🚀 go-pugleaf

		RESEARCH DATA NETWORK COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE

			Call for expressions of interest in:

			DISTRIBUTED MULTIMEDIA 


Michael Fry (mike@socs.uts.edu.au)
University of Technology, Sydney


Following the Workshop held in Canberra on Friday, 25 September 1992
I have undertaken to convene the development of an initial research
proposal in the field of Distributed Multimedia.

As I see it, my role is to coordinate a one-page proposal to the
RDN-CRC working party by Friday, 2 October 1992.

I expect that all I can do in the time and space available is to
gather and collate expressions of interest.  This may also include
suggestions as to specific areas of research and research strategy. 
In the CRC spirit, proposals that may be of interest to potential
industry participants are particularly welcome.


Distributed Multimedia 

I define "distributed multimedia" as the transmission and
sharing of distributed multimedia information.  Multimedia
information is a collection of information with different
representations and different type characteristics.
Examples of different types are data, audio, image, video etc.
Some of these types must be delivered or played out within
tight real time constraints.  A common requirement is for
integration of a number of media types within a conversation
or envelop via synchronisation mechanisms.

My understanding from the workshop is that the RDN CRC will
not primarily be concerned with the "network".  Therefore
the focus I put forward for distributed multimedia is on
the end system, which will typically be a computer system
(workstation, supercomputer, etc.) owned by a "user".

If we assume that the network can provide us with bandwidth
on demand (or at least will guarantee a minumum level of service)
then the focus of research turns to end-to-end issues.
Some of the research issues I propose initially are as follows.

	Transport protocols
		high speed
		adaptive to different service requirements
		synchronised multimedia channels
		multicast

	End system resource allocation
		multiplexing broadband, real time streams
		CPU cycles, threads, memory transfers etc.

	Representation / Compression
		variable rate
		effects on transport service needs
		image analysis

	Storage
		continuous media implications

	Multimedia information base
		document architecture / interchange
		spatial and temporal synchronisation

	Multimedia tools
		interface tools
		tools for composition and manipulation
		tools for sharing = Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)

The research strategy for all the above should aim at:

	- the development of generic, open platforms (=> standards)
	- prototypes for business users


Other Groups

There are at least two other groups being convened as a result
of Friday's workshop which have a direct interface with
distributed multimedia.  They are (with convenor):

	- Video		(Fred Symons, Monash)
	- CSCW		(Noel Teede, TRL)

Clearly some of the above issues overlap and it is not clear where
the boundaries between the groups lie.  I assume that, if necessary,
these interfaces will be resolved at a later date.


Actions

Please forward to me areas of actual or potential interest,
and/or research suggestions, possible personnel, and anything
else you feel may be useful around the general area of
distributed multimedia.

I will attempt to summarise all inputs in my report to the
working group.  I intend to acknowledge all respondents in my
report, unless requested otherwise.


Please e-mail before 10.00AM, THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER 1992.


Also, since I have only sent this to the small number of
people who directly indicated an interest to me on Friday:

PLEASE FORWARD THIS MAIL TO WHOEVER YOU SEE FIT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE