DESIGN OF MULTIPLE DESCRIPTION SCALAR QUANTIZERS

The design of scalar quantizers for communication systems that use div ersity to overcome channel impairments is considered. The design probl em is posed as an optimization problem and necessary conditions for op timality are derived. A design algorithm, a generalization of Lloyd's algorithm for quantizer design, is developed. Unlike a single channel scalar quantizer, the performance of a multiple description scalar qua ntizer is dependent on the index assignment. The problem of index assi gnment is addressed. Good index assignments, performance results, and sample quantizer designs are presented for a memoryless Gaussian sourc e. Furthermore, comparisons are made against rate distortion bounds fo r the multiple descriptions problem.