Internet2 Adopts ViDeNet Architecture for Internet2 Commons

A Case Study by Radvision; August 2001

Internet2's planned "Commons" service, an initiative designed for providing impromptu videoconferencing, will use the established ViDeNet architecture. The Commons initiative is representative of the goals of Internet 2, which include creating and promoting better network capabilities for the national research community, as well as quick transfer of new network services and technologies to the general Internet community. Several members of ViDeNet are active in the Internet 2 developments, as is RADVision, in a corporate sponsorship role.

(Internet2 is a coalition of university, industry, and government groups aiming to create a national network reserved for research and educational use; enable new types of network applications; and transfer that new technology to the public. For more comprehensive information, see http://www.internet2.edu.)

Videoconferencing is a tool with numerous uses.From simple videophone communication between two offices to distance learning applications among universities, the growing technologies in the field are finding more use constantly.As email was once an unexplored horizon, so to may videoconferencing be the tool of tomorrow that no one can do without.

One good example of the expanding technology behind videoconferencing is the annual Megaconference.Unlike normal gatherings, this one takes place across the globe (and beyond; 2001's meeting will include participation from the International Space Station) by means of Internet videoconferencing. The first Megaconference, in 1999, included 60 universities; 2000's featured 13 speakers and 100 locations. In October 2001, the conference will also test network abilities as smaller gatherings are held in within the larger frame of the Megaconference.

The case study RADVISION & ViDeNet - The Next Step: Internet 2 Adopts the ViDeNet Architecture for Internet 2 Commons and Other Internet 2 Applications explores the goals of Internet 2, as well as ViDeNet's and RADVision's contributions.