Abstract: This chapter proposes a novel concept towards the deployment of a networked ‘Media Ecosystem’. The proposed solution is based on a flexible co- operation between providers, operators, and end-users, finally enabling every user first to access the offered multimedia services in various contexts, and second to share and deliver his own audiovisual content dynamically, seamlessly, and transparently to other users. Towards this goal, the proposed concept provides content-awareness to the network environment, network- and user context- awareness to the service environment, and adapted services/content to the end user for his best service experience possible, taking the role of a consumer and/or producer.

Abstract: This chapter covers the topic of making use of scalable video content in streaming frameworks and applications. Specifically, the recent standard H.264/SVC, i.e., the scalable extension of the widely used H.264/AVC coding scheme, and its deployment for adaptive streaming, the combined activities of content adaptation and streaming, are considered. H.264/SVC is regarded as a promising candidate to enable applications to cope with bandwidth variations in networks and heterogeneous usage environments, mainly diverse end device capabilities and constraints. The relevant coding and transport principles of H.264/SVC are reviewed first. Subsequently, an overview of H.264/SVC applications is given. The chapter then focuses on presenting architectural/implementation options and applications of H.264/SVC for adaptive streaming, emphasizing the aspect of where, i.e., on which network node and on which layer in the networking stack, in the video delivery path the content adaptation can take place; also, methods of content adaptation are covered. This pragmatic perspective is seen as complementing more general discussions of scalable video adaptation issues in the existing literature.

Abstract: The term “trustworthy” has a very precise connotation in the European Community’s FP7 research program. For a network to be qualified as trustworthy, it needs to be secure, reliable and resilient to attacks and operational failures. Furthermore, quality of service must be guaranteed, while protecting user data, ensuring privacy and providing usable and trusted tools to support users in their security management. As such, the Trustworthy Internet not only has to include mechanisms, architectures and networking infrastructures that intrinsically provide basic security guarantees, but it also has to ensure users, service providers and application providers alike that their requirements in terms of Quality of Experience, manageability and efficiency are fully met. Providing such combined guarantees in a rapidly evolving, complex infrastructure such as the Internet requires solving challenging issues that encompass many fields of theoretical and applied information engineering. These issues span all levels of the protocol stack, ranging from finding new intrinsically secure transmission systems, to radically novel routing models, to new architectures for data dissemination and for interconnecting an unprecedented number of devices and appliances. This book aims at representing a view of the state of the “Trustworthy Internet” as we enter the second decade of our century. The material included in this book originated from the 21st International Tyrrhenian Workshop on Digital Communications, an event traditionally organized by CNIT, the Italian inter-university consortium for telecommunication research. The workshop comprised either invited contributions from renowned researchers with complementary expertise, as well as independent, peer-reviewed contributions stimulated through an open call for papers. This volume includes a selected subset of the workshop papers. Each contribution has been edited and extended after the workshop, taking into account the discussions carried out during the event, incorporating when appropriate additional technical material. Furthermore, the authors have strived to complement the specific technical aspects they present with background material devised to more comprehensively introduce the reader to the specific topic of trustworthiness tackled.

Abstract: This book provides a comprehensive examination of the use of MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-7, MPEG-21, and MPEG-A standards, providing a detailed reference to their application. In this book, the authors address five leading MPEG standards, focusing not only on the standards themselves, but specifically upon their application (e.g. for broadcasting media, personalised advertising and news, multimedia collaboration, digital rights management, resource adaptation, digital home systems, and so on); including MPEG cross-breed applications. In the evolving digital multimedia landscape, this book provides comprehensive coverage of the key MPEG standards used for generation and storage, distribution and dissemination, and delivery of multimedia data to various platforms within a wide variety of application domains. It considers how these MPEG standards may be used, the context of their use, and how supporting and complementary technologies and the standards interact and add value to each other. Key Features: * Integrates the application of five popular MPEG standards (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-7, MPEG-21, and MPEG-A) into one single volume, including MPEG cross-breed applications * Up-to-date coverage of the field based on the latest versions of the five MPEG standards * Opening chapter provides overviews of each of the five MPEG standards * Contributions from leading MPEG experts worldwide * Includes an accompanying website with supporting material (www.wiley.com/go/angelides_mpeg) This book provides an invaluable reference for researchers, practitioners, CTOs, design engineers, and developers. Postgraduate students taking MSc, MRes, MPhil and PhD courses in computer science and engineering, IT consultants, and system developers in the telecoms, broadcasting and publishing sectors will also find this book of interest.

Abstract: This document provides an overview of the MPEG Extensible Middleware (MXM), one of ISO/IEC MPEG’s latest achievements, defining an architecture and corresponding application programming interfaces (APIs) which enable accelerated media business developments. The paper describes the vision behind MXM, its architecture, and a high level overview of the API. Additionally, example MXM applications are given.

Abstract: Resolution of digital images is on the rise, but screens of mobile devices are still small. Therefore, image adaptation and especially image re-targeting for browsing images is still a challenging research topic. In this short paper we report work in progress on a social interactive game that can be used to identify meaningful portions of images. Based on preliminary evaluation we propose that these areas, found by our game, should be retained in an image re-targeting process.

Abstract: Future Media Internet is envisaged to provide the means to share and distribute (advanced) multimedia content and services with superior quality and striking flexibility, in a trusted and personalized way, improving citizens' quality of life, working conditions, edutainment and safety. Based on work that has taken place in projects ICT SEA and ICT OPTIMIX, and the Media Delivery Platforms Cluster of projects, we try to provide the challenges and the way ahead in the area of content adaptation.

Abstract: Multimedia adaptation decision-taking is referred to as the process of finding the optimal parameter settings for (multiple, possibly in series connected) multimedia content adaptation engines given the properties, characteristics, and capabilities of the content and the context in which it will be processed.

Abstract: Access devices of all shapes and forms that can connect to different networks and be used for a myriad of applications are becoming an integral part of our everyday lives. For better or worse, these devices keep us connect at all times to our families, friends, and the office. They allow us to share our experiences and emotions, conduct business, or just say hello. With multimedia, the form of communication is much more powerful. However, we face this serious problem of heterogeneity in our terminals, in our networks and in the people that ultimately consume and interact with the information being presented to them. This chapter describes work developed within the MPEG standardization committee to help alleviate some of the burdens confronting us in connecting a wide range of multimedia content with different terminals, networks and users. Specifically, Part 7 of MPEG-21, Digital Item Adaptation (DIA) [MP21-7], is covered in this chapter.