Real time software implementation of scalable video codec

Scalable video compression is becoming increasingly more important in diverse, heterogeneous networks of today. In our previous work 2], we developed a scalable codec capable of generating bit rates from tens of kilo bits per second to several mega bits per second with ne granularity of available bit rates. This codec is based on 3-D subband coding and multi-rate quantization of subband coeecients, followed by arithmetic coding. In this paper, we will replace the arithmetic coding portion of the codec in 2] with block coding, and compare encode/decode speed of this new coder with MPEG. Unlike MPEG, this codec requires symmetric computational power at the decoder and encoder and as such is useful in software only, real time, interactive video applications. We have found the encoding speed of the new encoder to be one order of magnitude faster than MPEG-1, without signiicant loss in compression ee-ciency.