Genetic entropy-constrained vector quantizer design algorithm

A novel variable-rate vector quantizer (VQ) design algorithm, which is a hybrid approach combining a genetic algorithm with the entropy-constrained VQ (ECVQ) algorithm is presented. The proposed technique outperforms the ECVQ algorithm in the sense that it reaches a nearby global optimum rather than a local one. Simulation results show that, when applied to image coding, the technique achieves higher peak SNR (PSNR) and image quality than techniques using the ECVQ algorithm.