NAME
    Video::FourCC::Info - Find information about codecs specified as Four
    Character Code

VERSION
    Version 1.1 ($Id: Info.pm 4999 2009-01-20 04:20:20Z FREQUENCY@cpan.org
    $)

DESCRIPTION
    In order for video players to detect the algorithm required to decode a
    given video file, a four-byte sequence called a Four Character Code is
    written somewhere in the header of the file. This ensures that the
    detected codec format is independent of the file extension, which may be
    incorrect due to human error or for some other reason.

    This is similar to the four-byte "magic number" used by the UNIX file(1)
    command to roughly determine a file format.

    As far as I know, this is a case sensitive code, since it is
    byte-dependent, and is not actually an alphanumeric code (although it is
    represented as such).

SYNOPSIS
      use Video::FourCC::Info;

      my $codec = Video::FourCC::Info->new('DIV3');

      printf "Codec description: %s\n", $codec->description;

COMPATIBILITY
    This module was tested under Perl 5.10.0, using Debian Linux. However,
    because it's Pure Perl and doesn't do anything too obscure, it should be
    compatible with any version of Perl that supports its prerequisite
    modules.

    If you encounter any problems on a different version or architecture,
    please contact the maintainer.

METHODS
  Video::FourCC::Info->new( $fourcc )
    Creates a "Video::FourCC::Info" object, which provides information about
    the given Four Character Code. If the code does not exist in the
    database, it will return an error.

    Example code:

      my $codec = Video::FourCC::Info->new('DIV3');

    This method will return an appropriate Video::FourCC::Info object or
    throw an exception on error.

  Video::FourCC::Info->describe( $fourcc )
    This is really just a shortcut to grab the short description of a codec
    given a Four Character Code as input. Note that this is a class method,
    not an object method.

    Example code:

      my $codec_desc = Video::FourCC::Info->describe('DIV3');

    Internally, this method creates a temporary object and returns the
    description, destroying the object due to falling out of scope. If you
    already have a "Video::FourCC::Info" object, then the description
    accessor will provide better performance.

    Note, that just like "new", this class method may throw an exception if
    the Four Character Code does not exist in the database.

    Remember that this value could be "undef" if the information is unknown.

  $codec->description( )
    This returns the short description of the codec. It may be "undef" if
    there is no description in the database.

    Example code:

      my $codec_desc = $codec->description;

    Remember that this value could be "undef" if the information is unknown.

  $codec->registered( )
    This returns the short description of the codec. It may be "undef" if
    there is no description in the database.

    If "DateTime" is installed, then this will be a DateTime object.
    Otherwise, it will simply be a string in the format "yyyy-mm-dd".

    Example code:

      my $registered = $codec->registered;

    Remember that this value could be "undef" if the information is unknown.

  $codec->owner( )
    This returns the name of the corporation or other entity that owns the
    FourCC. Generally, this seems to be an ad-hoc standard, so it's a
    listing of the first entity known to use the given FourCC.

    Example code:

      my $owner_name = $codec->owner;

    Remember that this value could be "undef" if the information is unknown.

  $codec->code( )
    This returns the Four Character Code corresponding to the current
    "Video::FourCC::Info" object.

    Example code:

      my $fourcc = $codec->fourcc;

AUTHOR
    Jonathan Yu <frequency@cpan.org>

  CONTRIBUTORS
    Your name here ;-)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
    *   Thanks to Allen Day <allenday@ucla.edu> and Benjamin R. Ginter
        <bginter@asicommunications.com>, developers of Video::Info, which
        inspired the creation of this module.

SUPPORT
    You can find documentation for this module with the perldoc command.

        perldoc Video::FourCC::Info

    You can also look for information at:

    *   AnnoCPAN: Annotated CPAN documentation

        <http://annocpan.org/dist/Video-FourCC-Info>

    *   CPAN Ratings

        <http://cpanratings.perl.org/d/Video-FourCC-Info>

    *   Search CPAN

        <http://search.cpan.org/dist/Video-FourCC-Info>

    *   CPAN Request Tracker

        <http://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/Bugs.html?Dist=Video-FourCC-Info>

    *   CPAN Testing Service (Kwalitee Tests)

        <http://cpants.perl.org/dist/overview/Video-FourCC-Info>

FEEDBACK
    Please send relevant comments, rotten tomatoes and suggestions directly
    to the maintainer noted above.

    If you have a bug report or feature request, please file them on the
    CPAN Request Tracker at <http://rt.cpan.org>. If you are able to submit
    your bug report in the form of failing unit tests, you are strongly
    encouraged to do so. Regular bug reports are always accepted and
    appreciated via the CPAN bug tracker.

SEE ALSO
    Video::Info, a module for extracting information like the Four Character
    Code from arbitrary files.

CAVEATS
  KNOWN BUGS
    There are no known bugs as of this release.

  LIMITATIONS
    *   This module has not been tested very thoroughly with Unicode.

DATA SOURCE
    The FourCC database of owner and descriptions come from data extracted
    from GSpot v2.70a, a freeware Codec Information utility. The
    registration dates come courtesy of Microsoft Corporation, accessed
    online at:
    <http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms867195.aspx#fourcccodes>

LICENSE
    Copyright (C) 2009 by Jonathan Yu <frequency@cpan.org>

    This package is distributed under the same terms as Perl itself. At time
    of writing, this means that you are entitled to enjoy the covenants of,
    at your option:

    1   The Free Software Foundation's GNU General Public License (GPL),
        version 2 or later; or

    2   The Perl Foundation's Artistic License, version 2.0 or later

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
    This software is provided by the copyright holders and contributors "AS
    IS" and ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, including, but not limited
    to, the IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
    PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.

    In no event shall the copyright owner or contributors be liable for any
    direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary or consequential
    damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods
    or services; loss of use, data or profits; or business interruption)
    however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract,
    strict liability or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in
    any way out of the use of this software, even if advised of the
    possibility of such damage.