Convert RAT to use multithreading and non-local MBUS

Google Summer of Code 2008 ideas

Mentors: Piers O'Hanlon (UCL) (p.ohanlon at gmail.com)

Background

The cross-platform (Linux, OSX, Windows) tools Robust Audio Tool (RAT), Video Tool (VIC), and UCL Common multimedia library are widely deployed in various Operating systems (e.g. Ubuntu Linux and FreeBSD). They also underpin the globally deployed AccessGrid advanced collaborative environment.

Currently the OMII-UK AVATS project provides for enhanced stability and baseline support (though new features as suggested below would not be covered): http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/research/avats/.

The media tool's development Trac and Subversion site: http://mediatools.cs.ucl.ac.uk/.

Project Goals

RAT is currently a multi-process tool - its stability would be significantly enhanced by converting it to use multihreading and only utilise the MBUS for external communications.

Project Requirements

In order to be able to successfully be able to complete this project the student should be able to program in C/Tcl/Tk.