Object-based Image and Video Compression with Adaptive and Hybrid Wavelet Techniques and their Interactive Optimization on Distributed Systems

This project proposal deals with lossy image and videocompression. Using the relatively new paradigm of object based image and video coding we aim at developing and investigating efficient methods for data storage. In contrast to the ongoing MPEG-4 standardization process we discuss adaptive and hybrid compression techniques which use wavelet and subband based techniques as the underlying basic methods. The main idea is to use different and hopefully optimal algorithmsechniques/parameters for different objects. Rate-distortion performance will be measured with objective criterias (e.g. PSNR) and with psychovisual investigations. Reference data will be collected by using the WEG-4 VM. One of the main aims is to validate whether and how much the coding results of WEG-4 may be enhanced by using adaptive and hybrid algorithms. In order to achieve sensible processing times, the different algorithms will be implemented on a distributed system. At first, optimization will be performed interactively, in the final stage of the project an expert-system will enable finding of optimal coding schemes for given pictorial objects.