CS 638: Multimedia Networking and Operating Systems

Fall 2026

Overview and Objectives:

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 virtual/augemnted/extended reality, 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
  5. End system resource management, e.g., real-time CPU scheduling
  6. Multimedia over WiFi and cellular networks
  7. AI, ML, and LLMs for multimedia

Upon completion of this course, students will grasp key multimedia 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 e-mail me if you wish to set up an appointment to meet online or in-person.

Prerequisites:

CS 503 or CS 536 or consent of the instructor

Credit:

03

Policies:

Please review the policies page maintained by Professor Gene Spafford for information about course policies.

Readings:

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 VR/AR 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 6) paper reviews 35%
Paper presentation 15%
Project plan and updates 10%
Project report 25%
Project presentation 10%
Class participation 5%