Bonus Material C

Standards and References

SMPTE Standards

This section includes summary information about the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) standards that relate specifically to the storage and/or recording of video, its compression methods (where applicable), the technical interfaces, mapping of signals onto transports, and other associated video services.

The year following the standard number indicates the last year the standard was either revised, or when in parenthesis, it was archived. Archiving a standard means that the document will no longer be updated or reviewed; yet it retains its standard industry recognition and status.

Component Video Signal 4:2:2

SMPTE 125M-1995: Describes the original television bit-parallel digital interface that is the predecessor to the more familiar SDI interface described in SMPTE 259M. This standard was archived a number of years ago.

Digital Component Format Recording—Type D-1

The following documents, archived a number of years ago, represent the various standards adopted for the recording of component digital signals.

SMPTE 224M-2003: Television Digital Component Recording—19-mm Type D-1—Tape Record

SMPTE 225M-2003: Television Digital Component Recording—19-mm Type D-1—Magnetic Tape

SMPTE 226M-1996: (Archived 2003) Television Digital Recording—19-mm Tape Cassettes

SMPTE 227M-1996: Television Digital Component Recording—19-mm Type D-1—Helical Data and Control Records

SMPTE 228M-1996: Television Digital Component Recording—19-mm Type D-1—Time and Control Code and Cue Records

Digital Composite Format Recording - Type D-2

The following documents, archived a number of years ago, represent the various standards adopted for the recording of composite (4fsc) digital signals. The year indicates the last year the standard was either revised or archived.

SMPTE 245M-1993: (Archived 2004) Television Digital Recording—19-mm Type D-2

Composite Format—Tape Record

SMPTE 246M-2003: Television Digital Recording—19-mm Type D-2 Composite Format—Magnetic Tape

SMPTE 247M-2003: Television Digital Recording—19-mm Type D-2 Composite Format—Helical Data and Control Records

SMPTE 248M-2003: Television Digital Recording—19-mm Type D-2 Composite Format—Cue Record and Time and Control Code Record

Composite Type D-3 and Component Type D-5

SMPTE 263M-2004: Television Digital Recording—1/2-in. Type D-3 Composite and Type D-5 Component Format—Tape Cassette

SMPTE 264M-1998: (Archived 2004) Television Digital Recording—1/2-in. Type D-3 Composite Format—525/60

SMPTE 265M-1998: (Archived 2004) Television Digital Recording—1/2-in. Type D-3 Composite Format—625/50

SMPTE 279M-2001: (Archived 2006) Digital Video Recording—1/2-in. Type D-5 Standard-Definition Component Video and Type HD-D5 High-Definition Video Compressed

Component Digital Type D-6

The D-6 videotape format was developed to enable uncompressed recording for uses by the telecine and film–video production community. It allowed for the following formats to be recorded and played:

Video signal formats, high definition

1920 × 1080 @ 24p

1920 × 1080 @ 23.976p

1920 × 1080 @ 25p

Progressive modes for HDTV video signal formats

1920 × 1080 @ 24sF

1920 × 1080 @ 23.976sF

1920 × 1080 @ 25sF “segmented frame” modes

Interlaced modes for HDTV video signal formats

1920 × 1080 @ 60i

1920 × 1080 @ 59.94i

1920 × 1080 @ 50i 2:1 interlaced modes

Products built for these recording formats included Thomson’s Model DCR 6024 digital videotape recorder, DCR 6128 HiPPi data recorder, and DCR 6000 switchable DFA (digital film applications) recorder under the trade name “VooDoo.” Both Thomson Multimedia Broadcast and Toshiba partnered in this development.

SMPTE 277M-1996 (Archived 2004) Television Digital Recording—19-mm Type D-6—Helical Data, Longitudinal Index, Cue and Control Records

SMPTE 278M-1996 (Archived 2004) Television Digital Recording—19-mm Type D-6—Content of Helical Data and Time and Control Code Records

SDTV Digital Signal/Data—Serial Digital Interface (SDI)

SMPTE 259M: The current (2008) version of SMPTE 259M for standard definition television is an update, which reflects upon the industry’s work that has evolved over the past two decades of active use for the most recognizable digital interface till date. Originally, the intent of SMPTE 259M provided a serial digital connection between equipment that would replace the cumbersome and finicky parallel interface (carried on a 12½ pair cable). At the time of this implementation, uncompressed digital video was considered to be the only payload (with data rates of 144/243/270/360 Mbits/second). Till date, this standard has evolved to also carry multiple flavors of formatted data within the defined payload areas of the transport. Formatting of the data and the types of data to be carried are now defined by other SMPTE standards.

1.5 Gbits/second Signal/Data Serial Interface

SMPTE 292: The current (2008) version of SMPTE 292M, for high-definition television, like SMPTE 259M, is an update, which reflects upon the industry’s work and development of high-definition moving images. HD has evolved over the previous decade to a level that promotes the active use of this implementation in all aspects of video and television production. SMPTE 292M originally provided a serial digital connection between HDTV equipment. At the time of this implementation, uncompressed digital video at a data rate of 1.485 Gbits/second was considered to be the only payload. The standard has become ubiquitous to carrying multiple sets of data and data types in both the payload and the ancillary data space. Formatting of the data and the types of data to be carried are defined by other SMPTE standards.

3.0 Gbits/second Signal/Data Serial Interface

SMPTE 424M: The current (2006) version is a standard for the transport of component digital or packetized data in a bit-serial data structure at the nominal data rate of 3 Gbits/second. Widely known as the method for the carriage of 1080p format high-definition television, it is also being used for the transport of full bandwidth 3D (stereoscopic) signals

and other nontraditional formats in its packetized form.

For the SMPTE 424M interface, source data is via a virtual interface consisting of two 10-bit parallel data streams, which are data stream one and data stream two. The virtual interface is constructed in accordance with the SMPTE 425M standard.

Packet Format and Transmission Timing of DV-Based Data Streams over IEEE 1394

SMPTE 396M: The current (2003) version is a standard for the transmission timing (transport) and the packet format for DV-based 25-Mbits/second, 50-Mbits/second and 100-Mbits/second data streams over an IEEE 1394 interface. The document covers the source packet structure for transmitting the DIF blocks, the definition of a common isochronous packet (CIP) header, the transmission order and timing, and it includes information on both real time and faster than real-time transmission.

The real-time transmission is achieved by transmitting an isochronous packet every 125 μsec (as defined in IEEE 1394), that carries video and audio data. This packet structure is defined in IEC 61883-1. For transmission of a DV-based data stream over an IEEE 1394 interface, digital interface format (DIF) blocks (per SMPTE 314M and SMPTE 370M) are placed into the isochronous packets and transmitted. The DIF blocks are combined to form the basic unit of the video and audio data (called the source packet), which is readied for transmission as an isochronous packet.

The digital interface format progression, called a DIF sequence, is composed of an integral number of 80-byte DIF blocks. A DIF block is the primitive unit for all treatment of DV streams. Each DIF block contains a 3-byte ID header that specifies the type of the DIF block and its position in the DIF sequence. Five types of DIF blocks are defined as follows:

DIF sequence header Subcode Video Auxiliary information (VAUX) Audio—its audio DIF blocks are composed of 5 bytes of Audio Auxiliary data

(AAUX) and 72 bytes of audio data. Video

Image Structure for 1920 × 1080

SMPTE 274M-2008: For television, this standard documents the structure, digital representation, and the digital timing reference parameters for high-definition television image sequences at multiple picture rates. Technically, this defines the family of image sample structures for stationary or moving two-dimensional images, when sampled temporally at a constant frame rate and having a 1920 × 1080 image format (also known as the sample structure) and an aspect ratio of 16:9. The standard further describes the multiple frame and field rates and the 8-bit, 10-bit, and 12-bit systems, as well as the segmented frame interface for progressive signals.

The standard defines and specifies color space encoding and the digital representation parameters of the coloring sequences:

R’G’B’ color encoding

R’G’B’ analog and digital representation

Y’P’BP’R color encoding, analog representation, and analog interface; and

Y’C’BC’R color encoding and digital representation

An optional “alpha-channel,” having the same characteristics as the Y’ or G’ and referred to as an auxiliary component “A,” may accompany R’G’B’ and Y’C’BC’R. When the option is included, these interfaces are denoted as follows:

R’G’B’A

Y’C’BC’R A.

Source: From SMPTE 274M-2008.

Digital Representations of Various Line and Scanning Interfaces

These SMPTE standards describe various high-definition and standard definition (progressive scan) interfaces and representations in use today. The 720 × 483 progressive scan is intended as a 16 × 9 aspect ratio implementation for higher quality imaging in a more conventional EDTV “extended (standard) definition television” application.

SMPTE 293M-2003: Television—720 × 483 Active Line at 59.94-Hz Progressive Scan Production—Digital Representation. The principal application of this standard is for the production of content for EDTV-II, which employs an NTSC letterbox encoding scheme, compatible with SMPTE 170M. The signals in this implementation may be expressed as either R’,G’,B’ or Y’,C’BC’R digital component sets.

SMPTE 294M-2001: Television—720 × 483 Active Line at 59.94-Hz Progressive Scan Production—Bit-Serial Interfaces. This standard describes implementation in both a dual-link

(4:2:2 progressive) and single-link (4:2:0 progressive) interface.

In the dual-link mode, each link operates at 270 Mbits/second, whereby the active data in the Y’,C’BC’R format are equivalent to 8:4:4, which are transparently divided, line sequentially into two data streams, each equivalent to the 4:2:2 component signal of SMPTE 259M.

In the single-link mode, the link operates at 360 Mbits/second, in which the active data representing the color-difference components in the Y’,C’BC’R format are equivalent to 8:4:4, and are field quincunx down-converted by a factor of two, prior to reformatting with the full luminance data, into a single data stream equivalent to the component signal of SMPTE 259M. This later implementation was seldom employed.

Additional factors should be noted. The data rate of 360 Mbits/second is related by a factor of 4/3 to the basic data rate of 270 Mbits/second specified for 4:2:2 component signals in ANSI/SMPTE 259M. The term “line” in this standard refers to the digital line in the 483-line frame raster as described in SMPTE 293M.

SMPTE 295M-1997: (Archived 2003) Television—1920 × 1080 50-Hz—Scanning and Interface. Now archived, this standard provided the variations for the 50-Hz (non-U.S.) implementation of high-definition television.

Image Structure for 1280 × 720

SMPTE 296M-2001: Television—1280 × 720 Progressive Image Sample Structure—Analog and Digital Representation and Analog Interface (R2006). This document describes the 720 progressive scan implementation adopted by both the ABC and FOX television networks.

Source: From SMPTE 296M-2001.

Type D-10 Format

Better known as the Sony IMX format, and formally known as type D-10, is defined in SMPTE 365M, last updated in 2001 and archived in 2006. The standard specifies the formatting for the recording of data blocks containing MPEG-2 compressed video, multiple

channels of AES3 audio, and associated data, which form helical recordings on 12.65-mm (0.5-in.) cassette tapes. It further defines the helical track record parameters, the content and format of the longitudinal records, and the cassette physical specifications.

The video is compressed as MPEG-2 compression, defined by lSO/lEC 13818-2 (the former and formal name for MPEG-2), with the compressed video channel supporting frame frequencies of 30/1.001 Hz (referred to as 525/60) and 25 Hz (referred to as 625/50).

SMPTE 365M-2001: (Archived 2006) Digital Television Tape Recording—12.65-mm Type D-10 Format for MPEG-2 Compressed Video - 525/60 and 625/50. The bit stream (nominally recommended for 50, 40, and 30 Mbits/second) is intended to be a signal source compatible with the type D-10 recording format. It is possible that this same bit stream will be used in other studio applications, in particular those applications where it can be expected that the signal will be recorded by a VTR.

When used as a signal source for the type D-10 recording format, the bit stream is carried by SDTI-CP (per SMPTE 326M), using prescribed and recommended operating point bit rates as defined in the standard’s annex. Other bit rates may also be used; however, users are cautioned that other system design parameters within the studio may not support all bit rates.

Part of this standard’s annex specifies the recommended implementation of a compression model for the type D-10 format digital recorder with an MPEG-2 video-ES (elementary stream) bit rate capacity of up to 50 Mb/s. Internally, the type D-10 compression encoder encodes a baseband video input signal to an MPEG-2 video-ES at 50 Mbits/second; and alternatively, the type D-10 format can record bit streams using the SDTI-CP data interface at bit rates up to and including 50 Mbits/second.

In the SDTI-CP mode, the interface extracts the MPEG-2 video-ES from the SDTI-CP stream, and the type D-10 format transfers that stream transparently to the SDTI-CP output interface (or to an MPEG-2 decoder for conversion to a baseband video signal).

SMPTE 386M-2004: Television—Material Exchange Format (MXF)—Mapping Type D-10 Essence Data to the MXF Generic Container.

Defines the mapping of compressed picture data according to the type D-10 data stream and up to 8 channels of AES3 data into the material exchange format generic container (MXF-GC). This data is directly compatible with SDTI-CP, constrained by the template defined in the recommended practice, SMPTE RP 204.

The MXF generic container (MXF-GC) is a streamable essence container that encapsulates a sequence of one or more content packages (CP). SMPTE standards 379M define the MXF generic container as the native essence container in MXF files; and SMPTE 385M defines a system item that is compatible with SMPTE 326M (SDTI-CP). The latter document also defines how SDTI-CP essence and metadata can be used in the MXF generic container.

In this mapping, the acronym MXF-GC(D-10) is applied.

Type D-11

Better known as the Sony HCDAM format, this standard is specified in SMPTE 367M, as a format for the recording of compressed high-definition digital video. D11 source picture rates can be 24, 24/1.001, 25, or 30/1.001 frames/second progressive scan, or 50 or 60/1.001 fields/second interlaced. The compression bit rates range from 112 to 140 Mbits/second.

The mildly compressed video structure is composed of a luminance channel at 1920 × 1080 pixels and the chrominance channels at 960 × 1080 pixels. During the compression process, each frame’s luminance channel is subsampled at 1440 × 1080, with the chrominance channel subsampled at 480 × 1080.

Type D-11 encoding uses intraframe coding (i.e., I-frame only, where the coding is bound by the frame period) employing the discrete cosine transform (DCT) to provide the data decorrelation required for efficient compression. The coefficients are quantized and variable length coded (VLC) to produce the basic output data format.

SMPTE 367M-2002: Type D-11 Picture Compression and Data Stream Format.

This standard specifies the compression for high-definition video to a dual-channel, packetized data stream, which is suitable for recording on disc and tape storage devices (including type D-11 tape recorder). There are a number of basic packetizing operations, such as the shuffling of the source data prior to compression, that both aid in compression performance and allow for error concealment processing in the decoder.

The standard supports high-definition source formats using 1920 × 1080 pixels and the sampling structures specified in SMPTE 274M and SMPTE RP 211 at the following picture rates:

PsF, Progressive Segmented Frame.Base Data rate is the Recorded Data Rate.

In this implementation, the data packet format is used as the source data stream for associated documents (listed below), which also map this type D-11 packetized data stream format together with AES3 data over SDTI (per SMPTE 305).

Other associated standards related to the D-11 format include:

SMPTE 368M-2002: (Archived 2007) Digital Television Tape Recording—12.65-mm Type D-11 Format

SMPTE 369M-2002: (Archived 2007) Television—Type D-11 Data Stream and AES3 Data Mapping over SDTI

SMPTE 387M-2004: Television—Material Exchange Format (MXF)—Mapping Type D-11 Essence Data to the MXF Generic Container

Types D-14 and D-15

The two half-inch, helical scan digital tape formats used for standard (D-14) and high (D-15) definition recording.

SMPTE 398M-2004 Digital Video Recording—1/2-in. Type D-14 Component Format—525/60 and 625/50

It specifies the content, format, and recording method of the data blocks containing video,

audio, and associated data for the helical recording format contained on 12.65-mm (0.5-in.) tape. It further specifies the content, format, and recording method of the longitudinal record containing tracking information for the scanning head associated with the helical records, as well as the longitudinal cue audio and time and control code tracks.

The digital format allows for one channel of video, and eight independent audio data channels, which can be represented as digitized audio and data in AES-3 format.

Both 525 and 625 line standards in 60 Hz (59.94) and 50 Hz are included in this specification.

SMPTE 399M-2004 Digital Television Recording—1/2-in Type D-15 High-Definition Compressed Video Data Format

The high-definition version of its standard definition counterpart SMPTE 398M, this document specifies the content, format, and recording method of the data blocks containing compressed video data, AES3 audio data, and associated data (tracking data, time code longitudinal recordings, and so on), which form the helical records on 12.65-mm (0.5-in.) tape.

The HD video compressed data are derived from these HD video signals:

1080 line/59.94 Hz field frequency interlace system (1080/59.94i)

720 line/59.94 Hz frame frequency progressive system (720/59.94p)

1080 line/50 Hz field frequency interlace system (1080/50i)

1080 line/25 Hz frame frequency progressive system (1080/25p)

1080 line/24 Hz frame frequency progressive system (1080/24p)

1080 line/23.98 Hz frame frequency progressive system (1080/23.98p)

Storage and Bus Industry Organizations

The following industry and trade organizations are active participants in the development of storage technologies, network infrastructures and physical interfaces between systems. Most of them have significant contributions in the areas of standards and manufacturing practices.

10 Gbit Ethernet Alliance

It promotes standards based on 10 Gb Ethernet technology, encourages the utilization and implementation of 10 Gbit Ethernet as a key networking technology for connectivity of various computing, data and telecommunications devices, and supports the standard efforts as conducted in the IEEE 802.3 working committee.

http://www.10gea.org

1394 Trade Association

Founded in 1994, supports the development of computer and consumer electronics systems that can be easily connected with each other via a single serial multimedia link.

http://www.1394ta.org

Advanced Intelligent Tape Forum (AIT Forum)

Industry consortium of hardware and software vendors formed in 1999 to advance the adoption of AIT drive and format technology as a premiere industry standard. The AIT Forum no longer exists; its domain name was acquired by Qualstar.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

Responsible for organizing and coordinating the creation of standards in the United States.

Technical Committee T10 (SCSI standards)

Technical Committee T13 (AT attachment standard)

http://www.ansi.org

Association of Storage Networking Professionals (ASNP)

Worldwide member organization of storage networking end users, an open forum for members to discuss real-world problems and solutions related to storage networking.

http://www.asnp.org also http://community.stortoc.org/index.html

Blu-ray Disc Association

http://www.blu-raydisc.com/index.htm

Content Delivery & Storage Association (CDSA)

Formerly the International Recording Media Association (IRMA) and founded in 1970, CDSA is an international content protection association, serving as a worldwide forum advocating the innovative and responsible delivery and storage of entertainment, software and information content.

The organization’s worldwide acclaim for its antipiracy and content protection standards has focused its activities on protecting entertainment IP throughout the supply chain, both prerelease and postrelease content.

CDSA went under the management of the Media & Entertainment Services Alliance (MESA) in 2010.

http://www.cdsaonline.org

http://mesalliance.org

DVD Forum

International association of hardware manufacturers, software firms, content providers, and other users of Digital Versatile Discs whose purpose is to exchange and disseminate ideas and information about the DVD format including its technical capabilities, improvements, and innovations. Membership is open to any corporation or organization which is engaged in activities related to DVD research, development, and/or manufacturing.

http://www.dvdforum.org/forum.shtml

Ethernet Alliance

The industry voice representing the spectrum of standards-based Ethernet, assisting industry with the on-going incubation, development, interoperability testing, and support of technologies based or dependent upon Ethernet standards. As a global community that includes system vendors, component vendors, end users, industry experts, and university and government professionals, the Alliance is committed to the continued success and expansion of Ethernet technology.

http://www.ethernetalliance.org

FibreAlliance

Formed through the efforts of EMC Corporation in February 1999, with a goal to develop and implement standard methods for managing heterogeneous Fibre Channel-based networks of storage systems (SANs), connectivity equipment and computer servers. On behalf of the member companies, EMC submitted the engineering MIB resulting from the work of the FibreAlliance, to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), signifying a request for the IETF to consider the MIB as the basis of SAN management standards.

http://www.emc.com/microsites/fibrealliance

Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA)

Nonprofit international organization supporting independent technology and the marketing voice of the Fibre Channel industry. FCIA members include manufacturers, system integrators, developers, vendors, industry professionals, and end users. Working groups and committees focus on creating and championing the Fibre Channel technology roadmaps, targeting applications that include data storage, video, networking, and storage area network (SAN) management.

http://www.fibrechannel.org

InfiniBandⓇ Trade Association (IBTA)

Founded in 1999, INTA is chartered with maintaining and furthering the InfiniBand™ specification. IBTA is responsible for compliance and interoperability testing of commercial products. The IBTA steering committee includes IBM, Intel, Mellanox, Oracle, QLogic, and Voltaire.

The IBTA actively markets and promotes InfiniBand™ technology from an industry perspective through online, marketing and public relations engagements, and unites the industry through IBTA-sponsored technical events and resources.

http://www.infinibandta.org

Information Storage Industry Consortium (INSIC)

Research consortium for the information storage industry, consisting of more than 65 corporations, universities, and government organizations with common interests in the field of digital information storage. INSIC headquarters are in San Diego, California, originally incorporated in April 1991 as NSIC as a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation.

http://www.insic.org

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

The world largest standards developing organization, founded in 1947, publishing more than 18,000 International Standards ranging from agriculture and construction, through mechanical engineering, to medical devices, and to the newest information technology developments.

Organisation internationale de normalisation (French)

http://www.iso.org

iVDR Consortium

First established March 5, 2002 by Canon Inc., Fujitsu Limited, Hitachi, Ltd., Phoenix Technologies K.K., Pioneer Corporation, SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation and Victor Company of Japan, Limited; iVDR stands for “information Versatile Device for Removable usage.” The consortium name was changed from “iVDR Hard Disk Drive Consortium” to its present name in May 2009.

http://www.ivdr.org/en/index.html

Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Program

The LTO Program was formed in 1997 with three companies HP, IBM, and Quantum to jointly oversee the development and roadmap of Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology. LTO is an open format specification designed to simplify the complex array of tape storage options.

http://www.lto.org/

Magnetic Disk Heritage Center (MDHC)

Preserves the story and historic legacy of the magnetic disk drive industry in terms of the technology, the products and their applications to reflect the advances and their impact on society through media and publications. Founded at Santa Clara University (2001) in recognition of the approaching fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the first magnetic disk data storage device for the electronic computer age at 99 Notre Dame, San Jose, California.

In 2005, MDHC was changed to a separate nonprofit organization and relocated to the Computer History Museum (CHM).

http://www.magneticdiskheritagecenter.org

http://www.computerhistory.org

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

An agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, founded in 1901 as the nation’s first federal physical science research laboratory. NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve the quality of life.

http://www.nist.gov

OpenFabrics Alliance (OFA)

Develops, tests, licenses, supports and distributes OpenFabrics Enterprise Distribution (OFED™) open source software for high-performance networking applications that demand low latency and high scalability. OFA also provides forums for education, training, and collaborative roadmap development related to OFED and use of the software by OEMs and end users.

http://www.openfabrics.org/

Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA)

An international trade association incorporated in 1992 to promote the use of recordable optical technologies and products. Membership includes optical product manufacturers and resellers from three continents, representing more than 85% of worldwide writable optical product shipments.

OSTA conducts forums and meetings of Commercial Optical Storage Applications (COSA), DVD Compatibility, MusicPhotoVideo (MVP), UDF committees, and the ad hoc Blue Laser committee.

http://www.osta.org/

SCSI Trade Association

Member organization focusing on SCSI and SAS.

http://www.scsita.org/

Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO)

Members of the SATA II Working Group created the international organization that owns and manages SATA specifications as open-industry standards. This not-for-profit organization defines and implements evolving SATA storage specifications in response to industry needs.

http://www.sata-io.org

Storage Industry Networking Association

SNIA, incorporated in December 1997, is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to developing and promoting standards, technologies, and educational services to empower organizations in the management of information.

SNIA forms and sponsors Technical Work Groups (TWGs), produces the Storage Networking World Conference with their strategic partner Computerworld. SNIA maintains a vendor neutral Technology Center in Colorado Springs.

http://www.snia.org

Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC)

A nonprofit corporation formed to establish, maintain, and endorse a standardized set of relevant benchmarks that can be applied to the newest generation of high-performance computers. SPEC develops benchmark suites, reviews, and publishes results from their member organizations and other benchmark licensees.

http://www.spec.org