Communication - Activities
H.323 VIDEOCONFERENCING
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In any enterprise involving participants who are not in the same room, communication and coordination become problematic. These difficulties increase dramatically with the distance between the participants and with the number of sites involved. The Consortium has addressed this issue by adopting Internet2-based H.323 videoconferencing technology from the VCON Corporation. Each investigator has a desktop VCON VIGO which plugs into the USB port of any Windows 98 or Windows 2000 computer with internet access and uses the VCON MeetingPoint videoconferencing software.The ViGo gives the same videoconference quality to the desktop user that is usually found only in the traditional $15000 room systems. As this equipment is completely H.323 compliant, it communicates effectively with any other brand of H.323 IP videoconferencing equipment, such as Polycom, Intel, or even NetMeeting. |
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| The 50+ endpoints of the Cell Migration Consortium are managed by a VCON MXM gatekeeper and integration tool, allowing the user to have an unprecedented ease of use, approximating PBX functionality. At the same time, the MXM prevents unauthorized users from intruding into or disrupting the activities of the network. The MXM system involves Administrator utilities and Endpoint capability. For meetings involving more than two endpoints, a Cisco 3540 MCU (Multipoint Control Unit) is used, which acts as a virtual meeting room. This permits the ad hoc or scheduled formation of multiple, simultaneous, multi-site videoconferences. In addition to voice and video, the network is fully T.120 capable. This means that data sharing and collaboration can take place among all participants at the same time that a videoconference is proceeding. |
PHONE BOOK Calling is made easier by the use of a central, automatically updated, "phonebook". Any user is able to see what other users are registered to the MXM system and is also able to see whether or not that person is on and ready to receive videoconference calls. |
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The Videoconferencing Cookbook is useful read for those new to Internet based videoconferencing. A good source of information on the state of the industry is Wainhouse Research. For more information about how IP videoconferencing technology is implemented in the Cell Migration Consortium, email: hln@virginia.edu. |
For answers to Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ |