Channel-optimized subband video coding for channels with a power constraint

A video communication system based on combined source-channel coding is proposed. The proposed system uses a hybrid subband video coder structure in combination with power-constrained channel-optimized vector quantization (PCCOVQ) to achieve efficient and robust transmission of the video signal over a channel with multidimensional PAM signaling. The error-sensitive side information parameters are protected by using traditional channel coding and a sufficiently large minimum distance of the PAM signal constellation. This ensures error free transmission for the channel-optimized case, and graceful degradation for channel mismatch situations. For the main information, PCCOVQ with a direct mapping from the source parameter space to the channel (modulation) space is used. A traditional video communication system based on the H.263 video coder is used as a reference. The proposed system compares favorably to the reference system for high rate applications, and offers graceful degradation for channel mismatch situations