Signal compression based on models of human perception

The notion of perceptual coding, which is based on the concept of distortion masking by the signal being compressed, is developed. Progress in this field as a result of advances in classical coding theory, modeling of human perception, and digital signal processing, is described. It is proposed that fundamental limits in the science can be expressed by the semiquantitative concepts of perceptual entropy and the perceptual distortion-rate function, and current compression technology is examined in that framework. Problems and future research directions are summarized.<
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