The Encyclopedia of Multimedia provides in-depth coverage of the important concepts, issues and technology trends in the field of multimedia technologies, systems, techniques, and applications. It is a comprehensive collection of entries that present perspectives and future trends in the field from hundreds of leading researchers and world experts in the field. These entries describe a number of topics in multimedia systems and applications - from multimedia servers, to multimedia databases and multimedia networks and communications, to emerging multimedia applications. The Encyclopedia of Multimedia also includes: The most sought-after topics of multimedia available, including new standards Key citations Cross referenced entries The Editor-in-Chief, working with the Encyclopedia's Editorial Board and a large number of contributors, surveyed and divided the field of multimedia into specific topics that collectively encompass the foundations, technologies, applications, and emerging elements of this exciting field. The intended audience of the Encyclopedia of Multimedia is technically diverse and wide; it includes everyone concerned with multimedia systems and their applications. Specifically, this volume serves as a valuable reference for system designers, engineers, programmers, and managers who are involved in multimedia system design and their applications. Practitioners in industry and advanced-level students in computer science and engineering will benefit from this book.