A method of enhancing picture quality of a video signal is disclosed. The
method comprises the steps of receiving base layer images of standard
definition pictures from a base layer decoder; defining image areas of
the standard definition pictures; classifying image areas into image
types by assigning a class number; and generating enhanced pictures based
upon the standard definition pictures and the classification of the image
areas. A circuit for enhancing picture quality of a video signal is also
disclosed. The circuit comprising a base layer decoder; a classifier
coupled to the base layer decoder, the classifier generating a class
number for image areas of a standard definition picture; a summing
circuit coupled to the classifier; an exchange stream decoder coupled to
the summing circuit, the exchange stream decoder generating an index; and
a codebook table coupled to the summing circuit. The codebook table
preferably stores a plurality of codevectors based upon the class number
and the index.