© 2024 IJNRD | Volume 9, Issue 4 April 2024| ISSN: 2456-4184 | IJNRD.

ORG

STUDY OF CAVLC DECODER IN H.264/AVC

VIDEO DECODING
Saieel Vaigankar
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication
Goa College of Engineering, Farmagudi, Ponda, Goa, India

4 AVC standard, which made H.264 available in 2003 and an

Abstract: Video decompression (VC) is crucial in real-time enhanced version in 2013. It uses sophisticated compression
High Definition (HD) applications. The earlier iteration of the techniques, such as 60 frames per second entropy coding
different VC algorithms that are currently available was the (CAVLC). The ever-increasing need for high-quality video
H.264/AVC standard. It can handle HD images up to 60 frames content and the inherent constraints of current compression
per second, unlike the earlier AVC (Advanced Video Codec) techniques drove the development of AVC video coding.
standard. The principles of inter- and intra-prediction and Particularly in situations where bandwidth was limited,
CAVLC entropy coding (Context-Adaptive Variable Length traditional video coding techniques like MPEG-2 found it
Coding) underpin H.264/AVC. In contemporary video challenging to provide adequate compression efficiency while
decompression systems, especially in standards like preserving a visually acceptable level of quality. Compared to
H.264/FFMPEG AVC, the CAVLC Decoder is essential. One HEVC, AVC has a more developed ecosystem, is more widely
major obstacle to attaining quick and effective video decoding used, has lower computational complexity, is better compatible
is the computational complexity of CAVLC decoding. To speed with older devices, has cheaper license fees, strong streaming
up the CAVLC decoding process and advance video performance, and an acceptable compression efficiency. For
decompression technology, this study proposes to design a numerous applications, AVC is the recommended option
hardware IP core for the AVC video-coding standard. The because of these factors.
proposed method uses the FFMPEG tool to generate bitstream,
which is to be used in Verilog code for the CAVLC decoder. This entropy coding technique is one of two that the
H.264/AVC standard offers; the other is called CAVLC
Index Terms—CAVLC, AVC/H.264 standard, verilog, video (Context Adaptive Variable Length Coding). Both Huffman
coding and binary arithmetic coding are employed as entropy
decompress
coding techniques in the context of Advanced Video Coding
(AVC), and they are essential for effectively encoding
I. INTRODUCTION transform coefficients and other syntactic elements. When
comparing the bit rates of videos encoded using AVC (H.264)
Video compression methods are essential in the constantly and HEVC (H.265), several parameters are considered. These
changing world of digital media. The growing demand for high- include the video's content, the encoding settings, and the
quality video footage makes efficient video compression (VC) desired compression efficiency. But generally speaking, HEVC
crucial for contemporary multimedia applications. One of the has superior compression efficiency than AVC, which means it
main components of the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC video can achieve higher visual quality at the same bit rate or equal
compression standard is context-adaptive variable length visual quality at lower bit rates. The compression efficiency of
coding or CAVLC. By lowering the size of video files and the CAVLC is 10% to 40% higher than that of CABAC. Similar to
bandwidth required for their transmission, efficient video CABAC, 30% to 50% compression efficiency. Compared to
compression (VC) is essential to addressing this demand. This CAVLC, which has less complexity overall, CABAC requires
bandwidth decrease makes it possible to broadcast video more more computational complexity.
quickly and consistently, even over slow internet connections.
Additionally, it lessens the storage needed for video files, which When decoding data from the encoded bitstream of video
is crucial for mobile devices with constrained storage. frames, the context-adaptive variable length coding technique,
or CAVLC decoder, modifies its coding scheme accordingly.
Acknowledging these difficulties, the International The video frame's neighbouring pixels are used to calculate the
Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International probability distribution of the characters that are being
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) formed the Joint Video encoded. Symbols with higher probability have shorter codes
Team (JVT), which set out to create a new video compression based on context information, while symbols with lower
standard that would rectify the flaws in the previous ones. Their probabilities have more extended codes [9].
work culminated in the 2003 introduction of the H.264/MPEG-
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 © 2024 IJNRD | Volume 9, Issue 4 April 2024| ISSN: 2456-4184 | IJNRD.ORG
To our knowledge, this is the first publication on the CAVLC Selecting reference images carefully can assist in minimizing
Decoder that implements it using low-level artifacts and enhancing overall visual quality.
synthesis. Additionally, we use FFMPEG to extract the
bitstream, which is then used as the binary input for upscaling B. CAVLC DECODER
Verilog code to maintain the same video quality without The entropy coder, often referred to as a CAVLC decoder, is the
experiencing video loss. In the future, we'll use the Verilog code first part of an AVC decoder, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Entropy
to accomplish these projects on the FPGA kit.
decoding, context modeling unit, inverse mapping module,
reconstruction logic, error handling technique, and video frame
The paper is assembled as follows: Section II overviews AVC reconstruction are the three main components of CAVLC. The
/H.264 Standard and CAVLC decoder. Section III provides a CAVLC decoder uses bitstream processing to decode the bits
basic performance analysis of CAVLC Decode. Section IV
that are encoded at variable lengths, reconstruct the original
concludes the paper.
syntax parts, and then use those reconstructions to recreate the
decoded video frames.
II. OVERVIEW OF AVC/H.264 STANDARD AND
CAVLC DECODER

Existing VC standards that have been extensively employed in

multimedia applications over time include MPEG-2 [1], VP8
[2], and H.263 [3]. These standards, however, have slow speeds
of video compression and decompression. Scenes with quick
motion, occlusions, or intricate motion patterns may be
complex for traditional motion compensation. While motion
correction can be designed to function well on devices with low
processing power, these standards must have high
computational complexity to achieve extraordinary Fig. 2. CAVLC decoder.
compression efficiency.

A. AVC/H.264 It transforms an input stream of bits into several regular and

The goal of the new H.264 video coding standard is to bypass bins. Token coefficients, like motion vector
increase significantly the effectiveness of vertical cabling components, transform coefficients in a block of video data or
compared to the AVC/H.264 standard. Over its predecessor, it other syntax parts and represent real data. "Trailing ones" are
the term used to describe the subsequent non-zero coefficients
achieves a 50% gain in coding efficiency. The block diagram of
after a block of transform coefficients in video compression.
the AVC decoder is shown in Fig. 1. First, the entropy decoder
Based on the decoded data and the size of the coefficient block,
block processes the compressed input data, which extracts the the total zeros function would compute this value: Total
different syntax elements (SE). The residuals are then inversely Zeros=TotalCoeff−1−NonZeroCount. The run-before function
quantized and transformed by the inverse quantization and is essential to accomplishing effective video data compression
inverse transform blocks. Block prediction is used intra- and by compactly expressing the position of non-zero coefficients.
interframe, depending on the bitstream's input value [12]. When It increases the overall compression efficiency of algorithms
making a prediction, intra-prediction uses pixels from the same and aids in the reduction of redundancy in the encoding
block, but inter-prediction uses pixels from other blocks. process.

By managing the timing, integrity, and flow of data signals,

output registers are essential to digital systems' correct
functioning and dependability. This is separated into regions
for rLPS and rMPS. The width of these zones is rLPS=range X
pLPS. This formula determines the breadth of the LPS (Less
Probable Symbol) zone. Range X (1-pLPS) = rMPS The
breadth of the MPS (More Probable Symbol) is determined by
this formula. The probability of a symbol being an MPS is
typically higher than that of it being an LPS.

Fig. 1. AVC decoder block diagram.

Utilizing the pixels from the reference blocks, predictions are

made. Conventional block-based hybrid coding partitioning
and quantization processes can produce coding artifacts such as
block discontinuities, ringing artifacts, mosquito noise, or
texture and edge smoothing [13]. In-loop filtering techniques Fig.3 coding order block in macroblocks
are employed throughout the encoding and decoding
procedures to reduce these artifacts. To take advantage of
spatial redundancy and increase compression efficiency, the
Using the decoded values, the CAVLC decoder can be further
Intra Prediction Mode (IPM), Sample Adaptive Offset (SAO),
broken down into how the decompression process functions.
and Deblocking Filter (DBF) use different intra-prediction
The syntax elements are reconstructed.
modes within each frame. (RPS) Selection of reference images:

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 © 2024 IJNRD | Volume 9, Issue 4 April 2024| ISSN: 2456-4184 | IJNRD.ORG
Entropy decoding: After extracting the variable-length stronger robustness and compression efficiency, it does so at the
encoded bits from the compressed bitstream, the CAVLC expense of more computational complexity. AVC coding
decoder starts by entropy decoding them. The original standard may lose some compression efficiency in favor of
syntactic pieces are recovered by entropy decoding, which is CAVLC, which is more straightforward and computationally
the opposite of the variable-length encoding technique used efficient.
during compression.
The project's main objective is to use the FFMPEG codec to
Context modeling: by capturing statistical relationships speed up the CAVLC decoding process without sacrificing the
between symbols and their settings, context modeling, a crucial quality of the source video. When decompressing, utilize the
part of entropy coding in video compression, enables effective video bitstream FFMPEG decoded and incorporate it into the
representation of video data. It is essential to maintaining video Verilog code to maintain the video's original quality. Its
quality and reaching excellent compression efficiency. scalability, real-time processing, energy efficiency, and
performance advantages are dedicated.
Inverse mapping: the CAVLC decoder uses inverse mapping
to reconstitute the compressed video data for playback or A major obstacle to attaining quick and effective video
additional processing by reassembling the decoded variable- decoding is the low computing complexity of CAVLC
length codes into their original grammar pieces. Reverse decoding. The current hardware-based CAVLC decoder
mapping must be implemented effectively to provide high- frequently needs help to process HD video streams in real time.
speed and high-quality video decoding.
To overcome this difficulty and enable HD video streaming in
Reconstruction logic: the CAVLC decoder uses reconstruction real-time, the project will design and divide pixel values using
logic to reassemble the decoded syntax pieces into video a method that can be done accurately and without requiring
frames prepared for viewing or additional processing. Post- minute adjustments to the CAVLC decoding process. To
processing techniques, inverse transformation, and inverse investigate the FFMPEG CAVLC decoder, we must first create
quantization are used to recover the original video data from the the video bitstream from the captured video to begin the
compressed bitstream. extraction process.

Error handling: To ensure dependable and resilient video

decoding in various operating situations, a CAVLC decoder
uses a combination of error detection, resilience approaches,
feedback mechanisms, and concealment strategies.

Video frame reconstruction: before finishing the decoding

process, the last steps entail creating the output frames,
recreating the video frames from the decoded syntax elements,
and optionally reporting any remaining faults. Fig.5 Generation and extraction of bitstream using FFMPEG

Codes for video encoding and decoding using FFMPEG

1}ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium -

c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4

2} ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 23 -

c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4

3} ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -preset medium -tune

zerolatency -x264-params keyint=60:min-keyint=60 -an
output.h264

4} ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.av

Fig.4 CAVLC Decoder hardware architecture

III. ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE BY USING CAVLC

DECODE

In the context of the AVC standard, entropy coding techniques

frequently include CAVLC to compress video data effectively.
This entropy coding technique is one of the two that the H.264
and H.265 standards support; the other one is called CABAC
(Context Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding). It is both the
Fig.6 view of the syntax elements and bitstream extraction
continuation and the most advanced version of CAVLC coding.
While HEVC is used in CABAC and can be used for 4k
(4096x2160 pixels) video coding, AVC is used in CAVLC for
HD (1920x1080 pixels). Although CABAC typically provides
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the syntax element.

IV. CONCLUSION

This paper describes the CAVLC Decoder video decompression

from the compressed bitstream using H.264/AVC video coding
standards using FFMPEG and Verilog coding. We have
completed the bitstream extracting and getting the syntax
elements of the CAVLC Decoder for the AVC video coding
standard, resulting in the generation of decoded video. Thus,
the syntax elements produced by decoded video using Verilog
work well and compile a good quality video per the required
criteria. Therefore, in the future, using the same video, we will
upscale the video frames in terms of performance, functionality,
and integration with other parts, which may all be tested and
verified in real-time using an FPGA board.

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