Representation and Coding of Multi-View Images Using Tapestry Encoding

A method for generating at least one view of a scene from a tapestry image, each of the at least one view being associated with one desired viewpoint of the scene, the method comprising:

• providing the tapestry image;
• wherein the tapestry image comprises a 2 D array of pixels comprising information from a plurality of views associated with the scene;
• providing a coordinates map associated with the tapestry image;
• wherein the position data associated with the pixels of the tapestry image comprise depth data for each pixel in the tapestry image;
• and wherein the position data associated with the pixels of the tapestry image further comprise horizontal disparity data and/or vertical disparity data for each pixel in the tapestry image;
• deriving one or more views of the scene based on the tapestry image and the coordinates map.

An encoding system adapted to receive a plurality of input views of a scene, comprising:

• a tapestry generator adapted to generate a tapestry image and a coordinates map based on the plurality of input views;
• wherein the tapestry image comprises a 2 D array of pixels comprising information from the plurality of input views of the scene;
• wherein the position data associated with the pixels of the tapestry image comprise depth data for each pixel in the tapestry image;
• and wherein the position data associated with the pixels of the tapestry image further comprise horizontal disparity data and/or vertical disparity data for each pixel in the tapestry image;
• and
• an encoder adapted to encode the tapestry image and the coordinates map into a bitstream.

A decoding system adapted to receive a bitstream associated with a scene and adapted to generate one or more output images, comprising:

• a decoder adapted to decode a tapestry image and a coordinates map from the bitstream, wherein the tapestry image and the coordinates map are associated with a plurality of input views of the scene;
• wherein the tapestry image comprises a 2 D array of pixels comprising information from the plurality of input views of the scene;
• wherein the position data associated with the pixels of the tapestry image comprise depth data for each pixel in the tapestry image;
• and wherein the position data associated with the pixels of the tapestry image further comprise horizontal disparity data and/or vertical disparity data for each pixel in the tapestry image;
• and
• a view generation unit adapted to derive the one or more output images of the scene based on the tapestry image and the coordinates map.