MultiClass

MultiClass Advice Pages

Overview of broadband video conferencing service

General Requirements:

When specifying the requirements for the core video solution care was taken by E2BN to ensure the solution provided a platform that was:
Inclusive - in that it offered all schools across the E2BN network the potential to participate, regardless of the budget pressures and equipment used;
Comprehensive - in that it encompassed a wide range of facilities and allowed integration with different add-on equipment and software, to provide a solution that could be used in many different ways to support education throughout the curriculum and beyond;
Simple & effective - so that it encouraged experimentation and use of the facilities provided and removed a number of the barriers that have prevented the wide spread use of video conferencing in education.

The Core Solution:

The core video conferencing solution provides a number of services, which are available for use by all schools within the region. The core solution provides a high quality video conferencing network that links together all the LEAs within the region as well as a link to the National Education Network. The solution is also non proprietary and will allow communication between a wide range of diverse end equipment, including video devices utilising both ISDN and IP video conferencing protocols as well as desktop based end points and web cameras.

The core facilities:

General Features:
Online conferences	The ability to make high quality IP video conferencing calls free of charge across the E2BN network.
An ISDN gateway	To enable inclusion of schools not yet on the broadband network.
An Internet Gateway	To allow conferencing across the Internet to sites external to E2BN.
Non-proprietary	Compatibility with many end points, allowing a wide range of VC units to be used to access the system.
Point to Point calls	Calls between two conferencing units.
Features available when using the multipoint unit:
Multipoint calls	Calls involving three or more sites or conferencing units.
Automatic setting selection	Each participant can connect at any rate, and the MCU will automatically provide the best possible picture.
PC Compatible	Full on screen menus and audio prompts for joining or setting up a multipoint conference, making the system very easy to use.
Easy conference setup & control	Ability to use the remote control unit of your video end point to set up or enter multipoint conferences and to control the screen layout and cameras at the near and remote end.
Scheduling tools	A simple web based interface that allows video calls to be booked in advance as well as automatic call out (i.e. the system will dial specified units at the time set to initiate the conference).
Ad hoc conferences	The ability to set up calls from the remote device of your video conferencing unit without recall to a central booking facility
Easy viewing	The MCU will automatically select a suitable layout based on the number of users. This can be changed by the user. The MCU allows each participant to have a different view of the conference.
Flexible viewing	Ability to watch the conference on video screen or on a separate PC using a web browser.
Screen messaging	Individual and group text messaging, which can be set up via the multi-conferencing web interface.
Conference Security	Security PIN numbering is available on all calls.
Ability to share slides	A presenter mode allows a PC to join into the meeting so that slides can be shown. The slides can be selected for viewing using the remote control.
Support for video conferencing	For those events when a lot of people want to watch, the MCU will stream it out to QuickTime™or Real Player – at a variety of speeds so that many more users can see and hear the action.

Why a core IP system:

The use of video conferencing within schools, and other learning establishments has been restricted in the past due to:

• Equipment costs and call charges (e.g. ISDN);
• The reliability of the connections;
• The time taken to initiate calls and set up equipment within lessons;
• The difficulties in contacting sites using different types of conferencing, equipment and management interfaces; and,
• The difficulty of integrating systems into a variety of different teaching scenarios.
• The E2BN core solution aims to address these barriers to use, as follows:

Equipment costs and call charges:

• Access to the central equipment will be FREE of CHARGE to all schools joining the E2BN video network;
• The network will offer the ability to make IP calls to other sites on the E2BN network or via a video conferencing bridge to sites with IP conferencing facilities anywhere on the Internet. (NB the only chargeable calls will be those to sites utilising ISDN rather than IP conferencing equipment and these conferences will be charged at basic call rates.)

Back to Services Index

MultiClass Advice - Advice, support materials & information

Find out about E2BN's Broadband Video Service.


	Avoid using sound tracking microphones when there is a low ceiling.		© 2005 E2BN East of England Broadband Network