Development of Multipoint Communication Systems for Remote Seminar Toshihiro Hayashi and Yukuo Hayashida Department of Information Science, Saga University {hayashi,

Background Remote education is getting popular.  Large scale of remote education: for lecture  Small scale of remote education: for seminar Seminar is generally synchronous activity.  Same time and same location  Seminar always needs arranging time and location among the learning group  Sometimes, some members cannot attend the seminar by restrictions of time and location (absentee problem). Utilization of computers for solving the restrictions of seminar  This changes synchronous seminar into asynchronous seminar

Asynchronous seminar Solutions for time restriction  Asynchronous communication tools: , electronic bulletin board system and so on.  Assistance tools for absentee: video archives and so on Solutions for location restriction  Synchronous communication tools: electronic conference system (NetMeeting, CU-SeeMe, and so on)  These systems change seminar into remote seminar

Our research questions Development of a computer supported remote seminar environment  Model: What is remote seminar model ?  Architecture: What kind of system architecture is appropriate for remote seminar ?  Implementation: How to develop communication systems for realizing remote seminar ? What kind of techniques are needed for the implementation ?  Evaluation: Do our systems work effectively in the situations of remote seminar ?

Seminar model Same time and same location ProfessorStudents Same time but different locations ProfessorStudents CA: Computer assistance Remote seminar 1 Same time but different locations ProfessorStudents Remote seminar 2 Normal seminar CA

Features for remote seminar in our research Remote seminar consists of max five members. Each member has one PC for seminar. All PCs are connected to information network (Internet and so on) to transmit data. The members are generally in different rooms/locations.  Some members might be in the same room/location. Information network

Communication systems for realizing remote seminar System requirements  Multi-point communication  For data transmission for small group via information networks  Flexible system configuration  For various kind of situations of “Same time but different locations”

Multi-point communication (1) Server Server based multi-point communicationPeer to peer multi-point communication

Multi-point communication (2) Server based multi-point communication  Typical style of existing electronic conference systems  Some existing server based systems are high-cost (for example, MeetingPoint: $8,995 for 10 user license)  At least, one sever machine must be prepared.  There are free servers but we cannot always use them. Peer to peer multi-point communication  This type of communication needs no server.  This type of communication generally requires high- performance PC for each user

Existing network applications available for remote seminar Classification of network applications  Single-function applications  have one or a few operations for single medium data  Example: CD player (Windows accessory)  Multi-functions applications  have plural functions for various kind of media data (multimedia data) and handle them together  Examples: NetMeeting and CU-SeeMe

System construction models Multi-Functions on Single Application model MFSA model Media1 App1 Remote seminar system Core application Media2 Media3 Media1 App1 Remote seminar system Media2 Media3 App3 App4 App5 App2 Multi-Applications with Single Function model MASF model App Single-function application App Multi-functions application

Features of system construction models MFSA model  Remote seminar system is constructed by only one multi- functions application  Core application centered system --- low flexibility  Actual examples: NetMeeting, CU-SeeMe MASF model  Remote seminar system is constructed by plural single- function applications  Integrated and complementary system --- high flexibility  Actual examples: MBone applications (VIC, VAT, WB, and so on)

Overview of our system development MASF based communication systems  VCRS (Video Communication tool for remote seminar): video data transmission system  RCS (Remote Chat System): sound and voice data transmission system  RPS: remote presentation system  RWB: remote white board Prototype implementation on Linux  Linux is free OS and provides free system development environment.

Interface of remote seminar system (1) VCRS: Video Communication tool for Remote Seminar (2)RWB: Remote White Board (2) RPS: Remote Presentation System

Consideration (1) Problems of system use  It is complicated for users to combine our communication systems for remote seminar.  Necessity of a support system for integrating our communication systems.  It is bothersome for users to connect all hosts for every communication system.  Necessity of an auto control system for host connection.

Configuration of remote seminar system User Interface Communication System Control Module Communication System Control Module Control Database Configuration pattern Information network Monitor Speaker Mike KB & mouse User VCRS RCS RWB RPS Camera Presentation documents Recorded seminar data MHB: Media Handling Block MHB: Media Handling Block User requests GUI Control Transmission Control To other hosts From other hosts Communication systems ACU: Auto Configuration Unit ACU: support system for integrating communication systems MHB: auto control system for host connection

Consideration (2) Problems of operating system  There are hardware restrictions, for example video chip, to use our communication systems on Linux.  Linux is not so major compared with Windows. Porting of communication systems into Windows

System prototyping on Windows

Summary Development of remote seminar system  Prototype implementation of communication systems on Linux (kernel: 2.4.5, distribution: Turbo Linux workstation 7.0) and Windows (Windows 98SE, 2000 and XP) Future work  Implementation of ACU and MHB  Field test of remote seminar system using Internet and JGN (Japan Gigabit Network)