Development of Multipoint Communication Systems for Remote Seminar
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Transcript of Development of Multipoint Communication Systems for Remote Seminar
Development of Multipoint Communication Systems for Remote Seminar
Toshihiro Hayashi and Yukuo Hayashida
Department of Information Science, Saga University
E-mail: {hayashi, hayasida}@is.saga-u.ac.jp
Background
Remote education is getting popular. Large scale of remote education: for lecture Small scale of remote education: for seminar
Seminar is generally synchronous activity. Same time and same location
Seminar always needs arranging time and location among the learning group
Sometimes, some members cannot attend the seminar by restrictions of time and location (absentee problem).
Utilization of computers for solving the restrictions of seminar This changes synchronous seminar into asynchronous
seminar
Asynchronous seminar
Solutions for time restriction Asynchronous communication tools: e-mail,
electronic bulletin board system and so on. Assistance tools for absentee: video archives
and so on Solutions for location restriction
Synchronous communication tools: electronic conference system (NetMeeting, CU-SeeMe, and so on)
These systems change seminar into remote seminar
Our research questions
Development of a computer supported remote seminar environment Model: What is remote seminar model ? Architecture: What kind of system architecture is
appropriate for remote seminar ? Implementation: How to develop communication
systems for realizing remote seminar ? What kind of techniques are needed for the implementation ?
Evaluation: Do our systems work effectively in the situations of remote seminar ?
Seminar model
Same time and same location
Professor Students
Same time but different locations
Professor Students
CA: Computer assistance
Remote seminar 1
Same time but different locations
Professor Students
Remote seminar 2
Normal seminar
CA
CA
CA
Features for remote seminar in our research Remote seminar consists of max five members. Each member has one PC for seminar. All PCs are connected to information network (Internet and so
on) to transmit data. The members are generally in different rooms/locations.
Some members might be in the same room/location.
Informationnetwork
Communication systems for realizing remote seminar
System requirements Multi-point communication
For data transmission for small group via information networks
Flexible system configurationFor various kind of situations of “Same time but
different locations”
Multi-point communication (1)
Server
Server based multi-point communication Peer to peer multi-point communication
Multi-point communication (2)
Server based multi-point communication Typical style of existing electronic conference systems Some existing server based systems are high-cost (for
example, MeetingPoint: $8,995 for 10 user license) At least, one sever machine must be prepared. There are free servers but we cannot always use them.
Peer to peer multi-point communication This type of communication needs no server. This type of communication generally requires high-
performance PC for each user
Existing network applications available for remote seminar
Classification of network applications
Single-function applicationshave one or a few operations for single medium dataExample: CD player (Windows accessory)
Multi-functions applicationshave plural functions for various kind of media data
(multimedia data) and handle them togetherExamples: NetMeeting and CU-SeeMe
System construction models
Multi-Functions on Single Application modelMFSA model
Media1Media1
App1App1
Remote seminar system
Core application
Media2Media2
Media3Media3
Media1Media1 App1App1
Remote seminar system
Media2Media2
Media3Media3 App3App3App4App4
App5App5
App2App2
Multi-Applications with Single Function modelMASF model
AppApp
Single-function applicationAppApp
Multi-functions application
Features of system construction models
MFSA model Remote seminar system is constructed by only one multi-
functions application Core application centered system --- low flexibility Actual examples: NetMeeting, CU-SeeMe
MASF model Remote seminar system is constructed by plural single-
function applications Integrated and complementary system --- high flexibility Actual examples: MBone applications (VIC, VAT, WB,
and so on)
Overview of our system development
MASF based communication systems VCRS (Video Communication tool for remote
seminar): video data transmission system RCS (Remote Chat System): sound and voice data
transmission system RPS: remote presentation system RWB: remote white board
Prototype implementation on Linux Linux is free OS and provides free system
development environment.
Interface of remote seminar system
(1) VCRS: Video Communication tool for Remote Seminar
(2)RWB: Remote White Board
(2) RPS: Remote Presentation System
Consideration (1)
Problems of system use It is complicated for users to combine our
communication systems for remote seminar.Necessity of a support system for integrating our
communication systems. It is bothersome for users to connect all hosts
for every communication system. Necessity of an auto control system for host
connection.
Configuration of remote seminar system
User InterfaceUser Interface
Communication SystemControl Module
Communication SystemControl Module
ControlDatabase
Configuration pattern
Informationnetwork
Monitor
Speaker
Mike
KB & mouse
User
VCRSVCRS
RCSRCS
RWBRWB
RPSRPS
Camera
Presentationdocuments
Recordedseminar data
MHB: MediaHandling Block
MHB: MediaHandling Block
User requests
GUIControl
Transmission Control
To other hosts
From other hosts
Communicationsystems
ACU: Auto Configuration Unit
ACU: support system for
integrating communication systems
MHB: auto control system for host connection
Consideration (2)
Problems of operating system There are hardware restrictions, for example
video chip, to use our communication systems on Linux.
Linux is not so major compared with Windows.
Porting of communication systems into Windows
System prototyping on Windows
Summary
Development of remote seminar system Prototype implementation of communication
systems on Linux (kernel: 2.4.5, distribution: Turbo Linux workstation 7.0) and Windows (Windows 98SE, 2000 and XP)
Future work Implementation of ACU and MHB Field test of remote seminar system using
Internet and JGN (Japan Gigabit Network)