Digital audiobook file format and player requirements

IEC 62571:2011 defines requirements and provides recommendations to publishers, software developers, content providers, and hardware manufacturers for the data structure, usability requirements, playback systems and delivery systems for audiobooks in digital file format. It should be noted that throughout this International Standard, the term audiobook is defined as any audio file or collection of audio files of primarily spoken word content that are played in a linear or specified order. Therefore, spoken word audio with occasional music, a narration of newspaper articles, or other similar spoken word audio is assimilated to audiobooks in this standard. This bilingual version (2011-07) replaces the English version.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
28-Mar-2011
Current Stage
PPUB - Publication issued
Start Date
31-May-2011
Completion Date
29-Mar-2011
Ref Project

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IEC 62571 ®
Edition 1.0 2011-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Digital audiobook file format and player requirements

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: inmail@iec.ch
Web: www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
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Vocabulary online.
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IEC 62571 ®
Edition 1.0 2011-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Digital audiobook file format and player requirements

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
XD
ICS 33.160.60; 35.240.30 ISBN 978-2-88912-426-8

– 2 – 62571  IEC:2011(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 7
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 General . 9
4 MultiAudio audiobook extensions . 11
4.1 Table of contents . 11
4.2 Description . 14
4.2.1 General . 14
4.2.2 Tag.Identifier . 14
4.2.3 Tag.OrdinalNumber . 14
4.2.4 Tag.Reserved . 14
4.2.5 Tag.Length . 14
4.2.6 Data . 14
5 Audiobook extendable structure (AB_ExtStruct) . 15
5.1 General . 15
5.2 Tag . 15
5.3 Offset to extra data. 15
5.4 Fixed length chunk (AB_FixedChunk) . 15
5.4.1 General . 15
5.4.2 Example . 16
5.5 Variable length chunk (AB_VariableChunk) . 16
5.5.1 General . 16
5.5.2 Example . 17
5.6 Extra data . 18
6 Audiobook header (AB_Header) . 18
6.1 General . 18
6.2 Tag . 18
6.3 AB_Header fixed chunk . 18
6.3.1 General . 18
6.3.2 Tag . 19
6.3.3 Audiobook specification major version . 19
6.3.4 Audiobook specification minor version . 19
6.3.5 Number of audiobooks (N_Bk) . 19
6.3.6 Offset to playlist indexes . 19
6.4 AB_Header variable chunk . 19
6.4.1 General . 19
6.4.2 Tag . 19
6.4.3 Playlist indexes . 20
6.5 AB_Header extra data . 20
7 Audiobook book (AB_Book) . 20
7.1 General . 20
7.2 Tag . 21
7.3 AB_Book fixed chunk . 21
7.3.1 General . 21
7.3.2 Tag . 22

62571  IEC:2011(E) – 3 –
7.3.3 Text format . 22
7.3.4 Flags . 22
7.3.5 TOC_Playlist index . 22
7.3.6 Offset to book title . 22
7.3.7 Offset to author . 22
7.3.8 Offset to narrator . 22
7.3.9 Offset to copyright statement . 22
7.3.10 Offset to audiobook UUID . 22
7.3.11 Offset to book ISBN identifier . 23
7.3.12 Offset to book ISSN identifier . 23
7.3.13 Offset to book DOI identifier . 23
7.3.14 Offset to book index number . 23
7.3.15 Offset to book shelf number . 23
7.3.16 Offset to book part number . 23
7.3.17 Offset to other identifier . 23
7.3.18 Offset to first audiobook level . 23
7.3.19 Offset to playlist content location identifier . 23
7.4 AB_Book variable chunk . 24
7.4.1 General . 24
7.4.2 Tag . 24
7.4.3 Book title . 24
7.4.4 Author . 25
7.4.5 Narrator . 25
7.4.6 Copyright Statement . 25
7.4.7 Book UUID . 25
7.4.8 Book ISBN Identifier . 25
7.4.9 Book ISSN Identifier . 25
7.4.10 Book DOI Identifier . 26
7.4.11 Book index number . 26
7.4.12 Book shelf number . 26
7.4.13 Book part number . 26
7.4.14 Other identifier . 26
7.4.15 First audiobook level . 26
7.4.16 Playlist content location identifier . 27
7.5 AB_Book extra data. 27
8 Audiobook level (AB_Level) . 27
8.1 General . 27
8.2 Tag . 28
8.3 AB_Level fixed chunk . 28
8.3.1 General . 28
8.3.2 Tag . 28
8.3.3 Text format . 29
8.3.4 Flags . 29
8.3.5 Number of sub-levels . 29
8.3.6 Level number . 29
8.3.7 TOC_TrackEntry index . 29
8.3.8 Offset to sub-level chunk . 29
8.3.9 Offset to level name . 29
8.3.10 Offset to level description . 29

– 4 – 62571  IEC:2011(E)
8.3.11 Book time offset . 29
8.3.12 Time start offset . 29
8.3.13 Time duration . 30
8.3.14 Offset to parent AB_Level . 30
8.3.15 Offset to previous AB_Level . 30
8.3.16 Offset to next AB_Level . 30
8.4 AB_Level variable chunk .
...


IEC 62571 ®
Edition 1.0 2011-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Digital audiobook file format and player requirements

Exigences relatives au format de fichier de livre audio et aux lecteurs

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either IEC or
IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester.
If you have any questions about IEC copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication,
please contact the address below or your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

Droits de reproduction réservés. Sauf indication contraire, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite
ni utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie
et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de la CEI ou du Comité national de la CEI du pays du demandeur.
Si vous avez des questions sur le copyright de la CEI ou si vous désirez obtenir des droits supplémentaires sur cette
publication, utilisez les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de la CEI de votre pays de résidence.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: inmail@iec.ch
Web: www.iec.ch
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.
 Catalogue of IEC publications: www.iec.ch/searchpub
The IEC on-line Catalogue enables you to search by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical committee,…).
It also gives information on projects, withdrawn and replaced publications.
 IEC Just Published: www.iec.ch/online_news/justpub
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published details twice a month all new publications released. Available
on-line and also by email.
 Electropedia: www.electropedia.org
The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and electrical terms containing more than 20 000 terms and definitions
in English and French, with equivalent terms in additional languages. Also known as the International Electrotechnical
Vocabulary online.
 Customer Service Centre: www.iec.ch/webstore/custserv
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need further assistance, please visit the Customer Service
Centre FAQ or contact us:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tel.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
A propos de la CEI
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normes internationales pour tout ce qui a trait à l'électricité, à l'électronique et aux technologies apparentées.

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publications parues. Disponible en-ligne et aussi par email.
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Le premier dictionnaire en ligne au monde de termes électroniques et électriques. Il contient plus de 20 000 termes et
définitions en anglais et en français, ainsi que les termes équivalents dans les langues additionnelles. Egalement appelé
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Service clients ou contactez-nous:
Email: csc@iec.ch
Tél.: +41 22 919 02 11
Fax: +41 22 919 03 00
IEC 62571 ®
Edition 1.0 2011-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Digital audiobook file format and player requirements

Exigences relatives au format de fichier de livre audio et aux lecteurs

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX XE
ICS 33.160.60; 35.240.30 ISBN 978-2-88912-603-3

– 2 – 62571  IEC:2011
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 7
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 General . 9
4 MultiAudio audiobook extensions . 11
4.1 Table of contents . 11
4.2 Description . 14
4.2.1 General . 14
4.2.2 Tag.Identifier . 14
4.2.3 Tag.OrdinalNumber . 14
4.2.4 Tag.Reserved . 14
4.2.5 Tag.Length . 14
4.2.6 Data . 14
5 Audiobook extendable structure (AB_ExtStruct) . 15
5.1 General . 15
5.2 Tag . 15
5.3 Offset to extra data. 15
5.4 Fixed length chunk (AB_FixedChunk) . 15
5.4.1 General . 15
5.4.2 Example . 16
5.5 Variable length chunk (AB_VariableChunk) . 16
5.5.1 General . 16
5.5.2 Example . 17
5.6 Extra data . 18
6 Audiobook header (AB_Header) . 18
6.1 General . 18
6.2 Tag . 18
6.3 AB_Header fixed chunk . 18
6.3.1 General . 18
6.3.2 Tag . 19
6.3.3 Audiobook specification major version . 19
6.3.4 Audiobook specification minor version . 19
6.3.5 Number of audiobooks (N_Bk) . 19
6.3.6 Offset to playlist indexes . 19
6.4 AB_Header variable chunk . 19
6.4.1 General . 19
6.4.2 Tag . 19
6.4.3 Playlist indexes . 20
6.5 AB_Header extra data . 20
7 Audiobook book (AB_Book) . 20
7.1 General . 20
7.2 Tag . 21
7.3 AB_Book fixed chunk . 21
7.3.1 General . 21
7.3.2 Tag . 22

62571  IEC:2011 – 3 –
7.3.3 Text format . 22
7.3.4 Flags . 22
7.3.5 TOC_Playlist index . 22
7.3.6 Offset to book title . 22
7.3.7 Offset to author . 22
7.3.8 Offset to narrator . 22
7.3.9 Offset to copyright statement . 22
7.3.10 Offset to audiobook UUID . 22
7.3.11 Offset to book ISBN identifier . 23
7.3.12 Offset to book ISSN identifier . 23
7.3.13 Offset to book DOI identifier . 23
7.3.14 Offset to book index number . 23
7.3.15 Offset to book shelf number . 23
7.3.16 Offset to book part number . 23
7.3.17 Offset to other identifier . 23
7.3.18 Offset to first audiobook level . 23
7.3.19 Offset to playlist content location identifier . 23
7.4 AB_Book variable chunk . 24
7.4.1 General . 24
7.4.2 Tag . 24
7.4.3 Book title . 24
7.4.4 Author . 25
7.4.5 Narrator . 25
7.4.6 Copyright Statement . 25
7.4.7 Book UUID . 25
7.4.8 Book ISBN Identifier . 25
7.4.9 Book ISSN Identifier . 25
7.4.10 Book DOI Identifier . 26
7.4.11 Book index number . 26
7.4.12 Book shelf number . 26
7.4.13 Book part number . 26
7.4.14 Other identifier . 26
7.4.15 First audiobook level . 26
7.4.16 Playlist content location identifier . 27
7.5 AB_Book extra data.
...

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