Synchronization architectures and control schemes for interactive multimedia presentations

Multimedia synchronization for interactive services in distributed environments are complicated because of some random features: the random network delays and the random user interactions that are issued dynamically and unpredictably. In this paper, two issues in multimedia synchronization for interactive services in distributed environments are identified. To resolve these two issues, we propose synchronization architectures and control schemes for the client receive & display mechanisms, e.g., set-top boxes and interactive TVs, and for the server transmitting mechanisms, e.g., media servers. Using the proposed architectures and control schemes, smooth presentations for interactive multimedia applications in distributed environments can be achieved.