Analysis of the end-to-end performance of multimedia information services on a local area network

The end-to-end performance of a general multimedia information retrieval service, operating across a local area network (LAN) using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol packet protocols, is evaluated for various message sizes representative of full-color and gray-scale images and a typical text article. The end-to-end performance, as seen by the user, must take into account not only transmission network, but also the hardware and software components of the source and user terminals, plus the total number of users requesting service at one time. LAN characteristics, upper layer protocol characteristics, and application characteristics are examined. In a laboratory prototype, which is based on the 10-Mb/s Ethernet and TCP/IP, it was possible to satisfy a desired overall response time of between 1 and 2 seconds for the gray-scale image and text article, but the full-color image without compression required more than 4 seconds which is longer than is ergonomically advisable for a true browsing service