H.264 Multiple Description Coding Based on Redundant Picture Representation

In this paper a novel H.264 multiple description technique is proposed. The coding approach is based on the redundant slice representation option, defined in the H.264 standard. In presence of losses, the redundant representation can be used to replace missing portions of the compressed bitstream, thus yielding a certain degree of error resilience. This paper addresses the creation of two balanced descriptions based on the concept of redundant slices, while keeping full compatibility with the H.264 standard syntax and decoding behavior. Moreover, a practical algorithm for redundancy tuning as a function of the packet loss rate is provided. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed technique favorably compares with other H.264 multiple description approaches.