Simulating Multimedia Networks

[MHH120045]

Tutorial 2 Solutions

1. List the elements of a multimedia transmitter.

a. Source devices (cameras, microphones etc.)
b. Data acquisition
c. Data compression
d. Inter-media synchronization.
e. Integration of multiple streams into one (multiplexer)

2. Why is it necessary to introduce time stamps with different media stream?

Time-stamps introduced with different media streams are used to achieve
inter-media synchronization.

3. List the elements of a multimedia receiver.

a. Media extractor.
b. De-compression and reconstruction.
c. Playback devices (monitors, displays, loudspeakers etc.)

4. What is jitter? How does jitter affects real-time audio/video streaming?

In packet-switching network, different pockets may take different paths
through the network, leading to variation in end-to-end delay. Delay variation is
called jitter.
Jitter manifests itself as a gap between what is heard or seen.

5. State the role of media extractor in a multimedia receiver.

The task of media extractor in multimedia receivers is to receive the integrated
multimedia bit stream from the communication channel and extract the
different media streams, such as audio, video, text etc. at its output. It acts as
a demultiplexer and performs a reverse role of integration in multimedia
transmitters.

6. Explain the role of RTSP in streaming stored audio/video.

The RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) is a protocol designed to add some
more functionalities to the streaming process. Using RTSP the playing of A/V
can be controlled. RTSP is an out-of-band control protocol. This means that
RTSP messages are sent over a separate channel from the media itself. The
media player can send other types of messages; such as PAUSE to temporarily
stop the downloading. It can be resumed with a PLAY message.

7. What is spatial compression compared to temporal compression?

Glasgow Caledonian University - CCIS Page 1

 Simulating Multimedia Networks
[MHH120045]

The spatial compression of each frame of a video stream is done independently

by removing redundancies within a frame.
Most of consecutive frames of a video stream are almost the same. The
temporal compression removes the redundancies between the consecutive
frames.

8. State at least four challenges involved with multimedia communication.

The challenges involved with multimedia communication system are data
compression (especially for high data intensive media like video, still images and
audio), real-time processing capability (for time critical media like video), inter-
media synchronization, intra-media continuity, end-to-end delays and delay
jitters, etc.

9. A monochrome video sequence uses a frame-size of 176 x 144 pixels and is having 8-
bits/pixel. It is captured at a frame rate of 10 frames/ sec. The video is transmitted through a
leased line of 64 Kb/s bandwidth.
a. Calculate the compression ratio (Ratio of raw bit rate to the compressed bit rate)
which will be necessary.
b. What will happen if the compression ratio is lower than that obtained in (a)?

Raw bit-rate = (Pixel size/Frame) x (Bits/pixel) x (Frames/sec) = 176 x 144 x 8

x 10 bits/second = 2027520 bits/s
Channel bit-rate requirement is 64 Kbits/sec
Required compression ratio = (Raw bit rate) / (Channel bit-rate)
= 2,027,520/64x1000 = 31.68

10. In a video sequence to be used for video conferencing, frames of size 320 x 256 pixels with
24-bits / pixel and a frame rate of 30 frames per second should be transmitted. Calculate the
minimum required bandwidth for transmission given that the compression ratio is 8:1.

320 x 256 x 24 x 30 = 58,982,400 bits/s

58,982,400 / 8 = 7,372,800
A link of 7.5 Mbps should be enough.

Glasgow Caledonian University - CCIS Page 2