A generalized video complexity verifier for flexible decoding

Video standards make use of a video complexity verifier (VCV) to characterize and regulate the decoding complexity of a compliant bitstream. In previous VCV models, the minimum level of computational capacity required to decode a given bitstream is strictly related to the peak decoding complexity of an individual frame in the sequence. This contribution presents a new VCV model, which is more flexible than prior VCV models. The proposed VCV model permits the bitstream to be decoded by devices operating at significantly smaller levels of peak computational capacity. The trade-off is a slight increase in additional delay and memory. Simulation results illustrate these benefits of the new VCV model.