MPEG-4 video verification model: A solution for interactive multimedia applications

MPEG-4 aims at providing standardized core technologies allowing efficient storage, transmission and manipulation of video data in multimedia environments. In order to achieve this broad goal, rather than a solution for a narrow set of applications, functionalities common to clusters of applications are under consideration. The encoded representation, along with the set of tools and algorithms provided by MPEG4 will enable these functionalities. The current focus of the MPEG-4 video group is on the development of a video Verification Model (VM). A VM is a precise definition of encoding and decoding algorithms which may be thought of as tools addressing specific functionalities. Typically, members of the MPEG-4 video group propose several tools addressing different functionalities. The VM serves as a common platform for testing and comparing the proposed tools. The tools are compared by means of so-called core experiments. As the result of each core experiment becomes available, the VM is updated, so that the tool determined to be the best in a given core experiment replaces the current corresponding tool present in the VM. This paper gives an overview of version 8.0 of the video VM in MPEG-4. In doing so, issues, algorithms, and major tools used in the development of this future video standard are discussed.