TRG Working Group
Multimedia Communications over Data Networks Working Group
Working Group Remit
To produce a strategy that will guide University investment and deployment of various
forms of Multi media data communications facilities including:







High quality Video conferencing
High quality Video teaching including lecture room overflow facilities
Research community Virtual Venues, including Access Grid
On-demand personal/desktop conferencing
Instant Messaging
IP based telephony services
A/V streaming services
Status
Working group established by the Technical Review Group of the Information Policy and
strategy committee (IPSC).
Working Group Coordinator: Steven Jack
Working Group Members:
TBA
Stakeholders:






AIMS
All teaching departments
Research community
VLE developers
Telecomm committee
End users
Working Group Start Date (estimate): January 2005
Working Group Strategy Report: June 2005
Strategic Objectives
Produce a multimedia data communications strategy that addresses current and future
forms of media rich collaboration facilities for group and individual use. Wherever
possible estimates should be provided for the likely capital, recurrent and support costs
associated with the proposed solutions.
Key Requirements






The University makes extensive use of video teaching and lecture room overflow
facilities, however these are based on end-of-life Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(ATM) codecs that require replacement
The Research community are embracing Grid technology to foster resource
sharing and collaborative ventures. Collaborations between geographically distant
partners requires a range of support tools including virtual venues to help
establish a more productive environment
The ability to establish ad-hoc A/V and application sharing facilities with
colleagues locally, nationally or internationally will enhance the IT facilities
available to teaching, research and administration staff
Instant Messaging provides many end user benefits; however the plethora of
solutions coupled with serious security concerns inhibit its widespread adoption
as a serious collaboration tool.
IP telephony solutions are gaining significant market share with all of the major
Telecomm and Data communications vendors actively marketing their solutions.
The University has an aging telephone PABX and a strategic view of possible
alternatives to traditional voice switching is required.
The computing service in collaboration with Media services has delivered a
limited A/V streaming service for special events and bespoke courses. However
the University’s desire to establish Virtual Learning Environments requires a
streaming solution that is more scalable, easier to produce relevant content and
not overly resource (including support) intensive.
Key Challenges






Producing a strategy that is acceptable to a wide user base.
Identifying the benefits that would justify University investments
Maintaining the quality of provision when changing any underlying technology
e.g. replacing ATM codecs with IP based codecs
Identifying all costs when considering a particular solution e.g. IP telephony
would require significant Campus network investments as well as the soft PBXs
and IP telephones
Ensuring adequate security measures are built in to any proposed solution e.g.
Instant Messaging, ad-hoc VC or IP telephony
Recommending scalable and supportable solutions
Working Group Deliverables



Video conferencing and Video teaching strategy
Research specific collaboration strategy
Personal collaboration strategy


IP telephony strategy
A/V streaming strategy
Success Metrics


Strategies accepted by TRG, IPSC and key stakeholders
University invests in proposed solutions
Current Milestones and Dates
TBA