IT Periscope [MPEG] Step forward to real life for the MPEG-A MAF MPEG-A (MPEG-Application, ISO/IEC 23000) is the title of the new standard activity followed by the MPEG-1, 2, 4, 7, 21 that are executed in the current MPEG. Applications such as the MPEG-1, 2 and 4 are aimed at the compression of audio and video, while MPEG-7 is recorded meta data for media data. and MPEG-21 is defined by a framework for the entire process of formation, distribution, consumption of digital contents. The standardization of the activities is repeatedly carried out for the acceptance, analysis, definition and expansion of the concept. And also the necessity for new technology, development, and investigation requires the continuous processing of new demands, while retaining most of the standard activities. While the expansion of the application fields offers many different approaches depending on continuing standard activities for a long period of time, creating the standardization itself is very complicated and also becomes very broad in scale. Actually, it is not easy to apply to industrial fields. Since the standardization activity is continuously repeated every 3- 4 years, it has happened that the technology which the industries need cannot be offered in adequate time. In order to overcome the differences between the development of the idealistic standard technology and that required for the practical use in real business life, MPWG-A is primarily aiming to develop some of the multimedia applications or services to fulfill market needs. Rather than defining and developing new technologies, a new format, which is called the Multimedia Application Format (MAF), is defined combining two parts: namely, properly upcoming developed technologies and currently utilized technologies. When one looks at the entire MPEG standard in horizontally illuminated graphic display, the applicable format should be formatted by selecting and gathering necessary profiles and technologies which are from the individual standard pattern. The picture 1 is showing that how the MAF concept of MPEG-A is defined. Such MAFs of MPEG which are combined with various standard technologies have not only credibility but also utilize reference software, and finally can be secured mutual operation under the application level. MPEG-A MAF already established the standardization work in the three fields such as Music Player MAF related current digital audio, Photo Player MAF related digital image and also Video Player MAF related digital video. The present MAF consists of two parts: part 1 is PDTR for ISO/IEC 23000-1 and the other is 23000- 2:2005 FDIS. The former is the documentation for the introduction of MPEG-A and explained the MAF objective and its method of standardization. And part 2 is the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) for the Music Player MAF. On the other hand, in order to draw up the regulations (ISO/IEC 23000-3) for the Photo Player MAF, presently the Working Draft (WD) is already completed and the preparation of the Committee Draft (CD) is under way. 1. Music Player MAF Music Player MAF (hereafter, MP MAF) is the standardization made for application domain of mp3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) players and also has the same encoder system structure of picture 2. Basically, it has the same structure of mp3 on mp4. In order to record various related information for the applicable audio contents, it has a structure that is to be filled with JPEG Image and MPEG7 metadata. Currently, MP MAF is in the state of Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) and is additionally proposed with protected music player MAF and synchronization of multiple JPEG data to MP3 tracks in Music Player MAF for another profiling. 2. Protected Music Player MAF The brisk standardization for Protected Music Player MAF is being stepped up because the necessity of safe management of the contents of the MP MAF is coming to the fore. Mainly, it was hotly debated whether or not to adopt the standard algorithm. And also, which IPMP should be selected between MPEG21 IPMP and MPEG4 IPMP. Currently, among three file structures of MP MAF, the discussion reached consensus at a certain level, such as in the case of Single Track MAF with MPEG-7 Meta data. It adopted MPEG4 IPMP and the other two adopted MPEG21 IPMP, but to make sure it will be determined depending upon upcoming standardization activities. 3. Photo Player MAF Photo Player MAF (hereafter, PP MAF) is processed in the MPEG-7 video group apart from MP MAF, and like picture 3, they discussed the idea of JPEG Image and EXIF for meta data which are widely utilized in MPEG 4 file format. And also they are investigating new integrated standardization in which MPEG-7 MDS and visual narrator are combined and can express more and varied meta data. In addition to this, they are also investigating various ideas for image clustering for the purpose of effective administering of images and also for indexing. Currently, the WD has been completed at the Busan Conference last April and now the preparatory CD is on the way. 4. Video Player MAF This is one of the application formats which has been newly- introduced for the contents service of the screen image. And now the working process for the technology utilization is under way, such as MPEG- 4 ISO Media File Format, MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding, MPEG-4 High Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding, MPEG-7 Metadata and JPEG ISO Standard. It looks like the Video Player MAF is following a similar pattern in the standardization process of the Music Player MAF. Therefore, it is classified into Video Player MAF and the protected Video Player MAF. And the DRM system of the protected Music Player MAF will be imported into the protected Video Player MAF. Future Prospects Far from the existing standardization activities, the standardization activities for the MAF of the MPEG-A provision formulation is processing rapidly in the highest speed application field. For the related activities with Protected Music Player MAF, although a great deal of discussion could ensue regarding the various protected issues; various multimedia application formats will be introduced in future due to the MPEG effort in order to offer the actual and necessary standardization technology. And we can expect new standardization activity closely related to our everyday lives.