Image Coding for Constrained Systems

University Of California-San Diego, La Jolla CA

Investigators

Abstract

TITLE: Image Coding with Constraints ABSTRACT This project studies image and video coding schemes for emerging and future networks. The study concentrates on certain specific types of image coding including facsimile, still imagery, and video. Networks of the future will consist of hybrid combinations of wired and wireless components. Commercial products such as digital cameras, cell phones, and PDAs will send and/or receive images of various types over a wide range of network channel conditions. The networks impose constraints such as: low data rate and high/unpredictable packet losses. The devices impose constraints including small batteries, small displays, low delay, limited memory, and limited processing power. Together, these constraints make the design of inexpensive and efficient image transmission devices of the future a very challenging task. In addition to designing such systems, a solid theoretical understanding of the achievable qualities and limitations is important to know. The main objectives of this research are to achieve deep theoretical understanding of source and channel coding for images transmitted on lossy networks and to develop practical algorithms that can be effectively used in real applications. The work exploits the diverse backgrounds of the PIs in image and video coding and combined source/channel coding. The investigation involves code design, theoretical analysis, and computer simulation. The main topics investigated for constrained image coding include: (1) Robust facsimile transmission, (2) Robust low rate video source coding, (3) Error correction, resilience, and concealment.