Depth helper data

3D destination device for receiving a three dimensional [3D] video signal from a 3D source device,

• the 3D video signal comprising:
• first video information representing a left eye view on a 3D display,
• second video information representing a right eye view on the 3D display,
• the 3D destination device comprising:
• receiver for receiving the 3D video signal,
• a stereo-to-depth convertor for generating a first generated depth map based on the first and second video information,
• wherein
• the 3D source device is arranged for
• providing a source depth map relating to the video information, and
• the 3D source device comprises
• a source stereo-to-depth convertor for generating a second generated depth map based on the first and second video information, and
• a source depth processor arranged for providing depth helper data only when a difference between the source depth map and the second generated depth map exceeds a predetermined threshold, the depth helper data representing the source depth map, and
• the output unit is arranged for including the depth helper data in the 3D video signal, and
• the 3D destination device comprises a depth processor for
• generating a destination depth map based on the first generated depth map when no depth helper data is available in the 3D video signal, and based on the depth helper data when depth helper data is available in the 3D video signal.

Method of providing a three dimensional [3D] video signal for transferring to a 3D destination device,

• the 3D video signal comprising:
• first video information representing a left eye view on a 3D display,
• second video information representing a right eye view on the 3D display,
• the 3D destination device comprising:
• receiver for receiving the 3D video signal,
• a stereo-to-depth convertor for generating a first generated depth map based on the first and second video information,
• the method comprising
• generating the 3D video signal, and transferring the 3D video signal to the 3D destination device,
• wherein the method comprises
• providing a source depth map relating to the video information,
• generating a second generated depth map based on the first and second video information, and
• providing depth helper data only when a difference between the source depth map and the second generated depth map exceeds a predetermined threshold, the depth helper data representing the source depth map, and
• including the depth helper data in the 3D video signal, and
• the 3D destination device comprises a depth processor for
• generating a destination depth map based on the first generated depth map when no depth helper data is available in the 3D video signal, and based on the depth helper data when depth helper data is available in the 3D video signal.

Three dimensional [3D] video signal for transferring 3D video data from 3D a source device to a 3D destination device, the 3D video signal comprising:

• first video information representing a left eye view on a 3D display,
• second video information representing a right eye view on the 3D display,
• the 3D destination device comprising:
• receiver for receiving the 3D video signal,
• a stereo-to-depth convertor for generating a first generated depth map based on the first and second video information,
• the 3D source device comprising:
• an output unit for generating the 3D video signal, and for transferring the 3D video signal to the 3D destination device,
• wherein
• the 3D source device is arranged for
• providing a source depth map relating to the video information, and
• the 3D source device comprises
• a source stereo-to-depth convertor for generating a second generated depth map based on the first and second video information, and
• a source depth processor arranged for providing depth helper data only when a difference between the source depth map and the second generated depth map exceeds a predetermined threshold, the depth helper data representing the source depth map, and
• the 3D video signal comprises the depth helper data, and
• the 3D destination device comprises a depth processor for
• generating a destination depth map based on the first generated depth map when no depth helper data is available in the 3D video signal, and based on the depth helper data when depth helper data is available in the 3D video signal.