A framework to support mobile users of multimedia applications

Abstract

this paper we describe how we have extended our distributed multimedia application platform to support the fact that users may change their physical location whilst continuing to interact with an application. We are assuming an environment of ubiquitous computer deployment. Constructing multimedia applications from reusable active objects leads to efficient and dynamically reconfigurable systems. These objects have been made mobile so they can follow users as they move. This work differs from other approaches (e.g. teleporting or mobile scripting languages such as Java) in that there is support for more than just mobile GUIs. Also the entire application doesn't have to move; only objects dependent on a user's location need follow him/her. We have implemented all concepts discussed and have built working multimedia applications which can support user mobility. In our experiments, we found it appropriate to use compiled objects as media processors and interpreted objects as high level managers. 1 Introduction