copyr ght mars 2004, Ecole Polytechn que Fdrale Lausanne

Communication
creating a connected world
Systems
Seeing double is seeing farther

SimulCam is an innovative technology that provides simultaneous viewing

of several competitors overlaid onto a single video sequence. Developed by
Dartfish SA, it is patented in the USA, in Europe, and in several Asian countries.
SimulCam has been used in some of the greatest sporting events in the world Autonomous mobile communication systems
the Olympic Games, the World Skiing Championship, and the World Athletics
Championship.
The EPFL Audiovisual Communications Laboratory initially developed the techno-
logy in 1996. The SimulCam system recomposes the video images in two steps.
It first accounts for the various positions of the camera as it records different
competitors, then extracts the movement of these competitors from the back-
ground and reconstructs a high quality image. The SimulCam team used their
new method for the first time to record the downhill race at the Lauberhorn
World Cup in 1998. At that time, the method required a time-consuming EPFL researchers began to examine the idea of
application of computer vision algorithms. A subsequent refinement using sensor making mobile communication devices completely
measurements allowed the image recomposition to occur in real time. autonomous. The process would involve directly
Since its debut, Dartfish has also developed other technologies that decompose transmitting information from the sending device to
movement and visualize it in various ways. This tool allows the athlete to study the receiving device without passing through a fixed
his or her performance in great detail. Future applications are foreseen in broader infrastructure. This line of thinking led the EPFL
educational frameworks, such as sports medicine and physiotherapy, and in a wide researchers to pursue a revolutionary communica-
range of industrial processes. tions perspective that today forms a National
Center of Competence in Research (NCCR).
The basic rules are the same as for peer-to-peer
communication on the Internet: each wireless com-
munication device becomes its own relay station in
Tomorrows surgery :To live in New York and operate in Paris an entirely new kind of autonomous network. This
France Telecom

innovation results from the capability built into

The combination of telecommunication technologies and advances in robotics
will not only allow a surgeon to communicate and to teach, but also to operate
the world over all without ever leaving home. Tele-surgery will allow spe-
cialists to train and assist surgeons in isolated regions and developing countries.
Complex robotic systems and control software will carry out the surgeons
remote commands. High-performance networks and optimized video com-
pression will make it possible to transmit rapid visual feedback to the surgeon
with the high quality and minimal delay required for delicate procedures.
Reliability and security of the transmission link throughout the operation will
also be a fundamental requirement.
In addition to providing considerable audio and visual feedback, next-generation
systems will have devices that provide haptic feedback, or a sense of touch.
These systems will let the surgeon feel organs and bodily tissue from a distance.
the wireless devices for self-organization. Indeed,
their mobility, their many functions (transmission
of voice, data, still or moving images, etc.), and the
absence of any infrastructure requires that they be
able to identify their environment autonomously,
particularly the positions and features of their
neighbouring devices.
The potential applications of this new concept
are many. Some examples are communications
in disaster areas, networks of intelligent sensors,
interactions between robots, and advanced medical
technology. These new systems can also function
in a complementary fashion with established mobile
telephony networks .
The NCCR MICS, directed from the EPFL,
includes research groups throughout Switzerland
and partnerships with leading experts all over the
world. The project brings together some hundred
researchers to focus on scientific, technical,
and economic issues raised by this new concept.
Leading communication firms are also involved.
Communication Systems
creating a connected world

\ Openness and exchange If concepts of energy and matter dominated the 19 th and part
We believe that one of the keys to success in the future will be of the 20 th century, it is the concept of information that takes
your openness to change and your ability to comprehend and center stage today. Just as the laws of physics govern physical
adapt quickly to new situations.This attitude is reflected in our objects, the principles of information theory govern information.
curriculum, in the diversity of our students, and in our policies There are limits to how information can be stored, processed, and
for personnel recruitment. communicated, independent of the technology applied. Whether
There is no doubt that your education, training, and future profes- it be a CD or Morse code, the Internet or the highway network,
sional activities will require a high level of interpersonal competence. the same laws and basic principles apply.
Your important work will put you not simply in front of a computer By emphasizing these basic principles in our curriculum, we guarantee
screen, but often in a team of people who are involved in the same that you will have a solid education and be well positioned in our
project.To prepare you for this, our human and social sciences rapidly changing world.Technology changes quickly, but the theo-
program represents some 10% of your course work. retical foundations remain the same !
An important facet of your studies will be the opportunity to spend
a year, through our mobility program, in one of many excellent
universities around the world with which we frequently exchange
students. Or perhaps you would like to test your skills in a half-year
internship with a leading firm in your field? Or perhaps you will
complete your diploma work in a research lab or business that
works in partnership with one of our faculty? To offer you a wide
range of choice, we maintain a large internship database and even
employ a person in the United States who can help you arrange a
Silicon Valley internship. You may be surprised to learn of the great diversity
In addition to geographic mobility, the communication systems cur- of fields and the varied kinds of research in which our
riculum offers you great flexibility in designing a program to suit former and current students are engaged.
your particular interests.You will be able to choose from a broad
selection of optional courses. Are you interested in business? Then
why not pursue a business minor? Or you might want to add some
biology courses to your curriculum.
Our Masters program is conducted entirely in English and your fellow
students come from all over the world.

\ A shared dynamism
Todays world is changing rapidly; change in tomorrows world will be
even faster. A major engine driving this change is the ever-expanding
field of communications.What seemed completely futuristic yesterday
will be a reality tomorrow. SMS, WWW, peer-to-peer, e-commerce,
and distance learning are so familiar to us now that it is difficult
to imagine a world without them. While it is impossible to predict
the next developments, it is almost certain that they will result
from advances in communication and information technologies.
These technologies are a priority for EPFL. A new building and
a constant growth in the number of researchers, both men
and women, attest to this fact.The School of Information and
Communication Sciences is also leading house in the National
Center of Competence in Research on Mobile Information and
Communication Systems, and several start-up companies have
emerged from its labs.
\ Fundamental
What connection is there between a song on a CD and Morse
code? Or between bottlenecks on the Internet and traffic jams on
the highway? You will discover these links while familiarizing yourself
with the fundamental principles that govern information, its trans-
mission, and its processing.
Pascal Fleury, engineer (Sony,Tokyo)
Fascinated by electrical engineering, I chose EPFL to study
communication systems because the diploma is recognized
in the United States. I encourage students to benefit
from their study time by developing interests that are
as eclectic as possible.They should also try to do their
diploma work within a business environment, which is
a considerable asset in the next stages of their career.
I currently direct a team of engineers in developing the
audiovisual component of a Sony product.This involves
designing software architecture, choosing the most suitable
technology, and implementing the product concurrently
with the other development teams. My work includes just
as much people management and project management as
it does technical expertise.
Michael Gastpar, professor
(Berkeley, University of California, USA)
My training in electrical engineering at the
ETHZ led me to do a masters degree at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Following that, I was attracted by the excel-
lent communication systems program at
EPFL, so I came back to Switzerland for my
PhD.This turned out to be a very good
decision, as I found EPFL to be a center of
real inspiration as well as a great starting
point for my career and future projects.
Laurent Gaillard, engagement manager
(McKinsey & Company, Geneva)
My goal in choosing EPFL was to join a top-flight school,
open to the world. To my eyes, telecommunications repre-
sented the future. I benefited from extraordinary teaching
and found a great diversity in the exchanges.
I also much appreciated spending a year at Eurecom.
As an engagement manager with McKinsey, I work with
business managers and give them technical advice. For
example, I helped a CIO to reorganize his IT unit as an
effective service provider. I also helped select a provider
for setting up SAP and helped decide what operational
and information functions should be outsourced. I lead
a team of two or three consultants for projects that last
three months on average.

Mathilde Durvy, doctoral student

(School of Computer and Communication Sciences, EPFL)
A teaching system that is more flexible than the French system
and allowed me to choose some fields of specific interest led me
to choose EPFL. I am interested in the mathematics of communi-
cations systems. I was able to do my diploma work at the Sprint
Advanced Technology Lab in California.
My doctoral work is in the Laboratory for computer Communica-
tions and Applications (LCA). My research area is the development
of self-organized ad-hoc networks.The goal is to have different
entities communicate between themselves efficiently without any
central coordination. I am also an assistant for the course Stochastic
Processes and I take courses myself in the doctoral program.

Alexandre Aellig, student

(Communication Systems, EPFL)
As the ETHZ does not have a program in communication
systems, I naturally chose EPFL.The fact that the school
has a strong international reputation was just as important.
The professional perspectives seemed to me extremely
varied, and my studies confirmed this. And the students
themselves come from everywhere on the horizon.
Studies

The communication systems curriculum lasts 5 years.There are
nine semesters of study followed by practical diploma work
for six months.
The foundations of this training are mathematics, information
technology, electricity, and telecommunications.
The SysCom curriculum provides you with the opportunity to live
abroad during part of your studies, or to interrupt your studies
for 6 months to discover the real world.
\ Bachelor (3 years)
The primary objective of the Bachelors degree is to give you
a base in mathematics, physics, and information technology,
and to introduce you to specific branches such as networks,
signal processing, and digital communication.
As the EPFL program in communication systems attracts students
and faculty from throughout the world, your education will neces-
sarily be enriched by this global diversity. Approximately half our
students receive their high school diploma in a country other than
Switzerland.
\ Doctorate
Research fields in communication systems are many and motivating.
During your studies, you may discover that you would like to direct
your professional efforts toward research (at least for a few years).
In all scientific careers, research occupies a privileged position that
enables someone who dives into it to indulge his or her passion
to the utmost.This is the professional goal that drives one toward
the doctoral dissertation.

\ Master (2 years)
During your final 2 years of study, conducted in English, you will
have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in fields such as :
- Biocomputing
- Computer Engineering
- Information and Communication Security
- Internet Computing
- Networking and Mobility \ Additionnal Informations
- Signal Processing Theory and Practice http://ssc.epfl.ch www.epfl.ch/etudes
- Wireless Communications
The Master opens the doors for you to an active professional life. Communication Systems Section
You can also choose to pursue doctoral work. School of Computer and Communication Sciences (I&C)

\ An international curriculum EPFL - I&C - SSC

To give an international dimension to your education, you will be Bt. IN Tel. +41 (0)21 693 66 61
able to CH - 1015 Lausanne Email : section-sc.ic@epfl.ch
copyright mars 2004, Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale Lausanne

- study in a foreign university for one year in our mobility

program Study advice Office
- interrupt your studies to pursue a six-month internship in EPFL - SOC Tel. +41 (0)21 693 22 81
a company or university in the USA, Japan, or elsewhere; this Bt. BP Email : soc@epfl.ch
experience of life as an engineer has great educational value CH - 1015 Lausanne www.epfl.ch/soc/
and will enrich your appreciation for your studies that follow
- do your diploma project in a foreign university or company Registrars Office
These options will also add value to your CV, as an employer EPFL - SAC Tel. +41 (0)21 693 43 45
normally prefers to hire a person with professional and/or foreign Bt. BP Email : sac@epfl.ch
experience.The SysCom division provides you with a placement CH - 1015 Lausanne www.epfl.ch/sac/
service and administrative follow-up for your internship and
diploma projects.
 Image courtesy Lumeta Corp. 2003

> The global internet is a massive, dynamic, and highly distributed network.
It has become an essential tool in our daily lives to communicate and
to access information.The Internet operates without any central authority
and control, and network domains are only loosely coupled.
Therefore, understanding the behaviour and evolution of the global Internet
is almost like observing a living organism : for example, the image above
shows a snapshot of the Internets nodes and links at a particular moment
in time. Scientists use such images to visualize and study the structure
of the network and its growth over time.