Novel video coding paradigm with reduction/restoration processes

To optimally design distortions in lossy video coding, we propose the use of a novel coding paradigm with adaptive nonlinear transforms as pre/post-processors of a conventional video codec. The preprocessor decimates less important pixels based on an image analysis. A conventional video encoder such as MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 further eliminates the redundancy of the decimated images. On the decoder side, the postprocessor restores small decoded images of the conventional decoder to the original resolution using an inverse mapping including a super-resolution technique that uses a priori knowledge on the decimation in the preprocessing. Results of the experiments showed the proposed coding scheme poses distortion that has a more straightforward appearance than that of a directly encoded/decoded image by a sole conventional H.264 codec.