Frequently Asked Questions: Engineering and Operations
Videoconferencing and Audio Conferencing
What is Video Conferencing?
Video Conferencing is two-way interactive communication through the use of telephone or Internet technologies to transmit and receive digital video and audio signals.A basic video conference setup has a camera and a microphone connected to a codec (a Coding and Decoding unit or device), video from the camera and audio fro the microphone is converted into a digital format and transmitted to a receiving location.At that receiving location is another codec system that converts the receiving digital stream into and from that can be seen and heard on monitors or televisions.At the same time, audio and video can be sent from cameras and microphones at the received location and sent back to the original location. Academic Technology services uses Polycom VSX 8000, VSX 7000, VS 4000, and Veiwstation codecs. For more information, see Polycom's web site.
What is a Video Conferencing Bridge?
A Video Conferencing Bridge or Video Bridge (also called a Multipoint Control Unit) is a hardware system that is able to connect multiple codecs together into a single conference.A Video Bridge receives digital video and audio signals from all individual codecs or video conferencing systems in a designated conference, processes and resends digital video and audio signals back to all the codecs and video conferencing systems. So depending on the resources on the Video Bridge, multiple conferences with many locations can be conducted simultaneously. Many Video Bridges can provide advanced features such as Continuous Presence, People plus Content or dual streams, Transcoding, and Transrating, Academic Technology services uses a pair of Polycom MGC +100 video bridges. For more information, see Polycom's web site.
What is Audio Conferencing?
Audio Conferencing (or Audio Teleconferencing) is two-way interactive communication through the use of telephone or Internet technologies to transmit and receive voice signals.While standard telephone calls connect people in a point-to-point conversation, (and many telephone companies can now provide three-way calling features able to connect three telephones in a conversation), an Audio Conference provides the ability to connect many participants in the same conversation.Audio Conferences can be made using standard analog telephones, or ISDN digital telephones, cell phones, or the newest Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephones. Academic Technology Services can provide Audio Conferences with up to 48 caller participants, or mix telephone callers in video conferences (for guest speakers, etc.)
What are the benefits of video conferencing?
Video Conferencing saves travel time and money while creating an interactive environment for effective and affective communication.Participants can see and hear all other participants and communicate both verbally and visually, creating a face-to-face experience. PowerPoint and other on screen graphics, as well as document cameras, DVD players, and Internet connectively are also available presentation options. Overall downtime is reduced and productivity gains are achieved by removing the logistics of flight preparations, airport delays, hotel stays, and all the other inconveniences of business travel.In distance education, video conferencing provides quality access to students who could not travel to or could afford to relocate to a traditional campus. All video conferences at Academic Technology Services can also be recorded into DVD, providing the ideal conditions for depositions and interviews. Other applications include meetings, dissertation and thesis defenses, telemedical procedures or healthcare conferences, and graduation ceremonies.
What are the benefits of audio conferencing?
Audio Conferencing creates an open communication environment that does not require elaborate systems, appliances, or PC based video systems. Participants have the flexibility of communicating with large groups of people from a cell phone, an Internet phone, an office phone, or a home phone. When video is not needed, audio conferencing provides a cost effective and efficient alternative to the bandwidth requirements of quality video, and the limited reliability of web conferencing applications.
Can I video conference from home? my office? a hotel?
Yes, yes, and yes, with a PC, a USB camera, a microphone, and video conferencing software you can turn your PC into a video conferencing system.Academic Technology services uses Polycom's PVX personal conferencing software to provide a solution for clients not able to attend at a video conferencing equipped classroom or conference room. Distance Learning graduate programs are one popular example, these graduate students are dispersed across the world but require real-time visual and verbal communication from anywhere a high speed Internet connection is available. Polycom's PVX is different from other web conferencing applications as it is based on standard video conferencing protocols (ITU H.323) and can be combined in conferences with other system based classrooms and conference rooms. For more information, see Polycom's web site.
How do I install my Polycom PVX software?
Complete installation instructions are available from the link below, also telephone support is available for clients and registered students. Please see our installation instructions.
Please Explain the different video conferencing standards
The International Telecommunications Union has approved of several standards for video conferencing, the three most popular standards are:
- ITU H.320, used for ISDN (Integrated Switched Digital Networks) or digital telephone lines,
- ITU H.321, used for ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) conferences, and
- ITU H.323, used for IP (Internet Protocol) conferences, this is the fastest growing format as it allows for video conferences over the Internet
What is 'Continuous Presence'?
Continuous Presence is a feature available during video conferences that allows all participants to be visible on the screen at the same time. For instance, if there are 12 participants in the video conference, the screen everyone sees will have 12 windows (which can be of various client defined sizes) with each participant in their own window. This feature can be combines with 'Lecture Mode'
What is 'People plus Content', or dual stream?
This is a popular option on new codecs and video conferencing systems, People plus Content standards (ITU H.239) allows the system to process high resolution VGA graphics along with the standard video signal. So each enabled video conferencing system in the conference is sending and receiving two video streams. For instance, in a classroom equipped with two monitors, the students could see both the instructor and the presentation on the two different displays. Academic Technology Services used People plus Content as a solution for clients who require high resolution presentations.
What is 'Transrating'?
Transrating is a function available on the video conferencing bridge that allows seamless conferences between site and locations with different bandwidths. For instance, university classrooms with large Internet connections can participate in a conference at 2 Mbps, while another location with limited bandwidth can participate at a lower 384 Kbps rate. This creates a versatile environment that can accommodate location and systems with bandwidth limitations, especially when combined with Transcoding
What is 'Transcoding'?
Transcoding is an option available on video conferencing bridges that allows conferences to be established with participants using different video conferencing formats. For instance systems and location using ISDN (H.320) can seamlessly communicate with other locations using IP or Internet connections (H.323). Together with Transrating, Academic Technology Services can provide flexible video conferences that can accommodate various video conferencing standards and a wide range of data rates and bandwidths.
Engineering and System Integration Services
Lifetime technical support?
Yes, Academic Technology Service provides all clients with engineering support for all delivered systems, projects, and programs for the life of that solution. This includes access to our telephone help desk, tiered system troubleshooting, preliminary engineering consultations, and upgrade proposals. Please don't hesitate to contact us today, 1-800-462-0959 or mastercontrol@odu.edu.
Can you help me design and deploy my facilities?
Yes, Academic Technology Services can provide a wide range of design and project management services, our area of specialization includes studio and control room facilities, audio, video, and control systems in conference rooms, technology mediated classrooms, and auditorium systems, Wide Area Networks, Internet Protocol satellite systems, Internet video streaming and encoding systems, Video on Demand systems, and Podcasting encoding systems and storage servers.
What other design services do you offer?
Our staff of engineers, designers, programmers, and technicians give us the flexibility to create a broad variety of unique and custom solutions including video and audio security surveillance systems, presentation and conference booth video displays, advertising video kiosks, video editing and production consoles, and video automation systems.
Who do I contact if I have problems with my system?
If you experience any issues with your system please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-800-462-0959, our support centers are staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm EST, and Saturdays, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Also, please see our staff directory.
Operations and Support
How can I lower my Total Cost of Ownership?
Academic Technology Services is in the unique position of having the technical and operational resources to provide you and your program or system the benefits of on-site staff without the cost of on-site staff. You and your staff will be free to focus on your core business goals and objectives by delegating the operation and support of your technological system. Thus the total cost of ownership, the ongoing operational cost of your program or system, will be lower as you reduce overhead and concentrate your time and money resources where they matter most. Please don't hesitate to contact us today, 1-800-462-0959 or mastercontrol@odu.edu.
Can you provide ongoing support for my program or project?
Yes, we have a full service technical and operation staff available during your hours of operation.For instance, if you have a conference room or video conferencing classroom, but you or your presenters or instructors would rather concentrate on their presentation and not how the technology work, we can provide the solution. Through remote access we can setup, configure, operate, and troubleshoot your system just as if we were on site. So if a conference is scheduled, we will have the displays turned on, all participants in the conference, audio and video send and receive tested, and everything operation so that when you or your presenter walk in the room everything is already setup, all they have to do is begin presenting.
How do I learn how to use one of your conference rooms? classrooms? a studio?
For one an one assistance please contact us to schedule a demo or information session at your convenience, 1-800-462-0959 or mastercontrol@odu.edu, our customer support centers are staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm EST, and Saturdays, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Also, visit our staff directory.
What if I have a room or system not designed by you? can you still support and troubleshoot it?
Yes, if you have an existing system we can determine how compatible and flexible that system can be, we can also troubleshoot existing systems to resolve undiagnosed problems left by other integrators. Our staff of engineers and technicians can also propose upgrade paths and solutions for legacy systems based on your contemporary needs. Please don't hesitate to contact us, 1-800-462-0959 or mastercontrol@odu.edu.
What is the "Master Control Room"?
Our Master Control Room (a term borrowed from our roots in the broadcast television industry) is the nerve center of our network and facilities. Located on Old Dominion University's Norfolk campus, all client and university distance learning digital satellite, video conferencing, Internet video streaming, video on demand, VoIP, and podcasting systems, services, and networks are monitored and controlled from this center. Connected to the Master Control Room are a series of sub-control rooms that directly interface with studio classrooms and conference rooms, from there our operational staff provide live support and technical assistance during all events.
