Region merging and coding parameter reuse via merging

A method of decoding arrays of information samples encoded in a data stream each representing a picture, the method comprising:

• extracting, from the data stream, a merge indicator with respect to a region currently being decoded within an array of information samples, wherein the region currently being decoded is one of a plurality of regions obtained by dividing the array of information samples and the merge indicator is indicative of whether the region currently being decoded is to be reconstructed based on at least one coding parameter determined based on one or more coding parameters associated with a selected candidate region, wherein the at least one coding parameter and the one or more coding parameters include motion vectors;
• identifying a set of candidate regions with respect to the region currently being decoded;
• extracting a candidate identifier from the data stream;
• selecting the selected candidate region from the set of candidate regions in accordance with the candidate identifier;
• copying, if an indication is to copy, a motion vector of the one or more coding parameters as a motion vector of the at least coding parameter;
• computing, if the indication is to compute, the at least one coding parameter based on the one or more coding parameters, the computing including:
• determining a prediction of a motion vector of the at least coding parameter based on a motion vector of the one or more coding parameters,
• extracting, from the data stream, a prediction residual of the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter, and
• combining the prediction and the prediction residual of the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter to obtain the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter;
• and
• reconstructing the region currently being decoded based on the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter.

An encoder for encoding arrays of information samples into a data stream, each array representing a picture into a data stream, the encoder comprising:

• a sub-divider configured for dividing the array of information samples into a plurality of regions;
• and
• a data stream generator configured for encoding, into the data stream, a merge indicator with respect to one of the plurality of regions that is currently being coded, wherein the merge indicator is indicative of whether the region currently being coded is to be reconstructed based on at least one coding parameter determined based on one or more coding parameters associated with a selected candidate region selected from a set of candidate regions, identified with respect to the region currently being coded, wherein the at least one coding parameter and the one or more coding parameters include motion vectors,
• encoding, into the data stream, a candidate identifier that identifies a specific one of the set of candidate regions as the selected candidate region,
• wherein if an indication is to copy, a motion vector of the one or more coding parameters is copied as a motion vector of the at least coding parameter, and
• if the indication is to compute, the at least one coding parameter is computed based on the one or more coding parameters, which includes:
• determining a prediction of a motion vector of the at least coding parameter based on a motion vector of the one or more coding parameters, and
• combining the prediction and a prediction residual of the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter to obtain the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter, and
• encoding, into the data stream, the one or more coding parameters associated with the selected candidate region and the prediction residual of the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing data associated with a video, comprising:

• a data stream stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the data stream comprising encoded information including arrays of information samples each representing a picture, the data stream further comprising,
• a merge indicator with respect to a region currently being decoded within an array of information samples, wherein the region currently being decoded is one of a plurality of regions obtained by dividing the array of information samples and the merge indicator is indicative of whether the region currently being decoded is to be reconstructed based on at least one coding parameter determined based on one or more coding parameters associated with a selected candidate region, identified with respect to the region, wherein the at least one coding parameter and the one or more coding parameters include motion vectors;
• a candidate identifier that identifies a specific one of the set of candidate regions as the selected candidate region;
• a prediction residual of a motion vector of the at least one coding parameter;
• and
• one or more coding parameters associated with the selected candidate region, from which the at least one coding parameter is copied or computed, and used to reconstruct the region,
• wherein if an indication is to copy, a motion vector of the one or more coding parameters is copied as a motion vector of the at least coding parameter, and
• if the indication is to compute, the at least one coding parameter is computed based on the one or more coding parameters, which includes:
• determining a prediction of a motion vector of the at least coding parameter based on a motion vector of the one or more coding parameters,
• extracting, from the data stream, the prediction residual of the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter, and
• combining the prediction and a prediction residual of the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter to obtain the motion vector of the at least one coding parameter.