Scalable Video Coding (SVC) was standardized as an extension of H.264/AVC with the intention to provide flexible adaptation to heterogeneous networks and different end-user requirements, which provides great scalability in multi-point applications such as video conferencing. However, due to the existence of H.264/AVC-based systems, transcoding between AVC and SVC becomes necessary. Most existing works focus on temporal transcoding, quality transcoding or SVC-to-AVC spatial transcoding while the straightforward re-encoding method requires high computational cost. This paper proposes a low-complexity AVC-to-SVC spatial transcoder based on coarse-level mode mapping for video conferencing scenes. First, to omit unnecessary motion estimations (ME) for layers with reduced resolution, an ME skipping scheme based on AVC mode distribution is proposed with an adaptive search range. Then a probability-profile based scheme is proposed for further mode skipping. After that 3 coarse-level mode-mapping methods are presented for fast mode decision and the adaptive usage of the 3 methods is discussed. Finally, motion vector (MV) refinement is introduced for further lower-layer time reduction. As for the top layer, direct encapsulation is proposed to preserve better quality and another scheme involving inter-layer predictions is also provided for bandwidth-crucial applications. Simulation results show that proposed transcoder achieves up to 92.6% time reduction without significant coding efficiency loss compared to re-encoding method.

Today, many audiovisual delivery systems, including video streaming and video conferencing, are being developed for use over a range of networking technologies, the differing characteristics of which pose problems for service level interoperability. Multimedia transcoding is one means to provide interoperability between different types of audiovisual terminals and between terminals that connect to different networks. In this paper, we will present a multimedia transcoder system, which provides interoperability between video conferencing terminals on IP networks and mobile terminals on mobile networks.

The states-of-the-art in visual communication in Japan are described. First the status of networks, which is a basis for offering visual communication service, is outlined. Visual communication service being developed on the basis of ISDN is described. The future service can be represented by NTT's service vision VI&P. Visual communication technologies and services being studied are surveyed.