Video coding using vector zerotrees and adaptive vector quantization

Summary form only given. We present a new algorithm for intraframe coding of video which combines zerotrees of vectors of wavelet coefficients and the generalized-threshold-replenishment (GTR) technique for adaptive vector quantization (AVQ). A data structure, the vector zerotree (VZT), is introduced to identify trees of insignificant vectors, i.e., those vectors of wavelet coefficients in a dyadic subband decomposition that are to be coded as zero. GTR coders are then applied to each subband to efficiently code the significant vectors by way of adapting to their changing statistics. Both VZT generation anti GTR coding are based upon minimization of criteria involving both rate and distortion. In addition, perceptual performance is improved by invoking simple, perceptually motivated weighting in both the VZT and the GTR coders