A General Model for the Design of Efficient Sign-Coding Tools for Wavelet-Based Encoders

[EN] Traditionally, it has been assumed that the compression of the sign of wavelet coefficients is not worth the effort because they form a zero-mean process. However, several image encoders such as JPEG 2000 include sign-coding capabilities. In this paper, we analyze the convenience of including sign-coding techniques into wavelet-based image encoders and propose a methodology that allows the design of sign-prediction tools for whatever kind of wavelet-based encoder. The proposed methodology is based on the use of metaheuristic algorithms to find the best sign prediction with the most appropriate context distribution that maximizes the resulting sign-compression rate of a particular wavelet encoder. Following our proposal, we have designed and implemented a sign-coding module for the LTW wavelet encoder, to evaluate the benefits of the sign-coding tool provided by our proposed methodology. The experimental results show that sign compression can save up to 18.91% of bit-rate when enabling sign-coding capabilities. Also, we have observed two general behaviors when coding the sign of wavelet coefficients: (a) the best results are provided from moderate to high compression rates; and (b) the sign redundancy may be better exploited when working with high-textured images.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under Grant RTI2018-098156-B-C54, co-financed by FEDER funds (MINECO/FEDER/UE).López-Granado, OM.; Martínez-Rach, MO.; Martí-Campoy, A.; Cruz-Chávez, MA.; Pérez Malumbres, M. (2020). A General Model for the Design of Efficient Sign-Coding Tools for Wavelet-Based Encoders. Electronics. 9(11):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics9111899S117911Said, A., & Pearlman, W. A. (1996). A new, fast, and efficient image codec based on set partitioning in hierarchical trees. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 6(3), 243-250. doi:10.1109/76.499834ISO/IEC 15444-1:2019. Information technology—JPEG 2000 Image Coding System—Part 1: Core Coding Systemhttps://www.iso.org/standard/78321.htmlTaubman, D. (2000). High performance scalable image compression with EBCOT. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 9(7), 1158-1170. doi:10.1109/83.847830Bilgin, A., Sementilli, P. J., & Marcellin, M. W. (1999). Progressive image coding using trellis coded quantization. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 8(11), 1638-1643. doi:10.1109/83.799891Oliver, J., & Malumbres, M. P. (2006). Low-Complexity Multiresolution Image Compression Using Wavelet Lower Trees. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 16(11), 1437-1444. doi:10.1109/tcsvt.2006.883505Cho, Y., & Pearlman, W. A. (2007). Hierarchical Dynamic Range Coding of Wavelet Subbands for Fast and Efficient Image Decompression. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 16(8), 2005-2015. doi:10.1109/tip.2007.901247Deever, A. T., & Hemami, S. S. (2003). Efficient sign coding and estimation of zero-quantized coefficients in embedded wavelet image codecs. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 12(4), 420-430. doi:10.1109/tip.2003.811499Mallat, S., & Zhong, S. (1992). Characterization of signals from multiscale edges. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, 14(7), 710-732. doi:10.1109/34.142909López-Granado, O., Galiano, V., Martí, A., Migallón, H., Martínez-Rach, M., Piñol, P., & Malumbres, M. P. (2013). Improving image compression through the use of evolutionary computing algorithms. Data Management and Security. doi:10.2495/data130041Kodak Lossless True Color Image Suitehttp://r0k.us/graphics/kodak/Rawzor—Lossless Compression Software for Camera Raw Imageshttp://imagecompression.info/test_images

Sparse Modeling for Image and Vision Processing

In recent years, a large amount of multi-disciplinary research has been conducted on sparse models and their applications. In statistics and machine learning, the sparsity principle is used to perform model selection---that is, automatically selecting a simple model among a large collection of them. In signal processing, sparse coding consists of representing data with linear combinations of a few dictionary elements. Subsequently, the corresponding tools have been widely adopted by several scientific communities such as neuroscience, bioinformatics, or computer vision. The goal of this monograph is to offer a self-contained view of sparse modeling for visual recognition and image processing. More specifically, we focus on applications where the dictionary is learned and adapted to data, yielding a compact representation that has been successful in various contexts.Comment: 205 pages, to appear in Foundations and Trends in Computer Graphics and Visio

Design and multiplier-less implementation of a class of two-channel PR FIR filterbanks and wavelets with low system delay

In this paper, a new method for designing two-channel PR FIR filterbanks with low system delay is proposed. It is based on the generalization of the structure previously proposed by Phoong et al. Such structurally PR filterbanks are parameterized by two functions (β(z) and α(z)) that can be chosen as linear-phase FIR or allpass functions to construct FIR/IIR filterbanks with good frequency characteristics. The case of using identical β(z) and α(z) was considered by Phoong et al. with the delay parameter M chosen as 2N - 1. In this paper, the more general case of using different nonlinear-phase FIR functions for β(z) and α(z) is studied. As the linear-phase constraint is relaxed, the lengths of β(z) and α(z) are no longer restricted by the delay parameters of the filterbanks. Hence, higher stopband attenuation can still be achieved at low system delay. The design of the proposed low-delay filterbanks is formulated as a complex polynomial approximation problem, which can be solved by the Remez exchange algorithm or analytic formula with very low complexity. In addition, the orders and delay parameters can be estimated from the given filter specifications using a simple empirical formula. Therefore, low-delay two-channel PR filterbanks with flexible stopband attenuation and cutoff frequencies can be designed using existing filter design algorithms. The generalization of the present approach to the design of a class of wavelet bases associated with these low-delay filterbanks and its multiplier-less implementation using the sum of powers-of-two coefficients are also studied.published_or_final_versio

Measurements, Models, Systems and Design

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Spread spectrum-based video watermarking algorithms for copyright protection

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2263 on 14.03.2017 by CS (TIS)Digital technologies know an unprecedented expansion in the last years. The consumer can now benefit from hardware and software which was considered state-of-the-art several years ago. The advantages offered by the digital technologies are major but the same digital technology opens the door for unlimited piracy. Copying an analogue VCR tape was certainly possible and relatively easy, in spite of various forms of protection, but due to the analogue environment, the subsequent copies had an inherent loss in quality. This was a natural way of limiting the multiple copying of a video material. With digital technology, this barrier disappears, being possible to make as many copies as desired, without any loss in quality whatsoever. Digital watermarking is one of the best available tools for fighting this threat. The aim of the present work was to develop a digital watermarking system compliant with the recommendations drawn by the EBU, for video broadcast monitoring. Since the watermark can be inserted in either spatial domain or transform domain, this aspect was investigated and led to the conclusion that wavelet transform is one of the best solutions available. Since watermarking is not an easy task, especially considering the robustness under various attacks several techniques were employed in order to increase the capacity/robustness of the system: spread-spectrum and modulation techniques to cast the watermark, powerful error correction to protect the mark, human visual models to insert a robust mark and to ensure its invisibility. The combination of these methods led to a major improvement, but yet the system wasn't robust to several important geometrical attacks. In order to achieve this last milestone, the system uses two distinct watermarks: a spatial domain reference watermark and the main watermark embedded in the wavelet domain. By using this reference watermark and techniques specific to image registration, the system is able to determine the parameters of the attack and revert it. Once the attack was reverted, the main watermark is recovered. The final result is a high capacity, blind DWr-based video watermarking system, robust to a wide range of attacks.BBC Research & Developmen

Implementation of bio-inspired adaptive wavelet transforms in FPGAs. Modeling, validation and profiling of the algorithm

Providing embedded systems with adaptation capabilities is an increasing importance objective in design community. This work deals with the implementation of adaptive compression schemes in FPGA devices by means of a bioinspired algorithm. A simplified version of an Evolution Strategy using fixed point arithmetic is proposed. Specifically, a simpler than the standard (hardware friendly) mutation operator is designed, modelled and validated using a high-level language. HW/SW partitioning issues are considered and code profiling accomplished to validate the proposal. Preliminary results of the proposed hardware architecture are also show

A joint motion & disparity motion estimation technique for 3D integral video compression using evolutionary strategy

3D imaging techniques have the potential to establish a future mass-market in the fields of entertainment and communications. Integral imaging, which can capture true 3D color images with only one camera, has been seen as the right technology to offer stress-free viewing to audiences of more than one person. Just like any digital video, 3D video sequences must also be compressed in order to make it suitable for consumer domain applications. However, ordinary compression techniques found in state-of-the-art video coding standards such as H.264, MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 are not capable of producing enough compression while preserving the 3D clues. Fortunately, a huge amount of redundancies can be found in an integral video sequence in terms of motion and disparity. This paper discusses a novel approach to use both motion and disparity information to compress 3D integral video sequences. We propose to decompose the integral video sequence down to viewpoint video sequences and jointly exploit motion and disparity redundancies to maximize the compression. We further propose an optimization technique based on evolutionary strategies to minimize the computational complexity of the joint motion disparity estimation. Experimental results demonstrate that Joint Motion and Disparity Estimation can achieve over 1 dB objective quality gain over normal motion estimation. Once combined with Evolutionary strategy, this can achieve up to 94% computational cost saving