Analysis of coding risks in progressive transmission

In progressive image transmission, there exist some risks which may appear during the processing. A first class of risks is the diminishing coding performance when the occurrence of insignificant coefficients at each transmission time is a small-probability event. It may be a catastrophic transmission risk which can lead to major and irreversible bit losses. In a second class of risks, the performance of the transmission technique diminishes though the occurrence of insignificant sample is still a large-probability event.This paper shows a “Test of Transmission Risks” which can be used to analyze, for a given image, the performance of the state of the art in progressive transmission from the viewpoint of the catastrophic transmission risks. To this aim we make use of a decision making tool based on axioms requiring sensitivity to coding situations where the occurrence of insignificant sample at the transmission time may be either a small-probability or a large-probability event.

► The existence of coding risks in progressive transmission calls for a less risky transmission path. ► Three axioms capture this idea of less risky transmission. ► The less risky transmission path is the optimal transmission path based on a criterion satisfying the three axioms. ► Four transmission methods were analyzed from the viewpoint of risky transmission using a “Test of Transmission Risks”. ► We conclude that REWIC avoids catastrophic transmission risks better than the other methods.