[AG-TECH] Combining two Systems

[Michael Gay]

Date sent:      	Mon, 15 Oct 2001 11:19:37 -0500
To:             	ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov
From:           	Mustafa Varank <varank at csit.fsu.edu>
Subject:        	[AG-TECH] Combining two Systems

> Hello,
> Did anybody tried to combine polycom systems with Access 
Grid. Would 
> you have any suggestions for this?
> 
> Thank you,
> mustafa

We have not tried this at Purdue as we don not have a node yet.  
As we design our node, I have put some thought in this very thing.  
We might be required to use a room already polycom equipped, so 
I have been trying to think of how to best integrate the two 
technologies thereby creating an H.323 to Access Grid Gateway.

Scenario 1--The cheapest
Scenario 1 would  interface a Polycom to an existing node by scan 
converting two of the VGA outputs from the display machine, and 
inserting them into the S-Video input of a polycom Viewstation or 
FX.  Unfortunately, this means the remote polycom end user only 
sees one screen at a time. The AG operator would need to make 
sure all pertinent information is on the screen currently feeding the 
Polycom.  Unfortunately, this might disrupt the monitoring in the 
local AG room.   However, if two of the same video feeds could be 
displayed simultaneously on different vga outputs, a separate vga 
output of the display machine could be used as an input to the 
Polycom, therby not disrupting the screens siaplayed in the room. 

Scenario 2 -- More Expensive
Scenario 2 sets up a separate node without a room.  Of course it 
would need an operator so it might be set up where there is already 
a room.  I call this model the Access Grid to H.323 Gateway Node. 
 This node would be set up with one or two vga outputs which are 
scan converted and converted to S-Video and then input to a 
polycom such as a VS 4000.  This system requires no cameras 
and does not require use of the AG room except for the control 
area.  The operator would need video monitoring of the remote 
polycom video and the AG video.  There may be no need for the 
Gentner equipment as the polycom has built in echo cancellation.  
For future development, a web interface could be implimented to 
give the  Polycom user remote control over some of the Node 
fucntions such as sites to connect to and placement of video 
images.  This would potentially make the Gateway node semi-
autonomous thereby not requiring a local operator.

WARNING:  None of these scenarios have been tested...They are 
merely wild visions floating inside my head at this point.  There is 
no warranty expressed or implied.  I may have more ideas when we 
get a node up and running.


Michael Gay
Purdue University
Manager, Engineering Services
Divison of Instructional Services
1092 Stewart Center
W. Lafayette, IN 47907
765 494 5100