Introduction

Abstract

Multimedia communication systems are a flagship of the information technology revolution. The combination of multiple information types, particularly audiovisual information (speech/audio/sound/image/video/graphics) with abstracted (text), smelled or tactile information provides new degrees of freedom in exchange, distribution and acquisition of information. Communication includes exchange of information between different persons, between persons and machines, or between machines only. Sufficient perceptual quality must be provided, which is related to the compression and its interrelationship with transmission by networks. Advanced methodologies are based on content analysis and identification, which is of high importance for automatic user assistance and interactivity. In multimedia communication, concepts and methods from signal processing, systems and communications theory play a dominant role, where audiovisual signals are a primary challenge regarding transmission, storage and processing complexity. This chapter introduces basic concepts and terminology related to multimedia communication systems, and gives an overview about acquisition and common formats of audiovisual signal sources.