RADVISION has announced plans for implementing scalable video coding (SVC) technology based on H.264 SVC to its SCOPIA conferencing platform.

RADVISION provides video network infrastructure and is a developer of tools for unified visual communications over IP, 3G and emerging next-generation IMS networks.

H.264 SVC is an extension of H.264 video standard used by many video conferencing devices. SVC technology enables video conferencing devices to send and receive multi-layered video streams. These streams are composed of a small base layer and optional additional layers which enhance resolution, frame rate and quality.

The scalable coding also includes layering capability which increases error resiliency and video quality. This can be provided by conventional video coding with less increase in bandwidth requirements. A single multi-layer SVC video stream can support a broad range of devices and networks.

SVC technology will be incorporated into components of the SCOPIA conferencing platform by this year. All the benefits including high error resiliency, full interoperability and quality will be maintained by the company in its room video conferencing systems and telepresence solutions.

The advantages of this solution include maintaining the quality of calls between remote conference participants like teleworkers, customers or suppliers who are connected via the public Internet which usually experiences packet loss and limited bandwidth.

The solution will allow good quality in desktop to desktop calling even if the network conditions or client capabilities are limited. SVC will optimize connections between the interconnected video conferencing MCUs in a distributed network even if the network path is error prone.

“RADVISION’s scalable video coding implementation enhances video conferencing deployments without sacrificing any support or compromise of quality to existing deployments. This is critical given that the majority of video conferencing endpoints will continue using conventional H.264 for the foreseeable future,” said Yair Wiener, CTO at RADVISION.

Wiener added, “SVC holds great promise and our future developments will be based on market requirements and joint efforts with our partners as they enable their systems to utilize the SVC technology.”

RADVISION’s standards-based video networking infrastructure and developer toolkits for voice, data and wireless communications combines the power of all these to make them suitable for high definition video conferencing systems, innovative converged mobile services, and highly scalable video-enabled desktop platforms on IP, 3G and emerging next-generation IMS networks.