MPEG-21 standard: defining an open multimedia framework

The MPEG-21 project, formally called "multimedia framework", aims to understand if and how the various elements building the infrastructure for the deployment of multimedia applications fit together, and to discuss which new standards may be required, if gaps in the infrastructure exist. Once this work has been carried out, new standards will be developed for the missing elements with the involvement of other bodies, where appropriate, and finally the existing and novel standards will be integrated in the MPEG-21 multimedia framework. The MPEG-21 vision is thus to define an open multimedia framework to enable the transparent and augmented deliver)' and consumption of multimedia resources across a wide range of networks and devices used by different communities. This paper describe not only the technical objectives of the MPEG-21 standard but also its motivation and vision