A network architecture for distributed multimedia systems

Presents a novel network architecture for distributed multimedia systems. The VuNet is a gigabit-per-second desk/local-area ATM network which interconnects general-purpose workstations, network-based multimedia devices and bridges to other networks. During the course of an application, media streams are exchanged between the workstations, and devices in a seamless manner. This architecture has several advantages over traditional workstation-centric systems including the ability to share multimedia devices and to reduce the burden of multimedia tasks on the work station. The authors describe the VuNet philosophy, the VuNet hardware, and presents the results of experiments in which high bit-rate video streams are transported across the system