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The HEP Network Resource Center (HEPNRC) at Fermilab and the Collider Detector Facility (CDF) collaboration have evolved a flexible, cost-effective, widely accessible videoconferencing system for use by high energy physics collaborations and others wishing to use videoconferencing. No current systems seemed to fully meet the needs of high energy physics collaborations. However, two classes of videoconferencing technology: circuit-switched and packet-switched, if integrated, might encompass most of HEP`s needs. It was also realized that, even with this integration, some additional functions were needed and some of the existing functions were not always wanted. HEPNRC with the help of members of the CDF collaboration set out to develop such an integrated system using as many existing subsystems and components as possible. This system is called VUPAC (Videoconferencing Using PAckets and Circuits). This paper begins with brief descriptions of the circuit-switched and packet-switched videoconferencing systems. Following this, issues and limitations of these systems are considered. Next the VUPAC system is described. Integration is accomplished primarily by a circuit/packet videoconferencing interface. Augmentation is centered in another subsystem called MSB (Multiport multisession Bridge). Finally, there is a discussion of the future work needed in the evolution of this system. |
