SARACEN: A platform for adaptive, socially aware multimedia distribution over P2P networks

This paper presents the design of a platform for distribution of multimedia content streams supported through innovative techniques, both in terms of media encoding and media distribution. The platform architecture accommodates the use of scalable media coding techniques, including both standard and state of the art research methods (wavelets, multiple description coding), combined with new transport and realtime streaming protocols deployed over peer-to-peer networks. Furthermore, discovery of media resources and selection of peer nodes takes into account social networking related information, as this is available in user communities over the Internet. The design of the platform is taking place in the context of the European FP7 project SARACEN.