MPEG-2

by John Watkinson

Digital compression techniques have been known for a long time, but the onward march of LSI technology means that it can now be economically applied to video and audio systems on a wide scale. MPEG-2 has assisted in this process by providing interoperability standards for audio and video compression, storage and communication. Given the wide applications, it would be wrong to assume a particular background for the reader. Instead, this book treats the subject of MPEG from first principles. This book replaces and greatly expands on the author's highly acclaimed Compression in Video and Audio, by concentrating on the form in which compression has emerged in the market place. An introductory chapter outlines the major applications of MPEG and explains how it works in a simplified form. A chapter on fundamentals contains all of the background necessary to follow the rest of the book.MPEG is a complex blend of arcane processes such as motion estimation, transforms and information theory. This theory is complimented by practical examples of audio and video compression. MPEG is more than a compression technique; it also standardizes the way in which compressed data are transmitted. The creation of MPEG elementary streams and their multiplexing into transport streams is dealt with in detail, along with the problems involved in synchronizing all of the signals in a multiplex. The practical testing of MPEG transport streams is also considered.MPEG is a remarkable technology but it is not without its pitfalls. The book includes useful practical tips for guidance when using compression and advice on how to minimize quality loss. The clarity of explanation and depth of technical detail combine to make this book an essential and definitive reference work on the subject. John Watkinson is an international consultant in audio, video and data recording. He is a Fellow of the AES, a member of the British Computer Society and a chartered information systems practitioner. He presents lectures, seminars, conference papers and training courses world-wide. He is the author of many other Focal Press books.

244 pages, Hardcover

First published February 22, 1999