Digital Commons Network^™

Robust Image And Video Coding With Adaptive Rate Control, Hongqiang Wang

Department of Computer Electronics and Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation is focused on the problem of rate allocation in a resource constrained environment and robustness of video coding over noise channels. A new rate allocation scheme that combines the traditional PCRD-Opt algorithm with the rho domain analysis is proposed for wavelet based image coders. The proposed scheme provides competitive performance as compared with the optimal PCRD-Opt algorithm, while with great reduction on complexity and computational costs. Rate allocation is developed for the Region-Of-Interest (ROI) in the wavelet transform domain for image coding. A recursive region growing method that deter mines the ROI in the transform domain is proposed. …

44th Conference On Senior Engineering Design, College Of Engineering And Applied Sciences

Senior Engineering Design Conference

The 44th Conference on Senior Engineering Design Projects was held on April 14, 2009 at the College of Engineering and applied Sciences on the Parkview Campus of Western Michigan University. The college sponsors the conference to showcase the work of its graduating seniors, who are required to complete a capstone project that puts into practice what they have learned. Many of the projects are sponsored by business and industry.

Face And Lip Tracking In Unconstrained Imagery For Improved Automatic Speech Recognition, Brandon Crow, Jane Zhang

Electrical Engineering

When combined with acoustical speech information, visual speech information (lip movement) significantly improves Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) in acoustically noisy environments. Previous research has demonstrated that visual modality is a viable tool for identifying speech. However, the visual information has yet to become utilized in mainstream ASR systems due to the difficulty in accurately tracking lips in real-world conditions. This paper presents our current progress in tracking face and lips in visually challenging environments. Findings suggest the mean shift algorithm performs poorly for small regions, in this case the lips, but it achieves near 80% accuracy for facial tracking.

The Design Of A Data Recorder To Test The Effects Of Color Contrast On 'This Side Up' Pictorial Markings On Package Orientation Within Ups Ground, Rupert Hurley

All Theses

A data recorder was built and qualified to record package orientation over time. The device was then used to observe the effects on package orientation during UPS ground shipping of current and modified ASTM D5445-03 'This Side Up' symbols. Modified symbols on packages demonstrated the effects of contrasting color relationships on symbol noticeability and human compliance. Shipping trials were conducted through UPS distribution centers for cube-shaped packages equipped with custom designed tri-axial accelerometers. Data recorded on 112 shipments provide comparisons of four ASTM D5445-03 'This Side Up' symbols: unmodified, modified blue, modified 'black and white', and control (no symbol). Data …

A Theoretical Framework For Quality-Aware Cross-Layer Optimized Wireless Multimedia Communications, Song Ci, Haohong Wang, Dalei Wu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Although cross-layer has been thought as one of themost effective and efficient ways formultimedia communications over wireless networks and a plethora of research has been done in this area, there is still lacking of a rigorous mathematical model to gain indepth understanding of cross-layer design tradeoffs, spanning from application layer to physical layer. As a result, many existing cross-layer designs enhance the performance of certain layers at the price of either introducing side effects to the overall system performance or violating the syntax and semantics of the layered network architecture. Therefore, lacking of a rigorous theoretical study makes existing cross-layer …

Application Of Artificial Neural Networks And Colored Petri Nets On Earthquake Resilient Water Distribution Systems, Nandini Kavanal Balakrishnan

Masters Theses

"Water distribution systems are important lifelines and a critical and complex infrastructure of a country. The performance of this system during unexpected rare events is important as it is one of the lifelines that people directly depend on and other factors indirectly impact the economy of a nation. In this thesis a couple of methods that can be used to predict damage and simulate the restoration process of a water distribution system are presented. Contributing to the effort of applying computational tools to infrastructure systems, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is used to predict the rate of damage in the pipe …

A Theoretical Framework For Quality-Aware Cross-Layer Optimized Wireless Multimedia Communications, Song Chi, Haohong Wang, Dalei Wu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Although cross-layer has been thought as one of themost effective and efficient ways formultimedia communications over wireless networks and a plethora of research has been done in this area, there is still lacking of a rigorous mathematical model to gain indepth understanding of cross-layer design tradeoffs, spanning from application layer to physical layer. As a result, many existing cross-layer designs enhance the performance of certain layers at the price of either introducing side effects to the overall system performance or violating the syntax and semantics of the layered network architecture. Therefore, lacking of a rigorous theoretical study makes existing cross-layer …

College Of Engineering Senior Design Competition Spring 2007, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition Projects

Part of every UNLV engineering student’s academic experience, the senior design project stimulates engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. Each student in their senior year chooses, plans, designs, and prototypes a product in this required element of the curriculum. A capstone to the student’s educational career, the senior design project encourages the student to use everything learned in the engineering program to create a practical, real world solution to an engineering challenge.

The senior design competition helps to focus the senior students in increasing the quality and potential for commercial application for their design projects. Judges from local industry evaluate the projects …

A Kinematic Analysis Of Sign Language, Chemuttaai C. Koech

Theses

Signed languages develop among deaf populations and employ manual communication instead of voiced communication. Stokoe attributes classify individual signs in American Sign Language (ASL) and include handshape, hand location, movement, orientation, and facial expression. Signed and oral languages are not mutually understood, and many deaf individuals live in linguistic isolation. This research addresses computer translation between signing and speech, investigating sign duration in sentence context versus in isolation and identifying kinematic sign markers. To date, there has been little study of continuous signing kinematics; it was previously unknown if kinematic markers existed.

Kinematic data were collected from a proficient signer …

Distributed Video Coding Based On Constrained Rate Adaptive Low Density Parity Check Codes, Rong Ke Liu, Guo Gang Hua, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Distributed video coding is an emerging area of research for digital video driven partly by the widespread use of video acquisition devices by the consumers. In this paper, we present a distributed video coding scheme based on zero motion identification at the decoder and constrained rate adaptive low density parity check (LDPC) codes. Zero-motion-block identification mechanism is introduced at the decoder, which takes the characters of video sequence into account. The constrained error control decoder can use the bits in the zero motion blocks as a constraint to achieve a better decoding performance and further improve the overall video compression …

Dynamic Gop Structure For Scalable Video Coding, Haksoo Kim, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

MPEG is currently developing a new scalable video coding (SVC) standard which should provide compression efficiency similar to current non-scalable video coding standard. The extension of H.264/AVC hybrid video coding using motion-compensated temporal filtering (MCTF) is a current solution. This paper presents a dynamic group of picture (GOP) structure to improve the quality of the SVC coded video by using variable GOP sizes along the video sequences without the restriction of the fixed GOP size or the limited adaptive GOP size. The dynamic GOP structure keeps temporal importance information of frames in the encoded video, which helps in coding efficiency …

Progressive Image Transmission With Rcpt Protection, Lei Yao, Lei Cao, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

In this paper, a joint source-channel coding scheme is proposed for progressive image transmission over channels with both random bit errors and packet loss by using rate-compatible punctured Turbo codes (RCPT) protection only. Two technical components which are different from existing methods are presented. First, a data frame is divided into multiple CRC blocks before being coded by a turbo code. This is to secure a high turbo coding gain which is proportional to the data frame size. In the mean time, the beginning blocks in a frame may still be usable although the decoding of the entire frame fails. …

Identification And Suitability Of A Non-Anthropomorphic Meta-Language Framework In Military Applications, Gilbert Cardona

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Humans carry mental models concerning the behaviors, looks, and operation of products, tools, and items used in their daily lives. When these items do not fit a user's conceptual model confusion and inefficiency occur. There are four basic types of mental models based on interactive activities: 1) instructing, 2) conversing, 3) manipulating and navigating, and 4) exploring and browsing. This thesis will focus on the conversing conceptual model and its application to communications between human-agent teams to best fit a user's mental model for that communication. A non-anthropomorphic framework does not exist for use in military applications such as; target …

Dynamic Construction Visualizer, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets Archive

The Dynamic Construction Visualizer (DCV) is general-purpose 3D visualization system that allows simulation model developers to animate modeled operations with chronological and spatial accuracy in 3D virtual space. The system is independent of any particular simulation-modeling program or CAD modeling software.

Video Transmission Over Mimo-Ofdm System: Mdc And Space-Time Coding-Based Approaches, Haifeng Zheng, Congchong Ru, Chang Wen Chen, Lun Yu

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

MIMO-OFDM is a promising technique for the broadband wireless communication system. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme that integrates multiple-description coding (MDC), error-resilient video coding, and unequal error protection strategy with hybrid space-time coding structure for robust video transmission over MIMO-OFDM system. The proposed MDC coder generates multiple bitstreams of equal importance which are very suitable for multiple-antennas system. Furthermore, according to the contribution to the reconstructed video quality, we apply unequal error protection strategy using BLAST and STBC space-time codes for each video bitstream. Experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed scheme can be an excellent alternative …

Collaborative Image Coding And Transmission Overwireless Sensor Networks, Min Wu, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

The imaging sensors are able to provide intuitive visual information for quick recognition and decision. However, imaging sensors usually generate vast amount of data. Therefore, processing and coding of image data collected in a sensor network for the purpose of energy efficient transmission poses a significant technical challenge. In particular, multiple sensors may be collecting similar visual information simultaneously. We propose in this paper a novel collaborative image coding and transmission scheme to minimize the energy for data transmission. First, we apply a shape matching method to coarsely register images to find out maximal overlap to exploit the spatial correlation …

Process Modelling Support For The Conceptual Modelling Phase Of A Simulation Project, Cathal Heavey, John Ryan

Conference papers

While many developments have taken place around supporting the model coding task of simulation, there are few tools available to assist in the conceptual modelling phase. Several authors have reported the advantages of using process modelling tools in the early phases of a simulation project.

This paper provides an overview of process modelling tools in relation to their support for simulation, categorizing the tools into formal method and descriptive methods. A conclusion from this review is that none of the tools available adequately support the requirements gathering phase of simulation. This is not surprising as none of the process modelling …

Developing Institutional Faculty Communities To Review And Assess Sotl Work, Paul Savory, Amy Nelson Burnett, Amy M. Goodburn

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This workshop explores theoretical questions and practical strategies for how to develop faculty peer reviewers for SOTL work. After reading a set of faculty case-study files that include varying forms of SOTL work, participants will engage in guided discussion about reviewing and assessing such work and about developing faculty communities equipped to do such work. Presenter(s) also will seek feedback on guidelines that they have developed for external reviewers of SOTL work. Many teaching efforts have focused primarily on engaging faculty to participate in SOTL initiatives, with little attention to creating mechanisms for evaluating and assessing the work resulting from …

Process Modeling For Simulation, John Ryan, Cathal Heavey

Articles

This paper discusses shortfalls in relation to the requirements gathering phases of simulation. While many developments have taken place around supporting the model coding task of simulation, there are few tools available to assist in the requirements gathering phase. This is surprising as it has been reported by several researchers that the requirements phase can absorb twice as much resources as the coding phase. There are numerous process modeling tools available (over 100) that can and have been used to support the requirements phase of simulation. This paper provides a selective review of some of the most important in relation …

Designing A Data Warehouse For Cyber Crimes, Il-Yeol Song, John D. Maguire, Ki Jung Lee, Namyoun Choi, Xiaohua Hu, Peter Chen

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

One of the greatest challenges facing modern society is the rising tide of cyber crimes. These crimes, since they rarely fit the model of conventional crimes, are difficult to investigate, hard to analyze, and difficult to prosecute. Collecting data in a unified framework is a mandatory step that will assist the investigator in sorting through the mountains of data. In this paper, we explore designing a dimensional model for a data warehouse that can be used in analyzing cyber crime data. We also present some interesting queries and the types of cyber crime analyses that can be performed based on …

Requirements Gathering For Simulation, John Ryan, Cathal Heavey

Conference papers

This paper discusses the current shortfalls in support for the pre-coding phases of a discrete event simulation project. The paper then presents a process modelling technique, Simulation Activity Diagrams (SADs), developed to specifically support the initial requirements gathering phases of a simulation project. The paper concludes with an outline of proposed future developments to the modelling technique.

Conducting Business In Network Centric Collaborative Environments, Vance Saunders, Paul Bailor, Charles Cohen, Ann K. Miller, Barbra Sorensen

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of the World Wide Web (or Internet) has provided the ability to connect the entire world together. Thousands of web servers located around the world allow users to connect and communicate with one another. Additionally, a huge transaction-based product sales business has evolved, via the Internet. for many, the next generation of the Internet needs to focus on collections of servers and users working collectively together to solve problems. Grids and the Global Information Grid (GIG) are terms associated with enabling technologies that provide the framework for collections of servers and users to work together. Network Centric Operations …

Impulse, Dave Graves, Kyle Johnson, Miranda Reiman, Nicole Schaffer, Greta Stewart, Denise Watt

Impulse (Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering Publication)

Features:
[Page] 2 South Dakota no longer is merely a launching pad: An industrialization of the economy has made the state a land of opportunity for engineers while still having a small town feel.
[Page] 4 While you were away: Brookings and SDSU aren't the places many alums remember them to be.
[Page] 6 What will lead future growth in the region?: University and community leaders are proposing a 134-acre research park adjacent to the SDSU campus.
[Page] 8 GIS Center of Excellence: Scientists have been hired for the inaugural year of operation for the Geographic Information Science Center of …

Robust Video Transmission Based On Multiple Description Scalable Coding With Erec, Haifeng Zheng, Lun Yu, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

This paper presents a multiple description scalable video coding scheme based on overcomplete motion compensated temporal filtering, named MD-OMCTF, for robust video transmission over wireless and packet loss networks. The intrinsic nature of the structure of OMCTF and embedded coding with modified SPIHT algorithm enable us to provide fully scalable properties for the proposed scheme. We show that multiple description coding is very effective in combating with channel failures in both Internet and wireless video. The integration of MD with OMCTF allows us to achieve both loss resilience and complete scalability. In order to further improve error-resilience to channel bit …

Multiple Description Distributed Image Coding With Side Information For Mobile Wireless Transmission, Min Wu, Daewon Song, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Multiple description coding (MDC) is a source coding technique that involves coding the source information into multiple descriptions, and then transmitting them over different channels in packet network or error-prone wireless environment to achieve graceful degradation if parts of descriptions are lost at the receiver. In this paper, we proposed a multiple description distributed wavelet zero tree image coding system for mobile wireless transmission. We provide two innovations to achieve an excellent error resilient capability. First, when MDC is applied to wavelet subband based image coding, it is possible to introduce correlation between the descriptions in each subband. We consider …

Constant Quality Constrained Bit Allocation For Leaky Prediction Based Fgs Video Streaming, Jianhua Wu, Jianfei Cai, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Leaky prediction based FGS (Fine Granularity Scalability) can achieve better coding efficiency than the baseline FGS. However, for leaky prediction based FGS (L-FGS), constant quality constrained bit allocation, i.e., how to optimally allocate bits given the current channel bandwidth, is still an open problem. In this paper, based on the accurate R-D (Rate-Distortion) model developed in our previous work, we propose a constant quality constrained bit allocation scheme for L-FGS. The proposed scheme is a combination of offline and online processes. During the offline stage, we perform the L-FGS encoding and collect the necessary feature information. At the online stage, …

Integration Of Lean Manufacturing And Value Engineering Techniques To Improve The Internal Distribution System In A Manufacturing Company, Sripadjaraj Prahladaraj

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The XYZ Corporation is located in Lafayette, Georgia. The company produces cooking ranges for the North American market. It has 1500 employees with a daily production capacity of 1000 to 1500 cooking ranges. The company is implementing lean manufacturing techniques to improve their performance. One of their projects is to develop a distribution system, which will help in streamlining the internal distribution of Very High Pressure (VHP) adhesive tapes. The aim of this research is to develop a lean distribution system by applying techniques of lean manufacturing systems. To understand the existing process of distribution, a flow diagram was created. …

Multiple Wavelet-Tree-Based Image Coding And Robust Transmission, Lei Cao, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

In this paper, we present techniques based on multiple wavelet-tree coding for robust image transmission. The algorithm of set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) is a state-of-the-art technique for image compression. This variable length coding (VLC) technique, however, is extremely sensitive to channel errors. To improve the error resilience capability and in the meantime to keep the high source coding efficiency through VLC, we propose to encode each wavelet tree or a group of wavelet trees using SPIHT algorithm independently. Instead of encoding the entire image as one bitstream, multiple bitstreams are generated. Therefore, error propagation is limited within individual …

Effective Quality Analysis For Video Streaming Over Wireless Ad Hoc Network, Zhihai He, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Video encoding and streaming over wireless ad hoc network operates under severe conditions, such as time-varying channel characteristics with bursty errors, limit power for data transmission, and dynamic topology of the self-organized network, stringent time delay for packet delivery, etc. Due to the dynamic topology, complex mechanism, and time-varying nature of the wireless ad hoc network, the network system and the streaming service often exhibit unpredictable behaviors. The ultimate goal in the wireless video streaming service is to provide the end user with the best possible video presentation quality. The video streaming quality, often measured by the end-to-end picture distortion, …

Collaborative Image Transmission Over Wireless Sensor Networks, Min Wu, Chang Wen Chen

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

The imaging sensors are able to provide intuitive visual information for quick recognition and decision. However, imaging sensors usually generate vast amount of data. Thus, processing of image data collected in the sensor network for the purpose of energy efficient transmission poses a significant technical challenge. In particular, when a cluster of imaging sensors is activated to track certain moving target, multiple sensors may be collecting similar visual information simultaneously. With correlated image data, we need to intelligently reduce the redundancy among the neighboring sensors so as to minimize the energy for transmission, the primary source of sensor energy consumption. …