Czech Scientists Demonstrating UltraGrid for HD Video

In cooperation with the CESNET association, the Laboratory of Advanced Network Technologies at the Masaryk University in Brno has been developing a next-generation HD video processing technology—UltraGrid. In partnership with the Internet2 organization, the Laboratory demonstrated the usage potential of this technology. The event received exceptional acclaim among the professional public.

Using the UltraGrid technology, Professor Thomas Sterling from the Louisiana State University (LSU, Baton Rouge) was connected with students in Brno and a presentation room in New Orleans, where the Internet2 meeting took place. The demonstration showed how an advanced technology can revolutionize virtual cooperation in the global educational environment. "Next-generation high-definition videoconferencing provides an impressive environment to connect students from around the world to subject matter experts they may not otherwise have access to at their home institution," said Charlie McMahon, deputy CIO for research enablement, LSU. "While we have been using video technology for some time over IP networks, the use of dedicated facilities via dynamically switched networks provides us with the capacity we need to make the visual experience that much more life like."

The data for the UltraGrid demo was distributed by application-level modular programmable UDP packet reflectors that have been developed over the past five years by CESNET and the Laboratory of Advanced Networking Technologies. This technology allows for independence on network-native multicast at high speeds, while it is possible to process the data in a per-user specific way. The video will also utilize international DCN connections across multiple circuit domains including LONI, Internet2 and the GÉANT2 AutoBAHN networks.

The UltraGrid application was initially developed via a NSF grant to the University of Southern California/Information Sciences Institute.

A recording of the event is available at:
http://events.internet2.edu/2008/fall-mm/sessionDetails.cfm?session=10000237&event=911

Internet2 is the foremost U.S. advanced networking consortium. Led by the research and education community since 1996, Internet2 promotes the missions of its members by providing both leading-edge network capabilities and unique partnership opportunities that together facilitate the development, deployment and use of revolutionary Internet technologies. Internet2 brings the U.S. research and academic community together with technology leaders from industry, government and the international community to undertake collaborative efforts that have a fundamental impact on tomorrow's Internet.
(More information available at www.internet2.edu)

The CESNET association was founded by universities and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The association is currently financed mainly from the resources of the governmental Committee for Research and Education and the resources of the members of the association. The association deals with the research and development of information and communication technologies, building and developing the national gigabit optical network, CESNET2, designed for research and educational purposes. With its research activities and accomplishments, the CESNET association can represent the Czech Republic in the pan-European GÉANT2 network construction project, actively participating in the project implementation. Among other topics, the association deals with utilization of high-speed networks for multimedia data sharing, both synchronous in the form of video conferences and shared applications and asynchronous as streaming.