Press Release: Picture Transfer Protocol – PTP -- NOW AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Sept. 26, 2005 -- The
International Imaging Industry Association (I3A), the leading global association
for the imaging industry, today announced that the widely supported Picture
Transfer Protocol (PTP) for Digital Still Photography Devices, originally
developed by I3A's IT10 Standards Committee, has been published as ISO
(International Organization for Standardization) 15740.. I3A serves as
secretariat for ISO TC (technical committee) 42, which develops and approves
international photography standards, with a focus on advanced digital imaging.
I3A also serves as administrator of the <http://www.i3a.org/tc42.html>USA
Technical Advisory Group for the ISO/TC42 committee.
PTP enables the transfer of digital images from
cameras to other devices without additional device drivers. Transport- and
platform-independent, it has proven so valuable that it is now built into
virtually all new digital cameras and photo printers, and it is natively
supported by all major computer operating systems.
With PTP,
digital cameras can exchange images with host computers, printers, other digital
capture devices, kiosks, and image storage and display devices. Before the
advent of PTP, solutions for image transfer were based on proprietary software
created by individual vendors, and devices from different manufacturers often
could not communicate. The interoperability resulting from the widespread
adoption of PTP greatly reduces consumers’ frustration at the difficulty
of transferring photos from camera to computer, printer, or kiosk, and it will
significantly contribute to the ongoing growth in sales of digital cameras and
associated devices.
“It is gratifying to see the
collaborative work of I3A sponsored standards committees being recognized and
adopted universally and globally,” said Lisa Walker, President of I3A.
“PTP is a textbook case demonstrating the value of an industry
organization like I3A, serving as the incubator for imaging standards in our own
IT 10 standards committee, then refining these standards in our role as the U.S.
administrator for ISO's TC 42. This new ISO PTP standard benefits the end
customer, the I3A member companies, and the industry as a whole, and I applaud
the work of the companies who have participated at the incubator stage as well
as at the ISO level.”
PTP was developed within the I3A IT10
Electronic Still Picture Imaging Committee by a group of companies that included
Eastman Kodak Company, HP, FotoNation and Microsoft Corporation. The PTP
standard was then published by I3A IN 2000 and subsequently submitted to ISO for
international standardization.
The process to develop an international
standard involves rigorous review and voting by ISO members, which are the
national standards bodies of countries all over the world: the United States has
one vote in this process, and I3A administers the balloting body for U.S.
participation. The ISO designation is by no means automatically awarded: a
standard can be modified during ISO development, augmented or even rejected.
“Ease
of use is paramount, whether taking, sharing or printing pictures,” said
Tim Looney, Manager of Digital Systems Standards, Eastman Kodak Company.
“Through our work on the PTP standard, used as part of all Kodak EasyShare
digital cameras, software, and printers, we’re helping millions of people
around the world enjoy the countless benefits of digital
photography.”
"The availability of PTP has meant that HP
engineers could develop innovative new devices and enhance existing ones,
regardless of platform, and assure interoperability so that our customers have
the best possible experience with our products," said George Lynch, Strategic
Technology Manager, Imaging and Printing Group, Hewlett Packard. "Seeing PTP
become a global standard validates our hard work within I3A and in our own
company."
In
addition to serving as the secretariat for the standards committees that
developed PTP, I3A serves as the registration authority for PTP vendor extension
IDs, such as those used by Microsoft’s Media Transfer Protocol and
Kodak’s ImageLink Printing System protocol, as well as various camera
company proprietary vendor extensions.
To ensure that the ISO PTP standard is swiftly
implemented by device manufacturers and software developers, I3A is planning to
create resources for the development community, which could include support
documents, technical white papers, tools and conformance guidelines, and a
directory of PTP-compliant products. I3A is also preparing to drive technical
development of the next generation PTP standard, via its unique Initiative
process.
About the International Imaging Industry
Association (I3A)
I3A is the leading global imaging industry
association, driving growth of and setting standards for the photographic and
information imaging markets. As the industry focal point, I3A offers a
framework and environment where members can quickly find resources to solve
critical issues and develop market solutions. Members of I3A work together to
find common ground for advancing the industry and to enable better products and
services for their customers.
I3A is an accredited Standards Developing
Organization, serving as secretariat for the International Organization for
Standardization Technical Committee 42 (ISO/TC42) on Photography, and as
administrator for the USA Technical Advisory Group for this committee.
Information about I3A can be found on the World Wide Web at www.i3a.org or by
phone at 914-285-4933.
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Posted: Wed - September 28, 2005 at 03:30 PM