The H.264 SVC technology was developed to flexibly encode image files and video streams with high compression efficiency and low decoding complexity. SVC provides much-needed flexibility to achieve an efficient transmission of video files especially when facing challenging heterogeneous medias and changing environments.

How does SVC work?

H.264 SVC, defined by extension G of the H.264 AVC standard and ratified by the ITU-T and ISO/IEC ITC, accounts for the various needs and capabilities of different conditions.

The video stream is coded in several sub-streams, each sub-stream adding an additional level of resolution. Scalability is achieved by removing or ignoring some sub-streams based on the needs, preferences, capabilities or conditions of the video transmission.

Scalability can be based on the spatial resolution, temporal resolution or on the fidelity and correction codes of the video stream.

The H.264 SVC technology is particularly suitable for heterogeneous environments with various types of receivers or multicast broadcasting environments such as video surveillance, teleconference, telepresence, IP Television and mobile broadcasting.

For additional technical information relating to the SVC technology visit www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.264-201003-S/en.