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Prism is a video conferencing
server for the internet . It can support many video clients 'simultaneously' ! Unlike
MS Netmeeting, Netscape Conference and many others, which only support one client or
video user at a time.
This means you can do 'real video conferencing' with many of your favorite people on the net 'simultaneously'. Currently, Prism only supports the Cu-SeeMe system, but shortly Prism will be compatible with Microsoft Netmeeting, Intel videophone, and other H.323 supported systems. The Prism Refractor is compatible with existing Cu-SeeMe reflectors. Prism supports color , black/white Video, Audio, and Chat. Due to the nature of the internet sending everything in packets, the Audio works quite well on a Local LAN, when there is adequate bandwith over the internet, and "the weather is clear'. Support over email is available for members. Members also get the latest upgrade along with tips and techniques for keeping things running smooth., There has been extensive work to improve the monitoring aspects of multiple, simultaneous video sessions. Bandwith is automatically managed depending on the users network connection (rates) thruput. Although, the human ear discerns broken speech much more readily than missing video fragments. Audio traffic while still consuming network resources does require more bandwith compared to video. With Prism, Chat seems 'Live' since it requires very little computing or network resources to transmit text messages. Due to bandwith limitations for 56k modem users, video is frozen automatically when sending audio. Prsm has controls for this. Expectedly, this drawback will go away, as more of us use faster connections, such as cable, DSL, wireless and other emerging networking technologies. Within a few years, bandwth problems will seem archaic. Most of us will converse on our "Internet-TV's" from our wrists, as simple as we dependant on cellular phones today. Thanks to Yuri, we already have FREE software for handheld videophone. ( www.mivideo.net/videophone ) . So, will you be able to connect to Prism , due to be released in 2002. Problem is how to pack all those users' videos in a handheld screen ! But , a folding screen is already in beta ! Similar to the folding keyboard. It is hoped that open source projects will continue spearheading video conferencing, and not allow it to be dictated by monopolies and for profit organizations that are afraid to support open source forums. Prism will soon become open source. The way all this started when Cornell was developing it, and in the true spirit of the internet as it was originally intended. Unlike some developers who seem to get 'bent' after graduation, by trying to anxiously cash in on their efforts forgetting their roots, while others keep their priorities, find the fold again, and not surprising end up being at the top of the game . New Functions available :
Become a REFMON 'on-the-fly' by use of a password defined in the config file Currently Prism runs on Win95/98/NT/XP and Linux. Should you need to have Prism run on other platforms, please e-mail me your interest and we will be glad to discuss porting Prism to your configuration . Installation Prism is very simple to run ! In order to run prism you will need to download a zipfle consisting of at least 4 small files. The 4 files are ; Prism.exe, Prism.cfg, Prismkey, and Remrefpw.txt . Prism reads a configuation file called prism.cfg which contains 'THE ONLY' documentation and is included in the zip file. There is a monitoring program called WwWw.exe . There perl script browser interface for the 'WwWw' program. Place all these files in a single directory. Unzip them and click on Prism.exe. That should start prism using the (prism.cfg) default configuration file. That is all that is needed to set up your own site ! Later, you will want to customize the config file (prism.cfg) to your specific site interests. This refractor is in Beta release and under constant development. Monthly members with Prism can get support and the latest software with email.support.. To run under windows, just type the executable name 'prism' into a DOS shell or click on it with explorer. Linux users just click on the executeable or start it in the shell as "./prism" . The first argument to the Prism executable can be the configuration file (otherwise it defaults to prism.cfg), or the config file may be called by any other name or a 'pathname' as the first argument. The second argument to the prism executable is the directory (pathname) for the log files, if not available it will use the current directory and look for a 'logs' directory to place the log files into. By using these two arguments both the config file and the log files may reside on separate directories on the server. Thereby allowing you to specify each in its own protected area, and/or viewable by a browser. Prism is configured thru the configuration file called (prism.cfg). The commands are documented in the prism.cfg file. Prism will echo the configuration file as it is being read and will print out the 'IP' it is connected to . At this point it listens for incoming clients to this IP. You can use the Cornell Cu-SeeMe client made available here to view your video, as well as others connecting to the server. Once you test and edit your configuration file, announce your reflector so that you will start getting visitors. Go to Yahoo and enter Cu-seeme and work your way thru the links to see who offers a refferal service for reflectors and submit your Ref Name and IP . Two popular referral sites are cu-seeme.net scanner and rocketcharged.com also has a section on refs. Leave conference '0' availble for others to use and test your site, while you set up various other conferences for your own special needs. You might want to create a web page for your ref and submit your site to Yahoo and other search engines as well as many private networks like webring for cuseeme. These are
the commands available thru the WwWw monitor program : There is a !New! Visual Basic GUI monitor program called WwWwVB. Although testing has not been done with varied implementations. Hopefully, you will, and provide some feedback for further development.
On-going developments : By disseminating this work freely, It is my hope that you will report any problems you might have, in order to improve its use to the Cu-SeeMe community and 'free' video conferencing on the internet . Please make your comments either to me directly at nubeus2@hotmail.com. "Oh Yeah, for those willing to pay serious bucks - the source is available !" ( Although I will probably give it away before that happens ) CU on the net ! |