A novel multimedia synchronization model and its applications in multimedia systems

Author

Chen, Herng-Yow ; Liu, Nien-Bao ; Shiah, Chee-Wen ; WU, JA-LING ; Chen, Wen-Chin ; Ouhyoung, Ming

Author_Institution

Dept. of Comput. Sci. & Inf. Eng., Nat. Taiwan Univ., Taipei, Taiwan

Volume

41

Issue

1

fYear

1995

fDate

2/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

12

Lastpage

22

Abstract

A synchronization problem, which always arises when sound, video, motion pictures and other media are brought together and integrated into a computer system, is one of the most important issues in multimedia communications and applications. In a time-sharing and multi-process environment such as the UNIX operating system, the traditional synchronization mechanism results in two fatal defects, namely, audio discontinuity and out of synchronization between the audio and video signals. A novel media synchronization model in a multi-process environment is proposed. Based on this model, a continuous media playback module was implemented and served as the key component of the two multimedia systems developed in the Communication and Multimedia Laboratory of National Taiwan University. One is the multimedia authoring system which provides interactive VCR-like operations and audio/video editing facilities. The other is a prototype of the VOD (video on demand) system which provides video browsing facility. Both systems show that the performance of the proposed synchronization model is quite satisfactory

Keywords

Unix; authoring systems; interactive television; interactive video; multimedia communication; multimedia computing; synchronisation; Communication and Multimedia Laboratory; National Taiwan University; UNIX operating system; VOD; audio discontinuity; audio/video editing; computer system; continuous media playback module; interactive VCR-like operations; motion pictures; multi-process environment; multimedia authoring system; multimedia communications; multimedia synchronization model; multimedia systems; performance; sound; time-sharing environment; video browsing facility; video on demand system; Application software; Computer science; Digital systems; Hard disks; Laboratories; Motion pictures; Multimedia communication; Multimedia systems; Timing; Videos;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Consumer Electronics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0098-3063

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/30.370305

Filename

370305