Universal image coding using multiscale recurrent patterns and prediction

In this paper we present a new method for image coding that is able to achieve good results over a wide range of image types. This work is based on the multidimensional multiscale parser (MMP) algorithm (M. de Carvalho et al., 2002), allied with an intra frame image predictive coding scheme. MMP has been shown to have, for a large class of image data, including texts, graphics, mixed images and textures, a compression efficiency comparable (and, in several cases, well above) to the one of state-of-the-art encoders. However, for smooth grayscale images, its performance lags behind the one of wavelet-based encoders, as JPEG2000. In this paper we propose a novel encoder using MMP with intra predictive coding, similar to the one used in the H.264/AVC video coding standard. Experimental results show that this method closes the performance gap to JPEG-2000 for smooth images, with PSNR gains of up to 1.5 dB. Yet, it maintains the excellent performance level of the MMP for other types of image data, as text, graphics and compound images, lending it a useful universal character.