Median predictor-based lossless video compression algorithm for IR image sequences

Lossless image compression has long been recognized as an important need for several applications such as medical imaging, storage of critical IR image sequences and remote sensing. In this paper, we propose a simple, fast and easy to realizable-on-hardware lossless video compression algorithm that is well suited for IR imageries. Context based median predictor is used for prediction of reference pixels. Three neighboring pixels are used as context for prediction. Interframe coding is performed by encoding the redundant pixels in an efficient way, using one bit code. Finally the arithmetic coder is used as entropy coding. The proposed algorithm is able to operate in image compression mode as well as video compression mode. The proposed MPLVC (Median Predictor based Lossless Video Compression) algorithm is compared with JPEG-LS (Joint Pictures Experts Group-Lossless) and FELICS (Fast and Efficient Lossless Image Compression System) for compression performance. The results demonstrate that proposed algorithm is superior in encoding rate with added advantage in simplicity and ease in realization on hardware.