Sustainability of Digital Formats
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MPEG-4, Visual Coding, Core Profile

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Table of Contents
Identification and description
Local use
Sustainability factors
Quality and functionality factors (video)
File type signifiers
Notes
Format specifications
Useful references
Format Description Properties
• ID: fdd000047
• Short name: MPEG-4_V_CP
• Content categories: moving image
• Format category: bitstream encoding
• Last significant update: 2005-08-31
• Draft status: Full

Identification and description Explanation of format description terms

Full nameInformation technology -- Coding of audio-visual objects (formal name)
MPEG-4, Visual Coding, Core Profile
DescriptionSee also MP4_FF_2 and MPEG-4_V. Useful in higher-quality interactive services and supports mobile broadcast services.1

The Core Profile permits the use of the following visual object types:
• Simple: rectangular video, uses intra (I) and predicted (P) video object planes (VOPs, the MPEG-4 term for frames).
• Core: arbitrarily shaped video, uses a tool superset of Simple, adds bidirectional (B) video object planes (VOPs), binary shape coding, and supports temporal scalability based on sending extra P-VOPs.

Two compression levels are permitted; Levels 1 (maximum bit rate 384 kbps) and 2 (maximum 2 Mbps). Uses typical session size depending upon level: Quarter Common Intermediate Format (QCIF; 176 pixels by 144 lines, 30 fps; 1.22:1) or Common Intermediate Format (CIF; 352 pixels by 288 lines, 30 fps; 1.22:1).
  Production phase  Generally a final-state (end-user delivery) format.
Relationship to other formats 
  Subtype ofMPEG-4_V, MPEG-4, Visual Coding (Part 2)
  Used byMP4_FF_2_V, MPEG-4 File Format, V.2, with Visual Coding (All Profiles)

Local use Explanation of format description terms

LC experience or existing holdings 
LC preference 

Sustainability factors Explanation of format description terms

DisclosureOpen standard. See MP4_FF_2.
  DocumentationSee MP4_FF_2.
AdoptionActual adoption not known to the compilers of this document.
  Licensing and patent claimsSee MP4_FF_2.
TransparencySee MP4_FF_2.
Self-documentationSee MP4_FF_2.
External dependenciesSee MP4_FF_2.
Technical protection considerationsSee MP4_FF_2.

Quality and functionality factors (video) Explanation of format description terms

Normal renderingGood support.
Clarity (support for high image resolution)See MPEG-4 and MPEG-4_V. Potential for greater clarity at a given picture size, data rate, and encoding algorithm, than some other MPEG-4 profiles, e.g., Simple and Simple Scalable Profiles. May offer slightly less clarity at a given picture size, data rate, and encoding algorithm than the Main Profile.
Fidelity (support for high audio resolution)See MPEG-4.
Support for multiple sound channelsSee MPEG-4.
Functionality beyond normal video renderingSee MPEG-4.

File type signifiers Explanation of format description terms

Tag typeValueNote
Filename Extensionmp4 
Internet Media TypeSee MP4_FF_2 
Magic numbersSee MP4_FF_2 
Profile and level indicators00100001, 00100010For profile_and_level_indication for Core Profile, levels 1 and 2. From Annex G of Part 2 of the standard, pp. 454-55.
File type brandSee noteIndicated in file wrapper and relates to "brands" defined in ISO_BMFF. Wrapping MPEG-4_V bitstreams in MP4_FF_1 would occasion the use of mp41; in MP4_FF_2, use mp42. See Part 15 of the standard, pp. 2-9, 13.

Notes Explanation of format description terms

General 
History 

Format specifications Explanation of format description terms

URLs

Print
See MP4_FF_2.

Useful references

URLs
• See MP4_FF_2.

Print
• See MP4_FF_2.

1Pereira, Fernando, and Touradj Ebrahimi, The MPEG-4 Book, Upper Saddle River, NJ: IMSC Press, 2002, p. 599.


Last Updated: 03/ 7/2007