Joint Rate Control Algorithm for Low-Delay MPEG-4 Object-Based Video Encoding

This paper proposes an improved rate control algorithm for jointly encoding multiple arbitrarily shaped video objects in the context of low-delay MPEG-4 compliant video coding. The algorithm provides adequate mechanisms for dealing with deviations between the ideal and the actual behavior of video scene encoders, notably: 1) compensation mechanisms (e.g., rate control decisions) that are able to track these deviations and compensate them to allow a stable and efficient operation of the encoder, and 2) adaptation mechanisms (e.g., estimation of model parameters) that are able to instantaneously represent the actual behavior of the encoder and its rate controller. The proposed solution efficiently allocates the available resources, i.e., target bit rate and bitstream buffer space, aiming at maximizing the average scene quality and minimizing quality fluctuations along time and among the various video objects. The results show that this solution outperforms the usual reference solutions, notably those specified in the rate control informative annex of the MPEG-4 visual standard.