Computer simulation of the output of a variable bit rate video codec

Addresses the analysis and subsequent simulation of a video codec producing a variable bit rate output. The work is directed towards two areas, namely line-by-line characteristics within a frame, and frame-by-frame statistics within a video sequence. This allows the appropriate degree of resolution to be incorporated within a simulation model. Initially, statistics from a real video source representing `head and shoulders´ viewphone type pictures were obtained, and coded by a commercial, COST 211 codec. These were then analysed to find a common statistical distribution representing each set. The distributions were then used as a basis for the simulation models