A color vector quantization based video coder

Color vector quantization (VQ) has been an efficient still image compression scheme as well as a popular bitmap graphics format for display devices with limited color capability. In this paper we are proposing a color vector quantization-based video coder, exploiting the temporal stationary nature of color distribution among a group of pictures (GOP) over a short period. Color VQ is applied first to reduce the RGB image sequence into a single channel color index image. Motion estimation and compression is then performed in the index space, instead of the separate YCbCr channels. Initial results demonstrated that the proposed coder can provide good compression rates. By eliminating the need for an inverse DCT and color conversion, typical requirements in a JPEG/MPEG type of coders, the decoding is computationally very simple. This makes it suitable for certain applications like media playback, and visual communications with low-end mobile devices.