The emerging information superhighway will bring to homes and businesses the ability to access and manipulate a vast amount of information stored in a variety of forms in different databases. Multimedia systems facilitate the access and manipulation of such information across high-speed networks. Multimedia database systems (MDSs) are a new generation of database systems that will provide a unified and interactive framework for users to request and integrate information stored in a variety of media. Applications of such systems in scientific research, commercial and business activities (via interactive TV systems), law enforcement, and military operations are numerous and obvious. This book presents basic research on the theory, implementations, and applications of MDSs. It will form a valuable text for advanced courses.