Desirable Features for a Multimedia System

Given the above challenges the following feature a desirable (if not a prerequisite) for a Multimedia System:

Very High Processing Power

-- needed to deal with large data processing and real time delivery of media. Special hardware commonplace.

Multimedia Capable File System

-- needed to deliver real-time media -- e.g. Video/Audio Streaming. Special Hardware/Software needed e.g RAID technology.

Data Representations/File Formats that support multimedia

-- Data representations/file formats should be easy to handle yet allow for compression/decompression in real-time.

Efficient and High I/O

-- input and output to the file subsystem needs to be efficient and fast. Needs to allow for real-time recording as well as playback of data. e.g. Direct to Disk recording systems.

Special Operating System

-- to allow access to file system and process data efficiently and quickly. Needs to support direct transfers to disk, real-time scheduling, fast interrupt processing, I/O streaming etc.

Storage and Memory

-- large storage units (of the order of 50 -100 Gb or more) and large memory (50 -100 Mb or more). Large Caches also required and frequently of Level 2 and 3 hierarchy for efficient management.

Network Support

-- Client-server systems common as distributed systems common.

Software Tools

-- user friendly tools needed to handle media, design and develop applications, deliver media.