Rate and decoding power constrained video coding scheme for mobile multimedia players

Power dissipation, data rate, and processing time are crucial constraints for embedded multimedia devices. We present a video coding solution given the constraints of bit rate and decoding power dissipation. Coupled with a small dedicated video internal memory at a decoder, the coding scheme is designed for the best operational rate-distortion and decoding power cost trade off. It can substantially decrease the data traffic to the external memory at decoder. A decrease in data traffic to the external memory at decoder will result in faster real-time processing and power savings. The encoder, given the prior knowledge of the decoder´s dedicated video internal memory management scheme, optimally regulates its choice of motion compensated predictors to reduce the decoder´s external memory accesses. This video coding scheme can be used in any standard or proprietary encoder to generate a compliant output stream decodable by a standard general purpose processor-based or dedicated hardware-based decoder with power restriction. Simulation results show that with a relatively small dedicated internal memory, our scheme may reduce the power dissipation significantly while keeping the comparable picture quality.