Networking Viedo Conferencing
...4kbps G.722 Audio codec defined by H.320 – 3.4kHz, LD-CLEP, 16kbps G.723 High efficiency Audio codec, in H.323 and H.324 G.728 Audio codec defined by H.320 T.120 Data collaboration, conferencing, sharing. V.80 Replaces V.42 error correction for H.324 video; uses Sync instead of Async transmission ISO 13871 BONDING, Mode 1 from 56/64 Kbps to 384kbps Videoconferencing Mediums If using Internet Protocol (IP) for videoconferencing, IP could use more bandwidth than most traditional applications. A typical business-quality call over IP requires the following bandwidth: Audio (64 Kbps) + Video (320 Kbps) + IP overhead of approximately 25% = 480 Kbps (www.polycom.com). This would be the major factor to consider while looking at the type of transmission media to deploy. More traditional transmission media include T1 and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). As noted earlier, one of the goals is to network two corporate offices for 24/7 videoconferencing. A Point-to-Point T1 may be a viable solution. T1 carrier service would be available from most common carriers and a 1.544 Mbps digital path. A benefit of using T1 would be its ability to divide into 24 separate channels. Each channel could support either 64k of digitized voice, or 56k of data. Integrated Services Digital Network is a standard for digital voice and data communications. The data portion includes 16k to 64k of an individual user, and could be scaled up to T1, or 1.544 Mbps for high-volume transmission. The ISDN is made up of a B-channel, or bearer channel, which are 64k, and a D-channel. The D-channel is a digital channel used to carry signaling information, and 16k. ISDN is a good solution for small desktop applications, or a back-up solution. Intel, PictureTel, and Polycom have been chosen due to their leaderships in developing videoconferencing technology. Detailed research based on standards compliance, to product offerings. Vendor Products Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, is also one of the leading manufacturers of computer, networking, and communications products (www.intel.com). Intel’s product offerings include, Intel Business Videoconferencing 4.0, TeamStation System 4.0, and TeamStation System 3.0a. Intel announced the iBVC 4.0 that works on Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, the Internet, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines, and most corporate Local Area Networks (LANs). TeamStation System 4.0 is a conference room workstation that combines videoconferencing, Internet access, corporate network access, and PC applications in one convenient system. TeamStation System 3.0a is a PC-based multifunction videoconferencing system designed for use in conference rooms. New capabilities include improved video quality in the form of smoother motion, greater image detail per frame, and more accurate color. Video processing performance and multi-media presentation capabilities are also improved with the addition of the Intel Pentium II 300 MHz processor and Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) technology. Also included are an on-screen remote-camera control software package and a high-performance pan/tilt/zoom camera with auto-tracking control. The TeamStation is the first group videoconferencing product to integrate H.320- ISDN, H.323-LAN and T.20-data communication standards as well as Microsoft NetMeeting technology in one system designed for business users. PictureTel Corporation is the world leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing a full range of videoconferencing solutions. PictureTel provides complete business collaboration solutions to customers in distance learning, health care, and financial services (www.picturetel.com). PictureTel also markets multi-location conferencing servers and a comprehensive portfolio of enterprise-wide services. PictureTels products include PictureTel Venue 2000 group videoconferencing system, PictureTel Live200, and the Live200. The Venue 2000 release 1.3 includes T.120-compliant, multi-location, in-band data conferencing at up to 38.4kbps. It includes optional support for LimeLight and is H.281/H.243 compliant. Live200 is an H.320 compliant desktop videoconferencing system that operates under Windows NT 4.0. This is PictureTel’s first product to standardize on Microsoft NetMeeting, T.120 collaborative software, and is compatible for data sharing with PictureTel’s other T.120 compliant systems. Live200 adds T.120 compliance for multipoint data conferencing and optional 384 Kbps video transmission capability. Polycom is another company that develops, manufactures, and markets a full range of high-quality audio, data and videoconferencing products. Polycom's innovative, award-winning teleconferencing products provide customers with high performance and ease of use at an affordable price (www.polycom.com). Products to be reviewed include the Polycom ViewStation MP and Polycom FX/VS4000. The ViewStation MP has a web-based integrated presentation system which allows users a convenient and reliable way to display PowerPoint slides to remote locations connected via an intranet/Internet connection and a 2 port 10 Mbps Ethernet embedded hub. This product is also SNMP compliant and employs secure password protection. Finally, the ViewStation MP is H.320 and H.323 compliant, and would support ISDN and T1 transmission mediums. Polycom’s FX/VS4000 is a rack mounted group video system providing TV quality video for the most demanding video communications needs. With it embedded streaming capabilities, we would have the ability to capture and send meetings, presentations, or broadcasts to anyone equipped with videoconferencing unit or a web browser. To further our research, we gathered the comparisons on how each product’s rates against standards, features, and support. These comparisons would play an significant part in our decision making. Standards: MCU’s, Compression, Encryption, Control Vendor Model H.221 H.230 H.231 H.242 H.243 H.261 H.263 H.281 Intel TeamStation 4.0 - - MCU - - X X - Intel Business Video Conf. w/ ProShare - - MCU - - X X - Intel IBVC 4.0 - - MCU - - X X - PictureTel Venue 2000 PictureTel Live 2000 X X X X Polycom ViewStation MP X X X Polycom FX/VS4000 X X X X X X X X Standards: Transmission, Audio and Data Conferencing Vendor Model H.320 H.323 H.324 G.711 G.722 G.728 T.120 ISO 13871 Intel TeamStation 4.0 X X - X X X X Avail Fall 98 Intel Business Video Conf. w/ ProShare X X - X X X X Intel IBVC 4.0 X - X X X X X PictureTel Venue 2000 X X X X X X PictureTel Live 2000 X X X X X Polycom ViewStation MP X X X X X X Polycom FX/VS4000 X X X X X X ISO9000 ISO9001 Videoconference Network Interface Vendor Model H.221 (ISDN) ) X.21 V.35 RS-449 IMUX ATM 25 Mbps E-Net T1 Intel TeamStation 4.0 MCU req’d BRI up to 384 Kbs 384k – Avail Fall ‘98 Up to 400 Kbps each way Intel Business Video Conf. w/ ProShare BRI, 112 to 128 k Intel IBVC 4.0 PictureTel Venue 2000 BRI up to 384 Kbs PictureTel Live 2000 X X X X X Polycom ViewStation MP BRI up to 384 Kbs k X Quad option, 384 – 512 Kbps (2) RJ-45 – Integrated Hub Polycom FX/VS4000 X BRI up to 384 Kbs k X Quad option, 384 – 512 Kbps (2) RJ-45 – Integrated Hub Support US/Canada Vendor Santa Ana Buffalo Miami Vienna Toronto Montreal Vancouver Intel X X X X X X X PictureTel X X X Polycom X X X X X X Mexico, South America, and Asia Vendors Mexico City Lima Santiago Sao Paulo Singapore Tokyo Intel X X X X PictureTel X X X Polycom X X X X X Internet Access Internet access is critical for the future growth and success of our company. To create more revenue, find new markets, and expand the markets we are currently serving right now. We are going to open up our companies pipeline to the world and to empower our associates with the right tools as well as the opportunities to use those tools. This briefing would be informed the board what the tools are that are currently available, which ones look right for us, and how to work these tools to our advantage. Additionally, we would look into the right level of quality and quantity to ensure we are successful serving both our internal customers, and our external customers. Currently at ACME, we have an old system of dial up modems as the company’s gateway to the Internet. For the past several years, we had no real vision of expansion; hence, these tools are not exceeding our associates and our customers’ needs. As the growth in information continues, we believe that we need to prepare ourselves for the present as well as the future. We also want to keep a strict budget on cost. To create an environment where we have the ability to exceed customer expectations today, and be set up and ready to grow to meet the demands of tomorrow. We would be conservatively looking over our budget to insure that we do not over spend to support our vision in the future of ACME. The Internet is a vast configuration of interconnected computers, and truly a Network of Networks that stretches from New York to California, to France, Africa, Iceland, and back. It is many components connected to create what is commonly known as the “Information Super Highway”. It would help us to develop the future trend by understanding the technology. In 1995 The Internet became a wholly commercial structure that was dominated by the telecommunication companies AT&T, Sprint, and WorldCom. But the biggest event in this revolution was the changing of the perceptions of the people in the world, opening their eyes to the vast potential of the Internet. It is no longer a luxury for a business to have the right Internet access; it is a critical component of their success or failure. We must tap the Internet for what is was meant to be from the very beginning, a way to share information, touching people around the world and flawlessly complete business transactions. We will be able to create the new markets by having a presence in those regions. We can expand in Europe and Asia by having a fully connected company. Our customers don’t demand we fly there all the time. But they do demand we stay in touch and want to be connected to our information, their transaction data, and our people on a regular basis. The Internet is the backbone of videoconferencing. The telecommunication companies involved in our solution are companies like UUNET, Akamai, AT&T, Sprint, Western Union, MCI, and WorldCom. Net infrastructure companies involved are 3Com, Cisco, Enterasys, Nortel, Unisys, Sun, Novell, Adtran, F5, and Microsoft, to name a few. There are many companies involved in the Infrastructure of the Internet both hardware and software. As you can see we have to make decisions that will enhance our communications with both the markets we are serving today, and any future markets we would like to serve. Therefore, we recommend we immediately changed to a dedicated lease line, or T1 medium. We will lease this from Sprint, both here and in our remote offices. We will set up a switched Network, using Cisco equipment to branch down from the closet. Additionally, all our remote users will standardize on Citrix Metaframe as our remote software s...