Call for Requirements: Advanced Display Stream Compression

VESA published the Display Stream Compression Standard v1.1[i] (DSC v1.1) on August 1, 2014. The Display Stream Compression Task Group defined this standard, and is now investigating a new, more advanced display stream compression coding system, referred to here as Adv-DSC.

Adv-DSC is planned to target applications that require a lower bits per pixel (bpp) compressed bit rate than DSC v1.1, i.e. significantly less than 8bpp, while still providing visually lossless subjective coding quality at least as good as DSC v1.1. In exchange for such improved compression, Adv-DSC will require more complex encoders and decoders than DSC v1.1.

The VESA DSC Task Group seeks input from other standardization bodies and potential users of Adv-DSC regarding their specific applications of and requirements for a new coding system standard.

This Call for Requirements seeks specific requirements for a new coding system (Adv-DSC) that will target a lower bpp compressed rate than DSC v1.1 with greater complexity than DSC v1.1 and much less complexity than JCT-VC’s HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding) with Screen Content Coding Extensions. Responses should indicate the applications envisioned for Adv-DSC, and specific requirements including:

  • compressed bits per pixel (bpp) targets
  • uncompressed pixels per clock throughput in pixel rate and clock rate
  • preferred encoder and decoder power limit
  • preferred encoder and decoder complexity in IC area and memory for buffering
  • target resolution in active pixel count horizontal by vertical
  • viewing resolution preferably specified in pixels per degree
  • different viewing conditions or display usages
  • pixel formats:
    • bits per component
    • number of components
    • component types, e.g., RGB, RGBW, alternative pixel arrangements, Bayer pattern, etc.
    • chroma sampling
    • color space

Please include other relevant requirements or flexible control of the coding system not specifically mentioned above.

Similar to DSC v1.1, VESA’s fundamental system goals are:

  • visually lossless coding at a specified bit rate (bpp)
  • robust real-time encoding and decoding operation with practical, cost-effective encoders and decoders
  • intraframe coding
  • transport agnostic

Typically expected transport applications include:

  • wired interconnect for television and computer displays
  • wired interconnect for mobile products or embedded displays
  • external wired display interconnect for battery and AC powered systems
  • other interconnects with guaranteed minimum data throughput rates

Picture quality assessment will rely on industry standards in display viewing and subjective evaluation defined by ISO 9241-303 and ISO/IEC DIS 29170-2, respectively, as well as other proprietary subjective evaluation techniques with either static or scrolling pictures and video clips. Test content for evaluating subjective quality is expected to include images or video with challenging text and graphics, continuous tone images and synthesized test materials.

VESA’s standardization process order is:

  1. Call for Requirements (this document)
  2. Define Requirements
  3. Call for Proposals, specifying the requirements
  4. Evaluation of proposals
  5. Selection of the technology baseline
  6. Proposed standard draft
  7. Task Group Review (ballot)
  8. General Membership Review (ballot)
  9. Publication (anticipated in 2016)

Please submit requirements to VESA before December 8, 2014, 17:00 US Pacific Standard Time to the VESA Moderator at moderator@vesa.org.

Questions regarding this Call for Requirements can be sent to the VESA Moderator at moderator@vesa.org and Mr. Dale Stolitzka, Task Group Chairman, at d.stolitzka@samsung.com.

[i] DSC v1.1 compresses displays streams in real-time at ≥8bpp bit rate for RGB and YCbCr 4:4:4 input, up to 12 bits/component. Subjective testing results are available to the VESA membership.