Video Coding and the Application Level Framing Protocol Architecture

As networks and computers become faster, real time video transmission is expected to become common. Variable bit rate video coders will be used in order to take advantage of the statistical multiplexing gain and bandwidth efficiency of packet switched networks. Video streams have different service requirements from the traffic usually carried on computer networks. A new protocol architecture called Application Level Framing ALF has been proposed to allow efficient implementation of communications with diverse service requirements. ALF allows the application to control the way in which network errors are handled. This thesis studies the compatibility of three proposed video coding standards with an ALF protocol architecture. Each of the standards is found to be usable with varying degrees of effort. A set of design principles for video codes intended for use over an ALF protocol architecture is presented.