Until recently, databases contained easily indexed numbers and text. Today, in the age of powerful, graphically based computers, and the world wide web, databases are likely to contain a much greater variety of data forms, including images, sound, video clips, and even handwritten documents. When multimedia databases are the norm, traditional methods of working with databases no longer apply. How do you query a video library, or an image database containing x-rays, or sounds in an audio database? Principles of Multimedia Database Systems explains how to work with these new multimedia data forms. It is the first comprehensive treatment of the skills and techniques required to build, maintain, and query multimedia databases. This book presents the mix of techniques necessary for working with multimedia databases, including synthetic solutions for the design and deployment of multimedia database systems. Because rapid technological developments are constantly changing the landscape of multimedia databases, the book teaches basic theoretical principles applicable to any database. * Covers the major issues of multimedia database design, with a strong focus on distributed multimedia databases. * Discusses important topics including how to organize the vast data types, storage and retrieval, and creation and delivery of multimedia presentations. * Organized around the lively scenario of a crime-fighting database that evolves as new concepts are introduced. * Includes numerous exercises and suggestions for programming projects. * Additional materials on the web include updates, on-line supplements, and links to downloadable software.