1. Ecma/TC32/2018/005
Ecma/GA/2018/040
Call for participation Royalty-Free Animated JPEG Standardization Proposal
aJPEG
Dr. István Sebestyén

2. RF Still Picture Coding Standardization
For some time we have planned to launch joint work with ISO/IEC JTC1 SC29 WG1 JPEG (now also to ITU-T SG16):
Currently JPEG Standards are ITU-T, ISO/IEC JTC1 Standards. Their Patent Policies are RAND based.
However, there is a desire to have some JPEG components / standards as a formal RF standard components. In order to reach that goal we take advantage of Ecma RF patent policy option and the fast and simple Ecma working methods.
The proposed working method: An Ecma RF TG (under Ecma TC32 – Multimedia coding and communication) becomes a “joint group” with JPEG (using the usual Ecma registration procedure of a RF TG where both Ecma, JTC1 SC29 and ITU-T SG16 members can register to participate).
Rue du Rhône CH-1204 Geneva - T: F:

3. Approval process in the RFTG and in Ecma, JTC1 SC29 and ITU-T SG16
Ecma RFTG working methods will apply. Approval by the RFTG by consensus as soon as the specification is finished (1st level of approval)
Formal approval of the specification by Ecma, JTC1 SC29 and ITU-T SG16 respectively by taking the output of the RFTG (2nd level of approval)
Because of the RF Patent policy approval in ITU-T and JTC1 can only be “yes” or “no”
Also possible: Only Ecma approves the formal standard and that is used in JTC1 and / or ITU-T via normative referencing or via “fast-track”
Rue du Rhône CH-1204 Geneva - T: F:

4. Proposed Project No1 Animated JPEG-1
Animated JPEG (aJPEG)
aJPEG: An EPFL project defines an Animated JPEG file format superior to conventional GIF
GIF has animation / JPEG-1 does not have animation
Animated images are important market that must not be neglected
JTC1 SC29 WG1 (JPEG) is not doing any project on animated JPEG… it was presented there but they are already occupied with several other projects
Good opportunity to launch this projects as a joint RF TG trial project in Ecma
Rue du Rhône CH-1204 Geneva - T: F:

5. % of Web-sites using JPEG (and GIF)
Rue du Rhône CH-1204 Geneva - T: F:

6. Share of photo-camera-types between 1933-2015 (top of smartphones cut off)
Kodak Sasson camera
(TomiAhonen Phone Book 2016 Copyright © TomiAhonen Consulting 2016)

7. Share of photo-camera-types between 1933-2015 (smartphones – yellow included)
Global installed base of cameras still operational is 5.8 Billion units.
Out of those only 4.0 B are in use (as cameras, most that 'are not used' are on mobile phones/smartphones which are used in other
ways but not for their camera).
Of the 4 B cameras in use, 440 million (11%) are stand-alone 'traditional' digital cameras and B (89%) of all cameras in use on the planet today are on mobile phones/smartphones as cameraphones.

8. Photocameras picture statistics estimations
The average stand-alone digital camera user takes 375 pictures in a year while the average cameraphone user snaps 259 pictures a year.
When multiplied across the total user bases, that produces 1 Trillion (1,000 Billion) photographs taken per year by digital camera owners.
That brings humankind's cumulative picture production total to 5.7 Trillion photographs taken since the first camera was invented.”
(All stats are from TomiAhonen Phone Book 2014).
Today most photos are on mobile phones, thus pictures are “soft-copy displayed”, where slight animation is often also very important.

9. Rational for the aJPEG standardization
What is not told in the statistics, but it is obvious that close to 100% of the pictures taken by digital cameras have been using JPEG-1. The rest is marginal.
Consequently JPEG-1 – which apparently today fully satisfies average user demand – is expected to stay here also for picture capturing at least for a few more decades.
This also means that the extension of JPEG-1 in the consumer area with animation is a very important market segment.
Important aspect for mobile phone applications are simplicity, low power and low processing needs.
For the web browser applications this is less critical.

10. Standardization goal
We propose an architecture to cope with animated content in JPEG-1.
Backward compatible with legacy JPEG-1 decoders.
Important aspect for mobile phone applications are simplicity, low power and low processing needs.
Note: This an the following slides were taken (with some small modifications) from an EPFL presentation to the 72th JPEG meeting in 2016.

11. Introduction to animation
Animated images have become very popular in social networks because they permit a new level of expression.
They add something special:
Mini video, no sound, auto-looping
“It’s the perfect combination between image and video that really captures our attention.”1 1

12. Older animated still picture formats
Currently, the most used format for animated content is GIF.
Other formats also exist such as APNG or MNG but they are not as popular as GIF.
GIF, however, has some limitations:
Up to 256 colors per frame
Lossless compression only

13. Why JPEG-1 would be better for animation than GIF
GIF is less suitable for reproducing color photographs and images with richer colors.

14. How do we get the group and the work started?
Call for participation in an Ecma RFTG under Ecma TC32 and call for contributions
Drafting of RFTG Scope and Workitems
If criteria for a RFTG is fulfilled (min. 2 members of TC32 are needed) the next Ecma GA needs to approve the creation of a RF TG
Registration in this RFTG is also open to JTC1 SC29 WG1 (JPEG) members and ITU-T SG16 members
Establishment of temporary leadership for the RFTG, preparation for the first meeting.
First meeting of the RFTG, formal election of the leadership team (Chair, Vice Chair, Editor)
Rue du Rhône CH-1204 Geneva - T: F:

15. Possible timeline Call for signing up to the aJPEG RFTG – May 2018
RFTG establishment requirements met – June 2018
Ecma GA approval of the RFTG (if not possible yet, ask for letter ballot permission)
First meeting of the RFTG – September 2018
Completion of the specification – e.g. September 2019
Ecma GA approval of the aJPEG standard – Dec. 2019
Approval (or other utilization) of the specification in ITU-T and JTC1 SC29 WG1 (JPEG) – starting in Sept. 2019
Rue du Rhône CH-1204 Geneva - T: F:

16. Thanks… Questions? Existing animated GIF examples from the Web
This is what JPEG should try to make it better…
Rue du Rhône CH-1204 Geneva - T: F: