Geoff, This is not precisely what I've seen as the usage of IM messages. Essentially, what I've seen requested are two things: 1) To be able to call a person point-to-point and send an IM as part of the conversation to convey textual information (e.g., "Here's the address to Jane's house: ....") 2) To be able to do the same kind of thing outside the context of a call, similar to what SMS systems do for GSM (except that messages are delivered instantly, rather than queued by a message server) Multipoint conferencing raises some questions in my mind, but I think the protocol would be the same. For such an environment, would we want to send an IM message to all participants or to a single participant? Since it's IP, it is actually very easy to establish a new "call" to send IM directly to a particular participant, so perhaps any IM sent into a conference would be seen by all conference participants (like a "chat room"). This places a requirement on the MC to receive any such messages and then forward them to all other conference participants. But, perhaps there is a desire to have the MC process the message and make some intelligent decision as to how to treat the message. Perhaps there is a desire to allow any one user to send a message to any other single user via the MC? Honestly, I've just not explored the use cases in multipoint VC environments, nor have I heard a request for this capability. But, it seems interesting, nonetheless. Paul
-----Original Message----- From: Geoff Constable [mailto:ccc@aber.ac.uk] Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 8:54 AM To: Paul E. Jones Cc: 'Even, Roni'; 'Gary Sullivan'; itu-sg16@lists.packetizer.com Subject: Re: [itu-sg16] Instant Messaging in H.323 & Common AlertingProtocol(CAP)
Paul, I work for the Welsh Video Network in the UK, supporting a large distance learning and educational user group that uses H.323 VC endpoints. While it may be off-topic for this mail-group (and I apologise for that), I would be interested to know what sort of usage scenarios you envisage, as we are pro-active in seeking feedback on the service but I have not heard this as a user requirement before.
We have networked Data PC's in all VC studios and have used parrallel (data only) NetMeeting text tool sessions to exchange control and chair messages during large videoconferences. Our requirement there is that the VC end-user does not see them. These are used by the session's technical support personel.
We have also piloted server-based networked "hand-raising" software for queing attempts to catch the chair-person's eye, or indicating to the chair that your site wishes to have the floor (sometimes difficult in large voice-switched sessions).
Is this the kind of thing you have in mind?
thank you,
Geoff Constable www.wvn.ac.uk ................................ Paul E. Jones wrote:
Roni,
I believe there is an interest in the market. I've been asked many times over the years, we've seen many proposals, etc., but inevitably somebody kills every proposal before we are able to make any real progress. I will argue that, yes, we need IM within H.323.