SMPL a Specification Language Based Framework for the Semantic Structure, Annotation and Control of SMIL Documents

In this paper we describe the design and implementation of a declarative XML language used to support the semantic structure, annotation and control of SMIL documents. We evaluate the system in the context of distant learning environment. We named the new framework SMPL as it intended to support the design of simple, declarative language based, multimedia document management standards, based on SMIL a W3C standard. SMPL is supported by all browsers de-facto. Unlike perhaps other web standards, where adding functionality has to be included in a release of a new version for a plug-in or a web browser, SMPL is extendable and yet requires no specific changes to the implementation of a plugin or the browser, beyond it’s support for SMIL. We envision SMPL as the framework for the next generation semantic Multimedia document management languages. It supports the creation of different languages that facilitate different requirements for the semantic structuring, annotation or control of SMIL synchronized multimedia documents, much beyond the distant learning context implemented as a case study. 1 Motivation and Introduction Different needs motivate different ways for the semantic structure, annotation and control of multimedia documents. In this paper we motivate the effectiveness of SMPL in the context of distant learning environment. We identify the following need: professors would like to generate a digital version of their lectures allowing students to access the lectures from home. The challenge is to allow students to associate a semantic meaning with SMIL1 documents. 1SMIL[4] is a W3C standard which allows users to create multimedia presentations on the world wide web. SMIL provides presentation authors We create a new XML based specification language following the proposed SMPL framework which: • Structures lectures in a tree based hierarchy: classweek number-slide. • Annotates lectures, at particular time-intervals with links to relevant reading material, keywords. • Supports user control of the lecture flow by browsing the contents tree, selecting the slide to start payback from or search for a particular keyword and play a relevant lecture from a particular time offset associated with that keyword. For the task of presenting a recorded lecture with slide we utilize the SMIL standard. SMIL documents synchronize slides and video recordings, for each lecture. The distant learning application is an example of a specific application need for the semantic structure annotation and control. Using our specification language framework, SMPL, we answer the application need. Similarly, different specifications can be implemented to answer different application needs for the structure, annotation and control of SMIL multimedia documents. In the context of distant learning applications, there are existing systems that allow for similar functionality. What sets the SMPL framework apart from traditional alternatives are the following major advantages: • A flexible functionality re-use framework: SMPL framework builds upon functionality that is already part of SMIL to generate a new, specialized standard that answers semantic structure annotation and control needs. The main functionalities of SMIL (synchronization and Content Placement) are exploited by SMPL. As SMIL solves most of the “difficult” problems that a web-based implementation of a multimedia document with the ability to control the timing of the presentation and placement of presentation objects in the presentation document.