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

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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

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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

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100

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300

400

500

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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

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500

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1500

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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)

WWW.VRVS.ORGWWW.VRVS.ORG

Contact@VRVS.org

Support@VRVS.org

Supported Operating SystemsSupported Operating Systems

1. Windows

2. Linux

3. Mac OS X

4. Other Unix (Solaris, IRIX…)