A class of EZW image coders for noisy channels

We present a generalized embedded zerotree wavelet image coding algorithm that achieves relatively good tradeoffs between compression performance and channel error resilience and robustness. The proposed algorithm features a relatively simple coding structure, yet it also provides a high level of flexibility. The fundamental approach is to explicitly classify the encoder's output bit sequence into subsequences, which are then protected differently according to their importance and robustness. Our combined source/channel coding algorithm can outperform most existing channel resilient coding algorithms for specific target bit error rates. However, its main advantage is that it provides an efficient solution to the common channel mismatching problem by producing a bit stream that is very robust with respect to varying channel error conditions.