International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN) URN Definition
Unique worldwide identifiers for films and television shows.
Dolan, M., "International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN) URN Definition", RFC 4246, DOI 10.17487/RFC4246, February 2006, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4246>.
@misc{rfc4246,
series = {Request for Comments},
number = 4246,
howpublished = {RFC 4246},
publisher = {RFC Editor},
doi = {10.17487/RFC4246},
url = {https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4246},
author = {M. Dolan},
title = {{International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN) URN Definition}},
pagetotal = 6,
year = 2006,
month = feb,
} RFC text
Contents
Network Working Group M. Dolan
Request for Comments: 4246 TBT
Category: Informational February 2006
International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN) URN Definition
Status of This Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2006).
Abstract
The International Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN) is a standard
numbering system for the unique and international identification of
audiovisual works. This document is the definition of the formal
Uniform Resource Name (URN) Namespace Identifier (NID) for ISAN.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................2
2. URN Namespace Definition Template ...............................2
3. Formal Syntax ...................................................4
4. Security Considerations .........................................4
5. Namespace Considerations ........................................4
6. Community Considerations ........................................4
7. IANA Considerations .............................................5
8. References ......................................................5
8.1. Normative References .......................................5
8.2. Informative References .....................................5
1. Introduction
This document is the definition of the formal Uniform Resource Name
(URN) Namespace Identifier (NID) for ISAN.
2. URN Namespace Definition Template
The following template is provided in accordance with [RFC3406].
Namespace ID:
ISAN
Registration Information:
Version: 1
Date: 2004 11 22
Declared registrant of the namespace:
Name: ISAN International Agency
Address: 26 rue de St Jean, CH-1203 Geneva, Switzerland
Contact: Mr. Patrick Attallah, Managing Director
Declaration of structure:
The identifier structure is as follows:
URN:ISAN:<ISAN-NSS>
Where ISAN-NSS is conformant to URN syntax requirements defined in
[RFC2141] and is further constrained by [ISO15706] and in this
document. There are two forms, one with the version extension and
one without. The formal BNF is defined in section 2 below.
Examples of the two forms are:
URN:ISAN:0123-1230-3210-2310-1
URN:ISAN:1881-66C7-3420-6541-9-9F3A-0245-U
Relevant ancillary documentation:
ISAN, its syntax, uses and its processes are defined in
[ISO15706].
Identifier uniqueness considerations:
Uniqueness is guaranteed by the ISAN International Agency that
issues the numbers. Numbers are not re-assigned.
Identifier persistence considerations:
Persistence is guaranteed by ISO Registration Authority
processes and contracts with the ISAN International Agency.
Process of identifier assignment:
The details of the assignment process are defined from time to
time by the ISAN International Agency. However, in general, any
approved entity can request an ISAN number by providing the
required metadata information and paying the registration fee.
The ISAN International Agency may delegate to regional or market-
based Registration Agencies for portions of the registration
process.
Process for identifier resolution:
ISAN numbers are resolved by a direct or indirect lookup with the
ISAN International Agency. At this writing, a non-commercial,
manual system is available online at http://www.isan.org. The
resolution procedures may be modified from time to time by the
ISAN International Agency.
Rules for Lexical Equivalence:
The ISAN-NSS is unique by the nature of the ISAN International
Agency's number management. The ISAN-NSS is case-insensitive.
Upper and lower case characters are treated as identical.
Conformance with URN Syntax:
No special considerations. The syntax is fully conformant with
[RFC2141].
Validation mechanism:
The check digits provide syntax integrity. Lookup is via online
and offline services provided by the ISAN International Agency.
Scope: Global.
3. Formal Syntax
The following syntax specification uses an augmented Backus-Naur Form
(BNF) and elements defined in the URN Syntax [RFC2141]. This syntax
here is derived from the syntax definition in [ISO15706], constrained
to prohibit the space character as a separator.
<ISAN-NSS> ::= <root> <episode> [version]
<root> ::= 3*(<hexnum> "-")
<episode> ::= <hexnum> "-" <check>
<version> ::= 2*("-" <hexnum>) "-" <check>
<hexnum> ::= 4*(<hex>)
<check> ::= <upper> | <lower> | <number>
Note that <hex>, <upper>, <lower>, and <number> are defined in
[RFC2141].
4. Security Considerations
This document only defines the syntax and resolution authority for
the ISAN numbers. Details of the resolution process and the security
of the assignment and resolution system processes are defined
external to this document by the ISAN International Agency and thus
outside the scope of this document.
5. Namespace Considerations
ISAN is an external numbering system managed by an external agency
established by ISO. While URN namespaces may exist for which any
generic numbering system can be encoded, there is currently no direct
encoding for ISAN. An example of such a namespace is the MPEG-21
system.
ISAN numbers are reserved for use in identifying audiovisual works
for which there is a moving visual component, or components related
to such a work (e.g. subtitling track).
6. Community Considerations
The primary registrants for ISAN numbers are the producers and
studios of audiovisual works (movies and television shows). While
the system is not constrained to "major" works (any bona fide entity
can register any work), the primary benefits of its use come from
works that are widely distributed. The users of the ISAN system
range from the studios themselves to film and video archives and
libraries, rights administrators, program guide services, and
audience measurement services. Its potential for use in the Internet
community is as an identifier for streaming media.
7. IANA Considerations
This document defines a URN NID registration that is to be entered
into the IANA registry of URN NIDs. It specifically requests the
NID, "ISAN".
8. References
8.1. Normative References
[RFC2141] Moats, R., "URN Syntax", RFC 2141, May 1997.
[ISO15706] ISO 15706, Information and documentation - International
Standard Audiovisual Number (ISAN)
8.2. Informative References
[RFC3406] Daigle, L., van Gulik, D., Iannella, R., and P.
Faltstrom, "Uniform Resource Names (URN) Namespace
Definition Mechanisms", BCP 66, RFC 3406, October 2002.
Author's Address
Michael Dolan
TBT
PO Box 190
Del Mar, CA 92014 USA
EMail: md.1@newtbt.com
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On this page
§1What is ISAN?
ISAN stands for International Standard Audiovisual Number. It is a standard system for assigning unique worldwide identifiers to audiovisual works—anything with moving pictures, including films, television shows, and related materials like subtitling tracks.
RFC 4246 is not about ISAN itself, which is defined externally by the ISO and managed by the ISAN International Agency. Instead, this RFC defines how to express ISAN numbers as URNs (Uniform Resource Names), which are internet-standard ways to write resource identifiers.
ISAN is like a barcode for movies. This document explains how to write that barcode as a computer address, so the internet can use it.
§2URN Namespace Structure
An ISAN expressed as a URN follows the pattern URN:ISAN:[ISAN-NSS], where [ISAN-NSS] is the actual ISAN number. The RFC provides two example forms:
URN:ISAN:0123-1230-3210-2310-1(without version extension)URN:ISAN:1881-66C7-3420-6541-9-9F3A-0245-U(with version extension)
The ISAN number is unique and never reused. The ISAN International Agency, located in Geneva and established through ISO processes, guarantees uniqueness and maintains persistence of the identifiers.
An ISAN as a web name looks like URN:ISAN: followed by the number. That number is unique forever and never gets given to a different movie.
§3Syntax and Format
The ISAN-NSS is made up of hexadecimal characters (0-9, A-F) arranged in groups separated by hyphens. The structure has three main parts:
- A root: three groups of four hexadecimal digits each (12 digits total)
- An episode: one group of four digits plus a check digit
- Optionally a version: additional groups for version extensions plus another check digit
The check digits use a validation scheme to detect syntax errors. The ISAN-NSS is case-insensitive; uppercase and lowercase characters are treated as identical.
The number is written in computer-style hexadecimal (0-9, A-F) with groups split by hyphens. The last digit or two in each group is a checksum that catches typing mistakes.
§4Registration and Resolution
Any approved entity can request an ISAN number from the ISAN International Agency by providing required metadata and paying a registration fee. The Agency may delegate this work to regional or market-based registration agencies.
ISAN numbers are resolved through direct or indirect lookup with the ISAN International Agency. At the time of writing, a non-commercial manual system was available online. Resolution procedures may be modified by the Agency as needed.
Movie studios and archives can ask the ISAN Agency to give them a number for their work. Then they can look up that number later to find information about the film.
§5Use Cases and Scope
ISAN is used primarily by producers and studios of audiovisual works, but also by film and video archives, libraries, rights administrators, program guide services, and audience measurement services. The system is not limited to major works; any bona fide entity can register any work, though the greatest value comes from widely distributed works.
The potential for use in the internet community is as an identifier for streaming media services, content management systems, and digital rights applications. The scope of ISAN URNs is global.
Movie studios use ISAN to track their films, but so do libraries, streaming services and companies that track who watches what. Anyone can register a film, but big blockbusters get the most use out of it.