On the design of multimedia interchange formats

Abstract

Although it is generally believed that a standard interchange format will play a crucial role in the growth of the multimedia application market, different proposals currently being developed have divergent models and each appears to have primarily evolved using an experimental methodology. In this paper we first provide a survey of these current efforts, discussing goals, architecture, and abstractions of each format. We provide a comparative summary in terms of representational capability and functionality. We classify the composition models as either track oriented or object oriented, and use this distinction to clarify differences in inter-object referencing, compositionality, and access/presentation procedures. We enumerate features that would enhance the ability of a format to support real-time interchange, and conclude with an overview of an approach to rigorously evaluate and compare such format models. This approach is based on a set of benchmark interchange cases and various parameters to be measured in a performance test.

Third International Workshop on Network and Operating System Support for Digital Audio and Video, November 12–13, 1992, La Jolla, California (c) Copyright 1992 John F. Koegel.