Technology Guidelines

Version: 2.1
Status: Proposed: 5/18/01
Contact: Teresa Thomas

To provide a set of guidelines for the selection of H.323 quarter screen desktop video conferencing systems.

This guideline defines the technology tested for quarter-screen options for "best effort" H.323 desktop video conferencing.

This guideline is applicable to all colleges and campuses within VCCS.

The H.323 Standard is a logical extension of the H.320 standard to enable intranets and packet-switched networks to transport multimedia and videoconference traffic, instead of using ISDN. The Standard spans the technical requirements for narrow and wide band visual telephony services that include one or more LAN's. H.323 recommendations cover the IP devices that participate and control H.323 sessions and the elements that interact with the switched circuit network. The H.323 Standard allows for any combination of video, audio, and data to be shared between clients, thus allowing more flexibility than older video standards.

Potential uses of the H.323 video technology include the following applications:

• Conduct face-to-face meetings with one or more participants.
• Conduct face-to-face meetings with multiple H.323 desktop client or Netmeeting participants.
• Participate in video streaming broadcasts.
• Share documents, spreadsheets, files, and collaborative white boarding ideas.
• Interact with colleagues, inside and outside the VCCS, without the extra travel and time expenses associated with current meetings.
• Distance learning, counseling, security and more.

The H.323 standard provides for a long-term solution in that it implements a methodology that is scaleable and will strive to provide quality of service throughout VCCS.

The PictureTel LiveLan 3.0 and 550's have been tested up to 384 Kbps and point-to-point calls have been successful. Additionally, up to 5 sites have been tested using multipoint at lower bandwidth (178 Kbps).

VCON provides desktop conferencing as well as the ability to participate in IP/TV video broadcasts. In order to participate in IP/TV streams across Net.Work.Virginia, additional network and management research is required.

H.323 requirements:

NOTE: Quarter screen desktop videoconference is supported through existing switched campus network at a "Best Effort" level of service.  This is due to the limitations of IP and Internet technology.

In the next phase of research, the goal is to develop an effective model and guideline for managing and operating an H.323 videoconferencing service over Net.Work.Virginia. Specifically, how is the network managed on the campus and Net.Work.Virginia to ensure efficient use of the available bandwidth and the best possible service?

• Support H.323 ITU standard.
• 30fps.
• Support customer based scheduling packages for point-to-point and multipoint conferences.
• Expand the scope of videoconferencing to support variable speed connectivity capabilities. Low-end 384 Kbps, up to 1.5 Mbps.
• Support comprehensive configuration for audio, video and collaborative computing.
• Provide network monitoring tools.
• Supports H.323 Gatekeeper functions, which manage "network loading" by enabling administrators to restrict available bandwidth for conferencing, eliminating the congestion and blockage of other types of traffic simultaneously using the network.
• Endorsed by leading industry vendors and organizations, including Cisco Systems, Microsoft, PictureTel, VCON and Intel.
• Conferences can include endpoints with various capabilities. For instance, an audio-only client can participate in a conference with clients that support video and/or data. An H.323 compliant multimedia terminal can share the data portion of a videoconference with a T.120 data-only terminal, while sharing, video, audio and data with other H.323 clients.

Video Network Requirements:

Desktop video conferencing will use the existing switched campus and wide area networks as a method to transport video, audio and data from one desktop, server or conference room video system to one or more video enabled desktops within or outside the VCCS. The ITU H.323 Video/Audio and ITU T.120 Data sharing Standards will ensure interoperability between desktops, conferencing room and conferencing centers.

Available bandwidth, video/audio hardware, and encoding and/or decoding compression rates will affect video quality across "best effort" networks. Network congestion will also impact videoconferencing calls, as bursty data traffic competes with H.323 videoconferencing traffic. All of these variables affect what we see, hear and share on our current Local and Wide Area Networks.

Video Connectivity:

An individual should be able to use their desktop video conferencing capabilities anytime, based on availability of network resources. Multipoint conferencing will require the scheduling of the conference and notifying attendees of the pending meeting. A Web based application is currently being purchased to provide this support.

The minimum components of the Desktop Videoconferencing PC include:

Desktop:
An area suitable for video and that would not interfere with other co-workers/students. The office should be wired with category 5 cabling, electrical power, telephone, and access to Local and Wide Area Networks.

Personal Computer:
A H.323 standards based codec and video software with a suitably sized monitor, speakers/headphones, microphone, camera, and T.120 data sharing software for video conferencing.

Video Bridges (Multipoint Control Units - MCUs):
Video bridges provide multipoint connectivity between multiple H.323 desktops. Bridges may be configured for any combination of conferences up to the total number of ports on the bridge.

Scheduling System:
For multipoint conferencing, a Web based scheduling package is being purchased for video conference scheduling.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Technical support:

Level 1: College staff/faculty will support desktop video configurations, installations, training and troubleshooting. College technical support staff will ensure local area network will support number of proposed desktop video conferencing PC's.

Level 2: The VCC Utility Help Desk will be responsible for basic troubleshooting and are expected to resolve routine problems related to video services solve most minor problems immediately, and refer more complex problems to the appropriate product specialist as quickly as possible. Repetitive problems should be brought to the attention of the Utility Product Specialist.

Level 3: The VCC Utility Product Specialist will work with college support staff and vendors to research complex and non-routine problems and provide their resolution. Additionally, the Utility Product Specialist will be responsible for the following: distributing configuration information, updates, usage documentation and testing new releases with the consulting support of Advanced Technology Engineers and the vendors.

Usage:
Individual staff/faculty/student are responsible for learning how to use technology, security and scheduling the use of the resource(s).

The successful Desktop Video Conferencing point-to-point, with non-guarantee of bandwidth, connections meet business quality expectations. The ability to tap into IP/TV broadcast streams will enable flexibility for both administrative and distance learning clients to communicate more effectively when and where they need these services.

Further technology research in the following areas will solidify multipoint desktop conferencing: advancement in MCU software capabilities, networking, management tools, and definition of the client’s expectations of multipoint video and audio sharing requirements.

Video quality will continue to improve through the use of IP Quality of Service (QOS) features, vendor network management, and continued application maturity.

Network Interface
Any switched LAN/WAN running TCP/IP with the available bandwidth options for 64K, 174K, 384K, 784K, and 1.5 Mbps, bi-directional per call. The IP stack used for testing - Microsoft TCP/IP (any suitable IP stack may be used)

Recommended Systems: (all prices listed are retail)

VCON Escort 25 -
http://www.vcon.com/

Intel Proshare -
http://www.picturetel.com/

Ptel 550 and Ptel LiveLan -
http://www.picturetel.com/

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