MPEG-4: very low bit rate coding for multimedia applications

Following the development of digital communications, focus is now on interactive multimedia services on telephone networks. To provide such applications, very low bit rate video coding algorithms have to be designed and optimized. A standardization process is being started within MPEG under the MPEG-4 denomination, to build a generic scheme for bit rates from 10 to 64 kbit/s. The Laboratories d'Electronique Philips are currently involved in European projects which are devoting their efforts to the elaboration of a common European proposal towards MPEG-4. This paper gives an overview of the research status on very low bit rate video coding within Philips and within Europe. Most of the European studies are concerned with region based compression technique; emphasis will therefore be put on the two major algorithms enhancing this technique.