A new error criterion for ECG data compression

In many compression techniques the m.s.e (mean square error) criterion is used, a choice normally made because of mathematical convenience. However, for the ECG application this error criterion is unsatisfactory since it does not reveal whether or not an algorithm can preserve diagnostically significant features of the waveforms. There are many defects with it. For this reason the authors present a new error criterion-attribute correlation criterion. Instead of calculating auto- or cross-correlation function from individual sample values, the authors determine correlation between significant attributes of the waveforms. The authors select the shape (up, down, horizontal), amplitude, and position among P-Q-R-S-T points as the attributes to be correlated