MPEG: a video compression standard for multimedia applications

The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standard addresses compression of video signals at approximately 1.5M-bits. MPEG is a generic standard and is independent of any particular applications. Applications of compressed video on digital storage media include asymmetric applications such as electronic publishing, games and entertainment. Symmetric applications of digital video include video mail, video conferencing, videotelephone and production of electronic publishing. Design of the MPEG algorithm presents a difficult challenge since quality requirements demand high compression that cannot be achieved with only intraframe coding. The algorithm’s random access requirement, however, is best satisfied with pure intraframe coding. MPEG uses predictive and interpolative coding techniques to answer this challenge. Extensive details are presented.