The search is on for improvements in video compression beyond the latest High Efficiency Video Coding standard, otherwise known as HEVC or H.265. The ITU and MPEG working groups are looking for advances in video coding with the potential to drive the development of a standard with double the video compression capability of HEVC by 2020.
The International Telecommunications Union study group and the Moving Pictures Expert Group are inviting evidence supporting the case for a future coding standard. The responses will be evaluated by a Joint Video Exploration Team in July.
The team is currently looking at proposals that report around a 30% improvement in compression capability relative to HEVC, although at the expense of high computational complexity.
The scope includes camera and other screen material, virtual reality or 360° video and high dynamic range sources, for applications such as broadcast, on-demand viewing, video conferencing, communications and surveillance.
A number of test sequences have been provided in high definition and ultra high definition formats, as well as high dynamic range and 360° video sequences, with target bit rates.
Should the call for evidence support a strong case for the development of new standard the will issue a call for proposals, targeting the completion of the project by late 2020.
This could take the form of additional extensions of HEVC or an entirely new standard.
The current HEVC standard, also known as H.265, was designed to double the data compression ratio of the former AVC standard, H.264, which is widely employed. That in turn was intended to double the compression MPEG-2, which is also still in use.
Meanwhile, video formats have increased in resolution, from standard definition to high definition and now ultra high definition, and frame rates and bit depths are also increasing.
Further details are available in the Preliminary Joint Call for Evidence on video compression with capability beyond HEVC.