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Report from Fermilab to the

CSMM Working Group Meeting

2/12/2004

Sheila Cisko and Al Thomas

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Video ConferencingTechnologies Used at Fermilab Room based:

IP (H.323, ESnet, VRVS); ISDN (being phased out); Hardware based (Polycom). Significant ancillary equipment (microphones and

speakers, audio processors, projectors and/or monitors, cameras, etc.).

Desktop based: IP only; Hardware (Polycom ViaVideo); Software (NetMeeting, packet-based tools (vic/rat). T.120 (?) Web repositories Agenda servers

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Video ConferencingISDN Statistics

Scheduled ISDN Meetings

0.00

200.00

400.00

600.00

800.00

1000.00

1200.00

Oct-02 Nov-02 Dec-02 Jan-03 Feb-03 Mar-03 Apr-03 May-03 Jun-03 Jul-03 Aug-03 Sep-03 Oct-03 Nov-03 Dec-03

#m

tgs/#

hrs

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Video ConferencingIP Statistics (from netflow)

Apr-0

3

May

-03

Jun-

03

Jul-0

3

Aug-0

3

Sep-0

3

Oct-03

Nov-0

3

Dec-0

3

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

400.0

500.0

600.0

700.0

Hou

rs /

Mon

th

Esnet_Ad-Hoc_Usage Esnet_Bridge_Usage VRVS_Usage

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Video ConferencingCurrent Operations Reserve video conf resources (scheduling FNAL

endpoints for multipoint meetings); Troubleshoot video conferences; including FNAL &

offsite rooms involved in FNAL meetings & bridge personnel (ESnet, VRVS or DoE EM);

Appoint new FNAL rooms with video conf gear and related multimedia, as requested from division HQs;

Train users and FNAL support personnel to use video conf equipment;

Consult with on- and off-site users in technology and equipment;

Maintain documentation of room systems, codec firmware, utilization and ISDN charges.

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Video ConferencingAreas of Expertise Design of video conferencing rooms; Operation of Polycom and ancillary audio/visual

processing equipment; Support of standards based videoconferencing

(H.323); Technology R&D.

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Video ConferencingInvestigations and Technology R&D

CMS Virtual Control Room Project, participants include Data Communications and PPD/CMS. At present we’re determining best equipment for the testbed;

Video conference technology and tools: H.264 (higher speed v/c with mpeg); Desktop collaboration tools (H.323, Polycom

ViaVideo, Microsoft NetMeeting, T.120, etc.). Audio and video technology and equipment; Video Streaming.

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Fermilab Video ConferenceRoom Installations Currently Fermilab has 19 video conferencing rooms.

All are public, but certain divisions or collaborations have primary access and use of their own video rooms.

All rooms are scheduled by different divisions. Each division may assign a technician or administrative

support person to oversee video meetings. Level of expertise and knowledge varies.

Approximately two new rooms added each year. Installations requested by other laboratory divisions to

Computing Division Video Conference Coordinator. Design and installation assistance from CD/Data

Communications Infrastructure group and outside vendors. We recommend room treatments wrt to acoustics, lighting,

etc. but often not implemented.