Multimedia Communication Systems

Techniques, Standards, and Networks

Chapter 4
Distributed Multimedia Systems
Definitions
 DMS – Distributed Multimedia Systems
 An integrated communication, computing and
information system that enables the processing,
management, delivery, and presentation of
synchronized multimedia information that the
quality of service guarantees.
 Authoring tool
 Specialized software which enables the design &
assembly of multimedia elements for a multimedia
presentation
Distributed Multimedia Applications

 Interactive television
 Video on demand, home shopping, video games
 Telecooperation
 Distance learning, telecommuting,
videoconferencing
 Hypermedia
 Linked documents, digital library, on-line
encyclopedia, ezines, information kiosks
DMS Features
 Technology Integration
 Communication & computing
 Multimedia integration
 Real-time
 QoS
 Interactivity
 Synchronization
 Of various media streams
 Support
 Standardization & interoperability
QoS
 Applications dependent
 Quantified
 Packet loss, delay, jitter
 Negotiated between users & service providers
 Three levels of delivery
 Deterministic
 Statistical
 Best Effort Delivery
 Requires
 Resource management
 Reservation
Network Variations
 Media
 Coax, fiber, wireless, satellite
 Transport/switching/routing protocols
 Connection oriented or connectionless
 Ethernet, ATM, IP
 Unicast, multicast

 Network Size
 LAN, MAN, WAN
IP Networking
 Datagram
 Connectionless
 Best effort
 Reliability is left to the end user
 Present Internet
 Primitive service model
 Best effort, point to point
 UDP – User (Unreliable) Datagram Protocol
 More RTPs (Real-time Transport Protocol) needed
 VoIP, multicasting, VoD, etc.
IP Multicast
 A single packet to multiple destinations
 Requires a multicast address
 Network forwards a copy to each group of
hosts
 Allow users to join & leave the session

 Routing protocol categories

 Link state (router subsets)
 Distance Vector (destination)
RSVP
 Resource Reservation Protocol
 Receiver initiated
 PATH message
 Flow specification, destination
 Receiver determines QoS & initiates RESV
 Reservation styles
 Fixed filter (video conferencing)
 Wildcard filter (audio conferencing)
 Shared explicit (sender selection)
RTP
 Real-time Transport Protocol
 Does not provide QoS
 Provides packet sequence number

 Used for multiparty conferencing

 Provides synchronization, framing, & encryption
 Used with RTCP
 Exchanges QoS & failure information
Integrated Management Architecture
 MPLS
 Edge-label switches (connect to customers)
 Core switches
 FCAPS
 Integrated management of networks
 Performance
 Fault
 Configuration
 Security
 Billing
ATM
 ATM Forum now MFA Forum
 Connection oriented
 Small cells
 Virtual circuit, virtual path
 QoS
 Sustainable rate, peak rate, burst length,
cell loss ratio, delay, jitter
 5 Adaptation layers
IP/ATM Integration
 IP
 Large installation base
 Connectionless
 Best effort
 ATM
 QoS
 Bandwidth
 Connection oriented
 Adaptation layers (class of service)
IP/ATM Integration
 Switching
 IP switching
 Tag switching (MPLS)
 Cut-through switching
 RMOA
 Real-time multimedia over ATM

 Underdevelopment
Distributed Media Servers
 Applications
 VoD, digital library, in-house training
 Complexity
 I/O bandwidth
 Information storage/access

 QoS to multiple users

 VCR-like controls
Multimedia Operating Systems
 CPU Management
 EDF – earliest deadline first
 Rate-monitoring scheduling (fixed priority)
 Memory Management
 Speed & fragmentation
 IO Management
 Interrupts & transfer rates
 File System Management
 Real-time & continuous media streams
Interactive Television
 Point-to-point switched connections
 Asymmetrical bandwidth
 Broadcast media
 streaming
 VoD – real-time
 Stored media
 file transfer or streaming
 VoD – on-line movie rental/video library
 video jukebox
 SONET/ATM
 National distribution
Telecooperation
 Telecommuting +
 Electronic shared workspace
 Shared applications/documents
 Replicated
 Concurrent
 Cooperation control
 Conferencing
 Requires multicast
 Real-time
 Add drop control
Hypermedia
 Media Limitations
 Proprietary storage mechanisms
 Disparate document formats

 The Web
 HTTP, URL
 HTML, XHTML, DMTL
 CGI – Common Gateway Interface
 JAVA