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Global Platform for Rich Media Conferencing and Collaboration

Global Platform for Rich Media Conferencing and Collaboration. Philippe Galvez California Institute of Technology. Feb 19th, 2004. LISHEP 2004, Rio de Janeiro. What is VRVS ?.

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Global Platform for Rich Media Conferencing and Collaboration

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  1. Global Platform for Rich Media Conferencing and Collaboration Philippe Galvez California Institute of Technology Feb 19th, 2004 LISHEP 2004, Rio de Janeiro

  2. What is VRVS ? • TheVirtual Rooms VideoconferencingSystem has been developed by Caltech since1995to provide aworld widevideoconference service for education and research communities. • VRVS isa realtime distributed systemwhichprovides ascalable communication infrastructurefor large collaboration dispersed all over the world. • Different technologies and protocols are supported(and mixed) allowing users to connect their preferred videoconference. • SupportsMbone, H.323, SIP, QuickTime, Access Grid, JMFandMPEG2. • The system is composed of1 main server and several reflectors(network servers) spread around the world.

  3. VRVS Web Service Design • Unified Web User Interfaceto schedule and join/leave a meeting independently of the application. • Multi-platform: Windows, Linux, MacOS and Unix • Easy to use: Everybody (from 4 to 77 years old) knows how to click on a web page today. Not true for running a VCR • Virtual Room Concept, Scheduling: Create a virtual space were people can exchange real-time information • Join or Leavea Collaborative session anytime: Do not need to know in advance how many participants and booked ports capacity. Just announce the meeting and people will join from anywhere. • FullDocumentation and Tutorial • Self service: You don’t need a technician or expert to organize and join a conference

  4. VRVS Reflector Implementation • Avoids Duplicationof Streams on a given Link • Can be set toUnicast or Multicastmode or both • Connectionpeer-to-peerwith neighbors network servers. Connectionless (more reliable to network breaks) • EnablesOptimized Routing • EnablesBandwidth Control • Provideslow latency communication • Can be used forreal-time interactivityorbroadcast • Provides an elegant solution to crossfirewall/NAT • RemoteManagementFeatures. • Compliant withIETF RTPv2 Protocol, ready for new applications.

  5. VRVS Model Implementation done Partially done Continuously in development Work in progress VRVS Web User Interface Mbone Tools (vic, vat/rat,..) SIP H.323 QuickTime Player MPEG Minerva Collaborative Applications VRVS Reflectors (Unicast/Multicast) QoS Real Time Protocol (RTP/RTCP) Network Layer (TCP/IP)

  6. VRVS Deployment and Usage

  7. VRVS Reflectors Deployment 79 Reflectors deployed worlwide

  8. VRVS Reflectors Deployment 79 reflectors Deployment World wide in 27 Different Countries

  9. VRVS registered users and current usageas of Feb 17th, 2004 And much more: Canada, Australia, Chile, Taiwan, Argentina, China,…

  10. VRVS registered users and current usageas of Feb 17th, 2004 • 8400 different Usersregistered • from 103 Countries • and more than 26300 machines • We have in average ONE • new registered user per hour!

  11. Machines and OS • VRVS support different • Operating Systems • according to the need • and the demand of the • final users: • 1st : Windows • 2nd: Linux • 3rd: Macintosh • 4th: Other UNIX

  12. Call Details Record (CDR)

  13. Some Examples

  14. VRVS on Mac OS X

  15. VRVS on Windows KEK (JP) Caltech (US) RAL (UK) Brazil CERN (CH) AMPATH (US) Pakistan SLAC (US) Canada AMPATH (US)

  16. Example 1: 20 participantsBRAZIL (3 sites) + SWITZERLAND (CERN) + USA (Caltech)

  17. Example 2: 17 participantsJAPAN + UK + SWITZERLAND + BRAZIL + USA (SLAC + FERMILAB)

  18. Some Features

  19. Network and Security • Possibility oftunneling (TCP or UDP)between reflector servers. All communications use onlyONEport ! • Peer-to-peer design withhigh scalability and flexibility • Solution forFirewall and NAT • Performing of somepacket recovery • VRVS Proxy Java agentfor users behind NAT environment • Fixed incompatibilitybetween several H.323 end points • Remotelymute/unmutevideo or/and audio • Optimized networkbandwidth utilization • Real-timepacket loss monitoring • Support up to16,000Virtual Rooms (parallel meetings)

  20. Administration Interface • Pure JavaJ2EE + XML • HTTPS/SSLsecure web interface • Monitoring reflectorsand users in ongoing conference • Full controlon database

  21. Monalisa: Real-Time Monitoring

  22. VRVS Virtual Setup 1 dual processor PC With special 4 output graphic card 6400 x 4800 pixels Most powerful VRVS End Node

  23. What is next ?

  24. VRVS Main Technical Trend Evolution Reflectors Extend intelligence to the edge • V3.(0,1): • VRVS core infrastructure isstatically and manuallyconfigured and operated V3.(2,x): VRVS core infrastructure isautomaticallyconfigured and monitored. The core softwareisself dependentand can takeself decisionstoimproveperformance/qualitywithoutmanual intervention 3.0 3.x 4.0 • V4.0 and beyond: • This is aGlobally Distributed Self Managed End2End Real-time Infrastructure. It provides the best quality/performance possible • Extends the core intelligence tothe edge. • Has a fullEnd2End control and monitoring • Theself managed infrastructurehas afull knowledgeof all thecritical/sensitiveparameters (all network layers, hardware and software at the end nodes, resourcesallocated and available,..) in order to takeadequate decisions(alarms, automatic rerouting of traffic, disconnection, remove/add services,..) • Administrator isfully awarewith operational status via constant feedback (via UI, email, phone,..) from theself managed core software End users End applications

  25. On-going and Future developments Globally Distributed Self Managed End2End Real-time Infrastructure

  26. Advanced VRVS Reflectors functionalities • Dynamic registrationto high level directory services • Automatic re-activationof components and services • Automatic and securecode update • Continuous monitoringof network quality (packet loss, jitter, latency) between its peers and its possible peers • Automatic reroutingto obtain the best performance/quality • Automatic Alarm notificationswhen monitoredparameters (system or network) go beyond apreset threshold • Dynamically provides services(video, audio, data,..)that matches the currentresources/capabilitiesto the end users/applications • Provides access toreal-time and historical data

  27. Advanced End users/applications functionalities (1/2) • Dynamic registrationto high level directory services • Automatic detectionof thesystem parameters(CPU, Memory,..),hardware components(Audio card, video card, …),services capabilities(video, audio, …),network environment and capabilities(wireless environment, DSL, available bandwidth, …) • Automatic re-activationof components and services • Automaticcode update • Continuous monitoringof network quality (packet loss, jitter, latency) to theattached reflectorand possibleothers reflectors • Automatic reroutingto obtain thebest performance/quality(The communication between an end node will bererouted transparentlyandautomaticallyto another reflector for performance optimization)

  28. Advanced End users/applications functionalities (2/2) • Automatic Alarm notificationswhen monitoredparameters (system or network) go beyond apreset threshold As example: if DesktopCPUis too high, the system will automatically try to perform the following: • reduce services(video/audio/data/..) running in the machine and inform user of the change • or if there is no improvement,inform the userof the problem andwhereit comes from (if possible) and thenpropose a solution(ultimately reset the system) • Keep informedthe general system administrator • Dynamically gets services (video, audio, data,..) that matches the currentresources/capabilitiesto end users/applications • Provides accessto real-time and historical data

  29. On-going and Future developments • Adaptation to emerging standards:IPv6, SIP • ImproveSecurity(Firewall, NAT, Authentication, Encryption) • Develop a purepeer-to-peer VRVS reflectorsnetwork to be able to handle thousands of parallel sessions. • Integration of new hardware/software for high-end interactivity. • Develop a multipoint videoconferencing system based onMPEG4 compression standard • Develop a system usingHDTV standardif affordable hardware devices available. • Wireless/Mobile Client Integration: • User Interface dedicated for small screens • Integration of low end client. VVP, JMF, MPEG4

  30. VRVS, Caltech Team

  31. WWW.VRVS.ORG Contact@VRVS.org Support@VRVS.org

  32. Additional Slides

  33. Virtual Access Grid • User can connect to eitherunicast or multicastvideoconferencing with full supported features • User can create his/her own virtual AG node andvirtual venues andintegrated into VRVS • Different Video modes possible: • Voice switched: default mode for H.323 clients. one video stream at a time • Timer switched: browse through all the video based on preset timer. One video stream at a time. • Selected Streams: Click among the video participants to view selected video streams (one or several streams available). • All Streams

  34. VAG with Mbone Clients

  35. Conclusion: We believe that VRVS offers the following unique differentiators: • Usability– VRVS’ web-based user interface is easy to use and allows almost any desktop of videoconference suite to connect to a VRVS virtual room conference by a few clicks. Its default client apps enable multi-standards audio, video and data collaboration. • Scalability– VRVS scales up with the needs for quality and volume more elegantly, and beyond anything possible now. • More simultaneous participants in a same virtual room • More simultaneous virtual room conferences • Wider range of video and data sharing quality

  36. Flexibility– VRVS allows inter-operation of collaborative communications between end points of various audio, video and data sharing capabilities as well as different types of connectivity. • Efficiency– VRVS server software makes efficient use of bandwidth by routing required information only to necessary nodes. • Ubiquity– VRVS’ ease-of-use and scalability unlocks the value of network-based collaboration tools and allows anyone, anywhere, anytime, to improve their collaborative experience. • Robustness– VRVS is field tested on a large scale for a long period of time. It has demonstrated exceptional reliability and a simplified deployment and use, beyond anything available today (except maybe POTS and email!)

  37. Web based interface • VRVS provides anaturalandintuitiveinterface toorganizeandmanageyourmeetings. • Several interfaces let you see in 1 shot all current conferences, let you book a new one in 3 clicks. • Several academic communitiesare handled by VRVS. Each one has its specific Virtual Rooms. • VRVSmanagesmulti internationaltime zonesin a transparent way. • Its use do not require technical knowledge nor technician action.

  38. Connection Interface • Connect / Disconnect the selected videoconference client • Provide different video modes • Allow CHAT and Private messages • Can share your computer desktop • Remote control of video cameras. • co-browsing of web sites • real time list of connected participants • share computer desktop with other participants

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