Soft codec H.264/AVC

H.264/AVC is a new generation standard of video compression, which secures a higher level of compression and thus allows using of lower capacity channels and means of storage, in comparison with previous standards. Its scope is distributed on a range from mobile applications with low resolution images to high definition television (HD-TV). Thus, the standard offers a full range of areas of video scrambling, transmission, storage and edition, which the industry currently demands.

The codec main specifications:

-         Full compliance with ISO/IEC 14496-10 (MPEG-4 AVC) / ITU-T Rec. H.264 standard.

-         Basic, Main, High profiles support.

-         Support of levels up to 3.0 (images with resolution up to 720х576/720х480 with picture rate of 25/30 pictures per second and output stream bit rate up to 12.5 Mb per second).

-         Chromatic level format of encoded image is 4:2:0, support of 4:2:2 format is in process of preparation.

-         Flexible adjustment of group of pictures (GOP) structure with I, P, B slices is supported, including regulation of interval between key frames and adaptive change of GOP size when determining change of item.

-         Intellectual choice of coding type with analysis on feature of using lost macroblocks is applied, that allows increasing compression level but does not cause artifacts appearance.  

-         Evaluation of movement with maximum accuracy up to 1/4 pixel with the feature of analysis of several key frames.

-         Support of all available modes of macroblock partitioning as well as lost macroblocks and macroblocks with direct prediction.

-         Statistical coding using CABAC or CAVLC.

-         Algorithm of output stream rate administration secures high sharpness of regulation, to the point of each group of pictures, that allows using the coder on transmission channels with strict requirements to overflow, for instance the satellite ones, as well as interactive applications which demand minimization of delays.  

-         The coder provides full control on operation parameters adjustment. 

High efficiency of the coder operation is attained due to original algorithms of movement evaluation and choice of coding type, which allows decreasing of computational load and increasing of compression quality.

At the same time multimedia opportunities of processors, such as Intel and AMD, as well as paralleling of computing on multi-processor systems, can be used to the maximum. This allows real-time coding of the standard resolution video on computers with clock frequency from 3 GHz.

Illustrations: images taken when coding for transmission channels with capacity of 10, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 Kbit/sec.