Distributed Streaming Media Application Middleware ( Proposal submitted to NSF Middleware Program March 2002 )

Distributed collaboration and webcasting applications are complex distributed applications that require control of multimedia equipment (e.g., cameras, microphones, switchers, projectors, audio systems, etc.) and processes that capture, play, and operate on audio and video streams. These applications typically use multicast communication protocols because data must be delivered to many participants or processes. Considerable research has been completed over the years to create algorithms and programming systems to develop distributed systems and manipulate streaming media. While this research has produced impressive results, distributed streaming media applications are still hard to develop and slow to change. They are complex – often requiring many skilled technicians and operators to maintain and operate.