This page describes the Viewpoint VBX multimedia networking system in general terms, including basic system features, functions and requirements, and other related information resources.

Introduction

Viewpoint VBX offers the next generation of multimedia networking components by providing high-performance, high-quality multimedia networking solutions over existing building wiring.

Viewpoint VBX Overview Diagram

Video Networking to the Desktop

Viewpoint VBX provides a flexible video PBX architecture that video-enables hundreds of desktops throughout an enterprise. A single Viewpoint VBX in your switch room controls video connections anywhere in your building or campus.

The following items describe the ways that Viewpoint VBX makes networking to the desktop possible.

• Viewpoint WorkFone VBX software used at the desktop delivers a perfect picture and easy-to-use controls for the most demanding user.
  
• Viewpoint VBX includes a transceiver device that connects your computer or television to the wall jack
  
• Because Viewpoint VBX is Windows compatible, it is easy to dial on your desktop systems
  
  

  Share Networked Multimedia

  Users share multimedia resources, such as CATV feeds, Digital Broadcast Satellite (DBS) receivers, video servers, VCRs, videodisk players, and compressed video wide area network (WAN) connections. In fact, users share these resources together with multi-point video conferencing, while enjoying full-screen, National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) or Phase Alternating Lines (PAL) quality video at the desktop.
  
  

  Does Not Burden the LAN

  Unlike other multimedia local area network (LAN) systems, Viewpoint VBX does not rely on highly compressed video, quarter-screen resolution, or high-performance LAN architectures for operation. Instead, the Viewpoint VBX uses a unique media-switched architecture, which delivers high-quality video and audio content over a hub-and-spoke twisted-pair wiring topology, and utilizes the corporate LAN only for client-server control and communications. The Viewpoint VBX can network hundreds of simultaneous streams of NTSC-quality, full-screen video without compression.
  
  

  Configurable and Expandable

  Viewpoint VBX offers an economical yet high-performance solution compared with other approaches requiring expensive LAN and desktop upgrades. Economical systems can be configured for a small workgroup or an entire enterprise consisting of multiple interconnected LANs supporting hundreds of users.
  
  

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  Features and Functions

  The basic features and functions of the Viewpoint VBX are summarized below:
  
  

  Video Display

• Active Call Indicator
  
• Sizable to 640 x 480
  
• Access to all features
  
• Put calls on hold
  
  

  Dialer

• Directory dialing
  
• Speed dial
  
• Last number redial
  
  

  Call Control

• Dial
  
• Answer
  
• Hold
  
• Transfer
  
• Conference
  
• Volume control
  
• Call logs
  
  

  Surveillance

• Cycle through list
  
  

  Multi-point

• Up to seven participants
  
• Four active video windows
  
• Multi-point broadcast
  
  

  Broadcast

• Share Digital Broadcast Satellite (DBS) or cable TV access
  
• Network VCRs, videodisk players
  
• Multi-cast speeches across the network
  
• User-selected broadcast source
  
  

  Administration

• Windows NT operating system
  
• Moves, adds, changes made easy
  
• Maintain user database
  
• Maintain hardware database
  
• Password protected for security
  
• Make and tear-down calls
  
• Configure networked switches
  
  

  WAN

• UTP or coax non-compressed trunks
  
• H.320 standard compression
  
• Connect to installed room systems
  
  

  Cabling

• UTP
  
• Loop lengths up to 3,500 ft (Cat. 5)
  
• Loop lengths up to 1,500 ft (Cat. 3)
  
• 16 ports on transmit line card
  
• 16 ports on receive line card
  
• 128 users per switch
  
• 48 simultaneous calls
  
  

  Coax

• Loop lengths up to 200 ft
  
• Eight ports on transmit line card
  
• Eight ports receive line card
  
  

  Transceiver

• Compact
  
• Video in/out
  
• Audio in/out
  
• Phone jack
  
• Configurable loop length
  
  

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  System Requirements

  This section describes the minimum and recommended system requirements for the Viewpoint VBX system.
  
  

  Workstation

  Workstations that are video enabled for full interactive audio/video communications with the Viewpoint VBX must meet the following minimum requirements:
  

• 486/33 PC or faster
  
• Video monitor capable of VGA (640 ´ 480) resolution or greater
  
• Video capture card (frame grabber) with the ability to display NTSC composite video
  
• Video camera
  
• Microphone
  
• Speakers
  
• Network connectivity to the Viewpoint VBX Server
  
  

  Software

  
  Workstations that are video enabled for full interactive audio/video communications with the Viewpoint VBX require the following software:
  

• Microsoft Windows 95
  
• Network support for TCP/IP
  
  

  Video/Audio Transmit Device

  
  Any standard NTSC or PAL composite video source can be connected as a transmitting device to the VBX Server using a coax input port. Examples include NTSC video cameras, VCRs, direct-broadcast satellite receivers, and television tuners. Associated audio is optional. All audio and video inputs are RCA-style phono jacks.
  
  

  Video/Audio Display Device

  
  Any standard NTSC or PAL composite video device can be connected as a display device to the VBX Server using a coax output port. Examples include television monitors (requires composite video input connector) and VCRs. Associated audio is optional. All audio and video outputs are RCA-style phono jacks.