Stathis Panis

Content-based multimedia data access in Internet video communication

This paper presents a platform for the development and evaluation of MPEG-4 functionalities. The implemented functionalities are content-based multimedia data access, content-based manipulation and bitstream editing, hybrid natural and synthetic data combination, content-based scalability. The system was implemented with Java.

The use of stereo and motion in a generic object-based coder☆

Abstract Current developments of object-based coders target small image formats, low bit-rate and videophone applications with head-and-shoulders scenes. An object-based coder which can be used for any type of scene and can provide better picture quality than MPEG-2 at the same bit-rate is proposed in this paper. It is a high-quality object-based coder which aims to introduce the concept of object-based coding in quality-picture applications. The coder uses motion and stereo information throughout for image analysis and synthesis, and object ordering. The coder can be extended to a stereoscopic coder with only minor modifications. Results using CCIR 601 stereoscopic image sequences shot within RACE DISTIMA are presented.

Object-Based Stereoscopic Image Coding

A precise object-based description of an image enables calculation of object-based disparity. Object-based disparity can provide a criterion for better object definition. To improve segmentation of an image a combination of decision rules based on texture, luminance, and disparity is used. An iterative method which combines object segmentation and disparity estimation has been developed for an accurate description of objects.

MPEG-4 for broadband communications

This paper presents the future multimedia standard MPEG-4 and discusses its potential use for broadband applications. After an introduction into MPEG-4, scenarios for broadband MPEG-4 sessions are described and some examples are presented. At the same time, the structure of a decoder terminal is explained and the relevant parts from the broadband key issues of the standard are presented in more detail.