David ColladosDavid ColladosCalifornia Institute of Technology

European Organization for Nuclear ResearchOctober 25, 2001

Web oriented multipoint videoconferencing system.Web oriented multipoint videoconferencing system.

Multi-platform system: Windows, Linux, Solaris, Irix and Multi-platform system: Windows, Linux, Solaris, Irix and Mac.Mac.

The mechanism to interconnect different The mechanism to interconnect different videoconferencing clients/tools: videoconferencing clients/tools: MBone: VIC, RAT.MBone: VIC, RAT.H.323: Polycom (H.323: Polycom (ViaVideoViaVideo, ViewStation), Microsoft (, ViewStation), Microsoft (

NetMeetingNetMeeting), Zydacron (), Zydacron (OnWanOnWan), SmithMicro (), SmithMicro (VideoLinkVideoLink Pro Pro), etc.), etc.

MPEG2: Minerva Networks (VCP).MPEG2: Minerva Networks (VCP).

What Is VRVS?

Born in 1995 at Caltech to provide a low cost system for Born in 1995 at Caltech to provide a low cost system for videoconferencing and remote collaboration over videoconferencing and remote collaboration over networks for the HEP community.networks for the HEP community.

ISDN versus IP videoconferences:ISDN versus IP videoconferences: High costs for international ISDN videoconf.High costs for international ISDN videoconf. Manpower for scheduling and operation of ISDN Manpower for scheduling and operation of ISDN

and IP systems (but not using VRVS.)and IP systems (but not using VRVS.) IP from any machine. IP from any machine. IP more flexible: different OS and applications.IP more flexible: different OS and applications. IP for different multipoint working environments.IP for different multipoint working environments.

The Origins Of VRVS

About The Site

Structural Layers In VRVSQ

oSQ

oS

VRVS Reflectors VRVS Reflectors ((Unicast/Multicast)Unicast/Multicast)

Real Time Protocol (RTP/RTCP)Real Time Protocol (RTP/RTCP)

Mbone ToolsMbone Tools (vic, vat/rat,..)(vic, vat/rat,..) QuickTimeQuickTime

4.0 & 5.0H.323H.323 MPEGMPEG OthersOthers

????

Network Layer (TCP-UDP/IP)Network Layer (TCP-UDP/IP)

Collaborative

Collaborative

Applications

Applications

VRVS Web User InterfaceVRVS Web User Interface

Virtual Rooms Concept

Enter a Virtual Room Through Your Nearest ReflectorEnter a Virtual Room Through Your Nearest Reflector

European sideEuropean sideAmerican sideAmerican side

Reflectors’ Deployment 1/2

Reflectors’ Deployment 2/2

33 Reflectors Running Around The World.33 Reflectors Running Around The World.Europe:Europe:Switzerland: CERN (2)Switzerland: CERN (2)Spain: IFCA, RedIRISSpain: IFCA, RedIRISUK: Rutherford (2), JET, SwanseaUK: Rutherford (2), JET, SwanseaIsrael: Weizmann, Hebrew Univ.Israel: Weizmann, Hebrew Univ.Italy: INFNItaly: INFNFinland: FunetFinland: FunetPoland: CracowPoland: CracowPortugal: LIPPortugal: LIPCzech Republic: CesnetCzech Republic: Cesnet

Asia:Asia:Taiwan: Academia SinicaTaiwan: Academia SinicaJapan: KEKJapan: KEK

South America:South America:Venezuela: CeCalculaVenezuela: CeCalculaBrazil: UFRGS (Univ. Fed. Rio Grande do Sul)Brazil: UFRGS (Univ. Fed. Rio Grande do Sul)

North America:North America:Canada: University of QuebecCanada: University of Quebec

United States:United States:West: West: Caltech (2), SLACCaltech (2), SLACMidwest: Midwest: FNAL, ANL (Chicago)FNAL, ANL (Chicago)East: East: BNL (New York)BNL (New York)Internet2: New York, Ann Arbor (Detroit), Internet2: New York, Ann Arbor (Detroit), Denver, Georgia Tech (Atlanta), Denver, Georgia Tech (Atlanta), Indiana, Indiana, Orlando, TexasOrlando, Texas

Steps To Use The System

Have a PC with a full duplex soundcard (a video Have a PC with a full duplex soundcard (a video camera if you want to send video).camera if you want to send video).

Go to Go to http://www.VRVS.orghttp://www.VRVS.org Register your machine.Register your machine. Download the latest VRVS package. Download the latest VRVS package. Check recommendations before buying additional Check recommendations before buying additional

devices: devices: http://www.VRVS.org/Doc/Hardware/hardware.html http://www.VRVS.org/Doc/Hardware/hardware.html

Check your local audio/video setup.Check your local audio/video setup. Book a Virtual Room and “Join” it.Book a Virtual Room and “Join” it.

The SchedulerThe Scheduler Booking a Virtual Room is performed in the same way Booking a Virtual Room is performed in the same way

as you would book a local conference room.as you would book a local conference room. If all the Virtual Rooms are booked, it means that the If all the Virtual Rooms are booked, it means that the

(pre-set) maximum number of parallel conferences has (pre-set) maximum number of parallel conferences has been reached.been reached. Select the Select the

Virtual RoomVirtual RoomSelect the scope ofSelect the scope ofyour videoconferenceyour videoconference

ContinentalVirtual Rooms

World WideVirtual Rooms

Booking A Virtual Room 1/2

Booking A Virtual Room 2/2

The Booking ProcessThe Booking Process

Different calendar views: one Year, one Month, or one Day. The user can easily appreciate what is already reserved,

and which are the available time slots.OptionsOptions A password can be entered to control the access. Documents (URLs) can be attached to the conference

(or “pop-up” URLs during the conference to the other participants through the chat window.)

Mbone Integration

H.323 Integration

MPEG2* Integration 1/2

Acquisition of Minerva VCP Acquisition of Minerva VCP MPEG2 Encoder/DecoderMPEG2 Encoder/Decoder. . Very Very low low latency, ~120 mslatency, ~120 ms + supporting + supporting RTPRTP (Real Time Protocol.) (Real Time Protocol.)

MPEG2 MPEG2 integrationintegration into VRVS: into VRVS:

Perform Perform bi-directionalbi-directional and interactiveand interactive P2PP2P communications communications between 2 boxes.between 2 boxes.

Adapted/modified VRVS reflectors to make MPEG2 Adapted/modified VRVS reflectors to make MPEG2 multipoint multipoint videoconferencingvideoconferencing possible among 3 or more sites. possible among 3 or more sites.

New site to administrate the MPEG2 videoconferences.New site to administrate the MPEG2 videoconferences.

[*] At present time, VRVS is the only MPEG2 software/system available in the world for MPEG2 multipoint videoconferencing.

VRVS MPEG2 Reflectors(Just the video from the current speaker is sent to the MPEG2 clients.

The current speaker keeps on receiving video/audio from the previous one.)

MPEG2 Integration 2/2

VCP MPEG2 CODECLLNL

VCP MPEG2 CODECCERN

VCP MPEG2 CODECLNBL

Instance of MPEG2 topology.Instance of MPEG2 topology. Video: 3.0 MbpsVideo: 3.0 Mbps

Audio: 224 Kbps stereoAudio: 224 Kbps stereo

VCP MPEG2 CODECCaltech

VNC (Virtual Network Computer) desktop sharing VNC (Virtual Network Computer) desktop sharing technology technology is integrated inis integrated in VRVS. VRVS.

Possibility to share thePossibility to share the working desktop working desktop betweenbetween several participantsseveral participants in 2 different in 2 different modes:modes:Broadcast modeBroadcast mode: The desktop is seen by all the : The desktop is seen by all the

participants but they cannot control it.participants but they cannot control it.Full shared modeFull shared mode: All participants see and can : All participants see and can

control the shared desktop (mouse, keyboard, … )control the shared desktop (mouse, keyboard, … ) Need the Need the VNC server application VNC server application running in the machine in running in the machine in

order to share your desktop.order to share your desktop. On the Client side, On the Client side, No application is neededNo application is needed..

A A Java appletJava applet is downloaded from the is downloaded from the Web serverWeb server..The Client is Web-based and Multi-platform.The Client is Web-based and Multi-platform.

Desktop Sharing

At Present Time

Moving outside HEP community.

To Educational and Research communities:To Educational and Research communities:CESNET: Czech National Research & Edu CESNET: Czech National Research & Edu

NetworkNetworkEFDA: European Fusion Development EFDA: European Fusion Development

AgreementAgreementGLAST: Gamma Ray Large Area Space GLAST: Gamma Ray Large Area Space

TelescopeTelescopeInternet2Internet2RedIRISRedIRIS

VRVS Deployment in Internet2 1/3

Internet2 is a U.S. national initiative that regroups more than 180 U.S. Universities in close collaboration with partners (including most of the international research networks.) See at http://www.internet2.edu

VRVS has been selected as one of the primary technologies to support as part of the Internet2 Commons initiative (a Large-Scale, Distributed Collaborative Environment for the Research and Education Community.)

I2 will provide software and documentation along with leadership in the area of developing gateways among different videoconferencing technologies.

VRVS Deployment in Internet2 2/3

Installation of 7 Reflectors in several GigaPoPs over the Abilene backbone (Summer 2001)

Creation and announcement of a new I2 mailing-list for people interested in VRVS related announcements: vrvs-announce@internet2.edu

Creation of a second support/help mailing list: vrvs-support@internet2.edu. The goal is to allow experts in the community to help newcomers.

Help on VRVS online documentation and packaging.

VRVS REFLECTORSVRVS REFLECTORSSept. 2001Sept. 2001

VRVS Deployment in Internet2 3/3

AcessGrid Integrationhttp://www.vrvs.org/accessgrid.html

Enter to a AG Virtual VenueEnter to a AG Virtual Venue

See participants listSee participants list

Start the toolsStart the tools(Mbone or H.323)(Mbone or H.323)

Select the video mode:Select the video mode:- Select video- Select video- Timer video- Timer video

See all AccessGrid videoSee all AccessGrid video

VRVS Statistics 1/3

VRVS is currently in widespread production:VRVS is currently in widespread production:At present time, more than At present time, more than 6800 machines6800 machines used by used by

4100 users4100 users at at 50 countries50 countries are registered in VRVS. are registered in VRVS.During 2000 year, During 2000 year, 1300 Multipoint Conferences1300 Multipoint Conferences

were performed (Total 3800 Hours).were performed (Total 3800 Hours).More than More than 3000 point to point3000 point to point connections were connections were

established.established.Since January 2001: Since January 2001: 190 multipoint (600 hours)190 multipoint (600 hours)

videoconferences videoconferences per month per month have been hold on have been hold on average.average.

VRVS Statistics 2/3

05001000150020002500300035004000450050005500600065007000

Oct

-99

Nov

-99

Dec

-99

Jan-

00Fe

b-00

Mar

-00

Apr

-00

May

-00

Jun-

00Ju

l-00

Aug

-00

Sep-

00O

ct-0

0N

ov-0

0D

ec-0

0Ja

n-01

Feb-

01M

ar-0

1A

pr-0

1M

ay-0

1Ju

n-01

Jul-0

1A

ug-0

1Se

p-01

Oct

-01

Months

Machines and Users registered in VRVSMachines Users

Hours of Scheduled Videoconferences

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

1998199920002001

VRVS Statistics 3/3

Examples 1/5

Examples 2/5

Examples 3/5

Examples 4/5

LEPC broadcastLEPC broadcast from CERN from CERN 35 participants35 participants connected to VRVS (ex. QuickTime Player) connected to VRVS (ex. QuickTime Player)

Examples 5/5

Questions ?

David ColladosDavid ColladosCALTECH/CERNCALTECH/CERN

David.Collados@cern.chDavid.Collados@cern.ch