KeyNote 1

Multimedia Content on Mobile Devices : Opportunities and Challenges

Kumar Ramaswamy

VP, Corporate Research, Thomson Inc.

Tuesday, June 27, 10:30-11:30 am

Abstract:

Increasing consumer interest in accessing content-on-the-go implies new service opportunities for network operators and content owners. It is predicted that, by 2010, there will be over 150 million subscribers using mobile TV services worldwide and wireless content will generate annual revenues of $43 Billion*. However, there are many technical and business-model challenges that confront this form of content distribution. In this talk, we will address some of these challenges and how the industry has gone about solving them. We also highlight some open issues that are yet to be solved. Some of the specific topics addressed include - audio/video compression, networking technologies, content distribution optimization, security and power efficiency issues for portable playback.

* Understanding & Solutions - March-April 2006 Insight Report

Slides from the talk

Bio:

Kumar Ramaswamy co-heads Corporate Research at Thomson, a 440 person organization with eight research labs. This involves setting research strategy, interacting with business units and external customers and following through on the execution of the strategy.

Kumar joined Thomson in Indianapolis in 1993. Initially, as a Senior Member of Technical Staff, and then as Manager of the Future Communications Laboratory, Kumar was part of the team that was responsible for the development and deployment of several communication systems including the DIRECTV* satellite system, HDTV, advanced digital cable and wireless cable systems. He was also CTO of HomeFront DSL - a CLEC established in Indiana offering triple play including video-over-DSL.

Kumar received a PhD in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1993, MS degree in Mathematics from RPI in 1992, MSEE - Vanderbilt in 1988 and BE(Honours) degree from REC Trichy, India in 1986. He has 40 issued US patents, several international patents and has over 70 pending patent applications. He has been an invited speaker at several leading international conferences, has authored many technical publications and has conducted three half-day technical tutorial sessions. He was awarded the Outstanding Young Electrical Engineer award in 2000 by the Eta Kappa Nu honor society.