MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The course offers an introduction to Multimedia Systems, presenting the main coding and compression techniques for multimedia signals, the issues of synchronization, and the main application contexts.
Particular attention will be devoted to the problems and techniques for IP/Internet based multimedia systems.
Course contents summary
Introduction to the course. Multimedia and reference standards.
Coding and compression techniques for Audio/Video signals
Digital Audio and Video. MPEG and AAC audio coding. ISO MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video coding.
MPEG-4 video and advanced profiles: Fine Grain Scalability profile.
Additional coding techniques.
Syncronization of multimedia streams. XML, SMIL, X3D languages.
Protocols for IP multimedia
UDP, Multicast. RTP and RTCP.
Real-Time Streaming Protocol. SDP. SIP.
Network issues and Quality of Service
Application-level QoS control. Error resilience.
Layered coding. Forward Error Correction. Rate-adaptive techniques. QoS.
Systems for Large scale streaming on the Internet : IP multicast, Content Delivery Networks, P2P delivery
Architectures for Multimedia Systems
Classification. Server architecture: I/O and storage. O.S. real-time support.
Modeling and performance evaluation.
Multimedia tools and applications
VideoConferencing, VoIP, Digital libraries. Content-based retrieval.
Examples of significant cases.
Recommended readings
Slide copies and other material provided.
Wu et al. “Streaming Video Over the Internet: Approaches and Directions”, IEEE Trans. On Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, Marzo 2001
Fundamentals of Multimedia / Li, Ze-Nian - Drew, Mark S. - Upper Saddle River, NJ : Pearson Prentice Hall, c2004
Teaching methods
Class lectures.
Lab exercises about coding and compression techniques for digital systems and synchronization of multimedia streams
Lab exercises about protocols and multimedia applications.
Examinations
Evaluation of student assignments .
Oral or written exam.
