This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Data Compression Technologies

Code: 105073 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2502441 Computer Engineering OT 4

Contact

Name:
Joan Bartrina Rapesta
Email:
joan.bartrina@uab.cat

Teachers

Joan Serra Sagrista

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

  • Basic concepts of Linux and bash.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The aim of the subject of Data Compression Technologies is to acquire specific knowledge about data compression systems. This allows students to have sufficient ability to evaluate the performance and features of compression systems for a specific scenario, as well as design / modify existing systems. This subject allows to build a knowledge base to develop the final degree project (TFG) related to this topic and / or continue with related postgraduate studies. The possibility of simultaneous this subject and the TFG is contemplated.


Competences

  • Acquire personal work habits.
  • Acquire thinking habits.
  • Capacity to design, develop, evaluate and ensure the accessibility, ergonomics, usability and security of computer systems, services and applications, as well as of the information that they manage.
  • Capacity to design, develop, select and evaluate computer applications and systems, ensuring reliability, security and quality, in accordance with ethical principles, and applicable standards and legislation.
  • Have the capacity to conceive, draft, organise, plan, develop and sign projects in the field of computer engineering for the conception, development and exploitation of computer systems, services and applications.
  • Have the capacity to select, deploy, integrate and manage information systems that satisfy the needs of an organisation, identifying the cost and quality criteria.
  • Work in teams.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse the main protocols and know about the international standards and standardisation bodies.
  2. Apply basic multimedia content processes for their transmission.
  3. Design and evaluate an integrated information system based on its cost and quality.
  4. Design, develop, select and evaluate applications, ensuring their reliability and security.
  5. Develop a capacity for analysis, synthesis and prospection.
  6. Identify performance anomalies and inefficiencies when running a uniprocessor computer program both in terms of computing and memory access, and propose modifications to the program to improve performance.
  7. Identify the criteria used to evaluate proposed solutions.
  8. Implement basic algorithms for geometrical transformation and modelling (2D and 3D).
  9. Know how to use different 1D and 2D data compression algorithms.
  10. Work cooperatively.
  11. Work independently.

Content

1. Acquisition and data types

2. Basic concepts

3. Decorrelation of the acquired data

4. Quantization

5. Entropy Coding

6. Current data compression systems


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Theoretical and practical classes / lectures 50 2 1, 2, 9, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10
Type: Supervised      
Preparing a work supervising 6 0.24 1, 9, 4, 6, 8, 11
Problems and Practicum supervising 6 0.24 1, 2, 9, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10
Tutoring and consultation 5 0.2 1, 9, 4, 6, 8, 11
Type: Autonomous      
Preparing a work 36 1.44 1, 2, 9, 7, 10
Preparing exercices and practicum 40 1.6 1, 2, 9, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

This subject is taught through a combination of introductory sessions of techniques used in compression and their use in the practices that students will develop throughout the course. For each concept, students will be encouraged to actively participate in solving examples. In addition, for a small set of concepts, a guided practice will be provided, where students will be required to answer a few questions. The Virtual Campus will be used for communication between teachers and students (material, updates, announcements, etc.).

During the course there will be different activities:

Learning activities
• Type: Activities aimed at teachers
o Theoretical classes / conferences
o Practical classes / conferences
• Type: Supervised activities
o Activity supervision practices
o Supervision of oral presentation
o Tutoring and consultations
• Type: Self-employed
o Preparation of the practical activity
o Preparation of the oral presentation activity

During the theoretical and practical classes, the contents of the subject will be presented and debated. They will be active debates in which progress will be made constructively by identifying the main objectives.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exercise resolution 40% 3 0.12 2, 9, 6, 7, 11
Work Part-1 30% 2 0.08 2, 9, 5, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10
Work Part-2 30% 2 0.08 1, 2, 9, 5, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10

Continuous assessment dates will be posted on the Virtual Campus. Specific deadlines may change - only when necessary. All modifications will always be communicated to students through the Virtual Campus.

The evaluation of the subject (out of 10 points) will be carried out as follows:

  1. Solution of exercises, 3 points. As part of the continuous assessment, a series of exercises and/or questions to be solved and/or answered will be proposed in the classes. Minimum score to pass the subject: 1.5 out of 3 points.
  2. Project in Python or Java of a data compression tool, 4 points. Minimum score to pass the subject: 2 out of 4 points.
  3. Oral presentation, 3 points. It consists of two parts. On the one hand, it will be necessary to make an oral presentation on some topic related to the subject (to be agreed with the teaching staff). On the other hand, in each session where presentations are made by students, all student listeners (not presenters) must ask questions and/or comments related to the content of the presentation. Minimum score to pass the subject: 1.5 out of 3 points.

Active participation in classes in this subject is relevant, as regards the resolution of the exercises, monitoring of the project and the oral presentation. It is for this reason that class attendance for this subject is mandatory.

• To pass the course, an overall grade higher than or equal to 5 is required. A "non-assessable" grade cannot be assigned to students who have made submissions, or who have actively participated in any of the training activities, or who have 'have submitted to the recovery test.

• Recovery test, 6 points. Those students who have a final grade lower than 5. They will be able to pass the subject by doing an extra activity described by the teaching staff.

• To pass the course with honors, the final grade must be 9.0 or higher. As the number of students with this distinction cannot exceed 5% of the number of students enrolled inthe course, this distinction will be awarded to the one with the highest final grade. In the event of a tie, the results obtained and the participation throughout the coursewill be taken into account.

• It is important to keep in mind that they will not carry out assessment activities on a date or time other than the established one, except for justified reasons and duly notified before the activity and with the prior consent of the teacher. In all other cases, if no activity has been performed, it cannot be re-evaluated.

• Students who do not pass the grade for not reaching one of the minimum grades will be graded with a maximum of 4. Repeat students will not receive any special treatment.

• Once each part has been evaluated (exercise solution, project or oral presentation), if one of them is not approved, there will still be the possibility of passing the subject by means of a final oral exam. This final exam will account for 70% of the grade. 30% of the exercise resolution grade will continue to be the one obtained throughout the course.

• Following the Academic Regulations of the UAB (https://www.uab.cat/doc/TR_Normativa_Academica_Plans_Nous). In the event that the student commits any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an assessment act, this assessment act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instituted. In the event that several irregularities occur in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.


Bibliography

  • Thomas M. Cover and Joy A. Thomas (1991). Elements of Information Theory, John Wiley & Sons, Inc
  • Mark Nelson (1991). The Data Compression Book, Prentice Hall.
  • D.S.Taubman and M.W.Marcellin (2002). JPEG 2000. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  • David Salomon (2006, 4th Edition). Data Compression: The Complete Reference(Hardcover), Springer. ISBN 1-84628-602-5.
  • Several documentation will be provided to the students according their election of the oral presentation topic.

Software

Freely distributed code provided by teachers. C, Java, Python, Bash, and/or others.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 450 Catalan first semester morning-mixed