Merging the transform step and the quantization step for Karhunen-Loeve transform based image compression

Transform coding is one of the most important methods for lossy image compression. The optimum linear transform - known as Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT) - was difficult to implement in the classic way. Now, due to continuous improvements in neural network's performance, the KLT method becomes more topical then ever. We propose a new scheme where the quantization step is merged together with the transform step during the learning phase. The new method is tested for different levels of quantization and for different types of quantizers. Experimental results presented in the paper prove that the new proposed scheme always gives better results than the state-of-the-art solution.