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Content
Ratings and Restrictions
Content
ratings are the qualification and assignment of
codes (rating) to content that identifies
characteristics of the content. These content
ratings can be used to determine suitable uses and
distribution channels for the content.
Initially, mobile video service
providers will determine which channels a viewer has
access to. This will allow them and regulatory
authorities to restrict access to content such as
pornography and/or violent content.
As mobile system operators allow
access to high-speed internet connections, it will
be possible for viewers to watch any mobile video
channel. It will be more difficult to rate and
restrict content on mobile video channels and the
media regulation authorities of one country will
have little control over channels that are
broadcasted to other countries over broadband
Internet connection.
Unlike web pages that may have
keywords that can be easily monitored, it is harder
to detect unwanted content types such as adult and
violent content in streaming media. Television
programs have meta tags (short blocks of text that
describe the content) in standard formats. However,
service providers can (and often do) edit these meta
tags to better market (more favorably describe)
television programs to their viewers.
Rights
Protection (DRM and CAS)
Content
rights are the authorized uses and the allowable
distribution methods that can be used for content
(typically data or media). To ensure content owners
have their rights protected, mobile video systems
implement a combination of digital right management
(DRM) and conditional access systems (CAS). |
Digital rights management is a system
of access control and copy protection used to
control the distribution of digital media. DRM
involves the control of physical access to
information, identity validation (authentication),
service authorization, and media protection
(encryption). DRM systems are typically incorporated
or integrated with other systems such as content
management system, billing systems, and royalty
management.
A conditional access system is a
security process that is used in a communication
system (such as a mobile broadcast television
system) to limit the access of media to authorized
users. Conditional access systems can use uniquely
identifiable devices (sealed with serial numbers)
and may use smart cards to store and access secret
codes.
Because mobile video signals are
usually provided in low resolution formats to
devices that cannot easily store and transfer video
program, rights management for mobile systems is not
as significant an issue. However, mobile video
content resolution is gradually increasing and
mobile devices are evolving to fully accessible
portable media devices so rights protection will
become a more significant issue.
Screen
Size
Screen size
is the visible area of an image display (such as a
computer monitor or a television screen). Screen
size may be specified in resolution in pixels across
(horizontal) and pixels between top and bottom
(vertical). Visible screen size may also be defined
by the diagonal length of visible area in inches or
centimeters.
Screen size is initially an issue
an issue for mobile devices. There is a fundamental
tradeoff between mobile device size (small is
generally better) and viewing devices (bigger is
better). A solution to the screen size is the use of
viewing glasses or projection devices. As the
display options evolve, the viewer will be willing
to watch more media. Who knows, maybe people will
disconnect their satellite and cable service and
only subscribe to mobile video services. |
