System and method for scalable video coding using telescopic mode flags

[0032]Systems and methods for scalable video coding using special inter-layer prediction modes (called telescopic modes) are provided.

[0033]FIG. 1 shows an exemplary architecture of a video communication system 100 which uses scalable coding. Communication system 100 includes a scalable video encoder 110, which communicates, over a communications network 120, with a scalable video decoder 130. In a preferred embodiment of communication system 100, the H.264 SVC coding format (‘SVC’) is used for video communication. (See, e.g., the SVC JD7 specification, T. Wiegand, G. Sullivan, J. Reichel, F L Schwarz, M. Wien, eds., “Joint Draft 7: Scalable Video Coding,” Joint Video Team, Doc. JVT-T201, Klagenfurt, July 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). SVC is the scalable video coding extension (Annex G) of the H.264 video coding standard (‘AVC’).

[0034]An SVC coded bitstream can be structured into several components or layers. A base layer offers a representation of t