Sample array coding for low-delay

A method for reconstructing a sample array from an entropy-encoded data stream encoded with a video, the method comprising:

• entropy decoding a plurality of slice subsets in the entropy-encoded data stream so as to reconstruct different portions of the sample array, each of the plurality of slice subsets comprising entropy-encoded data for a corresponding portion of the sample array, and the different portions forming rows of blocks of the sample array, the entropy decoding comprising, with respect to each of the plurality of slice subsets:
• entropy decoding along a respective entropy coding path using a first probability estimation, including:
• initializing the first probability estimation before decoding a first block of a first row corresponding to the slice subset based on a second probability estimation of a second block of a second row, the second row spatially-neighboring the first row and corresponding to a preceding slice subset, wherein entropy decoding of the preceding slice subset begins before the entropy decoding of the slice subset, and
• storing the second probability estimation after the second block is entropy-decoded, wherein the stored second probability estimation is used for initializing the first probability estimation.

A method for encoding a sample array into an entropy-encoded data stream encoded with a video, the method comprising:

• entropy encoding a plurality of slice subsets into the entropy-encoded data stream, each of the plurality of slice subsets comprising entropy-encoded data for a corresponding different portion of the sample array, and the different portions forming rows of blocks of the sample array, the entropy encoding comprising, with respect to each of the plurality of slice subsets:
• entropy encoding along a respective entropy coding path using a first probability estimation, including:
• initializing the first probability estimation before encoding a first block of a first row corresponding to the slice subset based on a second probability estimation of a second block of a second row, the second row spatially-neighboring the first row and corresponding to a preceding slice subset, wherein entropy encoding of the preceding slice subset begins before the entropy encoding of the slice subset, and
• storing the second probability estimation after the second block is entropy-encoded, wherein the stored second probability estimation is used for initializing the first probability estimation.

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 entropy-encoded information associated with a sample array of a video, the entropy-encoded information including a plurality of slice subsets, each of the plurality of slice subsets comprising entropy-encoded data for a corresponding different portion of the sample array, and the different portions forming rows of blocks of the sample array, wherein the entropy-encoded information is coded into the data stream for storing in the non-transitory computer-readable medium by operations including:
• with respect to each of the plurality of slice subsets, entropy encoding along a respective entropy coding path using a first probability estimation, including:
• initializing the first probability estimation before encoding a first block of a first row corresponding to the slice subset based on a second probability estimation of a second block of a second row, the second row spatially-neighboring the first row and corresponding to a preceding slice subset, wherein entropy encoding of the preceding slice subset begins before the entropy encoding of the slice subset, and
• storing the second probability estimation after the second block is entropy-encoded, wherein the stored second probability estimation is used for initializing the first probability estimation.