Power and visual quality optimized video coding for mobile applications: Research issues and some solutions

In mobile computing environments, a video encoder should be able to provide high quality of service, which is measured from two perspectives: first, the video quality at a given bit rate must be optimized; second, it should be able to efficiently utilize its power supply to prolong the battery operating time. In other words, it should be able to achieve low power consumption as well as lower video distortion. There is a pressing need to develop power efficient video coding techniques, which can also deliver high picture quality. We address several issues and research challenges, and potential solutions, including defining new power rate distortion model, encoder complexity, mapping power to coding parameters, optimization criteria, making and effective use of the battery power information, parameter analysis, and new optimization techniques.