CS 638: Multimedia Networking and Operating Systems

Fall 2026

Course Description and Learning Outcomes:

Have you wondered how AI and immersive computing can be synergistic? This course explores the latest and open research problems in multimedia networking and operating systems, with several example case studies such as YouTube, Netflix, Zoom, VR Chat. We will also be exploring the role of AI, e.g., in augmented reality (AR).

The topics to be covered (tentatively) include:

  1. Multimedia applications, such as video streaming, video conferencing, and extended (e.g., augmented, virtual) reality/immersive computing, their infrastructure/resource requirements, and assessing their user quality of experience
  2. Multimedia formats and compression, e.g., H.264, AAC, point clouds, polygon meshes, 3D Gaussian splats
  3. Multimedia network traffic characteristics, traffic engineering, and protocols to transport multimedia traffic and control congestion, e.g., QUIC, DASH, RTP
  4. Content distribution networks and edge clouds, e.g., Akamai, Netflix OpenConnect, Zoom data centers
  5. End system resource management, e.g., real-time scheduling
  6. AI, ML, and LLMs for multimedia and extended reality applications, e.g., video analytics, generative models
  7. Multimedia over Wi-Fi and cellular networks

Upon completion of this course, students will grasp key multimedia/extended reality networking and operating systems concepts, requirements, and challenges, and several current and recently proposed solutions.

Days/Time:

TTh 10:30--11:45 AM

Room:

LWSN B134

Instructor:

Sonia Fahmy, office: LWSN 2142H, e-mail: last name @purdue.edu
Please post privately on edstem.org if you wish to set up an appointment to meet online or in-person. You can add yourself to the course here.

Handouts, including lecture notes, will be posted on the edstem.org Resoures page (click on the down arrow in the top row of the course page on edstem.org).

Please make sure that you check edstem.org and your Purdue e-mail frequently (at least once a day). Please do not post answers to the assignments, though posting general clarifications is fine.

Prerequisites:

CS 503 or CS 536 or consent of the instructor

Credit:

03

Policies:

Academic Integrity

Please review the page maintained by Professor Gene Spafford for information about academic integrity.

Due Dates

All assignments/reports/reviews are due on the dates and times specified. It is the responsibility of the students to manage their time so that required work can be submitted before the deadline.

Attendance and Classroom Policy

Class participation and discussions are strongly encouraged. However, please be considerate to others: avoid coming to class late, leaving early, talking to other students, etc. Please turn off your cell phone or make it silent before the class starts.

Emergency Policy

In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. Any changes will be posted on edstem.org.

AI Policy

Use of AI tools in this course is permitted without restrictions, but each student is responsible for fully understanding, validating, and being able to explain outputs of AI tools; otherwise, a grade penalty may be incurred. It is required to disclose the use of AI tools.

Non-discrimination Statement and Accessibility

Purdue University is committed to maintaining a community which recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among its members; and encourages each individual to strive to reach his or her own potential. In pursuit of its goal of academic excellence, the University seeks to develop and nurture diversity. The University believes that diversity among its many members strengthens the institution, stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches campus life. More details are available on Brightspace table of contents, under University Policies.

Purdue University strives to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, you are welcome to let me know so that we can discuss options. You are also encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center at: drc@purdue.edu or by phone: 765-494-1247. More details are available on Brightspace under Accessibility Information.

Mental Health/Wellness

If you are experiencing stress or personal problems, Purdue provides counseling services through the Purdue CAPS Center. Please see https://www.purdue.edu/CAPS/ for more details.

Learning Resources:

We will cover some material from the following books, but they are not required, i.e., your class notes will suffice:

We will also discuss important and recent papers on multimedia and extended reality in top networking and operating systems conferences, journals, and magazines.

Discussion Lead and Reviews: Each student will lead the discussion of one of the assigned papers. The presentation should discuss the main ideas of the paper, in addition to pointing out their significance/novelty, applications, limitations, and relationship to other work. The student leading the discussion is expected to prepare original slides on the strengths and weaknesses of the paper, with suggestions for improvement/extension. Please credit the source of any slide or figure you use that is not original.

Since one of the aims of this course is to learn to critique research papers, students will complete reviews of assigned papers before their discussion. This means that students should read these assigned papers critically and carefully. Please be prepared to discuss your review in class.

Tentative Grading Plan:

Homeworks and (best) paper reviews 35%
Paper presentation 15%
Project plan and updates 10%
Project report 25%
Project presentation 10%
Class participation 5%

We will use Gradescope to submit homeworks, paper reviews, and project documents.

Tentative Course Schedule:

Date Topic/Reading(s) Due
Aug. 25 Course overview; Examples (Netflix; Google Networking; Zoom; GGN)
Aug. 27 Multimedia units and streams, real-time systems, Quality of Experience (QoE) and Quality of Service (QoS)
Sept. 1 Review of key systems and networking concepts
Sept. 3 Review of key systems and networking concepts (cont'd)
TCP throughput; Fairness index; Fairness/efficiency
Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. To be added