Error resilient EBCOT image coding with content classification

EBCOT, as the baseline algorithm of JPEG-2000 find draft, is an efficient image coding technique. It is inherently more error resilient than many other wavelet-based schemes due to its independent coding of blocks in each subband, However, the loss of data of a block, in any lower frequency subband, in EBCOT can still degrade the perceptual image quality considerably. As robust entropy codes are used, the information of image content can help recover damaged regions of blocks. This paper discusses the use of reversible variable length codes (RVLC) and data partitioning for coding lower frequency subbands in EBCOT, instead of arithmetic codes. The selection of RVLC is based on content of images, which is classified as active and shape. We have observed that the proposed approach has very little additional bit-rate overhead and improved performance in the presence of errors from the help of content.