Block Source Coding with Sequential Encoding

We introduce the concept of achievable cumulative rate distribution functions (CRDF) to characterize sequentially encoding processes that ensure a lossless or lossy reconstruction subject to an average distortion using a non-causal decoder. Utilizing tools from majorization theory, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions on the CRDF for a given IID source. It turns out that the optimal achievable distortion level can be adequately characterized by the concave-hull of the CRDF.