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OKI and HTB Commence Joint Video Distribution Experiment in Compliance with ITU-T IPTV standards
[November 30, 2012]

OKI and HTB Commence Joint Video Distribution Experiment in Compliance with ITU-T IPTV standards


(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 30 November 2012 Release date- 29112012 - TOKYO - Using the JGN-X(*1) cloud environment managed by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), OKI (TOKYO:6703) and Hokkaido Television Broadcasting (HTB) have jointly set up the OKI MediaServer,(*2) an OKI video distribution system that complies with the ITU-T(*3) IPTV standards.(*4) Starting October 1, 2012, the partners will launch the experimental ITU IPTV IPv6 global testbed for content(*5) distribution created by HTB based on the LIME(*6) standard specification. This experiment will distribute IPTV content to organizations in various countries interconnected by JGN-X, including service providers, research institutes, and universities, for the purpose of promoting the ITU-T IPTV standards. The plan calls for eventually expanding the network to approximately ten countries by the end of March 2015, based on requests from overseas service providers considering adopting the IPTV Standard.



The ITU-T IPTV standards is an international standard for providing various services, including HD video distribution and online shopping, through high-quality, secure networks such as NGN. Widespread use of this standard will make it possible for a single receiver unit to receive services from multiple service providers, thereby eliminating the need for service providers to configure a separate dedicated terminal for each new service, a measure expected to spur the launch of new services. A developing country that adopts the IPTV Standard will have ready access to terminals and content already in use in other places, thereby reducing installation lead times and costs.

OKI and HTB have launched the ITU IPTV IPv6 global testbed project to promote the diffusion of the ITU-T IPTV standards and to establish an environment for service verification by service providers planning to adopt the IPTV Standard. This testbed can primarily be used to verify the following: (1) whether a network offers adequate bandwidth and quality (delay, loss) suitable for IPTV video distribution; (2) functions allowing collaborative linking of videos, still images, text, and applications in content created based on LIME standard specifications. The content produced by participants for such verification will be registered on the OKI MediaServer.


'Through this experiment, OKI will promote the installation of OKI MediaServer in compliance with the ITU-T IPTV standards and strive to advance OKI MediaServer to a video distribution platform capable of providing high-quality video services to anywhere at anytime-for example, by integrating multiple services through networks such as broadcasting type of IPTV services (linear TV(*7)) and VOD, (*8)' says Hidetoshi Saigou, General Manager, Info-telecom Systems Division at OKI. 'We will also support the establishment of the international standards necessary for these new services and expand this business to offer attractive video distribution platforms to service providers in Japan and overseas.' As part of this experimental project, the partners will present a demonstration of video distribution on November 20 and 21 at the ITU Headquarters in Switzerland and at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2012 (WTSA-12)(*9) to be held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. WTSA-12 participants will include regulatory agencies working in the area of communications and telecommunications carriers in UN member states. OKI believes participation in the event will help promote the ITU-T IPTV standards.

Overview of ITU IPTV IPv6 global testbed Glossary *1 :JGN-X (JGN-eXtreme) JGN-X is the Testbed Environment for R&D to realize and broaden the New Generation Network Technologies to meet the demands of ICT society in the future. National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has started JGN-X from April 2011. As well as the promotion of advanced research and development, achievements such as education of ICT human resource, promotion of research activities in rural areas, international competition improvement, was seen in the projects.

For details, visit http://www.jgn.nict.go.jp/english/index.html *2 :OKI MediaServer This is an IP video delivery system. It is equipped with typical video delivery functions as standard and it can be easily established in various systems that utilizes video and audio such as VOD, linear TV, live delivery systems, start over(*10), satellite stations and monitoring systems. OKI MediaServer is used as an IPTV server for telecommunication carriers, capitalizing on standard compatibility and technology to comply with larger-scale servers.

*3 :ITU-T The term stands for the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector, the department responsible for coordinating the development of international standards in the field of information and communication technologies on behalf of the ITU, the United Nations specialized agency. ITU-T develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.

*4 :ITU-T IPTV standards (IPTV: Internet Protocol Television) IPTV standardization initiatives set by ITU-T, consisting of initiatives such as requirement conditions of IPTV service, architecture, service quality, security and terminals.

*5 :Content developed by HTB based on LIME standard specification Refers to interactive TV content based on LIME standard specification created by HTB using data broadcast production know-how and content developed and accumulated through terrestrial digital broadcasting service operations. One LIME application developed by HTB won the Honorable Mention in the Value to Society Corporate awards in the 2011 ITU IPTV Application Challenge contest.

*6 :LIME (Lightweight Interactive Multimedia Environment) Also known as H.762 standard, LIME presents various specifications for IPTV terminal displays and is one of the H.700 series of recommendations for IPTV terminals established by ITU-T. LIME stipulates profiles for HTML, ECMAScript, and CSS for interactive content production with support for audio, video, still images, and text. For video, LIME allows the designation of the VOD or linear TV content used in actual IPTV services, since LIME is designed primarily for practical applications related to IPTV services. Since content created in accordance with the LIME standard specifications resembles an application that runs on a TV screen, such content is also referred to as LIME applications. In addition to H.721, the H.700 series includes H.701 (error correction), H.741 (audience measurement), H.750 (metadata), H.761 (Ginga-NCL), and H.770 (service discovery).

*7 :Linear TV Broadcasting type of IPTV service that delivers programs simultaneously based on the broadcasting schedule. IP simultaneous retransmission of digital terrestrial broadcasting and other digital broadcastings are examples of linear TV.

*8 :VOD One of the delivery systems that realize interactive TV over IP network. Type of service that instantly delivers video contents such as movies and TV programs, requested by the users.

*9 :ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-12) Held from November 20 to 29, 2012, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, WTSA-12 is a general meeting in which decisions pertaining to general activities of ITU-T are made. WTSA-12 members deliberate on recommendations, research topics, and revisions of work methods for the next period (from 2013 to 2016) of the study for ITU-T. The WTSA-12 is expected to draw some 1,000 participants from around the world.

*10 :Start Over A Start Over service allows viewers who have begun watching a program already underway to go to the beginning to watch the program in its entirety. This service is made possible by storing linear TV programs on a VOD server, a process overseen by service providers.

About OKI Electric Industry (OKI) Founded in 1881, OKI Electric Industry is Japan's leading telecommunications manufacturer. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, OKI provides top-quality products, technologies, and solutions to customers through its info-telecom systems and printer operations. Its various business divisions function synergistically to bring to market exciting new products and technologies that meet a wide range of customer needs in various sectors. Visit OKI's global website at http://www.oki.com/.

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