Rate and decoding power constrained video coding scheme for mobile multimedia players

Power dissipation, data rate, and processing time are crucial constraints for embedded multimedia devices. We present a video coding solution given the constraints of bit rate and decoding power dissipation. Coupled with a small dedicated video internal memory at a decoder, the coding scheme is designed for the best operational rate-distortion and decoding power cost trade off. It can substantially decrease the data traffic to the external memory at decoder. A decrease in data traffic to the external memory at decoder will result in faster real-time processing and power savings. The encoder, given the prior knowledge of the decoder's dedicated video internal memory management scheme, optimally regulates its choice of motion compensated predictors to reduce the decoder's external memory accesses. This video coding scheme can be used in any standard or proprietary encoder to generate a compliant output stream decodable by a standard general purpose processor-based or dedicated hardware-based decoder with power restriction. Simulation results show that with a relatively small dedicated internal memory, our scheme may reduce the power dissipation significantly while keeping the comparable picture quality.