Complete Communications Engineering

Video Conferencing Technology

Video conferencing technology is a two-way interactive communication, based on Internet or telephone technologies, which allows two or more locations to communicate simultaneously with each other using video, audio, still images and text.

Video conference technology is required when:

There are different types of Video Conferencing Systems:

Based on the switching modes, videoconferences may be voice activated switch type, where only the one person talking may be seen on the screen or a continuous presence type, where all participants are seen on the screen simultaneously.

Based on the conferencing protocol, videoconferences may be circuit switched and packet switched. Circuit switched protocol videoconferencing (H.320) is based on information represented in a single bitstream, the communication bandwidth is not shared with other services but guaranteed, and like in a phone call the circuits are brought through the network on demand. H.320 protocol is used mostly in Integrated Service Digital Networks (ISDN).

Packet switched protocol videoconference (H.323) is based on information that is sent after it is converted to a sequence of individual packets, the communication bandwidth is not shared with other services but not guaranteed, and circuits are not available on demand. Packet switched protocol H.323 operates on IP based networks. This protocol is the most used.

Videoconferencing uses the following standards:

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