Multi-resolution VQ: parameter meaning and choice

In multi-resolution source coding, a single code is used to give an embedded data description that may be decoded at a variety of rates. Recent work in practical multi-resolution coding treats the optimal design of fixed- and variable-rate tree-structured vector quantizers for multi-resolution coding. In that work the codes are optimized for a designer-specified priority schedule over the system rates, distortions, or slopes. The method relies on a collection of parameters, which may be difficult to choose. This paper explores the meaning and choice of the multi-resolution source coding parameters.