Multiple description vector quantizer design based on redundant representation of central code

A design method of a multiple description vector quantizer (VQ) is proposed. VQ is widely used for data compression, transmission and other processing. Here, we assume transmission channels with data erasure such as a packet-based network. Multiple description coding is a coding method used to achieve "graceful degradation" when transmitting signals through lossy channels. The proposed method is inspired by the vector quantizer design of Poggi et al., which combines VQ design based on the self-organizing map (SOM) and the multiple description scalar quantizer (MDSQ). The method also uses the SOM-based VQ; the difference is that the proposed method combines a bit-error-tolerant VQ designed by SOM and a novel scheme for cell arrangement of SOM based on Redundant Representation of Central Code (RRCC). The method is not only easy to design for any bit rate but is also more robust against data erasure compared with the conventional VQ.