New initiatives for imagery transmission over a tactical data link. A case study: JPEG2000 compressed images transmitted in a Link-16 network. method and results

This paper presents the results of an initiative to transmit imagery content through a Link-16 tactical network using a multirresolution approach based on wavelets to compress images. Firstly, we identify the operational requirements. Secondly, we justify why JPEG2000 is our choice for coding still images. Thirdly, we propose a method to map the JPEG2000 code-stream into Link-16 free-text messages. We propose to send the most important part of the JPEG2000 compressed image in a more error resistant Link-16 packed structure and the remaining of the image in less robust data structures but at higher data rates. Finally, we present our results based on software simulations and laboratory tests with real Link-16 terminals including a comparative analysis with Link-16 enhance throughput. A configuration using two MIDS-LVTs has being set up, along with JPEG2000 coding and decoding software tools.