Scalable video transmission over unreliable networks using multiple description wavelet coding

Scalable video coding (SVC) and multiple description coding (MDC) are the two different adaptation schemes for video transmission over heterogeneous and best-effort networks such as the Internet. We present a new approach to combine the advantages of SVC and MDC to provide reliable video communication over a wider range of communication networks and/or satisfy application requirements. Our proposed method utilizes 3D discrete wavelet transform and a modified embedded zero tree data structure to group the coefficients in different descriptions. The proposed method reduces the impact of the drift error by organizing the frames in a hierarchical structure.