Reference Picture List Handling

A method of picture encoding, implemented by an encoder, the method comprising:

• encoding a representation of a current picture of a video stream of multiple pictures;
• encoding, for each of a plurality of reference pictures included in a buffer description for the current picture, a respective one-bit flag according to one of two available values for the one-bit flag, the two available values for the one-bit flag comprising:
• a first value explicitly indicating to a decoder to include the reference picture in a reference picture list for decoding the current picture;
• and
• a second value explicitly indicating to the decoder not to include the reference picture in the reference picture list for decoding the current picture;
• outputting the representation of the current picture and the one-bit flags.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program product for controlling a programmable encoder, the computer program product comprising software instructions that, when run by the programmable encoder, cause the programmable encoder to:

• encode a representation of a current picture of a video stream of multiple pictures;
• encode, for each of a plurality of reference pictures included in a buffer description for the current picture, a respective one-bit flag according to one of two available values for the one-bit flag, the two available values for the one-bit flag comprising:
• a first value explicitly indicating to a decoder to include the reference picture in a reference picture list for decoding the current picture;
• and
• a second value explicitly indicating to the decoder not to include the reference picture in the reference picture list for decoding the current picture;
• output the representation of the current picture and the one-bit flags.