Multimedia Networks: Protocols, Design and Applications

The transportation of multimedia over the network requires timely and errorless transmission much more strictly than other data. This had led to special protocols and to special treatment in multimedia applications (telephony, IP-TV, streaming) to overcome network issues. This book begins with an overview of the vast market combined with the user’s expectations. The base mechanisms of the audio/video coding (H.26x etc.) are explained to understand characteristics of the generated network traffic. Further chapters treat common specialized underlying IP network functions which cope with multimedia data in conjunction which special time adaption measures. Based on those standard functions these chapters can treat uniformly SIP, H.248, High-End IP-TV, Webcast, Signage etc. A special section is devoted to home networks which challenge high-end service delivery due to possibly unreliable management. The whole book treats concepts described in accessible IP-based standards and which are implemented broadly. The book is aimed at graduate students/practitioners with good basic knowledge in computer networking. It provides the reader with all concepts of currently used IP technologies of how to deliver multimedia efficiently to the end user.

Hans W. Barz, Retired – former Lecturer at Swiss Technical University (ETH) Zürich & Head of Networking Services at Hoffman La Roche, Basel, Switzerland. Barz has worked in computer networking since the 1980's, teaching in multiple universities and applying the technology broadly in large company networks with over 60.000 employees worldwide. In the 1990's he published – in German – a book on networking based on lectures he provided at three universities (Freiburg, Basel, Zürich). From 2002 he headed a global network organization in a multinational company which applied multimedia networking globally. He ran (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) a course at the Swiss Technical University (Electro Technical Department, ETH, Zürich) on the subject of this book for graduate and PhD students, much of the material providing the basis of the book.

Gregory A. Bassett, Owner – Coral Consulting GmbH, Riehen & former Senior Enterprise Architect at Hoffmann La Roche, Basel, Switzerland. With dual USA/Swiss nationality, Bassett is a highly experience network and computer engineering, with extensive experience working in a range of environments throughout North & South America, Europe and Japan. He successfully created and maintained many sections of Roche's Enterprise Architecture including networking, identity, voice, messaging, video and mobility. Now running his own consultancy business in Switzerland.