Leveraging Multiple Initiatives into a State-wide Network Gerald F. Dube Director, UNET Dube@Maine.edu.

Leveraging Multiple Initiatives

into a

State-wide Network

Gerald F. DubeDirector, UNETDube@Maine.edu

Maine Challenges

• Largest of new England States• Population slightly over 1.2M• EPSCOR state• In 2000, Maine 48th in research funding• .47 percent of gross state product derived from

R&D• Only 52 percent of HS graduates continue to 4

yr college or university• In 1998, 45th in nation for adults over 25 with a

Bachelors degree

The Good Stories

• Highest High Schools completion rate in America, 94.5 percent (USDOE 2001)

• In 2000, NAEP assessments– 4th graders second in science– 8th graders third in Mathematics– 8th graders first in Reading– 4th graders fourth in Reading

• “biggest bang for educational buck” Forbes magazine, 1997

More Good Stories

• “highest performing K12 education system”, National Educational Goals Panel (1999)

• “best state in which to raise a child”, Children’s Rights Council (1999)

• First in nation to connect all K12 and Public Libraries to Internet

• First state in the nation to equip all 7th and 8th graders with a wireless laptop starting in fall of 2002

The University of Maine System

• Seven semi autonomous institutions• 10 university centers• Over 32,000 students• Operates a statewide ITV system since 1988• ITV broadcasts to additional 60+ sites with audio

return• Operates a statewide data network• ISP to University, K12, public libraries, state

government, and other non-profit

Maine Schools and Library Network

• All K12 schools, public and private, all public libraries connected to Internet by 1996

• Initially funded with over earnings of RBOC• Ordered by Maine PUC• Now funded by combination of Federal E-rate

and PUC mandated charges to carriers (instate e-rate)

• Supports over 1100 sites• Operated under contract by UMaine System

Video Projects

• Department of Education Distance Learning Initiative

• Bio-Science Research Initiative

• Marine Science Research Initiative

• Interoperability

• ITV Conversion

Department of EducationDistance Learning Initiative

• Requirements– High quality video– Full presence (up to 4 sites)– Multiple streams– De-centralized scheduling

• Classrooms, not studios

• Teacher/Leader operated

DOE Distance Learning

• Requires high bandwidth– Currently 45 Mbps ATM circuits

• Circuits from RBOC under special contract• Full ATM SVC control across carrier cloud• Uses MPEG-2 compression• Connection to MSLN over same circuit• Operated under contract by UMaine System

DOE Distance LearningBenefits

• Provide broader offerings to all schools– AP courses - Math– Foreign Languages– American Sign Language

• Team teaching• Professional development for teachers• Workshops• Regional meetings• Support staff training

ROOM CHARACTERISTICS• Unobtrusive technology

• Full mobility in room

• Wireless teacher/leader microphone

• Full room audio for audience

• Tracking teacher/leader camera

• One or more audience camera

• Teacher/Leader room controls

• Flexible room configuration

Teacher Station

• Design– Mobile

• Teacher’s Station on Wheels

– Size• Must Fit Through

Doorway• Must Hold all A/V

Equipment – ADA Compliance

• Drop Down Leaf

Teacher Station

Teacher Station

Remote Monitors

Teacher monitor and camera

• Tracking camera

• Wireless microphone

• Separate teacher monitor

Scheduler• TCReliance Video Manager by TODD Video Network

Management• De-centralized scheduling

– Central scheduler server– Web [JAVA] interface

• Controls multiple vendor equipment– Miranda MPEG-2 codec– Accord MCU for H.32x– AutoPatch [video router]– H.323 devices

Room Control

• Works with central scheduler

• Walk in and teach

• Both local and remote control

• Currently PC based

• Moving to AMX interface

Room Control

• Touch panel

• IP phone

• RF keyboard

R.C. Interface

Operating (45)

&

Scheduled (12)

Dept of Education

Distance Learning Network

MPEG-2/ATM

Potential for IP Transport

• Miranda codecs support IP transport in addition to ATM

• TODD scheduler supports ATM or IP

• Demonstrated at WAVE conference in November in Providence, RI

• Wave conference sponsored by OSHEAN

• Remainder of room equipment unaffected

Bio-Science Research Initiative

• Goals– Strengthen Graduate Education in bio-sciences– Enhance research collaboration between private

institutions and the University • Use DOE model

– 45Mbps connection– High speed data– Broadcast quality video– Full-presence for four sites

• Allow interoperability with DOE sites

• Research initiative• To bring together

– University of Maine– University of Southern Maine– Jackson Laboratory– Maine Medical Research

Biotechnology Initiative

Marine Science Initiative

• Connect 12 sites involved in Marine Sciences– University Campuses– University Marine Research Center– Maine Maritime Academy– Maine Department of Marine Resources– Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory– Fish hatchery

• Provides an environment for– Collaboration of Maine and national marine research

partners

Marine Science Initiative

• 6 sites served with Broadband/MPEG2

• 6 sites served with H.323

• Interoperability MPEG2/H.323

• Interoperability with DOE Distance Learning Project

• Interoperability with Bio-science Initiative

• Driven by same central scheduler as DOE distance learning

Interoperability

• All projects require interoperability between MPEG-2 and H.32x

• A solution implemented for DOE project• Supports MPEG2, H.323, H.320 in single

session• Same solution being extended to other projects• Supported by TODD scheduler• Each site participates at level of its video quality,

not least common denominator

Central Design

Central Design

ITV Conversion• Since 1988, ITV distributed over DS-3 fiber

circuits and ITFS microwave• Now being converted to ATM and MPEG-2• Uses same Miranda codecs

– 1 encoder, 5 decoders

• To be supported with same TODD scheduler• Interoperable with other MPEG-2 projects• Conversion in progress, completion by summer

2002

Summary

• All projects have different funding

• All projects use essentially same equipment

• All projects managed by one central agency

• All projects fully interoperable

• All projects can use ATM or IP transport