Interoperability for Enterprise Video Communications

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www.research.ibm.com

Interoperability for Enterprise

Video Communications

Internet-2 Fall Member Meeting 2010

Bill Rippon

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Background

 IBM has been using video communication for over 30 years

– Basic, Standard-Definition (SD)

– Satellite, ISDN, TCP/IP Based

 There are currently hundreds of legacy video conferencing units within IBM sites around the world. Most of these are under utilized.

 PC soft clients for video have been available for 10+ years. IBM’s own Lotus Sametime has had video capability for nearly 10 years. These PC soft client solutions have also been underutilized.

 “Why was video not more widely deployed and used in the past?”

Some of the reasons include;

– Difficulty in coordinating and connecting meetings. No centralized services.

– Lack of integration between different systems (voice, video, data, etc.)

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Why is Now the Right Time for Video?

 Major IBM initiatives identify video communication as a key component for enterprise communication and

collaboration

 The need for video communication has grown significantly over the past few years.

– Driving factors include the recent economic downturn, reduction in travel and the desire to reduce carbon footprint.

– Organizations need to reduce cost while at the same time increase business and communicate more effectively, both internally and externally.

– Companies are looking to video communications. Solutions have matured significantly. Great strides have been made in the areas of quality, reliability, interoperability and ease of use. Sufficient network capacity is increasingly available at more reasonable price points.

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Assumptions - IBM Video Communications

 Multi-vendor endpoints and infrastructure

 Two main session protocols - SIP (strategic) and H.323

 Various types (levels) of VidCon solutions

– Handheld, PC Soft Client, Desktop Appliance, HD Room System, Simulated TelePresence (STP) and Immersive TelePresence (ITP)

 Calls involving all types of endpoints are valuable and desirable in order to satisfy a wide variety of use cases

 “One Size, One Experience, One Expectation will not fit all”

– IBM is a large and highly diverse company with a wide range of solutions requirements.

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In General, What Does IBM Need?

 Solutions based on industry standards and best practices

 Widespread interoperable communication between systems and networks, with appropriate experiences

 Video communication offerings that provide a range of meeting experiences to match a variety of usage profiles

 Support for Linux, Mac and Windows client machines

 Seamless integration with other business applications and services such as calendaring, voice, messaging, etc.

 Integrated content sharing and other collaborative tools

 Solutions that embrace and accommodate accessibility

 Consolidated, integrated and globally consistent adjunct services such as directories and dial-plans

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Initial Focus Areas and Issues

 Overall initial focus was on basic interop and security

 Where did most problems occur with interop calls

– Authentication and encryption

– Content sharing

– Aspect ratio differences

– TP between vendors

– Anything but very basic, limited communication with Cisco

– Number schemes, naming schemes and routing

– Scalability

– Audio-Only add-ons and DTMF

– Only dial out from enterprise allowed in many cases

 In many cases, there is still far too much time and too many people required for meeting setup and operation

 There are lots of separate video communication islands

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Initial Focus Areas and Issues continued

 Almost all PC based video client solutions, require their own dedicated, vendor-specific, server infrastructure

 Multiple options for content sharing will often be required for the same meeting, in order to reach all participants.

– Locally integrated, remote integrated, web conferencing, downloadable content, etc.

 Border traversal solutions

– Mature SBC platforms, for voice, were not so mature for video

– Video vendor solutions often lacked enterprise border component features

– H.323 border traversal (H.460) more mature than the SIP traversal world  Best chance for interoperability and satisfying a wide

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The Situation is Improving

 Multiple options now exist for TP Interop

– Such as; Cisco HD CUVC, Cisco MXE, Polycom RMX with MLA, Tandberg TPS  TelePresence Interop Protocol (TIP) is gaining adoption

– Moving from proprietary towards open standards

 Standards based clients now available for Mac OS

 SIP continues to move toward feature parity with H.323

 Increased capacity on MCUs (less cascading)

 Lower cost, production offerings of STP style solutions

 New release of IBM Lotus Sametime

– More standards based video/voice options, broader 3rd party integration support  Video Service Provider peering arrangements expanding

 SBC platforms are maturing (SIP/H.323 Video)

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Current and Future Focus Areas for Interop

 Naming, addressing, routing, directories and scheduling

 Advancement of SIP, TIP and H.264 (i.e. SVC)

 Tight integration with voice services

– Seamless “Audio-Only” connections with DTMF support  Improved handling of mixed aspect ratios (4:3, 16:9)

 Leverage mobile computing devices (i.e. phones, tablets)

 Accessibility technologies

 Advanced collaboration environments

 Expanded support for Inter-Company, Inter-Exchange and Public Network(s) calling

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Current and Future Focus Areas for Interop

 Anxiously await more “bridges” to the isolated islands

 How will solution and service providers keep pace with advancements in standards and protocols?

 Don’t underestimate the importance of maintenance

contracts for the video components in your environment

– Even for older systems that are outside the scope of new enterprise offerings

– Reasonable upgrade strategies provides a better chance of future interop  As an enterprise, IBM should continue to:

– Push heavily for standard protocols, policies, practices, procedures

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Standards Categories

 Registration and Call Processing

 Border Traversal

 Audio and Video

 Content

 Streaming & Recording

 Other “In-Conference” Features

 Calendaring

 Naming and Addressing

 Directories

 Video Endpoint Solutions

 Physical Room Design and Room Control Systems

 Video Communications Infrastructure

 Video Specific Services

 Networking and Communications

 Security

 Other Related Standard, Features and Services

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Example of a Large Interop Demo Call - 1H2010

 Demo was split into two main phases. The first phase utilized a Cisco MXE platform for Cisco TP interop. The second phase used a back2back codec setup to

communicate with Cisco TP environment

 Summary

– Up to Five different MCUs, from 4 different vendors (simultaneous)

– Phase1 - 23 endpoints (37 codecs)

– Phase 2 - 24 endpoints (42 codecs)

– Mixture of encrypted/unencrypted and SIP/H323/ISDN

– Bandwidth

• Aggregate endpoint bandwidth was approx. 117Mb

• Aggregate intrAnet bandwidth was approximately 46Mb

• Aggregate Internet bandwidth was approximately 16Mb

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Example of a Large Interop Demo Call - 1H2010

 TP

– Cisco CTS-3000

– Polycom RPX210 and Polycom RPX418

– Tandberg T3

 STP (Simulated TP)

– 4-screen and 2-screen based on Polycom HDX8006

– 1-screen based on Tandberg C20

 Single Codec Systems

– Lifesize HD Room 200

– Polycom HDX

– Sony PCS-XG80

– Tandberg 1700, 6000, 6000MXP, C20 & C90

 PC Based Soft Clients

– Cisco Plug-in for Lotus Sametime

– Polycom CMA-D

– Radvision Scopia

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Example of a Large Interop Demo Call - 1H2010

 Infrastructure – Cisco CTMS

– Cisco CUVC

– Cisco CUCM and Cisco IOS GK

– Cisco MXE

– Polycom CMA - Gatekeeper, Provisioning

– Polycom RMX2000

– Radvision Gatekeeper

– Radvision Scopia MCU

– Tandberg 8510 and Tandberg 8710 (TPS)

– Tandberg Content Server (TCS) - Recorder

– Tandberg VCS - Gatekeeper, Proxy, Border Traversal

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IBM Deployment of New Solutions (last few years)

 TelePresence

– 20+ world wide from Cisco, Polycom and Tandberg

 High Definition Video Room Systems

– 20+ world wide from Cisco, LifeSize, Polycom, Siemens, Sony and Tandberg

 High Definition Mobile Video Conferencing Carts

– 10+ world wide from LifeSize, Polycom and Tandberg

 High Definition Desktop Appliances

– 10+ world wide from Polycom and Tandberg

 PC Soft Clients

– Several thousand clients are enabled for various pilots based on solutions from; Cisco, Lotus, Polycom, Radvision, Tandberg and VSee

 Mobile Computing Devices - None. Prototype testing only.

 Introduction of bridging and recording services (pilot & limited production)

 A new enterprise Video as a Service offering is now being initiated

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Value Propositions for Video Communications

 Increases Sales

 Eliminates Travel Time

 Supports Green Initiatives

 Reduces Cycle Times

 Platform for Future Innovations

 Improved Competitive Advantage

 Supports Customer View of IBM as a Leading Edge Company

 Enables Globally Integrated Enterprise

 Enhance Communication

 Increase Collaboration

 Improves “get to know” Phase

 Enables “face to face” Experience

 Reduces Language Barriers

 Bridges Cultural Gaps

Interoperability for Enterprise Video Communications