The H.264/MPEG4 advanced video coding standard and its applications

H.264/MPEG4-AVC is the latest video coding standard of the ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) and the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). H.264/MPEG4 AVC has recently become the most widely accepted video coding standard since the deployment of MPEG2 at the dawn of digital television, and it may soon overtake MPEG2 in common use. It covers all common video applications ranging from mobile services and video-conferencing to IPTV, HDTV, and HD video storage. This article discusses the technology behind the new H.264/MPEG4-AVC standard, focusing on the main distinct features of its core coding technology and its first set of extensions, known as the fidelity range extensions (FRExt). In addition, this article also discusses the current status of adoption and deployment of the new standard in various application areas.