Visual eccentricity models in face-based video compression
Scott J. Daly, Kristine E. Matthews, Jordi Ribas-Corbera · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1999
One of the largest sources of compression in vision is the sensitivity and resolution reduction as a function of eccentricity. However, utilization of this visual property has been limited to system that directly measure the viewer's gaze position. We have applied visual eccentricity models to videophone compression applications without using eye tracking by combining the visual model with a face tracking algorithm. In lieu of a gaze-detector, we assume the gaze will be directed to the faces appearing in images. The incorporation of both resolution as well as sensitivity- based eccentricity models in a low bitrate video compression standard will be discussed. For videophone applications, the reduction in bitrate while retaining similar image quality is up to 50 percent. Problems arising from the improved temporal sensitivity of the periphery, despite its reduced spatial bandwidth, will be discussed.