A methodology to assess synchronization algorithms for distributed applications

The need for algorithms providing synchronization between audio and video data was driven by the advent of multimedia applications in distributed environments. Numerous algorithms have been proposed, but there is a lack of methodologies to assess these algorithms, to compare them and to determine the algorithm best suited for a given networking and end-system environment and application. In this paper a methodology to assess synchronization algorithms for distributed multimedia applications is presented. The methodology is based on four quality of service (QoS) parameters for synchronization comprising: asynchrony, synchronization error probability, synchronization delays, and buffer requirements. An analytical analysis of these parameters is performed. A key feature of this methodology, is that it parameterizes the network, the end-system, and the application. Thus, it allows for the assessment of any synchronization algorithm independent from the network and end-system. Influences of the infrastructure on synchronization can be determined by the proposed methodology.