MPEG-4, or Why Efficiency is Much More than Just a Compression Ratio

Abstract

MPEG-4 gives a set of tools for the efficient representation of multimedia content, in several respects. The MPEG-4 standard is much more than just a set of audio and video codecs, but rather an entire system that supports this efficient representation. The tools include efficient, binary, realtime language for scene description: Binary Format for Scenes (BIFS). BIFS is designed to allow mixing of media, be they video, graphics, text, or computer-generated content. This means that not all media types need to be treated as moving video pixels, which allows a more efficient representation, with higher quality as a bonus. Similar concepts apply to audio. This paper also explains how scalability options can allow more efficient data representation in many environments. — There are good business reasons that make MPEG-4 an efficient choice. Using proprietary formats may seem cost-effective at first glance, but comes with hidden expenses. Open standards, responsibly upgraded, allow significant cost savings, while fostering efficiency-improving innovations. MPEG-2 gives a clear example.