IP Based Video IP Based Video ConferencingConferencing

By Tom PetersenBy Tom Petersen

May 3 2007May 3 2007

IntroductionIntroduction

HistoryHistory

ComponentsComponents

How it WorksHow it Works

BenefitsBenefits

CostCost

ProblemsProblems

Common QuestionsCommon Questions

HistoryHistory

Started in the 90’sStarted in the 90’s

Done over ISDN linesDone over ISDN lines

Very expensiveVery expensive

H.320 protocols were used H.320 protocols were used

ProtocolsProtocols

SIP Session Initiation Protocol SIP Session Initiation Protocol Internet based application that uses TCP, Internet based application that uses TCP,

UDP and others UDP and others User agents can be telephones, video units, User agents can be telephones, video units,

PDA’s and more PDA’s and more

H.323 H.323 A family of protocols that is made up of many A family of protocols that is made up of many

different protocols different protocols

Protocols cont.Protocols cont.

The most important protocols in this family are The most important protocols in this family are H.225 and H.245 which are both in the transport H.225 and H.245 which are both in the transport layer. H.225 performs call control while H.245 layer. H.225 performs call control while H.245 performs call management performs call management

Table1: taken from: howstuffworks.com

ComponentsComponents

Camera Camera

Video Display Video Display

Audio Components Audio Components

Codec Codec

User Interface User Interface

How it WorksHow it Works

Quality of Service (QoS) Quality of Service (QoS) Manages data traffic Manages data traffic Makes sure that the quality of the IP video Makes sure that the quality of the IP video

transmission is good transmission is good It does this by setting aside an amount of It does this by setting aside an amount of

bandwidth for video calls and doesn’t allow bandwidth for video calls and doesn’t allow other traffic to use it other traffic to use it

How it Works cont.How it Works cont.

GatekeeperGatekeeper Software that allows you to register all the Software that allows you to register all the

users that you might want to contact for a users that you might want to contact for a video conference video conference

Makes it easy for people that aren’t experts in Makes it easy for people that aren’t experts in computers computers

Can connect to Conference Room 1 or the Can connect to Conference Room 1 or the phone number to that room instead of the IP phone number to that room instead of the IP address of the computer in that roomaddress of the computer in that room

Can limit bandwidth for specific users Can limit bandwidth for specific users

BenefitsBenefits

Quality and Technical Advantages Quality and Technical Advantages Some of the things that effect video quality are Some of the things that effect video quality are

bandwidth, frame rate, resolution, picture size, and bandwidth, frame rate, resolution, picture size, and codec’s used codec’s used

Ease of UseEase of Use ISDN is difficult to understand ISDN is difficult to understand Need a special technician to fix a lot of the Need a special technician to fix a lot of the

problems problems IP based can be used by just about anyone with IP based can be used by just about anyone with

little training little training

Benefits cont.Benefits cont.

The amount of people that already use itThe amount of people that already use it ISDN was never available in every geographic ISDN was never available in every geographic

region and the regions that did have it only region and the regions that did have it only had it in specific conference rooms had it in specific conference rooms

IP based is available just about everywhere IP based is available just about everywhere and can be installed on any computer not just and can be installed on any computer not just in meeting rooms in meeting rooms

Benefits cont.Benefits cont.

Cuts down on travel cost Cuts down on travel cost Don’t have to spend money flying employees Don’t have to spend money flying employees

to meetings, pay for hotels and food while to meetings, pay for hotels and food while they are away they are away

Allows the employee to be more Allows the employee to be more productiveproductive They don’t have to spend half a day traveling, They don’t have to spend half a day traveling,

they can use that time to get work done they can use that time to get work done

CostCost

The biggest benefit to IP video The biggest benefit to IP video conferencing is costconferencing is cost

Cost can be split up into two main Cost can be split up into two main categoriescategories Initial set upInitial set up Monthly FeeMonthly Fee

Initial Set UpInitial Set Up

Initial setup includes buying all the Initial setup includes buying all the equipment needed for video conferencing equipment needed for video conferencing

There are two different ways you can go There are two different ways you can go when buying equipment depending on when buying equipment depending on your needsyour needs You can buy an all in one unit You can buy an all in one unit You can buy all the parts separately You can buy all the parts separately

Initial Set UpInitial Set Up

All in one unitsAll in one units

View stationView station

Buying parts separatelyBuying parts separately

Good if you already have some parts and Good if you already have some parts and only need a few othersonly need a few others

Good if you have a specific set up in mind Good if you have a specific set up in mind and what to pick out your own partsand what to pick out your own parts

Initial Set UpInitial Set Up

Figure 1: done with Visio some pictures taken from polycom.com

Monthly FeeMonthly Fee

The price can depend on many different The price can depend on many different things including, bandwidth and how much things including, bandwidth and how much you use it you use it

Price can range anywhere from free to Price can range anywhere from free to $1,000 a month depending on the type of $1,000 a month depending on the type of service you wantservice you want

Monthly FeeMonthly Fee

No monthly Fee ServicesNo monthly Fee Services Windows Live, Skype, AIMWindows Live, Skype, AIM

Monthly Fees ServicesMonthly Fees Services GlowpointGlowpoint

Monthly FeeMonthly Fee

Figure2: Monthly charges for using IP instead of ISDN Taken from:glowpoint.com

ProblemsProblems

You can’t have eye contact with the You can’t have eye contact with the person you are speaking to person you are speaking to

Some people don’t like to be on camera Some people don’t like to be on camera

The biggest problem with IP based video The biggest problem with IP based video conferencing is bandwidth problems conferencing is bandwidth problems

Fixing Bandwidth ProblemsFixing Bandwidth Problems

Multi-cast Multi-cast Multi-cast allows multiple endpoints to receive Multi-cast allows multiple endpoints to receive

data at the same time with about the same data at the same time with about the same overhead as sending the data to a single overhead as sending the data to a single endpoint endpoint

Real-time Real-time Guarantees that packets are delivered in a Guarantees that packets are delivered in a

timely manner timely manner

Common QuestionsCommon Questions

How many users can be linked together How many users can be linked together in a conference call?in a conference call? Multipoint Control Unit (MCU)Multipoint Control Unit (MCU)

Shows you who is talking Shows you who is talking

Grid with all the endpoints on it at once Grid with all the endpoints on it at once All the users don’t have to have the same All the users don’t have to have the same

setup either setup either

QuestionsQuestions

Do all users have to support video on Do all users have to support video on the conference call?the conference call? No you can connect with just audioNo you can connect with just audio This allows meeting rooms to connect with This allows meeting rooms to connect with

video and people that can’t get to the video and people that can’t get to the meeting can connect with audiomeeting can connect with audio

Audio users can still see the videoAudio users can still see the video Can even connect with a cell phoneCan even connect with a cell phone

QuestionsQuestions

Can you connect IP based video Can you connect IP based video conferencing with ISDN?conferencing with ISDN? Yes, but there are fees that are not Yes, but there are fees that are not

included in the monthly feeincluded in the monthly fee The fees are a lot cheaper than if you were The fees are a lot cheaper than if you were

connecting ISDN to another ISDN systemconnecting ISDN to another ISDN system

IP to ISDN Connection FeeIP to ISDN Connection Fee

Table 2: Taken from:glowpoint.com

ReferencesReferences[1] Edward A. Garay, “Videoconferencing over the Internet” [1] Edward A. Garay, “Videoconferencing over the Internet” http://www.uic.edu/depts/accc/itl/pubs/ipvc/index.html Accessed March 25, 2007. Last updated http://www.uic.edu/depts/accc/itl/pubs/ipvc/index.html Accessed March 25, 2007. Last updated March 21, 2001.March 21, 2001.[2] Indiana Higher Education Telecommunications System. “How does IP video conferencing [2] Indiana Higher Education Telecommunications System. “How does IP video conferencing work?” http://www.ihets.org/progserv/dms/videoconferencing/tutorials/instructors/02_how.html work?” http://www.ihets.org/progserv/dms/videoconferencing/tutorials/instructors/02_how.html Accessed March 26, 2007. Last updated September 01, 2006.Accessed March 26, 2007. Last updated September 01, 2006.[3] Hitachi Software Engineering Technology Solutions Group, “Why IP-based [3] Hitachi Software Engineering Technology Solutions Group, “Why IP-based Videoconferencing” http://www.hitachi-soft.com/tsg/solutions/video/ipbased.html Accessed March Videoconferencing” http://www.hitachi-soft.com/tsg/solutions/video/ipbased.html Accessed March 12, 2007. Last updated 2007.12, 2007. Last updated 2007.[4]Techphonic Corporation, http://www.techphonic.com/html/faq.html#1 Accessed April 1, 2007. [4]Techphonic Corporation, http://www.techphonic.com/html/faq.html#1 Accessed April 1, 2007. Last updated 2006.Last updated 2006.[5] Ford, Steve, “Video Conferencing” http://www.objs.com/survey/vc.htm Accessed April 1, 2007. [5] Ford, Steve, “Video Conferencing” http://www.objs.com/survey/vc.htm Accessed April 1, 2007. Last updated April 22, 1996. Last updated April 22, 1996.[6]Saqib Jang, “A Technical FAQ Frequently Asked Questions About Voice and Video over IP [6]Saqib Jang, “A Technical FAQ Frequently Asked Questions About Voice and Video over IP Networks” http://www.wainhouse.com/files/papers/wr-faq-ip-conf.pdf Accessed April 2, 2007. Networks” http://www.wainhouse.com/files/papers/wr-faq-ip-conf.pdf Accessed April 2, 2007. Last updated January, 2003.Last updated January, 2003.[7]GlowPoint, Glowpoint.com Accessed March 12 2007. Last updated 2007.[7]GlowPoint, Glowpoint.com Accessed March 12 2007. Last updated 2007.[8]Polycom, Polycom.com Accessed April 1 2007. Last updated 2007.[8]Polycom, Polycom.com Accessed April 1 2007. Last updated 2007.[9]Wikipedia, “Video conferencing” [9]Wikipedia, “Video conferencing” http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_conferencingen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_conferencing Accessed Accessed April 1 2007. Last updated February 2007.April 1 2007. Last updated February 2007.