Methods for decoding a video bitstream. One of the methods includes receiving a respective buffer description for each of one or more decoded reference pictures from the video bitstream; wherein the respective buffer descriptions include a poc cycle parameter for one or more long term reference pictures in the one or more decoded reference pictures, and wherein the poc cycle parameter is used to calculate a picture order count (POC) for the decoded long term reference pictures; identifying one or more decoded reference pictures for a current picture from a decoded picture buffer, based on the POC for the decoded long term reference pictures; decoding the current picture using inter-frame prediction based on the identified one or more decoded reference pictures; and buffering the decoded picture in the decoded picture buffer.