User`s guide

Abstract
Videoconferencing is being increasingly used for informal communication. An example of this
is Monash University’s School of Computer Science and Software Engineering. They operate
a high-quality video ATM link between the staff common rooms in its Clayton and Caulfield
campuses, to encourage communication and discussion between the two groups. The system
consists of two FVC VANs, each with hardware MPEG-2 codecs, data projectors and cameras.
Response to the videoconferencing system has been mixed. While many people find the sys-
tem useful, others are concerned with privacy issues. In addition, there exist several limitations
such as the inability to communicate data through the system, remotely control the camera’s
field of view, or capture video to disk. By integrating these features into the existing system,
this project aims to increase its usefulness and usability.
Reasons for adding each feature are given, together with strategies for implementation. A
client/server application implementing video reciprocity is developed, using an infra-red motion
detector as input. The client shuts down the ATM link and projector when there is movement
in only one or neither of the two rooms, and starts up the link and projector when movement
occurs in both rooms. A client/server application for tunnelling IrDA data through a TCP/IP
connection is also implemented, using infra-red transceivers.
The reciprocity application is fully tested. Problems in upgrading the existing VAN software
made it impossible for testing it in situ. The reciprocity application is designed for smooth
installation once the upgrade is completed, and no code modification will be required. The
infra-red tunnelling application requires implementation of a handshaking protocol to be fully-
functional, and has been tested using other serial port devices. The remaining features, while
unimplemented, have been researched and are discussed, and strategies for their implementation
suggested.
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