Hiromi Mizuno

Collaborative multimedia applications and platforms integrated with video-on-demand

Collaborative multimedia applications and platforms integrated with video-on-demand are described. The integration platform is realized by association of a groupware server with a video-on-demand server using a Video Service Bridge. The platform enables application developers to develop collaborative multimedia application systems supporting video-on-demand functions, and provides both realtime and stored video naturally synchronized with audio to group users simultaneously. A collaborative automobile sales support system and a group hypermedia navigational system developed on the integrated platform are interesting examples showing the platform’s possibilities. Using these systems, group users can simultaneously share and operate video images retrieved from video servers.