Is Mpeg-2 Our New Legacy?
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
IS MPEG-2 OUR NEW LEGACY? Yasser Syed, Ph. D., Mukta Kar Ph.D. Cable Television Laboratories & Vinay Sathe, Ph.D. Multirate Systems Abstract content. End users are now interested in “my 500 channels” rather than the standard “500 Cable operators have been looking at channels” on their cable networks. advanced video codecs in order to make more Proliferation of new digital services such as bandwidth available to meet ever-growing VOD, HDTV, DOCSIS, VOIP has increased user demands on cable networks, the need to be able to send more bits on the same pipe. This paper investigates the issues related to introduction of a new video compression Does the bandwidth crunch necessitate format in cable networks and how it can co- moving to new video compression exist with “legacy” MPEG-2 deployments. technologies? Yes and no. In this paper, we present the case that new compression formats should be looked at as complementing the INTRODUCTION MPEG-2 based deployments in the near term, not replacing them. The introduction of new The introduction of digital cable services video (and audio) codecs can act as a part of a using MPEG-2 over 10 years ago was done to bandwidth reclamation strategy instead of a meet several objectives: ability to provide complete overhaul of a cable network. hundreds of television programs, reduce capex and opex related to acquisition and In this paper we first list some bandwidth distribution, to name a few. The transition savings strategies in cable networks that can from analog to digital required plant upgrades, help reduce the bitrate needs without new encoders, and new STBs along with a abandoning MPEG-2 based deployments. revolutionary way of thinking. Today, MPEG- Next, we take a look at the issues involved in 2 set of standards forms the core of audio, introduction of new video compression video and transport protocols used in the formats. Unlike the analog to digital digital cable delivery system [1,2]. transition, only new encoders and STBs are required, but plant upgrades are not necessary. Over this same decade, user requirements This allows for new and old video have changed along with advances in video technologies to co-exist and many of the ideas compression technology. Recently, several originated in the earlier transition can be new video codecs have been introduced (e.g. leveraged again. WM-9 and MPEG-AVC/H.264). The powerful message of these codecs is hard to HOW FAR CAN MPEG-2 GO? ignore: 2-to-3 times the compression efficiency, Digital Rights Management MPEG-2 video standard specifies syntax support and increased interactivity with the for compressed video bitstream, but does not standardize an encoding algorithm to generate There are ways to extend the coding it. Over the years, better encoding schemes potential of MPEG-2 by adding new tools and have yielded superior picture quality at a creating new profiles. In the last few years, given bitrate using techniques such as researchers have been looking at compression improved pre and post processing, smoothing techniques beyond MPEG-2. By way of of motion vectors, better rate control (bit example, some of the potential new additions allocation) multi-pass encoding and so on. to the existing tool-kit of video compression Compared to the early days of MPEG2, the techniques include: typical bitrate required for broadcast quality • Multiple reference frames for prediction. video compression has gone down • Variable block size for motion estimation significantly through competitive processes • Special prediction modes for fades built into developing advances in video • 1/4th pixel motion estimation. encoding marketplace. However, it is • Multiple directions of prediction for I- interesting to note that certain applications macroblocks, such as VOD have associated business • Loop filter to control propagation of error, agreements that dictate the bitrate to be • Usage of arithmetic coding. constant (e.g. 3.75 Mbps) irregardless of the advances in encoding techniques. Adding these new tools, requires extensive modifications of the MPEG-2 standard and Video compression experts generally agree the creation of new products. In essence it that current state of the technology is such would be almost equivalent to creating a new that new encoding techniques to produce coding standard to handle these changes. In MPEG-2 video streams will probably not fact, some of the coding gain in advanced produce too much further improvement for codecs come from including these tools [3]. entertainment quality television programs (See Figure 1). Due to the maturity of the It should be noted that various alternatives MPEG-2 codec, most significant coding exist to reclaim bandwidth other than efficiencies at the main profile/main level changing the video compression codec, and (MP/ML) have already been explored through may be easier to deploy. A quick list includes: the competitive encoder development marketplace . 1. Higher QAM constellations (64 to 256: ~33%/QAM) 7 6 2. Shift analog PPV services to digital 5 (10X/QAM) 4 3. Switched broadcast Service (~1x/QAM)[4] Mbps 3 4. Stat mux MPEG-2 VOD (~25%/QAM) 2 5. Convert all (most) analog to digital 1 (10X/QAM) 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Year STATE OF COMPETITION Not surprisingly, the need for bandwidth is Figure 1: MPEG-2 Generational felt by DBS operators too. Due to the need to Encoder Improvements carry local programming, offer HD services and making bandwidth available for personalized 2-way video services, satellite operators have been looking at various options including migration to higher algorithms used do not need to be constellation modulation, use of turbo codes standardized (the exception to this is targeting and adoption of advanced video codecs. to portable personal devices). Over time, as Satellite operators have very little margin left the average bitrate needed to deliver in reducing per-channel bandwidth used by entertainment quality video decreasesthe take their MPEG-2 video programming and it is rate on these services will rise. Whether or not inevitable that they have to commit to a new this is an opportunity or threat to cable compression standard in near future. operators remains to be seen [7]. However, to date, there are no announced plans of migration to a new video codec. Wireless network operators have also recognized the new market opportunities in With MPEG-2 technology, DSL providers being able to offer video services. Recently, have not been able to establish a firm foothold there is a renewed interest in MMDS in the video delivery market. The desire to technology (e.g. WiMAX consortium) that adopt an advanced video codec for video provides fixed wireless broadband access to delivery has also been reported in the DSL subscribers. At the bitrates of transmission industry because it can open up these markets. (1.5 Mbps), advanced video codec will be the Recently approved ADSL-2 standard enables logical choice for entertainment quality video transmission of data at 1.5 Mbps over existing services. It is too early to speculate if the existing phone networks [5]. This channel rate wireless operators will provide data and voice is not enough for entertainment quality video only or if they will provide data, voice and transmission if one is using MPEG-2 video with broadcast television quality video compression, but is plenty for advanced codec services. based transmission. However, High Definition programming still poses a problem because In terms of ability to offer converged 1.5 Mbps is not enough bandwidth for HD services (streaming, video conferencing, transmission, even for advanced video codecs. video cellphone, and traditional video using Clever attempts have been made to meet that same codec and protocols) MPEG-2 transport need by a very fancy arrangement of multiple and video technology is at a disadvantage. phone lines. For example, UK based Net-to- Migration to advanced codecs and new Net Technologies and Tandberg TV standards potentially gives a competitive edge experiment using two lines ADSL loop to the above network operators by enabling bonding, as referenced in an Internet report converged service offering. [6]. IMPLEMENTATION COSTS Another recent shift in business model due to availability of high bandwidth DOCSIS is Due to the broadcast nature of the video the content providers directly doing business signal, and number of decoder units; the cost with consumers by bypassing the need to have of equipment on the decode side far business relationship with network operators. outweighs the costs associated with upgrading Currently, there are only a couple of high encoding equipment. We therefore only talk profile (and many smaller) TV-over-the- about cost of implementation related to the Internet type services available. Two things to set-top box side. note here – decoders used for these services are typically software-based (WM9 or Real), In anticipation of a future move away from with DRM enhancements to the liking of each MPEG-2 technology to another video codec, content provider, and video compression several IC manufacturers have already started building their decoder ICs based on flexible and can be used to support carriage of both platform (e.g. TI, Equator, ST, Philips etc.) codecs. The concepts of modulation, Obeying Moore’s law, providing backward multiplexing, buffering, insertion, and compatibility becomes a less pricey option. caroseling can be reused and intermixed with the new video codec. As an example, MPEG decoder ICs are sold at approximately <$12 price range. The real analog legacy that still exists Current MPEG4 decoder pricing is very high today is not the plant and equipment (almost a $15 premium over MPEG2 upgrades; but the reluctance of a sizeable (MP@ML) only decoders), but the premium group of people (approx. 63 million paying in is expected to go down to less than 7 dollars 2003 [9]), who get basic cable service to all in 3-4 years [8].