JANET Videoconferencing User Requirement Survey
We have recently conducted a user requirements survey as part of the JANET Videoconferencing Strategic Review (see below). We would like to thank everyone who took part in this survey - your responses will be used to ensure future developments in this area meet the requirments of our users. The results of this survey will be published on this page once they are available.
JANET Videoconferencing Strategic Review
In the last few months it has been identified that aspects of the current Janet Videoconferencing Service infrastructure are nearing end of life. With this in mind, a technology review initiative was conceived to identify the primary aspects of the JVCS infrastructure that required immediate attention. A project group was set up, consisting of members of JANET staff from both the Operations division and Strategic Technologies. The aims of the group were to identify areas of the JVCS that should be reviewed in order to ensure the service remained reliable, feature rich, and future proof.
The objectives of the work identified in this project review is to address any changes that can be applied to the service in the near future, in order to maintain functionality and add features. The three key project areas identified for this review are :
- SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)
- Data and Application Sharing
- Gatekeepers and Addressing
Videoconferencing User Requirements Survey
In parallel with the above project areas, there is a larger review of the JVCS service underway, to determine the user requirement for collaboration services over JANET and establish whether the JANET videoconferencing services are meeting the needs of its users. Results from this review are due in late 2009. Any relevant information identified during the course of these projects will feed into the larger service review.
SIP
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is an IETF standard for initiation and termination of multimedia communication sessions over IP connections. Communication sessions are typically in the form of voice and video calls, however SIP holds specification for handling many additional in-call features. SIP was designed as an IP alternative to existing protocols derived from the telephony industry, including the audio/visual protocol H.323.
The shift in the marketplace to support this functionality, paired with the general feedback received from the JANET community when talking to them at Networkshop earlier this year, has shown that there is a need to incorporate SIP functionality into JVCS to remain fully compatible with current protocols used in videoconferencing.
Data and Application Sharing
There are numerous data and application sharing systems now available outside of JANET, which are easily accessible to the wider community. Previously, JANET has offered Microsoft NetMeeting alongside its JVCS service, however in recent years Microsoft has phased out support for this dated package, introducing the need for new and more feature rich product.
Providing data and application sharing would allow the JANET community the opportunity to collaborate within a feature rich environment, which is already available in a host of different products. However, as is sometimes the case, ensuring compatibility between each system can prove to be difficult. This type of issue could result in lower levels of collaboration throughout the community. By providing a centrally managed system within JVCS, we can ensure that such obstacles are overcome.
Gatekeepers and Addressing
Existing Cisco gatekeepers are reaching end of life, making the need for a suitable replacement to be identified. The existing gatekeeper infrastructure is key to providing access to JVCS for endpoints using private addressing schemes. It also provides fine-grain management of organisations’ connections to the JVCS operators. Any replacement service needs to be capable of supporting current and future developments in the Videoconferencing arena.
Also, it is the aim of this project to critically review the existing addressing solution with a view to identifying the most suitable addressing scheme for the mix of today’s endpoints.
For more information please contact Emma Smith or David Richardson.