A Standard-Based Approach on the use of Contextual Information for the Adaptation Authorisation

This paper presents a new type of context based on the authorisation of content adaptation in a generic multimedia scenario. After an overview of the state-of-the-art in the use and representation of context for multimedia content adaptation, we conclude that MPEG-21 Digital Item Adaptation is the most suited standardisation initiative in this area. We then present a flexible and interoperable way to express contextual information based on profiles and on MPEG-21 DIA Usage Environment Descriptors. Furthermore, we analyse the existing standardisation initiatives on Digital Rights Management and we identify the contextual information involved in a generic authorisation process, as well as the most complete standard to represent it. By integrating both areas of research (context-based adaptation and DRM) we obtain a new type of context for the adaptation authorisation based on standards and aligned with the other context profiles. In this way, the Adaptation Authorisation Profile guarantees flexibility and interoperability in a generic multimedia scenario.