H.264 and MPEG-4 Video Compression (PDF)

Following on from the successful MPEG-2 standard, MPEG-4 Visual isenabling a new wave of multimedia applications from Internet videostreaming to mobile video conferencing. The new H.264'Advanced Video Coding' standard promises impressivecompression performance and is gaining support from developers andmanufacturers. The first book to cover H.264 in technicaldetail, this unique resource takes an application-based approach tothe two standards and the coding concepts that underpin them.
* Presents a practical, step-by-step, guide to the MPEG-4 Visualand H.264 standards for video compression.
* Introduces the basic concepts of digital video and coversessential background material required for an understanding of bothstandards.
* Provides side-by-side performance comparisons of MPEG-4 Visualand H.264 and advice on how to approach and interpret them toensure conformance.
* Examines the way that the standards have been shaped anddeveloped, discussing the composition and procedures of the VCEGand MPEG standardisation groups.

Focussing on compression tools and profiles for practicalmultimedia applications, this book 'decodes' thestandards, enabling developers, researchers, engineers and studentsto rapidly get to grips with both H.264 and MPEG-4 Visual.

Dr Iain Richardson leads the Image Communication Technologyresearch group at the Robert Gordon University in Scotland and isthe author of over 40 research papers and two previous books onvideo compression technology.