3D Video Representation and Formats

Efficient data representation is needed for successful three-dimensional (3D) video applications. This element is closely intertwined with the other components of a 3D video system: content acquisition, transmission, rendering, and display. It also has a significant impact on the overall performance of the system, as well as constraints such as backward compatibility with existing equipment and infrastructure. In the current eco-system, a variety of 3D video formats, coding schemes, and display technologies coexist. In this context, standardization is key to guarantee interoperability and support mass adoption. In this chapter, we first describe 3D video representations, including stereoscopic 3D video, multiview video, video-plus-depth, multiview video-plus-depth, and layered depth video. Next, we discuss existing coding formats, such as simulcast, frame-compatible stereo interleaving, multiview video coding, MPEG-4 multiple auxiliary components, MPEG-C Part 3, and MPEG-2 multiview profile. All these representations and formats are discussed in details, and their respective strengths and shortcomings are analyzed. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.