Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A performance analysis of personal computers in a video conferencing environment

  • Published:
Multimedia Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

New intelligent adapters, advanced bus architectures, and powerful microprocessors have resulted in a new generation of personal computers with true multimedia capabilities. Collaborative applications are the most demanding applications of multimedia technologies today. We present a performance analysis of how effective video conferencing applications can be supported with personal computers connected through a local area network (LAN). We also evaluate the performance impact of an advanced, peer-to-peer I/O protocol. The key factor in the performance of a video conferencing system over a LAN is the video compression and decompression algorithms. At high video frame rates, the peer-to-peer I/O protocol performs better than the traditional, bus-master, interrupt-driven I/O protocol.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Crimmins S (1993) Analysis of video conferencing on a token ring local area network. Proceedings of the First ACM International Conference on Multimedia, Anaheim, Calif., pp 301–310

  • Fletcher JD (1990) Effectiveness and cost of interactive videodisc instruction in defense training and education. Institute for defense analysis paper P-2372, Washington

  • Gibbs S, Tsichritzis D, Fitas A, Konstantas D, and Yeorgaroudakis Y (1987) Muse: a multi-media filing system. IEEE Software 4: 4–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Harney K, Keith M, Lavelle G, Ryan L, Stark D (1991) The i750 video processor: a total multimedia solution. Commun ACM 34: 65–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Huynh K, Khoshgoftaar T (1993) A Performance Analysis of Video Conferencing On Personal Computer Systems. Technical Report TR-CSE-93-26, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fla

    Google Scholar 

  • IBM (1991) Subsystem Control Block I/O Architecture Technical Reference, 1st edn. IBM, IEEE Computer Society, Los Alamitos, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Isaacs E, Tang J (1993) What video can and can't do for collaboration: a case study. Proceedings of the First ACM International Conference on Multimedia, Anaheim, Calif., pp 199–206

  • Le Gall D (1991) MPEG: a video compression standard for multimedia applications. Commun ACM 34: 47–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Liou M (1991) Overview of the px64 kbit/sec Video Coding Standard. Commun ACM 34: 59–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Little T, Ghafoor A (1990) Network considerations for distributed multimedia object composition and communication. IEEE Network 4: 32–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Little T, Ghafoor A (1991) Multimedia synchronization protocols for broadband integrated services. IEEE J Selected Areas Commun 9: 1368–1382

    Google Scholar 

  • MacNair E, Sauer C (1985) Elements of practical performance modeling. Prentice-Hall, N.J., pp 46–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Patel K, Smith BC, Rowe LA (1993) Performance of a software MPEG video decoder. Proceedings of the First ACM International Conference on Multimedia, Anaheim, Calif., pp 75–82

  • Ramanathan S, Rangan P, Vin H, Kaeppner T (1992) Optimal communication architectures for multimedia conferencing in distributed systems. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems, pp 46–53

  • Sauer C, MacNair E (1979) Queueing network software for systems modeling. Software —Practice and Experience 9: 369–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauer C, MacNair E (1984) The evolution of the research queueing package. Proceedings of the International Conference on Modelling Techniques and Tools for Performance Analysis, pp 5–24

  • Vin H, Rangan P, Ramanathan S (1991) Hierarchical conferencing architectures for inter-group multimedia collaboration, p 17

  • Yun L, Messerschmitt D (1993) Architectures for multi-source multiuser video compositing. Technical report number CS91-210, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California at San Diego, September 1991

  • For photographs and biographies of the authors see Volume 2, Number 1, 1994, p 50.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IBM Corporation, Internal Zip 1430, P.O. Box 1328, 33429-1328, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Khoa D. Huynh

  2. Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, 33431, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Taghi M. Khoshgoftaar

Authors
  1. Khoa D. Huynh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Taghi M. Khoshgoftaar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khoa D. Huynh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huynh, K.D., Khoshgoftaar, T.M. A performance analysis of personal computers in a video conferencing environment. Multimedia Systems 2, 103–117 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01222123

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01222123

Key words

Search

Navigation