No.442003/03

The NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories carries out a wide range of activities with the aim of becoming an internationally open research institute. The efforts made to reach this goal include international expansion and international standardization, which are underway in cooperation with related departments and divisions. One significant accomplishment with regard to Hi-Vision (HDTV) development was that a studio standard from Japan that was proposed to the CCIR (present ITU-R1), whose development status we had presented around the world, was adopted as the internationally unified standard ITU-R Recommendation BT.709. Standardization for broadcasting is domestically examined by the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) in Japan. Organizations abroad, such as ABU2 in the Asia-Pacific region, EBU3 in Europe, and SMPTE4 in the United States, are performing various activities that include standardization in their regions. Many related to NHK are active in important posts at ABU, which includes the Vice-Chairman of the Technical Committee and a Topic Chairman. Regarding the standardization of a VCR system for broadcasting, a 1/2-inch composite digital VCR developed and proposed for standardization by NHK, was standardized as SMPTE 263M-265M, the so-called D-3 format, in 1993. Currently, the STRL is participating in discussions at SMPTE with the aim of the standardization of an optical disk for broadcasting/commercial-use that will be incorporated in next generation cameras for newsgathering. Accompanying advances in IT technology, the standardization process is being demanded to speed up. There have been vigorous attempts to establish de facto standards at commercial forums or other entities, without waiting for standardization at a de jure organization such as ITU-R. The STRL actively takes part in technical examinations and discussions from its de facto stage, in areas that will greatly affect broadcasting and necessitate international cooperation. One such field is a broadcasting/communications fusion service based on a large-capacity storage device, a home server. The organization promoting this research on a global scale is the TV Anytime Forum. The STRL has participated in the Forum since its foundation to ensure that STRL's research accomplishments are reflected in the examination. In March 2003, the specification for Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed, which will deliver contents to homes via broadcasting or the Internet. The STRL's continual leadership at the TV Anytime Forum bore fruit when part of this specification was adopted in a Telecommunications Council report, "Technical Requirements for a Digital Broadcasting System based on a Large-capacity Storage Function," and in the ARIB's "Coding, Transmission, and Storage Control System Standard for Broadcasting based on Home Servers (ARIB STD-B38)." The Forum plans to proceed with the standardization of Phase 2, targeting home networks and removable media, with further contributions from STRL expected. In areas where the interests of individual countries become entangled, such as in international standardization, the outcome is very much influenced by the extent of support received from others. To gain this, cooperation with overseas organizations must be maintained on a regular basis through research activities. In an effort to do this, STRL has accepted many researchers from abroad. Starting in fiscal 2000, engineers who were invited from ABU-participating organizations have resided at the STRL for periods of between six months and a year, and have engaged in studies in various fields. The countries that have participated in this program include Turkey, China, South Korea, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and India. In addition ABU-participating countries, three engineers who were invited from Brazil, which has a close relationship with NHK, are conducting research on the latest broadcasting technologies, including digital broadcasting systems, during fiscal 2002. Engineers from STRL are also dispatched to overseas research institutions each year, where they engage in studies on the latest themes, while also making efforts to increase the number of people who support NHK's research activities. The STRL also accepts many visitors from abroad each year as a part of an international exchange program. For the ABU General Assembly in Tokyo, held in the autumn of 2002, approximately 150 people from abroad including engineers from participating countries visited the STRL to see its latest research accomplishments. The progressing globalization of research activities will further increase the importance of international collaboration. We hope to expand our network of fellow researchers as an internationally open laboratory, by developing cooperation overseas not only in system research such as broadcasting systems, but also in the fundamental research fields, including materials and device development. 1 ITU-R (International Telecommunication Union-Radiocommunication Sector) 2 ABU (Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union) 3 EBU (European Broadcasting Union) 4 SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers)

STRL Newsletter	NHK STRL