Computationally efficient fixed-length entropy codec for robust video compression

Fixed length entropy codes (FLC) have been previously introduced as an alternative to variable length entropy codes (VLC) in video compression applications. Video codecs employing FLC entropy codes have been shown to outperform the ones using VLC codes in noisy environments. Unfortunately, no computationally efficient implementation has been proposed for FLC codes since they had not received as much attention from the source encoding community as VLC codes had. We introduce data structures and algorithms to implement FLC coders and decoders that make feasible the use of FLC codes in a multitude of applications including real time video codecs. The proposed implementation makes the complexity of FLC and VLC codes comparable.