The Next Generation of Distributed Multimedia Systems

Distributed multimedia systems have been designed and implemented for several computer platforms, operating and window systems. All of them are conceived according to the paradigms of their specific environment. The Unix and the X window system with it’s client(Xlib)-server approach is the most frequently used system for multimedia prototypes in the research community.Interoperability between different systems and vendors are provided by means of common protocols and data (audio and video) coding formats. The next challenge is to conceive system structures for distinct environments which are nicely integrated with the various paradigms. This paper outlines such an approach which is currently under development at IBM ENC, Heidelberg. It provides distributed multimedia services on AIX, it enhances the OS/2 multimedia capabilities for distribution and integrates both as a distributed multimedia system.