Low bit-rate video coding using wavelet vector quantisation

Abstract

A method for low bit-rate video coding based on wavelet vector quantisation is proposed. Motion estimation/compensation using overlapped block matching (OBM) is employed to eliminate the blocking effects in the prediction error introduced by conventional block matching. It is shown that OBM significantly increases the efficiency of the wavelet transform coder. The motion-compensated interframe prediction error is decomposed using a wavelet transform and a method is employed for the efficient coding of the wavelet coefficients. In this technique, the coefficients are coded with a zero-tree multistage lattice vector quantiser. Simulation results are provided to evaluate the coding performance of the described coding scheme for low bit-rate video coding. It provides constant bit rate, obviating the need for buffer, with just small fluctuations in PSNR. Moreover, comparison with the RM8 implementation of the standard H261 video coder shows that the presented codec provides improvements in both peak signal-to-noise ratio and picture quality.