Multimedia Network Technology Research Articles

Call for papers

1st IEEE International Workshop on Networking Issues in Multimedia Entertainment (NIME'04) GLOBECOM 2004—Satellite Workshop November 29th 2004 Dallas, TX, USA The growing availability of digital contents and the simultaneous cost reductions in storage, processing, and networking is driving the growth of the entertainment technology. Many of the technologies pioneered in emerging entertainment applications have also found use in a large spectrum of more serious settings, ranging from telemedicine to in-home, in-car, in-flight multimedia distribution platforms. The success of the entertainment technology is confirmed by several facts. Take, for example, the two following cases: in 2003 the revenues generated by games have yet again surpassed those provided by the movie industry; the Apple iTunes online music service has hit a record share of almost 20% in the MP3 player market in the last semester of 2003. Further, while in the past entertainment technology traditionally offered predominantly passive experiences (e.g., video on demand), continual advances in network and computer technologies are providing tools for implementing greater interactivity and for enabling consumers to enjoy more exciting experiences, such as, for example, interactive digital TV, interactive theatre and orchestrated music and sound design. Simply put, today's entertainment technology is able to create "entertainment spaces" in which people experience a world where games, movies, songs, plus news, sport events and shows, are all made available for instant enjoyment with just one click. Another beneficial aspect of high-tech entertainment is that this phenomenon is pulling together an extremely diverse group of experts specializing in different technical areas, such as networking, computer graphics, games, animation, multimedia design, human-computer interaction, educational media and software engineering. Even though high-tech entertainment promotes interdisciplinary fusion, however, only the ubiquity of wireless/wired communication is considered suitable for accepting the challenge of building a "large interactive environment" for the delivery of the maximum entertainment value to millions of consumers worldwide. In this respect, there is a great hope that the wired and wireless Internet (along with its protocols, architectures, programming styles and technological solutions) may take over this complex scenario for fulfilling the consumer expectations. The first IEEE International Workshop on Networking Issues in Multimedia Entertainment provides an open forum for researchers, engineers and academia to exchange the latest technical information and research findings on Next-Generation Multimedia Networking concepts, technologies, systems, and applications for entertainment covering existing deployments, current developments and future evolution. Authors are solicited to submit complete unpublished papers in the following, but not limited to, topic areas: Networked Technologies for Entertainment: Architectures, Platforms and Protocols for Networked Games Internetworking, Vertical Roaming and Session Handoffs for Entertainment (Internet to WLAN, to 3G/BT/...) Home LANs, Body and Personal Area Networks for Entertainment Media and Device Adaptation Music and Movie Distribution Next Generation Wireless Technologies for Entertainment (IEEE802.11n, UWB and Beyond) Opportunistic Multi-hopping and Opportunistic Networks for Entertainment QoS and Security Support for Entertainment Resource and Service Discovery Technologies (P2P, LDAP, ...) Technologies for Networked In-Home/Car/Flight/Train Entertainment TV-Centric and Broadcast Networks for Entertainment Emerging Entertainment Applications: Agent-based Entertainment AAugmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality AEvolutionary Entertainment AField Trials AInteractive Television and Theater AMassive Multiplayer Games AMobile and Wireless Entertainment ANetworked Entertainment ANetworked Narrative and Digital Interactive Storytelling ANetworked Video, Music and Sound Design APervasive Entertainment APersonalized and User-Adapted Television ASport, News and Entertainment AVirtual Technology and Virtual Environments for Entertainment AWearable Entertainment AWireless and Mobile Gaming ATestbed and Performance Evaluations Guidelines for Paper Submission: Original papers from the above mentioned topics or related areas will be considered. Each submitted paper will be fully refereed and undergo a blind review process. The accepted papers will be published in the IEEE-sponsored workshop proceedings. Submission guidelines should be strictly followed. 1. Submit an electronic copy of the paper in a .pdf or .ps format through the EDAS paper submission site (http://edas.info). 2. The body of the paper should not exceed 15 pages double spaced (4000 words, 12 point font) 3. A separate cover sheet should show the title of the paper, the author(s) name(s) and affiliation(s), and the address (including e-mail, telephone, and fax) to which the correspondence should be sent.

The Essential Elements of Interactive Multimedia Distance Learning Systems

In recent years, we have seen the introduction and use of many distance learning systems. Some of these systems are characterized as interactive, which means the dominant mode of instruction is live or synchronous using networked multimedia technology such as audio, video and shared workspaces. In this paper, we present the common features and essential elements that should be implemented in such systems. Throughout this paper, we will use as a model and case study the IRI-h system (for Interactive Remote Instruction-heterogeneous) that we have developed and implemented in Java and have used to support distance learning at Old Dominion University.

Hypermedia Modules for Distance Education and Virtual University

The explosive growth of the Internet and the convergence of information and communication technology is opening up new educational opportunities. In fact, the rapid development of digital, networked multimedia technology such as the Internet, e-mail and computer based and video conferencing can redefine the learning environment. This paper describes two different experiences of the use of hypermedia modules inside the distance learning and the virtual university. First experience is an activity developed by the Department of Electronic (Dipartimento di Electtronica) - Politecnico of Torino (Italy) in the field of computer-based training in electronic instrumentation and measurements, where the author was a supervisor for the educational process. This project has been developed for Italian research of distance education named “Consorzio Nettuno,” which involves different undergraduate courses (Electronic Engineering, Information Technology, Economic Science). Several modules have been developed, using multimedia technologies, to assist the students to acquire the fundamentals of the basic instrumentation. A client-server system has been designed in order to allow the students to operate on a remote laboratory for experimental training. The courseware includes lessons, exercises, and training on virtual instruments which emmulate actual instruments. The students can also carry out several real laboratory experiments without actually being in the laboratory, by using a client-server structure based on the Internet. Second experience, named “Cybermath,” is an example of virtual university course, in fact the aim of this project is to realise a hypermedia course of mathematics using the collaboration between different European universities.

Quality-of-service in IP services over Bluetooth ad-hoc networks

Along with the development of multimedia and wireless networking technologies, mobile multimedia applications are playing more important roles in information access. Quality of Service (QoS) is a critical issue in providing guaranteed service in a low bandwidth wireless environment. To provide Bluetooth-IP services with differentiated quality requirements, a QoS-centric cascading mechanism is proposed in this paper. This innovative mechanism, composed of intra-piconet resource allocation, inter-piconet handoff and Bluetooth-IP access modules, is based on the Bluetooth Network Encapsulation Protocol (BNEP) operation scenario. From our simulations the handoff connection time for a Bluetooth device is up to 11.84 s and the maximum average transmission delay is up to 4e-05 s when seven devices join a piconet simultaneously. Increasing the queue length for the Bluetooth-IP access system will decrease the traffic loss rate by 0.02 per 1000 IP packets at the expense of a small delay performance.

Artificial intelligence and networking in integrated building management systems

In recent years the emphasis has moved towards integrating all a building's systems via centralised building management systems (BMS). To provide a more intelligent approach to the facility management, safety and energy control in building management systems (IBMS), this paper proposes a methodology for integrating the data within a BMS via a single multi-media networking technology and providing the BMS with artificial intelligence (AI) through the use of knowledge-based systems (KBS) technology. By means of artificial intelligence, the system is capable of assessing, diagnosing and suggesting the best solution. This paper outlines how AI techniques can enhance the control of HVAC systems for occupant comfort and efficient running costs based on occupancy prediction. Also load control and load balancing are investigated. Instead of just using pre-programmed load priorities, this work has investigated the use of a dynamic system of priorities which are based on many factors such as area usage, occupancy, time of day and real time environmental conditions. This control strategy which is based on a set of rules running on the central control system, makes use of information gathered from outstations throughout the building and communicated via the building's data-bus.

Networked Multimedia Tools for Architectural Engineering

This paper provides a brief history of networked multimedia technology in the United States. The evolution of the Internet and the World Wide Web is outlined. The use of traditional computer technologies by engineering and architectural practitioners and academics is discussed. Use of some new computer technologies by researchers in both professions, including high-speed networks, animated graphical simulations, augmented and virtual reality, is also presented, along with a discussion of how they are beginning to be used together on the World Wide Web. Opportunities for refining architectural engineering research, scholarship and practice by expanded use of new networked multimedia technologies are presented. The features of a demonstration testbed networked multimedia package, entitled the Farnsworth House Volume are introduced, along with their potential application to some architectural engineering problems. The use of the volume in classes at Columbia University is presented. Advantages and disadvantages of networked multimedia capabilities embedded in the Farnsworth volume are discussed.

Multimedia communication era and network technologies

Multimedia communication era and network technologies

Trends in the standardization of telecommunications on GII, multimedia, and other network technologies and services

Global standardization is becoming more and more important in achieving a global information infrastructure (GII). Telecommunication and information standardization organizations such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Joint Technical Committee (JTC) have each set up special groups to focus on determining standards for GII. This article presents the activities of these organizations as they relate to GII. It also reviews the current status of standards for multimedia, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)/broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN), Universal Personal Telecommunications (UPT), Future Public Land Mobile Telecommunication System (FPLMTS), and telecommunications management network (TMN), which are all key elements in GII.

医療とメディア技術 マルチメディア・仮想空間ネットワーク技術の動向

医療とメディア技術 マルチメディア・仮想空間ネットワーク技術の動向