Quality Evaluation of Synthetic Video in Simultaneous Double Stimulus Environment

Advances in video technologies combined with increased usage of synthetic video artifacts even in natural video scenes may cause problems in subjective perception of quality. In this paper investigation is done on how subjective quality assessment scores depend on technical specifications of video interface (YPbPr, YCbCr and YIQ) and video content containing diverse synthetic video artifacts. Single Stimulus (SS) and Simultaneous Double Stimulus (SDS) subjective quality assessment methods were used and results compared. It was also revealed that SDS method allows better differentiation of subjective quality. This result agrees well with statistics obtained from crowd-based questionnaires used in separate study where most observers preferred SDS as a simpler and more comfortable method compared to SS method

Policy Document on Sustainable E-Infrastructure in Baltic States and Belarus

Abstract: This document is a strategy document on development of sustainable e- Infrastructure in the Baltic States and Belarus. It is based on strategic policy documents of EU Commission, policy coordinating organizations and the best practice cases of other projects. Analysis of current situation in the Baltic States and Belarus is made and strategic development plans of each country are presented. Conclusion is made that e-Infrastructures in Baltic States and Belarus are in the different maturity stage compared to the rest of Europe. All BG-II partner countries do not have NGI organisations yet, but are planning to join EGI as eligible members and their representative organisations signed MoU to join this organization in future. This is taken into account in elaborating a long term strategy for a coherent e-Infrastructure development in Baltic States and Belarus for joining the European e-Infrastructure and ERA

Path Selection Criteria for Multi-Path Routing in Wireless Ad-Hoc Network

Multi-path routing has a potential to increase data rate of wireless ad-hoc network by aggregating capacity of individual paths. However such paths are subject to inter-path interference. To minimize degradation of the network capacity caused by interference one or another path selection criteria can be used. We propose criteria on how to choose the best paths depending on network conditions. MATLAB model with modified SMR routing algorithm has been developed to discover high number of path sets. The model was used to investigate whether shortest path node-disjoint paths should be preferred instead of spatially disjoint paths. It is shown that the set of shortest paths is preferable for smaller distance between source and destination providing data rate improvement up to 20%

Analysis of Wireless Ad-Hoc Network Parameters for Efficient Multipath Video Transmission

Transmission and routing of video data over Mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) is a complicated task because of the unstable nature and limited throughput of such networks. To improve the performance, a multi-stream video coding and transmission over several paths is used. Network parameters determining quality of video transmission (bandwidth, delay, jitter, and packet loss) and routing options combined with video coding schemas must be taken into account to find the best solution. In this paper network parameters are analysed, their complex relationships revealed and presented in a graph which could be used to choose optimum conditions for video transmission over MANET

BalticGrid - a Step towards EGI

BalticGrid – a step towards EGI Olgerts Belmanis, Ilmars Slaidins Riga Technical University Abstract After joining EU in 2004 process of integration of the Baltic States in European infrastructures and communities gained strength. One of urgent tasks was an integration of well developed computing and communication infrastructure of the Baltic States into the emerging grid computing based European e-Infrastructure. Aim of this paper is to present challenges and achievements of the Baltic Grid Project as a case study on development of grid computing and integration of existing research infrastructures and communities into common European Research Area. BalticGrid project first phase started in November 1, 2005 with 10 leading institutions in 6 countries. Baltic States joined the consortium with little experience in grid but in short time gained necessary expertise and created grid computing infrastructure. After the project first phase there were 17 operational grid computing clusters, 8 of them certified as production sites in EGEE. All necessary central services were deployed and at least doubled. The Baltic Grid Second Phase (BalticGrid-II) project started in May 1, 2008 and was designed to increase the impact of services and improve support of users of the recently created e-Infrastructure in the Baltic States and extend the BalticGrid infrastructure to Belarus. The consortium was composed of 13 leading institutions in seven countries, with 7 institutions in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, 2 in Belarus, 2 in Poland, and one each in Sweden and Switzerland. BalticGrid project was successfully completed in April 30, 2010. Aims and objectives of the Baltic Grid projects will be presented in the paper, as well as detailed analysis of achieved results in establishing sustainable e-Infrastructure in the Baltic States. Development of e-Infrastructure in the Baltic States was coordinated with the EU policy guidelines and based on best practice case analysis elsewhere in Europe and worldwide. Baltic States have computing infrastructure and well trained staff to interoperate at European level. The challenge for all Baltic States after the end of BG-II, EGEE and other collaborating project is to maintain sustainable grid infrastructure in European Research Area (ERA). The way of future Grid infrastructure and services sustainability was developed by the European Grid Initiative (EGI) Design Study project. Baltic Grid project partners also learned EGI DS goals as well as best practice from other grid projects. EGI will provide way to establish collaboration between number of computing infrastructure projects to meet needs and requirements of ERA. BG-II project established good contacts with industry. BalticGrid development policy defines the need for long-term sustainable collaboration to develop and maintain a core infrastructure that includes permanent services that are suitable for researchers from a variety of disciplines. To meet these objectives each country have established NGI based on NREN and joined EGI. EGI is the way towards a sustainable production grid infrastructure for Europe. Results obtained in the Baltic Grid project confirm readiness of partner institutions to collaborate within EGI and ERA to maintain sustainability

Impact of Video Content and Technical Specifications on Subjective Quality Assessment

Replacement of traditional analog TV broadcasting services with various video services based on new advanced digital technologies not always provide high quality of video image if evaluated by viewer. This paper presents an analysis of impact of the video content and technical specifications on the subjective assessment of video picture quality made by non-expert observers. The measurements are performed in experimental setup with 25 observers, using 11 video scenes with wide range of technical specification, various analog and digital interfaces. The results show that high definition analog and digital video interfaces are evaluated by observers as providing nearly the same quality, but temporal activity in a video scene had a significant effect on the subjective quality assessment score. For a very vibrant video scenes with a high level values of temporal and spatial activity there is no significant difference in subjective quality assessment score either using standard definition or high definition, analog or digital interface. Ill. 3, bibl. 20, tabl.

Analysis Document on Cooperation and Good Practice

Abstract: This document is prepared to analyse the cooperation and good practice in Grid projects and describes BalticGrid project experience in cooperation and implementation of good practice

Final Report on Policy and Standards Progress and Implementation

Abstract: This document is prepared in the framework of NA4 activity as final report of BalticGrid-II (BG-II) project on e-Infrastructure policy issues, as well as grid and cloud computing related standards progress and implementation. This document summarizes results obtained in the BG-II activities and related to policy and standards field. BG-II project e-Infrastructure development policy was based on strategic policy documents of EU Commission, policy coordinating organizations and the best practice cases of other projects and participation in forums and conferences. All BG-II partner countries except Belarus have joined EGI. Belarus has signed MoU with EGI. All project partners will continue to develop infrastructure based on EGI coordinated approach implementing network management and services through appropriate consortiums and Regional operation centres. Cloud implementation will be important part of long term strategy for joining the European e- Infrastructure and ERA

Progress Report on Awareness Raising

Abstract: This document is prepared to report the progress in the policy development and measures for sustainable infrastructure and awareness raising. It covers policy development issues related to sustainable e-Infrastructure development and creation of coordinating European Grid Initiative organization, as well as awareness raising policies and measures used in the BalticGrid-II (BG-II) project