New Encoding Algorithm dicasVICO Unveiled

dicas, the German MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 encoding specialist, has unveiled a new revolutionary quality enhancing algorithm called dicasVICO. In order to attain the same picture quality like current H.264 encoders, streams modulated with dicasVICO get by on bit rates being lower by 30 per cent. dicasVICO helps broadcasters and providers of WebTV, MobileTV and IPTV services to overcome bandwidth restrictions and dramatically enhance the picture quality of their programs.

dicasVICO allows for a more efficient use of the available transport capacity by optimising the distribution of bits among the image sections of a video picture during the encoding process. Unlike most current encoders, the algorithm by dicas is not based on prevalent statistical measures but on the properties of the human visual system.

“Most H.264 encoders use variance algorithms to modulate the quantiser”, explains Klaas Schüür, co-founder and CTO at dicas. “Although you may get great measuring results by applying complex operations based on rate distortion, this does not reflect the latest state of scientific knowledge on the visual perception of man.”

dicasVICO, on the contrary, takes advantage of the gradual fault tolerance of the human visual system against varying optical phenomena. For example the human brain hardly notices errors occurring in high-frequency sections, i.e. fast movements or fine-textured patterns, whereas it is very attentive towards errors within regular structures or slow-motion sections.

To what extent a higher encoding accuracy is applied on the particular image sections is controlled by dicasVICO in accordance to the picture’s visual complexity. Such a selective quantisation may lead to lower statistical results, especially when current technical measurement standards like signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR) are used. Mere statistical measuring methods, however, are hardly significant concerning the subjective picture quality.

Perception tests show that the visual complexity approach has an enormous impact on how a video stream is perceived by its viewers. Subjectively the stream with dicasVICO algorithm applied on appears to be much more brilliant and clearer. “Especially at low bit rates videos encoded with dicasVICO show substantially less artifacts”, says Schüür. dicasVICO is now part of all dicas encoder hardware products and mpegable software packages.

On2 Extends Relationship with Skype in New Strategic Agreement

On2 Technologies, a leader in video compression solutions, today announced that it has signed a new agreement with Skype, the world's leading online communications company, to extend Skype's relationship licensing On2's video codec technology.

Millions of people every day use Skype software to communicate with others through free voice and video calls. On2's technology provides encoding, scaling, pre-processing and post-processing of video on Skype. On2 supported the launch of video on Skype in 2005 with the integration of the On2 VP7 codec with Skype 2.0 for Windows. Since that time, Skype launched High Quality Video in October 2007, calling on the On2 codec, allowing users with as little as 0.5mbps available bandwidth to enjoy full screen video calls at VGA resolution. The On2 codec is also used in the recently announced Asus AiGuru SV1 Skype Certified Videophone. The new agreement is intended to pave the way for the On2 codec to migrate along with the Skype service to a diverse array of new devices such as the AiGuru SV1 videophone.

"On2 and Skype hold the same vision for video communications and through our close cooperation we have overcome the barriers keeping video calling out of reach for many," said Matt Frost, Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer of On2 Technologies. "In the future, you can expect to see even better video quality requiring even less bandwidth, and this will help to make video calling even more commonplace."

The superior compression performance of the On2 codec makes High Quality Skype video calls possible even over data rate connections as low as 300kbps. Among the numerous quality-enhancing innovations in On2 video codecs is Golden Frames, which enables a sharp background image to be maintained with minimal data when the subject in the foreground is continually moving. This feature is also extremely beneficial for packet-loss recovery. On2 video codecs also require far less CPU power for full duplex live video than other compression formats, enabling Skype users with older and less powerful PC systems to enjoy high quality video calls, and allowing stand-alone devices like the AiGuru SV1 videophone to be produced cost effectively, using less expensive processor technology.

"Bringing a great video calling experience to the average consumer is one of Skype's key priorities, and we see On2 as a key partner in helping us deliver this," said Manrique Brenes, Skype's Director of Business Development and Product Management for Consumer Electronics. "Using On2's codecs along with extensive software development and optimization work by engineering teams at Skype, we are able to help consumers overcome bandwidth constraints and deliver best-in-class free video calling for consumers."