ITU-T's approach to multimedia systems (SG16 trends)

The ITU Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T) newly established Study Group 16 (SG16) at WTCS-96 held in October 1996. SG16 with 'multimedia service and system' as its theme, integrates multimedia-related activities that heretofore were conducted separately as multimedia service definition (SG1), multimedia document transmission conference (SG8), modems (SG14), and audiovisual transmission systems (SG15). The first SG16 meeting, held in Geneva in March 1997, was attended by some 230 persons from 29 countries. SG16 is becoming a major study group after SG11 (signaling protocols), SG15 (transmission systems and equipment), and SG13 (general network aspects). This article describes multimedia standardization trends, with particular focus on SG16 activities.