TABLE OF CONTENTS Following the universal success of the H.261 and MPEG-1 video codecs, there was a growing need for a video codec to address a wide variety of applications. Considering the similarity between H.261 and MPEG-1, ITU-T, and ISO/IEC made a joint effort to devise a generic video codec. Joining the study was a special group in ITU-T, Study Group 15, SG15, who were interested in coding of video for transmission over the future broadband integrated services digital networks (B-ISDN) using asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) transport. The devised generic codec was finalised in 1995, and takes the name of MPEG-2/H.262, although it is more commonly known as MPEG-2 [1].
At the time of the development, the following applications for the generic codec were foreseen:
| broadcasting satellite service (to the home) |
| cable TV distribution on optical networks, copper etc. |
| cable digital audio distribution |
| digital audio broadcasting (terrestrial and satellite) |
| digital terrestrial television broadcast |
| electronic cinema |
| electronic news gathering (including SNG, satellite news gathering) |
| fixed satellite service (e.g. to head ends) |
| home television theatre |
| interpersonal communications (videoconferencing, videophone, . . .) |
| interactive storage media (optical discs etc.) |
| multimedia mailing |
| news and current affairs |
| networked database services ( via ATM etc.) |
| remote video surveillance |
| serial storage media (digital VTR etc.). |
Of particular importance is the application to satellite systems where the limitations of radio spectrum and satellite parking orbit result in pressure to provide acceptable quality TV...
