permit generation of a first viewable video sequence of lesser quality than is represented by the source video sequence;
• generating at least a second body of data, dependent upon the source video sequence and a reconstructed portion of the first body of data, being sufficient to enhance the quality of the first viewable video sequence generated by the first body of data;
• and
• decoding the at least the first and second body of data.

A method for encoding and decoding a video sequence of pictures, comprising:

• generating at least a first body of data;
• generating at least a second body of data, dependent upon the video sequence and a reconstructed portion of the first body of data;
• reusing circuitry associated with generating the at least first body of data for generating the at least second body of data;
• performing decoding operations on the first and second bodies of data;
• and
• reusing circuitry associated with decoding the at least first body of data for decoding the at least second body of data.

A method for encoding comprising:

• generating at least a first body of data;
• generating at least a second body of data, dependent upon the video sequence and a reconstructed portion of the first body of data;
• and
• reusing circuitry associated with generating the at least first body of data for generating the at least second body of data.