1. Pan-European Conferencing Service A holistic approach to addressing the problems experienced in inter-NREN video conference meetings Proposal by the TF-VSS team: Andras Kovacs Dimitris Daskopoulos Catalyn Meirosu

2. Assortment of problems with VC services at the inter-NREN level Uncoordinated communication between VC support teams Uncoordinated communication between VC support teams Unknown reachability status between NREN MCU and VoIP services Unknown reachability status between NREN MCU and VoIP services End-user uncertainty in reliability of VC tools End-user uncertainty in reliability of VC tools Cost of multipoint conferencing hardware Cost of multipoint conferencing hardware Limited availability of audio-only service Limited availability of audio-only service Unknown VC options for inviting participants Unknown VC options for inviting participants Difficult to coordinate local VC support along with participant invitations Difficult to coordinate local VC support along with participant invitations

3. End-user problems Inter-NREN troubles are hard to pinpoint Inter-NREN troubles are hard to pinpoint End-user uncertainty in trustworthiness of conferencing clients End-user uncertainty in trustworthiness of conferencing clients Little support for light-weight audio-only participants Little support for light-weight audio-only participants Inviting other participants is hard, not knowing their available VC options Inviting other participants is hard, not knowing their available VC options Hard to map individuals to available VC admin support at the local level Hard to map individuals to available VC admin support at the local level

4. Admin problems Support for inter-NREN meetings is ad-hoc at best Support for inter-NREN meetings is ad-hoc at best No readily available status of reachability between NREN conferencing services No readily available status of reachability between NREN conferencing services No central trouble ticketing system for coordinating the resolution of problems No central trouble ticketing system for coordinating the resolution of problems Lack of coordination between local conferencing support teams Lack of coordination between local conferencing support teams

5. Hardware resource problems Multipoint conf services are too expensive for each and every NREN to maintain Multipoint conf services are too expensive for each and every NREN to maintain Only large NRENs can maintain state-of-the-art MCU equipment Only large NRENs can maintain state-of-the-art MCU equipment Many European institutions currently lack access to MCU services Many European institutions currently lack access to MCU services

6. Addressing the problems 6 point proposal: Centralized helpdesk Centralized helpdesk Reachability monitor Reachability monitor End-user test service End-user test service Pan-European MCU resources Pan-European MCU resources Directory-enabled invitation of participants Directory-enabled invitation of participants Distributed audio-only call-in services Distributed audio-only call-in services

7. Centralized helpdesk Centralized helpdesk responsible for resolving inter- NREN reachability and call-setup problems Centralized helpdesk responsible for resolving inter- NREN reachability and call-setup problems Central contact for coordinating local conferencing support teams Central contact for coordinating local conferencing support teams Maintain a trouble ticketing system for resolution of problem cases Maintain a trouble ticketing system for resolution of problem cases Development: 2 MM Maintenance: 0,5 MM/month

8. Reachability monitoring Distributed checks of reachability to test numbers from each NREN’s view Distributed checks of reachability to test numbers from each NREN’s view Centralized view of the complete reachability matrix with info gathered from peripheral beacons Centralized view of the complete reachability matrix with info gathered from peripheral beacons Availability and reliability statistics for inter-NREN reachability status Availability and reliability statistics for inter-NREN reachability status Development: 4 MM Maintenance: integrated in helpdesk operations

9. End-user test service Publicize locally deployed test numbers with audio- video echo service for end-user checks Publicize locally deployed test numbers with audio- video echo service for end-user checks Deploy central test number as well, with improved functionality (JANET paradigm) Deploy central test number as well, with improved functionality (JANET paradigm) Development: 4 MM Maintenance: integrated in helpdesk operations

10. Pan-European MCU resources Procurement of state-of-the-art MCU Procurement of state-of-the-art MCU Extending national services to HD capabilities not currently available Extending national services to HD capabilities not currently available Hosting MCU services for NRENs without one Hosting MCU services for NRENs without one Deployment of VC scheduling web site, integrated with MCU API (based on the SWITCH e-conf codebase) Deployment of VC scheduling web site, integrated with MCU API (based on the SWITCH e-conf codebase) AAI enabled web site (EduGAIN compatible and utilizing the GIdP for the “homeless”) AAI enabled web site (EduGAIN compatible and utilizing the GIdP for the “homeless”) Directory-enabled invitation of participants Directory-enabled invitation of participants Free Gatekeeper services with GDS/ENUM accessibility for the “homeless” Free Gatekeeper services with GDS/ENUM accessibility for the “homeless” Development: 6 MM Maintenance:0.2 MM/month

11. Directory-enabled invitation of participants End-user scheduling interface integrates directory info about available institutional VC options and notifies local support teams End-user scheduling interface integrates directory info about available institutional VC options and notifies local support teams Distributed maintenance of administrative contact points for all participating NRENs and institutions Distributed maintenance of administrative contact points for all participating NRENs and institutions RSS feeds to collect the published info centrally RSS feeds to collect the published info centrally Future scaling to AAI based directory queries through EduGAIN Future scaling to AAI based directory queries through EduGAIN Development: 6 MM Maintenance: integrated in helpdesk operations

12. Distributed audio-only call-in services Serves light-weight mobile users in need of participating without a full VC client Serves light-weight mobile users in need of participating without a full VC client Publicize local gateway numbers providing VoIP (GDS/ENUM) reachability Publicize local gateway numbers providing VoIP (GDS/ENUM) reachability Interoperability with the TF-ECS SIP network Interoperability with the TF-ECS SIP network No need to support full H.320 clients No need to support full H.320 clients Development: 3 MM Maintenance: integrated in helpdesk operations

13. Synergy with other Activities GN2 Monitoring services with perfSonar GN2 Monitoring services with perfSonar EduGAIN AAI services EduGAIN AAI services TF-ECS SIP deployment TF-ECS SIP deployment Evolution to ENUM-enabled GDS, an effort supported by TERENA Evolution to ENUM-enabled GDS, an effort supported by TERENA SWITCH e-Conf portal SWITCH e-Conf portal GRNET VoIP monitoring with Nagios GRNET VoIP monitoring with Nagios

14. Proposed budget Development: 23 MM Development: 23 MM Maintenance: 0.7 MM x 18 months = 12.6 MM Maintenance: 0.7 MM x 18 months = 12.6 MM Total of 35.6 MM Total of 35.6 MM Procurement of state-of-the-art HD capable MCU ~ 250KEuro Procurement of state-of-the-art HD capable MCU ~ 250KEuro