Cisco TelePresence Codec

The Cisco TelePresence codec was developed from the ground up by Cisco in early 2004, providing native 1080p high definition video and wide-band spatial audio utilizing standard audio and video compression methods. This state of the art codec is now the basis for all Cisco TelePresence systems. Unlike many video conferencing products on the market today, the Cisco TelePresence codec provides integration and management for all in room components. Integrating system cameras, displays, projectors, and auxiliary documentation cameras provide a highly reliable system with a consistent user experience. The Cisco TelePresence codec also leverages the Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and existing network technologies, providing a scaleable platform used in some of today’s largest voice networks.

Current and past video conferencing systems often use off-the-shelf components, such as displays, auxiliary cameras, custom touch-screen user interfaces, and in-house audio systems, to build out rooms. Although providing great deployment flexibility, this approach also makes system use and management more difficult. Each Cisco TelePresence system is built as an integrated system including video, audio, and lighting, all managed by the Cisco TelePresence codec. The Cisco TelePresence codec also manages system software for all components, putting system displays in standby mode, or completely powering on and off system displays and integrated lighting, saving power and HVAC resources during off hours.

Integrating all in-room components with the Cisco TelePresence codec also provides a central management and configuration point for all components in a TelePresence room. Administrators can access the codec using Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) or Secure Shell (SSH) Common Line Interface (CLI) for system management. The secure web management interface provides a central view of all in-room component status, real-time call statistics, and access to system logs. Also, from the web interface, administrators can tune and verify cameras, displays, audio, and projection systems functionality. Providing this level of system integration enables administrators to quickly identify status and troubleshoot any component in the Cisco TelePresence system.

As previously mentioned, the Cisco TelePresence codec is fully integrated with the CUCM, making it a key component of the Cisco Unified Communications portfolio. As with Cisco IP Telephony, Cisco TelePresence relies on CUCM for its configurations, software upgrades, management and call processing. Utilizing CUCM allows centralized system management while allowing the system to leverage established techniques for network automation and Quality of Service (QoS), such as:

• Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) and 802.1Q for discovery and assignment to the appropriate VLAN
• 802.1p and Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) for QoS
• HTTP for automatic downloading of configuration and firmware updates
• Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for all call signaling communications

From an administrator’s perspective, the entire Cisco TelePresence virtual meeting room appears as a single SIP endpoint on CUCM. It is managed using tools and methodologies that are similar to those used with a Cisco Unified IP Phone. Figure 1 illustrates the Cisco TelePresence codec.

 

Figure 1: Cisco TelePresence codec

Industry-Leading Audio and Video

The Cisco TelePresence codec uses industry-leading 1080p and 720p high-definition video resolution and 48kHz wideband spatial audio. The codec also supports Common Intermediate Format (CIF) video resolution and G.722/G.711 audio for interoperability with non-TelePresence endpoints and audio-only participants.