Motivation

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 in 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 telecommunication, television and computer fields and to apply it specifically to the applications and services developed by SG 16. The Question can be viewed as addressing multimedia services and applications for “e-everything”.

Study items

Study items to be considered include, but are not limited to:

• Identify multimedia services and applications that are studied by ITU and other bodies and produce a map of their interrelationship
• Harmonize development of multimedia applications and services with that of network services and next generation networks
• Update the F.700 service description methodology to better reflect evolving network services, new multimedia services and generic applications
• Identify the services and applications to be explored by SG 16 and define their respective scopes, requirements and contribute to the development of technical specifications
• Considerations on how to help measure and mitigate climate change

Tasks

Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Production of the scope and requirements capture for the services and applications under SG 16 responsibility
• Study the requirements for and, if needed, create F-series Recommendations to cover new applications and services; e.g.:
  • Retrieval services, including interactive audiovisual and multimedia services
  • Distribution services, including broadcasting services
  • Messaging services
  • Collection services
  • E-commerce services or applications
  • Services on next generation networks
  • Real-time collaboration services
  • Service description and requirements for visual surveillance – ongoing as F.VSreqs
  • Telemedicine applications
• Coordination with SG 13 on the NGN and IPTV projects
• Enhancement and maintenance of F.700-703, F.720, F.721, F.723, F.724, F.731-733, F.740-742, F.750, F.761

An up-to-date status of work under this Question is found in the SG 16 work programme (http://itu.int/ITU-T/workprog/wp_search.aspx?isn_sg=554).

Relationships

Recommendations:

• F, G, H, I, Q, T, V, X, Y series Recommendations under the responsibility of SG 16

Questions:

• 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 20, 21, 24, 25/16

Study Groups:

• ITU-T SGs 2, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 17 for NGN, IPTV and other matters
• ITU-R SG 6 for broadcast services and applications

Other Bodies:

• IETF for Internet services
• ISO, IEC, OASIS and UN/ECE for the MoU on electronic business
• IMTC for interoperability
• OMG Telecom Domain Task Force