amounts of data is a task normally allocated to database management systems. Although some modern database management systems offer facilities to support development of multi­ media applications, many problems related to multimedia support are still not well understood. This book reports on research efforts to solve some of these problems. An in­ troductory knowledge of databases, and also of operating systems and network technology is assumed. The book is very suitable as material for courses at senior or graduate level, but also for upgrading the skills of computer scientists working on database management systems, multimedia systems or applications. The book consists of four parts. Part I is called "Requirements for a Mul­ timedia Database" and comprises chapters one to three. Chapter one presents an outline of the book.