Unequal error protection for progressive image transmission using SPIHT and saliency maps

Abstract

In this paper we provide an unequal error protection enhancement for SM SPIHT based image coding and transmission. SM SPIHT coding uses SPIHT algorithm as basis and employs the saliency maps (SM) to better capture the significance of each image pixel based on the assumed importance for the viewer. The saliency maps are proven extension of the SPIHT. In this paper, we extend this concept for the unequal error protection (UEP) suitable for progressive image transmission, compare the results and show advantages of the proposed approach.