RateDistortion (version 1.01)
Routines for Solving Rate-Distortion Problems
Description
An implementation of routines for solving rate-distortion problems.
Rate-distortion theory is a field within information theory that
examines optimal lossy compression. That is, given that some
information must be lost, how can a communication channel be designed
that minimizes the cost of communication error? Rate-distortion
theory is concerned with the optimal (minimal cost) solution to such
tradeoffs. An important tool for solving rate-distortion problems is
the Blahut algorithm, developed by Richard Blahut and described in:
Blahut, R. E. (1972). Computation of channel capacity and
rate-distortion functions. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory,
IT-18(4), 460-473.
This package implements the basic Blahut algorithm, and additionally contains a number of `helper' functions, including a routine for searching for an information channel that minimizes cost subject to a constraint on information rate.