INDIVA: Distributed Streaming Media and Equipment Control Middleware

Abstract

Developing applications to control audio/video equipment and the interface between conventional audio/video signals and Internet streaming media is difficult. Consequently, widespread deployment and use of streaming media in day-to-day activities has been slow to develop. This paper describes a middleware system and application program interface designed to solve this problem. The system, called INDIVA, provides a hierarchical name space for accessing and controlling audio/video equipment, software services for processing media streams, and conference resources. The design and implementation of the system is described and examples are presented that illustrate how it can be used to implement direct manipulation interfaces for Internet streaming media. This middleware can also be used to implement control and automation systems for Internet webcasting and distributed collaboration systems.