Metadata hints to support best effort decoding for green mpeg applications

A computer readable storage device having stored thereon program instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

• code a video sequence according to a first coding protocol generating a coded video sequence therefrom,
• decode the video sequence according to the first coding protocol,
• decode the video sequence according to an alternate coding protocol,
• compare decoding performance of the first coding protocol to decoding performance of the alternate coding protocol,
• transmit, in a channel, coded video data representing the video sequence coded according to the first protocol, and an indicator of relative performance of the alternate coding protocol.

A coding system, comprising:

• a video coder to code input video data according to a first coding protocol,
• a plurality of video decoders to decode coded video data according to each of a plurality coding protocols, one of which is the first coding protocol, the video decoders each having an input coupled to the output of the video coder,
• a controller to compare performance of the video decoders and to generate an indicator of relative performance of the decoder for the first coding protocol to another decoder for another coding protocol, and
• a transmitter to transmit, in a channel, coded video data from the video coder and the indicator of relative performance.

A decoding method, comprising:

• decoding coded video data of a reference picture received in a channel,
• determining, based on a metadata hint provided in the channel, a priority level assigned to the decoded reference picture,
• when the priority level is in a first state:
• compressing the decoded reference picture according to a lossy compression technique and
• storing the compressed decoded reference picture in memory, and
• retrieving and decompressing the compressed decoded reference picture when the reference picture is a reference for other coded video data.