H.266

H.266. H.266, also known as Versatile Video Coding (VVC), is a video compression standard developed by the Joint Video Experts Team (JVET), a collaboration between the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) and the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). The development of H.266 involved several organizations, including the Fraunhofer Institute, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg, Apple Inc., Ericsson, Intel Corporation, Huawei, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Samsung Electronics. This standard is designed to provide improved compression efficiency compared to its predecessor, H.265, and is expected to be widely adopted in various applications, including Ultra High Definition (UHD) video, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) content, as well as in platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video.

Introduction

H.266 is a video compression standard that aims to provide a significant improvement in compression efficiency compared to existing standards, such as H.264 and H.265. The development of H.266 was driven by the need for more efficient video compression, particularly for high-resolution and high-frame-rate video content, which is becoming increasingly popular in applications like 4K resolution and 8K resolution video, as well as in platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. The standard is designed to be flexible and adaptable to various use cases, including broadcast, streaming, and storage applications, and is expected to be widely adopted by companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook. H.266 is also expected to play a key role in the development of emerging technologies, such as 5G and 6G wireless networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

History

The development of H.266 began in 2015, when the Joint Video Experts Team (JVET) was formed to develop a new video compression standard. The JVET is a collaboration between the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) and the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), and includes representatives from several organizations, including the Fraunhofer Institute, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg, Apple Inc., Ericsson, Intel Corporation, Huawei, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Samsung Electronics. The development of H.266 involved several stages, including the collection of requirements, the development of a draft standard, and the testing and validation of the standard, which was supported by organizations like BBC, NHK, and ARIB. The standard was finalized in July 2020, and is expected to be widely adopted in the coming years, with support from companies like Sony, LG Electronics, and Panasonic.

Technical Details

H.266 is based on a number of advanced technologies, including intra prediction, inter prediction, and entropy coding. The standard uses a block-based approach, where each block is divided into smaller sub-blocks, and each sub-block is predicted using a combination of intra and inter prediction, similar to H.264 and H.265. H.266 also uses a number of tools, such as adaptive loop filtering and sample adaptive offset, to improve the compression efficiency, and is designed to be compatible with existing video compression standards, such as MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. The standard is also designed to be flexible and adaptable to various use cases, including broadcast, streaming, and storage applications, and is expected to be widely adopted by companies like IBM, Cisco Systems, and AT&T.

Features and Advantages

H.266 has a number of features and advantages that make it an attractive option for video compression. The standard provides a significant improvement in compression efficiency compared to existing standards, such as H.264 and H.265, and is designed to be flexible and adaptable to various use cases. H.266 also supports a number of advanced features, such as high dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut (WCG), and is expected to be widely adopted in emerging technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), with support from companies like Oculus VR, HTC Vive, and Magic Leap. The standard is also designed to be compatible with existing video compression standards, and is expected to be widely adopted by companies like Disney, WarnerMedia, and NBCUniversal.

Comparison with Other Codecs

H.266 is compared to other video compression standards, such as H.264 and H.265, in terms of compression efficiency, complexity, and features. The standard provides a significant improvement in compression efficiency compared to existing standards, and is designed to be flexible and adaptable to various use cases. H.266 is also compared to other emerging standards, such as AV1 and VP9, in terms of compression efficiency, complexity, and features, and is expected to be widely adopted by companies like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. The standard is also designed to be compatible with existing video compression standards, and is expected to be widely adopted by companies like BBC, NHK, and ARIB.

Adoption and Implementation

H.266 is expected to be widely adopted in various applications, including broadcast, streaming, and storage. The standard is designed to be flexible and adaptable to various use cases, and is expected to be widely adopted by companies like Apple Inc., Google, and Amazon. H.266 is also expected to be widely adopted in emerging technologies, such as 5G and 6G wireless networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT), with support from companies like Ericsson, Huawei, and Qualcomm. The standard is also designed to be compatible with existing video compression standards, and is expected to be widely adopted by companies like Sony, LG Electronics, and Panasonic. As the adoption of H.266 increases, it is expected to have a significant impact on the video compression industry, with support from organizations like IEEE, ITU, and IETF. Category:Video codecs