Split field coding: low complexity, error-resilient entropy coding forimage compression

摘要

In this paper, we describe split field coding, an approach for low complexity, error-resilient entropy coding which splitscode words into two fields: a variable length prefix and a fixed length suffix. Once a prefix has been decoded correctly,then the associated fixed length suffix is error-resilient, with bit errors causing no loss of code word synchronization andonly a limited amount of distortion on the decoded value. When the fixed length suffixes are segregated to a separateblock, this approach becomes suitable for use with a variety of methods which provide varying protection to differentportions of the bitstream, such as unequal error protection or progressive ordering schemes. Split field coding isdemonstrated in the context of a wavelet-based image codec, with examples of various error resilience properties, andcomparisons to the rate-distortion and computational performance of JPEG 2000.