An HDTV codec based on MPEG2 and its picture quality evaluation

This paper describes the codec's specifications and results of subjective testing for decoded images at 12 Mbit/s to 36 Mbit/s. In this codec, the HDTV image is divided into four standard-TV-sized images, and multiple MPEG2 tools designed for standard TV are utilized. So, this codec could be made compact by using standard TV processing units for MPEG2, which will be widely available in the near future. Moreover, this HDTV codec has an architecture with which both HDTV processing and multiple standard TV processing is possible. As for the bit-rates, by introducing an image shaping function before MPEG2 compression, 12-18 Mbit/s transmission is possible with less picture degradation.