title: A fast PNN design algorithm for entropy-constrained residual vector quantization.
abstract: A clustering algorithm based on the pairwise nearest-neighbor (PNN) algorithm developed by Equitz (1989), is introduced for the design of entropy-constrained residual vector quantizers. The algorithm designs residual vector quantization codebooks by merging the pair of stage clusters that minimizes the increase in overall distortion subject to a given decrease in entropy. Image coding experiments show that the clustering design algorithm typically results in more than a 200:1 reduction in design time relative to the standard iterative entropy-constrained residual vector quantization algorithm while introducing only small additional distortion. Multipath searching over the sequence of merges is also investigated and shown experimentally to slightly improve rate-distortion performance. The proposed algorithm can be used alone or can he followed by the iterative algorithm to improve the reproduction quality at the same bit rate.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Electr. Eng., British Columbia Univ., Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kossentini
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Smith