Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections

Introduction | Sustainability Factors | Content Categories | Format Descriptions | Contact
Format Description Categories >> Browse Alphabetical List

MPEG-4, Visual Coding, Core Profile

>> Back
Table of Contents
Format Description Properties Explanation of format description terms

Identification and description Explanation of format description terms

Full name ISO/IEC 14496-2:2004. Information technology -- Coding of audio-visual objects -- Part 2: Visual. Core Profile (formal name); MPEG-4, Visual Coding, Core Profile (common name)
Description

See also MP4_FF_2 and MPEG-4_V. This profile is useful in higher-quality interactive services and supports mobile broadcast services.

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 of MPEG-4_V, MPEG-4, Visual Coding (Part 2)
    Used by MP4_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

Disclosure Open standard. See MP4_FF_2.
    Documentation See MP4_FF_2.
Adoption Actual adoption not known to the compilers of this document.
    Licensing and patents See MP4_FF_2.
Transparency See MP4_FF_2.
Self-documentation See MP4_FF_2.
External dependencies See MP4_FF_2.
Technical protection considerations See MP4_FF_2.

Quality and functionality factors Explanation of format description terms

Moving Image
Normal rendering Good support.
Clarity (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.
Functionality beyond normal rendering See MPEG-4.

File type signifiers and format identifiers Explanation of format description terms

Tag Value Note
Filename extension mp4
 
Internet Media Type See related format. 

See MP4_FF_2

Magic numbers See related format. 

See MP4_FF_2

File type brand (ISO Base Media File Format) See note.  Indicated 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.
Indicator for profile, level, version, etc. See note.  Indicators for Core Profile levels 1 and 2 are 00100001, 00100010, respectively. From Annex G of ISO/IEC 14496-2:2004, Table G.1
Pronom PUID See note.  PRONOM has no corresponding entry as of July 2022.
Wikidata Title ID See related format.  See MPEG-4, Visual Coding (Part 2) (H.263).

Notes Explanation of format description terms

General  
History  

Format specifications Explanation of format description terms


Useful references

URLs

Books, articles, etc.

Last Updated: 07/22/2022