Video Coding: A introduction to standard codecs

International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, Oct 2000 by Ferguson, Keith

M. Ghanbari, Video Coding: an introduction to standard codecs (lEE, 1999, 260 pp., L391

This book covers the current state of the international video coding algorithms with an overview of their intended operational environments. The various coding standards are discussed in terms of their overall structures rather than the fine details of the actual coded bit streams, which is the appropriate approach for an introductory text. The basic modes of operation of the codecs, and the more important extensions, are considered with brief reference to those less commonly used.

The relationship between the various standards is considered in the introductions of the relevant chapters. The first three chapters discuss the common techniques used in block-based interframe video codecs. These cover the topics of digital image representation, the discrete cosine transform (DCT), coefficient quantisation, motion estimation and compensation, and variable length coding. The acceptance of arithmetic coding as an efficient mechanism for sub-bit symbol representation of scalar quantised coefficients warrants the inclusion of its detailed discussion. The remaining chapters are dedicated to the individual standards themselves with details on their specific differences and extensions from a generic interframe codec. The DCT-based JPEG and wavelet-based JPEG-2000 (as part of MPEG-4) algorithms for compression of still images are included. The chapters follow the chronological development of the video standards from H.261 through, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.263 with its extensions, to MPEG-4.

Overall, a well-structured introductory text for an understanding of the underlying principles of current algorithms. I would recommend it to any engineer becoming involved in video coding as a useful addition to his/her reference shelf.

Keith Ferguson, UMIST