  In this paper, we propose a method for image block loss restoration based on
the notion of sparse representation. We use the sparsity pattern as side
information to efficiently restore block losses by iteratively imposing the
constraints of spatial and transform domains on the corrupted image. Two novel
features, including a pre-interpolation and a criterion for stopping the
iterations, are proposed to improve the performance. Also, to deal with
practical applications, we develop a technique to transmit the side information
along with the image. In this technique, we first compress the side information
and then embed its LDPC coded version in the least significant bits of the
image pixels. This technique ensures the error-free transmission of the side
information, while causing only a small perturbation on the transmitted image.
Mathematical analysis and extensive simulations are performed to validate the
method and investigate the efficiency of the proposed techniques. The results
verify that the proposed method outperforms its counterparts for image block
loss restoration.
