1. Information Technology
Videoconferencing
Fall 2005
Ultra-Videoconferencing
Information Summary
For review for potential licensing
Summary 2005 conference award for "Most Innovative Use of
New Technology."
Technology overview: A flexible, low-latency, extremely high
throughput IP transport video • Robust Market – Videoconferencing continues to be a
conferencing system for audio, video, fast growing market. In Q2 of 2005, the video
and vibrosensory data. conferencing market’s revenues grew 9.9% (annually)
Applications: Remote audio-visual communication to $165.6M according to Wainhouse Research. The
Validation: System operational and demonstrated
growth in videoconferencing is driven by the robust
global business market, higher travel costs and
Needs/opportunity: Technology enables the most realistic improved conferencing technology.
communications environment available.
The system “opens a window” between • Cusp of New Technology Advancement - While to date the
two parties. This environment is needed performance of Ultra-Videoconferencing was only
in many high-end applications such as available in a lab setting due to its need for a high
medicine, long meetings or recitals, speed network and high-end cameras and displays,
where performance is critical and the availability and cost of these technologies are
current technologies are not sufficient.
reaching a point that can make this solution cost
Deal terms Software license available effective. Ultra-videoconferencing takes advantage of
Ideal receptor Established videoconferencing provider these trends to provide a real time, no delay, “eye
contact quality”, natural conversation experience.
Contact: John Elton, Officer Users will demand this performance once
Email: john.elton@mcgill.ca experienced and new markets and applications will be
accessible.
Phone: (514) 398-6973
• 12-24 Month Advance on Available Technologies – A team
of domain experts developed the system combining
Highlights skills in design and implementation of presentation
systems as well as software and hardware engineering
• Most advanced validated videoconferencing system available - experts. About $1.5M was invested in development
Flexible, super low-latency IP transport system for and 6 years of work in a lab with one the most
audio, video, and most recently, vibrosensory data. advanced networks (CANARIE).
The application has been used in a range of
demanding applications including live concert • Easy Integration - System was built largely with open
streaming (1999), remote audio mixing (2000), standards based technology that will allow for easy
collaborative performance (2001), distance masters integration with a company’s existing systems.
classes over SDI (2002), and remote video
interpreting of sign language using three simultaneous
DV streams (2003) and won the SuperComputing
Office of Technology Transfer Bureau de transfert de technologies
1555 Peel Street, 11th Floor 1555 rue Peel, 11ième étage
Montreal, Quebec H3A 3L8 Montréal (Québec) H3A 3L8
Tel.: (514) 398-4200 Fax: (514) 398-1482

2. Ultra-Videoconferencing
Technology Description
With one box, Ultra-Videoconferencing can Operating System
broadcast one channel of bidirectional HD-SDI video
Ultra-Videoconferencing currently runs under Linux
plus as many multiples of 10 channels of
systems. The release version has been compiled under
96kHz/24bit bidirectional audio as can fit into the
RedHat 8 and is upward compatible to Redhat 9,
PCI slots.
Fedora Core, and Mandriva systems.
The CPU requirements depend entirely on what
Hardware
modes of transport and coding are involved.
Ultra-Videoconferencing requires fairly minimal CPU
power for audio-only transport but is very demanding
for DV decoding, JPEG encoding or decoding, and
full-frame uncompressed video processing. These
tasks require a PIII-1GHz or better CPU. Because of
system scheduler issues, it is recommended that full-
frame uncompressed video be run on a separate
machine from that used for audio transport.
Bandwidth
As for bandwidth requirements, PCM audio with
default sampling (44.1 kHz, 16 bit) requires
approximately 706 kbps per channel. DV camera
output (audio and video) consumes approximately 25
Mbps; JPEG-encoded full-frame video is similar.
Uncompressed analog or dc1394 video at full-frame
requires anywhere from 148-270 Mbps depending on
color space employed; this may be reduced to as low
as 37 Mbps by selecting quarter-frame size with -w
Musicians from Stanford University jamming cross continent 320 -h 240.
with musicians from McGill University over the Ultra- I/O
videoconferencing system.
Photo: Peter Marshall, CANARIE Inc. Ultra-Videoconferencing supports video input from
either frame grabbers using v4l or v4l2 interfaces (e.g.
Bt878 chipset), digital video (DV) cameras, raw 1394
devices, and standard or high-definition Serial Digital
Interface (SDI).
Ultra-Videoconferencing supports audio using either
the Open Sound System (OSS) or Advanced Linux
Sound Architecture (ALSA).
November 2005: Ultra-Videoconferencing at the SuperComputing
2005 conference in Seattle, where Ultra-Videoconferencing amazed
attendees and received the award for “Most Innovative Use of a
New Technology”.