Prof John Cosmas

Research Interests

Multimedia Systems

Objectives of Group

In Multimedia and Broadcast Networks Group, we will develop more efficient and intelligent systems for the management of communication networks through the seamless integration of Internet and broadcast networks, and faster, flexible, more efficient radio transmission systems, through synergies between artificial intelligence, media and radio signal processing, for operating in heterogeneous and changing environments. We will also develop flexible, harmonized security systems for services and media to provide pervasive and trusted network and service infrastructures and international access to services and media.

Previous Research

PLUTO (Physical Layer DVB Transmission Optimisation)

The objective of this project is to research and develop novel techniques for broadcast transmitter networks that will minimise the complexity and power consumption of end user equipment. These techniques; Transmitter Diversity and Low Cost On-Channel Repeaters will improve reception in areas of poor coverage such as for mobile reception, indoors and sparsely populated or obscured locations. Test service scenarios will be developed to illustrate the benefits of the technology so that effectiveness can be researched in a variety of service and terrain scenarios using purpose built test systems.

£530K between January 2006- June 2008

INSTINCT (IP-based Networks, Services and Terminals for Converging Systems)

INSTINCT lays the foundation for the commercial take-up of the co-operation of broadcasting and telecommunication services in mobility for people on the move. It develops a comprehensive vision of the business drivers, based on a study of user requirements and an active monitoring of the regulatory factors. It finalizes all technical aspects necessary for a wide adoption of the system: multi-modal low-power terminals, scalable network and RF spectrum engineering solutions, standardized service provisioning and content creation tools and end-to-end quality of service management.

CULTURAL HERITAGE INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA BROADCAST SERVICES

The CHIMBS (Cultural Heritage Interactive Multimedia Broadcast Services) research project endeavours to create cultural heritage related service scenarios in order to promote and disseminate Europe’s cultural heritage sites to people "on the move" employing the CISMUNDUS system architecture and application tools (DVB-T, UMTS/GPRS).

SAVANT (Synchronized and Scalable AV Services across NeTworks)

It is critical for an integrated national information technology system that converged services developed for broadcast cable/terrestrial/satellite networks co-operating with POTS/DSL/cable telecom networks can be used on all flavours of broadcast and telecom network combinations through the application of synchronised and scaleable content and services. So, for example, the same content and services that is prepared for delivery over DVB-C with DSL networks can also be applied to content and services with the use of synchronisation and scalability tools, for delivery over DVB-S with POTS or DVB-T with UMTS networks. The SAVANT project provides and demonstrates solutions to this issue.

£250k between May 2002 - - December 2003

CISMUNDUS (Convergence of IP-based Services for Mobile Users and Networks in DVB-T and UMTS Systems)

Creation of multiple media services that can be delivered through the co-operation between two complementary wireless access networks, on one hand a "point-to-point" mobile telecom network (typically UMTS, but also GSM/GPRS/HSCSD) and on the other hand a point-to-multipoint" broadcast network (DVB-T or DAB).

£500K between July 2001- December 2003

CONFLUENT (Enabling commercial application of convergent services in collaborative networks of UMTS & DVB-T systems)

The CONFLUENT project will deliver prerequisites for the commercial exploitation of services combining UMTS and DVB-T, crucial to which is the availability of handheld terminals for high speed operation with low power consumption. The development in CONFLUENT of an integrated solution for space diversity reception of DVB-T using low-power front-end processing is a significant step towards the realisation of such terminals.

£100K between May 2002- May 2003

3D MURALE (3 D Measurement and Virtual Reconstruction of Ancient Lost Worlds of Europe)

3D measurement of the buildings and artifacts of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Sagalassos in Turkey and the virtual reconstruction and visualisation of the city during different epochs as well as the visualisation of the stratigraphic layers of the archaeological dig. Thank you to Alias-Wavefront for the generous donation of $130k worth of "Maya Unlimited" to help us in this research to preserve the cultural heritage of Europe.

Final Report

£250K between November 2000- November 2003

Scalable Real Time Video Encoder

A scalable parallel H.263 video encoder on a Mercury PowerPC RISC microprocessor based multiprocessor workstation has been implemented. A data-parallel approach is used to exploit data parallelism within each frame. A concurrent processing framework has been developed utilising an inter-processor communication technique to transfer data and synchronise execution of "accelerated procedures". Comparisons of execution times, speedups as well as frame encoding rates using different numbers of processors show that 90% of the maximum theoretical speed-up has be achieved. As the workstation is performance-scalable, it is estimated that by configuring additional processors in the PC host chassis, the real time performance can be achieved.

Internally Funded by BrunelUniversity

SAMBITS (System for Advanced Multimedia Broadcast and IT Services)

Research and development a studio system for creating combined MPEG-2 (natural audio/video), MPEG-4 (3D graphics), MPEG-7 (annotation of content) and Internet multimedia content for broadcast delivery as a Xlet using Digital Video Broadcast - Terrestrial (DVB-T). A Xlet is the broadband version of an Applet for you Java programmers. Research and development of a terminal system for DVB-T reception and presentation of combined MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-7 and Internet content.

£250K between January 2000- December 2001

CUSTOMTV (Custom Television) July 1998-December 1999

Interactive TV using MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and MPEG-7 content.

MOMUSYS (Mobile Multimedia System) January 1995-December 1999

MPEG-4 Object based multimedia system for low bitrate (Internet and mobile) networks.

MAVT (Mobile Audio/Visual System) January 1991-December 1994

Low Bitrate mobile phone for DECT and UMTS networks.

ARMAN (ATM Resource Management) May 1995-April 1998

Global resource management algorithms for ATM networks.

Research Supervision

• Raffaele DiBari
  Measurement of Diversity in Broadcast networks
  Started January 2006
• Lloyd Cody
  Interactive Multimedia TV Test Systems
  Started October 2005
• Hamid Shirazi
  Authentication System for Broadcast Set top Boxes
  Started October 2006
• Yue Zhang
  Optimal Transmitter and Receiver Diversity Technologies in DVB-T/H Networks
  Completed January 2008
• Leina Elgohari
  Impact of Organizational Structures on Scenario-Based Design: A Case-Based Study
  PhD Completed 2007
• Kannan Krishnapillai
  Programme and Service Metadata Creation System for Converged Digital Broadcast and Telecommunication Services
  PhD Completed July 2007
• Frank Sun
  Value Added Middleware for Converged Digital Broadcast and Telecommunication System
  PhD Completed April 2006
• Emmanuel Tsekleves
  Automated Generation of TV User Interfaces and Applications
  PhD Completed September 2006
• Alan Lucas       
  System Architectures for Converged Digital Broadcast and Telecom Terminals
  PhD Completed July 2005
• Lishi Zheng
  Parallel Video Encoding for Converging DVB-T and UMTS Services
  PhD Completed November 2004
• Damian Green
  STRATIGRAPHIC VISUALISATION FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
  PhD Completed December 2003
• Nisha Joseph
  Replication Databases for Archaeologists
  MPhil Completed July 2004
• Ricky Constantinides
  Automated 3D Facial Expression Creator and Animator
  MPhil Completed September 2006
• Cenkai Yang
  SEMI-AUTOMATED BODY ANIMATOR
  MPhil Completed September 2006
• Wendy Day
  Linking 2D Harris Matrix with 3D Stratigraphic Visualisations: an Integrated Approach to Archaeological Documentation
  MPhil Completed September 2005

Publications

Journal Papers

(Forthcoming) Tun, M., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., An efficient rate control algorithm for wavelet video codec, International Journal of Wavelets, Multiresolution and Information Processing In Press

(2010) Tsekleves, E., Cosmas, J. and Yang, C., Semi-automated human body 3D animator, International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology 38 (1/2/3) : 144- 156

(2009) Shirazi, H., Cosmas, J., Owens, TJ., Song, Y-H. and Centonza, A., A QoS monitoring system in a heterogeneous multi-domain DVB-H platform, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting 55 (1) : 124- 131 Download publication

(2009) Tsekleves, E., Cosmas, J., Aggoun, A. and Loo, J., Converged digital TV services: The role of middleware and future directions of interactive television, International Journal of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting 2009 - Download publication

(2008) Zhang, Y., Zhang, C., Cosmas, J., Loo, KK., Owens, T., Di Bari, R., Lostanien, Y. and Bard, M., Analysis of DVB-H network coverage with the application of transmit diversity, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting 54 (3) : 568- 577 Download publication

(2008) Ahmad, A., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., VLSI architecture design approaches for real-time video processing, WSEAS Transactions on Circuits and Systems 7 (8) : 855- 868 Download publication

(2008) Tun, M., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., Enabling error-resilient internet broadcasting using motion compensated spatial partitioning and packet FEC for the Dirac video codec, Journal of Multimedia 3 (2) : 1- 11 Download publication

(2008) Xue, Z., Loo, KK., Cosmas, J. and Yip, PY., Distributed video coding in wireless multimedia sensor network for multimedia broadcasting, WSEAS Transactions on Communications 7 (5) : 418- 427 Download publication

(2008) Xue, Z., Loo, KK., Cosmas, J. and Yip, PY., An efficient error resilience scheme based on Wyner-Ziv coding for region-of-interest protection of wavelet based video transmission, WSEAS Transactions on Circuits and Systems 7 (4) : 277- 286 Download publication

(2008) Xue, Z., Loo, KK., Yip, YP. and Cosmas, JP., New multiple frame motion compensated interpolation algorithm for frame rate up-conversion, Journal of Circuits, Systems, and Computers 17 (5) : 835- 844

(2008) Tun, M., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., Rate control algorithm based on quality factor optimization for Dirac video codec, Image Communication 23 (9) : 649- 664

(2008) Tun, M., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., Semi-hierarchical based motion estimation algorithm for the Dirac video encoder, WSEAS Transactions on Signal Processing 4 (5) : 261- 270 Download publication

(2007) Tun, M., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., Error-resilient performance of dirac video codec over packet-erasure channel, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting 53 (3) : 649- 659 Download publication

(2007) Centonza, A., Owens, TJ., Cosmas, J. and Song, YH., Differentiated service delivery in cooperative IP-based broadcast and mobile telecommunications networks, IMA Journal of Management Mathematics 18 (3) : 245- 267 Download publication

(2007) Zhang, Y., Cosmas, J., Loo, KK., Bard, M. and Bari, RD., Analysis of cyclic delay diversity on DVB-H systems over spatially correlated channel, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting 53 (1, Part 2) : 247- 255 Download publication

(2007) Allamandri, F., Campion, S., Centonza, A., Chernilov, A., Cosmas, JP., Duffy, A., Garrec, D., Guiraudou, M., Krisihnapillai, K., Levesque, T., Mazieres, B., Mies, R., Owens, T., Re, M., Tsekleves, E. and Zheng, L., Service platform for converged interactive broadband broadcast and cellular wireless, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting 53 (1) : 200- 211 Download publication

(2007) Centonza, A., Casagranda, P., Owens, TJ., Cosmas, J. and Song, Y-H., Management of digital video broadcasting services in open delivery platforms, International Journal of Mobile Communications 5 (2) : 186- 214 Download publication

(2007) Nasr, KM., Cosmas, JP., Bard, M. and Gledhill, J., Performance of an echo canceller and channel estimator for on-channel repeaters in DVB-T/H networks, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting 53 (3) : 609- 618 Download publication

(2007) Tsekleves, E. and Cosmas, J., Semi-automated creation of converged iTV services: from macromedia director simulations to services ready for broadcast, Journal of Virtual Reality and Broadcasting 417 Download publication

(2006) Zhang, Y., Cosmas, J., Bard, M. and Song, Y-H., Diversity gain for DVB-H by using transmitter/receiver cyclic delay diversity, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting 52 (4) : 464- 474 Download publication

(2006) Zhang, Y., Cosmas, J., Song, Y-H. and Bard, M., Future transmitter/receiver diversity schemes in broadcast wireless networks, IEEE Communications Magazine 44 (10) : 120- 127 Download publication

(2006) Zheng, L. and Cosmas, J., A parallel processing framework for real-time software-only video compression for broadcast and mobile services, Journal of Intelligent Systems 15 (1-4) : 261- 297 Download publication

(2006) Yang, X., Song, Y-H., Owens, TJ., Cosmas, J. and Itagaki, T., Incorporating digital repeaters into the soft handover standard in digital video broadcasting for handhelds, International Journal of Services and Standards 2 (3) : 238- 256 Download publication

(2006) Centonza, A., Taylor, GA., Itagaki, T., Owens, TJ., Cosmas, J. and Song, Y-H., Stochastic user behaviour modelling and network simulation for resource management in cooperation with mobile telecommunications and broadcast networks, International Journal of Mobile Communications 4 (1) : 97- 117 Download publication

(2005) Cosmas, J., Itagaki, T., Krishnapillai, K. and Lucas, A., Multimedia broadcast and internet satellite system design and user trial results, International Journal of Services and Standards 1 (3) : 336- 357 Download publication

(2005) Cosmas, J., Cruikshank, L., Elgohari, L., Itagaki, T., Lucas, A., Krishnapillai, K. and Zheng, L., Rapid prototyping and fast user trial of multimedia broadcast and cellular services, International Journal of Mobile Communications 3 (3) : 263- 286 Download publication

(2004) Heidkamp, B., Pohl, A., Schiek, U., Klinkenberg, F., Hynynen, J., Sieber, A., Christ, P., Owens, T., Cosmas, J., Itagaki, T. and Sun, F., Demonstrating the feasibility of standardised application programme interfaces that will allow mobile/portable terminals to receive services combining UMTS and DVB-T, International Journal of Services and Standards 1 (2) : 228- 242 Download publication

(2004) Benali, O., Garrec, D., Guiraudou, M., Martinez, G., Mazieres, B., Butterfield, S., Cosmas, J., Haque, M., Itagaki, T., Krishnapillai, K., Lucas, A. and Zheng, L., First steps toward providing a system for converged digital broadcast and cellular telecommunications services, Global Communications Newsletter August 2004

(2004) Benali, O., Garrec, D., Guiraudou, M., Martinez, G., Mazieres, B., Butterfield, S., Cosmos, J., Haque, M., Itegaki, T., Krishnapillai, K., Lucas, A. and Zheng, L., First steps toward providing a system for converged, digital broadcast and cellular telecommunications services, IEEE Communications Magazine 42 (8) : 153- 156

(2002) Bais, M., Cosmas, J., Dosch, C., Engelsberg, A., Erik, A., Hansen, PS., Healey, P., Klungsoeyr, GK., Mies, R., Ohm, J-R., Paker, Y., Pearmain, A., Pedersen, L., Sandvand, A., Schafer, R., Schoonjans, P. and Stammnitz, P., Customized television: standards compliant advanced digital television, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting 48 (2) : 151- 158 Download publication

(2000) Gill, D., Cosmas, JP. and Pearmain, A., Mobile audio-visual terminal: system design and subjective testing in DECT and UMTS networks, IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 49 (4) : 1378- 1391 Download publication

(1998) Cosmas, JP., Paker, Y. and Pearmain, AJ., Parallel H.263 video encoder in normal coding mode, Electronics Letters 34 (22) : 2109- 2110 Download publication

(1998) Nyong, D., Aranzulla, P., Cosmas, JP. and Pitts, JM., Resource based policies for design of interworking heterogeneous service networks, Journal on Interoperable Communications Networks 1 571- 580

(1997) Panis, S., Ziegler, M. and Cosmas, J., The use of stereo and motion in a generic object based-coder, Signal Processing: Image Communication 9 (3) : 221- 238

(1997) Panis, S., Ziegler, M. and Cosmas, JP., The use of stereo and motion in a generic object-based coder, Signal Processing: Image Communication 9 (3) : 221- 238

(1996) Panis, S. and Cosmas, JP., Motion estimation with object based regularisation, Electronics Letters 32 (10) : 872- 873 Download publication

(1996) Crespo, PM., Pelz, RM., Cosmas, JP. and Garcia-Frias, J., Results of channel error profiles for DECT, IEEE Transactions on Communications 44 (8) : 913- 917 Download publication

(1996) Cosmas, JP., Evans, B., Evci, C., Florack, D., Herzig, W. and Persson, H., UMTS radio interfaces, Asia Pacific Telecommunications Journal June 1996

(1995) Cosmas, J., Evans, B., Evci, C., Florak, D., Herzig, W., Persson, H., Pettifor, J., Polese, P. and Samukic, A., Directions and objectives of mobile radio networks in Europe, Asia Pacific Telecommunications Journal September 1995

(1995) Cosmas, J., Evans, B., Evci, C., Florak, D., Herzig, W., Persson, H., Pettifor, J., Ploese, P. and Samukic, A., European solutions to 3rd generation mobile networks, Asia Pacific Telecommunications Journal December 1995

(1995) Cosmas, J., Evans, B., Evci, C., Herzig, W., Persson, H., Pettifor, J., Polese, P., Rheinschmitt, R. and Samukic, A., Overview of the mobile communications programme of RACE, IEE Electronics and Communications Journal 7 (4) : 155- 167

(1995) Panis, S., Ziegler, M. and Cosmas, JP., System approach to disparity estimation, Electronics Letters 31 (11) : 871- 873 Download publication

(1994) Cosmas, JP., Petit, GH., Lehnert, R., Blondia, C., Kontovassilis, K., Casals, O. and Theimer, T., A review of voice, data and video traffic models for ATM, European Transactions on Telecommunications 5 (2) : 11- 26

(1994) Crespo, P., Mann-Pelz, R. and Cosmas, JP., Channel error profile for DECT, IEE Proceedings Communications 141 (6) : 413- 420

(1994) Domingo, J., Michiel, H., Haberman, R., Sommer, M., Mitrou, N., Du, YG., Gotz, M., Lehnert, R., Sun, ZL., Cosmas, JP., Renger, T. and Theimer, T., Switching block studies, network performance evaluation and traffic engineering for ATM, European Transactions on Telecommunications and Related Technologies 5 (2) : 187- 198

(1993) Hundt, E., Panis, S., Ziegler, M. and Cosmas, J., Object segmentation and object-based calculation of depth using stereo images, Pattern Recognition and Image Analysis 3 (3) : 317-

(1991) Grunenfelder, R., Cosmas, JP., Manthorpe, S. and Odinmaokafor, A., Characterization of video codecs as autoregressive moving average processes and related queueing system performance, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications 9 (3) : 284- 293

(1991) Cosmas, JP. and Hibberd, R., Geometrical testing of three-dimensional objects with the aid of pattern recognition, IEE Proceedings E: Computers and Digital Techniques 138 (4) : 250- 254

(1988) Cardew-Hall, M., Cosmas, J. and Ristic, M., Automated proof inspection of turbine blades, The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology 3 (2) : 67- 88

Conference Papers

(2009) Di Bari, R., Bard, M., Arrinda, A., Ditto, P., Cosmas, J., Loo, KK. and Nilavalan, R., Rooftop and indoor reception with transmit diversity applied to DVB-T Networks: a long term measurement campaign, IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting (BMSB '09) Download publication

(2008) Aggoun, A., Amon, P., Arbel, I., Chernilov, A., Cosmas, J., Garcia, G., Jari, A., Keller, S., Mattavelli, M., Kontopoulos, C., Lamy-Bergot, C., Leon, A., Mauthe, A., Mota, T., Naumann, M., Navarro, A., Negru, O., Pinto, F., Shao, B., Timmerer, C., Tsekleves, E. and Zahariadis, T., Multimedia delivery in the future internet: A converged network perspective, Multimedia Delivery in the Future Internet, NEM 2008 Summit Download publication

(2008) Ahmad, A., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., A survey of programmable and dedicated approaches in VLSI architecture design for real-time video processing, 12th WSEAS International Conference on Circuits

(2008) Di Bari, R., Bard, M., Cosmas, J., Nilavalan, R., Loo, KK., Shirazi, H. and Krishnapillai, K., Field trials and test results of portable DVB-T systems with transmit delay diversity, 12th IEEE International Symposium on Consumer Electronics Download publication

(2007) Shirazi, H., Di Bari, R., Cosmas, J., Nilavalan, R., Zhang, Y., Loo, J. and Bard, M., Test-bed development and measurement plan for evaluating transmit diversity in DVB networks, 16th IST Mobile and Wireless Communications Summit Download publication

(2004) Haque, M., Itagaki, T. and Cosmas, J., Digital interactive television services for converged IP and DVB networks, IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo (ICME)

(2004) Yang, XD., Song, YH., Owens, TJ., Cosmas, J. and Itagaki, T., Performance analysis of the OFDM scheme in DVB-T, 6th IEEE Circuits and Systems Symposium on Emerging Technologies: Frontiers of Mobile and Wireless Communication 2004

(2002) Green, D., Cosmas, J. and Itagaki, T., Visualizing legacy stratigraphic data from archaeological handbooks, 1st International Symposium on 3D Data Processing Visualization and Transmission

(2008) Di Bari, R., Bard, M., Cosmas, J., Nilavalan, R., Loo, KK., Shirazi, H. and Krishnapiliai, K., Measurement results of transmit delay diversity for DVB-T networks, IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting

(2008) Xue, Z., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., Bandwidth efficient error resilience scheme for wavelet based video transmission, IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting

(2008) Xue, Z., Loo, KK., Cosmas, J. and Yip, PY., Error resilient wavelet video transmission with priority area protection using Wyner-Ziv coding, 8th WSEAS International Conference on Multimedia Systems and Signal Processing, ELE COM ENG 267- 272

(2008) Tun, M., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., Fast motion estimation using semi-hierarchical approach for the Dirac video codec, 8th WSEAS International Conference on Multimedia Systems and Signal Processing, ELE COM ENG 273- 279

(2008) Tun, M., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., Motion estimation using partial cost function calculation, IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting

(2008) Tun, M., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., Semi-hierarchical motion estimation for the Dirac video codec, IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting

(2008) Xue, Z., Loo, KK., Cosmas, J. and Yip, PY., Wireless multimedia sensor network with an efficient distributed video coding for multimedia broadcasting, 8th WSEAS International Conference on Multimedia Systems and Signal Processing, ELE COM ENG 261- 266

(2007) Tun, M., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., A novel rate control algorithm for the Dirac video codec based upon the quality factor optimization, 2nd International Conference on Geometric Modeling and Imaging

(2007) Xue, Z., Loo, KK. and Cosmas, J., Embedded side information refinement for pixel domain Wyner-Ziv video coding towards units 3G application, IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo (ICME 2007)

(2004) Itagaki, T., Cosmas, J. and Haque, M., An interactive digital television system designed for synchronised and scalable multi-media content over DVB and IP networks, IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo (ICME)

(2004) Yang, XD., Song, YH., Owens, TJ., Cosmas, J. and Itagaki, T., Performance analysis of time slicing in DVB-H, Joint 1st Workshop on Mobile Future/Symposium on Trends in Communications (Sympotic 04) Download publication

(1996) Laier, J., Panis, S., Cosmas, JP., Schaefer, R. and Pearmain, AJ., Content-based multimedia data access in Internet video communication, 1st International Workshop on Wirless Image/Video Communications

(1991) Pitts, JM., Sun, Z., Cosmas, JP. and Scharf, EM., Burst-level teletraffic modeling - applications in broad-band network studies, 3rd IEE Conference on Telecommunications