Motivation

The work on multimedia standardization in SG 16 has resulted in the definition of a number of multimedia systems. Recommendation H.245 represented a first step toward development of reusable system components within the multimedia architecture. H.323 has introduced innovative architectural elements, particularly the gatekeeper, and the implications of these innovations for further work on multimedia systems should be explored. H.610 defines a multiservice system architecture and customer premises equipment architecture for the delivery of video, data and voice services across a VDSL access network to an in-home environment. As broadband service over various access technologies has evolved and the desire for the delivery of multimedia services to the home has gained attention from service providers, home networking architectural issues and their impact on the broader communications must be considered in this context as well.

This Question will take responsibility to develop an end-to-end service architecture framework that provides a common multimedia framework that is consistent with the architecture of the broader communications network. This work will be done in close cooperation with the NGN work in SG 13.

The objective of this Question is to ensure that the work of multimedia standardization takes place within an architectural framework which promotes integrity of system design, scalability of solutions, reuse of system components, and consistency with the architecture of the broader telecommunication network.

Study items

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

• Creating and maintaining a living architectural framework document to provide guidance to individual multimedia projects within ITU-T and ITU-R
• Recognizing and responding to issues of architectural policy arising in the course of execution of individual multimedia projects
• Recognizing and negotiating a resolution to any inconsistencies between the multimedia architectural framework and other architectural work such as NGN within ITU-T and ITU-R, including those aspects related to multimedia service delivery to the home
• Coordinating the work on multimedia architecture with related works being performed in other SDOs and industry forums for home networking and broader telecommunication issues
• Considerations on how to help measure and mitigate climate change

Tasks

Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Documentation of architectural assumptions made by previous works on multimedia standardization (H- and T-series Recommendations)
• NGN multimedia system architecture
• Develop a generic home network architecture, including security and visual surveillance
• Develop a networked ID triggered multimedia information delivery system architecture
• Identification of inconsistencies between the multimedia architectural framework in SG 16 and architectural works carried out in other study groups and other bodies
• Negotiation for resolution of inconsistencies and updating of the multimedia architectural framework
• Enhancement and maintenance of Recommendations H.610, H.611 and H-series Supplement 3

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:

• H.200-series, H.245, H.300-series; J.160- and J.170-series

Questions:

• All Questions of Study Group 16

Study Groups:

• ITU-T SGs 9, 11, 13, and 15 for multimedia-related studies and architectural Questions
• ITU-R SG 6 for multimedia-related studies

Other Bodies:

• 3GPP, 3GPP2
• ETSI PLT for power line telecommunications
• IETF (particularly the Applications and Transport Areas)
• IMTC for interoperability
• IP/MPLS Forum
• ISO/IEC JTC1/SCs 25 (Home networking), 29 (MPEG)
• Architectural groups within regional telecommunications standardization bodies (in particular, ETSI TISPAN)