An adapted H.261 two-layer video codec for ATM networks

An adaptive video codec which can maintain compatibility between the existing digital circuit switched networks and future ATM networks is described. It is based on two-layer coding principles, where in the base layer the H.261 standard video codec is employed. It is shown that a discrete cosine transform (DCT) in the second layer is unnecessary and can be replaced by a simple requantizer which finely quantizes the residue quantization distortions of the transform coefficients of the base layer. Characteristics of this quantizer in terms of nature of quantization and step sizes are studied. Efficient coding and addressing of residual distortions are described. Finally, a two-dimensional variable length code for the quantized residual distortions is given