Video coding using multiple buffers

A computer program product comprising:

• computer executable code for allocating a memory between a first buffer and a second buffer;
• computer executable code for decoding a video signal that includes video data for reconstructing an image;
• computer executable code for generating image data representative of the image from the video data;
• computer executable code for decoding control data from the video signal that specifies whether the image data is long-term data or short-term data;
• computer executable code for storing the image data in the first buffer when the image data is short-term data;
• and
• computer executable code for storing the image data in the second buffer when the image data is long-term data.

A video processing system comprising:

• a memory;
• an allocating means for allocating the memory between a first buffer and a second buffer;
• a receiving means for receiving a video signal that includes video data for reconstructing an image;
• a generating means for generating image data representative of the image from the video data;
• a decoding means for decoding control data from the video signal that specifies whether the image data is long-term data or short-term data;
• and
• a storing means for storing the image data in the first buffer when the image data is short-term data, and for storing the image data in the second buffer when the image data is long-term data.

A method comprising:

• providing a memory;
• allocating the memory between a short-term buffer and a long-term buffer;
• storing a long-term reference image in the long-term buffer and a short-term reference image in the short-term buffer;
• receiving a video signal that includes video data for reconstructing an image;
• decoding control data from the video signal that specifies a reference image for reconstructing the image, the reference image being at least one of the short-term reference image or the long-term reference image;
• and
• generating image data representative of the image from the video data and the reference image.

A method comprising:

• providing a memory;
• allocating the memory between a short-term buffer and a long-term buffer;
• storing a long-term reference image in the long-term buffer and a short-term reference image in the short-term buffer;
• receiving a video signal that includes video data for reconstructing an image;
• decoding first control data from the video signal that specifies a reference image for reconstructing the image, the reference image being at least one of the short-term reference image or the long-term reference image;
• generating image data representative of the image from the video data and the specified reference image;
• decoding second control data from the video signal that specifies a buffer for storing the image data, the specified buffer being at least one of a second short-term buffer or a second long-term buffer;
• and
• storing the image data in the specified buffer.

A method comprising:

• providing a memory;
• allocating the memory between a short-term buffer and a long-term buffer;
• storing a long-term reference image in the long-term buffer and a short-term reference image in the short-term buffer;
• receiving a video signal that includes video data for reconstructing an image;
• decoding control data from the video signal that specifies a reference image for reconstructing the image, the reference image being at least one of the short-term reference image or the long-term reference image;
• and
• generating image data representative of the image from the video data and the reference image.

A decoder comprising:

• a memory;
• a buffer allocation decoder configured to allocate the memory between a long-term buffer and a short-term buffer;
• a video input that receives a video signal that includes video data for reconstructing an image;
• a picture decoder that generates image data representative of the image from the video data;
• and
• an image storage control that decodes control data from the video signal that specifies whether the image data is long-term data or short-term data, and stores the image data in the short-term buffer when the image data is short-term data, and stores the image data in the long-term buffer when the image data is long-term data.

A data signal embodied on a video conferencing carrier wave, the data signal comprising:

• a picture identification number assigned sequentially to a picture;
• a flag that indicates whether the data signal includes a number of long-term buffers value;
• a picture property change indicator that indicates a change of image data between short-term data, long-term data, and unused data;
• a number of buffers for remapping field specifying reallocation instructions;
• a picture buffering mode that signals a way that a current image is to be stored, the way being at least one of as a long-term image or a short-term image;
• and
• a picture buffer identification that signals a location where a current image is to be stored, the location being at least one of an index for a long-term buffer or an identification number for a short-term buffer.