The converging ICT sector brings about changes and new opportunities in the Multimedia and Networking sector. Despite the economic downturn, Broadband Accesses are a growing market. Internet Service Providers, IP backbone carriers and Multimedia vendors recognise the impact and chances resulting from Media Content Creation, Transport and Distribution over Internet backbones and broadband access networks. VIDIOS develops, integrates and tests all parts of the “media chain” over wireless and wired broadband Internet access networks and Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) backbones. By applying application-oriented state-of-the-art technology, VIDIOS innovations create opportunities for maximising the investment returns of the capital starved telecommunication industry. Multimedia contents so far are produced and distributed across rather reliable and error free communication networks. VIDIOS designs and validates an architecture delivering end-to-end Quality of Service for multimedia transmissions across error prone networks such as Internet backbones and mobile access networks. MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding, combined with robust and scalable coding techniques are applied by VIDIOS for robust transport over an MPLS backbone. The MPLS backbone further protects the application stream by QoS based on already implemented standards. In a first step, an Internet Service Provider will simply invoke application agnostic network services while he delivers videos to the end users. In a second step, Bandwidth on Demand services are introduced enabling multimedia contribution and personal video-conferencing. All solutions will be demonstrated by VIDIOS using real production facilities to the utmost extent. VIDIOS is a serious contribution in keeping the European Multimedia ICT sector at the forefront of global development.

Widespread access to reliable video services is an important precondition ensuring economic success of Multimedia production and distribution across Internet backbones. The architecture that will be designed by VIDIOS applies open interfaces and standards supporting the required inter-workings and interoperation wherever these are available. The VIDIOS consortium unites competence from video and networking vendors and operators, thus taking into account system aspects of video streaming from the start on. Beginning with the design of a suitable architecture, VIDIOS develops, integrates and tests full video streaming and communication systems and services for broadband customers in a network environment. VIDIOS identifies Internet performance requirements and video equipment coding requirements by careful technical evaluation. User acceptance and business relevance of the VIDIOS solution is critically linked to technological- and economic aspects. The VIDIOS “media chain” architecture will reflect these constraints. Appropriate SLAs, an associated charging strategy as well as   network, service, and application security aspects and copyright issues ensure VIDIOS to design an integrated system solution. To test this integrated system solution VIDIOS develops a demonstrator allowing end-to-end testing with real end-user-communities. Wireless and wired broadband communication suiting creators, distributors and consumers of video contents together with open standards and interfaces and an economic system architecture will characterize the VIDIOS solution. VIDIOS thus creates opportunities for maximising the investment returns of the capital starved telecommunication industry and supports new and attractive broadband services by a full set of advanced video applications.