A prototype ATM network based system for multimedia-on-demand

An experimental system capable of supporting multimedia (image/video/data) on demand applications over an ATM network is outlined in this paper. The system has been used to demonstrate both distributed multimedia document processing and video-on-demand scenarios that are expected to be important applications for future ATM networks. The experimental prototype employs a high-speed (2.4 Gbps) ATM switch with appropriate signaling, control, transport and application software to enable fast and reliable workstation access to video/image information stored in one or more "multimedia servers". The current system implementation consists of the following key modules: (1) 2.4 Gbps (16/spl times/16) NEC XATOM Model 5 ATM switch; (2) Sparc-2 workstations with JPEG board and ATM interface; (3) Q.93B signaling for call establishment; (4) ATM traffic control for congestion avoidance; (5) a multimedia transport protocol; and (6) application software for distributed multimedia documents, video-on-demand, etc. This paper outlines the overall system approach and provides selected details about each of the major subsystems listed above.