1. Services description
Introduction
A pilot MCU Video Conferencing service has been offered to AARNet customers since
2003. The pilot service is described in more detail in a benchmark document, but suffice
to say it had a number of usability and scaling issues that the current MCU Review Group
are trying to address via a new pilot service based on the Codian Management Platform.
This document provides an overview of the new pilot service, highlighting the features
and functions that will be made available for testing as part of a pilot service.
Services
The pilot service consists of two visible service delivery solutions to support Codian
MCU Administrators, CAVEs and Registered users in the delivery and use of both
internal MCU services at institutions and for the AARNet conferencing pilot service:
1. Codian Management Platform
2. Web based Video Conferencing scheduling and booking system
1. Codian Management Platform (CMP)
The CMP manages the scheduling of conferencing resources to multiple cascaded MCUs
via distributed administration rights assigned to owners of those MCUs.
Figure 1: CMP Admin Interface
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2. The CMP supports the following service features
• Role based authentication and authorization access controls.
• Resource Management
i. MCU Management
ii. Video Conferencing end point management
iii. Physical room management (via calendar system)
• Scheduling Management
i. Web based video conferencing scheduling and booking system (its a
more basic user interface)
ii. Seamless integration with Microsoft Outlook or Exchange, or
Groupwise calendaring systems to schedule conferences automatically
into an MCU.
iii. CMP scheduling calendar interface (advanced features/options
supported).
• A dynamic “on-time” feature of the system, the information is confirmed or
changed 24h prior the to a conference, in case the MCU becomes unavailable
due to a fault for example.
• Port sharing to support conferences via multiple cascaded MCUs to overcome
situations where the local MCU has reached full capacity and cannot support
the request. (This feature optimizes the time necessary to purchase additional
MCU equipment when operating near full capacity, by leveraging off other
Codian MCUs).
• Reports
i. Standard reports (Codian Reporter)
1. Uptime
2. Port use
3. Conference use (per day/week/month)
4. other
ii. Tailored reports (Codian Reporter)
1. Participants per conference
2. Ports per conference
3. other
iii. Billing information
1. CDR (Scripts/Software to analyze/interpret the CDRs are to be
provided by the individual institution)
Additional details about the CMP system are available at:
• http://www.facetoface.biz/cd/cmpbrochure.pdf (Brochure)
• http://www.facetoface.biz/cd/cmpuserguide.pdf (User guide)
• http://www.facetoface.biz/cd/cmpadministratorguide.pdf (Admin guide)
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3. 2. Web based Video Conferencing scheduling and booking system
This is an online booking system for registered users only. It enables requests for
booking resources to support a conference call via an MCU.
Figure 2: Web based Video Conferencing scheduling and booking system
A Registered User logs into the system and can book a new conference or alter an
existing one by selecting from a list of booked conferences. The system supports the
following service features
• Unique booking reference numbers,
• Allocation of conference numbers to dial into the conference
• The distribution of additional information on how to connect to the conference.
• The distribution of a conference booking request to a local coordinator (CAVE) to
alert them to the request in advance in case local support is required.
• Use of the shared ports of the MCU pool (depending on the Institution), or
alternatively use of the AARNet MCU ports
• Simple support information via a HTML Help interface
• Sending of Meeting invitation in Outlook/Groupwise Calendar format
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4. For more details, please contact kewin.stoeckigt@aarnet.edu.au or
steve.cox@flinders.edu.au
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