Architecture design, system implementation, and applications of MPEG-4 systems

MPEG-4, the newest generation of multimedia codec, is gifted with the ability of scene-based presentation, natural and synthetic object coding, powerful script and Java-language support and network transparent integration. Combined with these attractive features, MPEG-4 has the greatest potential to be applied to a large number of applications. We design an MPEG-4 compliant architecture: 1) using pipeline-design to modularize decoding processes, 2) adopting a centralized control mechanism which enables interaction and synchronization and 3) building a unique transparent-transmission unit for delivering data among heterogeneous networks. We have implemented a prototype of a streaming server, player component and delivery agent over the IP network to prove the workability of the designed architecture. In our opinion, whether MPEG-4 is successful will heavily depend on killer applications appearing. Specifically, good applications may lead MPEG-4 to become popularly accepted around the world. Therefore, we enumerate several interesting applications (news report, virtual art gallery, personal karaoke room and live sports report) and make simple contents on our system for demonstration.