1. Streaming & Recording Videoconferences
Kenneth Tanner
LSU Health Sciences Center – Shreveport
Doug Pearson
Indiana University
March 25, 2003

2. Streaming a videoconference
Streaming a videoconference makes it possible for any number of people to view a conference – either live or recorded for on-demand access.
View on desktop computers using standard media players such as Real, Windows Media or QuickTime.

3. What kinds of things can you do?
Classes or lectures available live and on-demand
Save the proceedings of a meeting.
Permit key individuals of a conference participate interactively, while a large audience views the live stream.
Doesn’t have to be a multiparty VC – can use the VC endpoint as a streaming source.

4. Four technologies for VC streaming
All-in-one: a server that has the VC and streaming functions all in a single system
Combo: a system built of separate VC terminal and standard streaming encoder
Built-in: VC terminals with built-in multicast or unicast streaming
ASP: Application service providers

5. All-In-One
Comes in two flavors – as a streaming gateway only, or in conjunction with an MCU
Works by taking H.26x/G.7xx video/audio out of the H.323 envelope and stuffs into an envelope of a common streaming format such as Real, Windows Media or QuickTime
Can do unicast or multicast streaming
Can store the stream for VOD

6. All-In-One Chat and slide presenter features Examples: STARBAK Torrent
FVC Conference Server with Streaming Support
Virtual Rooms Videoconference Service (VRVS)

7. Combo
Two standard devices – a VC terminal and a streaming encoder, are interconnected. A/V out of the VC terminal into the encoder
Encoder can be just about anything, e.g. Real, WM, QT, or MPEG-1,-2,-4; unicast or multicast
Can store the stream for VOD

8. Built-In
Some high-end terminals have built-in streaming, e.g. Polycom FX and Tandberg 880.
Utilizes IP multicast.
Takes the H.26x/G.7xx video/audio out of the H.323 envelope and stuffs into RTP.
No ability to record for VOD

9. ASP
Many videoconference bridging service providers also provide streaming option.

10. Video/Audio Comparison
Both the All-In-One and Built-In methods strip the H.26x/G.7xx video/audio out of the H.323 envelope and stuff that into the envelope of Real, WM, QT or RTP.
The Combo method takes baseband video and audio output of a VC terminal and encodes to a made for streaming format.
Tradeoffs

11. Management and operation moderate Network transmission
All-In-One
Combo
Built-In
Initial set up
moderate to complex
complex
simple
Management and operation
moderate
Network transmission
unicast or multicast
requires multicast
Transmission speed
fixed to speed of conference
flexible modem to broadband
Perf under net congestion
fair to poor
good
Record for VOD
yes
only w/ extra special tech

12. Cost for a small number of concurrent conferences high moderate low
All-In-One
Combo
Built-In
Cost for a small number of concurrent conferences
high
moderate
low
Cost for a large number of concurrent conferences
moderate-to-low

13. LSUHSC-S Background
LSU Health Sciences Center – Shreveport network consist of
~20 H.323 & 15 H.320 Endpoints, Accord MCU, and a Radvision ECS-100 Gatekeeper
Accord MCU bridges H.320 & H.323 systems
Neighbored with LICRN & ViDeNet’s GDS
Manages Louisiana’s Interactive & Collaborative Research Network (LICRN) – A statewide H.323 videoconferencing network.

14. LICRN Background Managed by LSUHSC-S Created in part by NSF Grant
12 Higher Educational Research Institutions within Louisiana
Deployed 72 H.323 endpoints amongst the 12 institutions
Radvision ECS-100 GK deployed at each institution (all neighbored together and with ViDeNet’s GDS)
Established MCU hub using an LSUHSC-S Accord MCU in Baton Rouge
Initially supported H.323 only connections
Presently supports both H.323 & H.320 (bridging networks)

15. LSUHSC-S & LICRN Network Diagram
IP Network
(H.323)
H.323 Endpoints
H.320
H.323 Gatekeepers
Missing piece to the puzzle: streaming and archiving of conferences.

16. Initial Streaming & Archiving Solution
Connect codec to streaming device (PC or server).
Advantage: Supports various streaming/archiving technologies.
Disadvantage: Cost of codec/server bank & one conference stream and/or archive per bank – Success means more banks.
H.323 Codec
Streaming/Archiving Server
Analog A/V

17. Features of Streaming & Archiving Unit Desired
Utilizes the All-In-One approach (single standalone unit)
Capable of both Streaming and Archiving conferences
Support multiple streaming/archiving sessions on same unit
Support major media players (QuickTime, Windows Media Player, RealOne)

18. Starbak’s Torrent VCG www.starbak.com
Streams and archives H.323 connections
Supports up to 10 H.323 connections on one unit (cost varies depending on # of H.323 connections supported).
Supported formats
Windows Media Player
Apple’s QuickTime
RealNetworks’ RealOne Player
Call Formats:
Video Only, Video & Chat, Video & Slides, Video, Chat, Slides.

19. Starbak’s Torrent VCG Continues
H.323 Version 3 Compliant
Supported data rates: 128Kb, 256Kb, 384Kb, 512, 768Kb, 1.5Mb
Supports registration with gatekeeper
Can dial using E.164, H.323 aliasing, IP addresses, etc.
Gigabit Ethernet connection
700 Mbps sustained throughput
100 GB internal hard drive; fiber channel or SCSI interface for external hard drive addition.
Note: Streams and archives are performed at H.323 data rate (384kbps H.323 = 384kbps stream)

20. Videoconferencing Network
IP Network
(H.323)
H.320
H.323 Endpoints

21. LSUHSC-S & LICRN Capabilities
Support multipoint H.323, H.320 and combination of both using Accord MCU
Stream and/archive multipoint conferences by adding a VCG port to a conference just like any other H.323 endpoint.
Stream and/or archive sessions from an individual H.323 endpoint – Point to Point connection between H.323 endpoint & VCG.
Support 10 H.323/Streaming/Archiving concurrent sessions

22. LSUHSC-S & LICRN Capability

27. Call Catalogs are in the form of http://[domain or IP address]/<user>/

29. Demo Internet 2 Cable TV Presentation PC H.323 Codec H.323 Stream
H.323 & Streaming
Analog A/V
Internet 2
VCR
H.323
Cable TV
H.323 Endpoint

31. Demo

32. References http://www.sh.lsuhsc.edu/h323
Special thanks to Ric Simmons and Serge Razafindrakoto from LSU Baton Rouge campus for their support.

33. Indiana University Background
8 campuses + extension centers, ~110k students
Virtual Indiana Classroom
~145 H.323 group systems, ~200 desktop
2 Accord MGC-100, H.323 with H.320 gateway
Radvision ECS GK; central
Polycom GMS

34. IStream IU’s VC-to-streaming service
Currently supports eight concurrent sessions; can scale to demand
Been in full service 2 semesters
Currently recording 29 classes; plus events and meetings

35. IStream Streams live and records for on-demand access
Video and live stream in Real format
Option for audio-only MP3; can stream on-demand or download to desktop or personal MP3 appliances; can’t stream MP3 live

36. IStream Utilizes the combo approach
Chose combo approach for flexibility
Transmission speeds from modem to broadband
Robust delivery over congested commercial Internet
Custom interface, management and operations, and features
Custom scheduling, control, management and operations, and user access system developed

43. IStream – Planned Enhancements
Version 2 of scheduling system; based on database
Automated monitoring tools; listen for audio and raise flag if no audio present for a scheduled event
Incorporate with data collaboration tool for multimedia
Batched downloads of MP3s to desktop or personal audio appliance

44. References
IStream
Credits to James McGookey and Chris Golden for IStream development.