Video Teleconferencing - The Future Ahead

Bowie State University

Index of Slides …………………………………………………………………………… iii

Abstract..………………………………………………………………………………… iv

I. Introduction...………………………………………………………………………….. 4

II. Definition of the Problem.……………………………………………………………… 8

III. Objectives..…...……………………………………………………………………… 9

IV. Hypothesis…..……………………………………………………………………….. 9

V. Technology Review

1. PictureTel - A Company in Perspective..………………………………… . 11
2. Telemedicine..……………………………………………………………. 13
3. Distance Learning………..……………………………………………….. 16
4. Videoconferencing in Industry..…………………….……………………… 19

VI. Analysis and Results

1. US Army in Europe (USAREUR)…………………………………….….. 23

6.1.1 OCONUS to CONUS Conferences (DCTN)……………………… 25

2. Market Trends …………………………………………………………… 28

3. Protocols and Standards USAREUR ……………………………………. 31

3. Security/Encryption Requirements………………………………………. … 35

VII. Conclusion and Recommendations……………………………………………………. 36

VIII References……..……………………………………………………………………. 39

The rapid development of communications and information technologies heralds an age of enormous economic and social opportunities. The information age has arrived. The most dominant forces include technological advances, decreasing prices for computers and telecommunications services, and the convergence of information and communications services and technologies. Because of these vast technological changes, video teleconferencing will become an important part of the way we conduct business in the future.

The Army of today and tomorrow requires a vast range of communications media to project its forces to any region of the world. Video Teleconferencing (VTC) plays a key role in how commanders communicate with one another to gain real time data to enhance their command and control capabilities.

Video Teleconferencing

The

Future Ahead

I. Introduction. Globalization of the market place today has made videoconferencing an important part in the way organizations conduct business. Industry is providing products and services that allow users to share information on demand regardless of time and distance constraints. Videoconferencing is truly a tool to be used for businesses throughout the world to gain competitive advantage in today's global marketplace.

Concepts in videoconferencing are out to change the way we think about today's phone calls to full video/audio calls. Industry is focusing on businesses that want to videoconference among multiple locations for global and strategic advantage. The United States Army and industry's ability to implement high quality videoconferencing technology with decreased cost to the customer will give them competitive and strategic advantage over it's rivals.

In an effort to properly implement a robust VTC network, we must first determine the future requirements architecture for VTC in the United States Army Europe (USAREUR), second standardize network protocols and third, evaluate interoperability issues of integrating our systems with other existing services including the Air Force, Navy, Marines and NATO forces. A comprehensive understanding of the current Department of Defense (DoD) policy on VTC and development of standard operating procedures for the implementation and operation of VTC suites and Multi Point Control Units (MCU) facilities throughout USAREUR and the Army is needed.

Today, VTC is becoming a routine way of doing business in the Army. A good example of its current use is Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, which proved to be the largest deployment of US Forces in Europe since WWII. The success of this mission is largely due to the availability of VTC within the area of operations. Although the initial VTC Hub system was a prototype, it allowed the leaders, for the first time, to visually see and hear the commander talk his mission, intent, priorities and objectives. The impact of this ability was felt down at the lowest levels as soldiers clearly understood the commanders guidance through visual communications media over hundreds of miles of war ravaged terrain. We must look at current and future architectures and ensure we build the networks of tomorrow to meet the growing demands.

Separate networks have been established to perform specific mission throughout industry and DoD. Some of these include capabilities in the medical communities, which implement "Telemedicine", or within the education arena that implement "Distance Learning". Both of these networks bring real time audio and video capabilities to the users at a reduced cost in contrast to alternative methods. In general, video networks require very large amounts of bandwidth to obtain quality full motion video and audio and must be implemented in the most cost effective and efficient way possible.

Today, educators and doctors can teach, train and assist in performing delicate operations or instructing classes thousands of miles from the point of origin, all in real time, providing quality audio and videoconferences. Network's that support distance learning and telemedicine will be discussed in greater detail later.

The USAREUR has implemented VTC in Germany since 1994. However, requirements and demands have increased as DoD realizes the importance of such technology. In the future, we can expect to see VTC throughout the battlefield and within industry down to the lowest levels. Those who grasp the technological advantages of such a media, will conquer its enemies and crush the competition. But at what cost?

VTC Capability is relatively inexpensive when evaluated against the cost of physically traveling to a distant location. It is imperative that we determine where to strategically place Multipoint Control Units (MCU's) within the theater to best support the commanders and save on long-haul communications cost.

Today, VTC is located at the strategic levels for command and control of US forces in Europe. Since 1984, The Defense Information Systems Network (DISA) has provided the DoD with VTC video services through the Defense Commercial Telecommunications Network (DCTN). From an initial six sites, the network grew to over 300 dedicated and switched (dial up) systems within the Continental United States (CONUS). DCTN VTC services provided turnkey, proprietary, secure and nonsecure VTC systems. An enhancement brought the network in compliance with VTC industry standards, by replacing the proprietary based coder/decoders (CODECs) with industry standards based units. The new standards also provided the capability to operate at varying bandwidths ranging from 112 kilobits per second (Kbps) to T-1 in 56/64 Kbps steps. Multipoint secure conferences and interoperability between selected dial-up and dedicated facilities became available through a bridge in Columbus, Ohio. Dial-up systems were given the capability to directly dial another dial-up system, analogous to a normal telephone call. When the DCTN contract ended in 1996, the Defense Commercial Telecommunications Network Transition Contract (DTCN) was implemented to continue the existing service until the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) was in place. In 1998 DCTN will be replaced by DISN Video Services-Global (DVS-G) to provide the customer more flexibility, and take advantage of the continually declining costs of connectivity and advancing technology.

The new DVS-G contract provides DoD VTC users a bridging service using industry standard technology for interoperability and Multipoint VTC requirements. More flexibility was also added to the system by providing subscribers access to VTC users on other tactical and non-DoD networks and commercial networks. CONUS capability is composed of three interconnected bridging sites (hubs) located at the Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center Research and Development (NRAD), San Diego, CA; Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA; and AT&T Dranesville, VA. The hubs provide customers using dedicated connectivity access to other videoconferencing facilities (VTFs), and tactical networks. One such tactical network is the Navy's VTC to the Fleet (Video Information Exchange System (VIXS) (White paper: Global Videoconferencing, March 98).

"What is Videoconferencing?"

• Videoconferencing (VTC) allows two or more individuals in different geographic locations to conduct educational, administrative and/or collaborative meetings without unnecessary travel.
• VTC, also known as compressed video, uses digital telephone lines (ISDN lines) to send video and audio signals to participants at different sites to hold a "virtual meeting."
• VTC is fully interactive - participants at both sites see and hear each other simultaneously.

The DoD has established industry wide standards for all branches of the military. Over the past five to seven years, many organizations have purchased VTC equipment that is not compliant with these standards or has become obsolete. As a result, many systems exists today that are proprietary or not in keeping with the technological changes.

DoD has not established an architecture for how the military and associated organizations will conduct VTC networks in the future. Guidelines are established and concepts are under review. However, much testing has yet to be done to determine the overall strategy. In an effort to do this, we must first determine what our requirements are and the resources necessary to support these requirements.

In the past, the USAREUR had no approving authority for the purchasing of VTC equipment, which led to the wide disparity in the various types of equipment employed. Partners in industry as well as the government must set and enforce established standards to ensure interoperability not only within their own organizations, but throughout partner organizations as well. The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Information Management (ODCSIM) is now the approving authority for the purchases of all VTC equipment in the theater.

Standardization is not the only problem we face today throughout DoD in support of VTC. Requirements often dictate that conferences are conducted from locations throughout the world, this itself pose additional challenges for the networks, VTC suites and hubs that are currently in place. Interoperability and standardization of equipment coupled with a comprehensive architecture are the keys to our success. The USAREUR faces significant challenges ahead as we build the networks of tomorrow.

1. Determine the future user requirements to be supported by VTC networks.
2. Determine the future network architecture in support of the requirements.
3. Establish a set of standards for data transmissions and equipment over VTC networks.
4. Evaluate market trends in technology to best support USAREUR requirements.

Video Teleconferencing will become as common to the everyday PC user as the telephone is today. Cameras will be built into every monitor or desktop system and will eventually consume many of the functions our analog phones do today. As technology increases, prices of VTC equipment will continue to drop and enhance organizations ability to employ this technology throughout the work place. VTC will play a key role for the U.S Army in the way commanders communicate with subordinate leaders throughout the world. VTC is vital to effective command and control of U.S Forces in Europe.

 

 V. Technology Review

5.1 PictureTel - A Company in Perspective

PictureTel is providing products and services that allow users to share information on demand regardless of time and distance constraints. Videoconferencing is truly a tool to be used for business throughout the world to gain competitive advantage in today's global marketplace. The PictureTel product voted the Editor's Choice by PC Magazine (April 25, 1997 Volume 14 Number 8) is designed for ISDN. This makes the product extremely attractive for telecommuters in areas where ISDN service is available in residential communities. ISDN use in the United States is growing rapidly and the availability of service to residential areas in large cities is excellent. In Canada the penetration of ISDN is not as great but the supply does seem to be increasing. Once organizations see the power of these desktop videoconferencing products, the demand for ISDN will definitely increase.

The Andover, Massachusetts-based company is the world's top designer and maker of video conferencing equipment. The company focuses on businesses that want to videoconference among multiple locations for global and strategic advantage. PictureTel's ability to develop high quality video teleconferencing technology with decreased cost to the customer has given them competitive advantage over its rivals (PictureTel Company- Company Capsule, 15 Nov 97).

Two MIT students, Jeff Bernstein and Brian Hinman, and a professor, David Staelin, established PictureTel in 1984 with the idea of compressing television signals to allow transmission through ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) telephone lines. The company emphasized selling entire systems rather than individual components, and it signed marketing agreements with leading telecommunications carriers MCI, NYNEX, Bell Atlantic, AT&T, and Sprint (PictureTel Company- Company Capsule, 15 Nov 97).

The company entered the PC videoconferencing market in 1993. To maintain its technological edge, the company continued to invest heavily in Research and Development (R&D), concentrating on reducing prices as it added features. In 1997 PictureTel agreed to buy audio conferencing systems supplier Multilink for about $40 million. That year, the company considered layoffs and other cost-cutting measures due to slowing sales throughout the industry as buyers waited to see how internet-based systems would develop (PictureTel - Company Information, 14 Nov 97).

PictureTel has approximately 1,495 employees in its labor force, is the world leader in video teleconferencing solutions and maintains a hold on approximately 53% of the market. Some of PictureTel's largest competitors include the following: Deutsche Telekom, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Intel, Lucent, NEC, Sony, VTEL, White Pine Software, and Zydacron. PictureTel appears to be a very diverse growing company, focused on customer relations and quality products while supporting a global labor force. (PictureTel - Company Information, 14 Nov 97).

Sales of group and desktop video teleconferencing products accounted for 42% and 68%, respectively, of revenues for the three month period ended March 31, 1998, compared with 69% and 31%, respect to 1997. The Company's revenues from sales to foreign markets were approximately $352,469,000 for the three-month period ended March 31,1997 compared to approximately $182,345,000 for the comparable period in 1996 representing 46% and 45%, respectively, of total revenues. The company expects that international revenues will continue to account for a significant portion of total revenues. PictureTel's economic status is currently skyrocketing due to increased demands in the market and technological advances.

$652.3 Million (FY 1997)

$482.5 Million (FY 1996)

$346.8 Million (FY 1995)

$255.2 Million (FY 1994)

$176.3 Million (FY 1993)

$141.4 Million (FY 1992)

$ 78.0 Million (FY 1991)

$ 37.0 Million (FY 1990)

As shown above, PictureTel revenue continues to rise as the videoconferencing market expands. PictureTel continues to benefit from increased sales resulting from improved technology, industry standards and customer awareness of the potential of desktop and group videoconferencing systems (PictureTel Company- Company Capsule, 15 Nov 97).

I conclude that PictureTel possesses the capability and diversity to remain the global leader in videoconferencing solutions. I believe we will see PictureTel continue to rise as the premier leader for videoconferencing technology throughout the industry.

 

5.2 Telemedicine

Medical professionals have become aware of the great potential of the VTC and the internet. Advances in technology allow for a variety of services and resources to be provided in electronic form. This development provides for debate about provocative issues; the most focus, however, should not be on whether or not telemedicine should exist. Telemedicine has established a presence and is not going away. Time, effort and money have been invested in this resource, and it is moving forward (Berry, 1997).

Issues now appearing concern the national and international transmission of information and diagnosis. Physicians are licensed state by state, and do not receive one national license. There are no obvious standards in place for determining the responsibility and liability of those who provide telemedicine services and diagnosis (In most cases the doctor does not even touch the patient before rendering an opinion on the patient's condition.) There are also concerns about the information transmitted and retained through such a system. A patient's privacy may be compromised during the transition, as the information may not be secure, and the electronic storage provides for easier access than previously existed (Berry, 1997).

The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command's (USAMRMC) Medical Advanced Technology Management Office (MATMO) is upgrading telemedicine support to Operation Joint Guard (OJG), the NATO peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. The joint-service telemedicine effort projects medical center expertise to the front lines, providing first class medical care to over 20,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in Bosnia. The service will introduce advanced specialty care to forward operating bases in Bosnia. When the project is complete, 10 to 18 Army hospitals and clinics throughout Hungary and Bosnia will be linked via satellite to hospitals throughout the U.S. and Europe (Berry, 1997).

The enhanced capabilities of telemedicine include teleradiology, teledentistry, medical command and control systems and hardware and software that allow clinical consultation and clinical e-mail. The new equipment is smaller, faster, and costs about one-third as much as the older hardware. According to Capt. Scott Ehnes, project manager for Phase II of Operation Primetime III, "The cost savings are attributable to our use of commercial-off-the-shelf technology (COTS), and reflects the general trend in faster, cheaper computer hardware and software available today." (Berry, 1997).

The first phase of Operation Primetime III began in February 1996, with the establishment of communication links between field hospitals in Bosnia and Hungary and the Landstuhl Regional Army Medical Center in Germany. A multifunctional team of clinical and technical specialists from Fort Detrick and other sites traveled to Germany, Hungary, and Bosnia to install equipment and train the on-site personnel to operate and maintain it. The technicians and clinicians will continue to deploy and upgrade the sites and install the additional equipment. (Berry, 1997).

Operation Primetime began in 1993 with telemedicine support to U.S. medical units in Macedonia and Croatia. The operation was upgraded to Primetime II in late 1995 with a 30-fold increase in communications bandwidth and the use of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) technology to provide increased diagnostic capabilities. Primetime III is an extension of the previous operations.

The upgraded capabilities will allow specialists to see and talk with physicians and their patients in the forward areas. A recent case illustrates the value of telemedicine. An Army aviator was grounded due to a cyst in his ear canal. The physician on-site had not treated such a case before so she dialed up the medical center in Landstuhl on her video-teleconferencing unit. With an otoscope, a device that allowed her to see inside the ear, attached to the unit, she projected an image of the cyst to an ear, nose and throat surgeon at Landstuhl. The surgeon talked her through removing the cyst. The aviator was returned to duty, avoiding an evacuation. The surgeon stated enthusiastically, "Another cure for modern medicine!" (Berry, 1997).

The options for medical treatment in Bosnia are limited. The tactical scenario does not permit easy transport of ill or wounded soldiers. Anytime a soldier has to be moved it is expensive and dangerous. "There are 1.5 million land mines in an area the size of the District of Columbia," according to Lieutenant Colonel John Hagmann, clinical director of Primetime III. With medical experts predicting 400 to 500 clinic visits a day, the need to bring medical care to the troops becomes obvious. Hence, telemedicine is on the rise. We will continue to see major advances in the medical communities as this advance technology becomes more readily accepted. Today more than 5,000 hospitals nation wide are linked via telemedicine providing real time medical treatments in any environment (Berry, 1997).

As the transition to a knowledge-based economy accelerates, America's children must have access to communications and information technologies in the classroom. Without these tools, American children will lack the necessary computer skills to compete in the 21st Century. Deploying computers in classrooms and connecting them will enhance the learning process by providing students and teachers with access to information and teaching materials from around the world. In addition, as a result of the fiscal constraints and rising costs facing public schools, information technologies that offer new opportunities, efficiencies, and improvements in the education process, such as video teleconferencing, are highly desirable.

In training we can point to a great variety of distance learning methods. Some of the most interesting current developments are occurring in those organizations that have invested in computer conferencing networks to support their business. Once a culture of collaboration is established in an organization, stimulated by computer conferencing, then a kind of informal distance learning will evolve spontaneously. Much of the current excitement about computer networks focuses on the idea that, given the right environment, employees will learn from each other. Conferencing on computer networks offers such an environment. In education, similarly, there is a feeling that we have hardly scratched the surface of the possibilities of group learning.

Capitalizing on cutting edge technology and concepts can turn the mundane into the extraordinary. It can provide the breakthrough that wins wars and saves lives. Such was the case with digitizing battle-space. The payoff was the capability to acquire, exchange, and employ real-time friendly and enemy information, horizontally and vertically integrated, to create a common battlefield picture. A synergism evolved that significantly increased the lethality, survivability, and tempo of force operations. This was dramatically demonstrated during Operation Desert Storm and presently in Bosnia (Fitez, 1997). To maintain pace and relevance, the Army Training System must change with the times and model this synergistic approach. The Total Army Distance Learning Program (TADLP) is the means to that end.

Through change, the new Army schoolhouse will become multi-dimensional. It will acquire this capability by leveraging distance learning methods and practices, and exploiting the growing power of computer-based systems and the Internet. In the 21^st Century, "Total Army Soldiers" will attend streamlined resident courses in high performing small groups. These students will prepare themselves through diagnostic-driven, self-paced distance learning modules delivered at home station in unit learning centers, at the job site, or in their residence. Individual training in units for both job performance and sustainment will also be available through standardized task-based distance learning modules. Proponent schools will provide expertise and mentoring to both resident and distance learning students through electronic on-line assistance. An Internet library of digitized materials will link students, worldwide, to continuously updated task information (Fitez, 1997).

Achieving these capabilities requires transformation. Courseware, faculties, libraries, training media, operations, student management and assessment, and information distribution and access must be integrated seamlessly into the distance learning environment. Organizations providing training support must adjust their operations to provide modern training methods, services, and information.

The Army Training System will continue to evolve and grow as new technologies and concepts emerge, enhancing our capability to produce better-trained soldiers and improve readiness. Computer networks already permit the effective support of distance learning to occur. Public domain software on the Internet has demonstrated to thousands of users how powerful the existing technology already is. What is needed is good application software for it to realize its potential for distance learning. The main potential lies in the ability to provide answers to questions, exactly at the point where the answer has most value, i.e., when the learner first asks the question. By combining communications with database technology we can compile answers so that they become a reusable resource (Fitez, 1997).

It is not only in formal distance learning that the potential lies. There are opportunities for the same kind of application to provide support for service engineers, customer contact personnel, and a whole range of other jobs where questions arise in situations where organizational support is most stretched. From a learner's perspective I believe that this provides us with a much more convincing example of the way in which the "knowledge era" will develop. Today over 2500 schools and colleges are utilizing some form of distance learning in the United States (Fitez, 1997).

The videoconferencing industry is growing rapidly as conditions become more favorable, costs for the technology and communications are dropping. The proliferation in the desktop videoconferencing market and the globalization of ISDN has also helped popularize this technology. Below are some forecast charts (Telephony Magazine, 1997).

Videoconferencing is popping up in a number of places such as e-mail, on the Internet, in notebook and PC systems and in set-top boxes. But are consumers tuning in yet? With Microsoft and Intel weighing in with their solutions, the technology will be given a fair shot. New applications, such as Smith Micro's Video E-mail and Boca Research's Cast-a-Vision, also offer alternatives for the format. If consumers aren't interested-which has largely been the case until now, it won't be for lack of trying by the vendors (Telephony Magazine, 1997).

Intel, which has made sure all new PC systems have videoconferencing capability, is hoping its strategy of seeding the market will offer a compelling application for its MMX chips, which suffer from a lack of software. Intel's ProShare videoconferencing system is built into machines from IBM, Toshiba, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq, among others.

Microsoft, which hopes to corner another market, is providing its NetMeeting software free over the net. NetMeeting is also included in Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 release, which will be rolled into Windows 98.

Video cameras are sometimes bundled with new systems, but more often are purchased in videoconferencing kits. In addition to cameras, the kits often contain a modem and video-capture card software. The lack of uniformity among kits creates problems for consumers and sales associates throughout the industry.

There's also a confusing array of products and it's hard to compare them. To break from the pack, some vendors have expanded the videoconferencing canvas. Diamond Multimedia offers several ways to communicate via video with its Supra Video Kit. While users can still set up a two-way videoconferencing session, they can also set up a one-way video/two-way audio session or send video images via e-mail. Many retailers are reporting that kit sales are picking up, with increased sales expected to continue into in the future .

Videoconferencing vendors said the intangible qualities of face-to-face communication can relegate concerns over video quality to the back burner. Parents wishing to interact with children away at college, for instance, would probably prefer video-quality conferencing sessions, but would miss out on such contact without the analog solution. One way around what "scrappy video" is to hook up a standard VHS camera to a PC. Such MMX systems as Compaq's Presario make this possible.

The human eye will read 24 frames per second. Digital cameras aren't up there yet, but video cameras help a lot. Still, videoconferencing sales are increasing overall and is quickly becoming an important part of the market. But the kits aren't the only videoconferencing products on the market. Notebook-computer vendors Toshiba and Panasonic are advertising attachable cameras and videoconferencing capabilities, but mainly to high-end, corporate customers. Though vendors vary on the form factor of videoconferencing, all are in agreement that the H.324 standard (which allows any two videoconferencing-equipped devices to converse over standard telephone lines) helps the category.

Teleconferencing is projected to reach $3.6 billion by the year 2000, with a compound annual growth rate of 33%. A report by Forward Concepts (Tempe, AZ) breaks down projected market growth into technology segments. Interestingly, Forward Concepts predicts group videoconferencing will decline from $635 million in 1997 to $405 million by the year 2000. This slack will be taken up by desktop videoconferencing, projected to grow from 1995's $120-million market to $1.6 billion by 2000. Other areas that Forward Concepts projects having large market growth include video/communications gateways, videophones, and data conferencing (Telephony Magazine, 1997).

The report concludes that the emergence and acceptance of key videoconferencing industry standards, such as T.120, H.324, and H.320, will provide the levels of interoperability needed for growth (Telephony Magazine, 1997).

Video teleconference is an evolving electronic form of communication becoming prevalent in the theater. To ensure that USAREUR and all its subordinate commands and supporting agencies can achieve interoperability, all VTC systems in theater must be capable of using set standards. All VTC systems operated in USAREUR will use the DoD standards specified in the standards section of this report. All multipoint secure conferencing is currently being done using only approved and accredited hubs such as the USAREUR hub on Campbell barracks.

As mentioned before, VTC has become a required tool for commanders on today's battlefields. In 1994, the IV CORPS Commander, LTG Abrams, established a prototype system, which allowed him the real time data exchange of information from central region Germany to the war torn villages of Bosnia. The impact was significant and established the Army's need for robust VTC networks throughout all corners of the modern battlefield. But what is the future architecture and to what level to we want to take VTC ? Who should get it and what types of systems should they be getting?

As requirements grew, we found that many organizations throughout the theater had somewhat of a VTC capability. The problem was lack of standardization of equipment and transmission paths. As a result, we ended up with a lot of stove-piped systems that were difficult if not impossible to communicate with one another. Realizing this, I have taken a in-depth look at where I think VTC for the European theater is heading.

The VTC architecture for USAREUR has four distinct operational technical layers. Currently, VTC users cannot create connections that cross layer boundaries due to either security or technical reasons. The long-term vision for USAREUR remains for a technical standard to evolve that will allow interconnection between layers.

The Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS) is the theater system for all VTC conducted at the TOP SECRET/SCI level. JWICS provides the primary VTC means for Commanding General USAREUR and National Command Authority conferences. This system runs at 512 Kbps data rate and is protected by KG-194/KIV-19 COMSEC devices. The configuration, management, and technical standards of this network are coordinated through USAREUR's higher headquarters, European Command (EUCOM) located in Stuttgart, Germany.

The DISN global common user VTC (narrowband) network is the theater system for most VTC conducted up to the SECRET level. This system will serve all levels of command. These VTCs use a variety of equipment ranging from the dedicated VTC suites, or roll around VTC equipment to VTC equipment installed on user personal computers. The DISN global VTC network (DVS-G as discussed earlier) will serve users in point-to-point or multipoint modes. The transmission connectivity is dial-up Integrated Services Data Network (ISDN) and Switched 56 (SW56) DSN service. Selected users (such as units in Bosnia) may use dedicated bandwidth by exception when operational needs and costs justify it. Multipoint conferences are established by dialing into designated theater VTC hub facilities. The hub will provide the bridge which permits multipoint video/audio conference over ISDN/SW56. The minimum data rate for common user VTC is 128/256 Kbps. These systems are protected by KG-84/KIV-7 COMSEC devices when operating in the classified mode. Unclassified conferences may be established through unclassified hubs only. All common user VTCs will comply with the H.320 technical standard.

Low data rate VTC use existing office or tactical telephone systems for connectivity. These applications are usually add-on boxes to existing telephone instruments. They exchange data at low data rates, typically up to 33.6 Kbps. These systems will be protected by the appropriate COMSEC device for the user telephone equipment (for example: STU-III, KY-68). Because these systems operate at low data rates their ability to handle real-time movement is extremely limited. Low-rate systems will comply with the H.324 standard. This standard will not be supported for multipoint VTCs' in this theater.

Internet Protocol (IP) based VTC or multimedia applications use the existing data networks such as SIPRNET, NIPRNET (Secure and Nonsecure IP routing network) and connected local and wide area networks to exchange data. These are high-data rate systems operating at up to 10 Mbps. The standards and protocols for these type systems are not finalized as much of technology is emerging. Due to the significant effect these applications have on the data networks they will only be procured, installed, and implemented when validated. USARUER users will access the secure and nonsecure hubs located on Campbell Barracks for intra theater conferences. Conferences to CONUS will be routed through the USARUER hub to the DVS-G hubs located in Stuttgart.

USAREUR has requirements to conduct both secure and nonsecure VTCs' with the Pentagon Army Operations Center (AOC) and other Defense Commercial Telecommunications Networks (DCTN) locations throughout CONUS. But how do we do this in the most cost effective and efficient manner ? As missions dictate, the Army in Europe is increasingly required to conduct conferences to DCTN facilities in CONUS. The Army Operations Center and over 300 other VTC facilities world-wide belong to a closed VTC network, DCTN, that is operated and maintained by AT&T under contract to DISA. DCTN has been in operation for over fourteen years and uses non-standard VTC algorithms. To allow non-DCTN VTC facilities to conference with DCTN sites, DISA amended its contract with AT&T to add the Low Bit Rate Video (LBRV) service. LBRV allows subscribers to dial-in with ISDN and conduct secure and nonsecure conferences with DCTN sites through the Video Network Management Center (VNMC) in Columbus, OH. Unfortunately, the contract amendment contains a number of restrictions which limit what subscribers may and may not do.

These are listed below:

In order to move DoD VTC users to a modern, standards-based (H.320) network and to remove the limitations built in to DCTN and LBRV, DISA is replacing both these services with DISN Video Services - Global (DVS-G). DVS-G will allow secure and nonsecure conferencing between all DoD users and at a wide variety of data rates. DVS-G service will be available in Europe in May 98 and CONUS DCTN sites will begin moving to the new service in Jun 98. For the next few months until DVS-G comes on line, USAREUR must use LBRV to conference with CONUS DCTN sites.

LBRV does not meet USAREUR’s requirements for nonsecure VTCs to CONUS DCTN sites. USAREUR must regularly participate in nonsecure multipoint conferences to various locations in CONUS. These conferences are conducted at 384 Kbps, but LBRV only permits nonsecure international calls at 128 Kbps. For nonsecure VTC, USAREUR must continue to rely on informal arrangements, memorandums of agreements, with DCTN sites like Ft Belvoir and Army Material Command (AMC) that have both DCTN and H.320 VTC equipment. These sites can bridge (analog bridging) USAREUR into the DCTN network and provide the rate conversion from 128 to 384 Kb/s. Another option would be to use the service provided by Sprint, which would allow ISDN dial-in calls at 128 or 384 Kbps. A third but less desirable option is to travel to and use the DCTN facility at Ramstein. This facility is directly connected to the CONUS DCTN network, but it is located approximately an hour away from Heidelberg which has made it unacceptable to our general officers. As you can see, these proprietary networks have made conferencing very difficult and unsatisfactory to the client.

So how do I propose we fix this ? We establish the USAREUR secure hub and ensure all participants are connected at 384kbpbs connections, to include dial up users. We look at unit density and where to best place future hubs to support the commanders. My analysis shows that future theater architecture would place additional hubs at each Area Support Group (ASG) in theater. This strategy would prevent long hall cost and provide every ASG commander with the flexibility to conduct both routine garrison operations and out the same time support the tactical missions. Operations and maintenance of these hubs is yet to be determined.

The installation and operation of the hub facility on Campbell barracks is maintained by the 5^th Signal Commander in Europe. Future Hubs would have to be budgeted for in future dollars to support this concept. Final dollar requirements and funding would have to be determined by the USAREUR commander and his staff. Communications paths capable of multiple data rates ranging from 128kbps to 384kbps must be available from ASG hubs into the central hub located on Campbell barracks. In concept, the architecture would look somewhat like the diagram on the previous page. The architecture would support a token ring/hub and spoke type design providing fault tolerance and redundancy in a network that would support the entire theater of operations.

6.2 Market Trends

You've heard it before, but this time it's for real: 1998 is well on its way to becoming the year that desktop videoconferencing finally cracks the mass market. While PC-based videophones have been available for years, their high prices, poor performance, and lack of interoperability have kept them from achieving mainstream acceptance. However, over the past year, the combination of cheaper components, faster CPUs, and the ratification of new international communications standards has begun to knock down the barriers.

Videoconferencing kits that work over plain-old-telephone-system (POTS) lines now sell for less than $300, and Internet-based videophones can be had for the price of a camera and capture board (Topic Paper: May 1997).

Meanwhile, new MMX-enabled processors produce acceptable picture quality from even software-only POTS setups, and a raft of new International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards lets videoconferencing equipment made by different vendors work together. In short, face-to-face phone calls are becoming not only possible but practical. Not long ago, the phrase "desktop videoconferencing" sounded like a contradiction in terms--and "affordable desktop videoconferencing" like a double negative. In the early 1990s, videoconferencing systems were stand-alone units the size of refrigerators, and often cost more than $100,000. Board (Topic Paper: May 1997).

These devices were called group systems because they were designed for use by groups of participants seated around a conference table. High-speed communications links such as Switched 56 or fractional T1 lines connected conference sites at 384Kbps or 256Kbps. Document conferencing, when available, was supplied by relatively primitive "audiographics" modules that often cost over $10,000 and let users do little more than mark up documents viewed in common.

Still, videoconferencing pioneers were grateful for what they had. Among Fortune 100 firms, group systems easily paid for themselves in saved travel expenses and productivity improvements, and their outstanding picture quality provided an impressive "you are there" experience. Furthermore, the ITU's rock-solid H.320 suite of videoconferencing standards allowed any vendor's group system to work seamlessly with any other's, just as standards like V.34 today do for different brands of modems.

When faster PCs began to appear, it seemed only natural to migrate videoconferencing technology to the desktop. Big players in the videoconferencing, PC, and telecommunications industries--including PictureTel, AT&T, and Northern Telecom--leaped into the market with ISDN-based personal conferencing systems.

Unfortunately, the transition to the desktop was difficult. The H.320 spec's H.261 video codec, which handles crucial video compression and digital/analog conversion functions, required more power than a 386 or 486 PC could muster. Consequently, most desktop systems implemented H.261 on expensive add-in boards, boosting prices as high as $5,000 per seat. Combined with mediocre picture quality and complex installation, these factors limited deployment to a few businesses with special needs. A few vendors bucked the tide with desktop systems designed for transmission media other than ISDN, but these products had their own problems. Since H.320 is optimized for long-haul digital media like T1 or ISDN lines, early LAN and POTS videoconferencing systems were forced to use proprietary communications protocols that made them incompatible with other vendors' products. Except for a few exotic systems that ran TV-like analog video across private networks, picture quality wasn't any better than that of the ISDN systems, and in the case of POTS products, it was much worse.

Also, despite steady declines, pricing never fell into a range that would interest mainstream consumers. By the beginning of 1995, most desktop solutions still cost $1,000 to $2,000 per user, were hard to install, and delivered grainy, jerky video in a tiny window.

The information in this survey is rapidly evolving due to the explosive market of desktop videoconferencing products. The survey was cited in the January 1996 issue of Computer magazine as a "URL that provides a good review of desktop videoconferencing tools." The survey was also cited in an answer in the "Multimedia Q&A" section of the March 1998 Issue of Multimedia World magazine.

 

6.3 Protocols and Standards

 

The Telecommunications Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunications Union--known as the ITU-T--is the primary standards-making body for the videoconferencing industry. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the ITU is a United Nations-sponsored standards body with membership representing more than 170 governments. The ITU-T's 1990 approval of the H.320 standard revolutionized teleconferencing by enabling different manufacturers' videoconferencing systems to interoperate for the first time. Since then, work has continued on a variety of H.320 follow-ups, many of which are finally reaching completion (ITU- History, March 1997).

Standards development for personal applications hasn't kept up with the explosive growth of desktop-conferencing technology. Intel and the Personal Conferencing Work Group announced their intention to develop PCS standards last year. But now that ITU-T's leadership is no longer in question, progress is occurring at an unheard-of pace. Working with bodies like the ATM Forum and the Multimedia Communications Forum, the ITU-T has made significant progress in areas such as multiple document conferencing and POTS video conferencing over Ethernet. The following is a quick rundown of the ITU-T's most important teleconferencing standards (ITU- History, March 1997).

H.320 is a suite of specifications that define how videoconferencing systems communicate over circuit-switched media such as ISDN, fractional T-1, or Switched-56 lines. A key component of H.320 is the H.261 video-compression algorithm, which defines two video resolutions: 352-by-288 CIF (Common Intermediate Format) and 176-by-144 QCIF (Quarter Common Intermediate Format). H.320 also includes three audio codecs designed to handle a broad range of applications (ITU- History, March 1997).

G.711, which uses 64 Kbps of bandwidth to provide 3-KHz telephone-quality audio; G.722, a higher-quality algorithm that produces 7.5-KHz audio but consumes up to 64 Kbps of bandwidth; and G.728, which, despite providing near-telephone audio, requires only 16 Kbps.

H.310 and H.321 adapt H.320 to next-generation topologies such as ATM and broadband ISDN. H.321 provides maximum backward compatibility by retaining H.320's overall structure and some of its components, including H.261. H.310 adds the ISO's MPEG-2 video-compression algorithm, which will provide HDTV-class video quality. As we go to press, H.310 is scheduled to be Determined and H.321 to be decided at the next ITU-T meeting in November 1998(ITU- History, March 1997).

H.322 is an enhanced version of H.320 optimized for networks that guarantee Quality of Service (QoS) for isochronous traffic such as real-time video. It is expected to be first used with IEEE 802.9a isoEthernet LANs. H.322 was decided in November 1995 (ITU- History, March 1997).

H.323 extends H.320 to Ethernet, Token-Ring, and other packet-switched networks that don't guarantee QoS. It will support both point-to-point and multipoint operations. In addition to H.320's H.261 video codec and G.711 audio codec, H.323 implementations can also include H.320 and H.324 components such as H.263, G.722, G.723, and G.728. QoS issues will be addressed by a centralized gatekeeper component that lets LAN administrators manage video traffic on the backbone. Another integral part of the spec defines a LAN/H.320 gateway that will allow any H.323 node to interoperate with H.320 products. H.323 was determined in November 1995 (ITU- History, March 1997).

H.324 brings H.320-like videoconferencing to analog POTS phone lines. It can incorporate H.261 video encoding, but most implementations will probably use H.263, a scalable version of H.261 that adds a 128-by-96 Sub-QCIF (SQCIF) format. Because of H.263's efficient design, it may produce frame rates much like those of today's ISDN H.320 systems through inexpensive hardware-assisted modems (ITU- History, March 1997).

T.120 is a document-conferencing specification that lets users share documents during any H.32x videoconference. Data-only T.120 sessions can be held when no video communications are required, and the standard also allows multipoint meetings that include participants using different transmission media. The mandatory components of T.120 have been finalized, including recommendations for multipoint file transfer and shared-whiteboard implementation. Still under way are efforts to standardize reservation-system protocols--needed to organize large multipoint meetings--remote camera and mic control and real-time QoS management. Technical challenges have so far prevented the inclusion of a robust application-sharing specification, although T.120's T.126 component does define rudimentary app-sharing functionality. Below is more on T.120 standards (ITU- History, March 1997).

T.120 - standardizes the electronic management of encryption standard in development. It will cover document sharing protocols. Once T.120 is adopted, compliant whiteboard applications will be able to talk to one another. One usually associates desktop videoconferencing with talking heads and smiling faces (ITU- History, March 1997).

T.120 suite os standards is emerging as the main mechanism that will enable users to work together on documents such as text files, spreadsheets and graphic images. T.120 comprises three components (ITU- History, March 1997).

T.123 - network protocols defined in T.123 allow communication over a wide variety of standard networks, including LANs, ISDN and POTS (ITU- History, March 1997).

T.122 and T.125 - Multipoint Communication Services provides a connection-oriented service that is independent of the T.123 transport stacks operating below it. T.124 - Generic Conference Control provides conferencing capabilities by outlining services to set up and manage a multipoint meeting, addresses conference security (passcode protection, provides general conference administration (ITU- History, March 1997).

T.126 - allows users to view and annotate images, share applications while T.127 gives users the ability to initiate simultaneous multipoint file transfer (ITU- History, March 1997).

DVS-G requires KIV-7 encryption devices for dial up and will use KG-194s for the dedicated circuits. Current architecture supports various types of encryption devices eventually migrating to the use of KIV-7 as the standard for all secure video teleconferencing facilities throughout Europe.

 VII. Conclusion and Recommendation

It is not just telecommunications technology and information services, which are adding value to the information age explosion. Computer and software sales also are contributing to the nation's economic expansion. In 1992, the global market for computer sales (excluding software) totaled $318 billion. In fact, twenty years ago, only 50,000 computers existed in the entire world. Today, more than 50,000 computers are sold every ten hours (many couple with desktop VTC systems) (Walters, Aug 1997). The potential for economic gain will exist for small and large businesses because computers and video teleconferencing networks are becoming more affordable and easier to use. In addition, businesses are benefiting from the information revolution by using information technology, including videoconferencing to increase productivity and identify new markets. These new markets have already created a positive effect on the national economy, since small businesses are helping to create many of the new jobs in the United States.

Other indications that the transition to an information-intensive economy is underway can be seen in how businesses are using videoconferencing technologies to provide new services and/or reinvent themselves through telecommuting and electronic commerce initiatives. In 1990 there were an estimated 2 million telecommuters in the United States. That number increased to 7.8 million by 1994. By the year 2001, there will be an estimated 30 million telecommuters. The growth in the use of videoconferencing is expected to grow rapidly in the future. In 1985, there were only 100,000 registered videoconferencing users. In 1993 an estimated 300, 000 Americans regularly used videoconferencing and related on-line services. Today, the number of group and desktop conferencing systems is estimated to be more than 1 million (Walters, Aug 1997).

The United States Army and military in general will continue to rely on the advantages of Video Teleconferencing. Commanders throughout the worlds will use this technology to train, led, and fight the battles of the 21^st Century. Soldiers will be trained in distance learning classrooms and doctors will assist patients in far away regions over video conferencing networks stretched over thousands of miles of ocean and terrain. The world is indeed getting smaller and video teleconferencing is playing a key role.

In conclusion, we are embarked on a new and exciting world that involves real time audio and video. Future networks will allow for high volume data rates providing quality video and audio for doctors, teachers, military leaders and industries throughout the world. The International Telecommunication Union has established standards for the conduct of videoconferencing across the networks worldwide. This common standard is opening the gateway for global expansion and acceptance for markets across the spectrum. VTC will significantly impact on how we learn, teach, train and work in the near future.

According to my analysis and results, the hypothesis is substantiated and is accepted that videoconferencing will become as common to the everyday PC user as the telephone is today. Cameras will be built into every monitor or desktop system and will eventually consume many of the functions our analog phones do today. As technology increases, prices of VTC equipment will continue to drop and enhance organizations ability to employ this technology throughout the work place. VTC will play a key role for the U.S Army in the way commanders communicate with subordinate leaders throughout the world. VTC is vital to effective command and control of U.S Forces in Europe.

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