ISO/IEC 23001-17:2024

Overview

ISO/IEC 23001-17:2024 defines requirements and guidelines for the carriage of uncompressed video and image data within files that use the ISO base media file format (ISOBMFF), ensuring reliable interoperability and exchange across diverse systems. Developed by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29, this standard addresses how a wide range of uncompressed two-dimensional data-including monochrome, color, transparency (alpha), and depth information-can be effectively structured in accordance with the ISOBMFF (ISO/IEC 14496-12).

By leveraging the inherent features of ISOBMFF, such as timing, color space, and sample aspect ratio metadata, the standard enables clear specification, interpretation, and presentation of uncompressed video and image content in various applications spanning media, broadcasting, archiving, and imaging sectors.

Key Topics

• Uncompressed Data Carriage: Specifies methods for storing uncompressed video and image data in ISOBMFF-compatible files, supporting both media tracks and image items.
• Component Definition: Defines how each image or video consists of multiple components (channels), such as YUV, RGB, alpha, or depth, and details how these are described and referenced.
• Frame and Tile Structure: Organizes uncompressed frames as sets of contiguous rectangular tiles, which support efficient processing and flexible image layouts.
• Sampling and Subsampling Modes: Provides for standard sampling patterns (including no subsampling, YCbCr 4:2:2, 4:2:0, and 4:1:1), enabling compatibility with industry-standard video and image formats.
• Metadata and Interpretation: Emphasizes the use of existing ISOBMFF tools for specifying descriptive metadata, including spatial properties, color profiles, clean aperture, and more.
• Component and Pixel Properties: Details the storage arrangement, bit depth, data type (integer or floating-point), alignment, and endianness of uncompressed sample data.
• Extensibility: Accommodates user-defined component types for specialized applications and allows extensions via additional metadata or linked items.

Applications

ISO/IEC 23001-17:2024 provides practical value across a wide range of sectors:

• Media Production and Post-Processing: Enables preservation and exchange of lossless image and video assets by standardizing uncompressed storage and metadata description. Facilitates integration with professional editing systems and color grading workflows.
• Broadcast and Live Transmission: Supports applications where ultra-low latency or high-fidelity uncompressed streams are required, including live broadcast, high-end production, and scientific imaging.
• Archival and Preservation: Suitable for storing master copies of audiovisual content or photographic assets in their original, uncompressed form for long-term digital archiving.
• Imaging and Scientific Data: Allows for the storage and annotation of specialized image data-including depth, polarization, and sensor corrections-critical in medical, industrial, and research environments.
• Interoperable Workflows: By conforming to ISOBMFF, data can be seamlessly exchanged between compliant tools, devices, and platforms, encouraging open and flexible media ecosystems.

Related Standards

Implementations of ISO/IEC 23001-17:2024 may reference or operate in conjunction with several related standards:

• ISO/IEC 14496-12: Information technology - Coding of audio-visual objects - Part 12: ISO base media file format (ISOBMFF). Forms the structural foundation for timed and non-timed media items.
• ISO/IEC 23008-12: High efficiency coding and media delivery in heterogeneous environments - Part 12: Image File Format (enables advanced image item definitions).
• IEEE 754-2008: Floating-Point Arithmetic (governs numeric representations for floating-point pixel values).
• Other Parts of ISO/IEC 23001: A suite of MPEG systems technologies addressing different elements of media interoperability.

By following ISO/IEC 23001-17:2024, organizations ensure robust, future-proof storage and exchange of uncompressed video and image data using standardized file formats, fostering compatibility, preservation, and high-fidelity reproduction across digital media applications.