*Vidmid-VoD Conference Call*
19-December-2001

*Attendees*

Mairead Martin (chair) - U. Tennessee (Knoxville)
Ken Klingenstein - Internet2
Ann West - Internet2
Steve Olshansky - Internet2
Jill Gemmill - SURA, U. Alabama (Birmingham), ViDe
Doug Pearson - U. Indiana
Renee Frost - Internet2
Mark Driver (scribe) - Internet2

*Discussion*

Ken initiated discussion regarding a strategy for including VoD in the NMI 1.0 release in April 2002. Delivering fleshed out scenarios for VoD would set the stage for future proposals. Ken re-emphasized the need to coordinate efforts with the Vidmid-VC group on a comprehensive reference architecture. The scenarios from each group should be prioritized and then overlaid on this architecture to identify holes in the scenarios and flesh out the "big picture." [AI] Mairead expects to create a white paper by April that details the architecture of directories in VoD, which dovetails with the VC/VoD scenario-architecture effort. Mairead described a 2-3 yr old ongoing ViDe project involving video portals to test new technologies. Perhaps there's a possibility of creating a metadata test center as well, which could be incorporated into the current grant funding proposals. Metadata testing criteria might include how well it inter-operates with other metadata schema, how flexible it is, and how well it addresses the needs of the target users.

Mairead suggested that setting up a comparative system, one with a DRM core and one without, to illustrate the expanded capabilities a DRM system would offer might prove useful to secure funding. Ken suggested that the implementation of tools and the testing of metadata might target different potential funding sources; [AI] Ken will report back on his findings regarding a bifurcated vs. a unified targeting strategy with regard to specific funding targets. Any grant proposal should also emphasize the benefit to and synergy with related, currently-funded projects.

Various content possibilities were discussed to enhance the appeal of funding requests. Ken mentioned that the Hoh tribe of Washington State is a good candidate as a source for "compelling content" for potential use in a proposal because it is humanities-oriented. Their needs for highly restricted access (material is private; only some members of the tribe are allowed to access certain songs, texts, etc.) is also a good model for the future of Higher Ed DRM. Doug Pearson mentioned the Variations music library project at U. of Indiana, which provides instructional tools, search and browse features, annotation rights and cataloging/meta-data management functionality. This work is underway, is well-scoped, and is already funded making it difficult to integrate with other initiatives. [AI] Doug will report on the timeline for the Variations proposal and the schedule for the implementation phase, which he also believes will be funded.

Doug also mentioned that the U. of Indiana Medical School might be a good Vidmid-VoD content candidate as they are at an earlier stage in their efforts to digitize, catalog, and implement access rights to medical video content for education and research. Ken discussed the "meduPerson" extension of the Shibboleth eduPerson object class for the medical community. [AI] Ken needs to follow up with SMETE (Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology Education) on NSF-oriented content and tools. Doug also reiterated the importance and difficulty of restricting access and obtaining licensing for copyrighted work. For instance, PBS-owned documentaries may require the producer's permission (rather than PBS's). For a series like the Vietnam War, that may entail contacting 12 different producers. Mairead also pointed out the need to include traditionally non-library based content such as materials stored in departmental archives such as analog videos.

Discussion turned to the April 2002 NMI 1.0 release and future VidMid-VoD involvement in NMI 2.0. Gaining a firm foothold within NMI for the VoD WG is deemed a high priority. Funding is required for development work and deliverables. NSF proposals are due on March 2002. Research-related projects should target NSF; education-related projects should target specific funding targets outside NSF. Mairead suggested that SURA would endorse, and perhaps help fund, a grant proposal if the scope of the project overlapped sufficiently with SURA's IT objectives. Ken suggested that for NMI 1.0 video applications are a significant priority. For NMI 2.0 middleware tools such as authorization, authentication, user privacy and mobility, collaboration, grid technologies and the transparent use of resources will be the focus. Jill believes that VoD would fall into the experimental applications category and mentioned that the peer review process can be capricious, thus any proposal must be "spun" appropriately according to what is known about specific funding targets' preferences. The portrayal of rights and access issues positively, such as enabling rather than being restrictive, would help the Vidmid-VoD cause. [AI] Steve will coordinate a working call in early January with Ken and others to coordinate the NMI proposal and will contact Mary Fran for the NMI solicitation information/URL.

Ken sees a need to reduce 5 scenarios to 3, and to emphasize middleware. He specifically noted the need to develop a digital rights server that grants conditional access. Ken suggested that it would be useful to research and compare the DRM models being utilized by the entertainment industry. [AI] Steve will research this and report back to the group. Ken mentioned the adaptation of Shibboleth to the banking industry, and the substantial effort required to educate banking IT personnel on its design and implementation methods. He underlined the need for granularity in terms of building separable modules of functionality. A Shibboleth pilot program will be underway in February, which is expected to be released in July, 2002. Doug stated that the Variations music project currently restricted access via IP address. Ken noted the difficulty this presented in terms of blocked access due to proxy modifications of IP addresses, and unauthorized access through spoofing. Doug's medical community wanted an LDAP-based query to restrict access to classes of users, such as "students in Med. 101." Ken reiterated that this type of restricted access presents a good set of requirements for object class definition of the type underway with meduPerson.

*Action Items*

From 5-December call:

1. [A.I.] {done?} VidMid-VoD scenarios to list
2. [A.I.] {done} Send update of DRM to list
3. [A.I.] {done} Send Internet2 ViDe group invite
4. [A.I.] {open} Work on funding proposals (comments to Mairead requested)
5. [A.I.] {open - see 12.} NMI 2.0 document with VoD mention - year 2 solicitation
6. [A.I.] {open - see 8.} Collaboration on directory vs. database issue
7. [A.I.] {open} Find interesting content for use in future proposals

From 19-December call:

8. [AI] White paper on the role of directories in Vidmid-VoD/VC architecture reference model [Mairead]
9. [AI] Targeting implementation of middleware tools and metadata testing to one group or different groups within funding agency in proposals. [Ken]
10. [AI] Report on timeline of Variations music project [Doug]
11. [AI] Follow up with SMETE on content and tools that might appeal to NSF reviewers [Ken]
12. [AI] Scheduling of working call to coordinate NMI funding request [Steve]
13. [AI] Research on entertainment DRM models and comparison to Vidmid approach. [Ken]

Next Vidmid-VoD call: 16-January-2002, 12:00 noon EST
*May need to have proposal-related call earlier, TBA.