Global Platform for Rich Media Conferencing and Collaboration
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Global Platform for Rich Media Global Platform for Rich Media Conferencing and CollaborationConferencing and Collaboration
G. Denis, Caltech
RESEARCHRESEARCH
Why to use this technology ?Why to use this technology ?
Collaboration tools and technologies provide a very efficient way to work for spread group of scientists.
They improve the feeling of presence and to be a part of a team.
They avoid the wasted time and money on travels and hotels.
They allow larger collaborations. The frontiers and the distances are not barriers
anymore. The lastest technologies give more than a remote
meeting possibility but ways to share and contribute in documents, applications and developments.
Existing TechnologiesExisting Technologies
1. Through Numerical Telephone Line (Obsolete)ISDN or CODEC (H.320)
Good: secure, good hardware, no packet lost
Bad: expensive, limited bandwidth, not flexible
2. Through IP NetworkGood: flexible, cheap, extensible, no bandwidth
limitation, choice of standard and protocol
Bad: no echo-cancellation always available, no QoS, not so secure
1. Mbone
2. H.323
3. SIP
4. Others
Mbone ToolsMbone Tools
These applications have been developed more 10 years ago to use the Multicast Backbone. The audio and video are split in 2 different applications.
VIC is the video application that can decode and encode several different codecs. It is very flexible and provide controls to set the frame rate, the compression and bandwidth of the video sent. It can display dozens of videos at the same time.
VAT and RAT are the audio applications. There’s no software echo cancellation built-in but they can code and decode a very large number of codecs.
These applications are using RTP/RTCP protocol through unicast or multicast connection.
Were the first videoconf. clients used in VRVS.
H.323 ITU StandardH.323 ITU Standard
The ITU designed this standard for IP conferencing.
It is based on the H.320 philosophy, adapted for IP networks.
The best hardware clients available today implement and use this standard.
It is technology adopted in the professional market.
Every component is expensive. The H.323 multi-point solution (MCU) is complex,
very expensive and limited in term of number of participants and scalability. It requires at least 1 MCU and 1 gatekeeper (kind of LDAP).
The next version of the clients soon will not be limited to 768kbs.
Session Initiation Protocol Session Initiation Protocol
SIP is a signaling protocol for Internet conferencing, telephony, presence and instant messaging.
Developed within the IETF MMUSIC (Multiparty Multimedia Session Control) working group , with work proceeding since September 1999 in the IETF SIP working group.
It is more recent than H.323 and has a better design to fit the IP networks needs, capabilities and constraints. No limitation and very open.
Already adopted by Microsoft (Messenger), Apple (iChat AV) and other open source projects.
Will be supported by VRVS very soon (already working in prototype version).
VRVS DescriptionVRVS Description
VRVS : a Videoconf. ServiceVRVS : a Videoconf. Service
The Virtual Rooms Videoconferencing System have been developed by Caltech since 1995 to provide a world wide videoconference service for education and research communities.
A web based interface provides an easy to use graphical user interface to organize and participate to meetings.
No limitation on participants number. Different technologies and protocols are
supported (and mixed) and allow users to connect their preferred videoconferencing tool.
Supports Mbone, H.323, SIP, QuickTime, Access Grid, JMF and MPEG2.
It is composed of 1 main server and several reflectors (network servers) spread around the world.
Web based interfaceWeb based interface
VRVS provides a natural and intuitive interface to organize and manage your meetings. Several interfaces let you see in 1 shot all current conferences, let you book a new one in 3 clicks. Several academic communities are handled by VRVS. Each one has its specific Virtual Rooms. VRVS manages multi international time zones in a transparent way. Its use does not require technical knowledge nor technician action.
Connection InterfaceConnection Interface
Connect / Disconnect the selected videoconference client Provide different video modes Allow CHAT and Private messages Can share your computer desktop Remote control of video cameras.
co-browsing of web sites real time list of connected participants
share computer desktop with other participants
Example 1: Example 1: 20 participants20 participantsBRAZIL (3 sites) + SWITZERLAND (CERN) + USA (Caltech)BRAZIL (3 sites) + SWITZERLAND (CERN) + USA (Caltech)
Exemple 2: Exemple 2: 17 participants17 participantsJAPAN + UK + SWITZERLAND + BRAZIL + USA (SLAC + FERMILAB)JAPAN + UK + SWITZERLAND + BRAZIL + USA (SLAC + FERMILAB)
Network and SecurityNetwork and Security
The reflectors are inter-connected according the best networking path.
Optimized network bandwidth utilization Possibility of tunneling (TCP or UDP) between
reflector servers. All communications use only ONE port !
are designed in Peer-to-peer with high scalability and flexibility
Solution for Firewall and NAT Perform some packet recovery Dynamically adjust bandwidth for H.323 multipoint
conference between End Points to an overall maximum conference bandwidth
Real-time packet loss monitoring Support up to 16,000 Virtual Rooms (parallel
meetings)
Mbone Mbone ToolsTools
(vic, vat/rat,..)(vic, vat/rat,..)
VRVS Model ImplementationVRVS Model Implementation
donedone Partially donePartially done Work in progressWork in progress Continuously in development
Qo
SQ
oS
VRVS Reflectors (Unicast/Multicast)VRVS Reflectors (Unicast/Multicast)
Real Time Protocol (RTP/RTCP)Real Time Protocol (RTP/RTCP)
SIPSIP
Network Layer (TCP/IP)Network Layer (TCP/IP)
H.323H.323 QuickTimeQuickTimePlayerPlayer
MPEGMPEGMinervaMinerva
Co
llabo
rativ
e
Co
llabo
rativ
e
Ap
plic
atio
ns
Ap
plic
atio
ns
VRVS Web User InterfaceVRVS Web User Interface
Extra FeaturesExtra Features
Virtual Access GridVirtual Access Grid
User can connect to either unicast or multicast videoconferencing with full supported features
User can create his/her own virtual AG node and virtual venues integrated into VRVS
Different Video modes possible:Voice switched: default mode for H.323 clients.
one video stream at a timeTimer switched: browse through all the video
based on preset timer. One video stream at a time.
Selected Streams: Click among the video participants to view selected video streams (one or several streams available).
All Streams
VAG with Mbone ClientsVAG with Mbone Clients
Administration InterfaceAdministration Interface
o Pure Java J2EE + XMLo HTTPS/SSL secure web interfaceo Monitoring reflectors and users in ongoing conferenceo Full control on database
Real-Time MonitoringReal-Time Monitoring
VRVS Virtual SetupVRVS Virtual Setup
1 dual processors PC
With special 4 output graphic card
6400 x 4800 pixels
Most powerful VRVS End Node
What next ?What next ?
Future Features (1/2)Future Features (1/2)
Adaptation to emerging standards: IPv6, SIP
Develop advanced monitoring and tracking tools for ad-hoc conference as well as scheduled multi-site conferences
Improve SecurityTransparent solution for NATConference access control, user authorization
Develop a pure peer-to-peer VRVS reflectors network to be able to handle thousands of parallel sessions.
Future Features (2/2)Future Features (2/2)
Wireless/Mobile Client Integration: User Interface dedicated for small screens Integration of low end client:
Provide dedicated software clients (VVP, JMF)Transcode streams to lower bandwidthSupport MPEG4
Integration of new hardware/software for high-end interactivity. Already developed an MPEG2 MCU (using Minerva codec). Will
port to other codec if demand.Provide dedicated software clients (VVP, JMF)Developed a multipoint videoconferencing system based on MPEG4 compression standard.Developed a system using HDTV standard If affordable hardware devices available.
VRVS UsageVRVS Usage
VRVS : A production service since 1997VRVS : A production service since 1997
USA 1210
Spain 884
Italy 376
Switzerland 330
Brazil 258
France 248
Germany 247
UK 205
Japan 108
Canada 89
Scheduled Multipoint Videoconferences Sessions
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
200120022003
Number of Registered Users: 5200 users 5200 users m 86 Countries
Scheduled Multipoint Videoconferences hours Sessions
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
200120022003
61 users in Slovakia61 users in Slovakia
VRVS Reflectors DeploymentVRVS Reflectors Deployment
Machines and OSMachines and OS
VRVS support different
Operating Systems
according to the need
and the demand of the
final users:
1st : Windows
2nd: Linux
3rd: Macintosh
4th: Other UNIX
Machines used in VRVS
11856
1733923 136
WindowsLinuxMacintoshOthers
Connections from Machines
143760
30021
11805 2045
WindowsLinuxMacintoshOthers
VRVS, Caltech TeamVRVS, Caltech Team
Philippe Galvez Project Leader Pasadena (USA)
Gregory Denis Main Developer Geneva (Switzerland)
David Collados Administration Developer Geneva (Switzerland)
Kun Wei Reflector Developer Pasadena (USA)
Dave Adamczyk CGI, Java and SIP Developer Pasadena (USA)
Joao Correia Support Responsable Geneva (Switzerland)
Pavel Farkas H.261 & H.263 codecs Kosice (Slovakia)
Juraj Sucik Mbone dev. + reflectors deployment
Kosice (Slovakia)
Michal Pauliny Mbone dev. Kosice (Slovakia)
Supported Operating SystemsSupported Operating Systems
1. Windows
2. Linux
3. Mac OS X
4. Other Unix (Solaris, IRIX…)