H.265 / HEVC Codec Tutorial 2017

Author: John Honovich, Published on Jun 30, 2017

For years, video surveillance professionals have talked about the potential for H.265.

Now, in 2017, H.265 is starting to gain mainstream adoption, with many manufacturers shipping cameras and some VMSes adding support. However, there are many issues impacting H.265's competitiveness and compatibility.

We cover:

  • H.264 vs H.265 Technical Comparisons
  • Impacts On Quality
  • Barriers in Moving to H.265
  • VMS Support Reviewed
  • No ONVIF Conformance Until 2018
  • H.265 vs Smart H.264
  • H.265 Smart Codecs
  • H.265 IPVM Test Results
  • H.265 CPU Load Impact
  • Patent Licensing Issues
  • Usage Recommendations

Overall, the key marketing claims for HEVC/H.265 is reducing bit rate requirements in half to deliver the same quality. For instance, if a 1080p / 30fps H.264 camera required 4Mb/s, the equivalent H.265 camera would be expected to require only 2Mb/s. But that is now, clearly not enough, as we will explain inside.

*** *****, ***** ************ ************* **** ****** ***** *** ********* for *.***.

***, ** ****, *.*** ** ******** ** **** ********** ********, with **** ************* ******** ******* *** **** ***** ****** *******. However, ***** *** **** ****** ********* *.***'* *************** *** *************.

** *****:

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  • ******* ** *******
  • ******** ** ****** ** *.***
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  • *.*** ** ***** *.***
  • *.*** ***** ******
  • *.*** **** **** *******
  • *.*** *** **** ******
  • ****** ********* ******
  • ***** ***************

*******, *** *** ********* ****** *** ****/*.*** ** ******** *** rate ************ ** **** ** ******* *** **** *******. *** instance, ** * ***** / ***** *.*** ****** ******** ***/*, the ********** *.*** ****** ***** ** ******** ** ******* **** 2Mb/s. *** **** ** ***, ******* *** ******, ** ** will ******* ******.

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*** **********, *** ************* **** ****/*.*** **********. *** *** **** *******, *** ********** **** ***** ******** ********(***+ *****).

Technical **********

***** **** ********** ************ ***** *.***'* ********* *********** *****:

  • **** ****** **** ******* ** ***********: ***** *.***'* ******* ***** size ** *** ****** (** ***), *.***'* **** ** *** greater ** **** (** * **). ********** *** *** ****** size ******* **** ********* ********, ********** *** ****** ********** ******. Read * **** ********* **** **** ***** *******. *** ***** ***** ***** ****:

  • ******** ******** ** *.*** **** ***** ********* ***** ** *** image ** ** ********* **************. **** *** ***** ** ******** and **** ********* ** *** ************ ****** *****-**** **** *********. H.264 *** *** ******* ****.
  • "***** ****** ******" ****** *** **** ***** ** *.*** **** "decodes ******** ******* ******* ** ****** *** ******** **** ******** earlier ** *** *********, ********** ** ********* ******** ****** ***** known ** '**** ***' *********" (******* * ** **** ********). **** ***** ** * ********* ******* *** ************ ** the **** ** ******** ******** ***** *** ****** ******** * frames **** *** ******** ******** *** ****.

*** ***** ******* **** *.*** *****, **** **** *.***, ** scalable ********. ***** ** ****** ** ******* (**** ** *.***), H.265 ** ******** ** ***** ******** ***** ** ************. *** benefits ******* ********* ** *** ********* ******* *** ****** ******* pruning (*** *********** ********************).

Potential ************ ** *******

* ****** ** ************* **** ************ ** ***** ******* **** H.265, ****** **** ** **********. *.*** ** *** ********** ****** 'quality' **** *.*** *** *** *.*** ****** '*******' **** ****-*. As ****, ** *** *** ***** *********** ********* *** *.*** for ******* *****, ****** ** *.*** ** ******** ** ******* image *******. *******, ** *** ****** *** ****. *** **** case ***** ** ***** ********** ************** ** ** ********* ****** **** *.*** **** *** ** low ** ** ******** ******* *********. ****, * ****** ** H.265 ** *** **** ********* ***** ***** ******* *******.

Barriers ** ****** ** *.***

****** ** *.*** *** *** **** ****** ** **** *** surveillance *** ** ***** *** ********:

  • *** *******: ******** ******* ****** ****** ** ******** ** *.*** *** firmware, ** *** ******** *** ********* ********, ******* **** ******* must ** ******** **** ** *** ******** **** ****** **** MPEG-4 ** *.***.
  • *** *** ********: ***** *.*** ** * ***(**) ********, *** ******* **** to *** *******. ***** ** ******** * **** ****** ** work *** *******. ** **** ****** *** ****** ***** ***** see ******* ****** ********** (*** *** ******* *****).
  • ********* ********** *****: *** ******** ** ********* ********* ** ****** ********** ***** requirements **** *********** ** ******** **** **% ** ***% ********. On *** ***** ****, ********* ********* ************ ***** ******** **** surveillance ***** ** ** ******* */* ******** ****. **********, **** should ** ** *** ***** **** ** ************** ******** *** delays ** **** *** ******** *** ******.

Support ***** ******* ****

** ******* ****,*.*** *** ********** ************, * ***** **** ** ******* *** ********** ***.

*******, ** ** *** ****, *.*** ***** *** ******* ******* among ****** ************* **** ****** ***** ****** ******** *******, **************,******,*********, **********. *** **** ***** *** *********, **** *** ***** ** the ******* ** ******* *** *.***, **** **** ***** *.*** cameras ***** ***** **** / ********.

******* ****** **** ** *******, ********, ****, *** ***** **** not ********* *.*** *******.

** *** *** ****, ******* ********** *** ******* ******* *** at ***** **** *.*** *******, *********:

No ***** *********** ***** ****

*** ** *** ***** ******* * ** **********, * *** profile ** ******** ** ******* *.***, ***** ******* *, ********* for ******* ** ****. ******* ** ****, ***** ** ********* no ******** *.*** ***** *********** ****.

*******, ******/*** ********* *** ******* ******* *** *.*** *** ***** specs ** ** **** **** (*** ******* *********** **********). *** example, ********* ******** ***** ******* *** *.*** ***** ******* ** their ********* ****** ****.

*** *** ********* *** **** ***** **** ******* *.****** **** *******.

Smart *.*** ** *.***

*.*** ** *** *** **** ********* ******** ********** ***** ******* for ***** ************ *******. ******, ** *** **** *** *****,***** ********** **** **********, ********** *********** ********* ********** ******** ** ******** H.264, *** ******** *** ********** ** **** ** *.***.

*.*** ***** ****** **** * *** ******** **. *.***:

  • ********* **********/***** **** *.***, *********** *** **** *** *** *** support *** *** **** *********
  • ******* * ***** ******** **** ***** *.*** *** ************* ****** bandwidth ***********, * ******* **** "*******" *.*** *****.

** ********** ** **** ***** ***** *********, *** ********* ******* ***** **** *** ******* **** **** the ********** ********* ****** ** '***-*****' *.***.

H.265 ********* **** ***** ******

**** ***** ****, "*******" *.*** ******* *** ************ ****, **** manufacturers ******* ************ *.*** ***** **** ***** ******, **** *********** *.***+,****** *.*** **** **********,******* *.***/***** ****** **, ***. **** *********** ****** ****** ************, *** ** ******* as ********** **** *.*** ***** ****** ** ** ***. *******, for ******** ****** ********, **** ** ****** ** ** *** combination **** ****** *******.

H.265 **** *******

** ***** *****, *.*** ******* *** *** ******* ******** ********* improvements/savings **** ******* *.*** ******* (****.*** ** ******* ** *.*** **** *******), **** *.*** ***** ****** ********* ****** ******* **** "*******" H.265.

*******, ** **** ****** *****, **** ********'* ******* * *******(*********** ******'* ****** ********** ** *.*** *******), ***** *.*** ******** were ******* ***** **** ***** *.***, **** ** *** **** camera *** ****** ***********.

**** ***** ****, *.*** ******* *** ***** **** ****** *** growing ** ******** ********** ****.

CPU **** ******

** *** *****, ******* *.*** *** ******* **** ********* *********, commonly ********* ****** *** *** **** ** *.*** *******. ******* of ****, ***** ****** ************* ** ******** ****** **** ** ****** ********, ***** ***** the **** ********* ** ******* ******* ***** *.*** *** ** insufficient.

*** *******, **** ************ *.***+ **** ******, *.*** ******* **** **** **** ****** *** *** **** of *.***, **** *** *** *****.

*********** **** *****, ***** ********/*** ******** *** ****** **** ****** in *** **** ******* *****, **** **** ** *** ******* H.265 ******** ********. ******* ** ****, ***** **** *** ** reduced **** ********** ** *** *** **** ***** *.***, ***** settings **** ** ****** ** *.*** ****, ***** *****:

H.265 ****** ********* ******

*.*** *** ********** * *** ************ *** *************: ****** *********. Unlike *.***, ***** *** **** * ****** ****** ****** (******), H.265 ** ******* ** *,***+ ******* **** ** ******** ****** (MPEGLA, **** *******, *****, *** ****). ******* ** ****, ***** is ********* ***** ************* ***** ***** ***** ** ******* **** should ******* *** ***** ********.

** * ******, * ****** ** ****** *************/*** ********** **** not ******** ***** ******** ** *** (*****). ***** ****** *** covered ** **** ****** ** **************** ******** ********** *.*** ******** ******.

Usage ***************

***** ** *** *** ***** *******, ** *********:

  • ******** *.*** **** ***** ******, ***** *.*** ******* ***** ******, since ******* ***** ******, *.*** ******** **** ********* **** ***** H.264. ****, *.*** *** ******* ****** ** ***** *** ******* and ****** ******* *** **** *** ******* ** *.***.
  • ****** **** ***** *.*** ******* *** ******** **** **** **** your *** / *** ** ******. **** ************ **** ***** not **** ***** *** ***** ****** * ***** *******.
  • ****** **** *** **** ********** ********** ***** **** ** *** recording ****** (** *.*., *** ******** ** ***** ****** ***** motion ********* ** ***** *******) *** ** *** ****** **** to ****** **** *** ****** *** ********** ********* ** ****** and ******* *.*** ******* ****** ****** ** ***** *******.

****: **** ******** *** ********** ******* ** **** *** ************* revised ** **** *** **** ** ******* ********/******* ** *.*** support *** ***********.

Comments (12)

Mike Dotson

Seneca | IPVMU Certified | 06/30/17 01:46pm

****,

*** ***** **** ******* ** ***** ******, **** *** **** useful ** ****** ***** ***** ** **** ****** ****** *******. Any ****** ** *** ***** **** **** * ******* ******.

* ******* * **** ***** *** **** * **** ***** or * ********* ** ******* ****** ******* ******* **% *** 75%.... *** ******* *** **** ***** ***** ** * ******* H265.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Mike Dotson | 06/30/17 03:41pm

*** ****, **'** ** ***** **** ******* ** **** ****** up, *** ** * ****** ******* **** ******* **** *** the********* *.***+ ****, ******* *.*** *** ****** **** ***** ***** *.***+ ** far ** *** ****** ****** ***** ****** (* ******* ******** fenceline ** * ***** ***, ***** **-**% ** *** ***** was ******).

** *** ** *****, *.***+ *** ~* **/*, *.*** *** over *.

** *****, *.***+ *** ~*** **/*, *.*** *** ~* **/*.

**'** ** ***** **** **** ****, *** **** **** *'** seen, *'* ***** ** *** **** ***** ***** *.*** ** likely ** ** ***** ******* **** *.*** ** *** **** majority ** ****** (*** ** ******* ***** *** **** ** decode).

****, **'* ******* ** ** * **** *****, ***** **** manufacturers ****** ** *.*** *** ******** ***** ****** **** **, anyway (*****,******,*********,*********,*******, ***.).

Undisclosed Distributor #1

06/30/17 10:22am

**** **** **** ****, ***** ***. * **** *** *** wishes ***** *** ****** ******** ** *.***:

*) **** *** ************* **** ** *** "********" *** **** putting ***** *** ****** ****** ** ***** ************** **** ***** their ********* **** ***** ******* ******** **** ******** ****. * know **** ** * ***** **** *****, **** **** ** do ********** **** *** ** ********* ****** ** *** ***** equipment ***-**-*** *** *** ***** ****** ********.

*) ******** ** *.*** **** *****. **** *** ** ** done! ****** ***** ***** **, **'** **** ** *** ******* now **** ** ******** ******** ***** ** ***** *** *** of **** ****** *** ***** ****. **** *** ******** ******* supporting ***** ****-***, *** **** ******** **** ******** ************ **** I ******** *** "** ****, *** ******** ********". ***** ** is ******** ** *** **** ****** *********** *** ** *** Edge *******, *** **** ****** **** **** ** ******** *** now *** ***** ******** ********'* **** ****** ** ** **** outdated ******** **** ***** ***** ****-*** ** **** **** ******* plug-ins **** ** ***** *** ** * ******* **** *** to *** **********. * ******** *** ***** ****** *** *** life ** ** ********** *** **** **** *******. ******* ***** to **** ************ *** **** *** ***** ******* *** ******* about "**'** ******* ** **" ******* "**'** ******* *** *** person ** ******* ** ** ** *** *** '*****' **". It ****** ** **** ******** ********* ******* *** ****** ************.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #1 | 06/30/17 02:31pm

*** ****** *** ****** *****. *** ** *** ******* ****** for ****** ******* ******** ****** ******* *** ** ******* ****. It's *** **** **** ********* ** ** * ****** *** offers *** ** *** **** ******.*****://**.*********.***/****/***

Undisclosed Distributor #1

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 06/30/17 08:51am

**** ****** ***** ****!!! * **** ******* * *** ************* to *** ** **** **** **** ***** ** ** ***.

Robert Shih

SavvyTech Security | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #1 | 06/30/17 10:43pm

*** ** *** ******* **** ****** ** ** **** ** to ****** ********.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Robert Shih | 07/01/17 07:33pm

* ******* **** ************* **** **** ** ****** ** *** for *.*** / **** ******** ** ****** ***** ******** **********, betting **** **** ***** **** *** ****.

Undisclosed Distributor #1

In reply to John Honovich | 07/03/17 02:32pm

*** **** ****** *** ********* ***** **** *** ******* ** answer **** *** ************* ***** ******** ** * "******" *** browser. ** **** ***** ** ** ***** **** **** ** will ***** **** ********** ************* ******** ** *.*** **** ******* interoperability.

Thumbnail usa shield

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | 07/01/17 08:09pm

** ****** *** ******* ******* **** ******** * *********** **** manufacturers *** ***** ********** *** ** ******** **** ** ***** of ******* *** **** * ***** **** ******* (***) ** widely ********* *** *********. **** ***** ********* ****** * *********** impact ** ********* *** ******* ******** *********** *******, *** *** challenges ** "******* ****" ** ********** *****, ** ***** ****** an ****** **** ** **** ** ****...?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Luis Carmona | 07/02/17 12:26am

******** **** ** ***** ** ******* *** **** * ***** with ******* (***) ** ****** ********* *** *********

*** **** ** **** ******? ******** ****** *** ***** ************ have **** ********* *** ****, **** ***** *** **'* ***** been **** **** * *****. ** ** *****, ************* ***** is ***** ** ****** * ****** **** ********** / *** stream **** *** ** ********* **** ******** ***** ********** / fps ******* ***, ** *************, ** **** *** ******** ** support **** (*.*. ****** ********* *** *** ******** ******) *** historically **** ** ************.

Thumbnail lee

Heng-Kuan Lee

07/03/17 03:23am

********* ** *********'* ***** *****,

****://***.*********.***/******/*****************.***

* ***** ***** *** **** ********** **** ** ***** ********.

Thumbnail lee

Heng-Kuan Lee

In reply to Heng-Kuan Lee | 07/03/17 01:19pm

*** **** **** ****** ** ******* ** **** ********

*. **********, *. ********** *** *. **ö****, ***: ********* *** indication *** *******, *****-*****, **********, ******, ***. ****

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