Emerging Wireless Multimedia: Services and Technologies

The provision of IP-based multimedia services is one of the most exiting and challenging aspects of next generation wireless networks. A significant evolution has been underway for enabling such multimedia services and for ultimately migrating the Internet to the wireless world. This book examines this evolution, looking at an array of the most up-to-date wireless multimedia technologies and services. The first part focuses on enabling technologies for wireless multimedia, while the second is dedicated to the new wireless multimedia services that are expected to play a key role in the future wireless environment. In addition, the related recent standardization, research and industry activities are addressed.
* Covers a complete range of multimedia hot topics, ranging from audio/video coding techniques to multimedia protocols and applications
* Discusses QoS issues in WLANs, 3G and hybrid 3G/WLAN networks
* Provides in-depth discussion of the most modern multimedia services, such as Push-to-Talk, Instant Messaging, Presence, mobile payments, MMS, WAP, and location-based multimedia services
* Addresses the emerging Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) and the key aspects of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) in 3G networks
* Numerous on-line references will assist readers in their quest for the most up-to-date information

This comprehensive resource will have instant appeal to students in electrical and computer engineering or IT disciplines. It is also essential reading for engineering managers, engineers in wireless systems and multimedia, and wireless multimedia researchers.

Apostolis K. Salkintzis, Motorola Inc., Greece

• Received his Diploma in 1991 and his Ph.D. degree in 1997, both from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
• Worked as a research Engineer at the Democritus University, studying mobile data networks and working on research projects dealing with the design and implementation of wireless data networks and protocols.
• Was a Sessional Lecturer at the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Canada, in 1999.
• Has been with Motorola Inc., since Sept. 1999, working on the design and standardization of modern telecommunication networks, focusing in particular on GPRS, UMTS and WLANs.
• Is a member of the IEEE and a member of the Technical Chamber of Greece.

Nikos Passas, University of Athens, Greece

• Received his Diploma (honours) from the Department of Computer Engineering, University of Patras, Greece, and his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Athens, Greece.
• Has been with the Communication Networks Laboratory of the University of Athens, working as a sessional lecturer and research associate since 1995.