18-796  Multimedia Communications:
Coding, Systems, and Networking



COURSE SYLLABUS FOR SPRING 1999

WEB SITE

<http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~ece796> This is where you will find most information about this course, including handouts, homework assignments, homework solutions, etc.

BBOARD

Please check the class bboard <cmu.ece.class.ece796> regularly for announcements.

INSTRUCTOR

Professor Tsuhan Chen    tsuhan@ece.cmu.edu x8-7536 Porter Hall B16

Office Hours: MW 2:20-3:30PM or by email appointment

TEACHING ASSISTANT

Frank Lai    flai@andrew.cmu.edu x8-1238 HH B106

Office Hours: T 3 PM - 4PM and F 11 AM - 12 PM

COURSE SECRETARY

Carol Patterson    carol@ece.cmu.edu x8-7286 Porter Hall B15

LECTURES

MW 12:30-2:20PM HH B103

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces technologies for multimedia communications. We will address how to efficiently represent multimedia data, including video, image, and audio, and how to deliver them over a variety of networks. In the coding aspect, state-of-the-art compression technologies will be presented. Emphasis will be given to a number of standards, including H.26x, MPEG, and JPEG. In the networking aspect, special considerations for sending multimedia over ATM, wireless, and IP networks, such as error resilience and quality of service, will be discussed. The H.32x series, standards for audiovisual communication systems in various network environments, will be described. Current research results in multimedia communications will be reviewed through student seminars in the last weeks of the course.

PREREQUISITES:

18-791 (Digital Signal Processing) and 36-217 (Probability) or equivalents

PROGRAMMING

The best way to understand an algorithm is to program it. Therefore, this course emphasizes computer assignments and projects. Students will complete individual assignments, and form small groups to complete projects in audio, image and video coding. The use of C/C++ is encouraged. If you plan to use other programming languages, please discuss it with the instructor.

REFERENCES

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HOMEWORK

Problem sets will be assigned every week on Wednesday, and will be due in class, before 12:30pm, on the succeeding Wednesday. A component of the homework will be computer assignments. These computer assignments mainly involve building components that may be used later in the projects. The homework policy is as follows:

STUDENT SEMINARS

Students will form groups to study emerging technologies in multimedia communications. Each group will prepare a written report and present a seminar in class. These seminars will be scheduled in the second half of the semester.

PROJECTS

The midterm project will be due in the week of March 8-12 (the 9th week). The final project will be due in the week of May 3-7 (the 17th week). During the week when the project is due, each group will schedule a time slot with the instructor and TA to demonstrate the project. The same policy for the homework should apply to the projects as well. If in doubt, please check with the instructor.

GRADING
 
Homework 10%
Seminars 20%
Midterm Project 30%
Final Project 40%

THE FILE CABINET

The file cabinet under the exit sign near Porter Hall B20 is where you will find your graded papers in case you do not pick them up in class.

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