Network Access to Multimedia Information
RFC 1614
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RFC - Informational
(May 1994; No errata)
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Author |
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Chris Adie
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Last updated |
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2013-03-02
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IETF
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RFC 1614 (Informational)
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Network Working Group C. Adie
Request for Comments: 1614 Edinburgh University Computing Service
RARE Technical Report: 8 May 1994
Category: Informational
Network Access to Multimedia Information
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. This memo
does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of
this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
This report summarises the requirements of research and academic
network users for network access to multimedia information. It does
this by investigating some of the projects planned or currently
underway in the community. Existing information systems such as
Gopher, WAIS and World-Wide Web are examined from the point of view
of multimedia support, and some interesting hypermedia systems
emerging from the research community are also studied. Relevant
existing and developing standards in this area are discussed. The
report identifies the gaps between the capabilities of
currentlydeployed systems and the user requirements, and proposes
further work centred on the World-Wide Web system to rectify this.
The report is in some places very detailed, so it is preceded by an
extended summary, which outlines the findings of the report.
Publication History
The first edition was released on 29 June 1993. This second edition
contains minor changes, corrections and updates.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 2
Disclaimer 2
Availability 3
0. Extended Summary 3
1. Introduction 10
1.1. Background 10
1.2. Terminology 11
2. User Requirements 13
2.1. Applications 13
2.2. Data Characteristics 18
Adie [Page 1]
RFC 1614 Network Access to Multimedia Information May 1994
2.3. Requirements Definition 19
3. Existing Systems 24
3.1. Gopher 24
3.2. Wide Area Information Server 30
3.3. World-Wide Web 34
3.4. Evaluating Existing Tools 42
4. Research 47
4.1. Hyper-G 47
4.2. Microcosm 48
4.3. AthenaMuse 2 50
4.4. CEC Research Programmes 51
4.5. Other 53
5. Standards 55
5.1. Structuring Standards 55
5.2. Access Mechanisms 62
5.3. Other Standards 63
5.4. Trade Associations 66
6. Future Directions 68
6.1. General Comments on the State-of-the-Art 68
6.2. Quality of Service 70
6.3. Recommended Further Work 71
7. References 76
8. Security Considerations 79
9. Author's Address 79
Acknowledgements
The following people have (knowingly or unknowingly) helped in the
preparation of this report: Tim Berners-Lee, John Dyer, Aydin Edguer,
Anton Eliens, Tony Gibbons, Stewart Granger, Wendy Hall, Gary Hill,
Brian Marquardt, Gunnar Moan, Michael Neuman, Ari Ollikainen, David
Pullinger, John Smith, Edward Vielmetti, and Jane Williams. The
useful role which NCSA's XMosaic information browser tool played in
assembling the information on which this report was based should also
be acknowledged - many thanks to its developers.
All trademarks are hereby acknowledged as being the property of their
respective owners.
Disclaimer
This report is based on information supplied to or obtained by
Edinburgh University Computing Service (EUCS) in good faith. Neither
EUCS nor RARE nor any of their staff may be held liable for any
inaccuracies or omissions, or any loss or damage arising from or out
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