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Multimedia computing has emerged in the last few years as a major area of research. Multimedia computer systems have opened a wide range of applications by combining a variety of information sources, such as voice, graphics, animation, images, audio and full-motion video. Looking at the big picture, multimedia can be viewed as the merging of three industries: computer, communications, and broadcasting industries.
Research and development efforts can be divided into two areas. As the first area of research, much effort has been centered on the stand-alone multimedia workstation and associated software systems and tools, such as music composition, computer-aided education and training, and interactive video. However, the combination of multimedia computing with distributed systems offers even greater potential. New applications based on distributed multimedia systems include multimedia information systems, collaborative and video conferencing systems, on-demand multimedia services, and distance learning.
Multimedia Systems and Techniques is one of two volumes published by Kluwer, both of which provide a broad introduction into this fast moving area. The book covers fundamental concepts and techniques used in multimedia systems. The topics include multimedia objects and related models, multimedia compression techniques and standards, multimedia interfaces, multimedia storage techniques, multimedia communication and networking, multimedia synchronization techniques, multimedia information systems, scheduling in multimedia systems, and video indexing and retrieval techniques.
Multimedia Systems and Techniques, together with its companion volume, Multimedia Tools and Applications, is intended for anyone involved in multimedia system design and applications and can be used as a textbook for advanced courses on multimedia.
List of contents
1 Multimedia Objects.- 1 Introduction.- 2 A Class Hierarchy for Multimedia Objects.- 3 Composite Multimedia Object Model by Gibbs et al..- 4 MHEG.- 5 Object Composition and Playback Models by Hamakawa et al..- 6 Conclusion.- References.- 2 Compression Techniques and Standards.- 1 Introduction to Multimedia Compression.- 2 JPEG Algorithm for Still Image Compression.- 3 PX64 Compression Algorithm for Video Communications.- 4 MPEG Compression for Motion-Intensive Applications.- 5 Conclusion.- 3 Multimedia Interfaces: Designing for Diversity.- 1 Introduction.- 2 What is an Interface?.- 3 Designing Multimedia Interfaces.- 4 Applications and New Technologies.- 5 Conclusion.- References.- 4 Multimedia Storage Systems.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Multimedia Storage Servers.- 3 Managing the Storage Space Requirement of Digital Multimedia.- 4 Efficient Retrieval of Multimedia Objects.- 5 Commercial Video Servers.- 6 Concluding Remarks.- References.- 5 Multimedia Networks.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Traditional Networks and Multimedia.- 3 Asynchronous Transfer Mode.- 4 Summary of Network Characteristics.- 5 Comparison of Switching Technologies for Multimedia Communications.- 6 Information Superhighways.- 7 Conclusion.- 6 Multimedia Synchronization.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Language Based Synchronization Model.- 3 Petri Nets Based Models.- 4 Fuzzy Synchronization Models.- 5 Content-based Inter-media Synchronization.- 6 Multimedia Synchronization and Database Aspects.- 7 Multimedia Synchronization and Object Retrieval Schedules.- 8 Multimedia Synchronization and Communication Requirements.- 9 Summary and Conclusion.- References.- 7 Infoscopes: Multimedia Information Systems.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Information and Data.- 3 Operations in InfoScopes.- 4 InfoScope Architecture.- 5 Knowledge organization.- 6 Interfaces.- 7 Example Systems.- 8 Conclusion and Future Research.- References.- 8 Scheduling in Multimedia Systems.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Data Organization.- 3 Disk Scheduling.- 4 Network Scheduling.- 5 General Discussion.- References.- 9 Video Indexing and Retrieval.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Parsing.- 3 Representation and Classification.- 4 Indexing and Retrieval.- 5 Interactive Tools.- 6 Conclusion.
