  In the design of multiple description lattice vector quantizers (MDLVQ),
index assignment plays a critical role. In addition, one also needs to choose
the Voronoi cell size of the central lattice v, the sublattice index N, and the
number of side descriptions K to minimize the expected MDLVQ distortion, given
the total entropy rate of all side descriptions Rt and description loss
probability p. In this paper we propose a linear-time MDLVQ index assignment
algorithm for any K >= 2 balanced descriptions in any dimensions, based on a
new construction of so-called K-fraction lattice. The algorithm is greedy in
nature but is proven to be asymptotically (N -> infinity) optimal for any K >=
2 balanced descriptions in any dimensions, given Rt and p. The result is
stronger when K = 2: the optimality holds for finite N as well, under some mild
conditions. For K > 2, a local adjustment algorithm is developed to augment the
greedy index assignment, and conjectured to be optimal for finite N.
  Our algorithmic study also leads to better understanding of v, N and K in
optimal MDLVQ design. For K = 2 we derive, for the first time, a
non-asymptotical closed form expression of the expected distortion of optimal
MDLVQ in p, Rt, N. For K > 2, we tighten the current asymptotic formula of the
expected distortion, relating the optimal values of N and K to p and Rt more
precisely.
