Implementing Fully Configurable Video Coding

A codec that can be re-configured dynamically has the potential to offer greater rate-distortion performance than fixed codecs by adapting video coding algorithms depending on local statistics and varying system resources. In addition, complete, dynamic configuration of a video decoder makes it possible to rapidly implement new algorithms and efficiently support multiple coding formats on a single platform. This paper describes a framework for dynamic re-configuration of video codecs, fully configurable video coding, in which new or modified decoder designs are generated, transmitted, and then implemented by a universal video decoder. We present rate-distortion results generated by a real-time prototype of this new approach.