Abstract

Middleware has for some period of time now been the prefered programming model of distributed systems. The advantage of middleware is that it presents a unified programming model by hiding problems of distribution and heterogenity so that the programmer can concentrate on the functionality of the application to develop. Traditional middleware provides, to a large extent at least, only means for performing remote method invocation. The emerging field of both multimedia and mobile computing are given little support from current middleware solutions. Both these fields of computer sceience are emerging as ever more popular amomg users and system developers and as these also represents complex challenges for the programmers. This clearly calls for support from middleare.

In this thesis a middleware programming model for supporting multimedia in a mobile environment is presented. The approach chosen to achieve this is to design and implement an open and explicit binding that provides support for streams, QoS managment, context awareness and adaption. To achieve this traditional middleware is not suited due to the fact they do not pose the ability to be reconfigurated. In this thesis a configurable and reconfigurable middleware platform called OOPP is used. This platform provides the necessary means for adaption to take place.

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