Internet DRAFT - draft-ietf-mediaman-haptics
draft-ietf-mediaman-haptics
MEDIAMAN Y. K. Muthusamy
Internet-Draft
Intended status: Standards Track C. Ullrich
Expires: 28 January 2024 27 July 2023
The 'haptics' Top-level Media Type
draft-ietf-mediaman-haptics-05
Abstract
This memo serves to register and document the 'haptics' top-level
media type, under which subtypes for representation formats for
haptics may be registered. This document also serves as a
registration for a set of subtypes, which are representative of some
existing subtypes already in use.
Status of This Memo
This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.
Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
Task Force (IETF). Note that other groups may also distribute
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material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."
This Internet-Draft will expire on 28 January 2024.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2023 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
document authors. All rights reserved.
This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (https://trustee.ietf.org/
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Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights
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provided without warranty as described in the Revised BSD License.
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.1. Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Background and Justification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1. MPEG ISOBMFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2. Haptic Sub-modalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.3. Another Human Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.4. Commercial Uptake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.5. Haptic Data Formats in Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.6. Haptic Subtypes (envisioned standards) . . . . . . . . . 6
2.7. 'application' top-level type not suitable . . . . . . . . 6
3. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.1. Definition and Encoding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.2. Registration Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.3. Subtype Registrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.3.1. IVS Haptics Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.3.2. HJIF Haptics Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4.3.3. HMPG Haptics Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
6. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1. Introduction
The term 'haptics' refers to the generation of touch-related
sensations in a device or interface. Haptics is widely used in
consumer devices in order to provide touch-based feedback to users.
The most common use of haptics is in mobile devices, where it is used
to provide feedback to users interacting with the touchscreen, e.g.,
typing on a virtual keyboard. Haptic technologies are unlike audio
and visual enabling technologies in the sense that they require some
form of actuation in order to create a tactile sensation. For mobile
phones and game controllers, these actuators are typically small
vibrating motors. For large touchscreens in vehicles, these
actuators can be specialized piezoelectric materials. Haptic
capabilities are found in nearly every modern smartphone and game and
virtual reality controller, making these devices an ideal target for
enhanced media experiences.
Internet Media Types [RFC6838] are used to label content carried over
Internet protocols. This document defines a new top-level type
'haptics' according to [TOPLEVEL]. This top-level type indicates
that the content specifies haptic data. Under this top-level type,
different representation formats of haptics may be registered.
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1.1. Terminology
The keywords MUST, MUST NOT, REQUIRED, SHALL, SHALL NOT,
SHOULD,SHOULD NOT, RECOMMENDED, NOT RECOMMENDED, MAY, and OPTIONAL in
this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14 [RFC2119]
[RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all capitals, as shown
here.
2. Background and Justification
Haptic signals provide an additional layer of entertainment and
sensory immersion for the user, when combined with audio and video
signals. Haptic tracks, in separate files, can be combined with
audio/video files and played back in sync to provide an overall
immersive media experience (audio, visual, tactile) for the user.
More recently, haptic tracks embedded in standard file formats such
as ISOBMFF (ISO Base Media File Format), enable playback of the
haptic signals over one or more actuators, simultaneously with audio
and video playback [ISOBMFF-IS]. Haptic signals are also part of
media streams that use RTP, such as those for streaming games, XR,
and wearables.
2.1. MPEG ISOBMFF
Historically, there has not been a registration of formats for
haptics. However, haptics was proposed as a first-order media type
(at the same level as audio and video) in ISOBMFF in April 2020. The
proposal has since progressed to International Standard, and was
published in January 2022 [ISOBMFF-IS]. Haptics is officially part
of the ISO/IEC 14496-12 (ISOBMFF) standard, 7th Edition. Given this
development, a strong case can be made for haptics to be added to the
list of top-level media types recognized by the IETF.
We envision the following designations for haptics in mp4 files, once
the top-level type 'haptics' is registered:
1. 'haptics/mp4' - mp4 files with just haptic tracks and no audio or
video in them (e.g., streaming games, haptics files for haptic
vests, belts, gloves, etc.)
2. 'video/mp4' - mp4 files with video, audio, and haptics (to ensure
consistency with existing mp4 files with video content)
3. 'audio/mp4' - mp4 files with audio and haptics (to ensure
consistency with existing mp4 files with audio content without
any video)
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2.2. Haptic Sub-modalities
There are multiple sub-modalities of haptics:
* Vibrotactile (touch, vibration)
* Kinesthetic (force feedback)
* Surface (surface friction)
* Spatial, non-contact (ultrasound)
* Thermal (temperature)
Therefore, designating 'haptics' as a top-level media type enables
the definition of data formats pertaining to these sub-modalities in
a more streamlined manner. This would not be possible if 'haptics'
were to be placed under other top-level types like 'audio', 'video',
or 'application'.
2.3. Another Human Sense
The top-level media type 'audio' pertains to the human sense of
hearing, the top-level media type 'video' pertains to the human sense
of seeing, so it only makes sense for the (equally important) human
sense of touch to be represented by another top-level media type
'haptics'. Placing 'haptics' under 'audio' or 'video' is not
reflective of the kinds of files or use cases that would need haptics
but have nothing whatsoever to do with audio or video.
2.4. Commercial Uptake
Haptics is rapidly becoming a standard feature of consumer electronic
devices. For example:
* iPhone (206+ million units sold in 2020): native support for
haptic encoded data
* Android (1.38+ billion units sold in 2020): API support of haptic
buffers
* W3C (HTML vibration API [W3C-Vibration]): Optionally supported in
mobile web browsers. W3C has also defined vibration extensions
for gamepads [W3C-Gamepad]
* Game consoles (39+ million units sold in 2019): MS Xbox, Sony
PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, etc.
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* XR devices (9+ million units sold in 2019): OpenXR haptic API
Haptic media is expected to be commonly exchanged between these
devices. Since they represent the majority of CE devices, a strong
case can be made for 'haptics' as a top-level media type.
2.5. Haptic Data Formats in Use
There are multiple instances of existing haptic data formats that
will live as sub-types under the proposed 'haptics' top-level media
type. While these subtypes have *not* been registered with IANA or
standardized (yet), the prevalence of these haptic data formats in a
large number of devices around the world, pre-dating the
standardization of haptic tracks in ISOBMFF, provides a compelling
argument for 'haptics' to be designated as a top-level media type:
* 'ahap': The AHAP haptic data format [AHAP] is currently the
standard encoding on all iOS devices + iOS connected game
peripherals. The format has seen usage and adoption beyond Apple
devices as well, with decoders available for Android and other XR
systems.
* 'ogg': Google has introduced a proprietary extension to the OGG
format in the latest version of Android 11. This encoding enables
haptic media to be stored in OGG files.
* 'ivs': The IVS haptic data format [MPEG-Haptics-Encoder] is in
use:
- In mobile phones from LG Electronics (specifically, the models
V30, V40, and the newest V50) that are sold worldwide
- In gaming phones from ASUS (specifically, models ROG, ROG Phone
II, ROG Phone 3) that are sold worldwide
* 'hapt': The HAPT haptic data format is currently a vendor-specific
format that is in use:
- In mobile haptic advertising (for W3C devices)
- The following Japanese game developers use the HAPT format as
part of Immersion's TouchSense SDK:
o KLAB: https://www.klab.com/en/ (https://www.klab.com/en/)
o Craft&Meister: http://www.crafts-meister.co.jp/pc/
company_en.html (http://www.crafts-meister.co.jp/pc/
company_en.html)
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- Tencent is using the TouchSense SDK for their popular social
media application QQ and live streaming application NOW:
Immersion-Announces-Tencent-Licenses-TouchSense-Technology-
Deliver
(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171026006443/en/
Immersion-Announces-Tencent-Licenses-TouchSense%C2%AE-
Technology-Deliver)
Given the widespread use of these subtypes, it makes sense for
'haptics' to be a top-level media type.
2.6. Haptic Subtypes (envisioned standards)
The MPEG ISOBMFF proposal included an informative annex of known
haptic coding formats with proposed FourCC codes for them. These
codes are not registered yet, but the plan is indeed to standardize
these haptic coding formats in the near future. Once standardized,
these types should also be registered as subtypes of the 'haptics'
top-level media type:
* 'hmpg': the MPEG-I haptics streamable binary coding format
described in ISO/IEC DIS 23090-31: Haptics coding
[MPEG-Haptics-Coding]
* 'hjif': the MPEG-I haptics JSON-based interchange format described
in ISO/IEC DIS 23090-31: Haptics coding [MPEG-Haptics-Coding]
* IEEE P1918.1.1 vibrotactile coding standard [IEEE-P191811] being
developed under the IEEE Tactile Internet initiative as part of
the 5G URLL profile. Format name is yet to be finalized.
* Enumerated effects haptic coding format (based on MIDI). Format
name is yet to be finalized.
* Audio-to-vibe haptic coding format (automatic audio to vibration
conversion algorithms). Format name is yet to be finalized.
2.7. 'application' top-level type not suitable
From the above arguments, it is clear that haptics does not really
belong under any other media type. To reiterate, there are three
main reasons why the 'haptics' media type does not fit under the
'application' top-level type:
* haptics connects to a sensory system, touch/motion, directly, and
is more specific than the abstract 'application' type, and
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* 'application' has historically been used for applications, i.e.,
code, which means it is viewed and treated with great care for
security. 'haptics' is not code, just as 'audio' and 'video' are
not code either.
* haptics is a property of a media stream, it is not an application
under any normal definition. As such, it should be its own type.
3. Security Considerations
Haptics are interpreted data structures that represent collections of
different media rendering instructions intended to be decoded and
rendered on target device hardware. Haptic data can be represented
as collections of signal data and/or descriptive text in XML/JSON or
a similar format. Signal data is typically not executed by endpoint
processors and represents minimal security risk. Descriptive text is
typically parsed and represented in memory using standard XML data
structures. This data is utilized to construct one or more signals
that are sent to the endpoint device hardware.
Because of the media/rendering nature of the data path for haptic
coded data the security profile of haptic data is expected to be
largely consistent with the security profile of visual and audio
media data.
As with any synthesized media data (audio, video, and haptics), there
is a security risk associated with execution of commands based on the
descriptive encoding either through its inherent extensibility or
through the insertion of arbitrary executable data in the descriptive
format itself. Indeed, media rendering systems are normally
implemented with a mix of user and kernel space execution since these
media must ultimately make their way to a hardware system. In
theory, malicious instructions present in descriptive haptic media
have the potential to execute arbitrary code in kernel space,
effectively bypassing system permissions structures and/or execution
sandboxes.
Haptics, audio, and video media have widespread use and careful
attention should be paid by operating system and device driver
implementors to ensure that synthesis and rendering signal paths do
not provide attack surfaces for malicious payloads.
Thermal haptic devices (that provide a sensation of heat) and
kinesthetic haptic devices (that provide force feedback) could
potentially injure users if the heat or force, respectively, are not
properly controlled or inadvertently exceed safety levels.
Implementors need to ensure that adequate measures are taken to
prevent such scenarios.
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These security considerations apply to the subtype registrations
described in this document as well as all future haptics
registrations.
4. IANA Considerations
This specification registers a new top-level type, 'haptics', and
requests IANA to add it to the registry of top-level types specified
in [TOPLEVEL], adds it as an alternative value of "Type Name" in the
media types registration form [Media-Type-Registration], and
registers several subtypes for it.
4.1. Definition and Encoding
'haptics' as the primary media content type indicates that the
content identified by it requires a certain haptics subsystem such as
low-level haptics APIs, which in turn will require hardware
capabilities such as one or more actuators to render the haptics
media. The 'haptics' media type does not provide any specific
information about the underlying data format and how the haptics
information should be interpreted -- the subtypes defined within a
'haptics' tree name the specific haptic formats. Unrecognized
subtypes of 'haptics' should be treated as 'application/octet-
stream'. Implementations may still pass unrecognized subtypes to the
haptics subsystem and associated rendering hardware.
4.2. Registration Procedure
New haptics formats should be registered using the online form
[Media-Type-Registration]. [RFC6838] should be consulted on
registration procedures. In particular, the haptics specification
should preferably be freely available.
Note that new subtypes may define parameters. If an implementation
does not recognize a parameter sub-value in the comma- separated
list, it should ignore the sub-value and continue processing the
other sub-values in the list.
4.3. Subtype Registrations
In this section, the initial entries under the top-level 'haptics'
media type are specified. They also serve as examples for future
registrations.
4.3.1. IVS Haptics Type
Type name: haptics
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Subtype name: ivs
Required parameters: N/A
Optional parameters: N/A
Encoding considerations: 8bit if UTF-8; binary if UTF-16 or UTF-32
Interoperability considerations: The IVS format is a device-
independent haptic effect coding based on the XML format. It is
designed to enable interoperability between distinct physical
endpoints. Not all devices may be able to render all effects present
in an IVS file.
Security considerations: See Section 3 of RFC XXXX.
[Note to RFC Editor: Please replace XXXX with the number of this
RFC.]
Published specification: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 2 N 0072 "Encoder
Input Format for MPEG Haptics" [MPEG-Haptics-Encoder].
Applications that use this media type: All applications that are able
to create, edit, or display haptic media content.
Additional information:
* File extension(s): Haptic file extensions used for IVS files: .ivs
* Macintosh file type code(s): (no code specified)
* Macintosh Universal Type Identifier code: N/A
* Fragment Identifier: N/A
* Deprecated Alias: N/A
Person & email address to contact for further information: Yeshwant
Muthusamy(yeshwant@yeshvik.com)
Change controller: ISO/IEC JTC1/SC 29/WG 7 (MPEG 3D Graphics and
Haptic Coding)
4.3.2. HJIF Haptics Type
Type name: haptics
Subtype name: hjif
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Required parameters: N/A
Optional parameters: N/A
Encoding considerations: 8bit if UTF-8; binary if UTF-16 or UTF-32
Interoperability considerations: The HJIF format is a human-readable
haptic effect coding based on the JSON format. It is designed as an
interchange format for temporal and spatial haptic effects. The
haptic effects may target specific parts of the human body and may be
associated with a reference device description allowing haptic
rendering software to adapt the effects to available hardware.
Security considerations: See Section 3 of RFC XXXX.
[Note to RFC Editor: Please replace XXXX with the number of this
RFC.]
Published specification: ISO/IEC DIS 23090-31: Haptics coding
[MPEG-Haptics-Coding].
Applications that use this media type: All applications that are able
to create, edit, or display haptic media content.
Additional information:
* File extension(s): Haptic file extensions used for HJIF files:
.hjif
* Macintosh file type code(s): (no code specified)
* Macintosh Universal Type Identifier code: N/A
* Fragment Identifier: N/A
* Deprecated Alias: N/A
Person & email address to contact for further information: Yeshwant
Muthusamy(yeshwant@yeshvik.com)
Change controller: ISO/IEC JTC1/SC 29/WG 7 (MPEG 3D Graphics and
Haptic Coding)
4.3.3. HMPG Haptics Type
Type name: haptics
Subtype name: hmpg
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Required parameters: N/A
Optional parameters: N/A
Encoding considerations: binary
Interoperability considerations: The HMPG format is a streamable
binary haptic effect coding. It is designed to enable efficient
coding of temporal and spatial haptic effects. The haptic effects
may target specific parts of the human body and may be associated
with a reference device description allowing haptic rendering
software to adapt the effects to available hardware.
Security considerations: See Section 3 of RFC XXXX.
[Note to RFC Editor: Please replace XXXX with the number of this
RFC.]
Published specification: ISO/IEC DIS 23090-31: Haptics coding
[MPEG-Haptics-Coding].
Applications that use this media type: All applications that are able
to create, edit, or display haptic media content.
Additional information:
* File extension(s): Haptic file extensions used for HMPG files:
.hmpg
* Macintosh file type code(s): (no code specified)
* Macintosh Universal Type Identifier code: N/A
* Fragment Identifier: N/A
* Deprecated Alias: N/A
Person & email address to contact for further information: Yeshwant
Muthusamy(yeshwant@yeshvik.com)
Change controller: ISO/IEC JTC1/SC 29/WG 7 (MPEG 3D Graphics and
Haptic Coding)
5. Normative References
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[RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.
[RFC8174] Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC
2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174, DOI 10.17487/RFC8174,
May 2017, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8174>.
[RFC6838] Freed, N., Klensin, J., and T. Hansen, "Media Type
Specifications and Registration Procedures", BCP 13,
RFC 6838, DOI 10.17487/RFC6838, January 2013,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6838>.
[TOPLEVEL] Dürst, M. J., "Guidelines for the Definition of New Top-
Level Media Types", Work in Progress, Internet-Draft,
draft-ietf-mediaman-toplevel-03, 26 March 2023,
<https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-mediaman-
toplevel/03/>.
6. Informative References
[ISOBMFF-IS]
"ISO/IEC 14496-12 (7th Edition) Information technology —
Coding of audio-visual objects — Part 12: ISO base media
file format", <https://www.iso.org/standard/83102.html>.
[MPEG-Haptics-Encoder]
"Encoder Input Format for MPEG Haptics",
<https://www.mpegstandards.org/standards/
Explorations/40/>.
[AHAP] "Apple Haptic Audio Pattern",
<https://developer.apple.com/documentation/corehaptics/
representing_haptic_patterns_in_ahap_files>.
[MPEG-Haptics-Coding]
"ISO/IEC DIS 23090-31 Information Technology — Coded
representation of immersive media — Part 31: Haptics
coding", <https://www.iso.org/standard/86122.html>.
[W3C-Vibration]
"W3C Vibration API (Second Edition)",
<https://www.w3.org/TR/vibration/>.
[W3C-Gamepad]
"W3C Gamepad Extensions",
<https://w3c.github.io/gamepad/extensions.html>.
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[IEEE-P191811]
"P1918.1.1 - Haptic Codecs for the Tactile Internet",
<https://standards.ieee.org/project/1918_1_1.html>.
[Media-Type-Registration]
"IANA, Application for a Media Type",
<http://www.iana.org/form/media-types>.
Authors' Addresses
Yeshwant K. Muthusamy
600 Longwood Drive
Allen, TX 75013
United States of America
Phone: +1 469-854-9836
Email: yeshwant@yeshvik.com
Chris Ullrich
311 Court Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
United States of America
Phone: +1 805-320-0774
Email: chrisullrich@gmail.com
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