In the UK we are running a pilot scheme to provide this bridging facility, supported by the AGSC.
http://www.agsc.ja.net/services/VRVS.php Paul Bonnett Videoconferencing Service Co-ordinator UKERNA Atlas Centre Rm F16 Chilton, Didcot Oxfordshire, OX11 0QS Tel: 01235 822332 p.bonn...@ukerna.ac.uk www.ja.net -----Original Message----- From: owner-ag-t...@mcs.anl.gov [mailto:owner-ag-t...@mcs.anl.gov] On Behalf Of bdr Sent: 22 January 2007 01:15 To: Derek Piper Cc: Access Grid Technical mailing list Subject: Re: [AG-TECH] AG calling When I was at Internet2, we actually used the VRVS to bridge H.323 with the AG. The VRVS would allow a H.323 unit to be part of a VRVS "session" and the VRVS reflector would "bridge" to selected AG "rooms". I'm not sure if any of the code used is available for public consumption, but Philippe Galvez <gal...@caltech.edu> is the VRVS "guy". Derek Piper wrote: > > Hi all, > > Something I was thinking about was the differences between AG and > H.323 and I was wondering if a 'blend' of the two, in a way, would be > an interesting direction to go in. > What I'm thinking about is this, and of course there are many > questions and details to work out but I thought I'd bring it up to see > what people might think: > > A 'Call server' that people log in to when the 'AG caller' client > starts, analogous to the IM server, Jabber server or H.323 'gateway' > Allows IM communication with all those connected > 'Buddy lists' to see who's on? > What about distribution of servers.. would you need an account on > every server in the world? what about a registry of servers? > > IM 'calling' ..i.e. make a noise, flash something.. get user attention. > nicer than speakers on hanging around in a venue > people who don't know you're on or where you're on may stand a > better chance of contacting you :> > > Initiate video call just allocates IP addresses in the same way as a > venue and runs media tools against either multicast or unicast to a > bridge if that preference is set. > Simple 2-way video conferencing. We've achieved 'AG Skype' > > Add another participant to a 'call' by invite or by messaging each > participant. > > Could also move to 'conference room' which is the same as an AG venue > is now. > Maybe launch full AG VenueClient at that venue? > Then you could do the same shared-app stuff as we have now. > > > I'm kicking this around as a possibility and a direction for a > project either as something that the AGtk moves towards or is an > add-on for it. One of the things I've noticed is that polycoms are > often used as a back channel and an ad-hoc meeting method because you > can *call* someone. It's a videophone. AG relies on someone turning up > where you are, and that's sometimes very awkward and not what people > want to do. > Basically to implement it seeing as we have a Jabber integration > doesn't seem that hard on the surface. The client would start off to > appearing something like GAIM, Psi or Skype and you place a video call > to someone or start a conference in a venue. > > I'm curious to hear some points of view about it. > > Derek > -- Bob Riddle (bdr @ umich.edu) Enabling Technologies University of Michigan Medical School 1301 Catherine Street M4101 MSB1 - 6024 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0624 "Math illiteracy affects 7 out of every 5 people"