1. A video coding system that codes video data, wherein video objects are recognized from the video data, instances of a video object at given times are coded as video object planes (VOPs), and each VOP is associated with a video object layer, the video coding system having a memory that stores computer instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: generating a start code that marks a new video object layer; generating a layer id field that uniquely identifies the new video object layer; generating VOP data associated with the new video object layer; and outputting the start code, the layer id field, and the VOP data in a data signal.