Quantizer for scalable video coding

摘要

There is provided a coder/decoder system and a method for encoding and decoding input data at a plurality of different quantization levels. The different quantization levels permit SNR scalability. The system comprises a plurality of quantizer units. Each quantizer unit operates to quantize the input data at a corresponding quantization level. Each quantizer unit applies a quantizer function. For optimal SNR scalability, the quantizer function applied in each quantizer unit must be embedded. Furthermore the quantizer units must be arranged in a particular processing order so that the mean square error of the prediction error is minimised and so that the quantized prediction error can be perfectly reconstructed. A suitable quantizer is described.