Reduced resolution depth compression for scalable 3D video coding

H.264-based scalable video coding (SVC) can be utilised to encode 3D stereoscopic video. In this paper, reduced resolution depth compression is proposed for SVC to improve the 3D video rate distortion performance. The proposed method reduces the overall bit rates and consequently: 1) improves SVC rate distortion for 3D video, particularly at lower bit rates in error free channels; and 2) improves 3D SVC performance for 3D transmission in error prone channels. ©2008 The Institution of Engineering and Technology