Predictive prefetch in the Nemesis multimedia information service

Abstract

Critical to the success of future multimedia services is the ability to provide fast access to stored information via communications networks. In the Nemesis project, we focus on application control protocols for delivering stored multimedia to a user. We are exploring adaptive rate control schemes that make use of predictive prefetch of information from remote storage servers as a strategy for coping with short-term network congestion. For users with low-end equipment or slow network connections, these protocols provide a degraded but still useful service. We also provide “better than being there” features such as variable playback rates with intelligible audio, and synchronization and linkage of multiple media.