This web page has been developed as a tool box for some of the optimization techniques discussed in the paper Rate-Distortion Methods for Image and Video Compression: An Overview by Antonio Ortega and Kannan Ramchandran . This paper is to appear in I.E.E.E. Signal Processing Magazine, Nov. 1998, special issue on Rate Distortion theory. The abstract of the paper is given below.


In this paper we provide an overview of rate-distortion (R-D) based optimization techniques and their practical application to image and video coding. We begin with a short discussion of classical rate-distortion theory and then we show how in many practical coding scenarios, such as in standards-compliant coding environments, resource allocation can be put in an R-D framework. We then introduce two popular techniques for resource allocation, namely, Lagrangian optimization and dynamic programming. After a discussion of these two techniques as well as some of their extensions, we conclude with a quick review of recent literature in these areas citing a number of applications related to image and video compression and transmission. We provide a number of illustrative boxes to capture the salient points in our paper.


We, have developed JAVA applets which demonstrate the Lagrangian Multiplier method and Dynamic Programming method and their application to Rate Distortion theory. In, addition we have an example which compares the D.P. and Lagrangian approach to optimization.

The following pages have JAVA applets for demonstrating Rate Distortion techniques. The applets will take some time to load and are best viewed using Netscape Browser 4.0 or higher, or Microsoft Internet Explorer

These applets were designed and developed by Arif Karu and Raghavendra Singh, both students of University of Southern California. For comments about the applets please mail to

Raghavendra Singh

Last modified: Tue Oct 20 10:25:03 PDT 1998