Method and apparatus for storing or transmitting coding parameters separately from coded audio-visual data

Video coding method practiced by a video encoder and using a number of compression parameter sets being referenced from within coded data, wherein said compression parameter sets are stored in auxiliary data files that are uniquely associated to a file or stream containing a main Audio Visual (AV) bit stream, and wherein identifiers of said compression parameter sets and the corresponding references to these identifiers in the main AV bit stream are unique within said auxiliary data files and associated file or stream containing the main AV bit stream

• indirectly referencing said compression parameter sets by said video encoder,
• defining the parameter set identifiers in the AV bit stream of each of a set of parts of AV material being to refer to entries of a secondary table by the video encoder;
• storing said secondary table in auxiliary files in a data structure which is repeated per each said part so said secondary table is individually available per each said part by the video encoder;
• defining entries of all said secondary tables of said AV material to be themselves to refer in turn to entries of a common parameter set table provided once per said AV material by the video encoder.