Algorithms and architectures for next generation multimedia communication systems

This thesis explores various algorithm and architecture design possibilities for future multimedia communication systems. It is a clear trend that the next generation multimedia communication systems will inevitably move to multiple image sensors for better visual effects, and move to multiple antennas for transmitting high data rate multimedia content. High performance video/source coders and channel coders will be the key components of such a system.; The binary arithmetic coder inside current video coders is not efficient enough for future multichannel high definite video coding. Therefore, we first try to and successfully improve the most promising source coder using parallelization techniques. Video content understanding may also be helpful for future inultiview video compression and processing; so some techniques for multiple image sensor system are also discussed.; Integration is a very important technique to significantly improve the performance of such a complex communication system. As semiconductor technology improves, this may become more and more feasible. Two possibilities, joint source/channel coding and joint detection/decoding, are both considered in this research.; We first try to incorporate joint source and channel coding with multiple sensor video coder to propose a realtirne error resilient multiview video coder for internet environment. Some parallel architectures are used for speed and error resilience enhancement purposes. Some 3D based error concealment methods are also used. The simulation result shows that the proposed system outperforms the existing methods for about 4-5dB in PSNR.; We also try to propose better joint detection and decoding methods for wireline system and wireless multiple antenna system. Block turbo code can provide a flexible code rate for the need of future multimedia system; however, its joint equalization/decoding has not been discussed. We proposed low complexity solutions for such a system. On the other hand, for wireless communication, limited bandwidth is a major issue for multimedia communication, especially for high definite or multiple sensor video source. Thus, multiple antenna becomes a reasonable solution. We consider such a joint detection/decoding system. The simulation results show that the proposed methods can lower the computation complexity and save power significantly.; Simulation results and architecture design analysis demonstrate superiority of these methods over independent processing or previous similar systems.