Architecture and Protocols for the Protection and Management of Multimedia Information

Abstract

The management of multimedia information is a key issue when permissions, protection issues and rights are involved. The appearance of new multimedia description formats, new distribution channels and diverse business models makes it difficult to provide a general solution for performing such management. In this scenario, the description of architectures and protocols appears as a valid approach in the way to obtain results that could be adapted to the changing scenario present nowadays in the multimedia arena. MPEG–21, in its aim to provide a multimedia framework, is a good starting point for describing candidate modules for implementing a system that works inside the framework. Based on some of its parts, as currently 16 parts are being considered within the standard, we propose a modular architecture to cope with the complexity of the rights management and protection of multimedia information. This architecture is by no means complete, but is intended to map a standard to something more usable. The use of the modules defined in the architecture is illustrated with some examples, which show how protected multimedia information can be processed in the context of a real system based on an international standard, such as MPEG–21.