Supporting the real-time requirements of continuous media in open distributed processing

Abstract

The field of distributed systems is now focusing on standards for Open Distributed Processing (ODP) and entering a stage of some maturity. However, it is important that ongoing standardisation remains responsive to emerging technological demands such as the emergence of distributed multimedia computing. This new field introduces continuous media data types such as digital audio and video which have new, real-time requirements not fully supported in current ODP proposals. This paper describes the results of collaborative research at Lancaster University and CNET, France into the handling of multimedia and continuous media in an ODP environment. The aim of the paper is to present a comprehensive statement of requirements for continuous media in ODP and to aid the evolution of standards by making specific proposals on how the evolving ODP standards could be enhanced.