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Advanced Multimedia and Image Communication Services

Objective

- To design a framework for image communication.
- The Image Communication Open Architecture (ICOA), related to international standards.
- To develop software tools for ICOA.
- To develop hardware support for ICOA.
- To demonstrate the benefits of the ICOA.
The main objectives of the research were:
to establish an image communication platform for advanced multimedia services;
to design a framework for image communication open architecture (ICOA) according to international standardization activities;
to develop software tools for ICOA;
to consider hardware support for ICOA;
to demonstrate an ICOA.

The project approach involved:
elaborating technical requirements from emerging multimedia applications, systems, and services, especially for imaging services and service components;
describing and establishing an advanced communication environment based on broadband technology, narrowband integrated services digital network (ISDN) and/or local area network (LAN) transmission;
specifying, developing and integrating software components for high level image communication services;
adapting appropriate algorithms for image conversion, compression, and transcoding and implementing them in a software package, with additional regard to very large scale integration (VLSI) realization.

In its first year existing image standards the derivation of a mathematical model for images, an image format reference model and a generic image data model (ICOA data model). Conversion problems and generic services components were identified. Furthermore a demonstrator has been selected and hardware and input output specifications of a digital image processor (DIP) chip established.
In the second year the conceptual building blocks for an ICOA were identified and development of the software tools begun. The development of the hardware support has been justified and following completion of the final design the first chip is available. The technical environment of the demonstrator and the functional specification have been defined.

The project will provide an underlying framework to relate to the current forms of digital image communication and to elucidate the concepts connecting them. It will form the basis for the development of future forms of digital image communication paving the way for more compatible image communication and avoiding the emergence of unnecessary divergence.
Technical Approach

The project proceeds by:

- Elaborating technical requirements from emerging multimedia applications, systems, and services, especially regarding the establishment of services and service components for the handling of digital image.
- Describing and establishing an advanced image communication environment, based on broadband technology, narrow band ISDN and/or LAN transmission.

Having captured new requirements and achieved a stable definition of the communication platform, the current area of project work is to:

- Specify, develop and integrate software components for high level image communication services.
- Adapt appropriate algorithms for image conversion, compression, and transcoding and realise the algorithms in software especially considering enhanced VLSI realisations.

The project is also designing, implementing and evaluating a final demonstrator that validates the concepts and trials within a multimedia environment.

Key Issues

Development of generic image services and service components for open multimedia image communication.

Expected Impact

The project will provide an underlying framework to relate to the current forms of digital image communication and to elucidate the concepts connecting them. It will form the basis for the development of future forms of digital image communication paving the way for more compatible image communication and avoiding the emergence of unnecessary divergence.

Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Funding Scheme

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Coordinator

Telenorma GmbH Bosch Telecom
EU contribution
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Address
Mainzer Landstraße 128-146
60327 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

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Total cost
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Participants (5)