Object-oriented framework for creating multimedia applications

A method of creating application programs that present multimedia information using a processor with an attached storage and a presentation device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) defining a media component base class, in a system address space of the storage, the base class defining port objects for communication;
• (b) deriving a first multimedia object subclass in the storage from the media component base class, thereby inheriting port object definitions from the base class, the first multimedia object subclass further defining a member function for producing digitized multimedia information from the storage;
• (c) deriving a second multimedia object subclass in the storage from the media component base class, thereby inheriting port object definitions from the base class, the second multimedia object subclass further defining a member function for presenting digitized multimedia information on the presentation device;
• (d) deriving a connecting object subclass in the storage from the media component base class, thereby inheriting port object definitions from the base class, the connecting object subclass further defining a member function for processing digitized multimedia information;
• (e) creating a first multimedia object in an application address space of the storage from the first multimedia object class
• (f) displaying an indicia of the first multimedia object on the presentation device;
• (g) creating a second multimedia object in the application address space of
• the storage from the second multimedia object class
• (h) displaying an indicia of the second multimedia object on the presentation device;
• (i) deriving a connecting object subclass in the storage from the media component base class, thereby inheriting the port object definitions from the base class, the connecting object subclass further defining a member function for processing digitized multimedia information;
• (j) creating a connecting object in the application address space of the storage from the connecting object subclass
• (k) connecting, in response to a connection request, the port objects of the first multimedia object to port objects of the connecting object and connecting other port objects of the connecting object to port objects of the second multimedia object so that the first multimedia object produces multimedia information, the connecting object processes the produced information, and the second multimedia object presents the processed information on the presentation device.