Scalable multiple description video coding for stereoscopic 3D

Scalable multiple description video coding (MDC) provides adaptability to bandwidth variations and receiving device characteristics, and can improve error robustness in multimedia networks. In this paper, a scalable MDC scheme is proposed for stereoscopic 3D video. Scalable MDC has previously been applied to 2D video but not to 3D video. The proposed algorithm enhances the error resilience of the base layer of the scalable video coding (SVC) standard using even and odd frame based MDC. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated in error free and error prone environments. Simulation results show improved performance using the proposed scalable MDC at high error rates compared to the original SVC. To improve the rate distortion performance, down-sampling of the depth information is proposed for SVC and scalable MDC. The proposed method reduces the overall bit rates and consequently: 1) improves their rate distortion, particularly at lower bit rates in error free channels; and 2) improves their performance in error prone channels.