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ITU-T Study Group 9 (Study Period 2005-2008) |
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Question 11/9 - Requirements and methods for sound and television
transmission over IP networks for purposes of contribution, primary distribution
and secondary distribution (webcasting) |
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1 Motivation
The use of IP networks for the delivery or exchange of sound programmes or television programmes as multimedia information is spreading at an impressive pace. This is confirmed by the very high rate of increase in the penetration of these IP-based services.
The speed capability of the Internet is steadily increasing as the bit-rate capability of networks improves; this leads to the fact that the IP delivery of sound programmes and television programmes over IP networks of "entertainment" quality has become viable.
The Internet as we know it today is no longer only capable to deliver a modest bit rate; IP networks are adequate for the delivery of sound programmes or television programmes of entertainment sound/picture quality and timeliness; they now meet the expectations of an audience accustomed to the programme quality provided by the CD and by broadcast/cablecast television.
In addition, the growing use of computer-based platforms together with standard computer
networks in production and editing of television and sound programs stimulates the use of
IP based transmission for contribution purposes, in view of the production and/or
postproduction of such programs.
Examples of such applications are:
- The exchange of programme segments or sequences among production and postproduction facilities.
- The prospect to remotely access and download programme material in low-quality
browse mode and in full-quality mode, from programme archives scattered over a large territory.
In contrast to the widespread use of IP techniques for Internet applications, these
contribution and primary distribution applications demand more stringent performance
objectives from the network and they may also demand the use of somewhat different Internet protocols.
There are two basic categories to be considered, namely real-time streaming which is a
time-critical application and non-real-time file transfer. In the latter case, the requirement
to transport large files in a short time leads to a particular type of traffic profile.
Accordingly, it is necessary to continue studies on a Question which covers wide effective
utilization of IP networks. Innovative transmission and control protocols, codecs and multiplex
systems should be studied for high-speed and real-time packets transmission over IP networks.
2 Question
- What are the service requirements applicable to the interactive delivery of sound programmes and of television programmes over IP networks for contribution and/or for distribution purposes, in terms of sound quality, picture quality, quality of the other components of the programme, synchronization of the various programme components, timeliness, reliability of delivery, etc.?
- What are the service requirements applicable to the interactive secondary delivery ("webcasting") of sound programmes and of television programmes to the public over IP networks, in terms of sound quality, picture quality, quality of the other components of the programme, synchronization of the various programme components, timeliness, reliability of delivery, etc.?
- Which sound and picture source coding methods can be recommended for this kind of delivery of sound programmes and of television programmes?
- What methods are appropriate for enhanced protection against transmission errors if this is required?
- Which protocols are appropriate for streaming applications?
- Which protocols are appropriate for fast file transfer of applications such as audio or television programmes, maintaining content integrity?
- Which are the mechanisms to provide unicast and multicast capabilities with these protocols?
- Which IP-related protocols should be recommended for the time-efficient transmission of extremely large files such as the ones required to deliver full-length HDTV programmes?
- Which measures can be recommended to ensure synchronized and timely reception of the various components of the programme at the destination point?
- Which conditional access methods (CAS or DRM as appropriate) can be recommended when conditional access is implemented?
3 Tasks
Tasks include, but are not limited to the preparation of updated or new Recommendations as required.
An up-to-date status of work under this Question is contained in the SG 9 Work Programme.
4 Relationships
- Recommendations: J-series and H-series
- Questions: 12/9
- Study Groups:
- ITU-T SG 13
- SG 16
- ITU-R SG 6
- Standardisation bodies:
- ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11 (MPEG), IETF
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