Video coding technology developed by NEC, in collaboration with several partners, has been adopted in the final draft international standard for high efficiency video coding (HEVC), a new international video coding standard. HEVC is scheduled to be an international standard this coming May.
Video coding technology developed by NEC, in collaboration with several partners, has been adopted in the final draft international standard for high efficiency video coding (HEVC), a new international video coding standard. HEVC (H.265) is scheduled to be an international standard this coming May.
HEVC is a next-generation video coding standard that is suitable for online distribution of 4K video, super high vision broadcasting and distribution of full HD video for mobile devices.
In recent years, the spread of smartphones and the launch of Long Term Evolution (LTE) services have led to an increased use of video contents via mobile communication networks. As smartphone and tablet device displays become more precise, video contents are being released at increasingly higher resolutions. This is likely to trigger a drastic increase in the amount of video data delivered over networks, possibly causing delays or failures in distribution. As a result, there is a need to facilitate the use of video content through the development and standardization of technologies that provide high compression rates.
The ITU-T and ISO/IEC are international standardization groups that developed HEVC, an international video coding standard that achieves high compression rates for next-generation high-resolution video. HEVC supports a wide range of capacities, including low-resolution video like QWVGA as well as high-definition video such as 4K and super high vision broadcasting. It accomplishes twice the compression efficiency of state-of-the-art Advanced Video Coding (AVC). This enables distribution of full HD video content via mobile communication networks, as well as online distribution of highly realistic 4K video and super high vision broadcasting.
NEC recently developed (1) predictive coding technology for image quality control parameters in order to adjust the compression rate and optimization of image quality for each detailed region of an image (technology developed in collaboration with Canon, JVC KENWOOD, Sony and others) and (2) PCM coding technology for preventing images containing complex patterns and designs from becoming too large in terms of the volume of compressed data.
Key features of these new technologies include the following:
- Predictive coding technology for image quality control parameters allows highly detailed patterns to be represented in a small volume of data
The technology for predictively coding image quality control parameters is developed to adjust compression rates for each of the highly detailed regions in an image, and to eliminate the redundancy of auxiliary data for image quality adjustment that are needed for restoration of compressed data. This enables representation of extremely fine patterns in an image, which existing technologies are unable to achieve.
- PCM coding technology for preventing data compression volume from growing too large
Controlling the block size and the accuracy of bits for coding images resulted in the development of technology for coding compressed data at a predetermined constant rate, irrespective of the complexity of the designs and patterns that the data contained. This enables efficient transmission of compressed data even if it contains complex patterns and designs.
NEC will continue conducting research and development in support of HEVC related technologies as it proactively pursues the expansion of its broadcasting and communications businesses.