A performance comparison of three software video codecs for IBM RISC System/6000 workstations

摘要

We have implemented three different video codecs in software for IBM's RISC System/6000 family of UNIX workstations. The codecs are Motion JPEG (M-JPEG), Intel's Indeo 3.1 codec, and IBM's Ultimotion Matinee codec. We implemented the codecs entirely in high-level languages. Here, we discuss and compare the performance of the three codecs. We consider both the characteristics of the encode/decode algorithms, and the speed of our decoder implementations on various models in the RISC System/6000 family. We especially wanted to examine each decoder's frame rate performance, using a common video sequence, across a range of different processors. Our tests showed that Motion JPEG provides the best image quality for a given bit-rate, while Ultimotion Matinee provides the fastest decode frame rate of the three decoders. For each decoder, the displayed frame rate tracks CPU performance. In general, software video decoders yield acceptable frame rates for most video sequences.