A Technical Analysis of H.264 Video Coding and Network Transport Architecture

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive technical examination of H.264/Advanced Video Coding (AVC) and its integration with Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) for modern video streaming applications. We explore the fundamental compression principles underlying H.264, including predictive coding, transform coding, and quantization, while analyzing their collective impact on video compression efficiency. The discussion extends to the Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) architecture and various RTP packetization modes, providing insights into their practical implementations for different streaming scenarios. Through an examination of the complete encoder-decoder pipeline and various streaming strategies, this article offers practical guidance for implementing robust video delivery solutions across diverse network conditions. It also demonstrates that understanding the interplay between H.264 compression techniques and RTP transport mechanisms is crucial for developing efficient video streaming systems that can adapt to various application requirements while maintaining optimal quality and performance.