Rate-distortion function for a Gaussian source model of images (Corresp.)

Still pictures can be modeled as realizations of a two-dimensional random field. Similarly, pictures that unfold with time across an aperture can be modeled as realizations of three-dimensional fields. Correlated sources can be found by looking at different regions of the spectrum or at different areas of a picture. Under the assumption that the sources are Gaussian a method is presented for finding the rate distortion function for all such sources, under a mean-square-error criterion, in terms of their power spectral densities. In particular, the rate distortion functions for a pair of correlated processes and for a two-dimensional random field are derived.