Traditional database management systems can't handle the demands of managing multimedia data. With the rapid growth of multimedia platforms and the world wide web, database management systems must now process, store, index, and retrieve alphanumeric data, bitmapped and vector-based graphics, and video and audio clips both compressed and uncompressed. The comprehensive, systematic approach of Multimedia Database Management Systems presents you with current and emerging methods for managing the increasing demands of multimedia databases and their inherent design and architecture issues. With this comprehensive resource, you learn how to create an effective multimedia database by integrating the various information indexing and retrieval methods currently available. Also, you learn to measure multimedia database performance that is based on similarity to queries and routinely affected by human judgment. This book concludes with a discussion of networking and operating system support for multimedia databases and a look at current research and development in this dynamic field. It is a vital tool for database developers and managers, multimedia researchers, as well as web developers.