Chapter 10 Interpersonal MM applications

Topics

Media standards Packet based systems

Components Hybrid Systems

Room arrangements Suppliers

Point-to-point based systems Compatibility

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 10.1 Standards
Network standards:
POTS, ISDN, LAN, WAN, IP, ADSL, VPN (Virtual private networks)
H.320 is the ITU standard for ISDN conferencing and includes H.264,
H.263, H.261 video; G.711, G.722, G.722.1, G.728 audio; H.239, T.120
data and H.221, H.231, H.242, H.243 control.
H.323 is the ITU standard used for Internet conferencing and includes
H.264, H.263 video; G.723.1, G.722.1, G.728 audio; H.239, T.120 data
and H.225, H.245 control.
H.324 is the ITU standard for POTS conferencing and includes H.263
video; G.723.1 audio; T.120 data and H.223, H.245 control.
3G-324M is an extension by two 3rd Generation Partner Projects 3GPP
and Project2 (3GPP2) to the ITU H.324M standard for 3G mobile phone
conferencing and includes H.264 (MPEG-4) video; G.722.2 (AMR-WB),
G.723.1 audio and H.223 A/B, H.245 control.

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

H.32x Overview
 Video standards
H.261 - video codec for audiovisual services at p x 64Kbps.
H.263 - video codec for narrow telecommunications channels at < 64 Kbps.
Notable elements of the standard are image size. QCIF is Quarter Common Interchange
Format and represents a 176x144 pixel image. This is the minimum size that must be
supported to be H.320 compliant. CIF is the optional full- screen H.320 video image of
352x288 pixels and requires considerably more computing capability. Note: whilst this is
termed full-screen, it is nowhere near the size of a typical PC screen (1024x768) pixels or
that of a UNIX workstation (1280x1024) pixels.
H.264/AVC video codec standard offering major improvements image quality.
Expected to be ratified in late 2003, this new codec standard is a development between
the ITU and ISO/IEC Joint Video Team, (JVT) and is known a H.264 (ITU name) or
ISO/IEC 14496-10/MPEG-4 AVC (ISO/IEC name).
This new standard surpasses H.261 and H.263 in terms of video quality, effective
compression and resilience to transmission losses, giving it the potential to halve the
required bandwidth for digital video services over the Internet or 3G Wireless networks.
H.264 is likely to be used in applications such as Video Conferencing, Video Streaming,
Video on Mobile devices, Tele-Medicine etc.

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 Audio standards
G.711 - Pulse Code Modulation of voice frequencies (PCM), were 3.1 kHz analogue
audio is encoded into a 48, 56 or 64 kbps stream. Used when no other standard is
equally supported.
G.722 - 7 kHz audio encoded into a 48, 56 or 64 kbps stream. Provides high quality,
but takes bandwidth.
G.722.1 - 7 kHz audio encoded at 24 and 32 kbps for hands-free operation in systems
with low frame loss.
G.722.2 - Coding of speech at around 16 kbps using Adaptive Multi-Rate Wide- band,
AMR-WB. Five mandatory modes, 6.60, 8.85, 12.65, 15.85, 23.85 kbps.
G.723.1 - Dual rate speech codec for telecommunications at 5.3 kbps & 6.4 kbps.
G.728 - Low Delay Code Excited Linear Prediction (LD-CELP) were 3.4 kHz analogue
audio is encoded into a 16 kbps stream. This standard provides good quality results at
low bitrates.
G.729 A/B - Speech codec that provides near toll quality audio encoded into an 8 kbps
stream using the AS-CELP method. Annex A is a reduced complexity codec and
Annex B supports silence suppression and comfort-noise generation.

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 Data standards
T.120 - defines protocols and services for multimedia conferencing.
T.121 - Generic Application Template (GAT). Defines a template as a
guide for developers in managing T.120 resources.
T.122 - defines Multipoint Communication Services (MCS) available to
developers.
T.123 - defines Network Specific Data protocol for multimedia
conferencing.
T.124 - defines Generic Conference Control (GCC), mandatory for 'group'
conferences.
T.125 - defines MCS data transmission protocol.
T.126 - Multipoint Still Image and Annotation protocol. Defines the
protocol used to provide interoperability with graphics data in applications
such as whiteboarding, annotated image exchange, screen sharing and
remote apps control.

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 Data standards cont'd
T.127 - Multipoint Binary File Transfer protocol. Defines the protocol used
to support binary file transfer within a conference.
T.128 - defines Multipoint Application Sharing protocol (also known as
T.SHARE)
T.134 - defines Multimedia Application Text Conversation protocol (also
known as T.CHAT).
T.135 - User-to-reservation system transactions within T.120
conferencing.
T.136 - Remote device control application protocol.
T.137 - Virtual meeting room management - services & protocol.
T.140 - Protocol for multimedia application text conversation.

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 Control standards
H.221 - defines the transmission frame structure for audovisual teleservices in
channels of 64 to 1920 Kbps; used in H.320.
H.223 - specifies a packet-orientated multiplexing protocol for low bit rate multimedia
communications; Annex A & B handles light and medium error prone channels of the
mobile extension as used in 3G-324M.
H.224 - defines real-time control protocol for simplex applications using the H.221
LSD, HSD and HLP channels.
H.225 - defines the multiplexing transmission formats for media stream packetisation &
synchronisation on a non-guaranteed QoS LAN.
H.231 - specifies multipoint control units used to bridge three or more H.320 systems
together in a conference.
H.233 - Confidentiality systems for audiovisual services, used by H.320 devices.
H.234 - Encryption key management and authentication system for audiovisual
services, used by H.320 devices.

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 H.320 Video Conferencing Systems
An ISDN connection has two possible interfaces; a BRI (Basic Rate Interface) or a PRI
(Primary RateInterface).
The BRI consists of two circuit-switched B-channels, each of 64kbps that are used for
data and one D-channel of 16kbps that is used for network control. The BRI physically
consists of two pairs of twisted wire (transmit & receive) that are terminated by an NTU
(Network Termination Unit) in the form of an RJ-45 connector.
The PRI is similar to the BRI, but with more channels and extra control bandwidth. In
Europe, the PRI consists of up to thirty 64kbps B-channels, that are used for data
transmission up to 1920kbps and one 64kbps D-channel for network control.
The PRI is usually terminated by an NTU in the form of two BNC connectors; although
some use an RJ-45. In North America, the PRI consists of 23 B-channels of 64kbps for
data, one D-channel of 64kbps for network control and an extra 8kbps for framing.

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 ISDN Video Conferencing System
384kbps Video Conferencing system
6B channel mode or
inverse multiplex the six channels together and operate in a 384 BONDED
mode
6B mode: The 384kbps channel can be regarded as consisting of six
individual B-channels, six ISDN numbers must all be entered and dialled
in the exact sequence
384 BONDED mode: the 384kbps channel can be regarded as consisting
of six 64kbps TimeSlots, only the first ISDN number is entered and
dialled

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 Frame structure in H.221 64kbps
restricted channel

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 Control standards cont'd
H.235 - Security and encryption for H.323 and other H.245 based multimedia terminals.
H.239 - defines role management and additional media channels for H.300-Series multimedia terminals.
How data and web-enabled collaboration work in parallel with video in a conference, allowing endpoints
that support H.239 to receive and transit multiple, separate media streams - typically voice, video and
data collaboration.
H.241 - defines extended video procedures and control signals for H.300-Series multimedia terminal.
H.242 - defines the control procedures and protocol for establishing communications between
audiovisual terminals on digital channels up to 2 Mbps; used by H.320.
H.243 - defines the control procedures and protocol for establishing communications between three or
more audiovisual terminals - H.320 multipoint conferences.
H.245 - defines the control procedures and protocol for H.323 & H.324 multimedia communications.
H.246 - Interworking of H-Series multimedia terminal.
H.248 - Gateway Control Protocol.
H.281 - defines the procedures and protocol for far end camera control (FECC) in H.320 calls.
H.282 - Remote device control protocol for multimedia applications.
H.283 - Remote device control logical channel transport.

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 Supplementary standards
Define call, messaging and name services
Mobility standards
H.501 - Protocol for mobility management in multimedia systems.
H.510 - Mobility for H.323 multimedia systems and services.
H.530 - Symmetric security procedures for H.323 mobility in H.
MSN - Multiple Subscriber Numbering. When the PSTN Company
assigns a group of telephone numbers to one line.
Q.931 - Signalling protocol for establishing and terminating calls.
RAS - Registration/Admission/Status. A communications protocol
used between H.323 endpoints and the Gatekeeper for registration,
admission and status messages.

Team Solutions Standards in Video Conferencing

 User's Issues
Expectation Levels
Available Bandwidth
Acceptable Quality
Frame and compression rate, delay, cameras
Number of Participants
System Management
Location of Participants
Usage Concept
Installation & Usage Costs
Multipoint Control Unit

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 10.2 Components: MCU
The H.323 MCU's basic function is to maintain all the audio, video, data and control
streams between all the participants in the conference. Whilst most H.323 MCU's, are
hardware based, but other software based solutions allow for Ad-Hoc Conferencing in
both Continuous Presence or Voice-Activated Switching modes.
The main components of an H.323 MCU are the multipoint controller MC and the
optional multipoint processor MP. The MC is the conference controller and handles
H.245 negotiations between all terminals to determine common capabilities for audio
and video processing. The MC also controls conference resources such as
multicasting. Most H.323 systems support IP multicast and use this to send just one
audio and one video stream to the other participants.
The MC does not actually deal directly with any of the audio, video and data streams.
This is left to the MP, which does all the audio mixing, data distribution and video
switching/mixing of the bits. It also provides the conversion between different codecs
and bit rates. Both the MC and MP functions can exist in one unit or as part of other
H.323 components. Most H.323 MCU's work in conjunction with, or include a
Gatekeeper functionality.

2003 TeamSolutions UK
 H.323 overview

H.P. Dittler - MultiNET ProTrain / BRAINTEC Netzwerk-Consulting

 H.323 environment

Wolfgang Koops, Tobias Stahringer, Christian Thomsen: VoIP

 Ports and Protocols used by H.323 devices

TeamSolutions (UK) Limited.

 System management
Gatekeeper
translation between LAN aliases and IP addresses
calls control and routing services
controls network resources such as bandwidth usage
Reports communication details
Network planning
Billing
Gateways provides translation and transcoding between
different circuit-switched networks (ISDN & Cellular) and
packet-based networks (LAN), enabling the endpoints to
communicate. They include a basic Gatekeeper functionality.

TeamSolutions (UK) Limited.

 Gateway and Gatekeeper
With the MCU adding the ability to hold a conferencebetween three more participants,
when used in conjunction with a Gateway, participants can be located on either a
H.323 or H.320 endpoint. Furthermore, by using the Continuous Presence feature,
participants can see more than just who is speaking. The actual number of participants
viewable in a Continuous Presence conference is a function of the MCU used and
maybe subject to network constraints.

TeamSolutions (UK) Limited.

 Video Conferencing via 3G Gateway

This basic solution uses viaIP-400 chassis with an asNT-10 Server card and
ECS software for Gatekeeper functionality and a gw-P20/M card with
VPS10/M module for 3G Gateway functionality with video transcoding.
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 10.3 Computer based telephony
Voice over IP vs ISDN
Enhanced services
Line, cost and number identification
Automatic call distribution
Recall and call redirection
Statistics
All telephony services for a single user are combined
Voice recording, text2speech and speech2text
Voice over IP Forum: CODEC G 723.1
Call Center

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 Gateways Bridge PSTN and Internet
Architectures

http://www.teletalk.de/archiv/9903/acd.php3
 Integration Voice over IP Gateways

Thorsten Schneider: Demo Call Center

 Call Center

Thorsten Schneider: Demo Call Center

 App Server and VACCS connection

VACCS (Vicorp Advanced Customer Connect Suite)

 VACCS-System
Modern call centers are using
voice recognition for
enhanced IVR (interactive
voice response), ACD
(automatic call distribution) or
UM (unified messaging)
capabilities, and enabling
monitoring for ACD.

Thorsten Schneider: Demo Call Center

New VoIP Architecture Brings Benefits to Call Centers, Christine J. Holley, June, 2003
 Quick Script

Thorsten Schneider: Demo Call Center

 10.4 Room arrangements

Whiteboard, Document scanner

Audio channels, Monitoring, Floor control

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 Liveboard application
IP-packet based or ISDN-based communication

Common use of a liveboard with video and audio support by two persons

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 Multipoint VC with public Hub

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 Design comparison

ClearOne white paper 2002

 10.5 Applications
Communication
Distributed project management
Human resource management
Computer supported cooperative work
Remote consulting
Tele learning
Tele medicine and robotics

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 10.6 Video Conferencing Systems
By Andrei M. Krupin
In this article hard and software for video conference
communication is considered.
Among great variety of programs for video conference
organization there are some the most famous which we are
going to consider today - Microsoft NetMeeting, CU-SeeMe
and Internet Phone 5.
In the end you will be given results of the test made with a
definite equipment. Here we won't touch upon such issues as
coding of audio-video information and network aspects. In the
appendix you can find explanations to some terms connected
with a conception of video conferencing equipment.

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 Coope-
ration
test

http://vcc.urz.tu-dresden.de/vc-systeme/liste.html