ResearchChannel Press Release

Internet2 and Partners Demonstrate First Uncompressed High-Definition Video Using Dynamic Circuit Networks
1080i Video Technology To Create Stunning Live Connections Between Internet2 Conference in New Orleans to Large Hadron Collider Site in France and to Czech Republic Classroom

NEW ORLEANS, La. – October 14, 2008 - This week at its annual Fall Member Meeting in New Orleans, La., Internet2 together with several collaborators will showcase the first uncompressed high-definition videoconference application over revolutionary Dynamic Circuit Networks (DCN). The demos highlight the promise of DCN and high-definition video technology to create the ultimate collaboration environment that can support new innovation in science, research, the arts, telemedicine and beyond.

“The Internet2 community is deploying dynamic circuit networks to empower its users with the ability to self-provision dedicated point-to-point optical circuits on demand for applications that require very reliable high capacity connections for short intervals of time,” said Rob Vietzke, Internet2 executive director of network services. “Uncompressed high-definition video is a natural fit for DCN as it requires about 1.2 gigabits of dedicated capacity to create a real-life, real-time visually stunning video experience.”

At the meeting’s second keynote session on October 15, Internet2 will showcase the use of iHDTV™ software. Developed by the ResearchChannel and the University of Washington, iHDTV will be used to stream uncompressed 1080i high-definition video between the conference floor in New Orleans and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Control Center at CERN in Prevessin, France. The technology interoperates across three international DCN network domains including across the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI), Internet2 and US LHCNet.

From New Orleans, Ed Seidel, director of the office of cyberinfrastructure at the National Science Foundation (NSF) will host a live tour of the LHC Control Center and will moderate a virtual Q&A with Jim Virdee, LHC CMS spokesperson, David Foster, head of communications and networking for CERN and Harvey Newman, professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology.

Considered to be the largest scientific experiment to be undertaken in history and also known as the “Big Bang Machine,” the LHC is expected to generate over 15 million gigabytes of data annually for thousands of researchers around the world to share and analyze. The LHC community was a primary driver for the development of DCN services and is actively deploying the technology in anticipation of their massive data transfer needs when the LHC comes fully online in 2009.

“New dynamic networking, as well as advanced video technology being pioneered by the research and education community, will play a critical role in supporting the next wave of scientific collaboration and discovery,” said Dr. Ed Seidel, director of the office of cyberinfrastructure for the National Science Foundation. “I’m gratified to see such an impressive display of video technology using advanced dynamic circuit networks – both of which are important to our nation’s cyberinfrastructure in providing a truly collaborative foundation for new discovery.”

At the meeting's third keynote session on October 16, Internet2 and its partners will highlight the use of UltraGrid high-definition video technology. Initially developed via a NSF grant to University of  Southern California/Information Sciences Institute, the UltraGrid application has is now primarily developed by the Laboratory of  Advanced Networking Technologies at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic (http://www.sitola.cz) and is supported by CESNET (http://www.ces.net).

The technology will link Louisiana State University Professor Thomas Sterling to students located in Brno, Czech Republic to showcase how advanced virtual collaboration technology can revolutionize the global educational environment. The video will also utilize international DCN connections across multiple circuit domains including LONI, Internet2, and the GÉANT2 AutoBAHN networks.

The data for the demo will be distributed by application-level modular programmable UDP packet reflectors, that have been developed by CESNET and Laboratory of Advanced Networking Technologies over the past 5 years. They allow for independence on network-native multicast, while it is possible to process the data in per-user specific way.

Both iHDTV and UltraGrid technologies are under active development by the research and education community. Through the iHD DevCore partnership, the community is currently investigating how to create interoperability between these platforms to enable more widespread adoption of uncompressed high-definition video technology.

The Internet2 Community extends a special tribute and its gratitude to the recently deceased Michael Wellings of the ResearchChannel at the University of Washington. Michael was a pioneer in developing the advanced iHDTV technology used for this demo and inspired the research and education community to imagine broad use of high-definition video as a fundamental enabler of advanced research collaboration.

About Internet2(R)
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.  For more information: http://www.internet2.edu

About ResearchChannel
ResearchChannel links a growing global audience to the revolutionary developments, insights and discoveries of leading research and academic institutions through online, on-air and on-demand video distribution formats. Founded as a way to share the breakthrough work of distinguished researchers with the public, the ResearchChannel consortium includes more than 30 world-renowned universities and research institutions. Video programming ranging from technology and science innovations to fascinating arts and humanities topics is shared in its original form and without interruption. ResearchChannel programs are available though satellite and many local cable TV providers, and online as both live and video-on-demand streaming at www.researchchannel.org.

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PRESS CONTACT
Erin Lodi
Communications and Public Relations
ResearchChannel
206-543-8907
erinlodi@researchchannel.org