Multimedia tools and applications in the development of a large complex network system

The paper demonstrates the capability and use of integrating multimedia tools and events in the life-cycle development of large, complex networks. Network engineering (NE), detailed by the authors' previous research, defines process steps for the requirement specification, design, evaluation, testing, layout and maintenance of computer networks (S. Palangala et al., 1998). The paper shows that the integration of multimedia in the process steps for NE results in better networks being designed. The paper details a multimedia based simulation executed on the network prototype, prior to submitting the designed network to a more rigorous simulation software, like OPNET (OPtimized Network Engineering Tools). The tool detailed in the paper allows the user to specify events during the network simulation. Events are user defined conditions that can identify and alert the user regarding abnormal behavior of the network system. The key ideas presented in the paper include the usage of multimedia in the NE process, and the role of user-defined events in identifying design aspects of the network.