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Technology Guidelines |
COMPRESSED VIDEO
Version: 1.0
Status: Proposed: 5/21/01
Contact:
Ronald Olton
PURPOSE:
The purpose of these guidelines is to provide the colleges of the Virginia Community College System with an overview of the video services that are supported by the VCCS.
SCOPE:
These guidelines define:
This document will be updated, as required, to adapt to new video technologies.
APPLICABILITY:
These guidelines are applicable to all authorized providers and customers of video services.
GUIDELINES:
Video Services Supported:
H.321 Compressed Video (ATM, SVC based video) -
H.323 Compressed Video (IP based video) -
Video Streaming -
Video Venues Supported:
Commonwealth Classroom: Classroom size facilities for large groups of customers. It consists of a typical classroom size room equipped with the appropriate video equipment. For a detailed description of this venue refer to the "Commonwealth Classroom Model" on the System Office Web site.
Commonwealth Conference Room: Conference room size facilities for small groups of customers. It consists of a typical conference room size room equipped with the appropriate video equipment. This venue provides customers with video services in a smaller, less costly, and more private space. For a detailed description of this venue refer to the "Commonwealth Conference Room Model" on the System Office Web site.
Commonwealth Conferencing Center: Classroom sized facility for large numbers of individual customers. It consists of a typical classroom size room equipped with an appropriate number of desktop computers that have IP connectivity, and which are equipped to provide H.323 and/or video streaming support. For a detailed description of this venue refer to the "Commonwealth Conferencing Center Model" and the "Video Streaming Model" on the System Office Web site.
Desktop Video Conferencing: Provides the minimum hardware and software recommendations for individual customer workstations. For customers who need video support, it includes optional H.323 and video streaming recommendations. For a detailed description of this venue refer to the "Desktop Video Conferencing Model" and the "Video Streaming Model" on the System Office Web site.
Minimum Level of Support Provided:
Three factors affect the overall performance of any application:
Net.Work.Virginia and the VCCS will provide the level of service needed to deliver the video services defined in this document to the campus.
Performance at the campus level, including the availability of bandwidth in the campus Net.Work.Virginia connection, is the responsibility of the college. For a detailed description of campus infrastructure recommendations refer to the "Campus Infrastructure Model" and the "Campus Infrastructure Guidelines" on the System Office Web site.
Connectivity Requirements:
H.321 Compressed Video -
All H.321 devices must be capable of requesting ATM VBR SVC services via the campus infrastructure and Net.Work.Virginia.
H.323 Compressed Video -
H.323 capable desktop computers must be configured with IP and be capable of requesting IP transport over the campus infrastructure and Net.Work.Virginia.
Video Streaming -
Video streaming capable desktop computers and video servers must have IP unicast and multicast connectivity to the campus infrastructure and Net.Work.Virginia.
Shared Video Services Supported:
Video Conference Scheduling Service:
This service provides the ability to reserve video resources and, by reserving them, to avoid conflicts in their use. Any authorized customer with a Web browser can access the scheduling feature of the video bridge to schedule a conference. The video bridge scheduling feature is aware of all previously scheduled resources, enabling it to advise customers of resource scheduling conflicts when attempting to schedule a conference. This service is available for use in both point-to-point and multipoint conferences, and for H.321 and H.323 conferencing.
H.321 Video Bridging Service:
This service provides authorized customers with support for H.321
point-to-point conferences that need video bridge transcoding services (end points running at different speeds, etc.) and multipoint conferencing. Multiple video bridges may be used to provide this service.
H.323 Video Bridging Service:
This service provides authorized customers with support for H.323 point-to-point conferences that need video bridge transcoding services (end points running at different speeds, etc.) and multipoint conferencing. Multiple video bridges may be used to provide this service.
Video Networking Roles and Responsibilities:
Video Content:
Any authorized person can create and/or manage video content.
Training:
Staff training in video content development, and in the installation, configuration, operation, and troubleshooting of the hardware and software associated with video networking should be included in the professional development programs of every location that supports video services.
Security:
All college and VCCS shared resources are to be protected, by their owners, in accordance with the Virginia Community College System security policy. See the "Distributed Security Model" on the System Office Web site for more information.
The VCC Utility is responsible for providing security on, and processing access requests for, shared network components (such as video bridges, video servers, etc.).
The colleges are responsible for providing physical security for college and VCCS shared components located on their campuses. They also provide security on, and process access requests for, college based services.
Support:
The VCC Utility can provide system-wide monitoring of all ATM and internetworking components used for video networking.
The VCC Utility and the colleges should maintain service contracts on all of their networking equipment, to facilitate repair and replacement of defective devices.
Technical support is organized into three levels:
Level 1, the College:
College support staff provides the point of contact for their customers. They are expected to resolve routine problems related to local video services and the college infrastructure.
Level 2, the VCC Utility Call Desk:
VCC Utility Call Desk staff provides the point of contact for college support staff and college customers. They are expected to resolve routine problems related to shared video resources and the VCCS wide area network infrastructure. VCC Utility product specialists will work with college support staff and vendors to research solutions to non-routine problems, and to determine the appropriate corrective action (such as product patches, new releases, etc.).
Level 3, the vendors:
The vendors are responsible for maintaining their products by providing product patches, information, problem workarounds, new releases, etc.
