System support for mobile multimedia applications

The emergence of free streaming media players, coupled with the availability of powerful inexpensive laptop computers has created a domain for mobile multimedia applications. Mobile multimedia applications must deal with the inherent variability generated when migrating from office to conference room, den to patio, or classroom to dorm room. This paper presents a multi-layered multimedia architecture utilizing adaptive layers and cross-layer notifications. An implementation of that architecture is demonstrated using a streaming media player that communicates with a video server while switching from wired LAN to POTS to wireless LAN, transparently adapting to new network addresses and bandwidth fluctuations. Mobility is supported by using device indications to force the adaptive feedback system into an “exploratory” mode and signal the application to re-establish the control and data channels