6 Design steps for any MM application

1. Specify the business model

This includes the business requirement that the MM software
system should satisfy.
 6 Design steps for any MM application / case study …….
Contd…..

2. Specify the business information model

This includes the following :
• Types of users
• Operation performed by each type of user
• Performance requirement ( most important )
Performance requirement calculates the required
download bandwidth for each component – A,V,I and
text and storage space required for storing each
one.
Here state availability requirement if the application
should be 24 * 7 .
 6 Design steps for any MM application
Contd…..
3. Architectural recommendation and technology feasibility report

To achieve performance requirement calculated in above step

Architectural recommendation indicate the following aspects of
the step :

• Topology of the network

• Types of servers
• Location of database servers
• Communication and networking protocols.
• Security considerations ( only if specifically asked )
• Database integrity considerations. ( only if specifically asked )
 6 Design steps for any MM application
Contd…..

4.Object architecture
This is important when we design a distributed
MM system.
This diagram indicates different components
required in a distributed system like
• Object request broker
• Object name server
• A,V,I – show each MM component server
separately.
• Object directory manager
 6 Design steps for any MM application
Contd…..

5. Workflow
Workflow is a set of steps which govern the flow of
data and or information to produce a tangible output.

Please remember as regards MM there are only 4 types :

1. Training manuals and online help
2. Information databases
3. Messaging systems
4. Business processes
 About Workflow….

Any workflow has simple three stages

• Capture stage: This includes
– capturing of image through digital camera or scanner
– checking its quality.
– Indexing i.e. finding unique information and storing it separately
in index tables.
 About Workflow….

• User access stage

This is always mentioned relatively as it is very specific to the
application to be implemented.
For eg : OLE, possible output modes.

• Archiving and purging stage :

Archiving means taking periodic backup for immediate future use.
Backup means saving data on offline storage for future reference if
any.
Purging means removing data / information no longer needed
 6 Design steps for any MM application
Contd…..

6. Object design
( also called MM authoring)

This includes the following :

1. Database schema design
2. Categorizing different components into audio, video,
image and text. Please note for this u have to read the
case study thoroughly.
3. Making MM user interfaces.
 Case study example
Continuous education program : One of the most
important application using both technologies, networks
and multimedia, is distance learning. Computers offer
the chance for new educational procedures, which in
combination to networks reach levels beyond
imagination. Anyone could be educated by the greatest
teachers of the world. Computers cannot replace the
teacher, but they can bring him closer to the student.

Assume required data if any and specify clearly. You are

appointed as a consultant to implement this application.
 Case study example
1. Design the performance requirements if this
application is to be used in distributed environment

2. Give the workflow design.

3. Model the various objects and design special

multimedia user interface.
( 20 marks)
 Step 1 : Specify the business model

1) Spread the domain of education.

2) Facilitate the virtual learning of
students from best teachers without
bothering of physical boundaries.
3) Resolve space & time problem of student
and teacher alike.
Step 2: Specify the business information model

1) Types of Users : There are broadly two types of users :

a) Students b) Teachers

2)Operation Performed by Users :

a) Role of Student :
1) Browsing
2) Register
3 ) Fetch Information
4) Download White papers
5) Choose Course & specialization subjects
6) Pay online
7) Enroll for multiple courses.
 Step 2: Specify the business information model
Contd….

b) Role of teacher :
a) register
b) upload information
c) open forums
d) resolve queries
Step 3) Performance Requirements

To find Bandwidth, and storage Requirements; following

assumptions are made : 1) Online University offers 40
courses / subjects / technical / literature based
enrollments.
2) There are 1000 Hits on the web site.
3) About 400 students take there tutorials daily.
4) Every tutorial has a Interactive class room session,
Object based test papers, containing video clips, Audio
to support the lecture, text to support literature about
current topic.
5) There are at most 5 active users downloading content
at any point of time.
 Performance requirement calculation:

1) Video content in Tutorials :

Frames = 320 x 200 @ 30 frames / sec and 8 bit colour = 1.92
MB / sec

For 30 minutes of lecture (in video) space required = 1.92 x 30 x

60 = 3.456 GB
If compressed with compression Ration = 30:1
Then space required / per lecture = 3.456 GB / 30
= 115.2 MB
For 5 users total Required Space = 115.2 MB x 5 = 576 MB
And download BW required is very high therefore choose leased
line T1 connection ( not shared )= 1.544 Mbps
 Performance requirement calculation:

2 ) Audio (speech) content in Virtual Close Room Lecture

For 30 minutes lecture, 8 KHz / sample, 8 bits / sample
= 8 KB / sec x 30 x60 = 14.4 MB
Space required for 1 session = 14.4 MB
Space required for 5 Active Users = 14.4 x 5 = 72 MB
If compressed with 30:1 Ratio = 72 MB = 2.4 MB
30
Network Bandwidth (Download B.W.) Required :
2.4 MBps, but this kind of high B.W is practically and
financially not feasible. Therefore previously chosen T1
line is acceptable.
 Performance requirement calculation:

3) Images : - Average compressed image = 30 KB

Assuming 20 Images per session download =
30 x 20 = 0.6 MB
Compressed (20:1) = 0.6 MB = 0.03 Mb = 30
KB
20
For 5 Active users total space required = 30 KB x 5 =
150 KB
Network Bandwidth = 150 KB / sec (Download B.W)
T1 line is sufficient for above BW requirement.
 Performance requirement calculation:

Therefore, Total space required at content

server end =~
576 MB + 72 MB + 0.15 MB = 649 MB

Therefore 1 GB buffer (Working memory) space

at server end sufficient enough to cater 6 ( 5 +
10 % tolerance )users taking virtual classroom
coaching.
 Step 3) Architectural Recommendation to support
above performance requirements

• Topology of the network

• Types of severs
• Location of database servers
• Communication and networking protocols
 Client
Object Server Object Server

Object
ATM
Retriever
Switch
Client

Object
Manager

Client

ATM Hub

Inte High Speed Client Client

rne
t Fiber Optic
(FDDI II) Link

Object Server
Object Server

Client

ATM
Switch

Client
 Step 4 Object architecture

Multimedia Application

Common Object Management API

Object Request Broker Object Nameserver

Object Recompilation, Playback Control, Format Conversions Object Directory Service

Object Server Object Server

Object Server Object Manager

Replication
Object Manager Migration
Replication Archival
Migration Class-Specific
Archival Functions
Class-Specific Purging
Functions
Purging

Object Retriever
Retrieve Full Object
Playback on Demand
Object Retriever
Retrieve Full Object
Playback on Demand
ODMS
Performance Attributes Achieved :from
architectural layout
a) Good Response time
b) Quick & efficient search due to
object indexing
c) Good availability and failsafe
operation as object server replication
done.
d) User friendliness.
 Step 5 : Workflow Design
IV): Capture Stage : The video conversation or a stored video mail
message are recorded as a part of document or a database record.
A video camera and appropriate sound and video hardware are
required for this. The captured information is recorded directly on an
object server for multimedia objects.
User Access Stage : The workflow is designed to allow the user to
retrieve the container document via a database. The container
document has the embedded objects for the video message or
video conversation and other embedded or linked objects or shared
workspace.
Archiving and Purging : Allow the user to perform the archiving and
purging; no automatic facilities are provided. Only if he purchases a
case paper i.e. transaction takes place.
 Step 5 : Workflow Design … contd…
Above workflow for virtual university, supports
following features :
a) They are primarily playback-only systems. End users do
not add information components to these systems.
b) The input and output components of the workflow are
completely independent of each other and may or may
not reside on the same network.
c) Size of the database is large and the need for indexing
every component in an information repository is a must.
In addition, these systems also require the ability to
adjust the display quality and window size on the basis of
the workstation hardware and user preferences.
 Step 6 : MM object design
The various objects which will be used for distance
learning will be :
Text : Lecture notes, tutorials, textbooks, references,
technical papers, journals, manuals.
Images : Book cover (Covering name & author), lecturer
image, flash image at the start and end of the lecture,
images of various icons, image of student – lecturer
interaction, various images related to the lecture subject
like diagrams, drawings, maps etc.
Audio: The lecturer’s talking, students question, sound of
flash image indicating start and end of the lecture.
Video : Video conferencing overall, display of some
classroom virtual tour.