Self similar progressive image coding scheme for multimedia packet switching communications

Connectionless services provided by best effort networks, such as SMDS and CBDS, are emerging in support of multicast real time communication over a global environment. A major role in the development of these services will be played by voice and video coding. The paper presents a novel coding approach for still images that combines a fractal approach with wavelet transform and multiresolution decomposition. A progressive coding is achieved by finding self-similarities between different scale bands of the wavelet pyramid. This coding technique has been successfully adopted over a regional wide IP environment where some users were connected by dial-up lines, several by N-ISDN and others through a LAN to LAN interconnection service provided by a regional DQDB MAN.