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TNS Services
What are the requirements and restrictions?
How do I request a profile?
How do I know when the On-Demand conference profile is set-up?
How long will the profile remain on the Bridge?
How does it work?
What are the Conference Chairperson options?
How do I get Help?
When is system maintenance preformed?
User Equipment FAQ
What videoconference endpoint equipment do you recommend for use with the On-Demand Video Bridge Service?
How do I generate a Touch Tone response from a Polycom Viewstation to enter my password?
How do I generate a Touch Tone response from a Polycom Via-Video II or PVX desktop unit to enter my password?
How do I access the keyboard on a Polycom Viewstation unit in order to enter the alpha-numeric dial number?
Is the Picturetel System 4000 using the VIU IP interface compatible with the Video Bridge On-Demand Service?
On-Demand Video Bridge Service
User Equipment Frequently Asked Questions
Service Description
On-Demand video bridge conferencing offers freedom of scheduling for impromptu meetings by providing conferee-initiated access to the Penn State Video Bridge. On-Demand offers the freedom to connect three or more videoconference rooms or desktop videoconference systems on an as-needed basis without the need for making formal reservations.
On-Demand video bridge conferences require an initial conference profile set-up in the Penn State Video Bridge. Once the profile is established, conferees can use the bridge, as needed, scheduling conferences on their own.
Click here for more information on the Penn State Video Bridge.
What are the requirements and restrictions?
Each On-Demand video bridge conference must have a conference chairperson assigned before a profile will be set on the Bridge. The conference chairperson is responsible for disseminating conference information to other conferees and will also be the main point of contact for each specific conference. The conference chairperson is provided additional password protected privileges for managing the conference.
The following restrictions are in affect for On-Demand videoconferencing:
- Maximum length of conference limited to 2.5 hours.
- Maximum of 10 sites in one conference.
- Transmission speed of 384 Kbps.
- Must have a Conference Chairperson assigned. The Conference Chairperson must be a Penn State faculty or staff member.
- Use of the On-Demand video bridge service is for Penn State related purposes only.
- Videoconference systems must be registered with the Penn State gatekeeper service or be using the ViDeNet Global Dialing Scheme.
- Videoconference systems must have the capability to generate a Touch Tone response.
Videoconference System registration is not required for videoconference systems planning to use an On-Demand conference. A test conference is setup on the video bridge for testing videoconference systems. We recommend that all new systems call into the test conference to verify operation before entering an assigned On-Demand conference. The test conference dial number is 2222test (case sensitive). The test conference will accommodate four sites and has a conference length of 15 minutes.
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How do I request a profile?
New On-Demand video bridge conference profiles and changes to existing profiles can be requested by completing the On-Demand Video Bridge Service Request Form or by contacting the Information Technology Services Call Center Services at 814-863-8906. The information required to set the profile is as follows: name of conference, maximum number of sites, maximum duration of conference, conference mode lay-out, and conference chairperson information including name, email address and phone number. Requests will be processed within two business days via confirmation emailed to the conference chairperson. Help is available for setting up On-Demand video bridge conference profiles by calling the TNS Video Operations Center at 814-865-1036.
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How do I know when the On-Demand conference profile is set-up?
After the requested profile is established on the Bridge, a one time email will be sent to the conference chairperson by TNS. The email includes the conference password, conference chairperson password, dialing instructions, and instructions on managing the conference.
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How long will the profile remain on the Bridge?
On-Demand video bridge conference profiles remain on the bridge as long as they are being used. TNS will remove profiles that have not been used for over a year or at the request of the conference chairperson.
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How does it work?
-
Unique Dial Number
-
Each On-Demand conference is given a unique dial number.
Example: 2222test. This dial number is case sensitive.
- Interactive Voice Response System
- Each On-Demand conference is automated by an interactive voice response system.
- Conferees respond to the system by using the Touch-Tone keypad on their videoconference system.
- Upon entering an On-Demand conference, the voice response system greets conferees to confirm that they have entered the Penn State Video Bridge.
- The voice response system then asks the conferee to enter the conference password followed by the pound (#) sign.
- If the password is not entered, the voice response system will ask two more times for the password before terminating the connection.
- Once the correct conference password is entered, the voice response system will ask that the pound (#) key be entered if conference chairperson services are required.
- Since conference chairperson services require a separate password,
the voice response system will continue asking for the chairperson password
if the # key is pressed. If the # key is not pressed, after a few seconds
the voice response will confirm the name of the conference that has
been entered.
- On-Demand Conference Begins
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The On-Demand conference will now commence and will continue as long
as the conference sites are connected and for the length of the conference
time that was previously specified in the profile.
- On-Demand Conference Ends
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Once the conference reaches the conference length specified in the
profile, the conference will terminate. Conference termination is preceded
by an end time alert tone 5 minutes before termination.
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What are the Conference Chairperson options?
The following services are available to the conference chairperson via a touch tone pad:
| Lock Conference | *70 (Locks conference access for additional security) |
| Unlock Conference | #70 |
| Change Password | *77 |
| Conference Terminate | *87 |
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How do I get Help?
Assistance using the Penn State Video Bridge is available by calling the TNS Video Operations Center at 814-865-1036. Conferees using a room based videoconference system should request assistance from the Videoconferencing Room Technical Contact first. The Penn State Video Bridge is staffed during scheduled video bridge events only. Assistance may not be readily available for On-Demand bridge use after normal business hours. For critical videoconferences held after normal business hours (Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), a scheduled conference should be considered.
For non-video bridge assistance with desk-top videoconference systems, the computer owner can call the ITS HELP DESK at 814-863-2494. The ITS HELP DESK hours of operation are Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Conferees who have forgotten their password should contact the conference chairperson. The conference chairperson may contact the TNS Video Operations Center at 814-865-1036 for assistance.
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When is system maintenance preformed?
Normal system maintenance will be preformed between 5 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.. Longer outage time may be scheduled by providing at least two weeks notice to all On-Demand conference chairpersons on record.
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User Equipment Frequently Asked Questions
What videoconference endpoint equipment do you recommend for use with the On-Demand Video Bridge Service?
The equipment must be H.323 capable, be able to generate a Touch Tone response and be capable of registering with the Penn State Video over IP gatekeeper service. The following room systems have been tested; Polycom Viewstation 323, Viewstation FX, Viewstation EX, Viewstation 4000, and VSX-7000 series. The following desktop systems have been tested; Polycom Via-Video-II and the Polycom PVX.
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How do I generate a Touch Tone response from a Polycom Viewstation to enter my password?
A Touch Tone pad is available after dialing into the video bridge by pressing the # key on the remote control of the Viewstation. Once the # key is pressed, a touch tone pad will display on the main monitor. With the touch tone pad displayed, press the numeric keypad on the Polycom remote control to enter the password.
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How do I generate a Touch Tone response from a Polycom Via-Video II or PVX desktop unit to enter my password?
A Touch Tone pad is available by clicking on the “controls” ICON on the bottom right corner of the main Via-Video II or PVX screen.
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How do I access the keyboard on a Polycom Viewstation unit in order to enter the alpha-numeric dial number? (Dial number example 2222test)
Polycom started offering a different handheld remote control with more options on new systems in early 2004 so there are two styles of remote controls. The newer remote control has a ”directory” button on the upper right corner and a “keyboard” button left center. On the newer remote control, simply press the “keyboard” button to access the keyboard. Using 2222test as an example of the dial number, use the remote control numeric key pad to enter “2222” and the “keyboard” to enter “test”.
The older Polycom remote control is not as simple. From the dial screen with nothing entered in the dial string window, press the center button that is centered between the up-down and left-right arrows. The keyboard will display on the main monitor. Now enter the numeric portion of the dial number (2222) then enter and letters (test) using the keyboard. Please keep in mind that the dial number is case sensitive.
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Is the Picturetel System 4000 using the VIU IP interface compatible with the Video Bridge On-Demand Service?
Yes, but the dial number assigned to the conference must be all numeric since the Picturetel remote control can not generate alphabetical characters.
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07/27/07