Thread Subject: Re: Proposal for closed captions & timed text

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From: Larry Goldberg
Date: Tue, Aug 28 2007 10:50 AM

The FCC rules explicitly cover DTV receivers and standalone tuners (set-top
boxes).

In addition, the July 2000 Report and Order had this to say - which is very
relevant to today's discussion:

"53. Other Devices. Although we did not propose closed caption
decoder requirements for television interface devices whose primary function
is other than delivering television programming, such as VCRs, DVD players,
or personal video recorders, we know that these devices are used by
consumers in connection with their television sets to view closed caption
programming. In order for viewers to receive closed captions when using
these devices, it is not necessary for these devices to have decoding
capability. Rather, all that is required is for the device to pass through
the closed caption information to the decoder in the television set. We
expect that such devices, and any other similar new devices, will pass
through closed captions unaltered and intact to the decoder in the attached
digital television. Manufacturers of such devices should ensure that this
continues to be the case as the transition to digital television
progresses."

... Larry ...


Sean Hayes wrote:

> There are two parts to the idea of 708 equivalence. The first is the data
> encoded in the captions themselves, I think most of the common formats have
> broad equivalence to the coding functionality of 708; SAMI and DFXP, the two
> I'm most familiar with, do.
>
> The other half are the FCC player rules (which are not part of 708) which
> require user adjustment/replacement of these. No other player (software or
> hardware) that I am aware of allows for this; it's a unique feature for US DTV
> at this point (Larry or Geoff correct me if I'm wrong here). While I believe
> asking for this to be a feature of all captioning systems is a worthy goal, I
> don't believe its readily achievable in the short term.
>
> Sean Hayes
> Incubation Lab
> Accessibility Business Unit
> Microsoft
>
> Office: +44 118 909 5867,
> Mobile: +44 7875 091385
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Geoff Freed
> Sent: 28 August 2007 16:52
> To: TEITAC Audio/Video Subcommittee
> Subject: Re: [teitac-video] Proposal for closed captions & timed text
>
>
> Hi, Paul:
>
> Thanks for submitting this proposal. One area of concern that I see
> is the 708 equivalency requirement for certain devices, like IP
> players or non-broadcast personal media players:
>
>> CEA 708 or timed text with functionality equivalent [or comparable]
>> to CEA 708 (see end-note for definition of functional equivalent)
>
> Some, but not all, of the 708 functional equivalents can be
> accomplished in the current text-display formats used by media
> players, such as QText, SAMI, RealText and DFXP. That's one
> problem. Another is that you're requiring media players like
> QuickTime, WMP RealPlayer and Flash to include controls that permit
> users to switch styles that provide 708-equivalent behavior. My
> guess is that this is going to be difficult for player manufacturers
> to support, but I don't want to speak for them. However, I'd like
> to hear if Andrew, Sean and Dave Singer have any opinions about this.
>
> Geoff/NCAM
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 28, 2007, at 11:09 AM, Schomburg, Paul wrote:
>
>> Folks: Here is a proposal to provide clarity the requirements for
>> (1) other digital video source devices, and (2) personal video
>> display devices. We look forward to discussing this on today's call.
>>
>>
>>
>> Best regards, Paul
>>
>>
>>
>> -------BEGIN-------
>>
>> 3. Equipment of this type...
>>
>> Other digital video source products without broadcast reception
>> capability, such as playback products for removable media (e.g.
>> optical disc, tape, flash memory, etc.), IP-enabled playback
>> products for downloaded or streaming video content, and media
>> player software, that is procured for the purpose of displaying
>> video on a DTV display or monitor with a screen size greater than
>> 13 inches.
>>
>>
>>
>> Uses this standard...
>>
>> CEA 708 or timed text with functionality equivalent [or comparable]
>> to CEA-708 (see end-note for definition of functional equivalent)
>>
>>
>>
>> To provide these functions:
>>
>> - Pass CEA-708 caption data, when available, to the
>> caption decoding circuitry of DTV displays
>>
>> OR
>>
>> - Decode caption data or timed text, when available, and
>> pass a decoded ("open-captioned") video signal to the DTV display
>> or monitor.
>>
>>
>>
>> 4. Equipment of this type...
>>
>> Personal video display products without broadcast reception
>> capability with an integrated display less than 13 inches.
>> [Examples: Portable DVD players, Apple iPods, cell phones, etc."]
>>
>>
>>
>> Uses this standard...
>>
>> CEA 708 or timed text with functionality equivalent [or comparable]
>> to CEA 708 (see end-note for definition of functional equivalent)
>>
>>
>>
>> To provide these functions...
>>
>> - Decode caption data or timed text, when available, for
>> viewing on the integrated display unless not readily achievable.
>>
>> -------END-------
>>
>>
>>
>> Rationale: It appropriate to leave the decision to the government
>> agency as to the type of content and purpose for which the device
>> will be used.
>>
>> 1. CEA-708 is required for content originally authored for
>> broadcasting or transmission in an MPEG transport stream. Such
>> content may thereafter be provided via prerecorded media or
>> downloaded/streamed from the Internet. Both players of prerecorded
>> media (e.g. DVD, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, video tape, etc.) and IP-enabled
>> media players and associated software will require this capability
>> if they are used to display such content.
>>
>> 2. Timed text is required for content not authored for
>> broadcasting or transmission in an MPEG transport stream, but that
>> may be provided via prerecorded media or downloaded/streamed from
>> the Internet. Such timed text formats should provide functionality
>> equivalent [or comparable] to CEA-708 to enable author and/or user
>> control of fonts, background transparency, and location of text on
>> screen so as to provide the most accessible viewing experience.
>>
>>
>>
>> End Note: TEITAC definition of "Functional Equivalent" to CEA 708
>>
>>
>>
>> Equivalent text display functionalities must:
>>
>>
>>
>> * support caption placement control by caption authors for any
>> position within the TV safe area.
>>
>>
>>
>> * support standard, large, and small caption sizes and must allow
>> the caption author to choose a size and allow the viewer to choose
>> an alternative size.
>>
>>
>>
>> * support eight font variations. Caption authors may specify one of
>> these eight font styles to be used to write caption text.
>> Equivalents must include the ability for users to choose among the
>> eight fonts. The equivalent must display the font chosen by the
>> caption author unless the user chooses a different font.
>>
>>
>>
>> * support the eight font styles defined as follows: default
>> (undefined), monospaced with serifs (similar to Courier),
>> proportionally spaced with serifs (similar to Times New Roman),
>> monospaced without serifs (similar to Helvetica Monospaced),
>> proportionally spaced without serifs (similar to Arial and Swiss),
>> casual font type (similar to Dom and Impress), cursive font type
>> (similar to Coronet and Marigold), and small capitals (similar to
>> Engravers Gothic).
>>
>>
>>
>> * support author and user choice of eight character foreground and
>> eight character background colors: white, black, red, green, blue,
>> yellow, magenta and cyan).
>>
>>
>>
>> * support author and user selection of character and background
>> opacity options: SOLID, TRANSLUCENT, TRANSPARENT [FLASH option
>> deleted]
>>
>>
>>
>> * support options for altering the appearance of caption character
>> edges.
>>
>>
>>
>> * support the authoring and selection of the six caption services,
>> but information from only one service need be displayed at a given
>> time.
>>
>>
>>
>> * include an option that permits a user to choose a setting that
>> will display captions as intended by the caption provider (a
>> default). Equivalents must also include an option that allows a
>> viewer's chosen settings to remain until the viewer chooses to
>> alter these settings, including during periods when the video
>> source device is powered off.
>>
>>
>>
>> Multimedia content creation products and/or software must:
>>
>>
>>
>> * support the creation of equivalent text display functionalities
>> as listed above
>>
>>
>>
>> * support interoperability and conversion between other common
>> caption formats such as CEA 608, CEA 708, and Timed Text (e.g. DFXP).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

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