US Patent 8208560 Bit depth enhancement for scalable video coding

A video system includes an analyzer and a bit depth predictor. The analyzer receives a first coded video signal, which is indicative of first values for pixels. The first values are associated with a first bit depth. The analyzer, for each pixel, analyzes the first values for the pixels located in a neighborhood that contains said each pixel. The bit depth predictor, based at least in part on the analysis, generates a second coded video signal that is indicative of second values for the pixels. The second values are associated with a second bit depth that is different than the first bit depth.