[legalxml-transcripts] Meeting Notes - OASIS LegalXML Transcript TC -Tuesday 15th October 5:00 pm USA EST

[Eddie O'Brien <eddie@ringtailsolutions.com>]

Greetings,

 

The Transcripts TC meeting went ahead as planned. Please find attached the meeting notes.

 

These will be posted to the http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/legalxml-transcripts/ web page.

 

Thank you all for getting this important work off to a flying start and for the stimulating exchange.

 

Regards

 

Eddie O'Brien

 

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OASIS LegalXML Transcript TC - 5:00 pm USA EST

 

Date: Tuesday 15th October

 

Time of call:                             5:00 PM Eastern Time

Conference Dial-in:                    512-225-3050

Conference Guest Code:            84759#

Duration of the call:                   1.0 hrs.

Agenda:

• The Transcripts TC Charter http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/legalxml-transcripts/charter.shtml review:
  • Introduction,
  • Purpose,
  • Requirements,
  • Constraints,
  • Deliverables,
  • Milestones,
  • Meeting Dates.
• General structure and responsibilities should also be reviewed.

Meeting Notes: 

 

• Introduction - The meeting moved at a brisk pace and focused largely at the issues of substance related to organizing the TC for the creation of a useful legal transcripts standard. Eddie thanked the people who attended this first LegalXML OASIS Transcripts TC meeting.
• Charter Review: A broad review of the charter took place and it was substantially agreed the charter represented the general goals and objectives of the Transcripts TC. The key focus being to develop coordinated and unified standards for both realtime and static legal transcripts.
• Realtime Transcript Standard: A general discussion took place where Chad Theriot agreed to lead the effort for a Realtime Standard. This work will include the review and definition of requirements and the creation of a real time transcript standard.
  We also discussed the role of audio and video streaming and the impact on emerging real-time depositions and trial using web casts, web conferencing and videoconferencing. The group concluded that these technologies are part of assessing standards for real-time transcription and the preservation of the the deposition or Court Record for multi-media proceedings.  
• Static Transcript Standard: A general discussion took place where Betty Harvey agreed to lead the effort for a Static Standard. This work will include the review and definition of requirements, familiarization and review of the original Draft DTD Transcript Standard from LegalXML and the creation of a real time transcript standard. The Draft Standard DTD can be located at http://www.legalxml.org/archives/Transcripts/WD_10002.htm 
  We also discussed the role of links and citations to external materials such as exhibits.  There was some concern about the durability of links to web-based resources.  The group agreed that links needed used in transcript retrieval software that allows someone browsing the transcript to call up an image, document record or an annotation.  There was no concern about the persistence of the linked object if is embedded in database or on CD-ROM as in an electronic brief.
• Data Dictionary: A general discussion took place where the need for a unifying data dictionary as a common architectural basis was agreed. This data dictionary will primarily ensure a unified approach for either a stand-alone document or part of the data dictionary for defining the rules for the XML architecture, i.e., element-attribute naming conventions, standard abbreviations, etc. It was also agreed that wherever possible and practical general legal and industry conventions would be applied. Eddie O'Brien agreed to lead the effort for this process. 
• Transcript TC Membership: A general conversation took place with respect to the desirable membership and contributors required to develop a useful transcript standard. The following groups were outlined as key stakeholders or beneficiaries of a Transcript standard:
  • NCRA - National Court Reporters Association: Eddie mentioned that there was an interest from the NCRA in nominating a representative if a suitable person could be found. Eddie will follow-up.
  • NVRA - National Verbatim Reporters Association. Chad agreed to speak to this group with a view to attracting their input.
  • AAERT - Audio and Electronic Reporters - Eddie agreed to solicite the interest of this group.
  • Vendors - There are a wide range of vendors that could be interested in contributing to a standard. These include: Computer Aided Transcription (CAT) vendors such as Stenograph, Procat, Eclipse, Stenovations, Cheetah, etc. Transcript Analysis vendors such as Live Note, Real Legal, Summation, etc. and also Court Reporting companies. It was agreed that a general effort to encourage the participation of these companies was desirable.
  • Federal and State Courts - as many courts have significant investment in the court record it would be desirable to have extensive contribution from this area.
• Other Discussion Points:
  • It was agreed that we should review related standards that could help the develop the Transcript standards. Initiatives such as JABBER, SMIL, EBxml and others were referenced for further review. Jabber is an XML standard for instant messaging that may be useful in real-time transcript.  SMIL is an xml standard for media integration and ebXML has completed a standard for message transfer. 
  • It was agreed that other W3C standards and OASIS initiatives should be reviewed as appropriate to the goals of this TC. 
• Next Meeting: The date of Tuesday 12th November was suggested as a next telephone conference call. This may need to be changed to comply with the 30 day notice period for OASIS TC meetings.  The next meeting should be established sometime early in December 2002. Suggested dates will be posted shortly.

 

Eddie O’Brien