ISO/IEC 23090-20:2023

Overview

ISO/IEC 23090-20:2023 specifies conformance testing methods for visual volumetric video-based coding (V3C) combined with video-based point cloud compression (V‑PCC). Its purpose is to define the tests and procedures used to indicate whether encoders and decoders conform to the technical requirements of ISO/IEC 23090-5. The document focuses on bitstream, decoder and reconstruction conformance, and relies on reference software and standardized test bitstream suites hosted by ISO.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Scope of conformance: Defines normative tests to verify whether V3C/V‑PCC bitstreams and decoders meet ISO/IEC 23090-5 requirements, including bitstream syntax and decoding behavior.
• Bitstream conformance: Bitstreams must be parsed and validated; a bitstream claiming conformance shall be processed by the reference software decoder without producing errors or non-conformance messages.
• Decoder conformance: Specifies profiles and levels (e.g., profile/toolset/reconstruction/level identifiers) that constrain required decoder capabilities. Conformance tests use targeted conformance bitstreams.
• Reconstruction conformance: Requires use of the voxelized representation of the decoded point cloud for testing and specifies reconstruction profiles (conformance points A and B) with exact conformance at point A and profile-specific behavior at point B.
• Test procedures and suites: Provides procedures to run bitstream and decoder tests, guidance on synchronization of V3C components, and recommendations for intermediate buffering during reconstruction. Test bitstreams and generation guidelines are made available online (see ISO test data link).
• Reference software: Uses ISO/IEC 23090-19 reference software and the reference decoder specified in ISO/IEC 23090-5 as part of the conformance workflow.
• Complementary checks: Encourages additional tests (e.g., HRD and other verification tools) beyond the reference decoder to ensure comprehensive compliance.

Practical applications and users

• Implementers of V‑PCC encoders and decoders - for verifying product compliance prior to release.
• Conformance and certification labs - to certify interoperability and correctness of volumetric video codecs.
• Device manufacturers and platform providers - ensuring content and playback systems correctly process V3C/V‑PCC streams.
• VR/AR/Immersive media developers and streaming services - to validate content pipelines and ensure consistent reconstruction quality.
• Standards bodies and test-suite maintainers - for maintaining interoperable test materials and reference implementations.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 23090-5:2023 - V3C and V‑PCC specification (normative reference).
• ISO/IEC 23090-19 - Reference software for V‑PCC (used for testing and comparison).

Keywords: ISO/IEC 23090-20:2023, V3C, V‑PCC, conformance testing, bitstream conformance, decoder conformance, reconstruction conformance, reference software, volumetric video, point cloud compression.