Description
To identify relevant patents, comprehensive searches were conducted across multiple patent databases using a combination of search strings, IPC/CPC classifications, and VVC–specific keywords. Since the VVC standard was officially published in August 2020, the search focused exclusively on patents with a priority date on or before August 2020.
The development of VVC was marked by a surge in patent activity, particularly between 2017 and 2020, as researchers raced to contribute novel techniques that would define the future of video compression. These patents underpin a wide array of sophisticated coding tools introduced in the standard, including quad-tree plus multi-type tree (QTMT) block partitioning, advanced intra/inter prediction, affine motion compensation, and transform skip techniques, all of which collectively enable up to 50%-bit rate reduction over HEVC for the same visual quality.
Frequently asked questions
What does this report cover about Orange and VVC?
It covers an essentiality analysis of Orange’s patent portfolio against the VVC/H.266 standard. Technical areas include block based coding, predictive coding, advanced intra and inter prediction enhancements, transformation, quantization and filtering. The report also looks at the wider VVC patent landscape and the technologies that matter for standard compliance. VVC was finalised in 2020, and its design anticipates future media trends, with support for uses such as 8K video, 360 degree content, light field imaging and adaptive streaming.
How large was the dataset behind this study?
An extensive database search produced an initial dataset of around 12,000 patents in the categories of interest. From that pool, around 6k unique patent publications were categorised as VVC on the basis of their abstracts, summaries and claims relating to H.266 technology. Searches used a combination of search strings, IPC and CPC classifications, and keywords specific to VVC. The filings taken forward were then examined claim by claim against the standard.
Why is the search limited to an August 2020 priority date?
Because the VVC standard was officially published in August 2020. The search was limited to patents with a priority date on or before that month, which keeps the set to filings that could read on the published specification. The period between 2017 and 2020 saw a surge in patent activity, as contributors worked on the techniques that would shape future video compression. The cutoff is applied uniformly across the search.
Who benefits from a VVC essentiality study?
Licensing teams, in house counsel and technology strategists benefit most. A study of this kind supports licence negotiation, portfolio valuation, pool participation decisions and benchmarking against other filers in video coding. Engineering and standards teams use it to see which parts of H.266 attract the densest patent activity. Because each finding traces back to a claim and a passage of the standard, your own experts can verify the mapping before a commercial decision is taken.
