A self-governing rate buffer control strategy for pseudoconstant bit rate video coding

Video coding is a key to successful visual communications. An interframe video coding algorithm using hybrid motion-compensated prediction and interpolation is considered in this paper to code studio quality video at a bit rate over 5 Mb/s. Interframe coding without a buffer control strategy usually results in variable bit rates. Although packet networks may be capable of handling variable bit rates, in some applications, constant bit rate is more desirable either for a simpler network configuration or for channels with fixed bandwidth. In this paper, we consider a self-governing rate buffer control strategy that can automatically steer the coder to a pseudoconstant bit rate. This self-governing rate buffer control strategy employs more progressive quantization parameters, and constrains quantizer adjustments so that a smoother quality transition can be attained. Simulation results are shown to illustrate the performance of the pseudoconstant bit rate coder with this buffer control strategy.