VLab is exploring the option of developing an MPEG-4 codec.

The open standard MPEG 4 tool set and media architecture, includes capabilities that are complementary to those of VLabâs products. MPEG 4 provides the ability to efficiently code multiple views of a scene, exploiting redundancies in the multiple views. It provides support for arbitrarily shaped video, mesh distortion of video, and the integration of three dimensional objects with video. It provides tools for working with meta-content, including the integration of Java. MPEG 4 is robust in error prone environments, such as with multicasting. It is scalable with fine granularity in itâs content, spatial resolution, and quality. This may include a prioritization of the display of objects within the scene. It also provides structures for return channel data.

Having support for capabilities that Vlab is developing, MPEG 4 with itâs advanced compression, makes an ideal format with which to deploy Vlabâs priority streaming technology.

Major developments in the market; Such as the deregulation of fiber bandwidth in the US, and the release of the ISMA's digital rights management for MPEG4, have clear implications for the advent of streaming video on data networks, and the implementation of multicast as a network standard.

(more MPEG-4 analysis)

Links to data compression information related to MPEG. There are links to Open Source and Reference Libraries for MPEG 4, including GPAC, MPEGIP, Project Mayo, and others.
 

MPEG 4 Streaming