International. After devoting several years to its research and standardization, Fraunhofer HHI (along with industry partners such as Apple, Ericsson, Intel, Huawei, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Sony) recently introduced the new H. 266/Versatile Video Coding (VVC) global video encoding standard.
This new standard offers improved compression, which reduces data requirements by around 50% of the bitrate relative to the previous H.265/High Efficiency Video Encoding (HEVC) standard without compromising visual quality. In other words, H.266/VVC offers faster video streaming for equal perception quality. Overall, H.266/VVC provides efficient streaming and storage of all video resolutions from SD to HD up to 4K and 8K, while supporting high dynamic range video and 360° omnidirectional video.
Today, compressed video data accounts for 80% of global Internet traffic. H.266/VVC represents the pinnacle of (at least) four generations of international standards for video encoding. The previous H.264/Advanced Video Coding (AVC) and H.265/HEVC standards, which were produced with substantial contributions from Fraunhofer HHI, remain active on more than 10 billion end devices, processing more than 90% of the total global volume of video bits. Both previous standards were also collectively recognized by three engineering Emmy Awards for contributing substantially to the advancement of television technology.
By reducing data requirements, H.266/VVC makes video streaming on mobile networks (where data capacity is limited) more efficient. For example, the above H.265/HEVC standard requires approx. 10 gigabytes of data to stream a 90-minute UHD video.
With this new technology, only 5 gigabytes of data are required to achieve the same quality. Because H.266/VVC was developed with ultra-high-resolution video content in mind, the new standard is particularly beneficial when streaming 4K or 8K videos on a flat-screen TV. In addition, H.266/VVC is ideal for all kinds of moving images: from high-resolution 360° video panoramas to screen sharing content.
"After dedicating almost three years to this standard, we are proud to have been instrumental in the development of H.266/VVC," says Benjamin Bross, head of the video coding systems group at Fraunhofer HHI and editor of the +500 page standard specification. of H.266 / VVC. "Due to the huge leap in encoding efficiency offered by H.266/VVC, the use of video will increase even more around the world. In addition, the increased versatility of H.266/VVC makes its use more attractive for a wider range of applications related to video streaming and storage."
"If you consider that Fraunhofer HHI already played a key role in the development of the previous video coding standards H.264/AVC and H.265/HEVC, we are happy with the fact that more than 50% of the bits on the Internet are generated by a Fraunhofer HHI technology," adds Dr. Detlev Marpe, head of the video coding and analysis department at Fraunhofer HHI.
It is envisaged to establish a uniform and transparent licensing model based on the FRAND principle (i.e. fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) for the use of standard essential patents related to H.266/VVC. To this end, the Media Coding Industry Forum (MC-IF) was founded. In addition to the Fraunhofer Society, the MC-IF now includes more than 30 companies and organizations. The new chips needed for the use of H.266/VVC, such as those for mobile devices, are currently being designed. Dr. Thomas Schierl, head of the video encoding and analysis department at Fraunhofer HHI, announced that "this fall, Fraunhofer HHI will publish the first software (for encoder and decoder) compatible with H.266/VVC."
Source: Fraunhofer HHI.
