H.264/AVC Elementary Streams

Allegro DVT compliance bitstreams are designed for intensive testing of H.264/AVC|MVC|SVC decoder implementations.

Given the higher complexity of H.264/AVC compared to MPEG-2, such testing is an absolute necessity before mass deployment.

Allegro DVT provides several test suites. Each test suite targets a specific profile/level combination.

All test suites include:

• Syntax streams: ensure that decoders abide by all features of H.264 compression standards, including corner cases.
• Performance streams: test if a decoder is able to decode worst case streams in real-time.

Stream formats:

• The bitstreams are delivered in Elementary Byte Steam format (Annex B).
• The bitstreams can be encapsulated in MPEG Transport format (ISO/IEC 13818-1) using Allegro DVT’s encapsulation software.

Methodology:

Allegro DVT has developed its own H.264 encoder dedicated to generating test bitstreams. This encoder is designed for high configurability rather than maximum compression ratio. All encoding parameters (picture type, slice type, loop filter parameters, slice reordering, MMCO, macroblock type, quantization parameter, motion vector, prediction direction, intra prediction direction, constrained intra prediction, direct mode type, etc.) can be controlled at macroblock granularity.

Using this dedicated encoder, Allegro DVT has generated:

• Syntax bitstreams for intensive testing of all compression tools.
• Performance bitstreams for H.264/AVC performance testing against theoretical worst cases.