ABSTRACT
In recent years, we have experienced many explosions in various technologies in information processing, transmission, distribution, and storage. In this chapter, we will address two distinct but equally important algorithms and architectures of multimedia and beamforming array processings in communication systems. The first problem is motivated by our need for efficient and real-time presentation of still image, live-action video, and audio information commonly called “multimedia.” To most users, multimedia presentation is easier and more natural to comprehend compared with the traditional textual form of presentation on paper. The second problem is motivated by a desire to transfer tremendous amounts of information from one location to another over limited frequency-polarization-space-time channel constraints. Beamforming array processing technologies are used to coherently transmit or receive information over these channel constraints that can significantly improve the performance of a single transmit or receive antenna system. Since both of these problems are of fundamental interest in VLSI and practical implementations of modern communication systems, we consider in detail the basic signal processing algorithmic and architectural limitations of these problems.
