A signaling of at least one characteristic for layers of a multi-layered video signal such as, for example, for each layer the indication of dependent layers to which the respective layer directly relates via inter-layer prediction, or the signaling of the afore-mentioned second inter-dependency syntax structure, is described. A maximum syntax element is signaled within the multi-layered video signal to indicate a maximally used value of an extension layer-ID field of the packets of the multi-layered video signal, the scope of the maximum syntax element being, for example, a predetermined portion of the multi-layered video signal extending, for example, across several portions of the multi-layered video signal. Accordingly, it is feasible for devices such as decoders or network elements receiving the multi-layered video signal to gain, for a relatively large predetermined portion of the multi-layered video signal, knowledge about the actually consumed portion of the possible domain of possible values.