Multimedia Communication ECE VTU 8th Sem Unit 1 Multimedia Communications

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)
ELECTIVE 5 (GROUP E)
Subject Code: 10EC841
IA Marks: 25
Unit 1: Multimedia Communications
MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
No. of Lecture Hrs/Week: 04
Total no. of Lecture Hrs.: 52
Exam Hours : 03
Exam Marks : 100
UNIT 1:MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS: Introduction, multimedia information representation, multimedia

networks, multimedia applications, media types, communication modes, network types media types, communication
modes, network types, multipoint conferencing, network QoS application QoS.
6 Hrs
UNIt 2: MULTIMEDIA INFORMATION REPRESENTATION: Introduction, digital principles, text, images,
audio, video.
7 Hrs
UNIT 3: TEXT AND IMAGE COMPRESSION: Introduction, compression principles, text compression, image
compression.
6 Hrs
UNIT 4: AUDIO AND VIDEO COMPRESSION: Introduction, audio compression, DPCM, ADPCM, APC, LPC,
video compression, video compression principles, H.261, H.263, MPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4. 7 Hrs
UNIT 5: MULTIMEDIA INFORMATION NETWORKS: Introduction, LANs, Ethernet, Token ring, Bridges,
FDDI High-speed LANs, LAN protocol.
6 Hrs
UNIT 6: THE INTERNET: Introduction, IP Datagrams, Fragmentation, IP Address, ARP and RARP, QoS Support,
IPv8.
7 Hrs
UNIT 7: BROADBAND ATM NETWORKS: Introduction, Cell format, Switch and Protocol Architecture ATM
LANs.
6 Hrs
UNIT 8: TRANSPORT PROTOCOL: Introduction, TCP/IP, TCP, UDP, RTP and RTCP.
7 Hrs
TEXT BOOK:
1. Multimedia Communications: Applications, Networks, Protocols and Standards, Fred Halsall,
Pearson Education, Asia, Second Indian reprint 2002.
REFERENCE BOOKS:
1. Multimedia Information Networking, Nalin K. Sharda, PHI, 2003.
2. Multimedia Fundamentals: Vol 1 - Media Coding and Content Processing, Ralf Steinmetz, Klara Narstedt, Pearson
Education, 2004.
3. Multimedia Systems Design, Prabhat K. Andleigh, Kiran Thakrar, PHI, 2004.
Ramesh S
Asst. Prof.(ECE Dept.), Bengaluru
ramisuniverse@gmail.com
cell: +91 9449851913
UNIT 1:MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS: Introduction, multimedia information representation, multimedia

networks, multimedia applications, media types, communication modes, network types media types, communication
modes, network types, multipoint conferencing, network QoS application QoS.
6 Hrs
Introduction
Multimedia communication had a range of applications and networking infrastructures
Definition: The term "multimedia" is used to indicate that the information/data being transferred over the network
may be composed of one or more of the following media types:
Text: Includes both unformatted text - comprising strings of characters from a limited character set formatted text comprises strings as used for the structuring, access, and presentation of electronic documents
Images: Includes computer generated image - comprising lines, curves, and circles, and digitized images of
documents and pictures
Audio: Includes both
low-fidelity speech - as used in telephony
high-fidelity speech - stereophonic music as used with compact discs
Video: Includes short sequences of moving images (also known as video clips) and complete movies/films
Multimedia applications
Multimedia applications may be
Person-to-Person communications or
Person-to-System communications
Terminal Equipment (TE): used for 2-peoples communication
Multimedia Personal Computer (PC) or Workstation: used by a person to interact with a system
Typically, these are located either in the home or on a desktop in an office
Server: It's the system - containing a collection of files or documents - each comprising digitized text, images, audio,
and video information either singly or integrated together in some
It may also contain - a library of digitized movies/videos
User interacts with the server - by means of a suitable selection device - connected to the Set-top box (STB) associated with a television
Networking infrastructure: provided by - using a number of different types of network
Networks: designed from the outset to provide multimedia communication services and
designed initially to provide just a single type of service
Advances in various technologies: the networks can provide - a range of services
Ex.: PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or GSTN (General Switched Telephone Network) - designed
initially to provide the basic switched telephone service
Advances in digital signal processing hardware and associated software - kept PSTNs/GSTNs provide a range of
more advanced services involving - text, images, and video
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Data network: designed initially to support basic data applications - e-mail, file transfers, and others now support a
much richer set of applications - which involve images, audio, and video
Multimedia Information Representation

Applications - involving text and images - comprise blocks of digital data
Text data for - typical unit is - block of characters with each character represented by, fixed number of -Binary digits
(bits) or Codeword
Digitized image data - comprises a 2-D block of - pixels (picture elements) - with each pixel - represented by - a fixed
number of bits
Applications involving text and images: - comprise the short request for - a file
Ex.: file contents being returned, the duration of the overall transaction is relatively short
Applications involving audio and video: Audio and video signals: Vary continuously - with time as the amplitude of
the speech, audio, or video signal varies
Type of signal: analog signal
Duration of applications - involve of audio and/or video: can be relatively long
Ex.: Typical telephone conversation - can last for several minutes
Movie (comprising audio and video) - can last for a number of hours
Applications involves of single type of media: Basic form of representation of the particular media type is often used
Applications involves either text-and-images or audio-and-video: Their - Basic form is often used - since, the two
media types in these applications have the same form of representation
Applications involves of different media types integrated together in some way - it's necessary - to represent all 4
media types in a digital form
For text and images: this is their standard form of representation
For audio and video: since, their basic forms of representations are analog signals - these must be converted into a
corresponding digital form - before they can be integrated with the two other media types
Digitization of an audio signal: produces a digital signal - with amplitude of the signal varies continuously wit time
- is of relatively high bit rate - and is measured by bps (bits per second) - and for speech signal - a typical bit rate of
64 kbps
Applications involving - audio can be of a long duration: this bit rate must be sustained for an equally long time
period
Digitization of video signal: the same applies as that of audio signals - but, except that - the much higher bit rates
and longer time durations are involved
In general, the communication networks that are used to support applications - that involve audio and video - cannot
support the very high bit rates that are required for representing these media types in a digital form
Compression: It's a technique - first applied to the digitized signals in order to reduce the resulting bit rate to a level which are various networks - can support
Compression to text and images: To reduce the time delay between a request being made for some information and
the information becoming available on the screen of a computers or over others
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Multimedia Networks
Basic types of communication networks - used to provide multimedia communication services are
Telephone networks
Data networks
Broadband television networks
Integrated services digital networks
Broadband multiservice networks
1,2, and 3 networks: Initially designed - to provide just a single type of service - listed as below:
Telephone networks: telephony
Data networks: data communications
Broadband television networks: broadcast television
Technological developments - enabled these networks to - provide additional services
4, and 5 networks: Designed from the outset to - provide multiple services
Telephone networks
PSTNs - been in existence for many years - have gone through many changes during this time designed to provide a
basic switched telephone service - which, with the advent of the other network types - has become known as POTS
(Plain Old Telephone Service)
'Switched': term is used to indicate - that the subscriber can make a call to any other telephone - that is connected to
the total network
Initially - such networks - spanned just a single country - later, telephone networks of different countries were
interconnected - so, that they now provide an international switched service
Main components of the network are shown in the Fig.
Local Exchange/End Office: telephones located in the home or in a small business - are connected directly to their
nearest LEs/EOs
Private Branch Exchange (PBX):
Telephones located in the medium or large office/site are connected to a PBX or Private switching Office
Provides - a (free) switched service between any two telephones - that are connected to it
Connected to its nearest - LE (public), which enables the telephone that are connected to the PBX also to make calls
through a PSTN
Cellular Phone Networks: been introduced - which provide the similar service to the mobile subscribes - by means
of the handsets that are linked to the cellular phone network infrastructure by radio
MSC (Mobile Switching Center): it's the switch used in the cellular phone network - Like the PBXs also,
connected to a switching office in a PSTN - which, enables both sets of subscribers - to make calls to one another
IGE (International Gateway Exchange): route and switch - the international calls
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Speech signal: is an analog signal - varies continuously with time - according, to the amplitude and frequency
variations - of the sound resulting from the speech
Microphone: used to convert this - into an analog electrical signal
Telephone networks - operate in circuit mode - which means, for each call - a separate circuit is set up through the
network - of the necessary capacity - for the duration of the call
Access circuits:
link the telephone handsets - to a PSTN or PBX
were designed to carry - the 2-way analog signals associated with a call
Hence, within the PSTN all the switches and the transmission circuits that interconnect them - operate in digital
mode - to carry a digital signal - a stream of binary 1s and 0s - over the analog access circuits - require the device modem
General scheme of modem is shown in the Fig.
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Modem:
At the sending side: modem converts - the digital signal output - by the source digital device into an analog signal which is, compatible with a normal speech signal it is routed through the network - in the same way as a speech
signal
At the receiving side: modem converts - the analog signal back again into its digital form - before, relaying this to
the destination digital device
Have the necessary circuits - to set up and terminate the call
Using a pair of modems: one at each subscriber access point - a PSTN can also be used to provide - a switched digital
service
Early modems: supported only a very low bit rate service of 300bps
Modems: now support, bit rates of up to 56kbps - as the result of advances in digital signal processing circuits - and
is sufficient, to support various applications comprising of text and images integrated together and also services that
comprise speech and low-resolution video modems are now available to use with - same access circuits - that provide
a high bit rate channel - which is in addition to the speech channel - used for telephony - the bit rate of this second
channel, typically - is such that it can support high-resolution audio and video - hence, they are used to provide access
to servers that support a range of entertainment-related applications
Fig. shows the general scheme of this, and such applications need bit rates in excess of 1.5Mbps
Technological advances - in modems area - have been made - PSTNs can now support speech applications and also a
wide range of other multimedia communication applications
Data networks
Designed to provide - basic data communication services - such as e-mail and general file transfers
User equipments - connected to data networks: are the computers such as a PC, a workstation, or an e-mail/file server
Two widely deployed types of data networks:
X.25 network
and
Internet
X.25 network: operational mode is restricted - to relatively low bit rate data applications - Hence, unsuitable
for most multimedia applications
Internet: Made up of a vast collection of interconnected networks - all of which operate using the same set
of communication protocols
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Communication protocol: an agreed set of rules - that are adhered to by all communicating parties - for the
exchange of information
Rules define the sequence of messages that are exchanged between the communication parties and the syntax of these
messages
By using, the same set of communication protocols: all the computers that are connected to the Internet can
communicate freely - with each other irrespective of their type or manufacturer - this is the origin of the term "open
systems interconnection"
Fig. shows a selection of the different types of interconnected network
User at home or in a small business - access to Internet is through an intermediate: ISP (Internet Service
Provider) network - normally, this type of user wants - access to the Internet intermittently - the user devices are connected to the ISP network - either through a PSTN with modems or through an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital
Network - which provide access at a higher bit rate)
Business user - obtain access through a site/campus network - if, the business comprises only a single site or obtain
access through an enterprise-wide private network - if, it comprises multiple sites
Colleges and Universities - use the same approach
In the case of a single site/campus: network is known as a (private) LAN (Local Area Network)
In the case of sites that are interconnected together using an inter-site backbone network - to provide a set of
enterprise-wide communiction services: network is known as an enterprise-wide private network

Providing communication protocols - used by all the computers connected to the network - are the same as those
defined for use with Internet
Enterprise network (Intranet): all internal services - are provided by using the same set of communication protocols,
as those defined for the Internet
IBN (Internet Backbone Network): different types of network are all connected to it - through an interworking unit
called gateways
Gateways (Router): an interworking unit - connects IBN and the different types of network responsible for routing
and relaying all messages to and from the connected network - hence, also called as a router
Packet mode: all data networks - operate on this mode
Packet: container for a block of data and has head - in which, address of the intended recipient computer (which is
used to route the packet through the network)
Mode of operation is chosen - since, the format of the data associated with data applications - is normally in the form
of discrete blocks of text or binary data with varying time intervals - between each block
Multimedia PCs: have become available - that support a range of other applications
Ex.: with the addition of microphone and a pair of speakers - with sound card and associated software to digitize the
speech - PCs now - are used to support telephony and other speech-related applications
With the addition of video camera and associated hardware and software - a range of other applications involving
video can be supported
Due to those availability above of: higher bit rate transmission circuits and routing nodes - have become available,
and also more efficient algorithms to represent speech, audio and video in a digital form
Packet-mode networks and the Internet in particular: support general data communication applications and also a
range of other multimedia communication applications involving speech, audio, and video - currently
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Broadcast Television Networks

Designed to support the diffusion of analog television and radio programs - throughout wide geographical areas
Cable distribution network: broadcast medium, normally in large town or city
Satellite network (Terrestrial broadcast network): broadcast medium for large areas digital television services have become available
Low bit rate return channel for interaction purposes - with digital television services provide a range of additional
services (like games, home shopping, and etc.,)
Fig. shows the general architecture of a cable distribution network and a satellite/terrestrial broadcast network
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
General architecture of a cable distribution network:

Set-top box: attached to the cable distribution network
Provides:
Control of the television channels - that are received
Access to other services
Ex.: Cable modem: integrated into the STB - provides a low bit rate channel and a high bit rate channel - from the
subscriber back to the cable head-end
Low bit rate channel: used to connect the subscriber to a PSTN
High bit rate channel: used to connect the subscriber to the Internet
Cable distribution network: provide - basic broadcast radio and television services access to the range of
multimedia communication services - that are available with both PSTN and Internet
Fig. shows the general architecture of the satellite and terrestrial broadcast networks
Satellite and terrestrial broadcast networks: integrated into the STB - provides the subscriber with an interaction
channel - hence, enhancing the range of services - is the origin of the term "interactive television"
Integrated Services Digital Networks

Started to be deployed in early 1980s
Originally designed were - to provide PSTN users - with the capability of having additional services - achieved by
Converting the access circuits - that connect user equipment to the network (Ex.: telephone network) - into an
all digital form
Providing 2 separate communication channels over these circuits - allow users either to have two different
telephone calls in progress simultaneously or two different calls such as a telephone call and a data call
Access circuit with ISDN: known as DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
Subscriber telephone: can either a digital phone or a conventional analog one
Case of digital phone: electronics that are needed to convert the analog voice and call setup signals into a digital
form are integrated into the phone handset
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Case of analog phone: electronics that are needed to convert the analog voice and call setup signals into a digital
form are located in the network termination equipment - making the digital mode of operation of the network
transparent to the subscriber phone
Digitization of a telephone-quality analog speech signal - produces a constant bit rate binary stream - normally,
referred to as the bitstream - of 64kpbs
BRI (Basic Rate Access or Basic DSL of ISDN ): support two 64kbps channels - which can be used either
independently (as they were intended)or as a single combined 128kbps channel
Design of ISDN: Two channels were intended for two different calls - require 2 separate circuits - to be set up
through the switching network independently - hence, to synchronize 2 separate 64kbps bitstreams into a single
128kbps stream requires an additional box of electronics - to perform the aggregation function
PRI (Primary Rate Access): single higher bit rate channel of either 1.5 or 2 Mbps is used
More flexible way of obtaining a switched 128kbps service - has been introduced by many network operators
Service provided has been enhanced - and a single switched channel supports now - of
(p * 64kbps), where p=1,2,3,4...30
Fig. shows the summarization of the various services provided
ISDN: can support a range of multimedia applications
Due to the relatively high cost of digitizing the access circuits: cost of the services associated with an ISDN is higher
than the equivalent service provided by a PSTN
Broadband multiservice networks

Designed in mid-1980s - for use, as public switched networks - to support a wide range of multimedia
communication applications
Broadband: term used to indicate the circuits associated with a call - could have bit rates in excess of the maximum
bit rate of 2Mbps - 30X64kbps - provided by an ISDN
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
B-ISDN (Broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks): alternate names for broadband multiservice networks
- since, were designed to be an enhanced ISDN
N-ISDN (Narrow Integrated Services Digital Networks): alternate name for ISDN
B-ISDN: when in first - technology associated with the digitization of the video signal - using were, in general, an
ISD could not support services - that included video
considerable advances - in the field of compression from - ISDN now support multimedia communication
applications that includes video, and also can the other 3 types of network - combined effect, the slow down
considerably the deployment of B-ISDN
Number of the basic design features associated with the B-ISDN: have been used as the basis of other broadband
multiservice networks
Ex.: Multiservice networks implies - that the network must support multiple services
Different multimedia applications - require different bit rates - the rate being determined by the types of media that
are involved hence, switching and transmission methods - that are used within these networks must be more flexible than those used in networks such as a PSTN or ISDN - which were initially designed to provide a single type of
service
To have this flexibility All the different media types associated with a particular application are first converted in the source
equipment into a digital form
These to be integrated together
Resulting binary stream is divided into multiple fixed-size packets - called cells
Information streams: of this type provides - a more flexible way of both transmitting and switching - the
multimedia information associated with a the different types of application
Ex.: Transmission terms in: cells relating to the different applications - can be integrated together - more flexibly
Use of fixed-sized cells: means the switching of cells can be carried out much faster - than, if variable-length packets
were used
Different multimedia applications generate cell streams of different rates: this mode of operation in - rate of
transfer of cells through the network also varies - hence, the name: ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
ATM networks (Broadband multiservice networks) - alternate name: Cell-Switching Networks
Ex.: ATM LANs - span a single site
ATM MANs span large town or city
Ex.: For broadband multiservice network is shown in the Fig.
Being used as a high-speed backbone network to interconnect a number of LANs - distributed around a large town or
city
Note: Two of the LANs are ATM LANs and other two are simply higher-speed versions of older data-only LANs
It's the typical of ATM networks - which must often interwork with older (legacy) networks
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Multimedia Applications
Many and varied applications involving of multiple media types present
Major categories of multimedia applications:
Interpersonal communications
Interactive applications over the Internet
Entertainment applications
In many instances networks used to support applications were initially designed to provide the service
Which involves just the single type of medium and advances in technology - from, made multimedia applications
support possible along with initial designed of basic services being from those possible and, in some applications
basic designed applications become - still more enhanced form in of possible
Multimedia communications implies two or more media types involved in it even then, from the applications
perspective selected examples of applications that these networks were designed, to support even though only a
single type of medium is involved to be to included
Interpersonal communications : May involve speech, image, text, or video
Single type or integrated two or more type of media - involved

Speech only
Image only
Text only
Text and images
Speech and video
Multimedia
Speech only: Traditionally, involves speech, telephony
Provided using telephones which are connected either to PSTN/ISDN/Cellular network or PBX
Fig. shows the general scheme
Multimedia PC with microphone and speakers, if using user can make telephone calls through PC require the
telephone interface card and associated software called CTI (Computer Telephony Integration)
Advantages of using PC, instead of conventional telephone for calls
User can create his or her own private directory of numbers and initiate a call simply by selecting the desired number
on the PC screen
Circuits bandwidth is more (providing access circuits to the network has sufficient capacity)
Integration of telephony with all the other networked services possible by PC
Telephony many public and private networks support additional services
Ex.: Voice-mail and Teleconferencing
Voice-mail: Used when the called party being unavailable
Spoken message then be left in the voice mail box of the called party
Voice-mail server, located in the central repository had voice mail boxes
Message can be read by owner of the mailbox the next time he, or she contact the server
Teleconferencing: Calls involve multiple interconnected telephones/PCs
Each person can hear and talk to all of the others involved in the call called the conference
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
call/teleconference call: Since, it involves a telephone network or

audio conference call: Which require an audio bridge - a central unit which supports to set up a conference call
automatically
Internet: Used to support telephony - initially, designed to support computer-to-computer communications
Just (multimedia) PC-to-PC telephony was supported
Subsequently, extended so that a standard telephone could be used
PC-to-PC telephone call: Standard address used to identify individual computers connected to the internet are
used same way as for a data transfer application
Internet: operates in the packet mode
Both PCs must have the necessary hardware and software to convert the speech signal from the microphone into
packets on input and back again prior to output to the speakers
Packet voice: Telephony over the Internet
VoIP (Voice over IP - since, IP is the network protocol associated with the Internet): Telephony over the Internet
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Telephony gateway: Its a Interworking unit to connect the PC connected to the Internet and a telephone connected
to the PSTN/ISDN - since both operate in the circuit mode
PC user sends a request to make a telephone call to a preallocated telephony gateway using the latters internet
Address
Gateway requests from the source PC the telephone number of the called party assuming user is registered for
this service
Source gateway on receipt of above initiates the session (call) with the telephony gateway nearest to the called
party using the Internet address of the gateway
Called party then, initiates a call to the recipient telephone using its telephone number and the standard call
setup procedure of the PSTN/ISDN
Assuming the called party answers - called gateway signals back t the PC user through the source gateway that
the call can commence
Similar procedure followed to clear the call on completion
Image only:
Facsimile (Simply, fax): Exchange of electronic images of documents is an alternate form of interpersonal
communications over PSTN/ISDN
Fig. illustrates facsimile
Communication involves use of the pair of fax machines one at each network termination point
Document sending: caller keys in the telephone number of the intended recipient
Circuit is set up through the network in the same way as for a telephone call
Two fax machines communicate with each other to establish operational parameters after, which the sending
machine starts to scan and digitize each page of the document in turn
Both fax machines have an integral modem within them and as, each page is scanned its digitized image
Is simultaneously transmitted over the network and as this is received at the called side a printed version of the
document is produced
After the last page of the document has been sent and received connection through the network is cleared by the
calling machine in the normal ways
PC fax:
PC can be used instead of the normal fax machine to send an electronic version of document stored directly
within the PCs memory
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Digital image of each page of the document is sent in the same way as the scanned image produced by a
conventional fax machine
Telephony like- this requires a telephone interface card and associated software
Latter operates in the same way as like the fax machine so, terminal at the called side can be either a fax
machine/another similar PC
Possible to send (by using LAN interface card and associated software) the digitized document over other
network types such as an enterprise network particularly, this mode of operation useful when working with
paper-based documents, such as invoices
Text only: Ex.: E-mail (Electronic mail) - User terminal is normally a PC or a workstation
Fig. shows - various operational scenarios
User at home case in access to the Internet s through the PSTN/ISDN, and through an intermediate ISP network
Business users obtain access either through an enterprise network/site or campus network
Email servers: One or more associated with each network
Collectively contain a mailbox for each user connected to that network
User can both create and deposit mail his/her mailbox read mail from it
Standard Internet communication protocol: used by e-mail servers and internetwork gateway
Fig. shows the format of the text-only e-mail message
At the head: unique Internet-wide name of both the sender and recipient of the mail present
Mail copy can be sent to multiple recipients each of whom is listed in the cc part of the mail header
cc acronym for the carbon copy the original means of making (paper) copies of documents
Text-only mails content: comprise unformatted text typically, strings of ASCII characters
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Text and Images: CSCV (Computer-Supported Cooperative Working) application: involves text and
images integrated - network used: enterprise network/LAN/Internet
Typically distributed group of people each in the place of work are all working on the same project
User terminal is either a PC or a workstation
Shared whiteboard: Window on each persons display is used as the shared workspace
Display comprises integrated text and images
Software associates comprises whiteboard program, a central program and a linked set of support programs, one in
each PC/workstation
Linked set of supported programs: Made up of: change-notification part and update-control part
Change-notification part: Sends details of the changes in the whiteboard program whenever, a member of the
group updates the contents of whiteboard
Update-control part: Present in each of the other PCs/workstations: obtain above change information in turn,
proceed to update the contents of their copy of the whiteboard
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Speech and Video: Ex.: video telephony Uses integrated speech and video supported now, by all the
network types
Home use cases in: Terminals used normally, dedicated to providing the videophone service
Office use cases in: Single multimedia PC/workstation is used to provide videophone service together with a
range of other services
In both the cases: video camera, microphone and speaker - used for telephony by the terminals/PCs
Dedicated terminal using a separate screen is used for the display
Multimedia PC or workstation using a window of the PC/workstation screen to display the moving image of the
called party
Network must provide two-way communication channel between 2 parties of sufficient BW to support the
integrated speech-and-video generated by each terminal/PC
Integration of video and speech: Bandwidth of the access circuits required to support is higher than that
required for speech only
Desktop videoconferencing call: Telephony like: call may involve not just 2 persons and so, terminals/PCs
several people each located in their own office
Used widely in large corporations involving multiple geographically distributed sites to minimize the travel
between the various locations
Large corporations of this type: Have enterprise-wide network to link the sites together
MCU (Multipoint control unit): Central unit - to support the videoconferencing
videoconferencing server Associated with the network used in few cases
Fig. shows
Separate window on screen of each participants PC/workstation:
should be used to display video image of all the other participants
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Needed to implement displaying of video image of all the other participants on screen of each participant:
1. Multiple integrated speech-and-video communication channels, one for each participant, being sent to each
of the other participants needed to do this
Require more bandwidth than is available
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
2. Integrated speech-and-video information stream: from each participant is sent to the MCU which then, selects
just a single information stream to send to each participant
Ex.: voice-activated MCU
MCU whenever detects a participant speaking it relays the information stream from the participants to all the
other participants so, a single 2-way communication channel is needed: between each location and the MCU is
needed thereby reducing the communication bandwidth needed considerably
Multicasting: Networks such as LANs and the Internet supports: all transmissions form any of the
PCs/workstations belonging to a predefined multicast group are received by all the other members of the
group
Possible to hold a conferencing session without an MCU possible with networks that support multicasting
Fig. shows the principle of this
Principle shown in the Fig. is only feasible when only a limited number of participants are involved owing to
the high load it places on the network
Application, involve: can only a single person at each location or groups of people at one or more of the locations
Fig. Shows the two examples
In Fig. a person at one location is communicating with a group of people at another location
Ex.: for this case transmission of a live lecture or seminar
Typically information stream, transferred from the lecturer to the remove class would be integrated speech-andvideo together with electronic copies of transparencies, and other documents used in the lecture
In reverse direction information may comprise just speech for questions or integrated speech-and-video to
enable the lecturer to both see and hear the members of the class at the remote location
Communication requirements in terms these are similar to those for a two-party videophone call
If the lecturer is relayed to multiple locations a separate communication channel is required to each remote site
or MCU is used at the lecturers site
Relatively high BW that is involved network is either an ISDN (supports of multiple 64kbps channels) or a
broadband multiservice network if one is available
In Fig. There is a group of people at each location - This type is in use from many years - was the first example
of videoconferencing Normally, a group of people are present at each location
Videoconferencing studios: Specially equipped rooms are used which contain all the necessary audio and video
equipment, comprising of one or more video cameras, a large-screen display, and associated audio equipment, all of
which are connected to a unit called videoconferencing system
Conference can involve just 2 locations or more usually, multiple locations (in this latter case an MCU is
normally, used to minimize the BW demands on the access circuits to the network) as Fig in
MCU is shown in Fig. as the central facility within the network and hence, only a single 2-way communications
channel is required for each access circuit of the network Ex.: this type of arrangement, with a
telecommunications-provider conference
If a private network- alternately used MCU is normally located at one of the sites Communication requirements, are then more demanding since, it must support multiple input channels one for
each of the other sites and a single output channel, the stream from which must be broadcast to all of the other sites
Multimedia:
Assumption: The information content of each e-mail message consisted of text only: used in the earlier discussed
Ex.: In addition mail containing, other media types such as images, audio, and video are also used
Ex.: voice-mail, video-mail, and multimedia mail
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Voice-mail: Similar in principle to earlier discussed telephone networks

Internet-based voice-mail: there is a voice-mail server associated with each network, in addition to e-mail server
Fig. Shows this
User first enters the voice message addressed to the intended recipient
Local voice-mail server then, relays this to the server associated with the intended recipients network
Stored voice message is then, played out the next time the recipient accesses voice-mailbox
Same mode of operation is used for video-mail except, the mail message comprises an integrated speech-andvideo sequence
Multimedia mail: An extension of text-only mail in as much as the basic content of the mail comprises textual
information
Textual information is annotated with a digitized image, a speech message, or a video message, as in Fig.
Speech-and-video case in the annotations can be sent either directly to the mailbox of the intended recipient
together with the original textual message and, hence stored and played out in the normal way or they may have
to be requested specifically by the recipient when the textual message is being read
Recipient can always receive the basic text-only message but, the multimedia annotations can be received only if
the terminal being use by the recipient supports voice and/or video
Interactive applications over the Internet

Internet is used to support a range of interactive applications- along with interpersonal communication applications
Ex.: WWW (World Wide Web) or simply Web server - comprises the linked set of multimedia information servers
that are geographically distributed around the Internet
Total information stored on all the servers is equivalent to a vast library of documents
Fig. shows the general principle
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Each document: comprises a linked set of pages and hyperlinks (linkages between the pages)
References: Above are pointers or references either to other pages of the same document or to any other document
within the total web - so, a reader of the document has the option at well-defined points throughout the pages
that make up a document to jump either to a different page of the same document or, to a different document
Also, to return subsequently to a specific point on a page at a later time
Optional linkage points within documents are defined by the creator of the document and are known as anchors
for which the necessary linkage information is attached
Hypertext: Documents comprising only texts are created using it
Hypermedia: Documents comprising multimedia information - are created using it
Fig. Shows general structure of this type of document
No central authority: For the introduction of new documents into the web
Server side in anyone create a new document providing the server has been allocated - an Internet address, and
make hyperlink references from it to any other document on the web
URL (Uniform Resource Locator): Documents unique address which identifies both location of the server on the
Internet, where the first page of the document is stored and also the file reference on the server
Home page: First page of the document all the hyperlinks on this and other pages have similar URLs associated
with them physical location of a page is transparent, to the user and in theory can be located anywhere on the web
Standard format is used for writing documents
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language): Is a standard format of writing documents - used for writing client
software to explore the total contents of the web, i.e., the contents of the linked information on all the web servers
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Browser: Client function

Number of user-friendly browsers available to explore visited servers and to open up a dialog with a
particular server at the click of the mouse
Once the desired document has been located, the user simply clicks on an anchor point within a page of the
document to activate the linkage information stored at that point
Possible to return to the previous anchor at any time
With the hypertext document: Anchor is usually, an underlined word or phrase
With the hypermedia document: Anchor is usually, an icon of an appropriate shape
Ex.: Loudspeaker for a sound annotation for a video camera for a video clip
Presence of sound and video annotations brings a document to life and adds value over a simple printed page
Some applications: in client simply wishes to browse through the information stored at a particular site
Ex.: Browsing through sales literature, product information, application notes periodicals, newspapers, and so on
In general, no charge for accessing this information however, access to books, journals, and similar documents
may be by subscriptions only
Teleshopping (homeshopping)/Telebanking (homebanking) applications: A client may wish not only to browse
through the information at a site but also to initiate an additional transaction
Server must provide additional transaction processing support for, say, ordering and purchasing since, this will
also often involve financial transaction, more rigorous security procedures are required for access and authentication
purposes
Entertainment Applications
Entertainment applications: can be of 2 types
Movie/video-on-demand
Interactive television
Movie/video-on-demand:
Similar in principal to that of previous discussion except, in general, the video and audio associated with
entertainment applications must be of a much higher quality/resolution since, wide-screen televisions and
stereophonic sound are often used
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Digitized movie/video with sound requires a minimum channel bit rate (bandwidth) of 1.5Mbps hence, network
used to support this application, must be either a PSTN with a high bit rate modem (as in Fig. ) or a cable network of
the type (as in Fig. )
For PSTN: high bit rate channel provided by the modem used only over the access circuit and provides additional
services to the other switched services that the PSTN supports
Fig. shows the general operating scheme in both the cases
Information stored on the server: collection of digitized movies/videos
Normally, subscriber terminal comprises, a conventional television with -------device for interaction purposes
User interactions are relayed through the server through a set-top box which, also contains the high bit rate
modem
MOD (Movie-On-Demand)/VOD(Video-On-Demand): From suitable menu: subscriber is able to browse through
the set of movies/videos available and initiate the showing of a selected movie
Subscriber can control the showing of the movie by using similar controls to those used on a conventional VCR
(Video Cassette Recorder) i.e., pause, fast-forward, and so on
Key feature of MOD: a subscriber can initiate showing of a movie selected from a large library of movies at any
time of the day or night
From Fig. , the server must be capable of playing out simultaneously a large number of video streams equal to the
number of subscribers currently watching a movie
Requires the information flow from the server to be extremely high since, it must support not just the transmission
of a possibly large number of different movies, but also multiple copies of each movie it is very challenging and
costly since, the cost of the server is directly related to the aggregate information flow rate from it
Server: if, supporting a large number of subscribers it is common for several subscribers to request the same movie
within a relatively short time interval between each request
Alternative mode in which requests for a particular movie are not played out immediately but instead are
queued until the start of the next playout time of that movie as shown in Fig.
N-MOD (Near Movie-On-Demand): in this mode of operation - all request for the same movie which are made
during the period up to the next playout time are satisfied simultaneously by the server outputting a single video
stream clearly, the viewer is unable to control the playout of the movies
Business environment: similar applications as above been made use except, the stored information in the server is
typically, training and general educational material, company news, and so on and, thus the number of stored videos
is normally much less as is the number of simultaneous users so, video servers required are less sophisticated than
those used in public MOD/N-MOD systems
Stored video streams/programs are often in a different format format is as that of CD-ROMs since, the received
video stream can then be displayed directly on the screen of a multimedia PC or workstation
Communication requirements of the private networks are the same as those identified for use with a public
networks
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Interactive television: Broadcast television networks: include cable, satellite, and terrestrial networks
Basic service: diffusion of both analog and digital television (and radio) programs
STB (Set-Top Box): associated with these networks has a modem within it
For cable networks: as in Fig. , STB provides both a low bit rate connection to the PSTN and a high bit rate
connection to the Internet
By connecting appropriate TE to the STB a keyboard, telephone, and so on - subscriber is able to gain access to
all the services provided through the PSTN and the Internet
Through the connection to the PSTN subscriber is able to actively respond to the information being broadcast
its the origin of the term interaction television
Typical uses of the return channel are for voting, participation in games, home shopping, and so on
Fig. as in a similar set of services are available through satellite and terrestrial broadcast networks except, that
the STB associated with these networks requires a high-speed modem to provide the connections to the PSTN and
the Internet
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Media types
Fig. shows a selection of the terms used with multimedia
Information flow associated with the different applications can be either continuous or block-mode
Continuous media case: information stream is generated by the source continuously in a time-dependent
way
Continuous media is passed directly to the destination as it is generated, and at the destination, the information
stream is played out directly as it is received operation mode of which is called streaming
Real-time media: continuous media is generated in a time-dependent way
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Continuous media with the bit rate of the communication channel that is used must be compatible with the rate
the source media is being generated
Ex.: of media types - that guarantee continuous streams of information in real time are audio and video
CBR (Constant Bit Rate)/ VBR (Variable Bit Rate): generation of source information can be 2 types
Audio with: Ex.: Digitized audio stream is generated at a constant bit rate which is determined by the
frequency the audio waveform is sampled and the number of bits that are used to digitize each sample
Video with: Ex.: Individual pictures/frames that make up the video are generated at a constant rate after
compression amount of information associated with each frame varies in general, information stream
associated with compressed video is generated at fixed time intervals but the resulting bit rate is variable
Block mode media: Source information comprises single block of information that is created in a timeindependent way
Ex.: block of text representing an e-mail or computer program a 2-D matrix of pixel values that represents an
image and so on
Block mode media created in a time-independent way Often stored at the source in, say, a file
Downloading: when it is requested block of information is transferred across the network to the destination
where, it is again stored and subsequently output/displayed at a time determined by the requesting application
program
Bit rate of the communications channel need not be constant but, such that, when a block is requested:
RTD (Round-Trip Delay): delay between the request being made and the contents of the block being output at the
destination is within an acceptable time interval - RTD for HCI (Human-Computer Interface): can be no more than
a few seconds
Communication modes
Communication channels provided by various network types is shown in Fig.
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Transfer of information streams associated with an application can be in 5 modes:

Simplex
Half-duplex (Two-way alternate)
Duplex (Two-way simultaneous)
Broadcast
Multicast
Simplex: Information associated with the application flows in one direction only
Ex.: transmission of photographic images from a deep-space probe at predetermined times
Involves unidirectional flow of information from the probe to an earth station
Half-duplex (Two-way alternate): Information flows in both directions but, alternatively
Ex.: user making a request for some information form a remote server, which returns the requested information
Duplex (Two-way simultaneous): Information flows in both directions simultaneously
Ex.: two-way flow of the digitized speech and video associated with a video telephony application
Broadcast: Information output by a single source node is received by all the other nodes, computers, and
others which are connected to the same network
Ex.: broadcast of a television program over a cable network as all the television receivers that are connected to the
network receive the same set of programs
Multicast: Similar to broadcast except, information output by the source is received by only a specific
subset of the nodes that are connected to the network (multicast group)
Ex.: video conferencing involving a predefined group of terminals/computers connected to a network exchanging
integrated speech and video streams
In half-duplex and duplex communications: 2 types:

Symmetric: Equal rate associated, with the flow of information in each direction
Asymmetric: Unequal - rate associated, with the flow of information in each direction
Ex.: Video telephone call: involves exchange of integrated digitized speech and video stream both directions
simultaneously so, symmetric duplex communications channel is required
Application involving browser (program) and a web server:
low bit rate channel from the browser to the web server is required for request and control purposes
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high bit rate channel from the server to the subscriber for the transfer of, say, requested file so,
asymmetric half-duplex communications channel is required
Network types
Types of information stream associated with the different media types:
Continuous mode
Block mode
Types of communications channel associated wit the various network types:
Circuit-mode: operates in a time-dependent way or Synchronous communications channel:
provides a constant bit rate service at a specified rate
Packet-mode: operates in a time-varying way or Asynchronous communications channel: provides
a variable bit rate service - actual rate is determined by the variable transfer rate of packets across the
network
Circuit-mode
Fig. shows the circuit mode network
Circuit-switched networks - Comprises an interconnected set of switching offices/exchanges for which the
subscriber terminals/computers are connected
Prior sending information source set up a connection through the network
Each subscriber terminal/computer has a unique network-wide number/address associated with it
To make a call source first enters the number/address of the intended communication partner
Local switching office/exchange uses this to set up a connection through the network to the switching
office/exchange to which destination is connected
Assuming destination is free and ready to receive a call a message is returned to the source indicating that it can
start to transfer/exchange information
After all the information has been transferred/exchanged either the source or the destination requests for the
connection to be cleared
Bit rate associated with the connection is fixed and, determined by the bit rate that is used over the access circuits
that connect the source and destination terminal/computer to the network
Signaling messages: associated with the setting up and clearing of a connection
Call/connection setup delay: Time delay while a connection is being established
Ex.: PSTN and ISDN
PSTN: call setup delay can range form a fraction of a second for a local call through to several seconds for an
international call
ISDN: delay ranges from tens of milliseconds through to several hundred milliseconds
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Packet-mode
Fig. shows
Types of packet-mode networks: CO (connection-oriented)
CL (connetionless)
CO:
Fig. shows principle of operation of a CO network
Comprises an interconnected set of PSEs (Packet-Switching Exchanges)
Packet-switched network: another name of the CO networks
Each terminal/computer is connected to the network has a unique network-wide number/address associated with it
Prior to the sending any information connection is first set up through network using the addresses of the source
and destination terminals
Connection/circuit that is set up utilizes only a variable portion of the BW of each link hence, connection is
known as VC (Virtual Connection/Virtual Circuit)
VC: Set up:
Source terminal/computer sends a call request control packet to its local PSE which contains address of the
source and destination terminal/computer and a VCI (Virtual Circuit Identifier) a short identifier
Each PSE: maintains a table which specifies the outgoing link that should be use dot reach each network address
On receipt of the call request packet PSE uses the destination address within the packet to determine the outgoing
link to be used
Next free identifier (VCI): for this link is then selected and two entries are made in a routing table
First: Specifies incoming link/VCI and the corresponding outgoing link/VCI
Second: To route packets in the reverse direction (the inverse of these as we show in the example in the Fig. )
Call request packet is then forwarded on the selected outgoing link
Same procedure is followed at each PSE along the route until the destination terminal/computer is reached
VCIs used on the various links form the VC
At the destination: Assumption: cal is accepted: A call accepted packet is returned to the source over the same
route/VC
Information transfer phase can start but, since a VC is now in place only the VCI is needed in the packet
header instead of the full network-wide address
Each PSE first uses the incoming link/VCI to determine the outgoing link/VCI from the routing table
Existing VCI in the packet header is replaced with that obtained from the routing table
Packet is forwarded on the identified outgoing link
Same procedure is followed to return information in the reverse direction
When all information is transferred/exchanged VC is cleared
Appropriate VCIs are released by passing a call clear packet along the VC
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CL:
In conncectionless network: Establishment of connection is not required
Two communicating terminals/computers: can communicate and exchange information as and when they wish
Fig. shows
Each packet must carry the full source and destination addresses in its header in order for each PSE to route
the packet onto the appropriate outgoing link
Router: used, rather than packet switching exchange
Both network types (CO and CL) in: Each packet is received by PSE/router on an incoming link
It is stored in its entirely in a memory buffer
A check is made to determine if any, transmission/bit errors are present in the packet header i.e., the signal that
is used to represent a binary 0 is corrupted and is interpreted by the receiver as a binary 1 and vice versa
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If an error is detected, the packet is simply discarded

Best-effort service: service offered by the packet-switched network
If no errors are detected: the addresses/VCIs carried in the packet header are read to determine the outgoing link
that should be used
Packet is placed in a queue ready for forwarding on the selected outgoing link
All packets are transmitted at the maximum link bit rate
With this mode of operation: it is possible for a sequence of packets to be received on a number of incoming links
all of which need forwarding on the dame outgoing link
Hence, a packet may experience an additional delay while it is in the output queue for a link waiting to be
transmitted
This delay variable because it depends on the number of packets that are currently present in the queue when a
new packet arrives for forwarding this mode of operation is known as packet store-and-forward
There is a packet store-and-forward delay in each PSE/router
Sum of the store-and-forward delays: in each PSE/router contributes to the overall transfer delay of the packet
across the network
Mean packet transfer delay mean of this delay
Delay variation (jitter) variation about the mean
Ex.:
Internet (Ex.: for packet-switched network that operates in the CL mode)

International X.25 packet-switching network and ATM (Ex.: for networks that operate in the CO mode)
X.25 network:
Used primarily for the transfer of files containing text and binary data between large computers
Routing of packets is relatively slow with the effect that X.25 network, is unsuitable for most multimedia
applications because of the packet format that is used
ATM network:
Designed from the outset to support all types of multimedia applications
Achieved by high bit rate interconnecting links
Once a VC has been set up, a very small fixed-sized packet of 53bytes is used to transfer the information
associated with the call
Cell: small packet includes a short 5-byte header, which enables cells to be switched at the very high link bit rates
that are used
Fast packet-switching networks/Cell-switching networks: other names of ATM
Multipoint conferencing
Features in many interpersonal applications including audio- and video conferencing, data sharing, and computersupported cooperative working
These involve exchange of information between 3 or more terminals/computers
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Different modes of operation of the two (circuit and packet) network types: multipoint conferencing is
implemented in one of two ways:
Centralized mode
Decentralized mode
Hybrid mode
Centralized mode: Used with circuit-switched networks such as PSTN/ISDN
Fig. shows
Centralized conference server is used
Prior to sending any information, each terminal/computer to be involved in the conference must first set up a
connection to the server
Each terminal/computer then, sends its own media stream comprising, say, audio, video, and data integrated
together in some way to the server using the established connection
Server in turn, distributes either the media stream received from a selected terminal/computer or a mix of the media
streams received from several terminals/computers back to all the other terminals/computers that are involved in the
conference
Decentalized mode: Used with packet-switched networks that support multicast communications
Ex.: LANs, intranets, and the Internet
Fig. shows Output of each terminal/computer is received by all the other members of the conference/multicast group
Conference server is not normally used, and instead each terminal/computer manage the information streams that
it receives from the other members
Hybrid mode: Used when the various terminals/computers that make up the conference are attached to
different network types
Fig. shows Ex.: conference comprises 4 terminals/computers 2 attached to a circuit-switched network and 2 to a packetswitched network that supports multicasting
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Like in the centralized mode conference server is used output of each terminal/computer is sent to the server
either over individual circuits terminals A and B or using multicasting terminals C and D
Server that determines output stream(s) to be sent to each terminal
Types of conferencing:
Data conferencing
Audioconferencing
Videoconferencing
Multimedia conferencing
Data conferencing: Involves data only - Ex.: include data sharing and computer-supported cooperative working
Audioconferencing: Involves audio (speech) only
Videoconferencing: Involves speech and video synchronized and integrated together
Multimedia conferencing: Involves speech, video, and data integrated together
Data conferencing: Information flow between the various parties is relatively infrequent
Conference server: is a general-purpose computer with the conference function implemented in software
With the other 3 types of conferencing: the information flows demand the use of special purpose units
Audio conferencing: Audio bridge - Is the unit - Typical units supporting: 6 through 48 conference
participants
Video and multimedia conferencing: MCU (Multipoint Control Unit) is the unit
Volume and rate of the information being exchanged, due to centralized mode of working is used with both
network types
MCU: Consists of 2 parts
1. MC (Multipoint Controller) part - Concerned with the establishment of connections to each of the
conference participants and with the negotiation of an agreed set of operational parameters screen
resolution, refresh rate, and others
MP (Multipoint Processor) part - Concerned with the distribution of the information streams generated
during the conference
Include such functions as the mixing of the various media streams into an integrated stream, voice-activated
switching and continuous presence
Audio bridge When using: A call is scheduled for a particular date, time, and duration
Everyone who is to take part in the call is assigned a user ID and password
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At appropriate time all participants call in and, to the other participants

In the same way: MCU when using: A call is scheduled as for an audio bridge
Once the conference starts each participant can hear, see, and share data with the other participants MCU with
Dial-in mode: The participants calling in
Dial-out mode: MCU calls the participants provides better security
Voice-activated switching mode: Face of the participant is displayed in: a window on the screen of the
participants terminal/computer - in the second window: the face of the remote participant who is currently talking
When another participant starts to talk: face of the new speaker replaces the face of the current remote participant
In the event: two or more participants starting to talk at the same time MCU normally selects person who speaks
the loudest
Continuous-presence mode: Remote window is divided into a number of smaller windows each of which
displays the face of the last set of participants who spoke or who are currently speaking
With both modes of speech from all participants is normally mixed into a single stream and hence, each
participant can always hear what is said by all the other participants
Network QoS
Network QoS parameters: Operational parameters associated with a communications channel through a network
collectively determine the suitability of the channel in relation to its use for a particular application
QoS parameters: circuit-switched and packet-switched are different for
Circuit-switched networks
Packet-switched networks
Circiuti-switched: QoS parameters associated with constant bit rate channel set up include:
Bit rate
Mean bit error rate
Transmission delay
Mean BER (Mean Bit Error Rate) of a channel: Probability of a bit being corrupted during its transmission across
the channel in a defined time interval
For constant bit rate channel: Mean BER is the probability of a bit being corrupted in a defined number of bits
Mean BER of 10-3 means, on average for every 1000 bits that are transmitted, 1 of these bits is corrupt
Some applications: providing the occurrence of bit errors is relatively infrequent their presence is acceptable while
in other applications it is imperative that no residual bit errors are present in the received information
Ex.: if the application involves speech then, an occasional bit error will go unnoticed
If the application involves transfer say, financial information it is essential that the received information contains
no errors in such applications, prior to transmission the source information is normally divided into blocks the
maximum size of which is determined by the mean BER of the communications channel
Ex.: if mean BER is 10-3 number of bits in a block must be considerably < 1000, otherwise, on an average
every block will contain an error and will be discarded
Normally bit errors occur randomly hence, even with a block size of (say 100 bits) blocks may still contain an
error but, the probability of this occurring is considerably less
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In general, BER probability is P, Number of bits in a block is N, Probability of a block containing a bit error is PB
Assuming: random errors: PB=1-(1-P)N, which approximates to NXP if, NXP<1
In practice, both circuit-switched and packet-switched provide unreliable service (best-try or best-effort service)
Unreliable service (Best-try/Best-effort service): any blocks containing bit errors will be discarded either with the
network (packet-switched network) or in the network interface at the destination (both packet-switched and circuitswitched networks)
Reliable service: If application dictates that: only error-free blocks are acceptable it is necessary for: Sending
terminal/computer to divide the source information into blocks of a defined maximum size
Destination to detect when a block is missing
When this occurs destination must request source send another copy of the missing block
Introduce delay so, that retransmission procedure should be invoked relatively infrequently which dictates a
small block size
Leads to high overheads since, each block must contain additional information that is associated with the
transmission procedure
So, choice of block size compromise between increased delay resulting from a large block size hence,
retransmission and the loss of transmission BW from the high overheads of using a small block size
Transmission delay: Associated with the channel
Determined by:
Bit rate used
Delays occur in the terminal/computer network interfaces (codec delays) + propagation delay of the digital
signals, as they pass from source to destination, across the network
Determined by physical separation of 2 communicating devices and
Velocity of propagation of a signal, across the transmission medium (free space: 3*108 m/s and a fraction of
this in physical media, a typical value 2*108 m/s)
Propagation delay: in each case is independent of the bit rate of the communication channel
assuming: codec delay remains constant propagation delay, s same whether bit rate is 1kpbs, 1Mbps, or 1Gbps
Packet-switched network
QoS parameters associated with a packet-switched network include:
Maximum packet size
Mean packet transfer rate
Mean packet error rate
Mean packet transfer delay
Worst-case jitter
Transmission delay
Packet-switched network: Rate of packets transfer across the network: influenced strongly by bit rate of the
interconnecting links due to, variable store-and-forward delays in each PSE/router
Actual rate of transfer of packets across the network is also variable
Mean packet transfer rate: Measure of the average number of packets transferred across the network/second
coupling with packet size being used - determines equivalent mean bit rate of the channel
Mean PER (Mean Packet Error Rate): Probability of a received packet containing one or more bit errors
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Same as block error rate, associated with a circuit-switched network

Related to both maximum packet size and worst-case BER of the transmission links which interconnects
PSEs/routers, that make up the network
Mean packet transfer delay: Summation of the mean store-and-forward delay, that a packet experiences in each
PSE/router which, it encounters along a route
Jitter: Worst-case variation in the mean packet transfer delay
Transmission delay: Same for network, operates in the packet mode or a circuit mode
Includes: Codec delay, in each of the two-communicating computers and Signal propagation delay
Application QoS
Network QoS parameters: define what the particular network being used provides rather what application requires
Application: has QoS parameters also associated with it
Application involving images: Ex.: parameters may include - minimum image resolution and size
Application involving video: Ex.: parameters may include digitization format and refresh rate
Application QoS parameters: relate to the network include:
Required bit rate or mean packet transfer rate
Maximum startup delay
Maximum end-to-end delay
Maximum delay variation/jitter
Maximum round-trip delay
Applications involving transfer of constant bit rate stream: Parameters important are:
Required bit rate/mean packet transfer rate
End-to-end delay
Delay variation/jitter (can cause problem in the destination decoder if the rate of arrival of the bit stream is
variable)
For interactive applications:
Startup delay: Amount of time that elapses between an application making a request to start a session and the
confirmation being received from the application at the destination a server
Ex.: it is prepared to accept the request
so, it includes time required to establish a network connection + if
required, delay introduced in both the source and destination computers - while negotiating that session can take
place
Round-trip delay: Delay between a request for some information being made and the start of the information
being received/displayed
Important for HCI (human-computer interaction) to be successful
Should be as short as possible ideally, less than a few seconds
For applications involve, transfer of constant bit rate stream: Circuit-switched network Should appear to be
most appropriate since, call setup delay is not often important and channel provides a constant bit rate service of
known rate
For interactive applications connection-less packet-switched network, is appropriate Since, no network call
setup delay and any variation in the packet transfer delay are not important
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Ex.: illustrating the benefits of a packet-switched network over a circuit-switched network

Transfer of a large file of data form server computer connected to the Internet t a client PC/workstation in a home
Fig .
Access to the Internet from home, can be by means of a PSTN (with a modem), an ISDN connection, or a cable
modem
For PSTN and ISDN: Operation is circuit-switched
provide a constant bit rate channel in the order of 28.8kbps (PSTN with modem) and 64/128kbps (ISDN)
For cable modem: Operation is packet-switched
Modems in each of homes in a cable region time-share use of a single high bit rate channel/circuit
Typical bit rate of shared channel: 27Mbps, number of concurrent users of the channel may be several hundred
So, if 270 concurrent users each user would get a mean data rate of 100 kbps
In this applications: main parameter of interest: not mean data/bit rate, but time to transmit the complete file
With PSTN/ISDN: it is related to channel bit rate and the size of the file
Cable modems: time-share the use of 27Mbps channel, when they gain access to it, file transfer takes place at full rate
Assuming: File size is 100Mbits minimum time to transmit the file using different Internet access modes is:
PSTN and 28.8kbps modem: 57.8 minutes
ISDN at 64kpbs:
26 minutes
ISDN at 128kpbs:
13 minutes
cable modem at 27Mbps:
3.7 seconds
If other transfer request occur during the time the file is being transmitted then, completion time of each transfer
request will increase as they share the use of the channel here, probability of multiple users requesting a transfer
in this short window of time is relatively low
For interactive applications: Ex.: call setup delay with an ISDN or an ATM network, and a PSTN for local calls is
very fast and for many applications, quite acceptable
For constant bit rate applications: Providing - equivalent mean bit rate, provided by the network > input bit rate
maximum jitter < defined value then, a packet-switched network can be used
Buffering: Used to overcome the effect of jitter
Fig. shows the general principle
Effect of jitter is overcome by retaining a defined number of packets in a memory buffer at the destination befor
playout of the information bitstream is started
Memory buffer operates using a first-in, first-out (FIFO) discipline
Number of packets retained in the buffer before output starts is determined by the worst-cast jitter and the bit rate
of the information stream
Fig. When using the packet-switched network for this type of application additional delay is incurred at the source
as the information bitstream is converted into packets
Packetization delay: Additional delay, incurred at the source as the information bitstream is converted into packets
adds to the transmission delay of the channel
To minimize overall input-to-output delay, packet size used for application is kept small, but of sufficient size to
overcome the effect of the worst-case jitter
To simplify determining - a particular network can meet the QoS requirement of an application: Number of
standard application service classes have been defined
Each service class with specific set of QoS parameters associated for network, can either meet this or not
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
For neworks support a number of different service classes

Ex.: is Internet to ensure, the QoS parameters associated with each class re met packets relating to each class are
given a different priority then, each class packets can be differently treated
Internet packets relating to multimedia applications involving real-time streams are given higher priority than,
packets relating to applications such as e-mail
Packets containing real-time streams such as radio and video are more sensitive to delay and jitter, than the
packets containing textual information hence, during periods of congestion packets containing real-time streams
are transmitted first - packets containing video are more sensitive to packet loss than, packets containing audio
hence, more priority of
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913
Bibliography: Multimedia Communications: Applications, Networks, Protocols and Standards, Fred Halsall,
Pearson Education, Asia, Second Indian reprint 2002.
Ramesh S
cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communication ECE VTU 8th Sem Unit 1 Multimedia Communications

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Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

UNIT 1:MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS: Introduction, multimedia information representation, multimedia

Asst. Prof.(ECE Dept.), Bengaluru

cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

UNIT 1:MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS: Introduction, multimedia information representation, multimedia

Asst. Prof.(ECE Dept.), Bengaluru

cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

Multimedia Information Representation

Asst. Prof.(ECE Dept.), Bengaluru

cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

Asst. Prof.(ECE Dept.), Bengaluru

cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

Asst. Prof.(ECE Dept.), Bengaluru

cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

Asst. Prof.(ECE Dept.), Bengaluru

cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

enterprise-wide communiction services: network is known as an enterprise-wide private network

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cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

Broadcast Television Networks

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Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

General architecture of a cable distribution network:

Integrated Services Digital Networks

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Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

Broadband multiservice networks

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cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

Asst. Prof.(ECE Dept.), Bengaluru

cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

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Single type or integrated two or more type of media - involved

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cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)

Unit 1: Multimedia Communications

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cell: +91 9449851913

Multimedia Communications (10EC841)