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Web & TV Media Synchronization A Proposal for Standardization. Sheau Ng, NBCUniversal Web & TV IG, TPAC 2012 Oct 29, 2012. Web & TV Media Synchronization. Current trend in TV content delivery technology Utilization of “whatever” technology: broadcast, mobile, internet, etc.
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Web & TV Media SynchronizationA Proposal for Standardization Sheau Ng, NBCUniversal Web & TV IG, TPAC 2012 Oct 29, 2012
Web & TV Media Synchronization • Current trend in TV content delivery technology • Utilization of “whatever” technology: broadcast, mobile, internet, etc. • Hybridization of media • Different “component” media travels over different distribution technology • Receivers with access to some or all media need to “re-assemble” content for presentation • Presentations may occur on multiple screens • Need for technological solution to allow synchronization to work across content providers and receivers • Provide choices for all the stakeholders • Encourage development of an interoperable ecosystem
Some Interesting Use Cases • Single-client: • Linear TV content, web-delivered content (including interactive) • Synchronized on client side • Presented on single client screen • Multi-client: • Linear TV content, web-delivered content (some interactive, others not) • Multiple devices receiving different (but coherent and tightly synchronized) content • Multi-client, dynamically switching delivery technology • Linear TV content, web-streaming content, local storage(?) • Dynamic switch mode (who initiates?)
Under Development • In mid-2011, NBCUniversal conducted technology trials with various technology partners, including the two major CE manufacturers. • Uses Digital Fingerprint as ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) • There are two primary sets of candidates for industry standards: • Receiver-content synchronization and retrieval standards • ACR content management and distribution standards • Our intention is to help encourage the development of an synchronized hybrid TV content ecosystem based on ACR or similar technology • Also of growing importance: ability to seamlessly shift a client between unicast and broadcast
What is ACR? • ACR is a technology that enables a connected device (TV or tablets) to make a query to a remote database to know the content that is being rendered on the device. The technology is typically based on digital watermark and/or fingerprint of the audio and/or video component of the content. • ACR is most useful in markets where TV content is delivered to hybrid TV in “baseband” (e.g., HDMI).
What to standardize? • Data structure/format and control and command protocols • Need to support • Identifiers: channel, content, media object, resource addresses (URLs), destination screen (TV, screen2, etc.) • Timing/signaling: timeline, schedules, “Media Time” • Protocol: Client-server init, query, keep-alive, interrupt, activate, suspend, resume, hide, deactivate • Use cases: Live/tape linear TV, DVR, OTT, second-screen?