Introduction to Multimedia

Multi = Plural => Many

Media => way of communication

Types :

• text
• pictures
• audio
• video

Classification :

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Benefit of using Multimedia :

• Ease of use
• Interactive ( controlled by user. ex. video can be paused ,forwarded)
• Cost effective (in long term)
• Intuitive ( time saving ) 
• Better representation of data 

Barriers :

• Cost
• Required sophisticated device
• Copyright
• transmission technology ( compression algorithm, communication protocol)

Types of Multimedia 

Local Multimedia - Content shared locally, precompressed

Networked Multimedia  - May or may not shared locally, use network. Content either precompressed or compressed  on the fly (ex. live broadcast ) 

Network Multimedia :

1.  Live  - live broadcast , skype etc

2.  Stored - Youtube etc

Buffer :  is a region of a physical memory storage used to temporarily store data while it is 

being moved from one place to another. Buffer location can be fixed physically but most of the 

time done with software. Buffers are typically used when there is a difference between the rate 

at which data is received and the rate at which it can be processed, or in the case that these 

rates are variable, for example in a printer spooler  or in on line video streaming. For time 

adjusting buffer uses queue / FIFO ( first in , first out ) algorithms.



Cache is a type of buffer, which used to gain faster access of data , typically those who needs 

multiple accessing. Disk/file cache commit data after certain period but buffer never do that. 

buffer primarily used to temporarily store  input output data . 

RAID - redundant array of independent disks

RAID is a storage technology that combines multiple disk drive components into a logical unit for the purposes of data redundancy and performance improvement. Data is distributed across the drives in one of several ways, referred to as RAID levels , depending on the specific level of redundancy and performance required. there are 7 standard raid level.

(redundancy is the duplication of critical components or functions of a system with the intention of increasing reliability of the system, usually in the form of a backup or fail-safe.)

Architecture of Streaming Multimedia System :

Challenge of Network Multimedia :

• Bandwidth
• compression speed
• size/volume of data
• congestion control
• error control mechanism