Every site consists of homogenous physical attributes, multimedia capabilities and network connectivity. Each endpoint was configured with appropriate audio, data, and video electronics to extend the original endpoints to support several students, instructor, and presentation graphics. Each CCAC video endpoint connects with the ATM cloud through a 25Mbps ATM connection. The MCU allows videoconferencing to occur between more than two endpoints. If three or more ATM, H.320, or H.323 endpoints wish to communicate, the MCU is configured to connect with each endpoint at a predetermined time and provide an appropriate video and audio feed to each endpoint.
Conferences can occur in one of two modes.
Most conferences occur in Continuous Presence mode, where the return video is divided into four quadrants, one containing the video from each remote endpoint. In Voice Activated mode, the video stream is delivered full screen from the site that is talking. CCAC s MCU is a VTEL 2007, eight user system. In the Fall of 2000, an expansion of the video network was initiated through a grant from the Heinz Foundation. This expansion will provide video conferencing services to the eight college centers.