What is VCEG Video Coding Expert Group

VCEG: The Keepers of the Video Coding Standards (Technically Explained)

VCEG, standing for Video Coding Experts Group (or sometimes Visual Coding Experts Group), is a vital organization within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). Here's a detailed breakdown of its technical role in the world of video coding:

Core Function:

VCEG is a working group dedicated to developing and recommending international standards for video coding. These standards define how video data is compressed for efficient storage, transmission, and playback. VCEG's work directly impacts various applications, including:

• Video streaming (e.g., YouTube, Netflix)
• Video conferencing (e.g., Zoom, Teams)
• Digital television (DTV)
• Video on demand (VOD)
• Video surveillance
• Medical imaging

Standardization Process:

VCEG operates under Question 6/16 of ITU-T Study Group 16. Here's how the standardization process unfolds:

1. Identification of Needs: VCEG identifies the need for new or improved video coding standards based on industry trends, technological advancements, and user requirements.
2. Call for Proposals: VCEG issues calls for proposals (CfPs) from various stakeholders like research institutions and companies. These proposals typically outline new video coding techniques or improvements on existing standards.
3. Evaluation and Testing: Submitted proposals undergo rigorous evaluation through technical simulations and testing. Factors like compression efficiency, coding complexity, and visual quality are assessed.
4. Standard Development: Based on the evaluation results, VCEG iteratively refines and develops the most promising proposals into a formal video coding standard.
5. Publication and Adoption: The final standard is published by the ITU-T, paving the way for its adoption by the industry.

Key VCEG Video Coding Standards:

VCEG is responsible for a series of widely adopted video coding standards, including:

• H.26x Series: This encompasses a range of video coding standards, with popular ones like H.261 (first standard), H.263 (video conferencing), H.264/AVC (widely used for streaming and Blu-ray), and H.265/HEVC (high-efficiency video coding for high-resolution videos).
• Next-Generation Standards: VCEG actively collaborates with the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) on developing the latest video coding standards. An example is Versatile Video Coding (VVC), which offers further compression efficiency improvements over HEVC.

Technical Considerations for VCEG Standards:

VCEG standards need to balance various factors:

• Compression Efficiency: Reducing video data size for efficient storage and transmission.
• Visual Quality: Maintaining an acceptable level of visual quality for the intended application.
• Coding Complexity: Ensuring the video coding and decoding process is computationally efficient for various devices (e.g., mobile phones, TVs).
• Error Resilience: Incorporating mechanisms to handle data loss or errors during transmission.

VCEG's Impact:

VCEG's video coding standards have revolutionized how we experience and interact with video content. By constantly pushing the boundaries of compression efficiency while maintaining quality, VCEG has enabled widespread adoption of video applications across various sectors.

Understanding the technical aspects of VCEG empowers you to appreciate the crucial role of standardization in shaping the future of video communication and entertainment.