Design and implementation of a multimedia CSCW platform

In this paper, a generic four-layer framework for computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) is proposed. With clear separation of functionalities in each layer of the framework, application developers could implement their specific CSCW applications easily. Based on the four-layer framework, the architecture of a general purpose CSCW platform is designed and implemented with the necessary functionalities to help the collaborations among group members. To provide the system with more features and user friendliness, multimedia processing and transmission capabilities for audio and video are incorporated into the platform. Features like application-sharing, group decision support, multimedia mail transmission, etc., are well implemented in the platform. Moreover, an efficient network transport protocol, called VXTP, is designed and implemented to avoid the transmission overhead of conventional TCP. The performance measurements using both VXTP and TCP are given in the paper for comparison. Lastly, compared with other CSCW systems, our design achieves greater flexibility and portability by adopting the generality philosophy in the framework.

[1]  Nian-Shing Chen,et al.  When client/server isn't enough: coordinating multiple distributed tasks , 1994, Computer.

[2]  Bernhard Plattner,et al.  A survey of X protocol multiplexors , 1993, CCRV.

[3]  Chandrajit L. Bajaj,et al.  Shastra: multimedia collaborative design environment , 1994, IEEE MultiMedia.

[4]  Alfred C. Weaver,et al.  The Xpress transfer protocol (XTP)—a tutorial , 1990, CCRV.

[5]  James D. Palmer,et al.  Computer-Supported Cooperative Work - Guest Editors' Introduction. , 1994 .

[6]  Daniel G. Bobrow,et al.  Beyond the chalkboard: computer support for collaboration and problem solving in meetings , 1988, CACM.

[7]  Mark R. Cutkosky,et al.  PACT: an experiment in integrating concurrent engineering systems , 1993, Computer.

[8]  Taieb Znati,et al.  Communication control in computer supported cooperative work systems , 1994, CSCW '94.

[9]  Dan R. Olsen,et al.  Implementing a graphical multi‐user interface toolkit , 1993, Softw. Pract. Exp..

[10]  Uwe M. Borghoff,et al.  Application of Collaborative Editing to Software-Engineering Projects , 1993, ACM SIGSOFT Softw. Eng. Notes.

[11]  Philip Zimmermann,et al.  A Proposed Standard Format for RSA Cryptosystems , 1986, Computer.

[12]  Herng-Yow Chen,et al.  The MOS multimedia E-mail system , 1994, 1994 Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Multimedia Computing and Systems.

[13]  James J. Kistler,et al.  Argo: a system for distributed collaboration , 1994, MULTIMEDIA '94.

[14]  John Riedl,et al.  Toward computer-supported concurrent software engineering , 1993, Computer.

[15]  Jau-Hsiung Huang,et al.  Real-time software-based video coder for multimedia communication systems , 1993, MULTIMEDIA '93.

[16]  Clarence A. Ellis,et al.  Groupware: some issues and experiences , 1991, CACM.

[17]  Michael Altenhofen,et al.  The BERKOM multimedia collaboration service , 1993, MULTIMEDIA '93.

[18]  Adi Shamir,et al.  A method for obtaining digital signatures and public-key cryptosystems , 1978, CACM.

[19]  Mark O. Pendergast.  Multicast channels for collaborative applications: design and performance evaluation , 1993, CCRV.

[20]  H.M. Abdel-Wahab,et al.  XTV: a framework for sharing X Window clients in remote synchronous collaboration , 1991, Proceedings of TRICOMM `91: IEEE Conference on Communications Software: Communications for Distributed Applications and Systems.

[21]  S.-H. Lee,et al.  MHTP-a multimedia high-speed transport protocol , 1992, [Conference Record] GLOBECOM '92 - Communications for Global Users: IEEE.

[22]  Gerald Estrin,et al.  Prototyping synchronous group applications , 1994, Computer.

[23]  Andrew S. Tanenbaum,et al.  Modern Operating Systems , 1992 .

[24]  Scott L. Minneman,et al.  Where were we: making and using near-synchronous, pre-narrative video , 1993, MULTIMEDIA '93.

[25]  Ruth E. Lang,et al.  CECED: a system for informal multimedia collaboration , 1993, MULTIMEDIA '93.

[26]  Chandrajit L. Bajaj,et al.  Collaborative multimedia scientific design in SHASTRA , 1993, MULTIMEDIA '93.

[27]  Thomas W. Malone,et al.  Object lens: a “spreadsheet” for cooperative work , 2018, TOIS.

[28]  Samuel T. Chanson,et al.  A name model for nested group communication , 1993, TNET.

[29]  J.-H. Huang,et al.  Design and implementation of multimedia conference system on broadcast networks , 1993, 1993 18th Conference on Local Computer Networks.

[30]  T. Ohmori,et al.  Distributed desktop conferencing system (MERMAID) based on group communication architecture , 1991, ICC 91 International Conference on Communications Conference Record.

[31]  Klaus Meyer-Wegener,et al.  Communication support for cooperative work , 1993, Comput. Commun..

[32]  Adi Shamir,et al.  A method for obtaining digital signatures and public-key cryptosystems , 1978, CACM.

[33]  Takashi Nishimura,et al.  Multimedia handling scheme in a groupware system for B-ISDN , 1992, [Conference Record] GLOBECOM '92 - Communications for Global Users: IEEE.