Perceptual Quality Assessment of Joint Rate Allocation in Scalable Stereo Video Coding

Abstract

Rate-distortion optimized layer selection is crucial for rate adaptation in scalable stereo video coding in order to achieve a higher degree of perceptual quality for a given rate. Quality Layers Optimization (QLO) and Trellis-based Optimization (TBO) are joint rate allocation methods in Scalable Multiview Video Coding (SMVC). But TBO is simpler alternative for real-time applications with one GoP delay. The binocular suppression theory leads the research towards asymmetric stereo video coding for 3D rate scaling. In scalable stereo video coding, it is possible to allocate the total bitrate between the two views symmetrically or asymmetrically through adaptive quality enhancement layer extraction. The contribution of the paper is two-fold: First, we propose asymmetric versions of the TBO algorithm. Second, subjective quality evaluation of TBO (symmetric and asymmetric) and QLO extraction methods are performed by using Single Stimulus Multi Media (SSMM) version of Subjective Evaluation of Stereo VIdeo Quality (SESVIQ). Visual test results demonstrate that perceptual quality performance of symmetric TBO method is very similar to that of QLO in all cases. Besides, Symmetric TBO rate allocation is preferable for moderate bitrates. However, performance of asymmetric TBO extraction is superior to symmetric TBO extraction for low bitrates.

Keywords

• 3D video quality assessment,SESVIQ

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