High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) : Test model HM3

The Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC), a joint effort of the MPEG and VCEG standardisation committees, is developing a new video coding standard known as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). HEVC is expected to be published as an International Standard in 2013.

The HEVC "Test Model" is a working prototype that includes the tools or algorithms that are under consideration for the proposed HEVC standard. Version HM3 of the test model (March 2011) defines two groups of tools or "configurations", High Efficiency and Low Complexity.

Both High Efficiency and Low Complexity configurations include the following coding tools:

Coding Unit tree structure (8x8 up to 64x64 luma samples)
Prediction Units
Transform unit tree structure (3 level max.)
Transform block size of 4x4 to 32x32 samples
Mode-dependent Transform for 4x4 block
Spatial Intra Prediction (34 angular directions and Planar)
Adaptive Intra Smoothing
Intra Chroma Prediction using Luma samples
DCT-based interpolation filter for luma samples (1/4-sample, 8-tap)
DCT-based interpolation filter for luma samples (1/8-sample, 4-tap)
Coding Unit based Skip & Prediction Unit based merging
Advanced motion vector prediction
Deblocking filter

The Low Complexity configuration includes Context Adaptive Variable Length Coding (CAVLC).

The High Efficiency configuration uses Context Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC) and supports increased bit precision for internal operations and an adaptive loop filter.

Download the HM3 Test Model description document.

Keep up to date with the HEVC contributions and documents via the JCT-VC working site:
http://phenix.int-evry.fr/jct/index.php

MPEG Royalty Free video coding standard

From MPEG's March 2011 press release:
'As announced in January, MPEG will develop a new video compression standard in line with the expected usage models of the Internet. The new standard is intended to achieve substantially better compression performance than that offered by MPEG-2 and possibly comparable to that offered by the AVC Baseline Profile. MPEG issued a Draft Call for Proposals (CfP) for Internet Video Coding Technologies that is expected to lead to a standard falling under ISO/IEC “Type-1 licensing”, i.e. intended to be “royalty free”. Proposals are due in October 2011 and will be evaluated at the 98th MPEG meeting in Geneva. It is expected that this standard will become the default video codec for internet applications.

The text of the Call for Proposals is available at http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/working_documents/explorations/opt1-licence/opt1-lic-cfp.zip. Responses to this call are due in October 2011 and will be evaluated at the 98th MPEG meeting in Geneva.'

At CES, January 2011

I'll be at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on 6th and 7th January 2011, with a demo of the new OneCodec concept (onecodec.com). If you would like to meet me, let me know (iain@vcodex.com).

High Efficiency Video Coding: HEVC Test Model

The JCT-VC have specified the first version of the Test Model for the new HEVC standard. The Test Model, HM1, will gradually evolve into the final version of the new standard as coding tools are evaluated + added to it. I've posted a summary here together with a link to the JCT-VC document site.

So far, indications are that HEVC will deliver around 2x better compression compared with H.264/AVC, at the expense of a big increase in computational complexity. By the time the new standard is published (around 2013), the hope is that this increased complexity will be well within the capabilities of consumer devices.

There will still be many people who question the need for a new video coding standard. That's why we are developing the OneCodec concept, so that you can deliver improved video coding performance as and when it's needed, without the high cost of switching over to a completely new standard.

Getting the best out of H.264 / talk tomorrow

A free web seminar on H.264 & how to get the best performance. I'll look at coding options, the effect they have on compression and computation and how an H.264 codec can make "good" coding choices.

Register here to join the session:
http://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/23533
Wednesday 17th November 2010, 4.30pm GMT / 11.30am EST / 8.30am PST

Webinar, 17th November: Getting the best out of H.264

Sign up for my next webinar, "getting the best out of H.264", a one-hour presentation on 17th Nov 2010 at 4.30pm GMT (that's 8.30am Pacific time and 11.30am East Coast time in the US). It's free to attend and you get the chance to ask questions during the talk.

Register here:
http://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/23533

- Iain

Internet Enabled Television

What will be the next significant development in TV technology? Electronics manufacturers are investing heavily in 3DTV, hoping to capitalise on the success of 3D movies such as Avatar. However, there are indications that consumers are not in a hurry to buy 3D television sets. According to some reports, Internet Enabled Television, IETV, shows signs of being much more popular with consumers.

Internet Enabled TV makes it possible to access "watch again" services such as BBC iPlayer, as well as video sharing services such as YouTube and Vimeo, through your TV set. Also described as "Hybrid IPTV", IETV uses a home broadband connection to provide internet video services on your television.

Interesting links:
HbbTV consortium
YouView platform
"Sales of IETV to out-perform 3DTV", Digitimes, August 2010