Introduction

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.

Overview and Market

This book begins with an overview of the vast market combined with the user’s expectations.

Audio/Video Coding

The base mechanisms of the audio/video coding (H.26x etc.) are explained to understand characteristics of the generated network traffic.

Network Functions and Special Measures

Further chapters treat common specialized underlying IP network functions which cope with multimedia data in conjunction with special time adaption measures. Based on those standard functions these chapters can treat uniformly SIP, H.248, High-End IP-TV, Webcast, Signage etc.

Home Networks

A special section is devoted to home networks which challenge high-end service delivery due to possibly unreliable management.

Standards and Implementation

The whole book treats concepts described in accessible IP-based standards and which are implemented broadly.

Target Audience

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.