Rate-distortion optimization algorithm for JPEG 2000

A novel rate-distortion optimization algorithm for JPEG 2000 is proposed. This algorithm meets memory buffer requirement for the compressed bit streams quite strictly according to a given bit rate. Moreover, before the encoding process even starts, a required memory buffer size can be estimated. This algorithm can also help avoid unnecessary encoding for some parts of an image. In this sense, it is memory efficient and performs progressive encoding. While a rate-distortion optimization algorithm is generally applied after complete encoding procedures for images in JPEG 2000, the proposed algorithm can save both memory requirement and encoding time significantly at low bit rate by avoiding complete encoding.