Methods and apparatus for error-resilient video coding

A apparatus for coding a input frame of a video sequence for transmission over a channel, comprising:

• a decomposer configured to receive said input frame and decompose said input frame into a plurality of subbands that are divided into a plurality of blocks corresponding to a region of said input frame;
• and
• a classifier configured to receive said plurality of subbands that are divided into said plurality of blocks corresponding to said region of said input frame, said classifier also configured to:
• select said plurality of blocks in a plurality of highest frequency subbands of said plurality of subbands based upon a luminance component of said input frame;
• classify said plurality of blocks in said plurality of highest frequency subbands into a plurality of classes to provide a plurality of class labels for said plurality of blocks in said plurality of highest frequency subbands;
• collect said plurality of class labels to form a subband classification map for each of said plurality of blocks in said plurality of highest frequency subbands;
• construct a global classification map from a majority evaluation of said subband classification map for each of said plurality of blocks in said plurality of highest frequency subbands;
• and
• grouping said plurality of blocks within said plurality of subbands having one of said plurality of class labels to form a plurality of subband class sequences.

A method for coding a video sequence for transmission over a channel, comprising:

• receiving the video sequence, the video sequence having a plurality of frames;
• grouping said plurality of frames into a group of pictures;
• coding an initial frame of said group of pictures to produce a coded initial frame;
• transmitting said coded initial frame over the channel;
• decoding said coded initial frame to produce a decoded initial frame;
• constructing a first error frame estimate with said decoded initial frame;
• obtaining a first error frame of a first frame from said first error frame estimate and said first frame;
• coding said first error frame to produce a first coded error frame, said coding said first error frame comprising:
• decomposing said first error frame into a plurality of subbands;
• dividing said plurality of subbands into a plurality of blocks corresponding to a region of said first error frame;
• selecting said plurality of blocks in a plurality of highest frequency subbands of said plurality of subbands based upon a luminance component of said first error frame;
• classifying said plurality of blocks in said plurality of highest frequency subbands into a plurality of classes to provide a plurality of class labels for said plurality of blocks in said plurality of highest frequency subbands;
• collecting said plurality of class labels to form a subband classification map for each of said plurality of blocks in said plurality of highest frequency subbands;
• constructing a global classification map from a majority evaluation of said subband classification map for each of said plurality of blocks in said plurality of highest frequency subbands;
• grouping said plurality of blocks within said plurality of subbands having one of said plurality of class labels to form a plurality of subband class sequences;
• and
• encoding said plurality of subband class sequences to form said first coded error frame;
• and
• transmitting said first coded error frame over the channel.