ONVIF releases draft specification for advanced video streaming

July 25, 2017
'Profile T' to include support for H.265 video compression

ONVIF on Tuesday announced the Release Candidate for Profile T, a draft specification with advanced streaming capabilities that includes support for H.265 video compression along with an expanded feature set that extends the capabilities of ONVIF video profiles for systems integrators and end-users.

In a statement, ONVIF said that Profile T employs a new media service that enables the support of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), based on the H.265 video compression standard that specifies how to decode data into displayable video. Profile T-conformant clients support both H.264 and H.265 compression, while conformant devices support at least one of these formats. The new profile also features Transport Layer Security (TLS) enabled communications and new functionalities such as bi-directional audio streaming, standardization of events, imaging configuration, on screen display configuration, and more.

“Profile T broadens the scope of the ONVIF video profile to include both the H.264 video compression standard that is widely used in video surveillance solutions today and H.265 video compression, which is set to become the de facto video compression standard in the very near future,” said Fredrik Svensson, ONVIF Profile T Working Group Chair. “In addition to support for multiple video compression types, Profile T establishes conformance regarding motion detection, metadata streaming, analytics and other important features that ultimately offer an expanded, standardized feature set to system integrators and end users, in addition to interoperability between manufacturers’ solutions.”  

Standardization of events, such as motion detection and tampering, is also included in Profile T. Digital input and relay output events are covered, as is their configuration through the device I/O service, which can expedite installation. Profile T allows motion region detector configuration through the analytics service, which means a specific area of an image can be selected for analysis. Streaming of metadata, such as events and analytics data, is covered by Profile T as well.

ONVIF circulates a new profile first as a Release Candidate for at least six months, allowing members and stakeholders to review it. When that process is complete, the final profile is published and technology providers will be able to test their products for conformance to it. The final version of Profile T is expected to be released in 2018.

For more information about the Release Candidate of ONVIF Profile T and ONVIF conformant products, visit www.onvif.org.