Multiresolution analysis

A multiresolution analysis (MRA) or multiscale approximation (MSA) is the design method of most of the practically relevant discrete wavelet transforms (DWT) and the justification for the algorithm of the fast wavelet transform (FWT). It was introduced in this context in 1988/89 by Stephane Mallat and Yves Meyer and has predecessors in the microlocal analysis in the theory of differential equations (the ironing method) and the pyramid methods of image processing as introduced in 1981/83 by Peter J. Burt, Edward H. Adelson and James Crowley.

Definition

A multiresolution analysis of the Lebesgue space L^2(\mathbb{R}) consists of a sequence of nested subspaces

\{0\}\dots\subset V_1\subset V_0\subset V_{-1}\subset\dots\subset V_{-n}\subset V_{-(n+1)}\subset\dots\subset L^2(\R)

that satisfies certain self-similarity relations in time/space and scale/frequency, as well as completeness and regularity relations.

  • Self-similarity in time demands that each subspace Vk is invariant under shifts by integer multiples of 2k. That is, for each f\in V_k,\; m\in\Z the function g defined as g(x)=f(x-m2^{k}) also contained in V_k.
  • Self-similarity in scale demands that all subspaces V_k\subset V_l,\; k>l, are time-scaled versions of each other, with scaling respectively dilation factor 2k-l. I.e., for each f\in V_k there is a g\in V_l with \forall x\in\R:\;g(x)=f(2^{k-l}x).
  • In the sequence of subspaces, for k>l the space resolution 2l of the l-th subspace is higher than the resolution 2k of the k-th subspace.
  • Completeness demands that those nested subspaces fill the whole space, i.e., their union should be dense in L^2(\R), and that they are not too redundant, i.e., their intersection should only contain the zero element.

Important conclusions

In the case of one continuous (or at least with bounded variation) compactly supported scaling function with orthogonal shifts, one may make a number of deductions. The proof of existence of this class of functions is due to Ingrid Daubechies.

Assuming the scaling function has compact support, then V_0\subset V_{-1} implies that there is a finite sequence of coefficients a_k=2 \langle\phi(x),\phi(2x-k)\rangle for |k|\leq N, and a_k=0 for |k|>N, such that

\phi(x)=\sum_{k=-N}^N a_k\phi(2x-k).

Defining another function, known as mother wavelet or just the wavelet

\psi(x):=\sum_{k=-N}^N (-1)^k a_{1-k}\phi(2x-k),

one can show that the space W_0\subset V_{-1}, which is defined as the (closed) linear hull of the mother wavelet's integer shifts, is the orthogonal complement to V_0 inside V_{-1}.[citation needed] Or put differently, V_{-1} is the orthogonal sum (denoted by \oplus) of W_0 and V_0. By self-similarity, there are scaled versions W_k of W_0 and by completeness one has[citation needed]

L^2(\R)=\mbox{closure of }\bigoplus_{k\in\Z}W_k,

thus the set

\{\psi_{k,n}(x)=\sqrt2^{-k}\psi(2^{-k}x-n):\;k,n\in\Z\}

is a countable complete orthonormal wavelet basis in L^2(\R).

See also

References

  • Chui, Charles K. (1992). An Introduction to Wavelets. San Diego: Academic Press. ISBN 0-585-47090-1. 
  • Akansu, A.N.; Haddad, R.A. (1992). Multiresolution signal decomposition: transforms, subbands, and wavelets. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-047141-6. 
  • Burrus, C.S.; Gopinath, R.A.; Guo, H. (1997). Introduction to Wavelets and Wavelet Transforms: A Primer. Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-489600-9. 

External links