Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding virtual reality content

A method for encoding video data, the method comprising:

• encoding multi-view multimedia data comprising a hierarchical track structure comprising at least a first track, wherein the first track:
• is at a first level in the hierarchical track structure;
• and
• comprises data for both a first view and a second view of the multi-view multimedia data;
• and
• encoding metadata within the first track, such that the metadata can be used to determine an extraction operation on the first track to generate:
• first media data of a second track, wherein the first media data is for the first view;
• and
• second media data of a third track, wherein the second media data is for the second view,
• wherein the second track and the third track are at a second level in the hierarchical track structure above the first level of the first track.

An apparatus configured to decode video data, the apparatus comprising a processor in communication with memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in the memory that cause the processor to:

• receive multi-view multimedia data comprising a hierarchical track structure comprising at least a first track, wherein the first track:
• is at a first level in the hierarchical track structure;
• and
• comprises data for both a first view and a second view of the multi-view multimedia data;
• determine metadata contained within the first track;
• and
• perform, based on the determined metadata, an extraction operation on the first track to generate:
• first media data of a second track, wherein the first media data is for the first view;
• and
• second media data of a third track, wherein the second media data is for the second view,
• wherein the second track and the third track are at a second level in the hierarchical track structure above the first level of the first track.

An apparatus for encoding video data, the apparatus comprising a processor in communication with memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in the memory that cause the processor to:

• encode multi-view multimedia data comprising a hierarchical track structure comprising at least a first track, wherein the first track:
• is at a first level in the hierarchical track structure;
• and
• comprises data for both a first view and a second view of the multi-view multimedia data;
• and
• encode metadata within the first track, such that the metadata can be used to determine an extraction operation on the first track to generate:
• first media data of a second track, wherein the first media data is for the first view;
• and
• second media data of a third track, wherein the second media data is for the second view,
• wherein the second track and the third track are at a second level in the hierarchical track structure above the first level of the first track.