Resolution scalable video coder for low latency

A method in a video reception unit for reducing the average latency associated with randomly accessing an encoded digital video signal, the method comprising:

• receiving a digital video signal;
• accessing multiple layers of the digital video signal, wherein successive layers are encoded at an increasing degree of quality and a decreasing intra-frame rate;
• and
• for each frame of the digital video signal in which a highest decodable layer is different than a highest layer of the multiple layers, identifying the highest decodable layer, decoding the highest decodable layer, and displaying the highest decodable layer.

A video transmission unit that is configured to reduce the average latency associated with randomly accessing an encoded digital video signal, the video transmission unit comprising:

• a processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to implement a method comprising:
• converting a digital video signal into multiple layers;
• encoding successive layers of the digital video signal at an increasing degree of quality and a decreasing intra-frame rate;
• transmitting the multiple layers to one or more video reception units;
• and
• transmitting information to the one or more video reception units which enables the one or more video reception units to, for each frame of the digital video signal in which a highest decodable layer is different than a highest layer of the multiple layers, identify the highest decodable layer, decode the highest decodable layer, and display the highest decodable layer.

A video reception unit that is configured to reduce the average latency associated with randomly accessing an encoded digital video signal, the video reception unit comprising:

• a processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to implement a method comprising:
• receiving a digital video signal;
• accessing multiple layers of the digital video signal, wherein successive layers are encoded at an increasing degree of quality and a decreasing intra-frame rate;
• and
• for each frame of the digital video signal in which a highest decodable layer is different than a highest layer of the multiple layers, identifying the highest decodable layer, decoding the highest decodable layer, and displaying the highest decodable layer.