Overview
ISO/IEC 21794-1:2020 - part of the JPEG Pleno family - defines the framework for a plenoptic image coding system. It specifies the architecture and a generic file format (the JPL file format) to store plenoptic modalities and associated metadata. Plenoptic modalities include light fields, point clouds, and holograms - sampled representations of the plenoptic function (the full 7D radiance description). The standard facilitates capture, representation, exchange and visualization of plenoptic data while enabling system-level features like random access, editing, metadata handling, and rights protection.
Key topics
- Framework architecture: Defines the system-level organization for handling plenoptic modalities and their interactions across capture, coding and rendering workflows.
- JPL file format (Annex A): A box‑based binary container (inspired by ISO/IEC 15444‑1/2 file syntax) to encapsulate codestreams and metadata for light field, point cloud and holographic data.
- Codestream and syntax: Specifies how plenoptic codestreams are represented and wrapped inside the file format for reliable decoding and reconstruction.
- Metadata & descriptors: Mechanisms to indicate tone scale, colour space, vendor-specific metadata and intellectual property rights information.
- Reference grid system (Annex B): Coordinate system to position plenoptic elements globally while supporting local coordinate systems for efficient addressing.
- Conformance and conventions: Terms, definitions, naming and conformance language to ensure interoperable implementations (e.g., box/box-type, codestream, big‑endian).
- System functionality: Support for editing, random access, interaction, and privacy/ownership protection at the file and metadata level.
- Document structure: Includes normative file format (Annex A), informative reference grid (Annex B) and a conceptual example (Annex C).
Applications
ISO/IEC 21794-1:2020 is intended for use wherever advanced 3D and plenoptic content needs standardized capture, storage, exchange or rendering:
- Imaging and cinematography: Storing and sharing multi-view and light‑field captures for post-production and view synthesis.
- 3D scanning and mapping: Archiving point clouds with coordinated metadata for CAD, surveying and AR/VR.
- Holographic content: Packaging complex wavefront data for holographic displays and research.
- Media platforms and delivery: Enabling random access, adaptive streaming and rights signalling for immersive media.
- Tool and device vendors: Camera manufacturers, software developers, encoder/decoder implementers and content distribution services.
Who benefits: standards engineers, software/hardware implementers, content creators, R&D teams in imaging and immersive media.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 15444‑1 and ISO/IEC 15444‑2 (JPEG 2000 file format foundations) - JPL file format builds on their box-based syntax.
- Other parts of the ISO/IEC 21794 series (e.g., Part 2 - Light field coding; Part 3 - conformance; Part 4 - reference software) define modality-specific coding, testing and reference implementations.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 21794-1:2020, JPEG Pleno, plenoptic image coding, JPL file format, light field, point cloud, hologram, plenoptic modalities, file format architecture, metadata, reference grid.
Open preview (PDF)Information technology — Plenoptic image coding system (JPEG Pleno) — Part 1: Framework
