VIDEO CODING - TECHNIQUES, STANDARDS AND APPLICATIONS

Virtually all teleconferencing systems incorporating video use compres sion algorithms to reduce the video data rate to manageable proportion s. For a given bit rate, higher compression brings higher quality, alt hough there can also be disadvantages, such as increased delay. Confer encing implies interconnectability, so the development of appropriate standards has played a vital part in enabling the videoconferencing ma rket in particular to become established. This paper describes the mai n techniques used in video compression and how these have been embodie d in successive generations of standards appropriate to various applic ation areas. Other non-standardised techniques, and forthcoming standa rds are also discussed.