Moving Picture Experts Group

The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) is a team created by two big groups called ISO and IEC. They work together to make rules for how to store and send pictures, sounds, and videos on computers and other devices. These rules help make files smaller so they can be sent quickly over the internet or stored on devices without taking up too much space.

MPEG has made many important rules over the years. Some of the most common ones are called MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 AVC. These rules are used in things like movies, music, and videos on your computer, phone, or tablet.

Today, many new systems use a special kind of file made by MPEG called the base media file format. There is also a way to send videos smoothly over the internet called dynamic streaming or MPEG-DASH. Thanks to MPEG’s work, we can enjoy high-quality videos and music on all kinds of devices easily.

History

The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) was created in 1988 by Dr. Hiroshi Yasuda and Dr. Leonardo Chiariglione. Chiariglione led the group until June 2020. The first meeting happened in May 1988 in Ottawa, Canada.

In the late 1990s, MPEG grew to include many members from different industries and universities. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, MPEG switched to online meetings. After Chiariglione retired, new leaders took over, and MPEG changed its structure. Meetings continued online and then returned to in-person events in 2022.

Cooperation with other groups

MPEG has worked with other groups to improve how we compress and send video and audio. For example, MPEG-2 was created with help from ITU-T Study Group 15. This led to standards used in many TV broadcasts.

Later, the Joint Video Team brought together experts from ITU-T and MPEG to create H.264/MPEG-4 AVC. This new method uses less space for video than older ways. More recent teams, like the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding and the Joint Video Experts Team, kept improving video compression. They helped make standards like High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) and Versatile Video Coding (VVC), which save even more space. The MPEG Industry Forum, a group that supported MPEG standards, helped people use these standards until it closed in 2012 after H.264 became very popular.

Standards

The MPEG standards have different parts, each covering a specific area. These standards include profiles and levels. Profiles define the tools that can be used, and levels set the range of values for those tools.

Some important early MPEG formats include:

• MPEG-1 (1993): This was the first MPEG compression standard for audio and video. It is used for things like Video CDs.
• MPEG-2 (1996): This standard is used for broadcast-quality television, including digital TV and DVD videos.
• MPEG-4 (1998): This format offers more advanced compression. It is used in things like HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs.

Other MPEG standards include MPEG-7 for describing multimedia content, MPEG-21 for a multimedia framework, and many more.

Standardization process

Main article: International Organization for Standardization § Standardization process

Creating a new standard for videos and music starts with an idea. This idea goes through several steps before it becomes an official standard. First, it’s called a “New Project” or “New Work Item Proposal.” Then it becomes an “Approved Work Item.” Next, it turns into a “Working Draft,” which is like a first version. After more work, it becomes a “Committee Draft” and is shared for feedback. If everything looks good, it moves to a “Draft International Standard.” Finally, it becomes a “Final Draft International Standard” before the last check. If approved, it’s officially an “International Standard.” Sometimes, some steps are skipped if the standard is ready early. This careful process helps make sure standards work well for everyone.