Video Conferencing Technology - The Latest Developments To Hit The Market

Video conferencing technology allows people at many locations to see and communicate with each other at the same time. In addition to ISDN-based videoconferencing, IP-based videoconferencing and streaming media are increasingly becoming part of the standard. New technologies like Session Initiation Protocol or SIP videoconference are also gaining popularity.

Basic videoconference technology needs audio-visual equipment (monitor, camera, microphone, and speaker) as well as a means of transmitting information between sites. Many connect via ISDN because it is an economical solution for high-quality videoconferencing. ISDN works over regular copper telephone lines, transmits at a minimum of 128 Kbps per line, and provides dedicated bandwidth for smooth audio and video.

Internet-based connections are increasing in popularity. But due to narrow bandwidth and competing with other internet data results in jerky video or slow networks. Therefore for the highest quality, ISDN is still most widely preferred

Popular Collaborative Technologies Used In Video Conferencing

The communication between two ends is effective if computers have a common ground while using video conference. Many organizations are working to develop standards, in both formal and ad hoc for variety of fields. Some of the popular collaborative technologies are:

• H.323
• Virtual Room Videoconferencing System
• MPEG-2 Videoconferencing
• MJPEG
• Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

H.323

H.323 is a communication standard produced by International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It aims at multimedia communication over Local Area Network (LAN). It supports voice-over IP and IP telephony, gatekeeper-to-gatekeeper communications and other data communications that involve packet-based networks. This include IP based networks like Internet, Internet Packet Exchange (IPX) LAN’s and WAN’s. It is used throughout the world in commercial and educational markets.

The H.323 firewall standard specifies the pieces that combine to provide a complete communication service

• Terminals, PC or stand-alone devices are the endpoints of the communication lines.
• Gatekeepers are the brain of the network. It provide services like addressing / identification, authorization and bandwidth management
• Gateways are act as translators while connecting to a dissimilar network (example. H.324)
• Multiple Control Units (MCU) allows multipoint conferencing or communication between more than two parties at once.

H.323 describes permissible audio and video codecs, RAS (registration, admission and status), call signaling and control signaling.

Virtual Room Videoconferencing System (VRVS)

VRVS is a web-oriented system for videoconferencing and collaborative work over IP networks. It provides a universal videoconference service. Initially it is used within High Energy and Nuclear Physics (HENP) and then service is extended to academic, desktop sharing network and research groups. It uses images to different virtual venues. Test H.323 and channel function within VRVS offers connectivity. Reflectors, are interconnected using unicast tunnels and multicast, manage the traffic flow in the network. They connect each user to a virtual room by a permanent IP tunnel.

The main advantages of VRVS system are:

• Provides a low cost video conferencing
• It enables remote collaboration over networks
• Provides versatile collaboration tools
• It will support for new and essential tools that are required for fast data exchange
• It provides a high level of interactivity in large-scale scientific collaborations

The versatile collaboration tools are Mbone, H.323, Quick Time, Desktop/Application sharing and Chat on various platforms.

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