March11, 2004, Vol. 14, No. 23 ISSN 1346-5317

1. Background and purposes
With respect to the Japanese economy still facing the severe situation,many problems are pointed out, for example, the financial difficultiesof the national and local governments, the prolonged deflation, stagnantindividual spending, the aging society and the low birthrate.  However,signs of recovery are seen, mainly driven by the IT field, in such sectorsas digital information consumer electronics (CE).
If Japan, with advantages in the IT field, intends to get the industrialsector back on the track to recovery and simultaneously enhance the creativecapacity of the Japanese people, it must realize a ubiquitous network societyin which convenient communications without restrictions will be allowedvia broadband platforms, to which diversified equipment including CE willbe connected.  Such an initiative will play a significant role forcreating new industries and social frameworks as Japan's contribution tothe rest of the international community. 
With an eye to contributing to new IT policies of the government after2006, this Policy Roundtable will, from a wider viewpoint toward the realizationof the full-fledged ubiquitous network society, exchange opinions, etc.on how to i) encourage "individuals" to foster their potentials throughuse of digital technologies, ii) realize a secure, safe and convenientsociety in any local community, and iii) improve Japan's internationalcompetitiveness and contributions to the international community.

Fig.  Ubiquitous Network Society in 2010 (u-Japan)
 

2. Members 
Opinion leaders from both the public and private sectors

3. Items to be deliberated upon

i) Grand design of the ubiquitous network society and measuresfor realizing thereof
ii) Promotion measures to prepare an environment for creating new businessesand developing human resources
iii)  Countermeasures against negative aspects of the ubiquitousnetwork society
iv)    Others

4. Schedule
Starting from March 1, 2004, the Roundtable will compile its findingsas a final report by December 2004.

*Note 1: "Asia Broadband Program"
 The "Asia Broadband Program" is positioned as one of importantpillars to implement the "e-Japan Strategy--II," an IT policy that theJapanese government is promoting.  The program is aiming at makingthe entire Asian region one of the information hubs in the world, throughJapan's active contribution to preparation of broadband environments inAsia, listing the following targets (released on March 28, 2003):

[China]

2. "Japan-China Joint Experiments"
(1) These experiments are to be implanted under memoranda ofunderstanding (MoUs)*2, etc. between the governmentsof Japan and China, with the purposes of i) eliminating language barriershindering communications among Asian countries/economies, ii) promotinginformation distribution within the Asian region, and iii) stimulatingdemand for broadband platforms.
 

*Note 2:  The "memorandumof understanding to promote collaborative efforts in the information andcommunications field between the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs,Posts and Telecommunications of Japan and the Ministry of Information Industryof the People's Republic of China" (January 10, 2002) and the "memorandumof understanding to promote collaborative efforts on IPv6 between the Ministryof Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications of Japanand the Ministry of Information Industry of the People's Republic of China"(April 9, 2003)

(2) Outlines of each experiment

i) Construction of cross-cultural collaboration
This is to construct a virtual workspace for enabling different teamsin Japan and China to collaborate.
Here, an environment is offered in which the Japanese and the Chinesecan work regardless of language differences as if they are facing eachother.
Through construction of such an environment, it is expected to stimulatedemand for i) collaboration between Japan and China, ii) support from privatebusiness, and iii) cultural exchanges, broadband platforms, and to increasethe amount of information flow.

Fig.  Environment for cross-cultural collaboration

ii) Joint production of digital content
By using the cross-cultural collaboration environment under i), universitiesin Japan and China jointly produce 3D digital content "Digital City Beijing,"depicting a Chinese city.
Through the joint production, the utility of the cross-cultural collaborationenvironment will be evaluated and, if necessary, its production processwill be made public.  The 3D digital content "Digital City Beijing"is seen being widely used as PR media.  Subsequently, such an experimentwill pave a path to digital content archives containing cultural assets,etc. in Asia.
iii) Establishment of a corporate information database
Japanese and Chinese corporations jointly establish a corporate informationdatabase containing information on Chinese corporations, which can be retrievedby the Japanese language through use of machine-translation functions.
This database will offer a retrieval service on detailed informationon Chinese corporations, and opportunities to match needs of businessesand support transactions between corporations.  Through implementationof its verification, it is anticipated that Japanese corporations wouldfurther deploy their business in China.
iv) Joint experiments on the new generation (Beyond 3G) mobile communications
Universities and research institutes in Japan and China jointly carryout basic experiments on international transmission, etc. concerning thenew generation (Beyond 3G) mobile communications.  Through implementationof these experiments, it is expected that the collaborative relationshipbetween the two countries in the mobile communications field would be promoted.
v) Others
In addition to those experiments, other experiments on various applications,including distance learning, are being considered.

3. In conclusion
Through the series of "Japan-China Joint Experiments," it is expectedthat i) information distribution within the Asian region would be invigorated,ii) joint research between universities, research institutes, etc. in thetwo countries would be further developed, and iii) business deploymentof the content industry, etc. would be promoted.
With respect to these policies, MPHPT will set up a website and implementvarious demonstrations, etc. for making the series of "Japan-China JointExperiments" widely known to the public on a one-by-one basis.
 

[Singapore]

*Note 3: JSEPA: The first-everfree trade agreement (FTA) for Japan.  JSEPA provides not only fortrade investment but also for finance, information and communications technologies(ICTs), human resources development, etc.  It came into force as ofNovember 30, 2002.

The purpose of the "Japan-Singapore Joint Experiments" is torealize secure and smooth e-commerce in the digital content field. Experiments by FY2002 were carried out as verification experiments on PhaseI key technologies and successfully concluded, for instance, verificationexperiments on i) video on demand (VOD) and live on demand (LOD) of high-definitionvideo via international circuits, and ii) network key technologies includingquality assurance technologies for international networks.

2. FY2003 "Japan-Singapore Joint Experiments"
Since FY2003, as Phase 2 based on the results of experiments in thepast, practical experiments on international e-commerce in relation todigital content has been conducted.
With regard to e-commerce of digital content within Japan, commercialtransactions are already in progress.  As for international e-commerceof digital content, however, the so-called B2B2C (business-to-business-to-consumers)requires transactions through intermediary content providers in destinationcountries because of differences in business practices and systems. With respect to a series of procedures for e-commerce on networks, thereis no effort to develop industry-wide unified standard procedures. Thus, it is vital to accumulate actual experiments through such practicalexperiments.
The Figure shows the procedural flow in cases of B2B2C transactionswhere such digital content as animation videos are delivered to consumersvia a provider in the destination country.
In order to smoothly and securely realize the series of procedures,it is essential to prepare standard protocols for the procedures and toconstruct a platform equipped with technological functions to automaticallyprocess such procedures.  The Figure shows the flow of B2B2Ctransactions on such a platform.
 

(1): B1 and B2 confirm articles of a contract and conclude the contract. (2): Digital content (metadata on the contract is embedded) of B2 is transferredto B1.  (3): B1 delivers the digital content to C.  (4): B2 confirmsthe usage of the digital content by C.  (5): B2 confirms the deliverystatus of B1 to C.

According to types of content, only sure B2B contracts suffice as e-commercecontracts.  A classification of contracts is as follows:

i)  Contracts with limits on usage by end users (B2B2C)
Contracts needing to strictly implement digital rights management onmovies, videos, animations, music titles, etc.  In the Figure, theplatform automatically limits the number of deliveries by B1 and the numberof viewing/listening by C; and the platform automatically inform B2 ofthe situation.
ii)  Contracts with no limit on usage (B2B)
Like cases of travel guide videos, movie previews, etc., it is sufficientto firmly conclude contracts with counterparts (B1) in the other country. Cases of contracts between reliable parties, such as broadcasters are included. According to the Figure, contracts not needing (4) but simply needing confirmationof actual delivery results (5).

3. Awareness campaigns for the Asia BroadbandProgram

i) Establishment of a website
Since the end of February 2004, MPHPT opened a website "Asia BroadbandProgram" (http://www.asia-bb.net/)for providing the public with information on the efforts to address challengesconcerning the Program.  The website comprehensively introduces anoutline of the Program to be implemented by MPHPT, concrete initiatives,future directions, etc. as well as details of advanced IT joint experimentsrespectively with China and Singapore.  In addition, this websitecontains a page to offer realtime information concerning ongoing experimentswill be opened.
ii) "Asia Broadband Symposium" to Be Held
MPHPT will hold the "Asia Broadband Symposium" at Chiyoda Hoso Kaikan,1-1, Kioi-cho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo, on March 12, 2004 (free of charge). At this Symposium, various efforts to address the "Asia Broadband Program,"lectures by experts will introduced, and a panel discussion by governmentofficials from Asian countries, etc. will be held.  For details, pleaserefer to the website.

4.  In conclusion
Under these international IT joint experiments respectively with Chinaand Singapore, introduced in this article are joint production of digitalcontent, establishment of corporate information database, e-commerce andvarious applications.  Toward FY2004, diversified applications, includingdistance learning and e-commerce, will be further enhanced and these effortswill lead to development in both quality and quantity of information distributionwithin the Asian region.