A Comparison Between ULP and MDC With Many Descriptions for Image Transmission

Abstract

In this letter, we present a performance comparison between multiple description coding (MDC) and unequal loss protection (ULP) for progressive image transmission over lossy packet networks. Two optimization criteria are considered, i.e., a multiquality criterion, when distinct quality levels are guaranteed at the decoder side, and the optimization of the expected quality at the receiver. We resort to both a semi-analytical approach and simulation results. To enable numerical comparisons, we address a specific MDC algorithm suitable for progressive imaging, and a state-of-the-art ULP algorithm based on Reed Solomon codes. The results, although cannot be generalized to any MDC and ULP methods, are useful to put into evidence some general features that can drive the selection of the most proper technique for the application at hand. In fact, they allow to put into evidence the main advantages and drawbacks of either technique.

Unequal channel error protection of multiple description codes for wireless media streaming

“…The function D(n) depends on the rate-distortion function of the source and the MDC packetization [4]. The optimization problem now is over β and the set of s i 's that minimize an average distortion measure over all receivers.…”

“…Much work has been done in optimizing the design of the B-MDC in wireless applications [2,3,4]. In all these works, it is assumed that all MDC packets are transmitted with a single rate channel coder chosen from a set of available channel code rates.…”