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Indeo Video Codec, Version 5

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Table of Contents
Identification and description
Local use
Sustainability factors
Quality and functionality factors (video)
File type signifiers
Notes
Format specifications
Useful references
Format Description Properties
• ID: fdd000085
• Short name: Indeo_5
• Content categories: moving image
• Format category: bitstream encoding
• Last significant update: 2005-05-31
• Draft status: Full

Identification and description Explanation of format description terms

Full nameIndeo Video Codec, Version 5
DescriptionBitstream encoding for video, originally developed by Intel. John McGowan states that Indeo 5 employs a wavelet algorithm and other encoding features; its predecessor Indeo 4 employs a presumably similar "hybrid wavelet algorithm." Windows implementations of Indeo are distributed by Ligos Corporation; the Mac versions by Apple Corporation.

All versions numbered 5 are covered by this document; there is no separate document for the presumably similar version 4, nor for Indeo XP developed for Windows XP. Note that version 3 (Indeo_3) compresses by means of vector quantization rather than wavelet transforms; nevertheless, it is listed as an earlier version below.
  Production phase  Generally used as an end-user delivery format.
Relationship to other formats 
  Used byAVI (Audio Video Interleaved)
  Used byQuickTime
  Has earlier versionIndeo_3, Indeo Video Codec, Version 3
  Has earlier versionIndeo Video Codec, Version 4 (not documented at this time)

Local use Explanation of format description terms

LC experience or existing holdings 
LC preference 

Sustainability factors Explanation of format description terms

DisclosureProprietary standard with some public documentation
  DocumentationModest but helpful documentation from the Ligos Corporation.
AdoptionNot known to the writers of this document.
  Licensing and patent claimsIndeo codecs and software may be licensed from Ligos Corporation.
TransparencyDepends upon algorithms and tools to read; will require sophistication to build tools.
Self-documentationNot applicable; provided by wrapper formats.
External dependenciesNone.
Technical protection considerationsLigos Corporation FAQ states that developers can assign access keys to video files to protect them. These or additional protections may [also?] be provided by wrapper formats.

Quality and functionality factors (video) Explanation of format description terms

Normal renderingNot applicable
Clarity (support for high image resolution)Moderate, varies according to levels of compression and picture size; the maximum of which is about four megapixels, with no dimension exceeding 8,188 pixels. Does not support interlaced playback.
Fidelity (support for high audio resolution)Not applicable.
Support for multiple sound channelsNot applicable.
Functionality beyond normal video renderingNot applicable.

File type signifiers Explanation of format description terms

Tag typeValueNote
Filename Extensionn/a 
Internet Media Typen/a 
Magic numbersn/a 
Microsoft FOURCCIV50Used when this codec is wrapped in Microsoft file formats, e.g., AVI and ASF; see the Microsoft registry, which also lists a number of additional IV FOURCCs. John McGowan states that IV32 is generally used for Indeo 3; IV41 for Indeo 4, and IV50 for Indeo 5.

Notes Explanation of format description terms

General 
History 

Format specifications Explanation of format description terms

URLs

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Useful references

URLs
Indeo product information from the Ligos Corporation (http://www.ligos.com)
FAQ from the Ligos Corporation (http://ligos.com/pdf_docs/Indeo_FAQ.pdf)
Documentation from the Ligos Corporation (http://ligos.com/pdf_docs/Indeo_doc.pdf)
Licensing information from the Ligos Corporation (http://www.ligos.com/developers_licensing.htm).
John McGowan's AVI Overview: Audio and Video Codecs (http://www.jmcgowan.com/avicodecs.html).
Microsoft registry of FOURCC codes and WAVE format indicators (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnwmt/html/registeredfourcccodesandwaveformats.asp). The archived 2001 version of this registry is at http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/fourcc.mspx.

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Last Updated: 03/ 7/2007