CLOUD

The bi-directional transmission, storing, and distribution of uncompressed, ultra-high-definition live-streaming video featuring 16x the resolution of the current HDTV system was successfully demonstrated over the 100-Gbps Ethernet between Tokyo and Osaka during the Sapporo Snow Festival Verification Test Event hosted by NICT on Feb. 5th 2014.

The Kanagawa Institute of Technology (KAIT, President Kazumi Komiya), in collaboration with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), theNational University Corporation of the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), NTT-IT Corporation (NTT-IT), PFU Limited (PFU), ASTRODESIGN Inc. (ASTRO), and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), successfullytested the bi-directional transmission, storing, and distribution of uncompressed, ultra-high-definition (UHD) live-streamingvideo.

During the Sapporo Snow Festival Verification Test Event hosted by NICT in February 2014, this team successfully performed the world's first experiment of simultaneous bi-directional transmission, storing, and distribution of uncompressed 8K (7680´4320 pixels, 16x the resolution of HDTV) UHD live-streaming video as well as uncompressed 4K (3840´2160 pixels, 4x the resolution of HDTV) UHD live-streaming video. The experiment was performed using the 100-Gbps Ethernet service provided by NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) between Tokyo and Osaka.

Background and Overview of this Test:
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games is driving R&D on applications using 4K and 8K UHD live-streaming video. The production of 8K streaming video requires a very high-capacity transmission bit rate of approximately 24 Gbps. This means that a complete video editing and video effects system must be constructed at a local site.

Since April 2013, KAIT has been working with the above team of companies to research and develop streaming cloud technologies to transmit, store, and distribute 4K UHD live-streaming video using NICT's JGN-X test bed. With the additional band supporting 100-Gbps transmission, this successful test proves that it is possible to transmit not just 4K, but uncompressed 8K UHD live-streaming video. This means that realistic video images can be broadcast live to remote sites using commercial network services with no loss of realism. Furthermore, shot locations and cloud facilities can be coordinated seamlessly. As a result, video production and video effects, including synthesis of computer graphics, only need to be technically verified on cloud facilities when necessary for editing.

In this test, real-time bi-directional transmission of 8K UHD streaming video was achieved by 1) use of video content shot with 8K cameras; 2) the combination of four 4K video stream transmitters each on the transmitting and receiving sides; and 3) synchronization of video signals. Storing and distribution of the video stream was accomplished by 1) combining two super high-speed video servers with IP interface; and 2) synchronization of video signals. Finally, to provide stable distribution of the video stream over networks, transmission status was monitored in real-time using both high-accuracy network measurement technology and the 8K video traffic meter.

Next Steps:
Building on the success of this verification test, the team will establish a cloud-based video production workflow using UHD streaming video. The team will also continue its R&D to establish a new media production method in conjunction with multimedia studies.