Need a file system optimized for real-time media? This paper introduces the Continuous Media File System (CMFS), designed for real-time storage and retrieval of continuous media data like digital audio and video on disk. CMFS enables clients to read or write files in sessions with guaranteed minimum data rates. CMFS supports multiple concurrent sessions, potentially with varying data rates, and allows non-real-time access to proceed simultaneously. It tackles interrelated design challenges: real-time session semantics, disk layout strategies, admission control for new sessions, and disk scheduling policies. The authors compare several design options using simulation. This approach aids in efficient data management. This investigation provides crucial insights for creating file systems optimized for multimedia applications, supporting seamless playback and recording of continuous media.
Published in ACM Transactions on Computer Systems, this paper aligns with the journal's focus on innovative system designs and performance optimization. The CMFS addresses key challenges in managing continuous media data, a relevant topic for the journal's readership interested in advancements in file systems and storage technologies.