A performance model for the MPEG coder

The MPEG video coding standard provides the syntax and semantics of bit streams representing compressed video. The underlying algorithm uses block matching motion compensation and block based DCT, with run-length coding of the quantized coefficients. It is important to derive models that allow to predict, for a given input sequence, the algorithm performance in terms of quality versus bit rate. In this work, we show that a simple model can be used to this purpose, despite the complexity of the overall MPEG algorithm. The model can be conveniently used to determine the quantizer parameters that give a desired quality or bit rate. For instance, in buffer control, it is necessary to precisely adapt the input rate to the buffer content in order to prevent overflow and underflow.