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Videoconferencing technologies at CERN

You can choose between a variety of videoconferencing technologies at CERN:

Point-to-point videoconferencing, using H.323
Multi-point videoconferencing
Web conferencing

Point-to-point videoconferencing, using H.323

H.323 is the name of the protocol used for videoconferencing over IP (these days, most video conferences are done over IP, as opposed to ISDN, which was the norm 5 years ago). In a point-to-point videoconference, there's only one remote participant - as opposed to a multi-point videoconference, where there can be any number of participants. To do a point-to-point video conference, you need to know the IP address (or the socalled IP alias) of the remote system you want to connect to.

Multi-point videoconferencing

If you want to have a videoconference with more than one remote site, you need a multi-point service to bridge all the participants together. CERN offers several services for such multi-point collaborations:

Hardware-based bridges
Some of the CERN conference rooms are equipped with hardware H.323 units that can act as a multi-point bridge (i.e. no external service is needed - you just dial all the remote parties using a remote control) - contact us if you want to do a multi-point videoconference like this.

CERN MCU's Collaborative Service
The CERN based MCU (Multipoint Control Unit) relies on a Tandberg/Codian array of MCUs installed at CERN Computer Centre that can go up to 360 ports in SD (Standard Definition) or 180 ports in HD (high Definition). It's the technology that is currently supporting the CMS Centers Worldwide link, a 24/7 link between FNAL, DESY and 2 points at CERN (the P5 Control Room in Cessy, France and the CMS Control Center in Meyrin). The system offers an ad-hoc service* offers and a managing service through Indico, to book and start your videoconferencing sessions. For more information, please go to Indico News or to the Indico User Guides for Video Services.

* The ad-hoc service is for now restricted to System Admins, due to the limited number of MCU ports active

EVO
EVO (Enabling Virtual Organizations) is a cross-platform architecture for videoconferencing enabling you to join meetings either from your office (using a webcam and a headset/speakerphone); from a CERN conference room; or by phone. EVO can handle point-to-point conferences as well as multi-point videoconferences.

You can find more information about EVO from the EVO homepage here

Web conferencing

Web conferencing means collaboration through web-based tools. In web conferencing, the emphasis is usually on high-quality slide/desktop sharing, and communication is often audio only. Most web conferencing tools support video conferences as well (using a webcam), though the number of participants sending video at any given time is usually limited.

The most popular web conferencing tool that is also use at CERN is WebEx, which is an ActiveX/Java-based web client which works on all CERN-supported platforms (Windows, Mac and Linux). WebEx offers high-quality slide sharing, flexible delegation of rights (e.g. participants can be spectators or presenters) and an integrated phone conference system (with both call-in and call-out options, as well as an integrated VoIP client).

A WebEx license includes 24/7 technical support. WebEx can be used is any of the CERN standard conference rooms, provided that a Tool-free number of WebEx is called out from the room system via the CERN telephone exchange.

If you want to purchase a WebEx license, please contact us to discuss options.