On Scanning Format and MPEG-2 Coding Efficiency

The traditional analog video broadcast standard is an interlaced format. Interlace was included in the standards for television broadcasting for very good reasons; however, with the introduction of digital video broadcast (MPEG-2), we should reconsider the use of interlace as part of a digital video chain. Moreover, video format conversion, in general, may also require reconsideration as it can be performed either at the studio end (transmitter side) or at the receiver end (television set). This paper examines the efficiency of MPEG-2 coding for interlaced and progressive video, and also compares de-interlacing and picture-rate upconversion before and after coding. We found receiver side de-interlacing and picture-rate upconversion, i.e., after coding, to give better image quality at a given data rate. Moreover, in contrast with other publications, we found interlaced video coding to be better than progressive video for many relevant sequences, even when comparing the results on a progressive display. The paper explains how these earlier conclusions were drawn and why the new ones are better.

Print ISSN

0036-1682

Published

2001-05

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J17777