# Rate-Distortion-Perception Tradeoff of Variable-Length Source Coding for General Information Sources

## TL;DR

This paper extends rate-distortion theory by incorporating perception constraints into variable-length source coding, clarifying the tradeoff among rate, distortion, and perception for general sources.

## Contribution

It introduces the perception-distortion tradeoff into variable-length source coding and addresses fixed-length coding with average distortion, filling gaps in prior theoretical frameworks.

## Key findings

- Established the perception-distortion tradeoff in variable-length coding
- Analyzed the tradeoff for general information sources
- Discussed fixed-length coding with average distortion

## Abstract

Blau and Michaeli recently introduced a novel concept for inverse problems of signal processing, that is, the perception-distortion tradeoff. We introduce their tradeoff into the rate distortion theory of variable-length lossy source coding in information theory, and clarify the tradeoff among information rate, distortion and perception for general information sources. We also discuss the fixed-length coding with average distortion criterion that was missing in the previous letter.