Inter-layer prediction for extended spatial scalability in video coding

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for deriving a coding mode indicator specifying a partition of an enhancement layer block based at least in part on a plurality of reference frame index values corresponding to a plurality of reference layer blocks, wherein the reference layer blocks that have the same reference frame index are merged to derive the partition size;
• and
• encoding the enhancement layer block utilizing the coding mode indicator.

A method for decoding an enhancement layer block representing at least a portion of a video frame within a scalable bit stream, comprising:

• deriving a coding mode indicator specifying a partition of the enhancement layer block based at least in part on a plurality of reference frame index values corresponding to a plurality of reference layer blocks, wherein the reference layer blocks that have the same reference frame index are merged to derive the partition size;
• and
• decoding the enhancement layer block utilizing the coding mode indicator.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for deriving a coding mode indicator specifying a partition of an enhancement layer block based at least in part on a plurality of reference frame index values corresponding to a plurality of reference layer blocks, wherein the reference layer blocks that have the same reference frame index are merged to derive the partition size;
• and
• means for decoding the enhancement layer block utilizing the coding mode indicator.

A method for encoding an enhancement layer block representing at least a portion of a video frame within a scalable bit stream, comprising:

• deriving partition and motion vector information for the enhancement layer block based upon partition and motion vector information from a plurality of reference blocks;
• and
• encoding the enhancement layer block utilizing the partition and motion vector information.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for deriving partition and motion vector information for an enhancement layer block based upon partition and motion vector information from a plurality of reference blocks;
• and
• means for encoding the enhancement layer block utilizing the partition and motion vector information.

A method of decoding an enhancement layer block representing at least a portion of a video frame within a scalable bit stream, comprising:

• deriving partition and motion vector information for the enhancement layer block based upon partition and motion vector information from a plurality of reference blocks;
• and
• decoding the enhancement layer block utilizing the partition and motion vector information.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for deriving partition and motion vector information for an enhancement layer block based upon partition and motion vector information from a plurality of reference blocks;
• and
• means for decoding the enhancement layer block utilizing the partition and motion vector information.