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OKI Delivers Broadband Wireless System for Disaster Operations to Republic of the Philippines' Department of Science and Technology(ENP Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ENP Newswire - 26 August 2014 Release date- 25082014 - TOKYO, A-OKI (TOKYO:6703) today announced the delivery of the Broadband Wireless System for Disaster Operations based on OKI Media Server, an IP video delivery system, to the Republic of the Philippines (the Philippines) through Department of Science and Technology - Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), its academe-industry research partners Ateneo de Manila University and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company PLDT. The system's head-end commissioning and handover ceremony was held on July 22, 2014 and from then on it will be used for trial studies involving building resilient information and telecommunication systems for use in the event of disasters. In the previous year alone, natural disasters in the Philippines included Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as typhoon Yolanda, the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, and a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that caused great destruction in Bohol province. In response, DOST-ICTO Ateneo de Manila University spent considerable time looking for various ways to address communication problems resulting from damaged communication networks caused by natural disasters. In times of calamities, there is a need for immediate communication of information in order to minimize damage and loss of human life, and to provide evacuation updates and other vital information to those concerned. Efforts focused on the area one-seg technology,(*1) which broadcasts video, voice and data to a specific area. Both an IPTV applied fixed network and an area one-seg wireless network were installed at Ateneo de Manila University's Ateneo Innovation Center. Based on the theme of broadband wireless for disaster operations, the decision was made to pursue research on resilient networks and reconfigurable information systems for rapidly deployable disaster response.(*2) This research seeks to develop the techniques and services required to communicate necessary information using various communication tools. Undertaken as part of Asia-Pacific Telecommunity(*3) (APT) programs to develop human resources, this research was directed by Department of Science and Technology - Information and Communications Technology Office, including Ateneo de Manila University, PLDT,(*4) Keio University, OKI, and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. OKI built the trial broadband wireless for disaster operations. 'With the goal of contributing to both domestic and international network carriers and service providers,' says Hidetoshi Saigou, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Telecom Systems Business Division at OKI. 'OKI will take advantage of the opportunity presented by this trial system delivery to intensify product development and to expand the features needed to meet the demands of network carriers and service providers in Asia-Pacific region, while promoting the standardization of related techniques.' This system is based on OKI Media Server, OKI's IP video delivery system, which complies with International Telecommunication Union (ITU)(*5) global standards and delivers disaster information using IPTV STB for TV and one-seg transmitters for mobile terminals, including tablet terminals. The system enables transfers of high-quality video of a disaster area and related information via IP networks, delivering video, voice, and data to the affected network area via area one-seg broadcasting or WiFi networks. OKI Media Server allows the continuing delivery of video complying with applicable standards to IPTV, WiFi terminals, and one-seg transmitters. IPTV STB complies with, specification for IPTV basic terminals (ITU-T H.721) and, Lightweight Interactive Multimedia Environment (*6) (LIME) (ITU-T H.762), compiled based on Japanese data broadcasting standards and error-correcting code (ITU-T H.701). The area one-seg technology is based on ISDB-T,(*7) selected for adoption by the Philippines. Terminals capable of receiving one seg data are expected to cover the whole of the Philippines. HLS(*8) is used for delivery to WiFi terminals. This system will be introduced at a workshop at the global standard conformance and interoperability event, APT/ITU C&I (*9) held in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 25 and 26, 2014, and at Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Standardization Program (ASTAP),(*10) held until August 29. System overview About OKI MediaServer An IP video delivery system developed by OKI, OKI Media Server comes equipped with typical video delivery functions and is readily adopted for use with various systems based on video and voice, including VOD, linear TV, live delivery systems, StartOver,(*11) satellite stations, and monitoring systems. In an interconnect event featuring ITU-T IPTV standards, OKI MediaServer demonstrated performance in Japan equal to a reference server. It is currently used by telecommunication carriers to provide commercial IPTV services and for research at numerous universities. Glossary *1 :Area one-seg Refers to one seg broadcasting, which can limit services to specific areas, allowing users to receive video, voice, and data via mobile terminals that adopt the one-seg broadcasting technology. One-seg broadcasting makes it easier for providers to deliver local service to a specific area, enabling the delivery of necessary information to evacuation centers in disaster areas. Depending on the area to which one-seg broadcasts, people can watch broadcasts from several terminals simultaneously. The technology is also capable of handling high bandwidth data, including video. *2 :Broadband wireless for disaster operations: Resilient networks and reconfigurable information systems for rapidly deployable disaster response This is configured with IPTV over broadband network that offers IP broadcasts and VOD of high quality video, and a wireless system compatible with one-seq broadcasting and WiFi mobile terminals. When a disaster happens, this system provides areas where communications facilities are no longer functioning with disaster broadcast content. In areas where communications are partially restored, it allows the collection of disaster area and disaster victim information via WiFi. This system is an infrastructure element that can be used to develop services and to collect and deploy various disaster information. *3 :APT (Asia-Pacific Telecommunity) The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity seeks to promote telecommunications in the Asia Pacific region and to upgrade regional telecommunication networks. Affiliates as of August 2014 include 38 countries, including Japan. *4 :PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company) PLDT is a major fixed-line and mobile telecom service provider in the Philippines. *5 :ITU (International Telecommunication Union) The ITU is a United Nations organization. The ITU-T is the international Telecommunication Standardization Sector, the group responsible for advancing worldwide standardization in telecommunications on behalf of the ITU, including research to overcome various challenges involving technologies, operations, and efficiency. *6 :LIME (Lightweight Interactive Multimedia Environment) LIME is a framework described in ITU-T H.762 recommendation for IPTV services, one of a series of ITU-T H.700 series recommendations. LIME supports functionalities in IPTV terminal devices to provide interactivity and a variety of content such as audio, video, graphics, and text. Expected services include additional data such as text to enrich TV programs, and two-way portal pages. LIME stipulates HTML, ECMAScript, and CSS profiles for the above functionalities. Contents compatible with the LIME standard are called LIME applications since they behave like applications on TVs. The ITU-T H.700 series includes H.701 (error correction), H.721 (basic terminals), H.741 (audio measurement), H.750 (metadata), H.761 (Ginga -NCL), H.770 (service discovery), and H.762. *7 :ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting - Terrestrial) ISDB is a digital broadcasting framework developed primarily by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) and deployed in Japan, the Philippines, and Latin America. ISDB-T is ISDB for digital terrestrial broadcasts and features strong output and high cost performance when delivering large information volumes from single fixtures, including disaster information with the adoption of one segment receiving services (called one seg) for mobile phones and terminals. It also contributes to civic life by delivering the voice of the people directly to their government via the Internet. *8 :HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) This is a protocol for streaming video developed by Apple Inc., which is used for streaming to smart phones and tablet terminals. The system in question delivers video from OKI MediaServer to WiFi terminals such as smartphones and tablet terminals with HLS. *9 :APT/ITU C&I event The APT/ITU C&I Events are jointly organized by APT and ITU with the objective to foster understanding and promote activities on conformance and interoperability in the APT regions. In the event, conformance and interoperability products that are compatible to global standards will be tested. The first event was held before the 22nd APT Standardization Program. The latest scheduled event, the second one, will be held August 25-26, 2014 just before the 24th APT Standardization Program (ASTAP 24). *10 :ASTAP (Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Standardization Program) Established in February 1998 by the APT, ASTAP seeks to promote standardization activities, contribute to designate global standardization, and advance telecommunication services in the Asia Pacific region. *11 :Start-Over This service allows the audience to watch broadcast TV programs stored on a VOD server from the program start, even when turning on the TV in mid-program. About OKI Electric Industry (OKI) Founded in 1881, OKI Electric Industry is Japan's leading telecommunications manufacturer in the Info-telecom field. 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/. The names of the companies and products mentioned in this document are the trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies and organizations. WiFi is a registered trademark of WiFi Alliances. Press Contact: Public Relations Division Phone: +81-3-3501-3835 (c) 2014 Electronic News Publishing - |