* Knowledge of the most common techniques for digital voice, audio, images and video signal representation. * Knowledge of the most common techniques for robust transmission of digital signals over packet networks. * Ability to evaluate pros and cons of the main multimedia coding techniques, giving the student the ability to choose the most suitable techniques for the various application scenarios. * Ability to face the most important issues related to the use of various multimedia formats, by performing the most appropriate design choices in each considered case. * Ability to autonomously investigate how specific multimedia coding techniques work. * Ability to choose the most suitable protocols, architectures and techniques for robust communications suitable for the various application scenarios, also taking advantage of the experience acquired during the laboratory activities.

Basic knowledge of digital signal processing theory: digital filters, Fourier transform, time- and frequency-domain signal analysis. Basic knowledge of computer networks: protocols and architectures. Knowledge of programming techniques. For laboratory activities, basic computer usage abilities are required.

* Introduction about the impact of multimedia technologies on computer systems and society at large (0,3 CFU) * Digital representation of voice and audio (1,5 CFU) Introduction to voice signal characteristics Techniques for compression of audio signals based on waveform coding (PCM) Techniques for compression of voice signals through parametric models, and related standards (ITU G.xxx) Techniques for compression of audio signals through psychoacoustic models and related standards (ISO MPEG) * Digital representation of images and video (2,4 CFU) Introduction to image/video signal characteristics Techniques for compression of image signals and related standards (GIF, PNG, JPEG) Techniques for compression of video based on the hybrid codec and related standards (MPEG, H.26x) * Main multimedia communication applications (1,8 CFU) Introduction to the constraints of multimedia communications Architectures and protocols for real-time multimedia communications and related standards (RTP, DASH, WebRTC) Techniques for quality of service in multimedia communications over IP networks

The course content is both theoretical and practical. The course also includes five laboratory activities that will guide the students in the understanding of some concepts presented during the lectures about coding and transmission of multimedia data, as well as in the critical analysis of existing multimedia services, evaluating pros and cons of architectural choices, features, and performance, also through integration experiments in existing platforms.

The electronic version of all the slides and notes presented in the course by the teachers will be made available to all students. Examples of the exam past written tests will be available as well. All the teaching material will be made available through the Politecnico course website. Reference books for further reading: Digital Speech: Coding for Low Bit Rate Communication Systems, A. M. Kondoz, Wiley (2nd edition), 2004, ISBN: 0470870087 Speech Coding Algorithms: Foundation and Evolution of Standardized Coders, Wai C. Chu, Wiley-Interscience (1st edition) 2003, ISBN: 0471373125 Audio e multimedia, V. Lombardo, A. Valle, Apogeo, 2005, ISBN: 8850322038 MPEG Video Compression Standard, J.L. Mitchell, D.J. Legall, C.Fogg, Springer, 2003, ISBN: 0412087715 H.264 and MPEG-4 Video Compression: Video Coding for Next Generation Multimedia, I.E.G. Richardson, Wiley, 2003, ISBN: 0470848375 The H.264 Advanced Video Compression Standard, I.E.G. Richardson, Wiley, 2010, ISBN: 978-0470516928, 2nd edition RTP: Audio and Video for the Internet, Colin Perkins, Addison Wesley, 2003, ISBN: 0672322498 Multimedia Networking: From Theory to Practice, Jenq-Neng Hwang, Cambridge University Press, 2009, ISBN: 9780521882040 Next-Generation Video Coding and Streaming, Benny Bing, Wiley, 2015, ISBN: 9781118891308 Electronic resources: IEEE and ACM digital library.

Exam: Written test;

The final exam is a written test which evaluates at which level the expected knowledge and abilities have been acquired. The exam is only a written test. It is divided into three parts, which correspond to the three macro-areas of the course. For each part both open questions and multiple-choice questions are presented. They aim at checking that both basic and advanced notions have been acquired, as well as the ability to critically analyze potential application scenarios of processing and transmission of multimedia signals. The written exam must be solved within 2 hours, without using any aid or source of information other than the student personal memory. The final mark is computed as the sum of the points given for each part of the written test. Every open question has a maximum value which depends on the difficulty of the question itself, and it is reported at the beginning of the question. All multiple-choice questions have the same maximum value. There is a penalty for mistakes in multiple-choice questions, only to counterbalance the effect of random answers. It is possible not to answer to multiple-choice questions, in this case the mark for that question is zero.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.