(Continuation of part of Questions 1 and 2/16)

Background and justification

ITU-T Study Group 16 has successfully established H.300- and T.120-series system Recommendations largely for real-time video and data conferencing applications in various network environments. Based on these systems, we can configure other applications such as distance learning, telemedicine, satellite offices where additional sets of specifications would be required to make different systems interoperable. It is noted that utilization of rich IP supported services together with the audiovisual functionalities would play an important role in these applications.

Furthermore there is a wide range of multimedia services other than multimedia conferencing which are dealt with inside and outside ITU. There is a need for standardized international multimedia applications and services which will fully meet evolving user needs and guarantee the compatibility of multimedia systems and terminals on a worldwide basis. Across different networks SG 16 has developed a general methodology for description of services as F.700 and applied it to F.700-series service Recommendations. The user requirements are captured through specific application scenarios and a modular approach facilitates evolution and interoperability.

This Question is motivated to study a consistent approach for various generic multimedia applications and services taking into consideration the increasing technical convergence of the telecommunications, television and computer fields and to apply it specifically to the applications and services developed by SG 16.

Study items

• Identify multimedia services and applications studied by ITU and other bodies and produce a map of their interrelationship.
• Identify priorities to respond to the market demand.
• Identify missing and overlapped areas.
• Harmonize development of multimedia applications and services with that of network services.
• Apply the general service description methodology defined in F.700 to all the multimedia services.
• Extend this methodology to generic applications.
• Identify the services and applications to be explored by SG 16.
• Define the scope of those services and applications under SG 16 responsibility.
• Define the requirements for those services and applications under SG 16 responsibility which contribute to development of the specification.
• Study the requirements for metadata in real-time multimedia communications, and ensure the development of appropriate standards in cooperation with other relevant SDOs.

NOTE - The service description should not cause unnecessary constraints. They should provide the minimum characteristics for the terminals and systems to support the service, but allow service providers to add any enhancement they wish to offer to their customers.

Specific task objectives with expected time-frame of completion

• Production of an initial map of multimedia services and applications: early 2001.
• Update of the map: 2002-4.
• Production of the scope and requirements capture for the services and applications under SG 16 responsibility: 2001.
• Creation of F-series Recommendations on F.MRS (retrieval services (NOTE 1)), F.MDS (distribution services (NOTE 2)), F.MMS (messaging services), F.MCLS (collection services), F.EMS (emergency multimedia services), F.Ecom (e-commerce services or applications) and F.TM (telemedicine applications): 2002.
• Enhancements and improvements to existing Recommendations: T.100, T.101, T.102, T.103, T.104, T.105, T.106, T.107, T.170, T.171, T.172, T.173, T.174, T.175, T.176, T.504, T.523, T.541 and T.564.
• Coordination of Project M.3 on electronic commerce.

NOTE 1 - Including interactive audiovisual and multimedia services.

NOTE 2 - Including broadcasting services.

Relationships

• SG 16 Mediacom 2004 Project.
• ITU-T SGs 2, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 17, ITU-R SGs 10 and 11 for broadcast services and applications.
• IETF for Internet services.
• Questions 1-5 of SG 16 for specific systems.
• SG 13 IP Project.
• SG 13 GII Project.
• ISO, IEC and UN/ECE for the MoU on electronic business (Project M3).