The Welsh Video Network is at the
forefront of multimedia conferencing technology. The WVN
support team is involved in development in a number of areas
to improve the WVN videoconferencing experience.
Members of the Team are currently working
on the following projects:
IP
Videoconferencing
To enable the Welsh
Video Network to run over Internet Protocols (IP), using
the same connections to JANET and the Internet as are
used for the web, email, etc.
Welsh
Translation Pilot
To enable individuals
within participating studios to hear simultaneous
translations of the videoconference that they are
attending.
IP Premium QoS
Trials
To ensure that the audio and video streams
between studios are given priority over less time-sensitive data
as they traverse the network, thus ensuring good quality
conferencing even when the network is extremely busy. These
trials are part of a QoS initiative co-ordinated by UKERNA,
managers of the JANET network.
Members of the team have also
contributed to the following related events and initiatives:
H.323
Global Dialling Scheme
At the start of the WVN project, there
was no standard internationally agreed H.323 dialling plan.
There were a number of different dialling schemes - existing
and proposed - but none that was in general use. A dialling
plan brings ease-of-use (no IP addresses to dial) and allows
communication between locations where there is only a numeric
keypad. Of course it has to be commonly understood and used so
that different parts of the world will inter-work seamlessly.
UKERNA
H.323 Architecture Group
Set up by UKERNA to
define an H.323 (IP videoconferencing) service and provide a
roadmap for the development of such a service.
The team members are also involved
in:
- Developing equipment monitoring tools
and network monitoring tools, so that they can react
quickly to any problems that may occur;
- Refining, developing and testing the
touchscreen interface to incorporate feedback from users;
- Further developing the in-house
help-desk database to ensure that fault reports and
queries are handled quickly and professionally;
- Assisting UKERNA with the procurement
of IP videoconferencing equipment for the JANET backbone;
- Close liaison with developers of
other Internet based videoconferencing networks, to ensure
that there is compatibility, inter-operability, and no
re-inventing of the wheel!
- Testing and trialing new versions of
software used in the studios, and giving feedback to
manufacturers based on the tests and users' experiences;
- Training technical support personnel
and teaching staff (with the JISC Regional Support
Centre);
- The core activity of giving technical
support to studios and providing an office hours
help-desk.