Video Codec Design: Developing Image and Video Compression Systems
Video compression coding is the enabling technology behind a new wave of communication applications. From streaming internet video to broadcast digital television and digital cinema, the video codec is a key building block for a host of new multimedia applications and services. Video Codec Design sets out to de-mystify the subject of video coding and present a practical, design-based approach to this emerging field. Featuring: Guidance on the practical design and implementation of video coding technology. Explanation of the major video coding standards, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.263 and H.26L. Detailed coverage of key video coding techniques and core algorithms. Examination of critical design issues including transmission, Quality of Service and processing platforms. A wealth of illustrations and practical examples, including quantitative comparisons of design alternatives. Video Codec Design provides communications engineers, system designers, researchers and technical managers with an essential handbook to image and video compression technology. The clear presentation and emphasis on real-life examples make this book an excellent teaching tool for computer science and electronic engineering instructors.
Why Read This Book
You will get a practical, implementation-focused tour of modern video coding techniques and standards, with clear explanations of the core algorithms (DCT, motion estimation, entropy coding) and the trade-offs designers face. The book helps you move from theory to working codec designs and real-world considerations like transmission, QoS and platform constraints.
Who Will Benefit
Engineers and advanced students working on video compression, streaming systems, or codec implementation who need applied algorithmic guidance and standards context.
Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Familiarity with discrete-time signal processing (DCT/FFT basics), probability/statistics, and basic programming (C/C++ or MATLAB) for implementing algorithms.
Key Takeaways
- Explain the core building blocks of modern video codecs, including transform coding, motion estimation/compensation, quantization and in-loop filtering.
- Implement block-based DCT/IDCT and practical transform coding optimizations used in standards.
- Design and tune motion estimation strategies and predictive coding for inter-frame compression.
- Apply entropy coding methods and basic bitstream formatting used in MPEG and H.26x families.
- Design simple rate-control and quantization schemes and evaluate rate–distortion trade-offs.
- Address practical system issues such as packet loss resilience, QoS considerations, and implementation constraints on embedded/video processors.
Topics Covered
- Introduction and history of video coding
- Video signal representation and sampling
- Block transforms: DCT and variants
- Intra- and inter-frame prediction
- Motion estimation and compensation techniques
- Quantization and rate–distortion considerations
- Entropy coding and bitstream formatting
- Overview of standards: MPEG-1/2/4 and H.263
- Early coverage of H.26L (precursor to H.264/AVC)
- Transmission issues, error resilience and QoS
- Implementation considerations and platform constraints
- Quality assessment, testing and case studies
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
More practical and standards-focused than broad image-processing texts (e.g., Poynton's Digital Video); for a deeper, later-era dive specifically on AVC/H.264 you should compare it with Richardson's later H.264-focused book or the H.264 standard texts by Wiegand/Sullivan.
