This paper presents the block arithmetic coding for image compression (BACIC) algorithm: a new method for lossless bilevel image compression which can replace JBIG, the current standard for bilevel image compression. BACIC uses the block arithmetic coder (BAC): a simple, efficient, easy-to-implement, variable-to-fixed arithmetic coder, to encode images. BACIC models its probability estimates adaptively based on a 12-bit context of previous pixel values; the 12-bit context serves as an index into a probability table whose entries are used to compute p(1) (the probability of a bit equaling one), the probability measure BAC needs to compute a codeword. In contrast, the Joint Bilevel Image Experts Group (JBIG) uses a patented arithmetic coder, the IBM QM-coder, to compress image data and a predetermined probability table to estimate its probability measures. JBIG, though, has not get been commercially implemented; instead, JBIG's predecessor, the Group 3 fax (G3), continues to be used. BACIC achieves compression ratios comparable to JBIG's and is introduced as an alternative to the JBIG and G3 algorithms. BACIC's overall compression ratio is 19.0 for the eight CCITT test images (compared to JBIG's 19.6 and G3's 7.7), is 16.0 for 20 additional business-type documents (compared to JBIG's 16.0 and G3's 6.74), and is 3.07 for halftone images (compared to JBIG's 2.75 and G3's 0.50).

This study introduces error control to the block arithmetic coding for image compression (BACIC): a new method for lossless bilevel image compression. BACIC can successfully transmit bilevel images when channel bit error rates are as high as 10(-3) while providing compression ratios twice that of G3, the only facsimile standard which incorporates error control into its algorithm.

BACIC is a new method of lossless bi-level image compression introduced to replace JBIG and G3, the current standards for bi-level and facsimile image compression. This paper applies the BACIC (block arithmetic coding for image compression) algorithm to reduced grayscale and full grayscale image compression. BACIC's compressed files are slightly smaller than JBIGs, twice as small as G3s, and at least thirty percent smaller than lossless-JPEGs (when lossless JPEG uses Huffman coding) for reduced grayscale images with fewer than 7 bits/pixel.