A framework architecture for multimedia information networks

An overview of the INA architecture, which builds on the current advances in broadband communication and distributed computing technologies and specifies an architecture for future information networks that are required to transport multimedia information and to manage multimedia communication, is presented. The key functional separations that have to be met in any INA-consistent network, the major components of an INA-consistent network, and the various levels in the architecture are described. The INA architecture is compared to other networking and distributed-processing architecture.<>