Global Platform for Rich Media Conferencing and Collaboration

Global Platform for Rich Media Conferencing and Collaboration Gregory DENIS California Institute of Technology June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Description 4 Description of the System 4 VRVS Status 4 Next version: presentation of VRVS 3. 0 4 Future development 4 Conclusion June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

What is VRVS ? 4 A software only system providing very scalable infrastructure for audio, video and web conferencing over IP networks. 4 Turnkey software solution that includes: 8 VRVS Reflector 8 Web scheduling and administrative interfaces 4 Runs on inexpensive networked computing platforms 4 Internet peer-to-peer for user conference scheduling and attendance 4 HTTP server provides user self-service for documentation, help, profile administration, supported system and equipment June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Heterogeneous Client support 4 An open system: choose your client and connect 8 VIC / RAT (previous) Mbone application. 8 Software H. 323 client. 8 Internal Hardware H. 323 client. 8 External Hardware H. 323 client. 8 Quick. Time Player. 8 Java Media Framework. 4 Plus extra services/features: 8 Applications and desktop sharing. 8 Bypass H. 323 limitations. 8 Chat with web pages pop-up. 8 Documentations and Recommendations. June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Architecture Multiplatform and Multi protocols Architecture VRVS Web User Interface 4. 0 & 5. 0 Mbone Tools MPEG VRVS Reflectors (Unicast/Multicast) Qo. S H. 320 Quick. Time Real Time Protocol (RTP/RTCP) Network Layer (TCP/UDP/IP) June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference SIP Collaborative Applications H. 323

Status 4 Description of the System 4 VRVS Status 4 Next version: presentation of VRVS 3. 0 4 Future development 4 Conclusion June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Last Numbers 4 As of today, more than 11100 machines from 6200 different users in more than 50 countries are registered in the system. 4 During the year 2001, 2700 Multipoint Conferences were performed (8000 Hours). 4 More than 3000 point to point connections were established. 4 Since October 2001: 300 Multipoint (1100 hours) per Months Average of 5 to 10 participants per videoconference session (with range from 2 to 40 participants). June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

VRVS Users June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Conferences in VRVS June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Reflectors Topology 41 network Server world wide: US (ANL, BNL, Caltech(2), FNAL, Florida, Internet 2(7), Jlab, SLAC, Brazil(3), Canada(2), Czech Republic, Spain(2), Finland, Israel(2), Italy, Japan, Poland, Portugal (2), Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland (2), Taiwan, U. K (3) June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Internet 2 deployment 7 Reflectors In Internet 2 June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Version 3. 0 4 Description of the System 4 VRVS Status 4 Next version: presentation of VRVS 3. 0 4 Future development 4 Conclusion June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

V 3. 0: Details (1/2) 4 Move to a professional database engine 4 Rewriting of all the code to improve the speed. 4 Redesign the interface to accommodate several different communities and hundred Virtual Rooms 4 Will support all International Time zones (including summer time) 4 Booking improved: faster, more flexible and more powerful 4 Authentication and Encryption June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

V 3. 0: Details (2/2) 4 Improve the machine detection (DHCP, web cache, Firewall, NAT, …) and automatic detection of the closest reflector. 4 VRVS Network Reflectors: 8 Better design to accommodate H. 323 clients 8 Do packet recovery 8 Aggregate dynamically bandwidth for H. 323 multipoint conference between End Points to an overall maximum conference bandwidth 8 Fix incompatibility between several H. 323 end points 8 Remotely muted/unmuted video or/and audio June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

User Profile June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Booking: Copy and Move June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Booking: Month View June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Booking: extra GUI June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Future Development 4 Description of the System 4 VRVS Status 4 Next version: presentation of VRVS 3. 0 4 Future development 4 Conclusion June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Future Development (1/2) 4 Adaptation to emerging standard: IPv 6, SIP 4 Integration of new hardware/software for high end interactivity 8 Already developed an MPEG 2 MCU (using Minerva codec). Will port to other codec if demand. 8 Developed a multipoint videoconferencing system based on MPEG 4 compression standard. 8 Developed a system using HDTV standard if affordable hardware devices available. 4 Improved Security 8 Easy support of Firewall and NAT 8 Conference access control, user authentication and authorization June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Future Development (2/2) 4 Develop advanced monitoring and tracking tools for ad-hoc conference as well as scheduled multi -site conferences 4 Develop a pure peer-to-peer VRVS Reflectors network to be able to handle thousands of parallel sessions. 4 Develop advanced network monitoring agents (based on Java and web services) to run on each network servers. 8 We will know in real time, packet loss ratio between server, jitter, bandwidth available, reflector information (CPU, memory, …) 8 Possibility to automatic rerouting between VRVS reflectors to find a better network path. June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Conclusion 4 VRVS is a world wide videoconference service in production since 5 years. 4 Version 3. 0 will be release this summer to face the demand improve the system. 4 Our team still work to integrate all emerging technology in only one system. 4 State of Art: Easy to Use 4 WWW. VRVS. ORG June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Team Philippe Galvez, project manager Gregory Denis, main developer (R&D) David Collados, reflectors administrator and developer Kun Wei, reflectors developer and support Dave Adamczyk, technical support June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Question? Gregory. Denis@VRVS. org Contact@VRVS. Org June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Web User Interface Virtual conference room and meeting name International time zone adjusted Direct Access to set-up facilities All participants known to all Color coded reflector connections SELECT: Mbone Chat Quicktime Sharing H. 323 June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Example 1 June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Mbone Integration Mbone Tools VRVS Client Application June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference

Access Grid and VRVS AG-VRVS Using Desktop Using Wireless Multi-cast Unicast Using Conference Room High Quality Video High Quality Audio H. 323 High (> 20 Mbps) Bandwidth Normal (10 Mbps) / Low (<1 Mbps) Bandwidth June 4, 2002 TERENA, Networking Conference