Multiple description image coding based on lapped orthogonal transforms

This paper considers the use of multiple description coding (MDC) for image transmission in communication systems where long burst errors and sometimes complete channel failures are inevitable. A general framework for MDC is proposed, which uses non-hierarchical signal decomposition at the encoder and image reconstruction at the decoder. A relaxation of this framework using lapped orthogonal transforms (LOTs) is developed. A novel image reconstruction technique is employed, which makes use of the constraints between adjacent LOT coefficient blocks and the smoothness property of common image signals. The tradeoff between coding efficiency and reconstruction quality obtainable by using different LOT bases is investigated