Standardizing ASF

ASF is in the process of becoming an open standard. Microsoft® is taking the lead in this process. Microsoft is well suited for this role, as ASF is an extension of WAV and AVI, the older multimedia standards developed by Microsoft. The standardization process involves certain steps, milestones, and deliverables. These are as follows:
 
First Draft of ASF Specification.
In 1996, Microsoft developed a preliminary version of ASF and implemented it within its NetShowTM streaming server and client products. Starting with this version, and making numerous enhancements to it, Microsoft and Real Networks authored the initial "straw man" draft of the ASF specification. Then, an initial group of core multimedia industry players enhanced that document into a first draft version. This group was comprised of Microsoft, Real Networks, Intel, Adobe, and Vivo.
Completed: August 14, 1997
 
Second Draft of ASF Specification.
Between August 14 and September 10, 1997, a team of 40 additional industry players worked to revise the first draft ASF Specification and generate the second draft specification.
Completed: September 10, 1997

ASF Security Proposal - asfsecurity.exe (Compressed RTF)
 
Completion of ASF Specification.
The ASF Specification is now completed. You can view the Specification online.
Completed: September 30, 1997

Submit Comment.
You can submit a comment on the ASF spec by sending an e-mail message to asf@listserv.msn.com. Make sure that you provide specific wording suggestions and include a rationale.

Industry Participants.
Your comments on the ASF spec will be processed by a team of 40 industry players, who will generate the completed ASF Specification.

Resources.
View various resources to aid in understanding the direction of the ASF Specification.

Join Mail List.
If you would like to join the ASF mailing list, please visit the Listserve Management Information Page.

 
Completion of ASF Reference Implementation.
Microsoft will produce a low-level reference Software Developers Kit (SDK) for ASF, and will make this SDK available for download from this Web site.
Estimated Date: 1Q '98
 
Submission to Standards Bodies.
Microsoft is working actively with several important standards committees to insure that the advanced streaming media functionality of ASF is incorporated in the definition of future multimedia file formats. Microsoft is active in both the ISO/MPEG4 and Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) standards definition proceedings. In addition, ASF is in the process of being submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to become an Informational RFC. Additional internet-draft documents dealing with ASF-related topics (see below) have also been submitted to the IETF. Please send your suggestions to asf@listserv.msn.com

RTP Payload Format for ASF Streams submitted to IETF's AVT WG

Recording MBone Sessions to ASF Files

WAVE and AVI Codec Registries

MPEG-4 Intermedia Format as an Extension of ASF

    M2969.zip(Compressed RTF)
     

Advanced Streaming Format (ASF) Specification

Specification of a general purpose RTP payload format - The following is the specification of a general purpose RTP payload format that has been submitted to the Audio-Video Transport (AVT) working group at the IETF. The payload format can be used for transmitting content from ASF files over RTP.

 

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