A new vector quantization clustering algorithm

The pairwise nearest neighbor (PNN) algorithm is presented as an alternative to the Linde-Buzo-Gray (1980, LBG) (generalized Lloyd, 1982) algorithm for vector quantization clustering. The PNN algorithm derives a vector quantization codebook in a diminishingly small fraction of the time previously required, without sacrificing performance. In addition, the time needed to generate a codebook grows only O(N log N) in training set size and is independent of the number of code words desired. Using this method, one can either minimize the number of code words needed subject to a maximum rate. The PNN algorithm can be used with squared error and weighted squared error distortion measure. Simulations on a variety of images encoded at 1/2 b/pixel indicate that PNN codebooks can be developed in roughly 5% of the time required by the LBG algorithm.>