ATM & MPEG-2: Integrating Digital Video Into Broadband Networks

Two technologies will drive broadband multimedia: ATM networking, and MPEG-2 digital video compression. This book covers them both in detail, showing how to integrate them into an efficient delivery system for next-generation digital video services. ATM & MPEG-2 begins with a thorough introduction to audio and video processing, and how technologies like MPEG-2 reflect the strengths and weaknesses of human sight and hearing. Next, it reviews MPEG-2 architecture and processes, covering both video and audio. It focuses on digital video's unique transport requirements, which must be met to build any successful application. The book introduces ATM, its relevant protocols, and the network elements needed to deploy it. It explains how to use the ATM layer's Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities to precisely control the quality and cost of broadband multimedia applications. ATM & MPEG-2 covers the latest initiatives and standards in support of digital broadband video by the ATM Forum, the Digital Audio Visual Council (DAVIC), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and ITU-T. It also compares "last mile" access network technologies such as HFC, xDSL, FTTC, and MMDS/LMDS, and reviews the challenges involved in transporting MPEG-2 over the Internet.