MPEG-21 : Overview

MUMT 611

Doug Van Nort

Introduction

Rather than audiovisual content, purpose is set of standards to deliver multimedia in secure environment

Builds on MPEG-4 and MPEG-7 standards

Introduction

Framework for delivery, consumption and exchange of multimedia content

Based on two concepts: Digital Item - fundamental unit of distribution and transaction. structured and standardized

Users, who interact with Digital Items

Goals

Initial Tech Report ISO/IEC 21000-1 of September 2001established:

Goal of creating “multimedia framework (for) transparent…use of multimedia resources across a wide range of networks and devices…”Integration of components and standardsEstablished “strategy” of collaborationTo bring together technology and multimedia content standards, one step at a timeIntellectual property rights

Standardization

Calls for Proposals issued by MPEG, based on certain requirements.

Responses from MPEG experts and industry reps result in a part of the MPEG-21 standard

User Model

“any entity that interacts in the MPEG-21 environment or makes use of a Digital Item. Such Users include individuals, consumers, communities…”Users identified by relationship to other Users

No distinction made between provider and consumer out of context.

User Transactions

MPEG-21 is framework for interactions between Users

Examples of “Interactions” may include creating, providing, editing, enhancing or delivering content.

Digital Items

Fundamental architectural unitCombination of resources (audio/video), metadata (MPEG-7 descriptors) structure (relationship between resources)

Digital Items

Digital Item Declaration (DID)Specification of abstract terminology and concepts to create working model of Digital Item definition

Entire grammar of DID representation is in XML formatEstablished as part of MPEG-21 standard

Digital Items

Digital Item Identification (DII)How to:

uniquely identify Digital ItemsIdentify IP addresses related to DIIdentify description schemesUse these indentifiers to link DI with info such as metadata

Accomplished by including in DIDL “statement” message

Established as part of MPEG-21 standard

Example

DIDL example

<ITEM><DESCRIPTOR><STATEMENT TYPE=“text/plain”>Weapons of Mass De(con)struction</STATEMENT></DESCRIPTOR><COMPONENT><RESOURCEREF=“file:///pix/dsc1234.REF=“file:///pix/dsc1234.jpg”/></COMPONENT></ITEM>

Good For:

1. Digital Libraries 2. Broadcast usage 3. Publishing 4. Music/Video Releases 5. Asset management 6. Cataloguing in publication 7. Trade transactions 8. Content filtering 9. Media resource delivery10. Streaming media

Currently in Development

Intellectual Property Management and Protection (IPMP)

Rights Expression Language (REL)

Rights Data Dictionary (RDD)

Digital Item Adaptation

Reference Software

File Format

IPMP

Building on existing MPEG-4 IPMP

Providing more interoperability between systems

Ideally: standardization of DRM

IPMP

Identification: copyright descriptor = identifier + number

Identifier refers to Registration Authority (such as ISBN)

Protection: encryption

REL

Language to declare rights and permissions using specific syntax and semantics

Defined by Rights Data Dictionary

RDD

Provide definition of term for use in REL

Mapping of metadata from the terminology of one authority into that of another.

Digital Item Adaptation

shield Users from network and terminal management and implementation issues

Reference Software

Guide implementation of specifications on a particular system

PrioritiesCompleteness

Variety of data supported

ConfigurabilityAugmentations for particular Users

VersatilitySupport for many specifications, on many sytems

Security Ensure privacy of Users

InteractivityExtensibility

Higher level of abstraction allow for change with new tech

File Format

Method of packaging content that is both text and binary, still and dynamic in a compressed form

Musical Use

Example:Audio content which also contains sheet music, midi files

Conclusion

Quite ComprehensiveCan change expectations of general Users of Multimedia content

Provides more “complete” multimedia experience by providing other forms of description and representation

Will Lead to less passivity in consumers?

Issues of Intellectual Property….Project with very large scope -> specifications remain abstract

Allows it to be around 5 years later?