Strip Based Embedded Coding of Wavelet Coefficients for Large Images

Wavelet based embedded coders such as EZW and SPIHT require full wavelet transform of the image to be buffered for coding. Further, since the transform coefficients are required to be stored in high precision, the buffering requirements are prohibitively high for large images, such as remote sensing images, space borne images, medical images etc. In this paper we investigate, embedded coding of wavelet coefficients using zero trees, with reduced memory requirements, for large images. The wavelet coefficients are buffered in a ‘strip buffer’, capable of holding few lines of wavelet coefficients from all the subbands belonging to the same spatial location. For above applications, we also develop a pipeline architecture for real time embedded coding.