Embedded image coding using zeroblocks of subband/wavelet coefficients and context modeling

With fast computation and excellent compression efficiency, two embedded coding techniques, zero-tree/-block coding and context modeling of the subband/wavelet coefficients, have been widely utilized for image coding applications. In this research, we present a new embedded wavelet image coding algorithm with an attempt to combine advantages of these two successful coding schemes. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the respected zero-tree/-block coders, SPIHT and SPECK, in compression efficiency. It is also comparable to the state-of-art JPEG 2000 test coder in PSNR performance while retaining the attractive low-complexity feature of the zeroblock coders.