Following an IBC round-table session with participation from Amberfin, BBC, Cinegy, IBM, and Sony, the Framework for Interoperable Media Services (FIMS) project jointly coordinated by the EBU and AMWA, has released a roadmap for the specification’s future development.
Phase 1 will consist of a common service definition format, after the high level architecture and framework described in the request for technology is first refined. This framework will cover all system and management requirements (service management, awareness and communication, content and time awareness, security, framework extension). The framework will be built upon IBM (SOA-based Media Services Framework) and Sony (Media SOA Framework) proposals with the valued experience of service developers and users from Amberfin, BBC and Cinegy. The project will also address container issues seeking maximum compatibility with AAF and MXF.
Phase 2 will subsequently investigate the possibility of defining common services using the framework developed in phase 1. All respondents have already suggested key services.
“It is very encouraging to see that these contributions have been received in the framework of the AMWA licensing policy, which is compensation free,” commented a statement. “This is essential to the successful standardisation of the core technology on which the project is working.”
The work will continue in a public manner via the FIMS wiki (http://wiki.amwa.tv/ebu) and open meetings that will allow third parties to also actively contribute to this important work. Direct participation will be subject to the signature of a ‘participation agreement’ to safeguard the favourable licensing conditions under which FIMS operates. FIMS is co-chaired by Giorgio Dimino, RAI and John Footen, Chime Media.
AMWA;’s Brad Gilmer said: “The AMWA is participating jointly with the EBU in this effort because our members are focused on creating more flexible and efficient workflows. The need for this is obvious – media companies are being asked to deliver more programmes to more platforms while operating under a very restricted economic environment. They care about the FIMS work because it provides a standardised framework within which they can design and implement facilities which meet their needs now, but also allow them to more easily adapt to the future. File-based facilities are the way of the future, and FIMS is at its core.
