INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR STANDARDISATION
ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE DE NORMALISATION
ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11
CODING OF MOVING PICTURES AND AUDIO

ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11 N11894

 April 2011

Source

 Leonardo Chiariglione - Convenor

Title  97th WG11 meeting notice

The 97th MPEG Meeting will take place from 18 to 22 July 2011 at

Politecnico di Torino
Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24
Torino
Italy

Please find additional information here

Please note the following


Proposed agenda   

 

#     Item  No  Title
1     Opening    
2     Roll call of participants    
3     Approval of agenda     
4     Allocation of contributions    
5     Communications from Convenor    
6     Report of previous meeting    
7     Processing of NB Position Papers    
8     Work plan management    
  1  

Media coding

   
    1

Frame Packing Arrangement Signalling in MPEG-2 Video

   
    2

Progressive High Profile

   
    3

MPEG Frame-Compatible Enhancement for AVC.. 

12031 AHG on MPEG Frame Compatible (MFC) Stereo Coding
    4

AFX 3rd edition

   
    5

Multiresolution profile

12006 AHG on Multi-Resolution 3D mesh Coding
    6

Scalable-complexity 3D mesh compression

12006 AHG on Multi-Resolution 3D mesh Coding
    7

Efficient representation of 3D meshes with multiple attributes

12006 AHG on Multi-Resolution 3D mesh Coding
    8

Many-to-one range mappings in Open Font Format 

11975 AHG on Font Format Representation
    9

Composite Font Representation

11975 AHG on Font Format Representation
    10

Contract Expression Language

11897 AHG on Contract Expression Language
    11

Codec Configuration Representation

11988 AHG on Reconfigurable Video Coding
    12

Video Tool Library

11988 AHG on Reconfigurable Video Coding
    13

Spatial Audio Object Coding

   
    14

Unified Speech and Audio Coding

12023 AHG on USAC
    15

High-Efficiency Video Coding

12029 AHG on MPEG-H Vision
        12028 AHG on Study of HEVC Extension
    16

Media Context and Control – Control Information

11896 AHG on MPEG-V
    17

Media Context and Control – Sensory Information

11896 AHG on MPEG-V
    18

Media Context and Control – Virtual World Object Characteristics

11896 AHG on MPEG-V
    19

Media Context and Control – Data Formats for Interaction Devices

11896 AHG on MPEG-V
    20

Media Context and Control – Common Types and Tools

11896 AHG on MPEG-V
    21

3D Video Coding

12052 AHG on 3D Video Coding
    22

Reconfigurable Graphics Coding

12007 AHG on Graphics Tool Library
    23

Low-complexity video coding

12033 AHG on Low Complexity Video Coding
    24

Future Audio

12029 AHG on MPEG-H Vision
    25

Option-1 Licensable Video Coding

12030 AHG on Internet Video Coding Technologies
  2  

Composition coding

   
    1

Scene Description Based Collaborative Applications

   
    2

Advanced User Interaction

   
    3

Augmented Reality

   
  3  

Description coding

   
    1

Video Signature Descriptors

11989 AHG on MPEG-7 Visual
    2

Extraction and Matching of Video Signature Tools

11989 AHG on MPEG-7 Visual
    3

Audio-visual description profile

12026 AHG on Audio Visual Description Profile
    4

MPQF semantic enhancement 

   
    5

Compact Descriptors for Visual Search

12032 AHG on Compact Descriptors for Visual Search
  4  

Systems support 

   
  5  

IPMP

   
  6  

Digital Item.. 

   
  7  

Transport and File formats

   
    1

Carriage of JPEG 2000 in MPEG-2 Systems

   
    2

MVC operation point descriptor 

   
    3

Signalling of stereoscopic video in MPEG-2 Systems

   
    4

Simplified carriage of MPEG-4 over MPEG-2 TS

   
    5

SAOC transport 

   
    6

Sub-track selection & switching

11918 AHG on MPEG File Formats
    7

DASH support and RTP reception hint track processing

11918 AHG on MPEG File Formats
    8

MP4 files as a playlist using file tracks

11918 AHG on MPEG File Formats
    9

Sub-track definition

11918 AHG on MPEG File Formats
    10

Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP

11898 AHG on Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP
    11

MPEG Media Transport 

11990 AHG on MPEG Media Transport
        12029 AHG on MPEG-H Vision
  8  

Multimedia architecture

   
    1

SC3DMC for 3DGCM

   
    2

Architecture and Technologies

11979 AHG on MPEG-M
    3

MXM API

11979 AHG on MPEG-M
    4

Elementary Services

11979 AHG on MPEG-M
    5

Service Aggregation

11979 AHG on MPEG-M
    6

Widget Extensions

   
    7 Multimedia Preservation 12027 AHG on Multimedia Preservation
  9  

Application formats

11965 AHG on Application Format
    1

Stereoscopic Video AF composition type

   
    2

Interactive Music AF dynamic volume change

   
  10  

Reference implementation

   
    1

SC3DMC Reference Software

   
    2

Scalable Complexity 3D Mesh Coding in 3DG Compression Model Reference Software

   
    3

ExtendedCore2D profile Reference Software

   
    4

LASeR PMSI Reference Software

   
    5

Media Value Chain Ontology Reference Software

   
    6

DASH Reference Software

   
    7

Video Tool Library Reference Software

   
    8

MPEG-M Reference Software

   
    9

Media Context and Control – Reference Software

   
  11  

Conformance

   
    1

BIFS ExtendedCore2D Profile Conformance

   
    2

Scalable Complexity 3DMC Conformance

   
    3

3D Graphics Compression Model Conformance

   
    4

Efficient representation of 3D meshes with multiple attributes Conformance

   
    5

Video Tool Library Conformance

   
    6

MPEG-M Conformance

   
    7

Media Context and Control – Conformance

   
  12  

Maintenance

   
    1

Systems coding standards

   
    2

Video coding standards

   
    3

Audio coding standards

   
    4

3DG coding standards

12005 AHG on 3DG documents, software maintenance and core experiments
    5

Systems description coding standards

   
    6

Visual description coding standards

   
    7

Audio description coding standards

   
    8

MPEG-21 standards

   
    9

MPEG-A standards

   
9    

Organisation of this meeting 

   
  1   Tasks for subgroups    
  2   Joint meetings    
10     WG management    
  1   Terms of reference    
  2   Officers    
  3   Editors    
  4   Liaisons    
  5   Responses to National Bodies    
  6   Work item assignment    
  7   Ad hoc groups    
  8   Asset management    
    1 Reference software    
    2 Conformance    
    3 Test material    
    4 URI    
  9   IPR management    
  10   Work plan and time line    
11     Administrative matters    
  1   Schedule of future MPEG meetings    
  2   Promotional activities    
12     Resolutions of this meeting    
13     A.O.B.    
14     Closing    

 

1          Media coding

1.1         Frame Packing Arrangement Signalling in MPEG-2 Video

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

2

2

4

 

This amendment specifies a way to indicate that the decoded video produced by the decoding process for an MPEG-2 Video bitstream contains a "frame-compatible" packed representation of two stereoscopic video views for 3D display.

 

1.2         Progressive High Profile

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

10

1

 

This amendment specifies two enhancements of AVC:

1) It specifies a new Level 5.2 for AVC profiles that is capable of supporting high resolution video at high frame rates, such as 4096x2160 @ 60p, and

2) It specifies an additional profile of AVC called the Progressive High Profile, that is similar to the previously-existing High Profile but does not support field picture coding and macroblock-adaptive frame/field coding (i.e., features informally known as "interlace coding tools").

 

1.3         MPEG Frame-Compatible Enhancement for AVC

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

10

 

 

This exploration effort considers the potential for scalable enhancement of the resolution of "frame compatible" stereo video coding. The current "frame compatible" stereo video coding technology involves packing together the right and left views of a stereo 3D video scene representation using only half the resolution that would be used for a corresponding 2D video representation. This effort considers the standardization of a scalable enhancement to enable next-generation services using coded enhancement data to increase the quality of the delivered video by enabling new devices to decode a full-resolution representation of the stereo 3D video.

 

1.4         AFX 3rd edition

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

16

3rd E

 

This standard contains all the 3D Graphics tools developed by MPEG since 2001. They are classified in representation and compression tools. In the first category there are high order surface representation, subdivision surfaces, implicit equation-based volume representation, shape deformation models. The 3D Graphics compression toolbox handles three types of graphics data: geometry (3D Mesh Compression, Wavelet Subdivision Surface, MeshGrid, FootPrint), appearance (Depth-based Image Representation, PointTexture) and animation (Bone-based Animation, Frame-based Animated Mesh Compression). The standard also defines profiles for using MPEG-4 3D Graphics tools in applications.

 

1.5         Multiresolution profile

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

16

3

 

This standard defines three profiles: one for Graphics dimension (called Basic AFX Graphics), one for Scene Graph dimension (called Basic AFX Scene Graph) and one for compression dimension (called 3D MultiResolution Compression). The combination of the three profiles allows progressive and adaptive transmission over networks of large 3D environments and/or complex 3D shapes.

 

1.6         Scalable-complexity 3D mesh compression

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

16

 

 

SC-3DMC aims to provide efficient and scalable-complexity 3D mesh compression for 3D vertex positions, normals, texture coordinates, other attributes per vertex, and topology. Scalable complexity is targeted for both, decoder and encoder. In particular, this standard aims to enable real-time applications on devices with low computational and memory capacities such as smart phones.

 

1.7         Efficient representation of 3D meshes with multiple attributes

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

16

2

 

This standard aims to provide a compact object graph representation of meshes with multiple attributes (e.g. normals, colors, texture coordinates) defined per vertex.

 

1.8         Many-to-one range mappings in Open Font Format

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

22

1

 

To  fix possible backward compatibility issues related to introduction of the new subtable formats for “many-to-one character range mappings” in last-resort fonts.  The changes introduced by this amendment ensure that new fonts can be rendered by the existing font engines and provide a mechanism that would allow existing font engines to completely ignore the new subtable formats while allowing them to be used in newly designed fonts.

 

1.9         Composite Font Representation

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

22

 

 

The advances in developing the Unicode Standard and the addition of new characters that represent most of the world's languages and writing systems resulted in a significant increase of the Unicode character repertoire to more than 100,000 characters. However, due to the finite size of many bitfields, the existing ISO/IEC 14496-22:2009 specification only provides the capabilities for a single font to support up to 64K glyphs. The Composite Font Standard is intended to resolve the existing limitation by providing a solution that would allow linking of existing OFF fonts (and, possibly, fonts in other formats) into a single Composite Font to be used as a virtual font by any compliant implementation.

 

1.10    Contract Expression Language

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

21

20

1st E

 

The Contract Expression Language specifies a language for representing agreements made in an environment of use of MPEG-21, being these contracts about both transactions of content packed as Digital Items as well as services provided around this content

 

1.11    Codec Configuration Representation

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

C

4

 

 

This amendment contains a precise specification of the RVC computation model, RVC-CAL I/O extended support, definition of typing rules for large number arithmetic and (non-normative) definition of Functional Unit dataflow classes, classification rules and methods.

 

1.12    Video Tool Library

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

C

4

2

 

Set of video coding tools needed for RVC implementation of AVC High Profile

 

1.13    Spatial Audio Object Coding

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

D

1

1

 

Spatial Audio Object Coding represents several audio objects by first combining the object signals into a mono or stereo signal, whilst extracting parameters from the individual object signals based on knowledge of human perception of the sound stage. These parameters are coded as a low bitrate side-channel that the decoder uses to render an audio scene from the stereo or mono down-mix such that the aspects of the output composition can be decided at the time of decoding.

 

1.14    Unified Speech and Audio Coding

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

D

3

 

 

Unified Speech and Audio Coding is a single, unified coder with performance that equals or surpasses that of dedicated speech coders for speech signals and dedicated music coders for music signals over a broad range of bitrates. It employs time-domain linear prediction and residual coding tools for speech-like signal segments and transform coding tools for music-like signal segments and is able to switch between the tool sets in a dynamic, signal-responsive manner.

 

1.15    High-Efficiency Video Coding

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

 

 

 

 

The overall amount of video data rate that is to be transferred over networks will continue to grow at a very fast pace, driven by the increased number of services and users and the increasing resolution of video from SD to HD and beyond.

High-efficiency video coding (HEVC) is the next generation of video compression technology that will have clearly higher compression capability than the existing AVC standard in its dominant configuration, the High Profile. The HEVC standard will support all commonly used progressive scan picture formats, ranging at least from QVGA (320x240) to Ultra HD resolutions such as 8Kx4K, as well as picture formats of arbitrary size.

 

1.16    Media Context and Control – Control Information

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

V

2

 

 

Specifies syntax and semantics of the tools required to provide interoperability in controlling devices in real as well as virtual world. The scope of this Part of the standard covers the interfaces between the adaptation engine and the capability descriptions of actuators (sensory devices)/sensors (SDC/SC) in the real world and the user’s sensory preference information (USEP), which characterizes devices and users, so that appropriate information to control individual devices (actuators and sensors) for individual users can be generated. In other words, user’s sensory effect preferences, sensory device capabilities, and sensor capabilities are within the scope of this Part of the standard. These tools are defined in this Part of the standard using XML Schema. The overall structure of the tools are organized and defined by specifying Control Information Description Language (CIDL). The CIDL enables the instantiation of three types of descriptions. The actual descriptions (sensory device capabilities, sensor capabilities, and user’s sensory effect preferences) are not part of CIDL, but defined as the Device Capability Description Vocabulary (DCDV), Sensor Capability Description Vocabulary (SCDV), and User’s Sensory Effect Preference Vocabulary (SEPV), respectively.

 

1.17    Media Context and Control – Sensory Information

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

V

3

 

 

To enhance the experience of users while consuming media resources by stimulate also other senses than vision or audition, e.g., olfaction, mechanoreception, equilibrioception, thermo(re)ception, or proprioception. That is, in addition to the audio-visual content of, e.g., a movie, also other sense shall be stimulated giving her/him the sensation of being part of the particular media which shall result in a worthwhile, informative user experience. This motivates the annotation of the media resources with metadata as defined in this part of ISO/IEC 23005 that steers appropriate devices capable of stimulating these other senses.

 

1.18    Media Context and Control – Virtual World Object Characteristics

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

V

4

 

 

The scope of MPEG-V Part 4 - Virtual World Object Characteristics is to standardize a set of types used to characterize a virtual world object related metadata, making possible to migrate a virtual object or its characteristics from one virtual world to another and control a virtual world object in a virtual world by real word devices. A dedicated set of tools are standardized for avatars characteristics.

 

1.19    Media Context and Control – Data Formats for Interaction Devices

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

V

5

 

10990

Specifies syntax and semantics of the data formats for interaction devices, Device Commands and Sensed Information, required for providing interoperability in controlling and sensing interaction devices. The interaction devices include both actuators and sensors to provide a wide range of interaction capabilities in real as well as virtual world.

 

1.20    Media Context and Control – Common Types and Tools

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

V

6

 

 

Specifies syntax and semantics of the datatypes and tools common to the tools defined in other parts of ISO/IEC 23005. To be specific, basic data types which are used as basic building blocks in more than one tools of ISO/IEC 23005, color-related basic types which are used in light and color related tools to help specifying color related characteristics of the devices or commands, and time stamp types which can be used in device commands and sensed informations to specify timing related information. Also several classification schemes which are used in more than one parts of ISO/IEC 23005 are defined in the annex of this part. Other tools to be developed shall be included in this part of ISO/IEC 23005, if those tools are to be commonly used with more than one tool which are defined in different parts of ISO/IEC 23005. Please note that most of the tools defined  in this part are not intended to be used alone, but to be used as a part or as a supporting tool of other tools defined in other part of ISO/IEC 23005.

 

1.21    3D Video Coding

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

 

 

 

 

3D video (3DV) supports new types of audio-visual systems that allow users to view videos of the real 3D space from different user viewpoints.  In an advanced application of 3DV, denoted as Free-viewpoinT Video (FTV), a user can set the viewpoint to an almost arbitrary location and direction, which can be static, change abruptly, or vary continuously, within the limits that are given by the available camera setup. Similarly, the audio listening point is changed accordingly. 

The first phase of 3DV development is expected to support advanced 3D displays, where M dense views must be generated from a sparse set of K transmitted views (typically K£3) with associated depth data. The allowable range of view synthesis will be relatively narrow (20 degrees view angle from leftmost to rightmost view).

 

1.22    Reconfigurable Graphics Coding

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

16

 

 

Reconfigurable Graphics Coding (RGC) is borrowing the essential idea of the RVC framework that is a dynamic dataflow mechanism of constructing new video codecs by a collection of video coding tools from video tool libraries. The difference is here that RGC deals with graphics, therefore its goal is to set up the collection of graphics tool library.

 

1.23    Low-complexity video coding

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

 

 

 

 

Modern video sensors have a problem delivering the images in real-time with high resolution to the processing unit. Low complexity video coding aims to reduce the required bandwidth by at least 50% at subjectively transparent quality.

 

1.24    Future Audio

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

H

3

1E

 

This is an exploration of the role that MPEG audio standardization can play in two emerging trends in multi-media. The first is "3-D Audio" in which there may be many loudspeakers used in the audio presentation. Issues being explored are how to automatically adapt audio program material to the target number of loudspeakers in a given consumer's listening venue.  The second is "Audio for new video presentation" in which the video will very high resolution (as in MPEG HEVC). This would permit a closer viewing distance such that the user is within the audio near field. Issues being explored are how the audio presentation (i.e. number and position of loudspeakers) can enhance sound source localization and the sense of immersiveness. Both large "home theatre" and smaller portable audio-visual presenations are being considered.

 

1.25    Option-1 Licensable Video Coding

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

 

 

 

 

Type-1 video coding aims to deliver a video coding standard based on roqyalty-free technology with a performance similar to AVC

 

2          Composition coding

2.1         Scene Description Based Collaborative Applications

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

11

4

 

The Widgets Extensions amendment of 23007-1 contains a small set of extensions coming from early implementation experience. The protocol for widget migration has been defined to ensure the interoperability of widget managers sharing the same service protocol. The possibility to migrate a widget to multiple other widget managers has been added. A simple capabilities exchange mechanism has been added for a widget manager to be able to migrate the appropriate version of a widget to another widget manager.

 

2.2         Advanced User Interaction

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

20

4

 

Specifies advanced user interaction interfaces to support various advanced user interaction devices such as a multi-point interaction device. A mapping mechanism needed to utilize ISO/IEC 23005-5 Data Formats for Interaction Devices in ISO/IEC 23007 is provided in this part. Additional interfaces accommodating Advanced User Interaction that can be utilized by ISO/IEC 23007-1 and ISO/IEC 14496-20 are provided.

 

2.3         Augmented Reality

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

 

 

 

 

Augmented reality applications refer to a live view of a real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated content, such as sound or graphics.

In this document, based on a set of functionalities that an AR application should support, we present the set of MPEG technologies that can address them. AR applications being usually implemented on light and mobile terminals, we consider that MPEG technologies such as media compression and streaming are key enablers.

 

 

3          Description coding

3.1         Video Signature Descriptors

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

7

3

4

 

Video signature tools support ultra-fast search for and identification of videos and their modified/edited versions or fragments. They are designed to be robust to a range of deformations, such as coding artifacts, blurring, colour-to-monochrome conversion, trans-coding and and frame-rate change. Applications include:

·         Video-based content searching and linking,

·         Database de-duplication and

·         Content Rights Management and Usage Monitoring.

 

3.2         Extraction and Matching of Video Signature Tools

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

7

8

6

 

The standard is amended by the extraction and matching methods related to the Video Signature Tools (15938-3/Amd.4). This includes fast, high precision methods as needed for search in extremely large video databases.

 

3.3         Audio-visual description profile

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

11

 

 

The AVDP profile is proposed as a common metadata format for generating and exchanging information from automatic metadata extraction tools (e.g. speech to text, scene detection, etc.). This standardised metadata will be used as a reference format when such tools are implemented and integrated as web services in future production file-based SOA architectures.

 

3.4         MPQF semantic enhancement

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

12

2

10962

The integration of semantic retrieval concepts into the existing version of 15938-12 MPEG-7 Query Format is conducted pursuing the same approach, which was used for modelling the search in specific data, namely the XQuery query type and the comparison expressions. Similar the enhancement for semantic retrieval comprises the integration of a SPARQL query type and semantic expressions.

 

3.5         Compact Descriptors for Visual Search

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

7

3

 

 

Relating contents of images with databases requires to describe the images and match the description of the image to the one available in the database. This activity strives to create compact descriptors that allow for efficient search of images in databases.

 

4          Systems support

 

5          IPMP

 

6          Digital Item

 

7          Transport and File formats

7.1         Carriage of JPEG 2000 in MPEG-2 Systems

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

2

1

5

 

Specifies the carriage of JPEG 2000 video over MPEG-2 systems. The amendment defines access unit structures, elementary stream structures, mapping to PES and transport as well as descriptor to assist decoding JPEG 2000 video sequences. The amendment allocates a wide range of JPEG 2000 profiles and levels that can be used by future JPEG amendments.

 

7.2         MVC operation point descriptor

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

2

1

6

10941

Adds signaling of MVC operating points that were not included in amendment 4. The operating point descriptor enables transmission systems to convey the relevant operating points that can be used by receiving devices. The amendment also extends AVC video descriptor to signal presence of 'frame packing arrangement SEI' in the underlying AVC video stream component.

 

7.3         Signalling of stereoscopic video in MPEG-2 Systems

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

2

1

7

 

The proposed amendment 7 describes the signaling of frame compatible coding in MPEG-2 video component and service compatible stereoscopic video services that use simulcast of MPEG-2 and AVC video components. For frame compatible signaling of MPEG-2 video component, an optional stream_type and descriptor is proposed. This enables compatible delivery of such services to both 'upgradable' and non-upgradable (deployed) receivers. This signaling scheme for service compatible mode supports delivery of service compatible 3D stereoscopic video where the base view video stream (which is usually 2D compatible) and the additional view video stream are coded independently using either MPEG-2 or AVC video or any combination thereof.The signaling includes new stream_type values and descriptors that assist in composition and rendering of 3D video.

 

7.4         Simplified carriage of MPEG-4 over MPEG-2 TS

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

2

1

8

 

Currently multimedia services based on ISO/IEC-14496-1 and ISO/IEC 14496-11 technologies cannot be played by ISO/IEC-14496-1 unaware players, in a backward compatible manner, even if the service uses video or audio components formats playable. Additionally, the carriage of ISO/IEC-14496-1 services over ISO/IEC 13818-1 uses, in some cases, inefficient signalling. This amendment to ISO/IEC 13818- provides mechanisms to use media components in backward compatible manner and improves the delivery efficiency of ISO/IEC-14496-1 multimedia services.

 

7.5         SAOC transport

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

3

 

 

To transport of SAOC data in an MPEG-4 Audio environment, exactly the same mechanisms are used as for the carriage of MPEG Surround data in this environment. In particular, for a downmix signal coded by an AAC-family codec, the SAOC data is carried an fill_element of the AAC stream.

 

7.6         Sub-track selection & switching

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

12

2

 

Improves various areas, including sub-track selection and switching (identifying subsets of a track that are independently viable), post-decoder processing requirements, codec-independent video color tagging, and some other areas.

 

7.7         DASH support and RTP reception hint track processing

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

12

3

 

This amendment adds support for Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (ISO/IEC 23001-6, DASH) and an informative annex on the processing of RTP Reception Hint Tracks.

 

7.8         MP4 files as a playlist using file tracks

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

12

4

 

This introduces a file track feature that enables using ISO Base Media Files as flexible playlists. Among other things, file tracks enable DASH (ISO/IEC 23001-6) clients record received segments into file(s) in a straightforward manner. 

When compared to using playlist formats or presentation languages (e.g. SMIL), the file track feature may provide the following advantages:

-           It uses the same parser for both the containing file and the contained files. Hence, when the playback switches from one contained file to another, it is less likely that the playback suffers from interrupts or glitches.

-           It provides powerful mapping of contained files onto the presentation timeline of the containing file by using edit lists.

 

 

7.1         Sub-track definition

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

15

1

 

This amendment improves the ISO Base Media File Format in various areas, including sub-track selection and switching (identifying subsets of a track that are independently viable), post-decoder processing requirements, codec-independent video color tagging, and some other areas.

 

7.2         Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

B

6

1Ed

?

DASH provides a standard way for the adaptive delivery of multimedia content to the enduser. DASH supports on demand and live streaming of multimedia including MPEG content. It enables the dynamically adaption of the content to the network fluctuations and to various device capabilities. It also provide the efficient and ease of use of existing content distribution intrastate finally supports signaling, delivery and utilization of multiple contracture components such as CDNs, proxies, caches, NATs and firewalls, which make it ready to be deployed into existing networks. Finally, DASH supports on demand and live streaming media content with the best quality of experience, as content protection and right managements schemes to provide content protected cases.

 

7.3         MPEG Media Transport

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

?

?

?

?

In order to overcome current limitations of available standards in the area of media streaming, the development of a media aware client is envisioned in line with the MPEG philosophy of concentrating the work on the media client. Possible topics of work are:

·         Transport- and file format friendly stream format

·         Cross layer optimization between video and transport layer

·         Error resilience for MPEG streams,

·         Conversion between transport mechanisms

·         Content adaptation to different networks.

 

8          Multimedia architecture

8.1         SC3DMC for 3DGCM

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

25

1

?

This standard aims to provide the mechanism to connect the Scalable-Complexity 3D Mesh Compression tool specified in MPEG-4 Part 16 to the scene graph and graphics primitives expressed in an arbitrary XML-based language.

 

8.2         Architecture and Technologies

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

M

1

2E

 

ISO/IEC 23006 or MPEG-M is a suite of standards on Multimedia Service Platform Technologies developed for the purpose of enabling the easy design and implementation of media-handling value chains whose devices interoperate because they are all based on the same set of technologies, especially technologies standardised by MPEG, accessible from the middleware and multimedia services.

This part of ISO/IEC 23006 specifies the architecture of the Service Oriented Architecture character that is made accessible through the set of MPEG-M middleware APIs (MPEG-M part 2), elementary services (MPEG-M part 4) and service aggregation (MPEG-M part 5).

 

8.3         MXM API

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

M

2

2E

 

This part of MXM specifies a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) so that MXM Applications executing on an MXM Device can access the standard multimedia technologies contained in its Middleware as MXM Engines, as specified by part 1 of MXM.

The APIs belong to two classes

         The MXM Orchestrator API, i.e. the API of the special MXM Engine that is capable of creating chains of MXM engines to execute a high-level application call such as Play, as opposed to the typically low-level MXM Engine API calls

         The MXM Engine APIs, i.e. the collection of the individual MXM Engine APIs providing access to a single MPEG technology (e.g. video coding) or to a group of MPEG technologies where this is convenient

         The MXM Service APIs, i.e. the collection of the individual MXM Engine APIs (e.g.

 

8.4         Elementary Services

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

M

4

2E

 

This part of MPEG-M specifies a set of Elementary Services and respective protocols enabling distributed applications to exchange information related to content items and parts thereof, including rights and protection information. The second edition conserves the architecture and design philosophy of the first edition, but stressing the Service Oriented Architecture character. Also, this second edition has been specified to address the demand of service specification for advanced IPTV terminals.

 

8.5         Service Aggregation

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

M

5

1E

 

This part of MPEG-M specifies the technology enabling the combination of Elementary Services to build Aggregated Services. The workflow definitions of Services are represented by the BPMN 2.0 XML format, allowing for formal descriptions of the workflows of Aggregated Services, and consequently enabling the implementation automated tools for Service aggregation..

 

8.6         Widget Extensions

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

U

1

1

 

The Widgets Extensions amendment of 23007-1 contains a small set of extensions coming from early implementation experience. The protocol for widget migration has been defined to ensure the interoperability of widget managers sharing the same service protocol. The possibility to migrate a widget to multiple other widget managers has been added. A simple capabilities exchange mechanism has been added for a widget manager to be able to migrate the appropriate version of a widget to another widget manager.

 

9          Application formats

9.1         Stereoscopic Video AF composition type

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

A

11

2

 

Stereoscopic Video Application Format (SVAF) AMD2 provides a standard technology for describing HD quality of 3D contents on mobile devices. It supports both side-by-side (half/full) and top-bottom (half/full) types of 3D compositions.

 

9.2         Interactive Music AF dynamic volume change

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

A

12

 

 

This aims to provide a compact representation of the dynamic volume preset in ISO/IEC 23000-12 Interactive music application format. The volume changes can be specified by using time intervals so that dynamic volume changes can be approximated by combinations of linear modeling. Based on this, new representation method provides less required storage space and file parsing complexity of IM AF players while the errors in the volume levels due to time interval approximation which does not affect the audio quality significantly.

 

10     Reference implementation

10.1    SC3DMC Reference Software

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

5

27

10326

Provides a reference implementation of Scalable Compression 3D Mesh Coding as defined in ISO/IEC 14496-16 AMD4.

 

10.2    Scalable Complexity 3D Mesh Coding in 3DG Compression Model Reference Software

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

5

26

10883

Provides a reference implementation of the SC3DMC codec accordingly to the mechanism established by 3DG Compression Model.

 

10.3    ExtendedCore2D profile Reference Software

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

5

30

 

xxx

 

10.4    LASeR PMSI Reference Software

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

5

29

 

xxx

 

10.5    Media Value Chain Ontology Reference Software

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

21

5

2

 

xxx

 

10.6    DASH Reference Software

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

B

6

 

 

Reference Software for DASH

 

10.7    Video Tool Library Reference Software

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

C

4

1

 

This work provides VTL conformance testing and RVC simulation model (RSM).

VTL conformance testing comprises of input/output patterns that can be used for testing FU-level conformance. The FU conformance testing is compliant to the VTL standard (ISO/IEC 23002-4:2010). RSM is the reference implementation of RVC framework defined from ISO/IEC 23001-4:2010 and ISO/IEC 23002-4:2010

 

10.8    MPEG-M Reference Software

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

M

3

2E

 

Reference Software for MXM/AIT

 

10.9    Media Context and Control – Reference Software

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

V

5

 

 

xxx

 

11     Conformance

11.1    BIFS ExtendedCore2D Profile Conformance

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

4

 

 

xxx

 

11.2    Scalable Complexity 3DMC Conformance

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

27

2

 

This standard provides the conformance for the Scalable Complexity 3D Mesh Compression specification as described in ISO/IEC 14496-16 AMD4.

 

11.3    3D Graphics Compression Model Conformance

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

4

34

 

This standard provides the conformance for the 3DGCM specification as described in ISO/IEC 14496-25

 

11.4    Efficient representation of 3D meshes with multiple attributes Conformance

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

4

27

4

 

xxx

 

11.5    Video Tool Library Conformance

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

C

4

1

 

This work provides VTL conformance testing and RVC simulation model (RSM).

VTL conformance testing comprises of input/output patterns that can be used for testing FU-level conformance. The FU conformance testing is compliant to the VTL standard (ISO/IEC 23002-4:2010). RSM is the reference implementation of RVC framework defined from ISO/IEC 23001-4:2010 and ISO/IEC 23002-4:2010

 

11.6    MPEG-M Conformance

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

M

3

 

 

This part of MXM specifies the conformance tests for MXM applications, devices, and components.

 

11.7    Media Context and Control – Conformance

 

Std

Pt

Amd

Req

Short description

V

4

 

 

xxx

 

12     Maintenance

12.1    Systems coding standards

Std

Pt

Cor

Req

Short description

2

2

3

 

Correction for field pictures

 

12.2    Video coding standards

Std

Pt

Cor

Req

Short description

4

2

3

 

Correction of two small bugs in studio profiles

4

10

1

 

Correction of a set of small bugs and typos in the 200x edition (including SVC)

 

12.3    Audio coding standards

 

Std

Pt

Cor

Req

Short description

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.4    3DG coding standards

 

Std

Pt

Cor

Req

Short description

4

16

 

 

 

 

12.5    Systems description coding standards

 

Std

Pt

Cor

Req

Short description

7

12

 

 

xxx

 

12.6    Visual description coding standards

 

Std

Pt

Cor

Req

Short description

7

3

 

 

xxx

 

12.7    Audio description coding standards

 

Std

Pt

Cor

Req

Short description

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.8    MPEG-21 standards

 

Std

Pt

Cor

Req

Short description

21

 

 

 

xxx

 

12.9    MPEG-A standards

 

Std

Pt

Cor

Req

Short description

A

 

 

 

MPEG-A provides the framework such as a file format for integration of elements from several MPEG standards into a single specification that is suitable for specific but widely usable applications. Typically, MPEG-A specifies how to combine metadata with timed media information for a presentation in a well-defined format that facilitates interchange, management, editing, and presentation of the media.

 

 

Logistic Information

 

As the Italian standards organisation for ICT matters, UNINFO is the host of this meeting.
UNINFO would like to extend a warm welcome to all delegates and accompanying persons to the 97th MPEG meeting, the 44th VCEG meeting and the 6th JCT-VC meeting.

The meeting is organised by an Organising Committee composed of
 

Massimo Actis Dato, UNINFO
Giovanni Cordara
, Telecom Italia
Alberto Morello, RAI
Gian Antonio Pancot, SISVEL

Pietro Bonelli (Secretary)

with the support of a Committee of Honour composed of

Franco Bernabé, President, Telecom Italia
Umberto De Julio, President, Italtel
Roberto Dini, Founder, Sisvel
Paolo Garimberti, President, RAI
Francesco Profumo, Rector, Politecnico di Torino
Aldo Romano, CEO, STMicroelectronics
 

MEETING SECRETARIAT
AXEA CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

Via Caboto 44 - 10129 Turin, Italy
phone +39 011 591871 or 599498
fax +39 011 590833
e-mail:
info-mpeg97@axeacongress.com
www.axeacongress.com

 

 

Meeting venue

Scale: 1:200m

The 97th MPEG meeting will take place at Politecnico di Torino. Plenary sessions and JCT-VC meeting will be held in the main building of Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24 (Room 2). All other groups will meet in the "Rooms I" of the brand new complex in Corso Castelfidardo 32.
Politecnico is located downtown Torino and is  reached by public transport (bus n. 10, 12, 15, 33, 58 - underground stop "Vinzaglio").

Pay and Display parking is available all around the area. It is possible to buy parking vouchers, to be displaced on your car’s dashboard, from automatic machines on the streets, authorised shops and tobacconists.

Wireless internet access is available at the meeting venue. Technical information will be given as soon as possible.
 

  

 

Registration

We recommend that you read carefully the following information before registering.

FACILITIES FEES (Prices in Euros, 20% VAT included)

Fees for delegates

  Until June 15th
 
After June 15th
 
Delegate  € 390,00
 
 € 450,00
 
Post meeting tour**  € 88,00  € 95,00

Registration fees for delegates include: participation in the meetings, coffee breaks,  participation in the social event (Wednesday July 20th).

Fees for accompanying persons
A very interesting program has been arranged for Accompanying Persons.
Reservations are open until June 22nd.

Please fill in the appropriate box on the registration form within this date. All tours  arranged only for accompanying persons must be paid on site by 12.00 on July 18 at the latest.
Accompanying persons are kindly invited to register as soon as possible for a better organization of the excursions (if the minimum number of participants is reached). For information on tours
click here.

  Until June 15th After June 15th
Social event (Wednesday July 20th)* € 70,00
 
€ 75,00
 
Torino orientation tour** € 13,00 € 16,00
The National Museum of Cinema** € 23,00 € 26,00
Venaria Royal Palace** € 39,00 € 44,00
The Royal and Madama Palaces** € 25,00 € 28,00
Post meeting tour** € 88,00 € 95,00

*see "Social event" page
**see "Excursions" page

 

PAYMENT

 

Very important note:

Copy of bank draft must clearly indicate:

Please send copy of the bank transfer together with a copy of the on-line registration form to the Meeting Secretariat:

Transfer should be net and exclusive of any bank charges to the Meeting.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND PAYMENT WITHOUT REGISTERING TO THE MEETING.

WIFI CONNECTION
Wireless internet access
is available at the meeting venue. Technical information will be given as soon as possible.

INVITATION LETTER

Foreigners needing a special invitation letter in order to obtain visas may request it from the Meeting Secretariat at least three months prior to the Meeting.

CONFIRMATION OF REGISTRATION
You will receive a confirmation of registration by e-mail. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail from the Meeting Secretariat in a reasonable time, please send an e-mail to registration-mpeg97@axeacongress.com

CHANGE OF DELEGATE
Substitutions of attendees can be made for a cost of € 30,00 - VAT incluse.
Please inform the Meeting Secretariat in writing, giving the name of the substitute by July 1st.

CANCELLATIONS
Any cancellation received in writing by the Meeting Secretariat AXEA Conferences and Events before June 15th will receive a refund less € 100,00 for administrative charges. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after June, 15th. Refunds will be made after the Meeting. If, for reasons beyond the control of the Organizing Committee the Meeting is cancelled, registration fees will be refunded after deduction of expenses already incurred.

Click here to proceed with your registration.

 

Hotel accommodation

A number of rooms has been set aside for Meeting participants until May  20th. The hotels selected are 2, 3 and 4 star hotels, all downtown located and relatively close to the Meeting venue, Politecnico di Torino (there are no hotels very close to the Politecnico). They all have elegant atmosphere, personalized service and rooms with every comfort.

RESERVATION
You can make an on line reservation by accessing the Hotel Booking  Service website. Accommodation packages are available for a minimum stay of:

Those wishing to book a room for less than four nights through the online service must click here.
Some 4 star hotels do not provide packages and must be booked with the above click.

CONFIRMATION
Confirmation will be sent by the Hotel Booking Office "Eventi e Turismo" by fax or e-mail reporting the address of the hotel assigned. Please note that if you choose a hotel that is already fully booked, you will be assigned to another hotel of the same category.

GUARANTEE

Hotel reservations must be guaranteed by a credit card number.

PAYMENT
Hotel payment and payment of extra charges (if any: dinner, telephone, drinks etc.) have to be settled by participants at check-out time.

CANCELLATION
No penalty will be charged for cancellation received within noon of the day before arrival.
After this term the first night amount will be charged for any room cancelled.

NO SHOW
In case of no show the first night will be charged upon the credit card and the room will be cancelled, if no communication is forwarded to the Hotel within 12 a.m. of the following day.

Participants are also invited to select and book hotels on their own as rates might be variable (they are becoming more and more market dependant).

 
1. NH Hotel Ambasciatori 4*
C.so Vittorio Emanuele II, 104 - 10121 Torino
(5-10 minutes walking distance or two stops with tram n. 10)

 
 

2. Arthotel Boston 4*
Via Massena, 70 - 10129 Torino
(10 minutes away from the Politecnico main entrance - four stops with tram n. 16)

 
 

3. NH Hotel Ligure 4*
Piazza Carlo Felice, 85 - 10123 Torino
(two underground stops from "Porta Nuova" to "Vinzaglio" station and then  5-10 minutes walking distance or two stops with tram n. 10)

 

4. Hotel Genio 3*
C.so Vittorio Emanuele II, 47 - 10125 Torino
(two underground stops from "Porta Nuova" to "Vinzaglio" station and then  5-10 minutes walking distance or two stops with tram n. 10)



5. Hotel Genova 3*
Via Sacchi, 14/b - 10128 Torino
(two underground stops from "Porta Nuova" to "Vinzaglio" station and then  5-10 minutes walking distance or two stops with tram n. 10)

 

6. Hotel Bologna 2*
C.so Vittorio Emanuele II, 60 - 10121 Torino
(two underground stops from "Porta Nuova" to "Vinzaglio" station and then  5-10 minutes walking distance or two stops with tram n. 10)

 

7. Hotel Montevecchio 2*
Via Montevecchio, 13bis - 10128 Torino
(around 15 minutes walking distance)


 

 

 

 

 Scale: 1: 200m

 

 

Social event

Wednesday, July 20th (20.00 - 23.00)

The social event sponsored by SISVEL is held on Wednesday, July 20th and is courtesy of the Meeting for registered participants. It will be an excellent opportunity to taste typical Italian food and wine.
The location chosen for the social event is the National Automobile Museum "Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia". This is one of the most important museums dedicated to the automobile in Europe.
It has just reopened after a complete renovation with eighty car makers represented, for a total of about 170 cars, from ancient to modern.
The new layout has been designed by the famous French-Swiss stage designer François Confino, who has linked the development of the car with important historical and cultural events.
MPEG attendees will be offered a free visit of the Museum (all descriptions panels are written in English) and will be able to see, among other famous cars, the steam-powered Carrozza di Bordino, dated 1854 and used by the Savoy Royal House, the Ford Jeep used by American and Allied Armies during World War II and the Ferrari 312 T5, driven during the 80s by the famous Gilles Villeneuve.
 

                

Excursions

A very interesting program has been arranged for Accompanying Persons.
Reservations are open until June 22nd.

Please fill in the appropriate box on the registration form within this date. All tours must be paid on site by 12.00 on July 18 at the latest.
Tours are subject to a minimum number of 25 participants each.
 

TORINO ORIENTATION TOUR
Tuesday, July 19th (15.00 - 18.00)

The Torino orientation tour is an half day walking tour through the main streets of Torino. A tour especially designed for the first time visitors to discover the history, the best known sites and the baroque masterpieces of the city that was the first Capital of Italy.
From the Roman sites, a tour to experience the past and the future of a city always on the move.

Tour fee: € 13,00 (VAT included)
Tour includes: English-speaking guide, admission and handling fees
Meeting point: Piazza Castello in front of Palazzo Madama main entrance

   


THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CINEMA
Wednesday, July 20th (15.00 - 18.00)
 

The museum is one of the most important in the world, thanks to its vast collection and the many different scientific and educational activities it carries out. What makes it truly unique is its special exhibit setup that offers visitors continuous and unexpected visual and acoustic stimuli, just like when we watch a movie that involves and moves us. The National Museum of Cinema in Torino is the only museum of this type in Italy, and the best cinematic museum in the world. It is divided into five sections (the Archaeology of Cinema, Temple Hall, Television and Cinema, the Cinema machine, Poster gallery), each focusing on a different aspect of cinema, from its beginnings as a home amusement to the large scale industrial machine it has become today. The museum is located inside the Mole Antonelliana, a bizarre and fascinating monument which is the symbol of the City of Torino.

Tour fee: € 23,00 (VAT included)
Tour includes: English-speaking guide, admission and handling fees
Meeting point: via Montebello 20

  
 

VENARIA ROYAL PALACE
Thursday, July 21st (14.30 - 18.00)

The Palace of Venaria is a former royal residence located in Venaria Reale, just outside Torino. It is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, included in the Unesco Heritage list in 1997, and one of the largest royal residences in the world. The name itself derives from Latin, Venatio Regia which means "Royal Hunt". Often described as Torino's Versailles, the palace was designed and built from 1675 by Amadeo di Castellamonte. The interiors originally housed a large collection of stuccos, statues, paintings from some of the court artists of the times. The original gardens of the residence are now totally restored.

Tour fee: € 39,00 (VAT included)
Tour includes: bus, English-speaking guide, admission and handling fees
Meeting point: Politecnico di Torino main entrance, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24

 

THE ROYAL AND MADAMA PALACES
Friday, July 22nd (9.30 - 13.00)

This walking tour focuses on the main square of Torino, the central baroque square called Piazza Castello where both the Royal Palace and the Madama Palace are located. They are the most significant buildings in Torino representing its long history and traditions.
Torino's Royal Palace was the official residence of the Savoy dynasty until 1865 and has been preserved untouched in its structure and forniture, offering a complete anthological documentation of the decorative arts in Piedmont around the second half of the 17th century until the 19th century. You can see the royal apartments in all their splendour including the Throne Room and the wonderfully designed Royal Gardens.
The site of the Madama Palace, at the beginning of the first century BC, was occupied by a gate in the Roman walls. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the gate was used as a fortified stronghold in the defences of the city.
Later the building became a possession of the Savoy-Acaja, a secondary branch of the House of Savoy who ruled the region for most of the past millennium; in the early fourteenth century, they enlarged it into a castle and the edifice became a residence for guests. Afterwards the embellishing works began, especially thanks to a great artistic impulse given by the "royal madams" Christine of France and Maria Giovanna Battista of Savoy-Nemours. The palace was indeed named after them. The Madama Palace houses the Museo Civico d'Arte Antica, with relevant works of art such as antique sculptures and a huge collection of chinawares.

Tour fee: € 25,00 (VAT included)
Tour includes: English-speaking guide, admission and handling fees
Meeting point: Piazza Castello in front of Palazzo Madama main entrance

 

POST MEETING TOUR
A very interesting tour has been arranged for all participants and accompanying persons after the meeting on Saturday July 23rd.
Reservations are open until June 22nd.

Please fill in the appropriate box on the registration form within this date.
The tour is subject to a minimum number of 25 participants.

THE LANGHE REGION TOUR
Saturday, July 23rd (10.00 - 17.00)

This full day tour will allow you to visit Alba, the capital of White Truffle (a beautiful town located in the province of Cuneo), and the famous Langhe wine growing region in Piedmont. Alba's origins date before the Roman civilization. Around Alba rolling hills, vineyards and winding roads deliver breath-taking scenary around every corner. Tourists world wide come here to follow the "wine trail" through the typical areas of Dolcetto d'Alba, Barbera d'Alba and Nebbiolo d'Alba. The Langa is also home to the truffle festival held in Alba during October. Each year for about a month and a half Alba is transformed and becomes the world market for truffles. From 1945 the "Alba International White Truffle Fair" is the most important event in town and receives visitors from every corner of the world.

Tour fee: € 88,00 (VAT included)
Tour includes: bus, English-speaking guide, lunch, admission and handling fees.
Meeting point: Politecnico di Torino main entrance, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24

      

Participants are kindly requested to reach the meeting point at least 10 minutes before schedule.

 

Pictures for The Langhe region tour by Ente Turismo Alba Bra Langhe e Roero
Pictures for all other tours by
parallelo45.com

General Information

TRANSPORTS TO AND IN TORINO
Torino is easy to reach by plane, car and train.

ARRIVING BY PLANE

IMPORTANT NEWS: from 9.00 p.m. on Friday July 15th until noon on Tuesday July 19th Torino Caselle Airport will be closed for maintenance works on the landing and take-off strip. (in case of bad weather conditions, works might be rescheduled). Local authorities and SAGAT, the company  that manages Torino Airport, have ensured that a special shuttle bus service, together with all other necessary measures, will be organized to guarantee that MPEG meeting attendees and visitors in general will reach the city in the most comfortable way possible.
Changes on flight schedule (cancellations and reschedule towards Milan Malpensa and Cuneo Levaldigi) will be found on the different airline companies websites (for a complete list of the airlines flying from and to Torino Caselle Arport, please visit
www.aeroportoditorino.it).
The Organising Committee apologises for the inconvenience caused by this unexpected airport closure. We are being given all assurances that flights bound to Torino will be diverted to another airport with bus connections to Torino ensured. For intercontinental travellers you may like to consider using Milan Malpensa (MXP) as final destination. We are being told that the bus transportation between Malpensa and Torino will be substantially boosted to cope with the new traffic.
We will post any new information on this web site and distribute it on the MPEG email reflector.

 

Torino international airport 'Sandro Pertini' is located at Caselle, 16 km north-west of the town centre, about 30/40 minutes drive to downtown Torino. It is one of Europe's most modern and efficient airports, awarded the Best Airport Award 2007 and 2008, in the one-to-five million passenger category, guaranteeing the highest level of comfort and safety.
For comprehensive information on flight timetables and companies, and travel to and from the airport, please visit the website
www.aeroportoditorino.it
Torino airport is one hour and 15 minutes flight away from Rome, one hour and a half from Paris and Frankfurt and two hours from London.
Low cost companies flying to and from Turin Caselle are Ryanair, Easy Jet, Meridiana, Wind Jet, Blu-Express, BMI and SAS.


Shuttle bus from and to Caselle Airport
One-way fare: € 5,50 (ticket from the ticket office) or € 6,00 (ticket on the bus). Prices are subject to change. Journey time: 40 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on-line at 
www.sadem.it. For more information on timetables visit the website www.sadem.it . (Click on "Aeroporti e Casinò).

a) From Caselle Airport to City (Terminal at Porta Nuova main train Station, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 57/A)

Departure Location Domestic Arrivals, Ground Floor-Level Zero
Frequency every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 08:30
  every 45 minutes from 09:00 to 16:30
  every 30 minutes from 17:15 to 22:45
  last two rides: 23:30 and midnight


b) From downtown Turin to Caselle Airport

Departure Location Porta Nuova main railway station corner
  Corso V. Emanuele II, 57/A
Frequency every 30 minutes from 05:15 to 07:45
  every 45 minutes from 08:15 to 15:45
  every 30 minutes from 16:30 to 20:30
  every 45 minutes from 21:00 to 22:30


You can also travel to Torino via Milano's Malpensa airport.
A shuttle bus from the airport will take you directly to Torino in about two hours, tickets cost € 18.00. Reservation is compulsory. Or you can take a bus from the airport to Milan central station and then a train to Torino: the bus costs € 5.50 and the train € 9.55 (second class) or € 14.30 (first class) - prices are subject to change. The train journey to Torino takes about two hours. For further information about connections by bus
click here.

Taxi at Caselle Airport
Licensed taxis are for hire outside the Passenger Terminal, immediately in front of the domestic/EU arrivals, Ground Floor - Level Zero. Taxis cost approximately Euro 35/45 (plus luggage) to reach downtown Turin and travel time is 30/45 minutes (depending on the traffic)
.

Train connection to Torino
From the railway station at 140 metres from the airport, trains connect the Caselle Airport to the Dora Railway Station in Piazza Baldissera (not very central). Tickets cost Euro 3,40 and entitle also to use Torino public transport for 70 minutes. Bus lines connecting the station to the city centre are line 11 and 52 (to Porta Nuova Station) and 10 (to Porta Susa Station) and the trip takes about  30 minutes to Porta Nuova and 20 minutes to Porta Susa. For more information please visit the website of the Gruppo Torinese Trasporti
(www.5t.torino.it/5t/en/home.jsp). A special bus (Dora Fly) connects the station to downtown Torino.

ARRIVING BY TRAIN
Torino has four train stations, two of them international: Porta Nuova, the main station, in the heart of the city and Porta Susa, just out of the centre. Both stations are about 10/15 minutes from the Politecnico. Lingotto Station is currently being upgraded, while Dora station ensures rapid links to Caselle airport but is not central.
Pendolini and TGV high-speed trains provide links through the Frejus Tunnel to Lyon, Paris and the North of France, while direct lines connect Torino with Nice and Barcelona.

Further information:
Trenitalia (Italy):
www.trenitalia.com
Artesia (France):
www.artesia.eu / www.voyages-sncf.com
DB Autozug (Germany):
www.autozug.de/site/dbautozug/it/start.html
Trenhotel Elipsos (Spain):
www.elipsos.com


ARRIVING BY CAR
Torino is connected via motorway to most major European cities: Milan in 60 minutes (140 km), Genoa in 90 (170 km), Nice (220 km) and Geneva (252 km) in two and a half hours, Lyon in three hours and Zürich in four.
An extended highway system connects Torino to the most important national and transeuropean network system:
• A4 Torino-Milano-Venezia from Central and Eastern Europe
• A5 Torino-Ivrea-Aosta and Mont Blanc Tunnel from France and Switzerland
• A6 Torino-Fossano-Ceva-Savona from Liguria and Southern France
• A21 Torino-Asti-Alessandria + A26 Torino-Genova from Central and Southern Italy
• A21 Torino-Asti-Alessandria-Piacenza from Central and Southern Italy
• A23 Torino-Frejus from France
All the motorways link up to the Torino ring-road, the fastest way to reach the Politecnico di Torino. The exit recommended is "Corso Unità d'Italia".

Further information
Autostrade per l'Italia:
www.autostrade.it
Traforo del Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc tunnel):
www.tunnelmb.it
Traforo del Gran San Bernardo (Gran San Bernardo tunnel):
www.sitrasb.it
Traforo del Fréjus (Fréjus tunnel):
www.tunneldufrejus.com


TRANSPORTS IN TORINO

Public Transportation System
A very efficient public transport network serves Torino, with buses and trams crossing the city from 05.00 to midnight. Tickets for buses, trams and the underground can be bought at tobacconists, newsagents and other places exhibiting a special GTT sign and must be stamped on board. There are various ticket possibilities: an ordinary GTT urban ticket valid for 70 minutes costs € 1,00; a daily ticket  € 3,50, a block of 15 tickets € 13,50 or you can choose the Viaggiare Insieme and Shopping formulas. All the parking meters in the zona blu can also issue, 24 hours a day, a  € 1,00 urban ticket valid for 70 minutes from the time it is issued and does not need to be stamped on board.
For further information on tickets and routes, buses, metro and journeys in Torino, please visit the websites:

www.comune.torino.it/gtt/ 
www.5t.torino.it/5t/en/percorsi
www.metrotorino.it/eng/percorso.php.
For useful maps of Torino, visit www.comune.torino.it/english/mappa.

The full list of stops equipped for the disabled of every urban and suburban line can be consulted on the site www.comune.torino.it/gtt/urbana/percorari.shtml under "Linee ed Orari".

Metro
The route of Italy's first automatic metro system extends west from the Centre of Torino to Collegno and South to Lingotto. The Fermi park-and-ride facility in Collegno gives access to the metro for travellers arriving in Torino from the Alpine valleys and the west ring-road, providing a link to the heart of the city, with Porta Nuova and Porta Susa railway stations, in little more than 10 minutes. The metro is also integrated with the over-ground public transport system, enabling rapid connections and high mobility throughout the city.
The € 1,00 one-journey metro ticket can be purchased in the above-ground sales points or at the automatic machines in the entrance halls of all Linea1 stations. The ticket gives the passenger the right to a single metro journey and is valid for 70 minutes on all above-ground public transport, starting from the time it is stamped. The metro has been designed and constructed to ensure access for the disabled.
Info:
www.metrotorino.it

Taxis
Every city district has at least one taxi rank, and it is also possible to call or reserve a taxi. All taxis have taximeters.
Taxi numbers: Centrale Radio tel. (+39) 011.5737, Radio Taxi tel. (+39) 011.57.30 / (+39) 011.33.99.
The GTT (Gruppo Torinese Trasporti) organises a transport service for the disabled using taxis: tel. (+39) 011.581.16.
In addition to the standard service, CTA (Consorzio Torinese Autoservizi) offers a personalized taxi/van/limousine service 24 hours a day. CTA: tel./fax: +39.011.9963090 -
www.ctataxi.it

Driving and parking in Torino
If you reach Torino by car, you will find many car parks to move freely. In the whole of the city centre and around there are unmanned "Zona Blu" (Blu Zone) parking places, whose cost varies according to the zone (from Euro 0,50 to Euro 2,00/hour). Parking vouchers can be bought at authorised outlets and at automatic ticket machines. For further information see
www.gtt.to.it.
The city of Torino has Restricted Traffic Zones (ZTL) that limit or ban traffic at certain times and on particular days (every day from 7.30 to 10.30 am on working days in the city centre, except on Saturdays and Sundays). The ZTL areas are localized in the old city centre (central ZTL) and near the Castello del Valentino (ZTL Valentino). For information on the ZTL see
www.comune.torino.it/ztlpermessi. You can also find a map of the central ZTL with indications of the garrisoned streets by cameras; this map can be downloaded from www.comune.torino.it/ztlpermessi/mappa/ztl.pdf.

Rental cars
The airport hosts the most important car rental companies and their offices are located inside of the multistorey car park and in the Arrivals lounge.
In Torino, they can be found at the following addresses:

• AVIS corso Turati 37 tel. 011 - 501107
• EUROPCAR via Nizza 346 tel. 011 - 6960284
• HERTZ via Magellano 12 tel. 011 - 5096008
• SIXT via Mongrando 48 tel. 011 - 836385

TORINO


Capital of the Western Alps and of the Piedmont Region, Torino is located in the North-West of Italy and was founded 2300 years ago by the Taurini Gauls, a Celtic tribe, and was a Roman military camp called "Augusta Taurinorum" in the early Roman period. Taurus is latin for bull and still today the bull is the symbol of Torino. In the Middle Ages the Savoys, Lords from the homonymous French region, began to extend thier ambitions towards the most important territories in Piedmont.

Since the 17th century, it has been the seat of the Savoy Dynasty who turned it into a most beautiful capital of Baroque art.
In the 19th century, it was the first capital of the Italian Kingdom after the unification of Italy.
At present Torino is a modern industrial and commercial city, the seat of Fiat and many other industries as well as the home of the famous Martini, Cinzano and Carpano Vermouth Industries.
Torino also boasts artistic churches, buildings and well-known museums. The most important of these is the Egyptian Museum, the 2nd largest in the world after the one in Cairo.
The large squares, the straight avenues lined with trees, the streets with arcades give the city an appearance of noble and charming elegance.
Beside being famous for their wide selection of typical regional food and wines like Barolo, Barbaresco and Dolcetto, Piedmont and Torino are well-known also for their hors-d'oeuvres and "pasticceria" (small pastries, friandises, chocolate). Some of the old café bars (Baratti & Milano, Al Bicerin, Caffé Torino, Caffé San Carlo, Caffé Pepino, Caffé Mulassano) visited by the aristocracy are open to the public and one can still enjoy some of the old recipes and live the athmosphere of the past centuries.
Torino was the host city to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games which attracted athletes and people from all over the world and increased its popularity throughout the world.

1. Porta Palatina
2. Cathedral - Chapel of the Holy Shroud
3. Royal residence
4. Royal gardens

5. Royal Armery
6. Palazzo Madama
7. Royal theatre
8. Mole Antonelliana
9. National Museum of Cinema
10. Gran Madre di Dio (Church)
11. Palazzo Carignano
12. Egyptian Museum

13. Savoy gallery
14. Museum of Risorgimento
(First Parliament of italy)
15. Academy of Sciences
16. Picture Gallery of Albertina Academy
17. Mount of Cappuccini
18. E. Filiberto Monument
19. Palazzo Bricherasio
20. Museum of Natural Sciences
21. Conservatory
22. Carlo Felice Square
23.. Porta Nuova maiin railway station
24. Valentino Park

 

 




















 

CLIMATE
July is the middle of summer in Italy and daytime temperatures typically range from 25°C to 35°C. (78° to 95°F.) Days are usually sunny but weather is becoming more and more unpredictable and you should carry a rain coat and an umbrella in case of rain.
BANKS AND CURRENCY EXCHANGE
Banks are commonly open from 8.40 to 13.30 and from 14.40 to 16.00, Monday to Friday.
The Italian currency is the EURO. The Euro is available in banknotes and coins. The exchange rate is set on a daily basis. Cash machines are located inside the  meeting venue and at every bank throughout the city.
Credit cards are generally accepted in most restaurants, hotels and shops.

                                                  

VISA 
Italy is part of the so-called Schengen zone, thus citizens from Countries being part of this area and citizens from the EU, do not need special visas to enter the Country. However, before departure, foreigners wishing to enter Italy should verify their own Country's policies.
Foreigners needing a special invitation letter in order to obtain visas may request it from the Meeting Secretariat at least three months prior to the Meeting.

DO YOU NEED A VISA?
Visit the
Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry's web site to:

When entering Italy, even if you have already obtained a visa, the border authorities are authorised to check the documentation required for obtaining the visa itself.

WHERE TO APPLY FOR A VISA
List of Italian Embassies and Consulates

VISA FEES
For further information on entrance visas for Italy and the Schengen area click here

INSURANCE AND VACCINATIONS
The meeting fee does not cover insurance for the delegates. The organisers recommend that delegates take out insurance in their home country to cover pre-journey cancellation for personal reasons and necessary insurance to cover accidents, medical expenses and loss of personal belongings during the visit. No vaccinations are needed when visiting Italy.

HEALTH
Participants requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital emergency room (airports and many train stations have medical teams and first aid facilities). Those with serious illnesses or allergies should always carry a special note from their physicians certifying in detail the treatments in progress or that may be necessary.
Before departure from home, it is advisable to get a document certifying coverage by the national health-care service.
Chemists’ shops are open from Monday to Friday on 8.30-12.30 and 15.30-19.30. Night-time service is provided on a shift basis. Business hours and night shifts are displayed outside of each chemist's.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Italy uses a 220 volt (2 pin round plugs). Always check the power supply before using equipment.

BUSINESS HOURS
Government offices are usually open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 2 pm. Generally shops are open from 3.30 to 7.30 pm on Monday; from 9.30 to 12.30/1.00 pm and from 3.30 to 7.30 pm from Tuesday to Saturday, while supermarkets open at 8.30 am and close between 7.30 pm and 9 pm and often also on Sundays.

EMERGENCY
Emergency call numbers 112 for Carabinieri, 113 for Police and 118 for Rescue and Hospital Service.

PHONE SERVICE
The international telephone access code for Italy is 0039. The city code for Turin is 011.

POST OFFICE
In every city district there is a postal office open from Monday to Friday on 8.30-13.30 and from 8.30 to 11.00 on Saturday. The central postal office is located in via Alfieri 10. Pre-stamped postcards and letters can be posted in the numerous mailboxes located throughout the city. Stamps can be bought at post offices or at tobacconist’s.


SMOKING
No smoking = Vietato Fumare. Smoking is not permitted in public spaces in Italy and in the meeting venue.


TIME ZONE
GMT + 1 (+ 2 in summer).

TIPPING
Service charges are included in your restaurant bill, so you are not expected to tip. It is common practice, however, to leave a small amount as a tip, but this is by no means obligatory.
Be aware that prices in Italian bars and cafés double (sometimes even triple) if you sit down.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Metric

VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT – IVA in Italian)
Goods and services in Italy are subject to 20% VAT tax. This tax is usually included in the price and, if not, it is clearly stated. Foreign private companies providing a regular VAT number (belonging to the European Union or not) are entitled to purchase VAT exempted fees for the meeting.

FORCE MAJEURE
In the event of the entire conference having to be cancelled due to force majeure, the organiser cannot accept liability for any claims for damages and/or losses. If, for reasons beyond the control of the Organizing Committee the Meeting is cancelled, registration fees will be refunded after deduction of expenses already incurred.

DISCLAIMER
The organisers cannot accept any liability for damages and/or losses of any kind which may be incurred by the conference participants or by any persons accompanying them, both during the official activities and the excursions. Participants take part in all tours and events at their own responsibility.

 

TYPICAL PIEDMONTESE FOOD

Agnolotti: Throughout Piedmont the reigning dish is the "agnolotto", a kind of ravioli in all its various forms. With or without truffles, served with melted butter or meat sauces and filled with spicy or delicate fillings.

Antipasti misti: Appetizers are present at the beginning of every meal and go far beyond their function of whetting the apetite. Appetizers from Piedmont regional cooking include cured or seasoned meats (in "carpione", with sauces or salamis), stuffed with vegetables, omelettes with vegetables and salads with cold meats and vegetables; all offered in an incredible number of combinations just waiting to be tasted.

Bolliti misti: The "bollito misto" (mixed stuffed meat) is prepared with the best parts of the veal. Tradition says there should be seven different pieces of meat, accompanied by seven sauces and seven side vegetables.

Fritto misto: Braised meats simmered in top quality wines, a delicious "fried medley" with meats, entrails, vegetables and amarettos that are coated in breadcrumbles and fried.

Bagna caoda: At times an appetizer, at times a main course, this is a difficult to define dish, it is a triumph of semplicity and tastiness. It consists in fresh vegetables immersed in the boiling hot sauce made of oil, garlic and anchovies.

Bunet: The typical dessert made of chocolate and amarettos. It is said that its name comes from the copper pots where it used to be cooked, whose shape was similar to a cap.

TYPICAL PIEDMONTESE WINES

Barolo:
A rich, fill-bodied wine with notes of roses, violets, tar, at times strongly recalls licorice.

Barbaresco: Barbaresco wine is gentler, more aromatic and a spices wine with hints of dried peach and other fruits. It has a "soft" taste but leaves a tentalizing "tang" o a delicate "mixture" of cinnamon, black pepper and plums.

Dolcetto: in spite of its name, it's not a sweet wine, but it is the most popular, everyday table wine most suitable to accompany Piedmontese cuisine. It has a rich ruby color and its aromas recall red fruits like marasca cherries.

 

TOURISTIC LINKS

Museums of Turin
www.comune.torino.it/musei

Palazzo Madama
www.palazzomadamatorino.it

Egyptian Museum
www.museoegizio.it

The Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art
www.gamtorino.it

The National Museum of Cinema
www.museonazionaledelcinema.org

Turismo Torino
www.turismotorino.org

Enit (Italian State Tourist Board)
www.enit.it

Turin Airport (Caselle)
www.aeroportoditorino.it

Milan Airports (Malpensa and Linate)
www.sea-aeroportimilano.it

Events in Turin
www.torinoplus.it

 Pictures by parallelo45.com