Notes on the NAVSHP New Media Council
Preparatory Meeting
Brussels, March 12th, 2004

Objectives of the meeting
The Preparatory Meeting of the NAVSHP New Media Council was held in Brussels on March 12th - 2004, organized by AVISTA Project in association with the European Commission D2 Unit (Networked Audiovisual Systems and Home Platforms - NAVSHP).
The New Media Council is a high level experts committee committed by the project AVISTA in order to support the most efficient and useful implementation of the FP6 work programme in the area of NETWORKED AUDIOVISUAL SYSTEMS AND HOME PLATOFMRS. The meeting was chaired by David Wood (EBU). The main goals pursued with this meeting were the following:
· To introduce the Sixth Framework Programme and the NAVSHP
· To explore some FP6 projects in more detail, as examples of on-going R+D efforts in the FP6
· To discuss the concept and function of a Technology Platform (TP)
· To evaluate the possibility of establishing a European Technology Platform for NAVSHP
· To explore the objectives and organization of that potential NAVSHP TP
· To decide who should be invited to participate
· To plan the timetable for the potential establishment of the TP
· To define further works for the NMC as a Technology Platform.
· To plan future meetings for the NAVSHP New Media Council

Structure of the Meeting
The Preparatory Meeting of the NAVSHP New Media Council was held with the following structure:
· Welcome address by the European Commission D2 Unit
· Introduction to FP6 and NAVSHP Project line
· Exploration of the NAVSHP Projects in more detail
· Establishment of a European Technology Platform to NAVSHP
· Discussion and list of actions to be undertaken

Attendees
The meeting was attended by 27 experts including FP6 projects representatives, members of standardization, industry executives and AVISTA project team members as well as a number of EC officers. The list of attendees is the following:
- Denis Abraham (TDF - AVISTA Project)
- Bart Brusse (SMARTHOUSE Initiative)
- Leonardo Chiariglione (Convenor IEC/IEC JTC1 - AVISTA Project)
- Gillermo Cisneros (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid)
- Giovanni E. Corazza (Chair Task Force Advanced Satellite Mobile Systems)
- Alexandre Cotarmanach (France Telecom R&D - DANAE Project)
- Juan Miguel de Sande (Telvium - AVISTA Project)
- Jean Jacques Delmas (TDF - Industry Executive)
- Jean Gelissen (Philips Research Laboratories Office - AVISTA Project)
- Robert Havas (Thomson - MEDIANET Project)
- Pierre Heinrichs (Chair CENELEC Technical Comité)
- Thorsten Herfet (INTEL, CE Standards Manager) - DHWG
- Philip Laven (Chair EBU/ETSI Joint Technical Committee)
- Michel Lemonier (L-UP - MEDIANET Project)
- Richard Nicol (Fynntek Research Consulting Ltd. - AVISTA Project)
- Stephen Patteden (Telemetry - TAHI - SMARTHOUSE - TEAHA Project)
- Martina Peucker (Bertelsmann - Contents Expert)
- Martin Selmayr (Bertelsmann - Contents Expert)
- Julian Seseña (Rose - AVISTA Project Manager)
- José Luis Sevillano (AIE - GIART - FILAIE - Contents Expert)
- Helmut Stein (ISDM - Digital Media Strategist)
- Gerhard Stoll (IRT - AVISTA Project)
- Roger Torrenti (Homega Research - BIP Project)
- Serge Travert (Thomson - MEDIANET Project)
- Karine Valin (Homega Research - BIP Project)
- Dietrich Westerkamp (Thomson - Director Standards Coordination R&D)
- David Wood (EBU - AVISTA Project)

Main issues addressed
1. Welcome address by the European Commission
On behalf of the European Commission, Joao da Silva, D2 Head of Unit, made a welcome address introducing the context of the NAVSHP strategic objective as well as the relevant aspects of the transition between the FP5 and FP6. Additionally, the future trends in NAVSHP strategic objective and the preparation of the FP7 were introduced.
The possibilities of creating a High Level Experts Group on NAVSHP field (the NAVSHP New Media Council) were commented. The committee would, if a public-private partnership be useful, specifically aim at supporting domain integration and contributing to exploitation of results, as well as at contributing to the definition of future research priorities.

2. Introduction to FP6 and the NAVSHP Project line (Dr. Julián Seseña)
Dr. Julián Seseña (AVISTA Project Coordinator) introduced common relevant aspects of the NAVSHP FP6 projects (ppt 379 Kb). AVISTA Project main activities were also presented: basically the new NAVSHP Concertation Process proposed the Communication Plan and the creation of the NAVSHP New Media Council.
The NAVSHP New Media Council role was explained and its initial launching structure was presented:

- Chairman: Mr. David Wood
- Secretariat: AVISTA Project
- Principal Strategic Advisors:
---* Mr. Leonardo Chiariglione
---* Mr. Richard Nicol
---* Mr. Jean Gelissen
- Strategic Advisors: a number of relevant individuals related to the industry, standardization and policy fields.

Dr. Seseña commented the possibility of establishing the N2MC towards a Technology Platform in the medium term, aspect to be further developed during this meeting.

Before analysing deeply the concept of a Technology Platform and its mission and organization, exploring some FP6 Projects in detail is necessary in order to better understand the role those projects will play in the future environment. That is the reason why some projects were introduced during the N2MC Preparatory Meeting.

3. Presentation of two FP6 NAVSHP Projects: MEDIANET and DANAE
MEDIANET Project (ppt 913 Kb)was introduced by Mr. Serge Travert (Project Coordinator). MEDIANET is an Integrated Project (IP) based on an end to end content delivery network.
MEDIANET assembles major European industries and research institutes of the multimedia domain. The project will generate a set of applications and key enabling technologies and interfaces, capable of reinforcing interdependent consumer electronics, telecommunication and audiovisual business areas.
MEDIANET covers three different but complementary domains: media networking, multimedia services and content engineering. The project intends to contribute to the abolition obstacles in Europe to easily exchange digital content and audiovisual goods from creators and providers to customer and between citizens. MEDIANET will also promote technologies, infrastructures and service solutions protecting suppliers' and customers' investments, content owners' rights, while assuring fair revenues sharing between the stakeholders of the value chain and possible regulation when necessary.
DANAE Project (264 Kb) was introduced by Mr. Alexandre Cotarmanach (Project Coordinator). DANAE is a Specific Targeted Research Project (STREP) based on the implementation of MPEG-21.
DANAE addresses the dynamic and distributed adaptation of scalable multimedia content in a context-aware environment. Its objectives are to specify, develop, integrate and validate in a test-bed a complete framework able to provide end-to-end quality of service at a minimal cost to the end-user. An application will be specifically developed and implemented on a demonstrator, to illustrate the new service concepts pioneered by the project. As an outcome, an advanced MPEG-21 chain will be produced. DANAE work will be based on the existing MPEG standards which however need to evolve so that they cover the new technical aspects of the project. DANAE will also contribute to this evolution.

4. Presentation of a Project based on standardization: COPRAS
Mr. Bart Brusse introduced the more relevant aspects of the COPRAS project (ppt 141 Kb). This project intends to contribute to the standardization not only in the Networked Audiovisual Systems and Home Platforms field but also in a wider range. More than seventy organizations are implied in the project with the main goal of creating an ICT Standards Board.
COPRAS project is an important reference to the FP5 and FP6 projects because this project pays special attention to promote the projects and their results, regarding the standardization issues.
Due to the fact that the role of the standardization is crucial to the NAVSHP New Media Council, this project could represent a relevant support to the Council and the COPRAS' achievements and results could be used as an important input to the experts group as well as to the TP if finally created.

5. The concept of Technology Platform and its function. (Mr. Bernard Barani)
Mr. Bernard Barani (European Commission) introduced the future perspectives of the Networked Audiovisual Systems and Home Platforms strategic (ppt 218 Kb) objective:
- Near term perspectives: continuity of existing elements and instruments and developing of new ones, good international cooperation opportunities, etc.
- Longer term perspectives: adoption of the EC Growth Initiative (December 2003) and the EC Financial perspectives (January 2004).

As a result of these expected perspectives the first orientations to the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) will be addressed during the next months by pointing to the Technology Platforms (TPs) concept. A significant share of the budget towards the TPs will be dealt. Main RTD efforts should be aimed to Technology Platforms as well as the traditional medium size actions using the FP6 types of instruments.
A reflection about the possibility of setting up a Technology Platform in the NAVSHP field was made. A feasible option could be that the NAVSHP New Media Council evolved towards the NAVSHP Technology Platform.

The TP should not be an instrument but a wider concept: a framework or a research strategy. The TP should contribute to EU policies. Some goals of the TP could be the following:
* Raise overall RTD investment
* Support the development and networking of regional clusters
* Identify and address obstacles at EU, national and regional levels
* Contribute to achieve a coherent and consistent policy and regulatory framework
* Make the EU more attractive both for researchers and industrial investment
* Increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of the technologies

Some other issues about the funding of the TPs were also discussed. The budget is not directly allocated to a TP but to the instruments of the Framework Programme (either existing or new ones to be created).

It's crucial for the TP to bring together all interested stakeholders. So, possible TP participants could be:
* The research community
* Industry including SMEs
* Public authorities
* The financial community
* Users and consumers
* Civil society

The specific short-term and medium-term deliverables to be implemented in the way towards the TP were reviewed, by paying special attention to the Key Deliverable: the Strategic Research Agenda, which should include ways to leverage private and public R&D investment.

6. Different options for a potential NAVSHP TP (Mr. Roger Torrenti)
Mr. Roger Torrenti explained the fundamentals of the NAVSHP Technology Platform from the In-home point of view (pps 163 Kb). He exposed two possible options to be considered:
§ Option 1: a NAVSHP TP addressing multi-application Home Platforms
§ Option 2: a NAVSHP TP focusing on Audiovisual (AV, CE and telecom industry) and another Home Platforms TP (Same + any other manufactures and service providers in the field of home environment - white goods, energy and water utilities, security, home control)

7. Exploring the objectives and organization of the NAVSHP TP (Mr. Richard Nicol)
Mr. Richard Nicol (N2MC Principal Strategic Advisor) reviewed the more relevant aspects (ppt 1,68 Mb) of the NAVSHP Technology Platform.
Among the TP objectives, Mr. Nicol remarked two as crucial ones:
- To foster effective public-private partnerships
- To become a mechanism to bring together all interested stakeholders

On the other hand, as an important output to be elaborated, the Strategic Research Agenda was highlighted.
Other key issues to be achieved by the TP should be the contribution to EU policies and the increasing of R&D investment volume.

Mr. Nicol also remarked the importance of involving all the stakeholders as an efficient way to achieve substantial benefits. To focus the TP philosophy is necessary and as a mean to implement this fact, experts groups should be created. One of these groups intends to be the N2MC, by being supported by the AVISTA project.

Concerning the NAVSHP TP potential members, Mr. Nicol pointed the following representatives:

Regarding the members profiles, it would be very advisable they were chairmen, directors and high level individuals from the organizations mentioned above.

8. Exploring the objectives and organization of the NAVSHP TP (Mr. Jean Gelissen)
Mr. Jean Gelissen (N2MC Principal Strategic Advisor) (ppt 75 Kb) reinforced Mr. Nicol's explanation and remarked the importance of standardization as a way to achieve an enforced and uniform market.
Mr. Gelissen stated that Networked Audiovisual Systems and Home Platforms require seamless and open connected systems. This fact should be translated to Quality of Service, scalability, reliability, security and interoperability.

9. Presentation of the Nertworked Application Architecture Experts Group (Mr. Martyn Gilbert)
Mr. Martyn Gilbert (representative from the TAHI initiative) introduced the Networked Application Architecture Experts Group (jpeg 132 Kb).
This group consist of Architecture Experts and Technology Experts in the field of the new technologies and applications to the home. The mission of the group is to accelerate the adoption of networked applications and services by home-based users. It is also a validation group and one of its commitments is related to the standard liaison.

10. Presentation of two initiatives in the in-home field.
The SMART HOUSE initiative (ppt 6,92 Mb) was introduced by Mr. Pierre Heinrichs. The overall objective of this proposal is to grow and sustain convergence and interoperability of systems, services and devices for the Smart House that will provide the European citizen with access to increased functionality, accessibility, reliability and security that a Smart House will deliver in an expanding broadband infrastructure throughout Europe.
Among the issues addressed in the SMART HOUSE code of practice are the following: service provider aspects, content broadcasting, DRM, security, the network operators, network termination, CPE aspects, home networks, user interface, consumer, architecture, etc.

The Digital Home Working Group (DHWG) (ppt 3,12 Mb) was presented by Mr. Thorsten Herfet. The DHWG is focused on delivering an interoperability framework of design guidelines based on open industry standards to complete the cross-industry digital convergence. Members of DHWG share a vision of a wired and wireless interoperable network of Personal Computers (PCs), Consumer Electronics (CE) and mobile devices in the home.

Mr. Herfet remarked the core principles of the DHWG initiative: it is fair, interoperable, based on open standards and intends to accelerate the market acceptance.
The target for the first products using DHWG guidelines is this year 2004.

11. Open discussion
A debate was held about the options to convert the original New Media Council as the core of the NAVSHP Technology Platform, thus pushing towards a more ambitious goal of the initiative of the NMC as per AVISTA contractual commitments. Questions about the content of the NMC, membership, working procedures, etc., were discussed and stakeholders views represented in the meeting were expressed.

Mr. Joao Da Silva (Head of Unit NAVSHP - European Commission) clarified a number of points relevant for the discussion on TP: funding mechanisms to continue as per the FP6, importance of reaching a public-private partnership, need of focus on NMC TP goals, access to infrastructure, standardization necessary for a massive usage of technologies, etc.

Mr. Leonardo Chiariglione pointed out that regulation is necessary to avoid monopolistic practices. A discussion was maintained about the need of regulation and what should be regulated: infrastructure, contents, telecom, audiovisual…

Several attendees remarked the importance of the infrastructure development as well as the interoperability as a key issue. A means to achieve the interoperability could be the infrastructure regulation. Another fundamental aspect addressed was the efficiency of a European market versus a global business. Additionally, the relevance of the end users was analyzed, concluding that 'usage is not technology driven'. Network architectures and technologies are transparent to the final users. Contents were also considered as a crucial issue. To include content representatives in the NAVSHP Technology Platform should be necessary.

12. Concluding remarks
Dr. Seseña presented a summary of the main points (ppt 105 Kb) discussed including the relevant topics making-up the NAVSHP New Media Council Technology Platform. He reminded that the AVISTA project is already committed on the creation of a High Level Experts Groups under the chairmanship and guidance from David Wood (European Broadcasting Union), acting AVISTA as secretariat and external high level experts as Principal Strategic Advisors. Therefore, AVISTA core team could also be the basis for the move towards the creation of a more ambitious goal: a Technology Platform in the Networked Audiovisual Systems and Home Platform strategic objective.

The N2MC Technology Platform would be created towards the 2015 horizon from a strategic perspective. The output should include Strategic Research Agenda optimized for the NAVSHP domain. AVISTA also committed to promote the analysis and exploration on the usefulness of the TP in the NAVSHP strategic objective.

Based on the debate held and opinions expressed, the development of the following topics seems to be crucial for further work in the NAVSHP TP:

Next Steps
The following milestones towards the NAVSHP New Media Council Technology Platform were proposed. Stakeholders expressed the view to be pro-active in assisting for the shaping and configuration of the future NAVSHP TP:

1. Heading of topics. Mission definition (R Nicol, J. Gelissen)
· 22nd March 2004
2. Comments on key topics for the NMC TP (areas that are more sensitive, high potential to create jobs directly and indirectly, European leadership, etc.). ALL interested parties
· 2nd April 2004
3. First draft of the New Media Council Terms of Reference (AVISTA team)
· 15th April 2004
4. Comments on the draft Terms of Reference document of the New Media Council Technology Platform. (ALL interested parties)
· 23th April 2004
5. Comments on NMC TP Membership and working procedures. (ALL interested parties).
· 23th April 2004
6. Discussion on the Mission objectives/Terms of Reference and setting up the workplan (including working groups) towards the NMC TP. (ALL interested parties).
· Meeting: Brussels, 5th May (TBC)