My research topic is the optimized design of Embedded Systems for multimedia applications. A prime application is video because it requires very high computation rates and large amounts of memory; video systems are often cost-sensitive as well. Because video systems are built as systems-on-chips, they make a good arena for investigating both architectures and methodologies for embedded systems. The aim of my research is Motion Estimation algorithms which are the kernel of every video compression algorithm/protocol. The hardware implementation of new Color Quantization technique based on Kohonen Self Organized Neural Network Classifier was my Master Thesis research project. We chose an ARM based embedded system for the implementation and using code transformation and methodologies the result was an efficient specific embedded system.

Conferences

[C1] M. Dasygenis, N. Kroupis, A. Argyriou, K. Tatas, D. Soudris, and N. Zervas, "A memory management approach for efficient implementation of multimedia kernels on programmable architectures", IEEE Computer Society Annual Workshop on VLSI (WVLSI), Orlando Florida, USA, April 19-20, 2001, pp. 171-176.

[C2] M. Dasygenis, N. Kroupis, A. Argyriou, K. Tatas, D. Soudris, N. D. Zervas and A. Thanailakis, "Data and instruction memory exploration of embedded systems for multimedia applications", IEEE 2001 International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP'2001), Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2001, Vol. II, pp 1149 - 1152.

[C3] K. Tatas, M. Dasigenis, A. Argyriou, N. Kroupis, D. Soudris, and A. Thanailakis, "Address Bus Power Exploration in Programmable Processors for Realization of Multimedia Applications ", IEEE International Workshop on Power and Timing Modeling, Optimization and Simulation (PATMOS'2001), Yverdon-Les-Bains, Switzerland, September 2001, pp. 10.2.1 - 10.2.10.

[C4] N. Kroupis, M. Dasigenis, A. Argyriou, K. Tatas, D. Soudris, A. Thanailakis and N. Zervas, "Power, Performance and Area exploration of Block Matching Algorithms Mapped on Programmable Processors", IEEE 2001 International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP), Thessaloniki, Greece, Oct 2001, pp. 728-731.

[C5] A. Atsalakis, N. Kroupis, D. Soudris, and N. Papamarkos, "A Window-Based Color Quantization Technique and its Architecture Implementation", IEEE International Conference on Digital Signal Processing (DSP2002), Santorini, Greece, July 2002, pp. 285-288.

[C6] A. Atsalakis, N. Kroupis, D. Soudris, and N. Papamarkos, A Window-Based Color Quantization Technique and its Embedded Implementation", IEEE International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP2002), Rochester, New York, USA, September 2002, pp II - 365-368.

[C7] N. Kroupis, A. Atsalakis, D. Soudris, and N. Papamarkos, "A color quantization technique based on image decomposition and its hardware implementation", IASTED International Conference "Signal Processing, Pattern Recognition, and Applications" (SPPRA 2002), June 25-28, 2002, Crete, Greece, pp. 348-353.

[C8] Nikolaos Kroupis, Minas Dasygenis, Kleoniki Markou, Dimitrios Soudris and Antonios Thanailakis, "A Modified Spiral Search Motion Estimation Algorithm and its Embedded System Implementation", ISCAS International Symposium on Circuits and Systems", (ISCAS 2005), May 23-26, 2005, Kobe, Japan, pp. 3347-3350.

[C9] Nikolaos Kroupis , Nikolaos Zervas, Minas Dasygenis, Konstantinos Tatas, Dimitrios Soudris, and Antonios Thanailakis, "High-Level Performance and Power Exploration of DSP Applications Realized on Programmable Processors", International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology, ISSPIT 2005, Athens, Greece, 18-21 December 2005.

[C10] N. Kroupis , S. Mamagkakis, and D. Soudris, "An Estimation Methodology for Designing Instruction Cache Memory of Embedded Systems," in ESTIMedia 2006, Fourth IEEE Workshop on Embedded Systems for Real Time Multimedia, October 26-27, 2006, Seoul, Korea

[C11] N. Kroupis and D. Soudris, "Design Methodology and Software tool for Estimation of Multi-level Instruction Cache Memory Miss Rate", IEEE International Workshop on Power and Timing Modeling, Optimization and Simulation (PATMOS 2007 ) , Goteborg, Sweden, September 3-5, 2007

[C12] N. Kroupis and D. Soudris, "Fast Instruction Memory Hierarchy Power Exploration for Embedded Systems", Conference on Very Large Scale Integration System-on-Chip 2008 (VLSI-SOC 2008), Rhodes Island, Greece, 13-15 Oct. 2008, pp.

Journals

[J1] M. Dasygenis, N. Kroupis, K. Tatas, A. Argyriou, D. Soudris and A. Thanailakis, "Power and Performance Exploration of Embedded Systems Executing Multimedia Kernels", IEE Proc.-Comput. Digit. Tech., Issues "Low-power system-on-chip", Vol 149, No 4, July 2002, pp.164-172

[J2] K. Tatas, M. Dasygenis, N. Kroupis, A. Argyriou, D. Soudris, and A. Thanailakis, "Data memory power optimization and performance exploration of embedded systems for implementing motion estimation algorithms", Special Issue on Software Engineering of Real-time Imaging Systems, Elsevier, Volume 9, Issue 6, December 2003, Pages 371-386

[J3] A. Atsalakis, N. Papamarkos, N. Kroupis, D. Soudris, "A Color Quantization Technique Based On Image Decomposition And Its Hardware Implementation" IEE Proceedings Vision, Image and Signal Processing, Volume 151, Issue 06, Dec 2004, Pages 511-524.

[J4] N . Kroupis , N . Zervas, M . Dasygenis, K . Tatas, A . Argyriou, D . Soudris, and A . Thanailakis , "Behavioral-Level Performance and Power Exploration of Data-Intensive Applications Mapped on Programmable Processors", Springer Science, The Journal of VLSI Signal Processing, Vol. 44, No 1-2, August 2006, pp 153-171.

[J5] N. Kroupis , M. Dasygenis, D. Soudris, and A. Thanailakis "A Modified Spiral Search Algorithm and its Embedded System Architecture Design", Enformatika, International Journal of Information Technology (IJIT), Vol. 2, Number 4, 2005, Pages 199-205.

In the time at University I dealt with the analog circuit design of an audio mixer and audio amplifiers. My final project was an educational multimedia program for high school and is made with Macromedia Authorware 4. Some of my interests was the Linux operating system where I helped in the translation of the KDE Desktop into the Greek version. I also create static and dynamic html web pages with MySQL & Access databases and the PHP programming language.

Since March until July in 2000 I was in Guimaraes in northern Portugal with the european ERASMUS/SOCRATES program at the University of Minho, in the department of Information Systems. It was one of the biggest experiences in my life. Guimarγes is a really great city, where Portugal was born, exactly the Castle, the Palace the Penha hill are the most interesting places you can visit. But the most beautiful place is Largo da Oliveira in the center of the old part of town and it is for me the best place where someone can drink beers. During the period in Portugal I made a long trip to Spain where I met my Spanish friend Axel in Badajoz city. With Axel we travelled to Merida and from there to Algeciras, and by boat we crossed Gibraltar. We travelled south to Marrakash to climb Atlas (Toubkal) mountain. After a short view of Morocco we turned back to Spain and I visited Don Benito, Bilbao and Pais Basco, Barcelona and Vigo. Here is my photo album with all my travel as an Erasmus student.

My favourite hobbies are mountaineering, climbing, travelling, adventure, ski, cycling, astronomy and I am member of Mounteneering & Sking Club of Athens (EOS Athinas).

Summitpost is a very helpful mountain database and I contribute adding mountains, routes and photos: Buni Zom Koziakas, Vitosha, Koula - East Rodopi

Also I like very much flying by Argyris's Gyro R.A.F.2000, which it's one of the best hobbies that I 've ever seen.

I also met in my life two very famous persons and friends that are international knowed. My favoutite music track istrumental is from Rene Aubry the "Apres La Pluie II". Here there are piece (118sec) of it in MP3 file at 11.025Hz, 8 bit, mono, 284Kb.