Bandelet-based stereo image coding

In this work, a bandelet-based coding scheme for stereo images is presented. The proposed scheme efficiently integrates the coding of the disparity map with the reference image. The disparity map is obtained via disparity estimation in a geometric similarity framework. The scheme first computes the bandelet transform of both left and right images. Consequently, each image is segmented into a quadtree where each dyadic square regroups pixels sharing the same geometric flow direction. Then, the disparity map is obtained by studying the geometric similarities between the dyadic squares of both images quadtrees. This is accomplished by the minimization of a cost measure function that is defined on the geometric properties of the quadtrees. Finally, the bandelet transform coefficients of the reference and residual images with the disparity map are encoded and transmitted in partitions (squares) which leads to lower entropy. The experimental evaluation of the proposed scheme shows beneficial performance over other stereoscopic coders in the literature.