REPORT OF STUDY GROUP 9, INTEGRATED BROADBAND CABLENETWORKS AND TELEVISION AND SOUND TRANSMISSION,
DECEMBER 3 – 7, 2001, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
The following report represents the view of the reporterand is not the official, authorized minutes of the meeting.
Study Group 9, Integrated Broadband Cable Networks and Television and Sound Transmission,December 3 – 7, 2001, Geneva, Switzerland..............................................................3
SG9 Recommendations Consented under AAP....................................................................3SG9 Administrative Highlights.............................................................................................3General Liaisons...................................................................................................................5ITU-T TSAG Liaisons..........................................................................................................9Proposed Draft New Question on D-Cinema.....................................................................10
Working Groups 1 & 2, Cable Modems and IPCablecom.......................................................12IP Cablecom.......................................................................................................................12J.112 Amendments to Annex B and Annex C.....................................................................14Liaisons..............................................................................................................................16Draft Rec. J.160, Architectural Framework for the Delivery of Time Critical Services Over
Cable Television Networks Using Cable Modems (J.arch).....................................17J.162 Extensions.................................................................................................................17Draft Rec. J.165, IPCablecom Signaling Transport Protocol (J.istp)..................................17Draft Rec. J.170, IPCablecom Security Specification (J.sec)..............................................18Draft Rec. J.171, IPCablecom Trunking Gateway Control Protocol (J.tgcp)......................20Draft Rec. J.mem, Management Event Mechanism.............................................................21Draft Rec. J.pls, IPCablecom Embedded MTA Primary Line Support...............................21Draft Rec. J.iqos, IPCablecom Interdomain Quality of Service...........................................21Draft Rec. J.as, IPCablecom Audio Server Protocol...........................................................22Proposed New Work on ETS.............................................................................................23
Working Group 3, Networks....................................................................................................24Q2/9, Digital Transmission of Standard-Definition Television and High-Definition
Television Signals for Contribution, and Primary Distribution and SecondaryDistribution.............................................................................................................24
Draft New Rec. J.mpph, Transport Mechanism for Component-Coded Digital HDTVSignals using MPEG-2 Video Coding Including all Service Elements forContribution and Primary Distribution...................................................................25
Draft New Rec. J.metadata, Metadata on Cable Networks..................................................25Draft Rec. J.ret, A Framework for an Efficient Duplex Video Transmission System
Including Codecs with Functions of Failure Detection and Picture QualityEvaluation...............................................................................................................25
Q16/9, Transmission of Multi-channel Analog and/or Digital Television Signals overOptical Access Networks........................................................................................26
Draft Rec. J.fmc, Transmission Equipment for Transferring Multi-channel TelevisionSignals over Optical Access Networks by FM Conversion.....................................27
Draft Rec. J.scm, Transmission Equipment for Multi-Channel Television Signals overOptical Access Networks by Sub-Carrier Multiplexing (SCM)..............................27
Working Group 4, Webcasting.................................................................................................28Draft New Rec. J.mfweb, Multiplexing Format for Webcasting on TCP/IP Network........28Draft New Recommendation J.qweb, Quality Control Protocol for Webcasting.................29
Working Group 5, Quality Assessment....................................................................................29Draft New Rec. J.pcr, Measurement of MPEG-2 Transport Streams in Networks.............29Draft New Rec. J.lpl, Loop Latency Issues in Contribution Circuits for Conversational TV
Programs................................................................................................................35Draft New Rec. J.ists, Objective Picture Quality Measurement Method by Use of In-service
Test Signals............................................................................................................35Proposed Draft New Rec. J.mmq-req, Requirements for an Objective Multimedia Quality
Model.....................................................................................................................35Working Group 6, Program of Work.......................................................................................36Working Group 7, APIs...........................................................................................................36Working Group 8, Home Networks.........................................................................................38
Draft Rec. J.mbi, Digital TV Program Insertion for MPEG-2 Bitstreams...........................38Draft New Rec. J.hnwr, Home Networking Requirements for Cable Based Services.........38Liaisons..............................................................................................................................39
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REPORT OF STUDY GROUP 9, INTEGRATED BROADBAND CABLENETWORKS AND TELEVISION AND SOUND TRANSMISSION,
DECEMBER 3 – 7, 2001, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
The Study Group 9 Chair is R. Green (Cable Television Laboratories). TD-135 is the draft reportof this meeting. TD-001r1 is the agenda for the plenary sessions of this meeting. TD-002 is thedraft work program for this meeting. TD-003r1 is the list of documents. TD-045r1 provides theSG9 work program at the end of this meeting. TD-129 provides the updated SG9 portion of theSG15 access network standardization plan. TD-066r1 shows the allocation of documents to thevarious working groups for this meeting. TD-073 shows the allocation of incoming liaisons to thismeeting. TD-132 provides the list of SG9 outgoing liaisons. COM9-R2(Corr.1) is the report ofthe SG9 March 2001 meeting. COM9-32 is the report of the October joint meeting of SG9Questions 10 and 13 (see also CSR 12.36).
SG9 is organized into eight Working Groups, which are chaired by the Rapporteurs within eachWorking Group. The Questions of SG9 are shown in Table 1. TD-082 identifies the dormantQuestions of SG9 (Qs 1, 15, 17, 18, and 20). The Working Groups and their associated Questionsare shown in Table 2.
SG9 Recommendations Consented under AAP
TD-068r1 provides a list of the Recommendations that were candidates for Consent under AAP atthis meeting. Table 3 presents the Recommendations which received Consent at this meeting.
SG9 Administrative Highlights
TD-063 (TSB Director) is the report of the 3rd meeting of the ITU-T Study Group Chairs held inNovember 2001.
TD-070 (TSB) lists 15 patent declarations related to SG9 draft Recommendations (as ofDecember 3, 2001).
TD-090r1 is a SG9 liaison to TSAG on terminology conventions for the use of the words“MUST” and “SHALL” in J-Series Recommendations of SG9. TD-092 (P. Zaccarian, Italy)proposes editorial amendment to Recommendations J.161 and J.163. It notes that the sections onterminology of Recommendations J.161 and J.163 contain the clause shown below:
“MUST: The term MUST and MUST NOT is used as a convention in the presentRecommendation to denote an absolutely mandatory aspect of the specification.”
Since it is unusual for the terminology section of a Recommendation to contain such a clause, thefollowing solution has been developed:
• Delete the mentioned clause from the terminology section of Recommendations J.161 andJ.163
• Insert a new section immediately after the scope of each of the mentioned Recommendations,with the following text:
“Convention: If this Recommendation is implemented, the keywords “must” and “shall”are to be interpreted as indicating a mandatory aspect of the specification.”
TD-092 proposes this action, which is clearly editorial and does not modify the technical intent ofthe two Recommendations, for SG9 approval as an Amendment to both J.161 and J.163.
1/9 Digital networks carrying sound-program signals forbroadcasting (not active)
Y. Shavdia (NIIR)
2/9 Digital transmission of conventional television and high-definition television signals for contribution
R. Kawada (KDD R&DLaboratories Inc.)
3/9 Digital secondary distribution of conventional and high-definition television (merged with Q2)
4/9 Measurement and control of the quality of service fortelevision transmission on contribution and distributionnetworks
A. Karwowska-Lamparska(Nat'l Institute ofTelecommunications);Associate: L. Durant(Tektronix UK)
5/9 Interactivity over cable television networks M. Matsumoto (NEC)6/9 Conditional access methods and practices for digital cable
distribution to the homeR. Prodan (Terayon)
7/9 Requirements and methods for sound-program andtelevision “webcasting” services
S. Miyaji (DDI [KDDI])
8/9 Application programming interfaces (API) for services overcable networks
C. Sandbank (UK Dept. ofTrade and Industry)
9/9 Functional requirements for a universal integrated receiveror set-top box for the reception of cable television and otherservices
M. Matsumoto (NEC);Associate: B. McEwen(Motorola UK)
10/9 Functional characteristics for the interconnection of cablenetworks with the public switched network and otherdelivery systems
N. Olsen (ADC)
11/9 Digital program insertion for MPEG-2 bitstreams S. Matsumoto (KDD R&DLaboratories Inc.)
12/9 Cable television delivery of advanced multimedia digitalservices and applications that use Internet protocols (IP)and/or packet-based data
R. Yassini (CableLabs), R.Catchpole (Nortel, Assoc.Rapp.)
13/9 Voice and video IP applications over cable televisionnetworks
E. Miller (Terayon)
14/9 The extension of cable-based services over broadband in-home networks
J. Dahl (CableLabs);Associates: S. Palm(Broadcom), L. Palmer(PalmTelCom)
15/9 High-speed webcasting services over cable televisionnetworks (not active)
S. Miyaji (DDI [KDDI])
16/9 Transmission of multi-channel analog and/or digitaltelevision signals over optical access networks
K. Kikushima (NTT AccessNetwork Service SystemsLabs)
17/9 Management and operational requirements with regard towide area network edge devices for TV and sound-programtransmission (not active)
A. Ehbrecht (DeutscheTelekom AG)
18/9 Transport of uncompressed studio quality TV, sound-program signals, and other signals using the same interfaceon telecommunication networks (not active)
H. Hoffmann (EuropeanBroadcasting Union[EBU])
19/9 Transport of video and audio signals over contribution orprimary distribution networks using IP techniques
S. Hirakawa (Toshiba)
20/9 Signal quality parameters for MPEG-2 transport streamstransmitted via telecommunication networks (not active)
L. Durant (Tektronix)
21/9 Objective and subjective methods for evaluatingconversational audiovisual quality in multimedia services
WG Questions WG Scope WG Chair(s)WG 0/9 Liaison replies S. Matsumoto (KDD)JointWG 1 & 2/9
10,12,13 IPCablecom, Cable Modem E. Miller (Terayon); N. Olsen(ADC); R. Catchpole (Nortel)
WG 3/9 1,2,3,6,11,16,17,18,19
Networks R. Kawada (KDDI)
WG 4/9 7,15 Webcasting S. Miyaji (KDDI)WG 5/9 4,20,21 Quality assessment A. Webster (NTIA); A.
Karwowska-Lamparska(Poland)
WG 6/9 Program of work S. Alexander (BT)WG 7/9 5,8 APIs C. Sandbank (DTI)WG 8/9 9,14 Home networks J. Dahl (CableLabs)
Table 2. SG9 Working Groups and their composition
TD-091 (TSB) is the report of the meetings 1) Between the ITU-T SG Chairs and the IETFDirectors, and 2) Between the ITU-T Chairs and the Internet Architecture Board (IAB)/InternetEngineering Steering Group (IESG), which took place in London, in August 2001. The meetingswere useful, since WTSA-2000 changed much of the leadership of ITU-T, the ITU-T workingmethods have been changed, and a new Chair was appointed for the IETF. The meetings allowedparticipants to learn more about each others’ respective procedures and provided the opportunity todiscuss specific issues. This was the second such meetings of ITU-T and IETF to improve theirrelationship. The concerned SGs were encouraged to continue the communication process withIETF using bilateral relations; TSAG will consider further modifications at its next meeting. Nodate was selected for a future meeting with IETF. In the meantime, contact between the twoorganizations will occur via correspondence.
TD-096 (TSB) is the report of the May 2001 meeting of the Joint Presidents Coordination Group(JPCG). For some years, the top managers in ISO and IEC met annually to inter alia monitor thefunctioning of the Joint Technical Committee JTC-1, and the ITU-T was invited as an observer tothose meetings. On those occasions, matters of common interest were also discussed. In early2001, that group, meeting as the JPCG, was expanded to include additional members of each body.New terms of reference and a new name, “Global Standards Cooperation,” have been proposed,with ITU-T being invited as a member. The newly expanded group met for the first time in May2001.
COM9-23 (P. Zaccarian, Italy) proposes an editorial revision of twenty-seven vintage J-seriesRecommendations inherited from the CMTT (previous Joint CCIR/CCITT Study Group forTelevision and Sound Transmission). At the closing plenary, COM9-23 was withdrawn; the veryminor editorial changes it proposed were not considered important enough to justify modifying thedocuments.
General Liaisons
TD-022 is a liaison from ITU-T SG13 concerning the coordination of ITU-T activities on futurenetwork studies. At their May meeting in Caracas, SG13 discussed future network evolution issuesincluding those concerning next generation networks. While SG13 has been and is still active inthe area of GII studies, the GII Project description document has evolved to a high degree ofcompletion; only formal updating of the document has recently been provided by ITU-T SGs. Itappears that the GII Project has met its goal in providing ITU with the basic common structure thatSGs need for their further investigations on future networks.
Architectural framework for the deliveryof time critical services over cabletelevision networks using cable modems
E. Miller(Terayon)
J.162(J.ncs)Amend. 1
13 COM9-32 Network call signaling protocol for thedelivery of time critical services overcable television networks using cablemodems, Amendment 1: Support forV5.2 interfaces (European)
E. Miller(Terayon)
J.165(J.istp)
13 COM9-14, TD-050(3/01),COM9-32, D.31
IPCablecom signaling transport protocol(ISTP)
N. Olsen(ADC)
J.170(J.sec)
13 COM9-21,TD27(3/01),COM9-29,COM932,TD-044
IPCablecom security specification E. Rosenfeld(CableLabs)
J.pls 13 COM9-27 IPCablecom embedded MTA primaryline support
G. Russell(CableLabs)
J.iqos* 13 COM9-32, D.32,TD-046
IPCablecom Interdomain QoS G. Russell(CableLabs)
J.fmc 16 TD-88 Transmission equipment for transferringmulti-channel television signals overoptical access networks by FMconversion
S. Ikeda(NTT), K.Kikushima
J.scm 16 TD-89 Transmission equipment of multi-channeltelevision signals over access networksby sub-carrier multiplexing (SCM)
S. Ikeda, K.Kikushima(NTT)
J. 112Annex BAmend. 1
12 D38 Change Appendix O (Baseline privacyinterface plus for J.112 Annex B) to anAnnex (normative)
R. Catchpole(Nortel)
J.112Annex C
5,12
D36 Data-over-cable service interfaceSpecifications radio frequency interfacespecification using QAM technique(Japan)
M.Matsumoto(NEC)
J.qweb 7 TD-045(03/01) Quality control protocol for webcasting S. Miyaji(KDDI)
* The UK requested that the necessary A.5 references be provided during the last call period (6weeks).
Table 3. SG9 Recommendations Consented under AAP at this meeting
On the other hand, the market asks for the realization of future networks, e.g., NGN, to fulfill therequirements and expectations of the Global Information Infrastructure. To determine the nextphase of networking studies, SG13, together with SG16, held a workshop on IP-networking and
Mediacom-2004 in April 2001. One of the conclusions of the workshop was that the NGN mightbe the appropriate response to implement the GII, because both follow the same philosophy.
Consequently, SG13 considers that activities related to NGN fall under the umbrella of GII-relatedactivities. It is SG13’s intention to organize its coordination and management role of project-oriented work accordingly. SG13 proposes that the GII Project descriptions be maintained as adefinition of the concepts and objectives of GII and used as a framework for ongoing GII relatedstudies. Additionally, SG13 will consider whether the coordination and management of theactivities on NGN issues requires the formation of a new ITU-T Project (where the coordinationand management role of SG13 will be very similar to the role it had in the past for GII).
In their liaison reply (TD-069), SG9 informs SG13 that they are developing a group ofRecommendations under their IPCablecom project and will appreciate being kept informed of anydevelopments that could affect their work.
TD-023 is a liaison from SG13 to all SGs informing that SG13 has completed an update of theITU-T IP Project (Version 5); it can be found at <http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/studygroups/com13/ip/index.html>. SG13 welcomes any corrections and/or additions necessaryto take into account progress in the studies or changes to work areas.
TD-025 is a liaison from SG13 concerning the updating of the work plan related to satellite issuesof ITU-T Study Groups. It notes that the work plan related to ICG-SAT of ITU-T SGs is not up-to-date and that there are Questions to be deleted and new Questions to be added. In updating thework program, SGs are encouraged to include only Questions with direct relevance to satellites.The electronic version of the ICG-SAT work program can be found online on the ITU-T webpages.
TD-032 is a letter from the Intersector Coordination Group on Satellite Matters (ICG-SAT) Chairto ITU-R and ITU-T SG Chairs including a report of the first meeting of ICG-SAT held in Ankara,Turkey in June 2001. It also notes that following RA-2000 and WTSA-2000, the list of SGrepresentatives to ICG-SAT requires updating; TD-032 asks the SGs to provide the names of thetheir Representatives to the ICG-SAT. TD-032 also notes that the ICG-SAT is planning aworkshop on satellite issues: “The role of satellites in IP-based and multimedia networks andservices,” tentatively scheduled to take place December 2-6, 2002 in Geneva; contributions from theSGs will be highly appreciated.
TD-116 is the SG9 reply to TD-025 and TD-032. SG9 informs that:
• C. Louis (EBU) has been named SG9 representative to ICG-SAT.• The current work program contains J.mbi from SG9; J.mbi does not have direct relevance to
satellites, and should be deleted from the program.
TD-026 is a liaison from ITU-T SG16 in response to the liaison from SG11 concerning proposedjoint activity on a generic protocol mechanism for end-to-end QoS service control and signalingprotocol development based on IP transfer capabilities and IP QoS classes. This liaison wasconsidered by the SG9 Q10 &Q13 joint Rapporteurs October meeting as LS06-16 (see CSR12.36).
TD-030 is a liaison from ITU-T SG16 informing about and inviting SG9 to the ITU-T workshopon IPCablecom and Mediacom 2004 currently scheduled for October 2002. SG16 would like toinvolve also ITU-R SG6, and particularly WP 6M. Furthermore, SG16 proposes that the event berescheduled to be held in conjunction with the meeting of WP 6M in March 2002. The proposeddates have been changed to March 12-15.
TD-029 is a liaison from ITU-T SG16 informing that SG16 revised the Mediacom 2004 documentat their June meeting in Porto Seguro (see report in CSR 12.25). The document is available at<http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/studygroups/com16/mediacom2004/index.html>. SG16 welcomes inputon multimedia studies and Recommendations to help them build their database of multimediastandardization work, comments on the information contained in “The Role of ITU-T” given inTable 4 (in the Mediacom document), and any other comments.
The SG9 liaison reply to SG16 (TD-072) contains an updated version of Table 4 of the Mediacom2004 Project document, and the SG9 work program as of the end of this meeting. SG9 forwardstheir entire work program to SG16, since they are not sure of the exact extent of the MediacomProject, noting that it may very well be that all of their studies are relevant.
TD-031 is a liaison from ITU-T SG4 informing on progress on the use of CORBA in the TMN.For details of this SG4 liaison, see the CSR 12.45 report of TIPHON24, page 17.
TD-033 is a liaison from ITU-T SG7 on XML and XSD (XML schema definition) assistance, andthe OID repository and the ASN.1 module database. At their August/September 2001 meeting,SG7 gave Consent for last call on Recommendation X.693 for XML to be used to display andtransfer the values of ASN.1 types in XML format. SG7 urges those working on protocols instudy groups to give serious consideration to the use of the ITU-T ASN.1 notation as the primaryXML schema definition notation. The advantage of this is a notation familiar to many in the studygroups that permits XML display and the use of efficient binary transfers.
However, some XML tools also require the existence of an XML schema definition (XSD). As partof its activity under the ASN.1 project, Q9/7 is prepared to assist in the definition of XSDs that arerelated to ASN.1 types, and wishes to ensure that XML documents produced by such XSDs areidentical to the XML documents produced by ASN.1 (XER). Q9/7 asks Rapporteurs involved withany work using XSD to contact the ASN.1 Rapporteur and leader of the ASN.1 Project, O.Dubuisson (France Telecom).
Concerning the OID repository and ASN.1 module database, study groups have already beeninformed that the ASN.1 Project will establish a publicly accessible web-based database of ASN.1modules. The mechanisms to support this are now fully developed, and over one hundred moduleshave already been included at <http://www.itu.int/itu-t/asn1/database/>.
SG7 asks Rapporteurs responsible for Recommendations containing ASN.1 modules who have notyet contacted the ASN.1 Project Leader to do so as soon as possible to determine priorities incompleting the work of putting all ITU-T-defined ASN.1 modules in the database. SG7 also asksstudy groups to note that, as an extension of this work, the ASN.1 Project will be putting onto thesame web site a repository of the allocations that have been made under the top part of the ASN.1Object Identifier tree. No action is needed from study groups at this time. To see an example ofsuch an electronic repository, look at <http://asn1.elibel.tm.fr/oid>.
TD-034 is a liaison from ITU-T SG7 to all ITU-T SGs, TSB, and all ISO/IEC JTC1 SCs usingASN.1 suggesting the use of the bold Courier New font one size smaller than the normal text forASN.1 in ITU-T Recommendations and ISO/IEC standards. While extracting ASN.1 modules forthe database from the Word files of the Recommendations, errors were generated by theproportional fonts used in the layout of the ASN.1 specifications. One of the advantages of using anon-proportional font for ASN.1 modules is that a module designed with a basic text editor such asEmacs (see http://asn1.elibel.tm.fr/en/tools/emacs/) or Notepad keeps its original layout onceincluded in a (Word) Recommendation. Conversely, the layout of an ASN.1 module extractedfrom a standard for compilation is not modified when saved in text (ASCII) format. This preventsASN.1 modules from generating unnecessary syntax errors that are costly for companies compiling
ASN.1 modules. TD-034 also recommends a few rules to be applied on ASN.1 parts included instandards.
ITU-T TSAG Liaisons
TD-015 is a liaison from TSAG noting that the implementation of Recommendations A.4, A.5, andA.6 is a continuous process, and the results are shown in the “Lists of qualified organizations.”This list should be updated. TSAG requests that all ITU-T SGs check the lists of qualifiedorganizations and inform TSAG of any necessary modifications before the November meeting ofTSAG. TD-064 (TSB) outlines the modifications to A.5 that were Approved (decision under theTAP) and the modification to A.4 and A.6 that were Determined at the November TSAG meeting.
TD-016 is a liaison from TSAG suggesting a procedure for including references to documents ofother organizations in ITU-T Supplements. This text could form a basis for a future revision ofRecommendation A.13.
TD-017 is a liaison from TSAG informing that they Determined draft revised Annex A toRecommendation A.23, Guide for ITU-T and ISO/IEC JTC1 cooperation, at their March 2001meeting. Revisions to the Guide take into account changes in both organizations since late 1996;the most significant change is the inclusion of the ITU-T alternative approval process (AAP).TSAG invites all involved Study Groups to review the draft and give any comments by the end ofOctober 2001.
TD-018 is a liaison from TSAG/WP3 requesting of all SGs information on their EDH activitiesand informing all SGs of further information and developments regarding EDH. W. Utlaut(CableLabs) was appointed EDH Activities Coordinator for SG9 (TD-074).
TD-019 is a liaison from TSAG/WP3 inviting each SG to appoint a public relations coordinator toparticipate in “ITU-T Promotion,” the new correspondence group on the promotion of ITU-Tactivities. The moderator of this group is T. Shibata (KDDI), TSAG/WP3/RG3 Rapporteur. Thepublic relations coordinator in each SG will also be responsible for providing promotional materialfor use in press releases, web releases, brochures and promotion activities. The first major task ofITU-T Promotion will be the elaboration of an ITU-T promotion and marketing plan. C. Sandbank(DTI) and M. Schwartz (CableLabs) were appointed Public Relations Coordinators for SG9 (TD-075).
TD-058 (TSAG) is an updated version of the original collaboration agreement between ITU-T andIETF as found in TSAG report TSAG R21 (September 1998). The updates reflect changes inIETF and ITU-T over the past three years.
TD-059r1 is a liaison from TSAG/WP2 on communication reliability and security. In light of theincreased international focus on security of networks and services, a number of organizations haveinitiated actions in these areas. TSAG discussed this subject at its November meeting in Geneva,and decided to set up a study in the ITU-T to explore the issues, identify relevant work alreadybeing done, and to initiate and establish the project management of any new work necessary. Thiswill include analysis of relevant related work in other SDOs. It was agreed that the study shouldinclude all relevant aspects such as network reliability/security, information security, and legalintercept, and will include all services on both fixed and mobile networks. Although the emphasisof this analysis is on the operation and functioning of the communications systems andinfrastructures, the role of communications in emergency situations is an important associatedsubject.
SG7, at its September 2001 meeting in Bangalore, initiated some actions in this area. They sent aliaison to ITU-T Study Groups seeking assistance in developing an update of the catalogue of ITU-T Recommendations related to communication systems security. This is seen as a good startingpoint and will provide input to the wider issues that require consideration across ITU-T.
TD-035 is a liaison from ITU-T SG7 to all ITU-T Study Groups and TSAG, forwarding acatalogue of ITU-T Recommendations related to communication systems security, and the firstCompendium of ITU-T approved security definitions. The material in the Compendium wasextracted from approved ITU-T Recommendations with a view toward establishing a commonunderstanding (and, if possible, use) of security terms within ITU-T. This listing will continue tobe developed.
TD-097 is the SG9 draft liaison in response to TD-035. SG9 has reviewed the Compendia withrespect to the SG9 security work. The Catalogue of ITU-T Recommendations related tocommunication systems security (Sept. 2001) contains a correct description of J.170. TheCompendium of ITU-T approved security definitions (Sept. 2001) is a comprehensive list ofsecurity definitions. SG9 finds the definitions consistent with their security work and does notrecommend any changes or additions at this time.
TSAG also considered that an ITU-T workshop on security aspects would be a good starting pointto determine how to address the subject in the ITU-T. SG17, as the Lead Study Group oncommunication system security, is working with the TSB on the organization of such a workshopin 2002, possibly to be held in May, in Seoul, Korea, just prior to the Security World Expo alsobeing held in Seoul.
TD-059r1 includes an annex created from material drawn from discussions at the special ICANNmeeting on security of the domain name system held in November 2001 in Marina del Rey, CA,and provides some background information on issues specific to the Internet and on more generalnetwork aspects.
TD-060 is a liaison from TSAG on cooperation with the IETF. TD-127 is the SG9 reply to TD-060. As requested by TSAG, SG9 modified and updated the IETF Working Group Interest Tableand attached the revised version. SG9 has noted the requirement to have an email list set up and runby the TSB with a title “new-work-sg9.” Discussions are underway on including the appropriatenames on the list. SG9 is also discussing what procedures to use in dealing with both incomingwork items and outgoing announcements of new work in SG9. SG9 will, as requested, inform theSG13 Chair of their experiences with these new procedures.
TD-061 is a liaison from TSAG/WP3 on EDH.
TD-062r1 is a liaison from the TSAG/WP1 Chair requesting input from all Study Groups on theirexperiences and views on holding electronic meetings. It also includes Annex 6 of TSAG/TD-33,Evolution of Recommendation A.9 - Part 3: Current view on guidelines for electronic meetings.
Proposed Draft New Question on D-Cinema
D.24 (A. Canzio, Ministero delle Telecomunicazioni, Italy) proposes a new Question: Transmissionof D-cinema programs for contribution and distribution purposes. P. Zaccarian (Italy) is theRapporteur for this proposed new Question.
“D-cinema” is a new practice being introduced in several countries, whereby feature films can bedistributed in the form of digital signals, in real-time or non-real-time, for collective viewing incinema theaters equipped with appropriate electronic projectors. This practice is intended to
emulate cinema presentation in terms of picture and sound quality, size of the presentation screen,and presentation environment. It is expected to offer benefits over traditional cinema distributionmethods, in terms of faster and less expensive distribution of program material for collectiveviewing.
Studies on D-cinema are currently underway in several national, regional, and worldwideorganizations and industry groups such as MPEG, and notably in ITU-R SG6, whose scopeincludes several aspects of D-cinema. It is desirable and urgent that ITU-T SG9 participate in thosestudies, particularly for the part that falls within its scope. Those studies would include aspectsrelated to content management, conditional access, and copy protection. The purpose of thosestudies is to identify technical solutions for the transport of D-cinema program material, ensuringthat those solutions are harmonized or interoperable with the solutions studied by otherorganizations and industry groups for D-cinema.
TD-037 is a liaison from ITU-R SG6 on SG6 activity on D-cinema. In the March 2001 meeting ofthe ITU-R Steering Committee, SG6 set up an ad hoc group to study D-cinema, focusing on thoseaspects that are within its scope. The ad hoc group dedicated the first few months of its activity tobuild its membership and organize itself, to refine the draft Question on D-cinema, to devise anoutline of its studies, and to determine the reference performance against which technical solutionsto D-cinema in the scope of SG6 will be assessed.
The report of the ad hoc group, as approved by SG6, recommends that SG6 set up amultidisciplinary task group to draft Recommendations on D-cinema within the SG’s scope, andoffers a draft of the relevant new Question. The definition for D-cinema adopted by the ad hocgroup in its work was:
“The D-cinema is a new service utilizing advanced television technology designed to emulate thecinema experience by means of electronic delivery of programs for collective viewing on screens ofcinema-like size in a cinema-like environment.”
Based on that definition, and since the vast majority of motion pictures are produced for distributionin the form of 35 mm release prints, the main perceptual reference performance for the cinematoday is that which corresponds to the theatrical projection of 35 mm release prints. The ad hocgroup consequently performed subjective assessment tests to determine the reference end-to-endperformance of 35 mm cinema film resolution in typical motion picture theaters today. It utilizedexisting state-of-the-art 35 mm cinema film equipment, film stocks, processing, printing, andprojection in actual day-to-day use for feature film production, post production, processing,printing, and exhibition in actual theatres.
The test was intended to provide a reference point for future D-cinema resolution proposals. Insummary, it showed that three movie theaters in North America, which are considered to have aperformance typical of good motion picture theaters in the world, provided a resolution hardly everexceeding 800 lines per picture height in the sharpest area of the projected image.
Based on proposals made by the ad hoc group, the SG6 October 2001 meeting adopted a draft newQuestion on D-cinema, to be circulated for Administrations’ approval via correspondence. SG6has also approved a decision to set up new Task Group 6/9 on D-cinema, specifying its tasks, itsdeliverables, and its chairmanship. Approval is conditional on the approval of the relevant Question.
In view of the considerable activity on D-cinema in ITU-R SG6, SG6 believes it important that SG9promptly undertake studies on those aspect of D-cinema that fall within its own scope. Further,SG9 should cooperate with SG6 in identifying harmonized, interoperable solutions so that D-cinema programming may be seamlessly delivered to its users regardless of whether delivery isbased on broadcast or telecommunication channels.
TD-081 is the SG9 liaison response to ITU-R SG6 concerning studies of D-cinema. SG9congratulates ITU-R SG6 on this pioneering work and on the progress they have already achievedin their studies. SG9 confirms their desire to closely cooperate with ITU-R SG6, studying thoseaspects of D-cinema that fall within their purview. SG9 notes their adoption of the new Questionon D-cinema. P. Zaccarian (Italy), the Rapporteur for the new Question, will also serve as the SG9liaison Rapporteur to SG6, with the specific task to ensure complete mutual exchange ofinformation on activities related to D-cinema and to help to identify those areas where coordinatedstudies may be necessary.
TD-083 is a liaison from SG9 to TSAG informing that SG9 has approved a new Question,Transmission of D-cinema programs for contribution and distribution purposes.
Working Groups 1 & 2, Cable Modems and IPCablecom
TD-133 is the report of the combined Working Groups 1 & 2 on Cable Modems and IPCablecom.WG 1&2 includes Questions 10, 12 and 13. The WG chair was shared by E. Miller (Terayon), N.Olsen (ADC) and R. Catchpole (Nortel). The Rapporteur of Q10/9, Functional Characteristics forthe Interconnection of Cable Networks with the Public Switched Network and Other DeliverySystems, is N. Olsen (ADC). The Rapporteur of Q12/9, Cable Television Delivery of AdvancedMultimedia Digital Services and Applications that use Internet Protocols (IP) and/or Packet-basedData, is R. Yassini (CableLabs), with R. Catchpole (Nortel) as the Associate Rapporteur. TheRapporteur of Q13/9, Voice and Video IP Applications over Cable Television Networks, is E.Miller (Terayon).
IP Cablecom
TD-048 (R. Catchpole, Nortel) provides background on the IPCablecom work in SG9 and therelationship between the approved SCTE, ETSI, and SG9 documents (Table 4, below).“PacketCable” is the CableLabs term for what is called “IPCablecom” in SG9. This work ismainly concerned with OSI layer three and above, and therefore supports multiple lower layertechnologies.
• “PacketCable 1.0” of CableLabs includes twelve specifications (ETSI 101 909 Parts 2 – 13)that together define interoperability for VoIP over a hybrid fiber coax access network with asingle call management server, i.e., within a “zone.” They have been defined to operate overDOCSIS 1.1 (J.112 Annex B) or DVB return channel for cable v.2 (J.112 Annex A). There isalso a J.112 Annex C for a Japanese version. These have been approved by the ANSIaccredited SCTE.
• Equivalents of eight of these “PacketCable 1.0” specifications were approved by ITU-T SG9in March 2001, and then taken by ETSI as Technical Specifications along the route to ETSIStandards.
• The remaining four of these “PacketCable 1.0” specifications concern the overall architecture(J.160), security (J.170), and PSTN interfacing options (J.165, J.171); they were approved atthis meeting. Most have Technical Specification status in ETSI.
• “PacketCable 1.1” concerns primary line capability and includes four specifications, three ofwhich have been submitted to SG9 (J.pls, J.as, J.mem). SCTE and ETSI are studying all fourof these (including electronic surveillance).
• “PacketCable 1.2” concerns communication between PacketCable 1.0 networks using an IPtransport or backbone network. The security specification is identical with that for PacketCable1.0. The interdomain QoS specification (J.iqos) is an ETSI Technical Specification, and hasbeen submitted for consideration by ITU-T. ETSI is studying the management eventmechanism (J.mem) specification.
PICS pro forma None None None None None Planned asTS 101 909Part 26
expec-ted 02-10
None None None
Availability andreliability
1. PacketCable1.1 report v01 99-12
None None None None None None None None None
Table 4. Relationship between SCTE, ETSI and ITU-T SG9 documents
Table 4 Explanatory notes
• The three entries in each formal standards column are the inputs (e.g., for “Inputs 1-2”, see“1” and “2” in the Input reference column), then the document identification, then theapproval date as year and month (e.g. “00-06”)
• An entry in italics is not a formal standard, e.g. a Technical Report, an ETSI TechnicalSpecification, an ETSI Guide, etc.
• MTA: Media Terminal Adapter• NA: Not Applicable• TBA: To Be Advised• * RCC (return channel for cable). Currently DVB-RCC is used mostly in set-top-boxes and
not widely used in IPCablecom systems.• European cable operators, under the coordination of the European Cable Communications
Association (ECCA), have published a top level requirements document EPC-RequDoc, whichformed the starting point for ETSI to draft its Technical Report, TR 101 963, on IPCablecomrequirements.
• References: For DVB see <www.dvb.org>, for DOCSIS see <www.cablemodem.com> and<www.tComLabs.com>, for PacketCable ™ see <www.packetcable.com>, for SCTE see<www.scte.org>, for ETSI see <www.ETSI.org>, for ITU-T see <www.itu.int/itudoc/itu-t>,specifically /sg9 for J series recommendations.
J.112 Amendments to Annex B and Annex C
TD-077 is ITU-T Recommendation J.112, Transmission systems for interactive cable televisionservices. This Recommendation extends the scope of Rec. J.83, Digital multi-program systems fortelevision, sound, and data services for cable distribution, to make provision for bi-directional data
over coaxial and hybrid fiber-coax cables for interactive services. Like Rec. J.83, Rec. J.112 alsocontains several annexes in recognition of different existing media environments. The annexes inthis Recommendation are intended to be read in conjunction with the corresponding annexes inRecommendation J.83. Rec. J.112 was prepared by SG9 (1997-2000) and was approved under theWTSC Resolution No. 1 procedure on March 18, 1998.
D.36 (Japan; M. Matsumoto, NEC) is Amendment 1 to J.112 Annex C. It describes the radio-frequency interface specifications for high-speed data-over-cable systems. This specificationincludes descriptions of 256 QAM for downstream and 16 QAM for upstream in the physicallayer. These modulation functions enable cable television networks to transmit high speed programdata and IP packets as well. The most significant change of this revised J.112 Annex Cspecification is an enhancement of the MAC layer descriptions for QoS-oriented services such asvoice over IP and video over IP. The enhancement includes extension of the MAC frame format,extension for the QoS control function, payload header suppression, and multicast extension.
Extension of the MAC frame format describes a fragmentation MAC header that divides and re-constructs the protocol data unit in the upstream, a concatenation MAC header for improvement ofcable modem through-put, and a piggy-back request for next reservation information. Extension ofthe QoS control function includes descriptions for a scheduling function between the cable modemtermination system and the cable modem to guarantee bandwidth and latency, for a packetrecognition function, and for dynamic addition/deletion functions for QoS guaranteed services.Payload header suppression improves bandwidth usage efficiency by suppressing repeated headerinformation in each IP packet. Multicast extension is a filtering function of multicast packets byIGMP (Internet group management protocol) to control multicast packets between CMTS(CableModem Termination Systems) and the cable modem.
At this meeting, the combined WG 1& 2 on Cable Modems and IPCablecom discussed D.36. Itwas agreed to replace the text of J.112 Annex C with the contents of D.36, and forward thisdocument for Consent.
D.38 (R. Catchpole, Nortel) proposes that SG9 submit for AAP an Amendment toRecommendation J.112 Annex B to convert this informative Appendix into a normative Annex, withtext otherwise unchanged.
The SG9 March 2001 meeting approved an Amendment to J.112 Annex B that included extensionby an informative Appendix, as described in the following extract from the Chair’s report (COM9-R2):
“…an informative Appendix, drawn from the contents of D.8 as submitted by the United Statesof America. D.8 is entitled “Privacy for J.112 Annex B Implementation,” and was submittedfollowing approval as a North American public standard by SCTE, where it is referred to as‘Baseline Privacy Interface plus’ or ‘BPI+.’ …As the additional Appendix is required asmandatory for North America, and may become required as mandatory in other regions, theremay be action at a later date to change its status to become mandatory for J.112 Annex B….”
SG9 then considered the proposition that the extension be made mandatory worldwide. Noobjections to this were raised. Nevertheless, as it had only recently became possible to introducethis extension to SG9, it was agreed to allow a further period for consideration, especially with aEuropean application in mind. Specifically, a communication notifying of this consideration ofmandatory status was sent to ETSI/EBU/CENELEC JTC Broadcast, who considered thecommunication at their March meeting (this committee is responsible for the equivalent ETSIStandard, ES 201 488).
It was reported at this meeting that no objections to making the status of J.112 Annex B mandatoryhad been received since the March meeting. Therefore, the amendment of J.112 Annex B, asproposed in D.38, was submitted for AAP approval. Furthermore, the combined WG inspected thecommon text of J.112, and found it required no changes other than editorial to be consistent withthe Consent request.
Liaisons
TD-041 is a liaison from ITU-T SG15 requesting comments on new Recommendation G.799.1.Q7/15 (Voice Gateways) is developing new Rec. G.799.1 covering functionality, interfaces,performance requirements, and functional tests for voice gateways interfacing GSTN to IPnetworks. Q7/15 welcomes comments on G.799.1 in the context of the trunking gateway in theIPCablecom architecture. TD-114 is the SG9 response to TD-041. Having reviewedRecommendation G.799.1, SG9 offers the following comments:
1) Section Scope: The stated scope is “requirements of equipment that interconnects to GSTNnetworks and networks optimized for the transport of IP.” Additionally, the Recommendationstates that it does not define new protocols or architectures, but refers to existing protocols andarchitectures. It would be helpful to clarify whether SG15 intends to define additionalrequirements above those defined in other Study Groups (SG9, SG16) or is instead focused onsummarizing the many requirements of voice gateways that are defined in other Study Groups.
2) Section 2: General description:a. The diagram should reference SG9 Recommendation J.171 (TGCP) as an alternative to
H.248 or MGCP.b. In Figure 1, it is unclear whether the TDM interface covers CAS and SS7. If SS7 is
supported, then SS7 should not be backhauled via protocols such as H.248, TGCP, orMGCP.
3) Section 3.3.1 (Per call control):a. J.171 (TGCP) should be included as an upper layer protocol along with H.248.b. It is unclear as to why MGCP is considered optional in this list.c. Note that both MGCP and J.171 (TGCP) support control of echo cancellation.
Additionally the Note in this section should be modified accordingly.
4) References to the IPCablecom J series Recommendations J.171, J.165, J.161, and J.160 shouldbe included in the Reference and Bibliography section.
5) Figure 3.1:a. SG9 notes the absence of any security protocols in 3.1 and questions whether security is in
scope of this Recommendation.b. It should be noted that there are other protocols beyond M2UA for SS7 transport such as
J.165 (ISTP) and M3UA.
6) Appendix I: The connection model gives the impression that the gateway architecture isintended primarily for H.323 based systems. It may be illustrative to show a connection modelfor other endpoints besides H.323 based clients.
Draft Rec. J.160, Architectural Framework for the Delivery of Time CriticalServices Over Cable Television Networks Using Cable Modems (J.arch)
TD-020 is a liaison from ITU-T SG11 providing comments on draft new Rec. J.160 (and J.165).(TD-020 is the same as LS02-11, from the Q10/ & Q13/9 joint Rapporteurs October meeting; seeCSR 12.36).
TD-024 is a liaison from SG13 providing comments related to J.160. This liaison was consideredat the Q10/ & Q13/9 joint Rapporteurs meeting in October, as LS04-13 (see CSR 12.36).
D.21 (UK; S. Alexander, BT) provides information regarding ongoing work within ETSI toaddress European requirements for IPCablecom. The work within ETSI has not reached finalapproval; D.21 was considered for information.
The combined WG 1 & 2 made no changes to J.160 during the meeting; it was recommended forConsent.
J.162 Extensions
The combined WG approved the extensions for V5.2 and pulse metering support for input to theConsent process.
Draft Rec. J.165, IPCablecom Signaling Transport Protocol (J.istp)
D.31 (H. Schwarzbauer, Siemens) discusses the initiation of work on a European Appendix forJ.165. ETSI TC SPAN has started work on generating an ETSI specification to cover the Europeanaspects and requirements for the IPCablecom signaling transport protocol. After its completion,this specification could be folded into J.165 as the “Appendix for European SS7 Networks.” Asthe use of Supplements instead of Appendices to cater for country and regional specific SS7variants was not agreed during the Rapporteurs October meeting, D.31 proposes that an AppendixII be added to the draft of the proposed Rec. J.165 to describe the regional variant used for ETSIcompliant networks. This Appendix should be marked “for further study.”
TD-020 provides comments on draft new Rec. J.165. TD-109 (E. Miller, Terayon) containseditorial clarification for J.165.
The combined WG updated Rec. J.165, and approved a minor editorial change to the scope. Thedevelopment of Appendix II of J.165 remains a topic for further study. J.165 was recommendedfor Consent.
TD-021 is a liaison from ITU-T SG11 proposing joint activity on a generic protocol mechanism forend-to-end QoS service control and signaling protocol development based on IP transfercapabilities and IP QoS classes. This liaison was submitted to the Q10/ & Q13/9 joint RapporteursOctober meeting as LS03-11 (see CSR 12.36).
TD-080 is the proposed SG9 liaison response to TD-021. SG9 thanks SG11 for their proposal forjoint activity on generic protocol mechanisms for end-to-end QoS service control. SG9, in theIPCablecom project, has defined mechanisms for intra-network QoS, and provided gatewayprotocols for inter-network communications that meet the needs of cable operators today. SG9anticipates working on advanced inter-network gateway protocols and QoS in the future, and looksforward to working with SG11 and other Study Groups to investigate this area.
TD-108 is a SG9 liaison response thanking SG11 for contributions D.31 and TD-020 requestingclarification of the handling of regional and national variants in J.165. SG9 notes that J.165 hasbeen changed to 1) include a clarification in section 5, and 2) reserve Appendix II “for furtherstudy,” as SG11 suggested.
SG9 has exchanged several liaisons with SG16 regarding interoperability between IPCablecom andH.323-based systems from a security perspective. M. Euchner (Siemens), Rapporteur for QG/16(Security of multimedia systems and services), was present at this meeting; he described thereasoning behind the three SG16 liaisons below. Through these liaisons, SG16 initially proposed arather complicated interworking architecture between H.323 and IPCablecom. To simplify the taskof interworking, SG9 responded with a simplified gateway architecture. Additional input fromSG16 as well as cooperative progress made during this meeting led to a much-improvedinterworking approach.
TD-028 is a liaison from ITU-T SG16 in response to a SG9 liaison concerning the SG9 workprogram. This liaison was considered as LS08-16 at the October Q10/ & Q13/9 joint Rapporteursmeeting (see CSR 12.36).
TD-014 is a liaison from the SG16 Rapporteurs March 2001 meeting in Launceston. QG/16thanks SG9 for their liaison concerning their security work on Draft J.sec, which QG/16 received attheir SG meeting in November 2000. Since then, QG/16 has reviewed Draft J.sec and investigatedits relation to the SG16 multimedia security Recommendation H.235 v.2 and the available H.323multimedia systems, and performed a technical comparison of both security documents as well. Asa conclusion of their investigations, QG/16 points out that:
The H-series systems defined by SG16 have been deployed for many years. Because theydiffer from IPCablecom systems, both in architectural intent and in the detailed mechanismsadopted to protect them against perceived threats, it will be impossible for SG16 to simply adoptJ.sec in its work. Further, QG/16 sees interoperability among both systems at risk. Instead,QG/16 will be pleased to work with SG9 to determine how H-series systems can interwork withIPCablecom networks.
TD-044 is a liaison from QG/16 from the SG16 Rapporteurs October meeting in Dublin, inresponse to the liaison from the Q10/ & Q13/9 Rapporteurs October meeting in Louisville on theinterworking of IPCablecom and H.323 (WD-16r2; see CSR 12.36). QG/16 recognizes therequirements due to the specific constraints in the environments that make IPCablecom systems andH.323 VoIP systems take different approaches and technical solutions to the problem. Theyunderstand that IPCablecom addresses the requirements for residential telephony services. QG/16sees H.323 applicable not only to switched PBX business telephony services but also to LAN andcarrier-grade WAN/IP telephony as well.
QG/16 can agree to the proposed interworking architecture deploying an H.323/IPCablecomgateway and proxies. They believe that such a gateway is unavoidable for signaling purposes;media translation within a gateway is not the ultimate solution. Rather, it should be possible to havedirect media interworking between IPCablecom MTAs (media terminal adapter) and H.323terminals on the RTP level. This should yield more economic interworking gateways.
In the meantime, QG/16 has recognized that there is a need to harmonize media security not onlybetween H.235 and J.170 but also mutually each with IETF secure RTP (SRTP) work. The lattermight become important for SIP as well, and as such would be of importance for H.323-to-SIPinterworking.
QG/16 includes in TD-044 for SG9 information a document providing some more technicalinsights into the RTP media security protocols, noting that the section on J.170 does not fullyreflect the newest SG9 changes to J.170. QG/16 also includes another document questioning thepractice of encrypting SID frames, noting that they do not have true evidence as to whether thisconcern holds. However, they believe that this might be of interest to SG9 as well, and appreciateany insights into the stated problem from SG9 security experts.
QG/16 notes several areas where interworking between J.170 and H.235 could be achieved. Theyare investigating the possibilities to incorporate security additions to H.235 for better interworkingand for improved security. As such, the issues of initial value, incomplete last block processing,AES cipher, RTP authentication/integrity, and RTCP protection are all of high interest to them.However, they prefer to see a common security approach taken across J.170 and SRTP wheneverpossible to keep the number of security mechanisms small.
Key management is an issue for J.170 and H.235. Media key distribution within H.235 is clearlyend-to-end among the MM-terminals. This does not involve any gatekeeper for key managementpurposes. QG/16 believes that using an H.323/IPCablecom signaling gateway would facilitate keymanagement interworking and proxying among both domains.
QG/16 recognizes SG9’s new approach to generating an initial value (IV) for encrypted RTPpayload. QG/16 didn’t have the time to perform a full security analysis of the new procedure, but itappears to them that this might provide higher security than what is currently available withinH.235. QG/16 will consider SG9’s technique and propose it as an add-on to H.235 for J.170interworking.
Regarding processing of incomplete last blocks, QG/16 understands that RTP padding may not beappropriate in the IPCablecom environment. They believe that ciphertext stealing as described byH.235 as another alternative would provide acceptable interworking.
QG/16 feels that provision of the upcoming Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cipher is animportant requirement for H.235. They strongly encourage that this modern and computationallyefficient encryption algorithm be deployed in both Recommendations. However, they point out theprocedural difficulties in normatively referencing NIST FIPS document from within ITU-TRecommendations, which is due to the fact that NIST is not a recognized SDO by ITU-T. QG/16assumes that SG9 will face very similar problems. Thus, they seek joint effort to resolve how tonormatively reference such work.
For the time being, RTCP security protection has not been an issue for H.235. However, H.235needs improvement in this respect to provide higher security against denial-of-service attacks.QG/16 is interested in providing an RTCP security feature. Having studied the SG9 work, as wellas the related SRTP, QG/16 concludes that both approaches take a slightly different approach.Thus, they urge SG9 to consider the SRTP approach to securing RTCP that is aligned with RTPsecurity protection.
While authentication/integrity of RTP packets is done differently within H.235 and J.170, QG/16does not consider this feature crucial with respect to interworking. They would like to see acommon approach across J.170, SRTP, and H.235 for this purpose. Finally, QG/16 agrees thatmultipoint conferencing will not pose a problem for interworking as long as an intermediategateway is involved.
TD-079 is SG9’s response liaison to TD-044. SG9 thanks SG16 for their interest in IPCablecomsecurity, and for their liaisons on how to harmonize the two security specifications. SG9 considersthe latest SG16 liaison a very positive step towards harmonization, and affirms that the proposed
H.323/IPCablecom gateway provides an immediate solution to the interworking issue. SG9 alsoagrees that future work may be undertaken to further harmonize J.170 and H.235 media streamsecurity. As SG16 suggests, one possible way to accomplish this goal is for both J.170 and H.235to include support for the IETF’s Secure Realtime Transport Protocol (SRTP) after it has become astandard.
Regarding SG16’s responses to the seven points SG9 proposed in WD-16r2, SG9 responds:
1) SG9 is pleased that SG16 agrees on the proposed gateway solution.2) The use of the J.170 formula for generating an initialization value (IV) by H.235 would greatly
enhance interworking; SG9 would greatly appreciate such a move by SG16.3) Ciphertext stealing may be an acceptable solution. SG9 believes the issue should be considered
at the same time as SRTP.4) SG9 believes that AES will be imminently published as a FIPS document. At such time, AES
can be used, as NIST is now accepted as a standards-setting body for the purposes of A.5. Inaddition to increased security and performance, support for AES by both J.170 and H.235would greatly increase interworking.
5) Support for SRTP in the future is one possible solution that would provide RTCP security andthe ability to interwork between J.170 and H.235 systems. SG9 would be happy to considerextending J.170 to include SRTP once it has become a standard.
6) SG9 agrees that authentication/integrity of RTP packets does not pose a major obstacle withrespect to interworking. Again, future support for SRTP may provide a means for supporting acommon authentication/integrity mechanism for RTP.
7) SG9 is pleased that SG16 agrees with the use of a gateway for multipoint conferencing.
COM9-29 (A. Richter, Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts) proposescomments on draft Recommendation J.170. It notes that section 2 lists several encryptionstandards: NIST Federal Information Processing Standards DES, and RSA Laboratories PublicKey Cryptography Standards (PKCS), as normative references for encryption methods and othersecurity techniques. Neither NIST nor RSA Labs is currently listed in the ITU’s “A.4, A.5 andA.6 Qualified Organizations List.” Therefore, such references cannot be normative at present.
This same contribution was considered by the SG9 joint Q10 and Q13 Rapporteurs Octobermeeting. At that time, the joint Rapporteurs meeting agreed to defer to SG9 on the issue of thesereferences. At this meeting, the issues raised in COM9-29 were resolved by updating thereferences and implementing various editorial changes in the document. AES FIPS was publishedduring the SG9 meeting (FIPS 197), and provides a solid reference for the AES encryptionstandard.
TD-078r1 (E. Rosenfeld, CableLabs) contains the updates and editorial improvements to J.170.
The WG recommended J.170 for Consent.
Draft Rec. J.171, IPCablecom Trunking Gateway Control Protocol (J.tgcp)
D.22 (UK; S. Alexander, BT) proposes material for consideration as the contents of the new AnnexB of draft Rec. J.171. This Annex specifies a profile of the H.248 protocol for controlling mediagateways between cable networks and the PSTN.
TD-027 is a liaison from ITU-T SG16 in response to a SG9 liaison on J.tgcp IPCablecom trunkinggateway protocols. This liaison was considered at the October SG9 Q10 and Q13 jointRapporteurs meeting as LS07-16 (see CSR 12.36).
TD-071 is a liaison from Q3/16 to SG9 on H.248 profiles for J.tgcp. In a liaison to SG9 sent fromtheir May meeting in Porto Seguro, Q3/16 proposed to help SG9 in its effort to define an H.248option for J.tgcp. For initiating this common work, Q3/16 proposes two documents (from theSG16 Questions D, F, G, 2 – 5 Rapporteurs November meeting in Dublin) as first inputs:
• AVD-2169a is an H.248 profile for controlling MG between cable networks and PSTN• AVD-2170a is an H.248 profile for controlling audio servers located on cable networks
These documents should be considered as “first shots.” Q3/16 is waiting for replies, comments,and proposals from SG9.
TD-110 is a SG9 liaison in response to the SG16 liaisons TD-027 and TD-071. In response to theJ.tgcp section of TD-071, SG9 lists a number of points to be clarified for them to complete theirstudy of Annex B of draft Rec. J.171.
The combined WG made no changes to J.171. The “must” and “shall” conventions were movedfrom the terminology section to the scope, per TD-090 and TD-092. The development of J.tgcpAnnex B remains a topic for further study. J.171 was recommended for Consent.
Draft Rec. J.mem, Management Event Mechanism
COM9-26 (USA; S. Perschau, NCS; M. Stachelek, CableLabs) is proposed draft RecommendationJ.mem. This Recommendation defines the management event mechanism that IPCablecomelements can use to report to management systems and/or local logs asynchronous events thatindicate malfunction situations and notification about important non-fault situations.
No input was provided for J.mem beyond the output of the Rapporteurs meeting (COM9-32). Thecombined WG recommended J.mem for Consent.
Draft Rec. J.pls, IPCablecom Embedded MTA Primary Line Support
COM9-27 (USA; S. Perschau, NCS; M. Stachelek, CableLabs) is the proposed draftRecommendation J.pls. This Recommendation defines the embedded MTA (E-MTA) requirementsnecessary to support primary line communications service. An embedded MTA is a cable modem(CM) integrated with an IPCablecom media terminal adapter (MTA).
No input was provided for J.pls beyond the output of the Rapporteurs meeting. The combined WGrecommended J.mem for Consent.
Draft Rec. J.iqos, IPCablecom Interdomain Quality of Service
COM9-25 (USA; S. Perschau, NCS; M. Stachelek, CableLabs) is draft Recommendation J.iqos.This Recommendation describes a set of QoS mechanisms for the IPCablecom project.
D.32 (Japan; M. Matsumoto, NEC) provides comments on draft Rec. J.iqos. It proposes thatJ.iqos needs to describe signaling latencies, media traffic latencies, packet loss, and jitters to defineand specify the end-to-end QoS. Furthermore, queuing technologies and packet filtering should beincluded.
TD-046 (J. Dahl, CableLabs) contains the A5 qualification concerning references for the draft newRecommendation J.iqos.
The combined WG agreed to the editorial changes proposed in D.32 and TD-046. The J.iqosoutput document from the October Rapporteurs meeting (WD-27_[newDraft-J.iqos].doc ) wasupdated to include editorial changes contained in D.32 as well as other editorial changes discoveredduring the drafting group and Plenary sessions.
TD-093 (G. Russell, CableLabs) contains a summary of the editorial changes made to J.iqos. Thedrafting group approved that the updated version of J.iqos (J.iqos_dec6_01) be put forward forConsent during the Plenary.
D.37 (C. Gandyra, Reg TP) proposes an improvement to the proposed liaison to SG11 dealing withjoint activity on a generic protocol mechanism for end-to-end QoS service control and signalingprotocol development based on IP transfer capabilities and IP QoS classes. Pointing out that SG12is the Lead Study Group on QoS and should be involved accordingly, D.37 proposes that thefollowing text be added to the liaison: “…gateway protocols and QoS in the future, and lookforward to working with Study Group 11, Study Group 12 and other Study Groups …”
The combined WG discussed D.37 and compared it to the proposed liaison LS03-11 from theOctober Q10/ & Q13/9 Rapporteurs meeting (see CSR 12.36). Changes suggested in D.37 wereincorporated in the liaison to SG11 on the proposed joint activity on generic protocol mechanismsfor end-to-end QoS service control (TD-080), which was approved by the Plenary with minoreditorial changes.
TD-123 (G. Russell, CableLabs), a later version of TD-093, contains editorial changes to J.iqosmade to input document J.iqos_oct_01.doc as referenced in COM9-32 Section 2.2. The changesresolve comments from D.37 and TD-046. These editorial changes were incorporated into outputdocument J.iqos_dec_6.doc.
Draft Rec. J.as, IPCablecom Audio Server Protocol
Draft Recommendation J.as describes the architecture and specifies the protocols that are requiredfor playing announcements in voice-over-IP (VoIP) IPCablecom networks. It was discussed by thecombined WGs 1 & 2 on Cable Modems and IPCablecom.
COM9-24 (USA; S. Perschau, NCS; D. McIntosh, CableLabs) is the proposed draftRecommendation J.as.
D.23 (UK; S. Alexander, BT) proposes that an alternative profile based on H.248 be added to draftRec. J.as by structuring the Recommendation with both the COM9-32 solution and the proposedalternative profile becoming separate Annexes. Consequently, it proposes to combine from thesetwo source documents their Sections for the Summary (when drafted), Scope, References,Definitions and Abbreviations, and Bibliography. Similarly, it proposes to extend the Scope by aparagraph with wording “Annexes to this Recommendation specify profiles for this purpose.”
TD-071 is a liaison from Q3/16 to SG9 on H.248 profiles for J.tgcp; it also contains a part on J.as.
The combined WG group reviewed D.23, TD-071, and the relevant sections of COM9-32.Consequently, minor editorial changes were made to J.as; these are documented in TD-111,Clarifications to proposed draft Recommendation J.as (E. Miller, Terayon). A liaison response toTD-071 for SG16 was created as part of TD-110, the SG9 liaison in response to the SG16 liaisonsTD-027 and TD-071.
Both D.23 and TD-071 suggest that an option to use H.248 be incorporated into J.as as an Annex.Both provided a similar “first shot” of what this might look like and requested SG9 comments.
As no technical concerns were identified, the drafting group did not understand the full technicaljustification for the Recommendation to add H.248. Meeting discussion also did not identity anytechnical requirements. Furthermore, discussions with European and other cable operators haveidentified no requirement to use H.248; these plan to use an MGCP-based protocol, and MGCP-based solutions are in the market now. An SS7-based interface to a network audio server wouldalso be an acceptable solution to handle any potential requirements for open service interfaces.
Although the existing draft Rec. J.as was considered technically correct, the UK delegates desired aresolution to the H.248 issue before Consent. As consensus was not achieved in this regard, draftRecommendation J.as was not proposed for Consent at this meeting; it will be proposed forConsent at the June 2002 meeting.
Proposed New Work on Emergency Telecommunications Service
D.27 (USA; S. Perschau, NCS; A. Webster, NTIA) proposes that SG9 begin a new work programwith the goal to ensure that an emergency telecommunications service (ETS) will be able to functionin the architecture, signaling, security, and other provisions of the IPCablecom family ofRecommendations.
The United States has resolved to ensure that emergency personnel are able to communicate duringtimes of crisis. While the PSTN has in place a mechanism in the United States (GETS), there is nomechanism yet in place that will function over the new IPCablecom networks or that will functioninternationally. The rapid development of services over broadband cable television networks willallow emergency communications to utilize these networks as primary and/or secondary means ofvoice and multimedia communications as well as for database access, secure email, and other dataservices.
It appears that the IPCablecom Recommendations do not preclude the implementation of priorityservices. Indeed, priority is addressed in several Recommendations, and the United States wouldlike to see the full suite of Recommendations approved as soon as feasible. D.27 proposes that thefollowing strategy for implementing ETS in IPCablecom Recommendations be considered by SG9:
1) Determine whether additional options are required in the Recommendations to allow priorityservices through the use of QoS classes, TOS, and/or DiffServ Codepoints.
2) Determine methods for interoperation between (to be) proposed ETS mechanisms and J.170(Security).
3) Study mechanisms that would allow ETS on IPCablecom to interoperate with other networks inthe NGN.
ETS could be presented as a separate Recommendation, as Annexes to the relevantRecommendations, or both. The following Recommendations have been identified as relevant to theemergency telecommunications service:
• J.160 (J.arch), Architectural framework for the delivery of time critical services over cabletelevision networks using cable modems
SG9 agreed to support this proposal in the evolving new Recommendations for IPCablecom in thelight of similar work in other Study Groups. It was agreed that in the development of such a serviceover IPCablecom networks, there is a need to ensure consistency of requirements with other StudyGroups developing support for these services. In particular close liaison will be required withSG11, who has agreed to support such a service requirement in the public network signalingprotocols. SG9 agreed that at this time this important work could be carried out under the existingQ13/9. There might be a need to focus this work in a new Question. The next Study Groupmeeting will consider whether a new Question is needed. A liaison (TD-130) was drafted to ITU-TSGs 2, 4, 11, 13, and 16 informing them of the work SG9 will be doing on this topic. SG9welcomes input from other Study Groups on the requirements needed for such a service.
Working Group 3, Networks
TD-126 is the report of the Working Group 3 on Networks. This WG includes Q1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 16,17, 18 and 19:
Q Title Rapporteur Inactive1 Digital Networks Carrying Sound-Program Signals
for BroadcastingY. Shavdia (NIIR) x
2 & 3 Digital Transmission of Standard-DefinitionTelevision and High-Definition Television Signals forContribution, and Primary Distribution andSecondary Distribution
R. Kawada (KDDR&D Laboratories)
6 Conditional Access Methods and Practices for DigitalCable Distribution to the Home
R. Prodan (Terayon)
11 Digital Program Insertion for MPEG-2 Bitstreams S. Matsumoto (KDDR&D Labs)
16 Transmission of Multi-channel Analog and/or DigitalTelevision Signals over Optical Access Networks
K. Kikushima (NTTAccess NetworkService Systems Labs)
17 Management and Operational Requirements withregard to Wide Area Network Edge Devices for TVand Sound-Program Transmission
A. Ehbrecht (DeutscheTelekom AG)
x
18 Transport of Uncompressed Studio Quality TV,Sound-Program Signals, and other Signals using theSame Interface on Telecommunication Networks
H. Hoffmann(EuropeanBroadcasting Union[EBU])
x
19 Transport of Video and Audio Signals overContribution or Primary Distribution Networks usingIP Techniques
S. Hirakawa (Toshiba)
Q2/9, Digital Transmission of Standard-Definition Television and High-DefinitionTelevision Signals for Contribution, and Primary Distribution and SecondaryDistribution
SG9 has approved the merging of Questions 2/9, Digital Transmission of Conventional Televisionand High-Definition Television Signals for Contribution, and 3/9 into a single Question. Thismerger has resulted in a modification of Question 2/9 (see new title below) and the suppression ofQuestion 3/9. (COM9-33 contains the text for the proposed merge of Questions 2/9 and 3/9.)COM9-33 assumes that if the Study Group will be organized again in Working Parties, a singleWorking Party will be responsible for television transport for contribution and primary andsecondary distribution, in consideration of the fact that the same technologies are used across the
three applications. R. Kawada (KDD R&D Laboratories), the previous Q2 Rapporteur will be theRapporteur of the merged Question.
Draft New Rec. J.mpph, Transport Mechanism for Component-Coded DigitalHDTV Signals using MPEG-2 Video Coding Including all Service Elements forContribution and Primary Distribution
Draft Recommendation J.mpph specifies the general transport mechanism for conveying all theservice elements required for contribution and primary distribution applications of TV programswhose resolution is quite high compared to 525/60 or 625/50 television systems (e.g., 1125/60system) using the MPEG-2 4:2:2 profile or main profile at high level compression. The serviceelements provided to MPEG-2 coding systems are assumed to be (4:2:2) component video signals,studio quality audio signals, and various data signals, e.g., time code. This Recommendationensures the compatibility on the level of the bit-stream into a decoder. It is based on and is inconformity with the MPEG-2 standard ITU-T Recommendation H.222.0 | ISO/IEC 13818-1. Thescope of this Recommendation is basically in accordance with ITU-T Rec. J.89, which specifies thetransport mechanism of 525/60 and 625/50 television systems, excluding the compatibility for anyVBI data specific to composite video signals.
D.35 (Japan; R. Kawada, KDDI) is draft new Rec. J.mpph, as input to this meeting.
TD-104 (R. Kawada, KDDI) is draft new Rec. J.mpph, for Consent at the SG9 June 2002 meeting.
TD-103 is a SG9 liaison informing ITU-R SG6 that draft new Rec. J.mpph is progressing.
Draft New Rec. J.metadata, Metadata on Cable Networks
D.26 (USA; S. Perschau, NCS; Y. Syed, CableLabs) is proposed draft new RecommendationJ.metadata. Metadata, as used in this Recommendation, is descriptive data associated with a contentasset package. It may vary in extent from merely identifying the content package title orinformation to populate an EPG or managing assets, to providing a complete index of differentscenes in a movie, or providing business rules detailing how the content package may be displayed,copied, or sold. Metadata may originate from studios, distribution networks (cable satellite, orothers), and other sources. This Recommendation defines the requirements that metadata used incable networks must allow for modification at the cable head-end by the controlling cable networkoperator of that metadata received from an original source.
Draft Rec. J.metadata is planned for Consent at the SG9 June 2002 meeting.
Draft Rec. J.ret, A Framework for an Efficient Duplex Video Transmission SystemIncluding Codecs with Functions of Failure Detection and Picture QualityEvaluation
Draft Recommendation J.ret considers the duplex transmission link that is often used forcontribution and primary distribution of television. Particularly, it considers the case where theduplex link includes compression encoders and decoders such as MPEG-2. Signal-to-noise ratiois improved by reducing the compression coding noise through averaging of the two links, i.e., theutilization efficiency of the links is improved. In addition, automatic detection of transmissionfailure is supported through monitoring based on a comparison of videos over the two links.Further, the assessment of picture quality such as estimation of signal-to-noise ratio is madepossible by utilizing the difference of coding noise in two links.
TD-124 (r. Kawada, KDDI) contains a modification to D.33: Appendix III was changed from“Picture quality assessment” to “Coding noise assessment.”
D.33 (Japan; R. Kawada, KDDI) is draft new Rec. J.ret, proposed for Consent in June 2002.
TD-107 is a SG9 liaison informing ITU-R SG6 of the status of draft new Rec. J.ret.
Q16/9, Transmission of Multi-channel Analog and/or Digital Television Signalsover Optical Access Networks
K. Kikushima (NTT Access Network Service Systems Labs) is the Q16/9 Rapporteur.
TD-043 is a liaison from ITU-T SG15 concerning the Optical transport networks and technologiesstandardization work plan (OTNT SWP). SG15 entrusted WP5/15, under Q19/15, as the LeadStudy Group on optical technologies. The outcome of the activities consists of the OTNT SWP.This work plan contains:
• A list of standardization bodies and contacts relevant to optical standardization• A list of known holes/overlaps/conflicts in current work• Lists of Standards and Recommendations from ITU and other organizations• A list of documents being actively worked• A terminology mapping across multiple bodies working in this area.
ITU TIES members may find the document at <http://ties.itu.int/u/tsg9/sg9/ls/Geneva-03-12-01/incoming/> and <http://www.itu.int/itudoc/itu-t/com15/otn/index.html>.
Q19/15 requests cooperation in developing and maintaining this document as a useful tool forcoordinating the standardization of optical transport networks and technologies. A more helpfulweb version of this material is currently being developed.
TD-102 is the SG9 liaison in response to TD-043. SG9 informs SG15 WP5 that in December2001 they gave their Consent to draft Rec. J.scm and draft Rec. J.fmc, which are relevant to theOTNT SWP.
TD-042 is a liaison from ITU-T SG15 discussing the access network transport (ANT)standardization plan and work plan. SG15 entrusted WP5/15, under Question 1/15, as the LeadStudy Group on access network transport activities. The outcome of this activity is twofold: thestandardization plan, containing ANT scenarios and a list of Standards and Recommendations fromITU and various standardization bodies, and the ANT work plan, providing an overview overvarious standardization groups and ongoing ANT activities. Both documents (antstandplan5.doc,antworkplan4.doc) can be found at <http://ties.itu.int/u/tsg9/sg9/ls/Geneva-03-12-01/incoming/>(and http://ties.itu.int/u/tsg15/sg15/q1)> (TIES password required). Q1/15 welcomes suggestionsand comment to both documents.
Additionally, Q1/15 is working to put the ANT Lead Study Group work into the ITU webpresentation. New Annex 4 of the Standardization Plan is the start of a revision to make the hugeStandards List in ANNEX 2 more manageable, to concentrate on primary documents, and toprepare for the web presentation. Q1/15 also welcomes comments and suggestions on this topic.
TD-128 is the SG9 liaison reply to TD-042. With reference to Sections A.1.6.2 and A1.7 of theStandardization Plan, concerning the delivery of Voice/Data Service over 2-way cable networks,SG9 is not aware of any cable networks that deliver services using PSTN, ISDN, or B-ISDN in thisway. SG9 asks SG15 to note the support and delivery of services using IPCablecom as described
in Recommendation J.160 (J.arch), which was Consented at the December 2001 meeting. Asrequested, SG9 has updated the details of the revised Recommendations in Annex 2 of theStandardization Plan (as TD-129). With reference to the Access Network Work Plan, SG9confirms K. Kikushima (NTT) as the contact person.
TD-105 is a SG9 liaison to ITU-T SG15 informing that SG9 gave their Consent to the two newRecommendations, J.scm and J.fmc, which are relevant to the access network transport (ANT).
Draft Rec. J.fmc, Transmission Equipment for Transferring Multi-channelTelevision Signals over Optical Access Networks by FM Conversion
For an undetermined period during the crossover from analog to digital transmission, it will benecessary for optical access networks to carry both formats. Digital signals should be carried viafrequency division multiplexing (FDM) together with analog signals to assure an orderly transitionfrom analog to digital formats.
Recommendation J.fmc describes a method of transmitting multi-channel television signals over anoptical access network that utilizes FM conversion. In this FM transmission system, multi-channelfrequency division multiplexing (FDM) television signals are simultaneously converted into onesingle wideband FM signal. This FM signal is then transmitted through the optical access networkby using the intensity modulation technique. The video-optical network terminal (V-ONT) at thecustomer premises converts the received single FM signal into the original multi-channel FDMvideo signals, i.e., coaxial CATV signals. The interface for this FM transmission system is thesame as that of the AM-SCM system. Therefore, the FM transmission system can replace the AM-SCM system. The FM transmission system must have an FM converter (i.e., frequency modulator)and frequency demodulator in addition to the AM-SCM transmission system’s equipment, but it ismore robust than the AM-SCM transmission system against the noise deterioration caused byoptical transmission/splitter loss and optical reflections.
In the SCM technique, the main carrier is the optical frequency signal carrier; the sub-carrierstransfer the electrically multiplexed FDM video signals in the optical sideband.
The system can be added to the G.983.1 ATM-based optical access system by using G.983.3WDM technology. This integration would allow the system to offer broadcast services and alsodata and voice communication services over the same optical access network. By using G.983.1ATM-based optical access system technology, upstream signals (e.g., control functionality andupstream data indicating the user’s requirements) can be transmitted as well.
COM9-30 (Japan; S. Ikeda, NTT) proposes modifications to draft new Recommendation, J.fmc.
TD-088 is draft Recommendation J.fmc, for Consent. It shows the editorial changes from COM9-30.
Draft Rec. J.scm, Transmission Equipment for Multi-Channel Television Signalsover Optical Access Networks by Sub-Carrier Multiplexing (SCM)
Draft Recommendation J.scm describes a method of transmitting multi-channel television signalsover optical access networks through the use of sub-carrier multiplexing (SCM). In the SCMtechnique, the main carrier is the optical frequency signal carrier; the sub-carriers transfer theelectrically multiplexed FDM video signals in the optical sideband. The format of the signalsoutput by the photo detector of the optical network unit is the same as that of the signals input to themodulator of the optical transmitter. The SCM method is used in the trunk line of hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) systems.
The system described in this Recommendation transmits FDM analog AM-VSB and digital 64-QAM/256-QAM/QPSK television signals by SCM technology. The optical modulation format isintensity modulation (IM).
Optical amplifiers are used to compensate for the losses of the optical transmission/splitters used tocreate the access network. Dispersion compensation fibers (DCF) are used to compensate for thechromatic dispersion of access network fibers. DCF imposes the reverse chromatic dispersion inadvance to offset the degradation due to Composite Second Order distortion (CSO) created by thetransmission of 1.55 µm optical signals over 1.3 µm zero-dispersion access fibers.
SCM technology is simple, and is based on an electrical/optical (E/O) converter and opticalamplifiers in the transmitter side, and an optical/electrical (O/E) converter in the receiver side.However, the allowable optical transmission/splitter loss is smaller than that in the FM convertedsystem. Moreover, optical reflections in the transmission lines may degrade video quality.
The system can be integrated with the G.983.1 ATM-based optical access system by using G.983.3WDM technology. This allows the system to offer broadcast services and also data and voicecommunication services over the same optical access network. By using a G.983.1 ATM-basedoptical access system, upstream signals (e.g., control functionality and data to indicate userrequirements) can be transmitted as well.
COM9-31 (Japan; S. Ikeda, NTT) proposes modifications to new draft Rec. J.scm; it showsmodifications from the previous draft, COM9-D2. TD-089 is draft Rec. J.scm, for Consent. Itshows editorial changes from COM9-31.
Working Group 4, Webcasting
WG 4/9 includes Q7/9 and Q15/9; it is chaired by S. Miyaji (DDI [KDDI]) who is alsothe Rapporteur of Q7/9, Requirements and Methods for Sound-Program and TelevisionWebcasting Services, and of Q15/9, High-speed Webcasting Services over Cable TelevisionNetworks. Q15/9 is inactive. TD-101 is the report of SG9 WG4 on webcasting.
Draft New Rec. J.mfweb, Multiplexing Format for Webcasting on TCP/IPNetwork
D.30 (S. Miyaji, KDDI) is a study on a multiplexing format for webcasting over a reliable network.It studies a new multiplexing format for webcasting. ITU-T standard J.120 defines protocols foraudio and video distribution over the IP network, and assumes that an unreliable IP network(UDP/IP) should be used for transport of media packets. Recently, multimedia distributionservices like webcasting have been started on the mobile phone network as well as the fixed IPnetwork. It is important to maintain interoperability between these networks. This kind ofmultimedia distribution service is performed on TCP/IP by a download-based protocol because itdoes not require any complex server-client protocols. The performance of the download-basedprotocol depends on its file format. Considering this situation, D.30 proposes a new multiplexingformat for webcasting on a reliable IP network.
TD-100 (S. Miyaji, KDDI) is a preliminary draft of new Recommendation J.mfweb. ThisRecommendation provides a multiplexing format appropriate for audio and video transmission bydownload-based protocol over TCP/IP without any session control protocols between server andclient. However, when session control protocols are not used, some necessary information shouldbe added to the media data. Therefore, draft Recommendation J.mfweb defines a multiplexing
format particular to webcasting on the TCP/IP. This format carries metadata, digital rightsmanagement (DRM) information, and formatted text as well as audio and video bitstreams.
TD-098 is a SG9 liaison informing ITU-T SG16 of the development of preliminary draft new Rec.J.mfweb.
Draft New Recommendation J.qweb, Quality Control Protocol for Webcasting
TD-122 is draft new Recommendation J.qweb. This draft new Recommendation defines protocolsbetween a server and a client to distribute sound and television programs by J.120 (i.e., performwebcasting) over a general IP network, which is a non-QoS guaranteed network where data error orpacket losses may occur. The use of these protocols results in an improvement of quality.
J.qweb provides a scheme wherein a quality report is sent from a client to the server, and the serverperforms optimum data distributions according to the client’s report. It defines kinds of parametersthat a client should report to the server, and a transmission protocol that is used for sending thereport from the client to the server. It also defines transmission of supporting parameters that areuseful for the server to analyze the client’s report. The response of the server after receiving theclient’s report is outside the scope of this draft new recommendation.
Draft Recommendation J.qweb was published as TD-045 in March 2001. No comments werereceived on it over the past nine months; therefore, SG9 proposed draft new Rec. J.qweb forConsent.
TD-099 is a SG9 liaison to inform SG16 of the SG9 Consent of J.qweb.
Working Group 5, Quality Assessment
WG 5/9, Quality assessment, includes Questions 4, 20 and 21. It is Chaired by A. Webster and A.Karwowska-Lamparska (National Institute of Telecommunications, Poland). A. Karwowska-Lamparska is the Rapporteur of Q4/9, Measurement and Control of the Quality of Service forTelevision Transmission on Contribution and Distribution Networks. L. Durant (Tektronix UK) isthe Associate Rapporteur. L. Durant (Tektronix) is the Rapporteur of Q20/9, Signal QualityParameters for MPEG-2 Transport Streams Transmitted via Telecommunication Networks. A.Webster (NTIA) is the Rapporteur of Q21/9, Objective and Subjective Methods for EvaluatingConversational Audiovisual Quality in Multimedia Services. TD-119 is the draft report of WG5.
It is expected that two Rapporteur meetings (March and May) will be held in conjunction withVQEG meetings between now and the next SG9 meeting in June 2002.
Draft New Rec. J.pcr, Measurement of MPEG-2 Transport Streams in Networks
An MPEG-2 transport stream that is transmitted over any real network is exposed to certain effectscaused by the network components that are not ideally transparent. One of the predominant effectsis the acquisition of jitter in relation to the Program Clock Reference (PCR) values and theirposition in the transport stream. Rec. J.pcr defines four measurement parameters (frequency offset,drift rate, overall jitter, accuracy) that describe the various jitter components that can be differentiatedby demarcation frequencies.
TD-094 (UK; L. Durant, Tektronix) is draft new Recommendation J.pcr (revision to D.20). SG9intends to forward draft Rec. J.pcr for Consent at the SG9 June 2002 meeting.
TD-095 is a liaison informing ITU-T SG15 of J.pcr.
D.25 is a report from ITU-R WP 6Q on their progress in quality assessment. In the interim fromthe March 2001 ITU-T SG9 meeting, WP 6Q had two meetings, one in March and another inSeptember. At the March meeting, WP 6Q discussed the following:
• Draft new Recommendation on the “Method for subjective assessment of intermediate audioquality”
• Revised version of Recommendation ITU-R BS.1387 on “Method for objective measurementsof perceived audio quality.” In the ITU-R, BS designates a series of recommendations onBroadcasting Service (sound).
• Draft new Question on “Methods for the assessment of automated audio metadata extractionsystems.” This Question addresses how to measure the quality of an audio identificationsystem assuming it depends strongly on the representation of the essence.
WP 6Q also considered the current work undertaken by other normative bodies and sent a numberof liaisons to them.
At the September meeting, WP 6Q received a proposal for a draft new standard on objectivemeasurement based on a wavelet approach: “A new method for objective measurement of videoquality using wavelet transform.” With this document, the Administration of the Republic ofKorea addressed to WP 6Q a formal request for adoption of a preliminary new Recommendationdealing with such a method. Out of consideration for American colleagues not present at thismeeting, no decision was taken. The Administration of Korea agreed to wait until the March 2002WP 6Q meeting to have their request considered. Nevertheless, the Korean document was annexedto the letter from the WP 6Q Chair to the Video Quality Experts Group (VQEG), with a note that adraft new Recommendation on this will be submitted to ITU-R SG6 in March.
At its second meeting, WP 6Q prepared a few liaison statements and letters.
D.25 also reports that VQEG is now in favor of a collaborative effort because the competitiveapproach has been tested and did not succeed, and there are no guarantees that a second round willbe fruitful. A useful standard needs to be accepted, but the problem with a competition is that thereis only one winner. The other proponents have lost, which makes it difficult for them to accept thenew standard. In a collaborative effort, all the contributors have already accepted the approachduring the work; they will therefore push for the new Recommendation. VQEG proposes to startthe collaborative phase now, and the Korean model can be submitted to a round of testing.
D.28 (USA; S. Perschau, NCS; A. Webster, NTIA) presents a methodological framework forspecifying accuracy and cross-calibration of video quality metrics. The work of VQEG hasdemonstrated the difficulty in obtaining an international agreement for adoption of a single videoquality metric (VQM). While this important work continues, there is a need for methods thatquantify the accuracy (i.e., how well a VQM tracks subjective quality) and cross-calibration (howone VQM relates to another VQM) of existing VQMs being used by industry. D.28 provides thetext of a newly approved Technical Report from ANSI-accredited Committee T1 (MethodologicalFramework for Specifying Accuracy and Cross-Calibration of Video Quality Metrics,T1A1.1/2001-051R1) that addresses this need. This TR provides methods and software forspecifying the accuracy and cross-calibration of VQMs. It also addresses how to specify the scopeand limitations of a VQM. The algorithms and methods it presents are general in that they may beapplied to any VQM or set of VQMs. D.28 was provided to SG9 for information.
TD-005 is a liaison from WP 6Q informing that the work on Recommendation ITU-R BS.1534,Method for the subjective assessment of intermediate audio quality, was successfully finished. WP6Q approved the draft of this Recommendation (March 2001), and forwarded it to SG6 forApproval.
This new method, called “Multi stimulus test with hidden reference and anchor” (MUSHRA),mirrors many aspects of Recommendation ITU-R BS.1116-1 and uses the same grading scale as isused for the evaluation of picture quality (i.e., Recommendation ITU-R BT.500-8). Successfultests have demonstrated that the MUSHRA method is suitable for the evaluation of intermediateaudio quality and gives accurate and reliable results. This new method was developed because theexisting methods were either focused on speech quality, high quality audio, or did not provideabsolute grading. This Recommendation is a result of joint efforts of ITU-R WP 6Q and EBUProject Group B/AIM.
TD-006 is a liaison from WP 6Q in response to several liaisons received from SG9 over the pastyear on the development of measurement methods for video systems and VQEG. WP 6Qcongratulates SG9 on the completion of the two new Recommendations relating to objectivemeasurement of video picture quality, J.143 (User requirements for objective perceptual videoquality measurements in digital cable television) and J.144 (Objective perceptual video qualitymeasurement techniques for digital cable television in the presence of a full reference). WP 6Qaffirms that these Recommendations represent a significant milestone in providing guidance to thetelevision and cable industries. WP6Q looks forward to continued liaison with SG9 on futurerevisions of J.144 and new Recommendations for the applications listed in J.143.
WP 6Q notes that ITU-T SG12 informed them of the combination of previous Questions into anew Question, Objective and subjective methods for evaluating conversational audiovisual quality inmultimedia services. WP 6Q understands that the Question has now been transferred to SG9. WP6Q expects to cooperate with SG9 on this matter as they have done in the past with SG12. TD-011is a copy of the WP 6Q liaison to SG12 thanking them for the information on this new Question.
TD-007 is a liaison from ITU-R WP 6Q thanking SG9 for the preliminary draft newRecommendation J.1pl concerning loop latency in conversational video programs such asnewscasting. WP 6Q is very interested to receive any future contribution concerning studies carriedout in this field of investigation; WP 6Q members are also interested in contributing to futureexperiments that may lead to an ITU-R Recommendation.
TD-008 is a liaison from WP 6Q to inform SG9 of two new activities relating to objective videoquality measurements:
1. For several years, WP 6Q has been interested in potentially including in Rec. ITU-R BT.500(Methodology for the subjective assessment of the quality of television pictures) subjectiveassessment methods utilizing expert viewers. WP 6Q has received a contribution from Italythat provides the reasoning behind such an approach and encourages VQEG to consider thisidea in their new full reference methodology test plan. WP 6Q will request the submission ofcontributions providing experimental results supporting the use of expert viewers in subjectiveassessment test plans. In the ITU-R, BT designates a series of recommendations onBroadcasting Service (television).
2. WP 6Q received a liaison from Committee T1A1 providing a copy of a letter to the VQEG Co-Chairs regarding the documentation of video quality metrics. The framework being developedfor specifying the scope, limitations, accuracy, and comparative scaling of different video qualitymetrics is a significant contribution to the technology of objective picture qualitymethodologies. The WP 6Q Chair has encouraged T1A1 to complete the development of theTechnical Reports in a timely manner, and has requested that T1A1 provide contributions to theITU-R on the technology being developed for potential inclusion in ITU-R Recommendationsor Reports. To provide effective communication with T1A1, WP 6Q has nominated a SpecialRapporteur to represent WP 6Q and to report on T1A1 activities in the areas of mutual interest.
TD-009 is a liaison from WP 6Q informing VQEG of activities relating to video qualitymeasurements. In addition to the information provided SG9 in TD-008, WP 6Q reports that theSpecial Rapporteur to VQEG has informed WP 6Q of the new validation tests being developed forreduced reference (RR) and no reference methodologies (NR), and possible completion of the work onthe full reference (FR) methodology. WP 6Q will alert their members to the call for participationissued by VQEG.
WP 6Q also notes that a liaison from ITU-T SG9 introduced the idea of including novel methods suchas the “invisible marker” technique in the VQEG validation tests. WG 6Q supports this idea,provided experimental results clearly demonstrate that the technique will not degrade the picturecontent. The marker data can be inserted by an independent laboratory and the method will fit wellwithin the scope of the planned tests.
TD-010 is a liaison from WP 6Q thanking ITU-T SG12 for their liaison and useful commentsconcerning the draft new Recommendation ITU-R BS.1534.
TD-039 is a liaison from ITU-T SG12 informing that SG12 has Consented draft newRecommendation G.1000, Communications quality of service: a framework and definitions. ThisRecommendation aims to provide common definitions and framework for all the SGs directly orindirectly involved in QoS activities. In their liaison response (TD-117), SG9 informs SG12 thatthey hope to use this framework where appropriate in any subsequent work on Recommendationsrelating to QoS.
TD-053 (A. Webster, NTIA) presents comments from VQEG, from their May 2001 meeting,concerning RRNR-TV and FR-TV validation tests for objective methods for perceptual videoquality assessment. It includes a copy of the VQEG test plans for their RRNR-TV and FR-TVvalidation tests. In these tests, VQEG will not attempt to declare a “winner,” but will offer theresults of their data analysis as well as some interpretation of the results. VQEG expects thatstandardization bodies will use these results together with their application-specific requirements towrite Recommendations. VQEG suggests that, where possible, emphasis should be placed onadopting a common video quality metric for each measurement methodology (FR, RR, NR).
TD-055 (A. Webster, NTIA) contains comments from VQEG, from their May 2001 meeting,replying to “Communication to VQEG regarding upcoming validation tests for RRNR-TV andFR-TV objective perceptual video quality assessment methods.” VQEG has reviewed D.14, whichproposes an invisible marker method. VQEG thinks this proposal has merit and will attempt toincorporate an auxiliary portion of their RRNR-TV test to evaluate this method.
VQEG’s plan is to include three separate test sequences with and without the marker data in thesequence processing phase of the RRNR-TV test. This will allow the method to be independentlyevaluated. The main reason for not including this method in the subjective test is that the methodestimates PSNR and not the subjective data. Other reasons concern the proprietary nature of theother test sequences and the uncertainty of the transparency of the marker’s effect on coding at thisearly stage.
TD-056 (A. Webster, NTIA) provides comments from VQEG regarding VQEG’s current work onobjective perceptual video quality assessment methods. VQEG wishes to inform SG9 of theircurrent work and ask for inputs into an issue that is currently unresolved within VQEG.
VQEG held two ad hoc meetings in July 2001, in Orlando, Florida. The multimedia ad hoc groupmet for two days and established preliminary bounds on initial work in the area of multimedia videoquality assessment. The HRC/SRC (Hypothetical Reference Circuits/video Source, defined inD.28) selection meeting was held for one day, and participants viewed potential source material inboth 525 line and 625 line formats. Some general guidelines were agreed to as to final source
selection. HRC material was also viewed, and some bit rates and coding parameters were selectedto be included. At least one more meeting will need to be held to make final selections. All of thead hoc meeting documents are available by anonymous ftp from<ftp.its.bldrdoc.gov/dist/ituvidq/orlando_2001>.
The issue on which VQEG wishes some input concerns the final selection of HRC and SRCmaterial for the validation tests for RRNR-TV and FR-TV. VQEG asks whether SG9 wouldconsider recommending a method that was validated in a test in which the proponents knew or wereallowed access to a sub-set of the final test sequences—both SRC and HRC clips? Some feel thatthis would be equivalent to allowing the proponents to train on the test material, which would notresult in a good validation of the method. Others feel that partial access to the test material prior tothe test would not compromise the validation. As a solution, subject to SG9 endorsement, theVQEG Board has decided to transfer all material to a newly appointed IL (Independent Lab) Chair,who will take over and is willing to implement any modifications necessary, subject to the timeframe already agreed for the subjective test.
In any case, the expected result is that the final test sequences will be kept secret from theproponents in the test until after their model (object code) has been submitted. This was the basicprocedure followed during VQEG I. VQEG I kept even the final HRC selection secret. Otherpossible solutions doubtlessly exist.
TD-054 (A. Webster, NTIA) contains comments from VQEG on the SG9 document COM9-D.84(Boston, 1999), Proposal of common basic objective measurement model for picture quality for FR(Japan). This proposal suggests that, as an FR scheme to be recommended, VQEG should extract aframework useful to draft Recommendations that can properly host the candidate schemes thatperform similarly well. VQEG thinks this work, if necessary, should be done directly by ITU-TSG9 and/or ITU-R WP 6Q, not by VQEG, for the following reasons:
The current goal of VQEG work is to evaluate the performance of each candidate scheme from afair standpoint, and to report the results. VQEG is not in a position to prepare a Recommendation.To complete their current work plan, VQEG cannot take up this work at this time.
Nevertheless, VQEG will be very happy to review and comment upon any such proposal offered bythe Study Groups.
TD-057 is a liaison from the WP 6Q Chair providing an update on the activities in progress in thearea of the standardization of video quality metrics. VQEG is currently following three lines ofactivity in this process, with the full endorsement of WP 6Q, each line being devoted to a differentindustrial application area. Those lines are:
• FR-TV (full reference TV)• RRNR-TV (reduced reference – no reference TV), specially related to the SG9 scope• Multimedia applications
In the last months, VQEG has undertaken a rushing activity with the intent to issue a call forproposal for candidates systems to be recommended for video quality metrics. VQEG is now readyto issue a call for proposals for FR-TV candidate systems at the WP 6Q March 2002 meeting, withthe aim of performing the tests required to qualify the best candidates before the WP 6Q September2002 meeting, with a view to allowing their characteristics to then be specified in Recommendationsof the ITU-R and the ITU-T Sectors.
VQEG is now also preparing to issue a call for proposals for RR NR TV candidates. They lookforward to close cooperation with SG9, notably for what concerns the RR NR TV case, where
VQEG needs to urgently receive the SG9 requirements. This approach is the most likely to providethe quick guidance in this area that the industry requires.
Finally, the WP 6Q Chair reports that many active members of VQEG will attend to the SG9December meeting, at which time they will be able to provide the information required to furtherimprove cooperation among SG9, WP 6Q, and VQEG.
COM9-28 (UK; D. Hands, BT) details the requirements for the development of a multimediaperceptual model. Currently, perceptual models for the objective measurement of audio quality andvideo quality are at a reasonably advanced stage. An existing ITU Recommendation is in place foraudio quality measurement (ITU-T P.862), and continuing research within VQEG is directedtowards producing a similar ITU Recommendation for objective video quality measurement (J.144).Although work has been reported indicating some basic rules underpinning human perception ofmultimedia quality (e.g., KPN, NTIA/ITS, Telcordia), the development of an overall measure ofaudio-video quality has been neglected. COM9-28 defines some of the requirements needed todevelop a multimedia perceptual model.
TD-085r1 is a SG9 liaison to WP 6Q relating to draft new Recommendations. SG9 congratulatesWP 6Q on the completion of its draft new Recommendation on methods for the subjectiveassessment of intermediate audio quality, affirming that this Recommendation represents asignificant step forward in subjective assessment of audio quality. SG9 informs WP 6Q of thepreliminary draft new Recommendations J.ists and J.mmq-req, and invites WP 6Q to comment onthose drafts. SG9 also informs WP 6Q on their work on draft new Recommendation J.lpl, andinvites WP 6Q to comment on the current draft and to offer any relevant experimental results thatwould confirm or refute the specific acceptable values reported in it.
TD-115 is a SG9 communication to VQEG offering guidance on the final selection of test materialfor the RRNR-TV and FR-TV tests. It is the opinion of SG9 that the secret selection of finalsource sequences from a body of approximately 60 minutes is legitimate for the test. To be fair, theone hour source tapes should be offered to any proponent that desires them. As for the HRCselections, ideally, no proponent should have had access to any of the final HRC tapes. SG9realizes that, due to lack of resources, proponents may need to help produce and/or store the HRCtapes. In that event, it would be best to have one or two HRCs produced by each of the proponents.If that is not possible, then no proponent should furnish (or have had access to) any more than 20%or 30% of the final HRC tapes in each of the formats (525 and 625). SG9 also recommends thatthe Independent Lab Group include at least 20% unknown source sequences and HRCs in eachformat. The standardization process must be concerned with the potential for anyone at somefuture date to question the results.
TD-086r1 is a SG9 draft communication to T1A1 on their documentation on video quality metrics.SG9 acknowledges receiving a U.S. contribution with the T1A1 recently approved TechnicalReport, “Methodological framework for specifying accuracy and cross-calibration of video qualitymetrics.” SG9 has considered the submitted document and has noted the advanced state of theT1A1 standardization activity. SG9 intends to stimulate similar studies in other regions of theworld to further advance the methods proposed by T1A1. This activity will also provideAdministrations in those regions an opportunity to verify that the T1A1 method submitted (andfuture methods that T1A1 will submit) to SG9 reflect practices that are fully harmonized to theirown regional standards prior to Recommendation by SG9.
Draft New Rec. J.lpl, Loop Latency Issues in Contribution Circuits forConversational TV Programs
TD-065 is draft new Recommendation J.lpl. This Recommendation provides indications on thevalue of loop latency preferably not to be exceeded in television programs that include conversationwith persons in distant locations possibly interconnected by means of a digital transmission circuit.The preliminary draft of this Recommendation was submitted at the SG9 March meeting, and wasappended to the Chair’s report. No contributions were received; it was therefore agreed to submitthis for Consent at the SG9 June 2002 meeting.
Draft New Rec. J.ists, Objective Picture Quality Measurement Method by Use ofIn-service Test Signals
The reduced reference (RR) and no reference (NR) methods, which are currently being studied byVQEG, are expected to become a future standard for an objective measurement method of perceivedpicture quality that does not require reference pictures.
Draft new Rec. J.ists recommends a different framework from RR or NR for measuring picturequality without reference pictures by use of in-service test signals. In-service test signals areembedded into the active picture area of television signals by using the invisible marker method.Television signals with test signals are transmitted to the receiver side and the test signals aredetected from the received pictures. Degradation of the test signals is measured to estimate picturequality degradation. This framework does not require an additional circuit for referenceinformation because the reference information is already embedded into the transmitted pictures.
D.34 (Japan; R. Kawada, KDDI) is draft new Rec. J.ists input to this meeting. TD-076 (Japan; R.Kawada, KDDI) is draft new Rec. J.ists; it is expected to be submitted for Consent at the SG9 June2002 meeting. Further contributions are expected.
Proposed Draft New Rec. J.mmq-req, Requirements for an ObjectiveMultimedia Quality Model
TD-084 (D. Hands, BT) is the preliminary draft Recommendation J.mmq-req; it details therequirements for the development of an objective multimedia perceptual quality model. Therequirements are set out for an audio-video model. The current requirements detail the form of themodel, the focus for the multimedia modeling component, and the nature of the output necessary forthe model to operate as a valuable assessment tool.
At present, perceptual models for the objective measurement of audio quality and video quality areat a reasonably advanced stage. Existing ITU Recommendations are in place for narrowband voiceaudio quality measurement (ITU-T P.862) and for the measurement of high quality audio (ITU-RBS.1387). An intermediate subjective quality assessment method is under consideration by ITU-RWP 6Q. Continuing research within VQEG is directed towards providing additional input to theITU on objective video quality measurement models. Although work has been reported indicatingsome basic rules underpinning human perception of multimedia quality (see ITU-T P.911), thedevelopment of an overall measure of audio-video quality has been neglected.
Proposed draft Rec. J.mmq-req aims to define some of the requirements needed to develop amultimedia perceptual model. Current ITU-T Recommendations will form the basis for thedevelopment of the multimedia model. Relevant recommendations are ITU-T:
P.910, Subjective video quality assessment methods for multimedia applicationsP.911, Subjective audiovisual quality assessment methods for multimedia applications
P.920, Interactive test methods for audiovisual communicationsP.931, Multimedia communications delay, synchronization and frame rate measurement
In view of its eventual submission for Consent, further contributions are sought.
Working Group 6, Program of Work
TD-131 is the report of the SG9 WG6 on the program of work. S. Alexander (BT) is theRapporteur. WG6 reviewed the current work program contained in TD-045. It was noted thatthere will be two new standardization areas: one for “IP based networks” and another for “IPbased Services.” This will impact the SG9 work program. Since the area and domain codes havenot yet been set, these could not be included at this stage. The work program was updated to reflect,as far as possible, the new work underway in SG9 (the revised program is contained in TD-045r1).
Working Group 7, APIs
WG 7/9 includes Q5/9, Interactivity over Cable Television Networks and Q8/9 ApplicationProgramming Interfaces (API) for Services over Cable Networks. M. Matsumoto (NEC) is theQ5/9 Rapporteur. C. Sandbank (UK Dept. of Trade and Industry) is the Q8/9 Rapporteur and theChair of WG7. TD-125 is the drafting of J.coreapi (JRG1 Chairman). There was no specificreport from WG7 other than the work of WG7 on draft J.coreapi.
TD-049 is the report of the Liaison Rapporteur for ITU-R SG6, P. Zaccarian (Italy). SG6 hasadopted a new Question on D-cinema, and it has also adopted a new decision to set up a TaskGroup on D-cinema once the new Question will be approved. SG9 has also begun related work onD-cinema, see above. SG6 has had some problems when standards developed by non-ITU bodies(e.g., SMPTE standards) were proposed for inclusion by reference in its Recommendations.
TD-004 is a liaison from WP 6M providing the fourth revision of the working document fordiagrammatic inter-relations of Recommendations for interactive broadcasting services and theirsummaries (for information). TD-087 is a SG9 draft reply to TD-004.
TD-038 is a liaison from the WP 6M Chair providing an updated version of the WD for thediagrammatic inter-relations of Recommendations for interactive broadcasting services and theirsummaries. The updated version includes “Broadcast channel (physical layer) via satellite mobilewith terrestrial augmentation.” This WD is constantly updated to the current status of work inITU-R SG6 and ITU-T SG9. Interactive broadcasting technology is one of the key factors toderive multimedia broadcasting systems.
TD-013 is a liaison from WP 6M thanking SG9 for the liaison regarding the work that progressedthe draft Recommendation J.api (now J.200, Application environment for digital interactivetelevision services) to Determination at the meetings of SG9 in November 2000. WP 6M believesthis significant historical work serves as the founding and living document to be expanded upon bythe newly established Joint Rapporteurs Group JRG-1 (ITU-T SG9 & ITU-R WP 6M).
TD-036 is a liaison from WP 6M providing information on the updated JRG-1 organization. InMarch 2001, JRG-1 was set up according to the decision approved in both T and R Sectors toappoint a Joint Rapporteurs Group (JRG) on harmonization of application content formats andenvironments for interactive digital television. Progress has been made on potential contentrequirements and opportunities for common authoring as well as identifying common corecharacteristics in the implementation of the application environment. In that context, J.200 hasprovided a valuable input to guide the work of the JRG-1. WP 6M places a high priority on thecontinued input to the work of the JRG-1 from the expertise in ITU-T SG9. In addition to the sub-
group dealing with content and that dealing with comparisons able to identify commonality, a thirdgroup has been set up to identify the resources such as bandwidth and receiver complexity requiredto implement the scenarios envisaged. JRG-1 and its three sub-groups will use the same JRG-1reflector: <[email protected]>.
TD-106 is the SG9 liaison reply to TD-036 thanking WP 6M for the update on the organization ofJRG-1, and noting the setting-up of the third sub-group responsible for identifying the necessaryresources to implement the scenarios envisaged by the content sub-group. SG9 informs that JRG-1 met again, in Geneva, on December 2, 2001, just prior to this SG9 meeting, and continued itswork throughout the week to develop the draft new Recommendation J.commoncore, for thedevelopment of a common programming environment and application representation format for thedelivery of interactive multimedia services. It is envisaged that the JRG will continue to work onthis via electronic means toward its submission to the March 2002 meeting of ITU-R WP 6M forfurther consideration.
TD-125 (attached to liaison TD-106 from WG7 to WP6M) is the report of SG9 WG7 prior workand outlines the planned activities leading to a Recommendation for a common programmingenvironment and application representation format. The proposed Recommendation aims atdefining a common programming environment and application representation format that enablesinteroperability of applications for interactive television receivers. This is the direct result of priorwork done by JRG-1 and its parent Study Groups, ITU-T SG9 and ITU-R WP 6M. It representsthe next stage in definition under the umbrella of Rec. ITU-T J.200. It draws on analysis of boththe syntactic differences and functional differences between five “master specifications” beingdeveloped or used by regional digital television systems (ATSC-DASE, DVB-MHP, OCAP, ARIB,and MHEG).
TD-113 is a communication from Irdeto BV, on behalf of Canal+ SA, Centre commun d’Etudes deTélédiffusion et Télécommunications, Irdeto BV, and News Datacom Limited. These companiesare developing the DVB common scrambling algorithm and, through ETSI, they make scramblingtechnology available under the terms of the DVB scrambling technology custodian agreement(dated January 11, 1996). TD-113 notes that D.39, presented by the European BroadcastingUnion, which proposes modification to Recommendation J.96, discloses proprietary informationthat is owned by the companies and for which the EBU and the developers of the proposedmodification have no right to disclose. Several of the developers of the proposed modification arebound by license agreements that prohibit such disclosure. The same is true of theRecommendation J.96 itself. In view of the infringement of the intellectual property rights of thecompanies, and the disclosure of their confidential information, ITU should not accept the delayedcontribution from the EBU, nor should the ITU distribute it to the members of SG9 or others.
D.39 from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was withdrawn. D.39 explains that Rec. J.96proposed the use of scrambling systems designed specifically for contribution applications,including DSNG. Only BISS Mode 1 of the proposed system is mandatory in Annex A of Rec.J.96. It is based on fixed clear session word and is intended primarily for DSNG and fly-awaystations. More complex systems, called Mode 2 and Mode 3, were also outlined in this annex forinformation purposes only. Since the publication of the Rec. J.96, the EBU continued tocollaborate with industry to improve the system in order to render it more secure when used innormal contribution conditions (neither emergency DSNG, nor fly-away). This work has now beencompleted. A new mode, BISS-E, has been developed and tested by EBU. This mode is backwardcompatible with Mode 1 and introduces a simple DES encryption of the keys, allowing theindividual addressing of the equipment.
Interoperability tests using equipment from seven manufacturers were successfully completed onNovember 7, 2001. A revised version of the original specification was published in November
2001 as EBU document TECH 3292 Rev. 1. It is available on the EBU website<http://www.ebu.ch/>. D.39 includes the proposed modified Recommendation.
Working Group 8, Home Networks
WG 8/9 includes Q9/9, Functional Requirements for a Universal Integrated Receiver or Set-TopBox for the Reception of Cable Television and Other Services and Q14/9, The Extension of Cable-Based Services over Broadband In-Home Networks. M. Matsumoto (NEC) is the Q9/9Rapporteur; B. McEwen (Motorola UK) is the Associate Rapporteur. J. Dahl (CableLabs) is theQ14/9 Rapporteur; S. Palm (Broadcom) and L. Palmer (PalmTelCom, Inc.) are the AssociateRapporteurs. TD-134 is the report of the Working Group 8 on Home Networking.
Draft Rec. J.mbi, Digital TV Program Insertion for MPEG-2 Bitstreams
D.29 (S. Matsumoto, KDDI) is revised draft Recommendation J.mbi. This Recommendationspecifies an MPEG-2 bitstream syntax for transport stream splicing, and a transport mechanism ofscheduling information for splicing devices to ensure seamless splicing for digital programinsertion. This means that different program signals are switched at an appointed time to producecomplete TV programs or to insert local advertisements and emergency messages into the TVprogram signals. Draft Rec. J.mbi will be proposed for Consent at the SG9 June 2002 meeting.
TD-012 is a liaison from WP 6M thanking SG9 for the liaison regarding Rec. J.181, Digitalprogram insertion queuing message for cable television systems (J.dpi). WP 6M understood thatJ.181 was intended to develop a Recommendation for providing an in-stream messaging protocol(e.g., “cueing message”) defined to signal splicing and insertion opportunities of MPEG-2streams for the purpose of digital program insertion. The current J.181 does not provide the“seamless insertion technique.” WP 6M would like to know if SG9 will develop a newRecommendation to provide the method for the seamless program insertion of the MPEG-2transport stream.
TD-121 is the SG9 liaison reply informing WP 6M of draft Recommendation J.mbi.
Draft New Rec. J.hnwr, Home Networking Requirements for Cable BasedServices
TD-052 (J. Dahl, CableLabs) reports on the progress of Q14/9 in the interim since the Marchmeeting. Work continued via electronic means on the draft new Recommendation J.hnwr. Severalsuggestions for enhancement to draft Rec. J.hnwr were proposed. The Rapporteur incorporatedthese into TD-052. Two different proposals were received (TD-050 [J. Dahl, CableLabs] and TD-051 [M. Matsumoto, NEC]) concerning the architecture of home networks. Since there was noresolution of the differences, the Rapporteur attached both for discussion.
Discussion of these contributions yielded the following agreements:
• It was felt desirable to keep the requirements and architecture work closely linked. Hence, itwas agreed to make draft Recommendation J.hnwr an Appendix to a yet-to-be developedarchitecture Recommendation.
• It was agreed to focus the work on the reliable transport of cable-based services across homenetworks using existing home networking technologies. The group will not make layer onespecifications.
• The major technical areas to be addressed are: provisioning and maintenance, security, quality ofservice, and network address management.
• A two to three day interim meeting of Q14/9 for the week of March 4 was requested. Detailswill be conveyed by the Rapporteur.
• Annex A of TD-052 was accepted as the updated version of what is now the requirementsappendix of a draft Recommendation on home network architecture.
• Using ideas contained in the Rapporteur’s progress report, the delegates were able to sketch amodel architecture that should produce contributions and agreements in March 2002, leading toa Recommendation that might be ready for Consent in June.
• The group will continue to progress their studies using the electronic means provided by theITU in addition to face-to-face meetings.
Liaisons
TD-047 is a liaison from ISO/IEC JTC1/SC25 WG1, Interconnection of information technologyequipment, Home electronic system, on the coordination of work between ITU-T SG9 and SC25WG1. SC25 WG1 is writing standards related to home networks that they believe complement theSG9 work. Their key projects include:
• The residential gateway called HomeGate: To facilitate the delivery of services directly toappliances and devices in the house. The architecture of HomeGate supports one or morephysical units linking external services with home application domains. Each gateway supportsfirewall provisions for user privacy and to enforce service agreements between suppliers andconsumers.
• Application interoperability: To encourage manufacturers to develop products that can provideinteroperable functions in a networked home. SC25 WG1 has prepared models of popularhome system applications, including a common taxonomy and lexicon to classify and describekey functions.
HomeGate is specified to accommodate a variety of wide area network technologies including cableTV delivery of streams. Additional wide area network delivery mechanisms are allowed so a varietyof service providers are supported.
In July 2001, SC25 approved a new work item and accompanying CD for a broadband in-homenetwork that is fully capable of carrying data streams that may be delivered via cable TV. The CD,approved by the national bodies of SC25, includes a reference implementation based on EIA-851,the Versatile Home Network (VHN), developed by the Electronic Industries Alliance/ConsumerElectronics Association (EIA/CEA). Comments received on the new work item proposal and theCD will be resolved at the next SC25 WG1 meeting scheduled for January 21-25, 2002.
SC25 WG1 welcomes comments and participation, since the envisaged standard relates directly tospecifications developed by ITU-T SG9. SC25 WG1 would like to work with SG9 to determinehow to accommodate the technical issues raised in SG9 questions about SC25 standards. Throughthis means, both groups can achieve their common goal of writing useful standards that helppromote the growth of the home systems industry.
In an additional document to TD-047, J. Dahl (CableLabs), the Q14/9 Rapporteur communicates toK. Wacks, the ISO/IEC JTC1/SC25 WG1 Chair, of a recent development that will enhance theISO/IEC work on broadband home networks. In November, the EIA/CEA approved the creation oftwo companion standards to EIA/CEA-851, the Versatile Home Network (VHN). VHN is the basisfor the ISO/IEC draft of “A broadband home network for the home electronic system (HES).”The following two documents will be submitted to ISO/IEC JTC1/SC25 WG1 at the Januarymeeting:
TD-136 is the SG9 liaison in response to TD-047. SG9 notes that, while they did not haveopportunity to review all of the material in detail, they have several comments concerning their work,the work of SC25, and the relationship of the two groups.
SG9 work will not deal with defining home networks nor with layer one issues; it will deal with thereliable delivery of cable-based services over the full range of home networking technologies. Assuch, SG9 specifications will appear as applications to the underlying transport mechanisms.
It appears to SG9 that SC25 is defining a new home network system that will be another choice forconsumers. If this is correct, then the SC25 system will be another transport mechanism that willneed to be able to transport higher layer applications. This then can serve as the demarcation pointbetween the two groups: items that are unique to the SC25 transport system belong in SC25, whileitems that need to operate across many different types of home networks would tend to belong inthe ITU.
With this in mind, a quick review of the two proposed contributions to the SC25 meeting(telephony and security) raised a number of concerns for SG9. Many different IP-based telephonysystems will be deployed, with MGCP and H.248 based systems commanding much of the market.These telephony services will need to operate across many different home networking technologies.SG9 believes that it will be very difficult to keep track of all the activity in this area; they suggestthat SC25 WG1 treat telephony as an application that the SC25 system needs to support.
Finally, SG9 welcomes continued cooperation with SC25 WG1, and invites SC25 input to theplanned interim Q14/9 Rapporteurs meeting in March to further the work on home networkingprior to the SG9 June meeting.
TD-040 is a liaison from ITU-T SG15 concerning home networks. SG15 has now completedRecommendation G.989.2, Phoneline networking transceivers – Payload format and link layerrequirements. This Recommendation specifies a payload format and link layer procedures forphoneline networking transceiver devices. It assumes the use of medium access control (MAC) andencapsulation procedures defined in G.989.1. Requirements in this Recommendation are intendedto ensure interoperability between devices. They are written from the perspective of a conformingtransmitter, although some minimum performance requirements are established for receivers. ThisRecommendation achieved AAP Consent at the SG15 October 2001 meeting. SG9 noted thisliaison. As there is no longer any need for coordination between the two groups, no formal replywas necessary.
WG8 noted the liaison (TD-039) from ITU-T SG12 informing that SG12 has Consented draft newRecommendation G.1000, Communications quality of service: A framework and definitions. It willbe used as guidance in the development of the quality of service aspects of the home networkingRecommendations.
AAP Alternative Approval ProceduresAES Advanced Encryption Standard-RijndaelAIM Audio in Multimedia (EBU Project Group B)AM Amplitude ModulationANSI American National Standards InstituteANT Access Network Transport (Q1/15)API Application Programming InterfaceARIB Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (accredited standards setting body
in Japan)ASN Abstract Symbol NotationATSC-DASE Advanced Television Systems Committee - DTV Application Software EnvironmentB-ISDN Broadband-ISDNBISS Basic Interoperable Scrambling System (EBU)BISS-E Encrypted Basic Interoperable Scrambling System (EBU)BS Broadcasing Service (Sound) (ITU-R Recommendations)BT Broadcasing Service (Television) (ITU-R Recommendations)CAS Channel Associated SignalingCATV Cable TelevisionCD Committee DraftCEA Consumer Electronics AssociationCENELEC Commission Europeenne de Normalisation Electrotechnique (European
Electrotechnical Standards Committee)CORBA Common Object Request Broker ArchitectureDES Data Encryption Standard (U.S.)DOCSIS Data Over Cable Service Interface SpecificationDSNG Digital Satellite News GatheringDTV Digital TelevisionDVB Digital Video BroadcastingEBU European Broadcasting UnionECR Engineering Change RequestEDH Electronic Document HandlingEIA Electronic Industry AssociationEPG Electronic Programming GuidesES ETSI StandardETS Emergency Telecommunications ServiceETSI European Telecommunications Standards InstituteFDM Frequency Division MultiplexingFIPS Federal Information Processing StandardFM Frequency ModulationFR Full ReferenceGETS Government Emergency Telecommunications ServiceGII Global Information InfrastructureGSTN General Switched Telephone Network (i.e., PSTN)HRC Hypothetical Reference CircuitsIAB Internet Architecture BoardICANN Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and NumbersICG Intersector Coordination GroupIEC International Electrotechnical CommissionIETF Internet Engineering Task ForceIL Independent LabIP Internet Protocol
ISDN Integrated Services Digital NetworkISO International Organization for StandardizationISTP IPCablecom Signaling Transport ProtocolITU International Telecommunication UnionITU-R ITU Radiocommunications SectorITU-T ITU Telecommunications SectorJRG Joint Rapporteurs GroupJTC Joint Technical CommitteeLAN Local Area NetworkMAC Media Access ControlMegaco MEdia GAteway Control Protocol (IETF)MG Media GatewayMGCP Media Gateway Control ProtocolMHEG Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts GroupMHP Multimedia Home PlatformMM MultiMediaMPEG Motion Picture Experts Group (ISO/IEC)MTA Multimedia Terminal Adapter (SG9)NGN Next Generation NetworkNIST National Institute of Standards and Technology (US)NR No ReferenceOCAP OpenCable Applications PlatformOID Object IdentifierOTNT Optical Transport Networks and TechnologiesPBX Private Branch ExchangePICS Protocol Implementation Conformance StatementPSTN Public Switched Telephone NetworkQAM Quadrature Amplitude ModulationQoS Quality of ServiceQPSK Quadrature Phase Shift KeyingRA Radiocommunication AssembliesRCC Return Channel for CableRR Reduced ReferenceRRNR Reduced Reference - No ReferenceRSA Public Key Cryptosystem invented by Rivest, Shamir and AdlemanRTCP Real-time Transport Control Protocol (IETF)RTP Real Time Transport Protocol (IETF)SAT SatelliteSCM Sub-Carrier MultiplexingSCTE Society of Cable Television Engineers (US)SDO Standards Development OrganizationSG Study Group (ITU)SID Silence Insertion DescriptorSIP Session Initiation Protocol (IETF)SPAN Services and Protocols for Advanced Networks (ETSI TC)SRTP Secure Real-time Transport ProtocolSS7 Signaling System 7SWP Standardization Work PlanTAP Traditional Approval Process (ITU, via Resolution 1)TC Technical CommitteeTCP Transmission Control ProtocolTDM Time Division MultiplexTGCP Trunking Gateway Control ProtocolTMN Telecommunication Management Network
TOS Type Of Service octet in IPv4TSAG Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (ITU)TV TelevisionUDP User Datagram Protocol (IETF)VBI Vertical Blanking IntervalVoIP Voice Over Internet ProtocolVQEG Video Quality Experts GroupVSB Vestigial Side BandWAN Wide Area NetworkWD Working DocumentWDM Wavelength Division MultiplexingWP Working Party (SG9, ITU)WTSA World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (ITU)XER XML Encoding RulesXML eXtended Markup LanguageXSD XML Schema Definition
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Copying of individual articles/reports for distribution within an organization is not permitted, unlessthe user holds a multiple copy license from CSR. The single user electronic version may bemounted on a server whose access is restricted both to a single organization and to one user at atime. You are welcome to forward your single user electronic copy (deleting it on your system) toanother user in your organization. CSR offers an Intranet subscription which permits unlimitedcopies to the subscribing organization.
Year 2002 Standards Committee Meeting SchedulesPlease see the updated calendar at http://www.csrstds.com/mtgs.html.
Visit the CSR Web Pages: http://www.csrstds.comThe Web Pages include an on-line store (order subscriptions and reports), an updatedTelecom Acronym Definitions list, updated meeting schedules, background material ontelecom standards and CSR (the company), data sheets on both CSR technical journals, andmore.
Communications Standards Reviewregularly covers the following committee meetings:
TIA TR-30 Data Transmission Systems &Equipment
TR-41 User Premises Telephone EquipmentRequirements
ITU-T SG15 WP1 Network AccessSG15 WP2 Network Signal ProcessingSG16 Multimedia
ETSI AT Access and TerminalsTIPHON Voice over InternetTM6 Transmission & Multiplexing
