I/O system design for intensive multimedia I/O

The intensive I/O generated by multimedia devices and delivered over fast networks requires a new approach to I/O system software design for workstation operating systems. In general, the system should provide more flexibility in how devices are controlled and in constructing the data paths used for data transfer. The author argues for the separation of control and data transfer as a general design principle, and describes how I/O bus bandwidth can be used more efficiently through direct connections between I/O devices