This research investigates the implementation and performance of packet video transfer over local area networks. A network architecture is defined for packet video such that most of the processing is performed by the higher layers of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model, while the lower layers provide real-time services. Implementation methods are discussed for coding schemes, including data compression, the network interface unit, and the underlying local area network (LAN), Ethernet or the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI). Performance evaluation is presented using simulation results and analyses for different video sources, implementation models, and LAN s. The simulation experiments are performed for systems where video images are retrieved from databases at one or more servers and delivered over the local area network. / Master of Science