US Patent 9369708 Depth coding modes signaling of depth data for 3D-HEVC

Techniques are described for encoding and decoding depth data for three-dimensional (3D) video data represented in a multiview plus depth format using depth coding modes that are different than high-efficiency video coding (HEVC) coding modes. Examples of additional depth intra coding modes available in a 3D-HEVC process include at least two of a Depth Modeling Mode (DMM), a Simplified Depth Coding (SDC) mode, and a Chain Coding Mode (CCM). In addition, an example of an additional depth inter coding mode includes an Inter SDC mode. In one example, the techniques include signaling depth intra coding modes used to code depth data for 3D video data in a depth modeling table that is separate from the HEVC syntax. In another example, the techniques of this disclosure include unifying signaling of residual information of depth data for 3D video data across two or more of the depth coding modes.