---
title: "Application, system and device domain"
subject: "Multimedia System"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_8/multimedia_system:application-system-device-domain"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/multimedia_system/application-system-device-domain
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Application, system and device domain

Multimedia System · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: 2072 Magh, 9 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/multimedia_system/application-system-device-domain
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/multimedia_system/chapter-1

## Question

Compare among application domain, system domain and device domain.

## Short answer

Application domain is the top layer providing user functions; system domain manages OS, communication, and database services; device domain is the physical hardware. They differ in position, role, contents, and concerns, with each depending on the layer below.

## Answer

The three domains are the layers of the global structure of a multimedia system. The **application domain** is what the user works with, the **system domain** supplies the operating and communication services, and the **device domain** is the physical hardware that handles the media.

| Point | Application domain | System domain | Device domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Top layer | Middle layer | Bottom layer |
| Main role | Provide the functions the user wants | Manage resources and give services to applications | Capture, store, transport and present raw media |
| Contains | Applications, user interface, documents, programming abstractions (API, toolkits, authoring systems) | Operating system, communication system, database system | Camera, microphone, scanner, monitor, speaker, storage and network hardware |
| Seen by | End user and application developer | System programmer | Hardware engineer |
| Typical concerns | Usability, document structure, interaction, synchronisation specification | Real-time scheduling, QoS, protocols, file organisation, media-data retrieval | Sampling, resolution, bandwidth, capacity, access time |
| Depends on | System domain services | Device domain hardware | Physical technology only |
| Examples | Video conferencing, e-learning software, games | Windows/Linux media scheduler, TCP/IP and RTP, multimedia database | Webcam, sound card, DVD drive, LCD display |
| Change affects | Only that application | All applications that use the service | Drivers in the system domain |

#### Interaction between them

```text
 Application domain  -- requests -->  System domain
 (play lecture video)                 (schedule CPU/disk,
                                       fetch stream)
                                           |
                                           v
                                     Device domain
                                     (decode, display,
                                      play sound)
```

For example, when a student plays a recorded lecture, the player (application domain) asks the OS to read the file and decode it (system domain), and the display and speakers (device domain) present picture and sound. Layering allows each domain to be improved independently.

#### Example: video conferencing

- **Application domain:** conferencing program with user interface for joining a call, chat window and shared whiteboard.
- **System domain:** OS schedules audio and video capture threads, the communication system sends the streams using RTP/UDP with delay control and synchronises sound with lips, and the database may record the meeting.
- **Device domain:** webcam, microphone, sound and graphics cards, display, speakers and network card.

#### Key difference in one line each

- Application domain answers "what does the user do?".
- System domain answers "which services and resources make it possible?".
- Device domain answers "which hardware captures, stores and shows the media?".

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which pairing of domain and main role is correct?
   A. Application domain: capture raw media
   B. System domain: provide the functions the user wants
   C. Device domain: manage resources for applications
   D. Device domain: capture, store, transport and present raw media
   Answer: D. The device domain handles raw media in hardware; the application domain provides user functions and the system domain manages resources. (Key point: Role of each domain)

2. On what does the application domain depend?
   A. Directly on the physical technology
   B. System domain services
   C. Nothing
   D. Only on the device domain
   Answer: B. The application domain depends on system domain services, which in turn depend on the device domain. (Key point: Dependence between domains)

3. A change in a service of the system domain affects what?
   A. Only one application
   B. Only the hardware
   C. All applications that use the service
   D. Nothing in the other domains
   Answer: C. System services are shared, so changing one affects all applications using it; a change in an application affects only that application. (Key point: Effect of change)

4. In a video conferencing system, which task belongs to the system domain?
   A. Sending streams using RTP/UDP with delay control and synchronising sound with lips
   B. Showing the join-call button and chat window
   C. Capturing picture with the webcam
   D. Playing sound through speakers
   Answer: A. Communication and scheduling services are in the system domain; UI is application and webcam/speakers are device domain. (Key point: Video conferencing example)

## Related in Multimedia System

- [Multimedia application development life cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fmultimedia_system%3Aapp-development-life-cycle) — Multimedia System, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [CMYK colour model and application](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fmultimedia_system%3Acmyk-colour-model) — Multimedia System, chapter 3
- [Compare JPEG and MPEG](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fmultimedia_system%3Ajpeg-vs-mpeg) — Multimedia System, chapter 5
- [Compare RGB, CMY and HSB models](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fmultimedia_system%3Argb-cmy-hsb-comparison) — Multimedia System, chapter 3

## Related in other subjects

- [LTI system output in time domain](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fcommunication_systems%3Alti-output-time-domain) — Communication Systems, chapter 1
- [Short note: Application of queuing system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fsimulation_and_modeling%3Ashort-note-queuing-application) — Simulation and Modeling, chapter 4
- [Application of AR system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcomputer_graphics%3Aar-system-application) — Computer Graphics, chapter 1
- [Event notification among distributed objects](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdistributed_system%3Aevent-notification-architecture) — Distributed System, chapter 2