Low-complexity feedback-channel-free distributed video coding using local rank transform

In this study, the authors propose a new feedback-channel-free distributed video coding algorithm using local rank transform (LRT). The encoder computes LRT by considering selected neighbourhood pixels of Wyner-Ziv (WZ) frame. These LRT values are merged, and their positions are entropy coded and sent to the decoder. In addition, means of each block of WZ frame are also transmitted to assist motion estimation (ME). Using these measurements, the decoder generates side information (SI) by implementing ME and compensation in LRT domain. An iterative algorithm is executed on SI using LRT to reconstruct the WZ frame. Experimental results show that the coding efficiency of the authors' codec is close to the efficiency of pixel domain distributed video coders based on low-density parity check and accumulate or turbo codes, with less encoder and decoder complexity.