Multipoint Control Units (MCUs)

1. Multipoint Control Units(MCUs) Gabe Moulton The Ohio State University Moulton.13@osu.edu Internet2 Commons Site Coordinator Training September 27, 2004 Austin, Texas

2. What Are they? • Scenario 1: Point to Point call • Each endpoints captures and sends one audio and one video stream • Each endpoint receives and displays one audio and video stream • Scenario 2: Multiple end point call • Each endpoints captures and sends one audio and one video stream • Now there are potentially multiple incoming audio and video streams • Most endpoints don’t know what to do with this • In walks the MCU • It receives all video and audio streams • Mixing the audio and sends it back out as one stream to each endpoint • Video is mixed and transmitted as one stream to each based on the configuration of the conference

3. MCU Conference Request Considerations • Layouts • Continuous Presence (CP) • Multiple sites visible on screen at once • Voice Switched • One site on screen at a time • Switches based on who is talking • Data Rate Choices • Increasing the data rate doesn’t always increase the quality of the conference • Bandwidth availability considerations

4. Multipoint Control Units: Hardware vs Software • Hardware • Dedicated, real-time operating system • RADVISION • Polycom • Tandberg • Software • Based on standard Operating systems (Windows, Linux) • First Virtual Communications • Embedded • Has dedicated hardware for processing • Works well for small numbers

5. MCU Control Functions • Defining a conference • Speed • Number of users • Multiple windows • Operating a conference • Dial out • Dial in • Monitoring a conference • Monitoring an MCU • Cascading MCUs

6. MCUs available in the market • RADVision H.323 • 9 ports at 384Kbps • Small, simple, includes Gatekeeper • RADVision ViaIP • 50 ports at 384Kbps, expandable • Powerful, reliable; ECS Gatekeeper • Accord/Polycom MGC • 48 ports at 384Kbps, Expandable multi Format capable • Many advanced features; no Gatekeeper necessary • Tandberg • 16 ports at 384Kbps • Many advanced features • Codian • 20 up to 80 ports • Advanced features, no gatekeeper required • VCON • VCB-2000 • Streaming Capabilities

7. RADVISION MCU-323 • 9 Users@384Kbps (5@768Kbps, 15@128Kbps) • Built-in Web server. Provides operational control of who is in a conference and who has the floor. Also controls application sharing and MCU Cascading. • Built-in Telnet server. Provides optional remote control and monitoring. • PC remote configuration software. Provides conference definitions, names, and software updates. • List price $22.5K. Discounts as low as $10K.

8. Tandberg MCU • 16 users, 3 simultaneous conferences • Support for H.264 • Embedded Encryption • Supports ISDN and IP • Embedded webserver for control and configuration • Small 1U form factor, 19” Rackmountable

9. Polycom MGC • 3 Flavors, 25, 50 and 100 • Capacity varies by configuration • Support for H.264 • Can support ISDN, IP and ATM • Separate Software control • Priced by configuration

10. RADVISION via-IP • 4 flavors 15, 30, 60, 100 • 384Kbps capacity by type • 15  12 • 30  24 • 60  42 • 100  70 • Support for SIP • Can add gateway cards • Chassis based system, expandable • Gatekeeper based dialing

11. Commons MCU Test Facility • Three MCUs are available for testing and discussion. • Web interface • Telnet interface • PC interface • The Commons will support remote or onsite (you come to Ohio) testing. • Useful for assisting in evaluations for your own purchases.

12. Questions? • Gabe Moulton • Moulton.13@osu.edu