ISAN:International Standard Audiovisual Number

Hollywood Post AllianceTechnology RetreatJanuary 27 & 28, 2005

S. Merrill WeissMerrill Weiss Group LLC

Consultants in Electronic Media Technology / Management

Agenda

Definition of ISANApplications of ISANISAN Version ExtensionApplications of ISAN Version InfoStructures of ISAN & V-ISANISAN & V-ISAN Registries

Definition of ISAN

International Standard Audiovisual NumberUnique, Registered Identifier Individual works Series & their episodes

Identifies Completed Works Motion pictures Television programs Other works having moving images

Includes Associated Audio & Data

Applications of ISAN

Unique, Registered Identifier for Works Compared to unregistered identifiers such as UMID

Can Serve as Key to Related Databases Some major rights ownership Cast membership Crew membership Residuals obligations Production details Other metadata

Permanently Assigned, Registered, & Published

ISAN Version Extension

Unique, Registered Identifiers Versions of Standalone Works Versions of Episodes

Versions Indicate Editorial Differences Some major, most minor rights ownership Actual cutting of the work Associated languages in audio Associated languages in captions / subtitles Associated data elements Different video formats / audio formats

Applications of ISAN Version

Identification of Content for Release / Distribution E.g., if it matters which tape or file is played

back

Automation of Release ProceduresAutomation of Quality Control ProceduresAutomation of Auditing ProceduresAutomation of Program Schedule CreationAutomation of Program Listings Data Collection

Structure of ISAN

“Dumb” Number – No MeaningRoot & Episode Portions Root identifies individual works &

series Episode identifies works within series

64-bit Number 48 bits for Root 16 bits for Episode Expressed as 16 hexadecimal digits

Structure of ISAN (2)

Check Digit Added for Human Interaction For display of ISAN For manual entry of ISAN

Structure of ISAN for Human Interaction ISAN RRRR-RRRR-RRRR-EEEE-X

Capacity of Root & Episode Portions Root = 281,474,976,710,656 identifiers Episode = 65,535 identifiers

Objective is Capacity for 150 Years of Use

Structure of ISAN w/Version

“Dumb” Number – No MeaningVersion Portion Added to ISAN ISAN identifies Root & Episode of works Version portion differentiates individual

versions

96-bit Number 48 bits for Root 16 bits for Episode 32 bits for Version Expressed as 24 hexadecimal digits

Structure of ISAN w/Version (2)

Check Digits Added for Human Interaction For display / manual entry of V-ISAN Original ISAN check digit + Version check digit

Structure of ISAN for Human Interaction ISAN RRRR-RRRR-RRRR-EEEE-X-VVVV-VVVV-Y

Capacity of Root, Episode & Version Portions Root = 281,474,976,710,656 identifiers Episode = 65,535 identifiers Version = 4,294,967,296 identifiers

Capacity Objective Remains 150 Years of Use

Structure of ISAN w/Version (3)

Construction of ISAN w/Version Info

Root Episod e

VersionRoot Episod e

48 b its (12 ch aracters)

48 b its (12 ch aracters)

16 bits(4 characters)

16 bits(4 characters)

32 b its (8 characters)

ISAN

V-ISAN

Version Version

32 b its (8 characters)

Structure of V-ISAN (4)

Construction of ISAN Check Digits

VersionRoot Episode

R RR R R RR R RR RR EEE E V VV V V VV V

VersionRoot Episode

R RR R R RR R RR RR EEE E VV VV VV VV

C C C C

X Y

1 12 13 1 6 17 18 2 5 26

Registration of ISAN

ISAN International Agency (ISAN-IA) Established by ISO standard — 15706

Single Database for Registry Maintained by ISAN International Agency

Multiple ISAN Registration Agencies Provide registration services to registrants Provide access to ISAN database

information May maintain copies of ISAN database Two agencies already appointed

Registration of ISAN (2)

ISAN Database Contains Descriptive Info Establishes uniqueness of works Permits obtaining basic info about works Provides links to additional information

ISAN Database Accessible On Line www.isan.org

Registration Now Open Back stock currently being entered

From AGICOA database

Registration of ISANVersion Extension (V-ISAN)

V-ISAN Authority Provides accreditation of V-ISAN Agencies

Multiple V-ISAN Registration Agencies Provide all ISAN & V-ISAN services Provide registration services to registrants Provide access to ISAN/V-ISAN database

information Maintain V-ISAN distributed database

Multiple mirrored copies around the world

Registration of ISANVersion Extension (V-ISAN) (2)

Resolution Service Providers Maintain associated metadata for V-ISAN Record points to one as designated RSP Provide mechanism for obtaining info

Since version info not published by agencies Can be organizations registering versions

Self publication of metadata Must respond to queries using standard protocol

ISAN Characteristics

Predictable Assignable, useful in contracts, many

other uses – prior to production

External Suitable for interchange between

organizations

Enumerable Provides exhaustive list Allows determination of database

completeness

ISAN Characteristics (2)

Inspectable Allows identification of all versions of

a work Allows identification of all versions of

all episodes of a series

Permanent Registry external to any producing

organization Will survive any changes in producing

/ owning organizations

Status of ISAN/V-ISAN Standards

ISAN is ISO Standard ISO 15706 Part 1

ISAN Version Extension in Balloting Process ISO 15706 Part 2 (V-ISAN)

ISAN Operational Guidelines in Balloting ISO 20925

Issues Regarding ISAN / V-ISAN

ISAN Scope Limited to Sequences of Images Related images with or without sound Intended to be made visible as moving images

No Support for Audio- or Data-Only Works Some covered by other ISO registration systems Some not covered by ISO registrations

Components of Works Can Have V-ISAN Helps in production / distribution

Work Needed to Expand ISAN Scope Or alternative registration mechanisms needed

Application Issues re: V-ISAN

Can Be Used to Identify Show Elements Main work of show Commercials/promos inserted into show Useful for operations purposes

Possibility of Enabling Commercial Killers If IDs of commercials/promos are broadcast Encryption needed if all IDs broadcast Encryption must not expose changes in IDs Only main work identified in the clear

ISAN:International Standard Audiovisual Number

Hollywood Post AllianceTechnology RetreatJanuary 27 & 28, 2005

S. Merrill WeissMerrill Weiss Group LLC

Consultants in Electronic Media Technology / Management