Study and Comparison of H.264, AVS-China and Dirac

Study and Comparison of H.264, AVS-China and Dirac

- by Jennie G. Abraham

EE5359 – Multimedia Processing, Fall 2009EE Dept., University of Texas at Arlington

Outline

Introduction Multimedia Network Home Media Ecosystem Motivation Project Detail Example project elements

Architecture Comparison Design Level Analysis Feature Comparison Algorithmic Comparison Performance Comparison

ConclusionsReferences

Introduction

What?- Video compression standards aiming at high quality - In general standards leave the implementation open and only

standardize the syntax and the decoder. Optimization beyond the obvious Complexity reduction for implementation

Who?- H.264 : ITU-T VCEG together with the ISO/IEC MPEG- AVS China : Audio Video Coding Workgroup of China- Dirac : BBC

Why?- Different companies, different countries, different applications, royalty

fees, better algorithms

Motivation

Familiarize with the codecs :

H.264, AVS China and Dirac

Availability of the codecs in MPL @ UTA

Scope of Video Standard

Figure 1: Video encoding / decoding process

Predict Transform Quantize Encode

DecodeInverse-Quantization

Inverse transform

Reconstruct

VIDEO ENCODER

VIDEO DECODER

Bitstream as defined by the standard

Scope of the standard

Video Output

Video Source

Video Compression

Figure 2: General block diagram of a block-based video codec [33]

Intra Coding

…. within the same frame

Figure 3: Intra coding a macroblock using previously coded pixels from the same block

Inter Coding

... “Past” frames ...(one or more previously coded frames) Current frame “Future” frame

PredictPredict

MB 1

MB 2

Predict

…. using number past and future frames

Figure 4: Inter coding a macroblock using past and/or future frames

Modes

Figure 5: Example of different modes used in AVS-China part 2 [33]

Residual Block

Figure 6: Calculation of residual information in a general block-based video codec [33]

Transform and Quantization

residual block

Transform Quantize

8x8 Image Block Coefficients

Figure 7: Residual block is transformed and quantized

Entropy Coding

Figure 8:The Transformed and quantized block zigzag scanned and entropy coded

Inverse Transform

Reconstructed residual block

At the decoder side …..

Re-scaled Coefficients

Figure 9:The coefficients are re-scaled and inverse transformed to get back the residual information

Reconstruction at the Decoder

Form Prediction

Predicted MB

Decoded residual MB

Reconstructed MB

Previously decoded frames

Current decoded frames

Inter Intra

Figure 10: Frame reconstruction at the decoder

Study of H.264 Architecture

Figure 11: H.264 encoder and decoder [21]

Study of AVS-China Architecture

Figure 12 :AVS China Codec [37]

Study of Dirac Architecture

Figure 13 : Dirac codec architecture [1]

Profiles in H.264

Profiles in AVS-China

Profiles Key applications

Jizhun profile

(base)

Television

broadcasting,

HDTV, etc.

Jiben profile

(basic)

Mobility

applications, etc.

Shenzhan

profile

(extended)

Video surveillance,

etc.

Jiaqiang

profile

(enhanced)

Multimedia

entertainment, etc.

Algorithmic ComparisonAlgorithmic Element MPEG-4 AVC

(H.264)Dirac AVS China

Part 2

Intra Prediction 4x4 spatial, 16x16 spatialI-PCM

4x4 spatial 8×8 block based Intra Prediction

Picture coding type Frame, FieldPicture AFF, MB AFF

Frame Frame

Motion compensation block size

16×16, 16×8, 8×16, 8×8, 8×4, 4×8, 4×4

4×4 16×16, 16×8, 8×16, 8×8

Motion vector Precision Full pel, Half pel. Quarter pel 1/8 pel 1/4 pel

P frame type Single referenceMultiple reference

Single reference,Multiple reference

Single and multiple reference (maximum of 2 reference

frames)

B frame type One reference each way,Multiple reference,

Direct & spatial direct weighted prediction.

One reference each way,Multiple reference

One reference each way, Multiple reference.

Direct and symmetrical mode.

In loop filters De-blocking None De-blocking filter.

Entropy coding CAVLC,CABAC Arithmetic coding 2D variable length coding.

Transform 4×4 integer DCT, 8×8 integer DCT

4×4 wavelet transform 8×8 DCT

Other Quantization scaling matrices. Quantization scaling matrices.

Quantization scaling matrices.

Performance Comparison Results

Harbour -HDTV Sequence :1280 x 720pBitrate vs PSNR

30313233343536373839404142434445

0 10000 20000 30000 40000

K bits per sec

PS

NR

(d

B)

AVS-Jizhun

H.264-High

Dirac

Results

Harbour - HDTV Sequence : 1280 x 720p Bitrate vs MSE

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 10000 20000 30000 40000

K bits per sec

MS

E

AVS-Jizhun

H.264 - High

Dirac

Results

Bus - SDTV Sequence : 720 x 480i Bitrate vs PSNR

30

32

34

36

38

40

42

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

K bits per sec

PS

NR

(d

B)

AVS-Jizhun

H.264 - High

Results

Bus - SDTV Sequence : 720 x 480i Bitrate vs MSE

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

K bits per sec

MS

E AVS-Jizhun

H.264-High

Outcome

The project helped in increasing familiarity in working with these codecs.

The experimental results gave an insight into the efficiency of these codecs compared to each other

The different aspects of simulation of each codec such as the following was learned and understood Modes of Configuration Modification of Parameters Input sequence specifications Analyze the codec output

Efficient use of time and re-use of knowledge

References

DIRAC:[1] T. Borer, and T. Davies, “Dirac video compression using open technology”, BBC EBU Technical Review, July 2005[2] BBC Research on Dirac: http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/projects/dirac/index.shtml[3] The Dirac web page: http://dirac.sourceforge.net[4] T. Davies, “The Dirac Algorithm”: http://dirac.sourceforge.net/documentation/algorithm/, 2005.[5] Dirac developer support: Overlapped block-based motion compensation: http://dirac.sourceforge.net/documentation/algorithm/algorithm/toc.htm[6] “Dirac Pro to bolster BBC HD links”:

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/multi-platform/news/dirac-pro-to-bolster-bbc-hd-links/1732462.article[7] Dirac software and source code: http://diracvideo.org/download/dirac-research/[8] Dirac video codec - A programmer's guide:http://dirac.sourceforge.net/documentation/code/programmers_guide/toc.htm[9] Daubechies wavelet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daubechies_wavelet[10] Daubechies wavelet filter design: http://cnx.org/content/m11159/latest/[11] Dirac developer support: Wavelet transform:

http://dirac.sourceforge.net/documentation/algorithm/algorithm/wlt_transform.xht[12] Dirac developer support: RDO motion estimation metric:http://dirac.sourceforge.net/documentation/algorithm/algorithm/rdo_mot_est.xht[13] A. Ravi and K.R. Rao, “Performance analysis and comparison of the Dirac video codec with H.264/ MPEG-4 Part

10 AVC", IJWMIP, Jan. 2010.

References

H.264:[14] T.Wiegand, et al “Overview of the H.264/AVC video coding standard”, IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Systems

for Video Technology, Vol.13, pp 560-576, July 2003.[15] T. Wiegand and G. J. Sullivan, “The H.264 video coding standard”, IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, vol.

24, pp. 148-153, March 2007.[16] D. Marpe, T. Wiegand and G. J. Sullivan, “The H.264/MPEG-4 AVC standard and its applications”, IEEE

Communications Magazine, vol. 44, pp. 134-143, Aug. 2006.[17] S.K.Kwon, A.Tamhankar and K.R.Rao, “Overview of H.264 / MPEG-4 Part 10” J. Visual Communication and

Image Representation, Vol 17, pp.186-216, April 2006. [18] A. Puri, X. Chen and A. Luthra, “Video coding using the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC compression standard”, Signal

Processing: Image Communication, vol. 19, pp. 793-849, Oct. 2004[19] H.264/MPEG-4 AVC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264[20] M.Fieldler, “Implementation of basic H.264/AVC decoder”, seminar paper at Chemnitz University of

Technology, June 2004[21] H.264 encoder and decoder: http://www.adalta.it/Pages/407/266881_266881.jpg[22] R. Schäfer, T. Wiegand and H. Schwarz, “The emerging H.264/AVC standard”, EBU Technical Review, Jan.

2003.[23] H.264 reference software download : http://iphome.hhi.de/suehring/tml/[24] D. Marpe, T. Wiegand, and S. Gordon, "H.264/mpeg4-avc fidelity range extensions: tools, profiles,

performance, and application areas," IEEE International Conference on Image Processing, vol. 1, pp. I-593-6, 2005.

[25] S. Saponara, et al, "The JVT advanced video coding standard: complexity and performance analysis on a tool-by-tool basis," in Packet Video Workshop, Nantes, France, April 2003.

References

VC-1:[26] VC-1 technical overview -

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/howto/articles/vc1techoverview.aspx[27] Microsoft Windows Media: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia[28] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VC-1[29] S Srinivasan, et al, “Windows media video 9: overview and applications”, Signal Processing: Image

Communication, Vol. 19, Issue 9, pp. 851-875, Oct. 2004.

AVS: [31] AVS Video Expert Group, “Information technology – Advanced coding of audio and video – Part 2: Video

(AVS1-P2 JQP FCD 1.0),” Audio Video Coding Standard Group of China (AVS), Doc. AVS-N1538, Sep. 2008.

[32] AVS Video Expert Group, “Information technology – Advanced coding of audio and video – Part 3: Audio,” Audio Video Coding Standard Group of China (AVS), Doc. AVS-N1551, Sep. 2008.

[33] L. Yu et al., “Overview of AVS-Video: Tools, performance and complexity,” SPIE VCIP, vol. 5960, pp. 596021-1~ 596021-12, Beijing, China, July 2005.

[34] L. Fan, S Ma and F Wu, “Overview of AVS video standard,” IEEE Int’l Conf. on Multimedia and Expo, ICME '04, vol. 1, pp. 423–426, Taipei, Taiwan, June 2004.

[35] W Gao et al., “AVS – The Chinese next-generation video coding standard,” National Association of Broadcasters, Las Vegas, 2004.

[36] Special issue on 'AVS and its Applications' Signal Processing: Image Communication, vol. 24, pp. 245-344, April 2009.

[37] AVS China software : ftp://159.226.42.57/public/avs_doc/avs_software

References

PERFORMANCE COMPARISON:[38] K. Onthriar, K. K. Loo and Z. Xue, “Performance comparison of emerging Dirac video codec with H.264/AVC”,

IEEE International Conference on Digital Telecommunications, Vol. 06, Page: 22, Issue: 29-31, Aug. 2006. [39] X. Wang and D. Zhao "Performance comparison of AVS and H.264/AVC video coding standards" J. of computer science and technology, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 310-314, May 2006.[40] Comparison of H.264 and VC-1:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_H.264_and_VC-1[41] A. A. Ramirez, et al. "MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 and VC-1 codecs comparison used in IPTV video streaming

technology," Electronics, Robotics and Automotive Mechanics Conference, pp.122-126, 2008.[42] Comparison between AVC/H.264, VC-1 and MPEG-2 - http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_302-

sunna.pdf[43] H. Kalva and J.B Lee, “The VC-1 and H.264 video compression standards for broadband video Services”,

Springer, 2008SSIM:[44] Z. Wang, et al “Image quality assessment: From error visibility to structural similarity”, IEEE Trans. on Image

Processing, vol. 13, pp. 600-612, Apr. 2004. [45] SSIM index for image quality assessment: http://www.ece.uwaterloo.ca/~z70wang/research/ssim/[46]    Z. Wang, et al “Multi-scale structural similarity for image quality assessment,” IEEE Asilomar Conference on

Signals, Systems and Computers, Vol.2 , pp. 1398 - 1402 Nov. 2003.

[47] SSIM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSIMVIDEO TEST SEQUENCES:[48] Video test sequences (YUV 4:2:0): http://trace.eas.asu.edu/yuv/index.html[49] Video test sequences ITU601: http://www.cipr.rpi.edu/resource/sequences/itu601.html   BOOKS:[50] I. Richardson, “ The H.264 advanced video compression standard”, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2010