A team of electrical and computer engineering faculty have received $1 million from Intel Corp., Cisco Systems Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. for research on "video-aware networks."

Over the past two decades, research has focused on the art of coding to transport bits more efficiently and reliably over networks, said Salman Avestimehr, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering (ECE) and project principal investigator.

"In contrast, we aim to understand how awareness from the content and users' perception of those 'bits' can revolutionize our networks," Avestimehr said. Among the team's goals is to explore video awareness at different parts of the network to engineer more intelligent communication infrastructures.

Other team members are professors Tsuhan Chen and Sheila Hemami and assistant professor Aaron Wagner, all electrical and computer engineering.

"There are many opportunities for efficiency improvements in current networks," said co-PI Wagner. "For instance, two people watching the same video on their cell phones currently receive separate copies of the video. It is very inefficient."

The unique arrangement of the collaboration, with companies representing several different industries joining with an academic research team, promises opportunities for both fundamental research and technology transfer.

"We are very pleased to host this project, which will enhance people's experiences as people become more and more mobile," said Chen, who is also ECE director.