Cisco TelePresence Manager

Cisco TelePresence Manager (CTS-Manager) is the heart of the TelePresence solution, providing integration for all Cisco TelePresence components. CTS-Manager is a server-based platform with a web user interface providing the same look and feel as other TelePresence components. The CTS-Manager ties all TelePresence components together, providing the ease of use, scheduling, and management services that drive the entire solution. The CTS-Manager is not a mandatory component of Cisco TelePresence, but as you can see, deploying a TelePresence network without it provides substantial challenges. CTS-Manager provides the following features to the Cisco TelePresence Solution:

• Calendaring integration and management
• One-Button-to-Push meeting access
• Resource and location management for Cisco TelePresence Multipoint switch
• CTS system management and reporting
• Concierge services

Calendaring Integration and Management

CTS-Manager integrates with Microsoft Exchange and IBM Domino, providing scheduling for Cisco TelePresence systems. A simple scheduling interface is always a challenge for any shared resource. Cisco TelePresence addresses this issue by providing users with a familiar Outlook or Notes scheduling interface. TelePresence rooms are listed as resources and scheduled exactly the same as standard conference rooms, eliminating the learning curve for scheduling Cisco TelePresence rooms.

One-Button-to-Push Meeting Access

When the initial research was conducted for Cisco TelePresence, the biggest complaint with existing video systems was ease of use. Users complained about remote controls, complicated custom touchpad dialing interfaces, and the lack of consistency from system to system. Some customers employ large video scheduling groups to manage systems and automatically launch video calls to avoid any user confusion. Some customers even go as far as providing a meeting coordinator in the room just in case something goes wrong during the call setup. At that time it was decided that initiating a call from a Cisco TelePresence system would be easier than dialing a phone. Figure 1 show the 7975 Series IP Phone screen with One-Button-to-Push entries.

 

Figure 1: 7975 Series IP Phone One-Button-to-Push

What’s simpler than providing users with a touchscreen phone that allows them to touch the meeting instance on the phone screen to initiate their calls? This feature is referred to as One-Button-to-Push dialing. Users have the option to manually dial using the phone for last-minute ad-hoc meetings; however, prescheduled meetings present users with One-Button-to-Push dialing. This feature alone has allowed Cisco to deploy more than 350 TelePresence systems internally, providing more than 4000 meetings a week, with a scheduling support staff of only seven people. Figure 2 illustrates the process of scheduling a meeting that provides One-Button-to-Push dialing.

 

Figure 2: Scheduling example for One-Button-to-Push

Resource and Location Management for Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch

As described previously, CTS-Manager provides the scheduling integration for a Cisco TelePresence deployment. Scheduled multipoint meetings require knowledge of available resources and the location of those resources. CTS-Manager maintains CTMS resource information in its internal database, enabling it to schedule multipoint meetings accurately. Each CTMS is configured to report its location and number of schedulable segments to the CTS-Manager, enabling it to schedule multipoint resources based on available segments and location. When the CTS-Manager receives a request for a scheduled meeting with more than two CTS systems, it first checks the location of each CTS system and determines the most appropriate CTMS. After a CTMS has been chosen, the CTS-Manager checks for available CTMS resources for the requested date and time; if there are resources available, CTS-Manager schedules the meeting and pushes the meeting information to the CTMS. If there are no available resources on the first CTMS, the CTS-Manger works its way through the list of CTMSs until it finds available resources for the meeting.

The CTS-Manager also provides administrators with the ability to centrally view the status of all deployed CTMSs through its web-based interface. You can also use the web interface to manage all scheduled multipoint meetings and move all scheduled meetings from a failed CTMS to a backup if a CTMS failure occurs.

CTS System Management and Reporting

CTS-Manager provides a central view of all CTS systems and CTMS devices. Administrators can quickly view the status of all CTS endpoints from a single web page and determine if a problem is on a CTS system itself or its communication with another solution component. The CTS-Manager provides a number of categories and error states that display for each CTS system. The categories are as follows:

• Connectivity: Provides CTS and phone registration status with CUCM and CTS-Manager to CTS communication
• Cisco TelePresence System: Provides CTS error status
• Cisco Unified Communication Manager: Verification of room profile and email address configuration in CUCM
• Microsoft Exchange: Verification of CTS-Manager mailbox subscription and calendar synchronization for each room

CTS-Manager also provides administrators a view of all scheduled meetings and the ability to export scheduled meeting data to a .tsv file that can be used for billing and usage reports.

Concierge Services

Concierge services are available with the Cisco TelePresence solution, allowing users to quickly connect, at any time, through audio or video, to a live person that can help with any question or issues the users might have. Providing one-button access to live assistance helps maintain system reliability by providing answers to users’ questions and quickly addresses any system or network issue. Using the CTS-Manager web interface, concierges can be defined and assigned to each CTS system. The concierge configuration is then pushed to the CTS system providing a soft key on the 7975 Series IP Phone for direct concierge connection.

Concierge services are supported using video-only or audio-only connections. If video concierge is implemented, users can always connect to the concierge using video, even if a video call is in progress. For example, if a user is in a TelePresence call and experiences issues or has a question, he or she simply pushes the concierge softkey, the original TelePresence call is placed on hold, and a second TelePresence call is placed to the concierge. After the question has been answered, the call to the concierge is ended, and the original call is resumed.

If concierge services support audio-only and a user selects the concierge softkey during a video call, the video call is placed on hold while the concierge is connected. If the CTS dialing the concierge does not have an audio add-in connected to the active meeting, the user has the option to add the concierge into the meeting.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager

Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) is the foundation of the Cisco TelePresence solution, providing centralized configuration, management, and call routing for all CTS endpoints. Cisco TelePresence is an integrated component of the Cisco Unified Communications portfolio that continues to offer new and exciting communications applications. CUCM runs some of the largest IP telephony deployments in the world, supporting 99.999 percent availability and providing a stable and feature-rich platform to work from.

Configuration and management of CTS endpoints is made simple, leveraging existing methodologies and technologies used to deploy Cisco IP Telephony today. As far as CUCM is concerned, a CTS endpoint is just another SIP device. CTS endpoints are configured and upgraded no differently than a Cisco IP Phone, providing a consistent interface across Cisco communication devices. Using CUCM for Cisco TelePresence enables current Cisco IP Telephony customers to integrate Cisco TelePresence into their existing CUCM infrastructure while applying existing knowledge to a new technology.

CUCM also provides advanced call routing and Call Admission Control (CAC) for Cisco TelePresence. Unlike other telepresence systems that rely on gatekeepers for these features, Cisco TelePresence leverages a true IP PBX. This allows PBX features to be applied to TelePresence endpoints, providing advanced call processing features. Leveraging CUCM also allows Cisco TelePresence to use additional applications that are integrated with CUCM, such as Unity for busy/no answer call handling and Cisco Unified Contact Center. A good example of this integration is the Cisco Expert on Demand solution, which provides customers access to virtual experts through TelePresence systems. Users walk up to a CTS-1000 or CTS-500, use the 7975 Series IP Phone touch screen to dial, and CUCM routes the call to the Cisco Unified Contact Center that provides call center features for the TelePresence solution. This is the first of many solutions and features that will be implemented for Cisco TelePresence using the Cisco suite of integrated collaboration applications.

Using CUCM as the platform for Cisco TelePresence also provides a highly reliable platform. As mentioned previously, CUCM provides five 9s reliability and is currently running some of the largest IP telephony networks in the world. In fact, the base code for CUCM (Cisco Voice Operating System) is used for both the Cisco TelePresence Manager and Cisco TelePresence Multipoint Switch.

Cisco TelePresence System 500

At the time this book was written, the CTS-500 was the latest TelePresence system released targeting personal and shared space use. The CTS-500 is designed to support one participant in a home or executive office while providing the same high-quality video and audio experience in the larger Cisco TelePresence systems. The CTS-500 is also a perfect fit for shared locations, providing kiosk services or specialized agent support. The CTS-500 consists of the following items:

• One native 1080p high-definition camera
• One 37-inch high-definition LCD display
• Integrated lighting shroud
• Integrated wideband microphone and speaker
• Multiple configuration options

Similar to the CTS-1000, no furniture is supplied with the CTS-500. As mentioned, the CTS-500 is designed for an executive or home office, allowing customers to utilize existing office furniture. Figure 1 shows a CTS-500 system configured on a free-standing pedestal.

Figure 1: CTS-500

One Native 1080p High-Definition Camera

The CTS-500 uses the same camera technology as the larger Cisco TelePresence systems, providing the same high-quality 1080p video. The CTS-500 camera has no moving parts and is tuned for a small office environment. Providing a camera with no moving parts in a personal system ensures the same quality image and consistent experience as larger TelePresence systems.

One 37-Inch High-Definition LCD Display

The display provided with the CTS-500 is sized to fit a home or executive office. The 37-inch LCD display provides a high-quality 1080p image equivalent to video in the larger Cisco TelePresence systems. It isn’t possible to provide life-size images on a 37-inch display, so remote participants are optimally sized for the CTS-500 display, providing the best possible user experience.

The CTS-500 display provides the same presentation-in-picture feature or optional auxiliary display for viewing shared content as the CTS-1000, allowing users to view shared content in a window on the system display or full screen on an auxiliary display.

A new feature available with the CTS-500 is the capability to integrate Cisco Digital Media Signage (DMS). The CTS-500 display provides a second HDMI port that can be used to provide video to the display when the system is not in a TelePresence call. Integration with Cisco DMS makes the CTS-500 a perfect fit for a virtual agent and other shared-space applications. Full integration of the system display enables the CTS codec to switch display inputs based on the status of the system. If the system is not in a call, the system plays video from a Cisco DMS. When a TelePresence call is placed or received, the system automatically switches inputs and shows the TelePresence call.

As with the larger Cisco TelePresence systems, the CTS-500 display completely integrates with the TelePresence system, thus allowing the TelePresence system to manage video inputs, provide display firmware updates, and provide display status. The importance of integrating system displays into personal systems is often overlooked. The number one reason is reliability; something as simple as the display setting input can make the difference between a successful or failed call. If a user places a call and the display input is not properly set or powered off, the user will likely get frustrated and use a phone for a voice-only call. This sounds like a simple issue, but this type of issue has plagued video conferencing for years.

Integrated Lighting Shroud

As with all Cisco TelePresence Systems, an integrated lighting shroud is included with the CTS-500, providing the proper key lighting, eliminating facial shadows, and improving overall office lighting. Considering most CTS-500s go into personal offices with little or no change to room lighting, the integrated lighting becomes even a bigger factor to provide consistent lighting for meeting participants.

Integrated Wideband Microphone and Speaker

Unlike larger Cisco TelePresence systems that use table microphones, the CTS-500 has an integrated microphone. CTS-500 users sit within four to six feet of the system, enabling the use of an integrated microphone mounted at the bottom of the system display. Integrating the microphone also eliminates desktop microphones that might be covered by paperwork and cause clutter on the desk.

Speakers are also integrated into the CTS-500 system and mounted at the top of the system display on both sides of the native 1080p high-definition camera.

Multiple Configuration Options

Because the CTS-500 system is designed for a home or executive office, it is important that users have options when it comes to placement and configuration of the system. The following three configuration options enable the CTS-500 to fit into any office configuration while providing the immersive experience users have grown accustom to with Cisco TelePresence:

• Freestanding pedestal: Provides a standalone configuration allowing the CTS-500 to be placed against a wall without any furniture required to house the codec or wall mount for the system display. The pedestal mount is height-adjustable, providing flexibility for different room and individual requirements.
• Desktop: Provides a stand for the system display so that it can be placed on the desk with the codec housed under or behind the desk.
• Wall mount: Allows the system display to be mounted, on the wall, above the desk with the codec housed under or behind the desk.

Figure 2 shows the mounting options for a CTS-500.

Figure 2: CTS-500 mounting options

Note

At press time, Cisco TelePresence supported the three endpoints described above. However, Cisco has additional endpoints and new features planned to address customer needs.

Cisco TelePresence System 1000

The CTS-1000 was released at the time of the initial TelePresence launch and focused on addressing small conference rooms. The CTS-1000 is designed to support two participants. The goal of the CTS-1000 is to provide the same audio and video quality found in the CTS-3000 for small conference rooms. The CTS-1000 consists of the following:

• One native 1080p high-definition camera
• One 65-inch high-definition plasma display
• Integrated lighting shroud
• One wideband audio microphone and speaker

Unlike the CTS-3000 and CTS-3200, the table for a CTS-1000 is not included with the system. The CTS-1000 is designed to fit in a multipurpose room, accommodating different customer table preferences. Figure 1 shows a CTS-1000 system.

Figure 1: CTS-1000

One Native 1080p High-Definition Camera

The CTS-1000 uses the same 1080p high-definition camera used in the CTS-3000, providing native 1080p video in a small form factor. The camera is mounted in the center of the plasma display, extending just below the bezel to provide optimal eye contact. As with the CTS-3000, the camera has no moving parts and is tuned to capture up to two meeting participants, the equivalent of a single table segment on a CTS-3000 or CTS-3200.

One 65-Inch High-Definition Plasma Display

The CTS-1000 uses a single 65-inch high-definition plasma, providing two life-size images at 1080p resolution. The CTS-1000 uses the same plasma display that is used for the CTS-3000 and CTS-3200. A CTS-1000 is capable of displaying video from a CTS-1000, CTS-500, or a single segment from a CTS-3000 or CTS-3200. If a CTS-1000 connects directly to a CTS-3000 or CTS-3200, CTS-1000 participants see the active segment of the remote system. Video from the CTS-3000 or CTS-3200 will be switched as participants in the different segments speak, allowing CTS-1000 participants to see the segment of the current speaker on the remote system. The participants on the CTS-3000 or CTS-3200 view the CTS-1000 on their center display, at all times, while the two outer displays remain inactive. If multiple CTS-1000 systems are in a multipoint meeting with a CTS-3000 or CTS-3200, the CTS-1000’s will be distributed across the CTS-3000 segments.

The CTS-1000 does not include a projection system for displaying shared documents; however, the CTS-1000 supports either presentation-in-picture or an optional LCD display for viewing shared documents.

Presentation-in-picture provides the ability to view shared documents in the lower left, center, or right side of the display. Meeting participants can select the position of the presentation-in-picture using the 7975 Series IP Phone interface. When a CTS-1000 is not in a call, the primary display can be used for displaying content locally from any PC. A user simply connects a PC to the VGA cable, used for sharing documents, and the PC is displayed on the 65” plasma.

Viewing shared content on an auxiliary display is also supported, providing a larger viewing area for shared content. An auxiliary display connects to the CTS codec, and all shared content displays on the auxiliary display automatically disabling presentation-in-picture. A list of supported auxiliary displays can be found in the latest CTS-1000 documentation.

Integrated Lighting Shroud

As with the CTS-3000 and CTS-3200, the CTS-1000 provides an integrated lighting shroud. The lighting shroud attaches above the display, providing proper key lighting for meeting participants and eliminating shadows from fill lighting. As described previously, fill lighting is required to eliminate facial shadows and provide the consistent lighting found in the larger room systems.

One Wide-band Microphone and Speaker

The CTS-1000 has a single wideband microphone and speaker that provides the same high-quality audio found in the CTS-3000 and CTS-3200. The microphone is placed on the table used for the CTS-1000 while the speaker is integrated into the CTS-1000 system enclosure. Each CTS-1000 supports two audio channels. The primary audio channel is for meeting participants, while the second is used for adding audio-only participants or audio associated with shared documents. Both audio channels are mixed by the codec and sent to the remote TelePresence system over a single connection.

Cisco TelePresence System 3200

The CTS-3200 was released in mid-2008, providing a TelePresence system for up to 18 meeting participants. The CTS-3200 system is essentially a CTS-3000 with a second row of seating and additional components for additional meeting participants. This design provides consistency, giving users the same look and feel whether they are in a CTS-3000 room or a CTS-3200 room.

As Figure 1 shows, much of the CTS-3200 system is similar to the CTS-3000; however, the following changes have been made to accommodate the additional meeting participants:

• Extended camera focal view
• Second row seating
• Extension of each table segment
• Optional displays for shared content

Figure 1: CTS-3200

Extended Camera Focal View

As mentioned previously, the CTS-3000 cameras are tuned to capture a segment of a CTS-3000; however, the lenses in the CTS-3000 system don’t provide the focal depth needed for a CTS-3200 with its second row of participants. The CTS-3200 uses the same camera cluster as the CTS-3000, but the actual lenses in the camera are different. This allows the deeper focal depth required to capture the second row of participants.

Cameras for the CTS-3200 are still fixed with no moving parts but must maintain consistency of focus and color for two rows of participants without having noticeable parallax at the back of the room.

Second Row Seating

A second row of seating is added to the CTS-3200, providing seating for up to 12 additional meeting participants. The rear table for a CTS-3200 supports two different configurations depending on room size and customer requirements.

The CTS-3200 can be configured for a total of 12 seats in the second row for rooms with a minimum width of 31 feet or for 8 seats in rooms with a minimum width of 21 feet. The ability to configure the CTS-3200 for different size rooms helps customers address their specific needs for large TelePresence rooms. This flexibility also enables customers to easily convert a CTS-3000 to a CTS-3200, assuming the current room dimensions meet the minimum CTS-3200 requirements. 

The second table row also contains additional microphones. Audio from the second row microphones is mixed with the front row microphones, preserving the spatial audio of thesystem. Audio bandwidth requirements for the CTS-3200 are the same for as the CTS-3000 with the six additional system microphones mixed into three existing audio channels.

It is also worth noting that the second row of seating added for the CTS-3200 is not elevated. This enables the CTS-3200 to be installed in a conference room with a standard 8-foot ceiling instead of requiring a 10-foot plus ceiling to accommodate a raised back row of seating. Having to raise ceilings in rooms makes consistent lighting across all participants a challenge and drives the cost of room remediation up substantially.

Extension of Each Table Segment

To maintain the natural feeling of being in the same room, table segments in the first row of the CTS-3200 extend to the back row. This extends the spatial audio to the second row seating, keeping interaction among all participants as natural as possible.

Depending on the configuration of the CTS-3200, the back table contains an additional 4 or 6 microphones covering all three segments. If the room is set up for 12 seats in the back row, 6 microphones cover the 12 participants. The directional microphones attached to the table are positioned to capture audio from 2 participants. Audio from all microphones in a segment is mixed by the CTS codec and sent out, allowing interaction from multiple participants, in the same segment, as if everyone were in the same room. Figure 2 illustrates the CTS-3200 table designs.

Figure 2: CTS-3200 table layout

When viewing a CTS-3200 from a remote TelePresence system, all participants in the front and back row of a segment will be viewed on a single display. Participants in the front row will be life-size, while the participants in the second row will be slightly smaller, as they would be in person, due to their distance from the cameras.

Optional Displays for Shared Content

As with the CTS-3000, the CTS-3200 comes with a high-definition projection system that mounts under the center segment of the front table. The projected image works well for participants seated at the front table. However, participants seated at the rear table cannot see the projected video from their seating positions.

The CTS-3200 allows for up to three additional auxiliary displays, supporting the fourth video channel, used for shared presentations. Many customers choose to mount one display directly above the center system display and one off to each side of the CTS-3200 for easy viewing for all participants. A list of the latest supported auxiliary displays can be found in the latest CTS-3200 documentation.

Cisco TelePresence System 3000 Features

Three Native 1080p High-Definition Cameras

The CTS-3000 provides native 1080p resolution at 30fps, providing the best video quality of any Telepresence system on the market today. Each CTS-3000 is fitted with three native 1080p cameras, in a cluster, above the center display. As mentioned previously, these cameras are fixed with no moving parts.

Each camera is tuned to capture a section (segment) of the CTS-3000 table, providing consistent color and depth for all images in the room. Each CTS-3000 contains three segments, where each segment is defined as one camera and one display. Using three fixed cameras enables the CTS-3000 to be viewed remotely as it is in real life. From the remote view, a CTS-3000 system provides a continuous view across all three table segments. For example, if a local participant extends an arm from one camera’s focal range to another, remote participants see the arm across two displays as if they were in the same room. Each CTS-3000 supports four video channels, one for each of the three TelePresence segments and a fourth used for sharing presentations or an auxiliary video source between TelePresence systems. Figure 1 illustrates a top-down view of the focal range for all three cameras/segments.

 

Figure 1: CTS-3000 camera focal view

Three 65-Inch High-Definition Plasma Displays

Maintaining life-size images is key to creating an immersive in-person experience. The CTS-3000 provides three 65-inch, 1080p, plasma displays, allowing all participants to be viewed in life size, each display accommodating two participants.

Cisco provides all system displays and includes enhancements and software to improve overall display performance not found in off-the-shelf displays. The TelePresence codecmanages displays, providing informational status and administrative control for each display. Additionally, system displays can be placed in standby mode when the system is not used or configured to turn off during nonbusiness hours to save power and minimize heat.

Purpose-Built Meeting Table, Integrated Projector, and Lighting Shroud

The CTS-3000 includes a purpose-built meeting table, integrated projector, and lighting shroud. Maintaining a consistent user experience is paramount to the success of any TelePresence deployment. Without this consistency, replicating a face-to-face meeting is nearly impossible.

The CTS-3000’s arched table design, extending to both outer displays, is half of the virtual table. This design provides the illusion of a continuous table when two CTS-3000\3200 systems connect in a call, providing a feeling that all users are gathered around the same table in the same room. Strategically positioned table legs help keep meeting participants in their respective segment and within camera view. Table seams are also aligned with the camera field of view, providing a second reference point for meeting participants.

The CTS-3000 table legs not only provide users with a reference point for seating positions, but also supply power and Ethernet connections for participants in a TelePresence meeting. A total of six power connections and six Ethernet ports are available on each CTS-3000 table.

An integrated high-definition projection system is also included with the CTS-3000 for viewing shared presentations, videos, and so on. The projection system is mounted under the center table segment, projecting its image onto the white screen below the center display. Displaying the content under the center display enables meeting participants to easily view content without shifting seating positions or having to look up or off to one side of the room.

Integrated lighting eliminates shadows on the faces of meeting participants. An integrated lighting shroud above and around the sides of the system displays provides key (front) lighting, eliminating shadows caused by fill (overhead) lighting. Key lighting is crucial to a natural experience and is often overlooked in other telepresence systems and high-end video conferencing rooms. Without the lighting shroud, specialized fixtures would be required to provide consistent lighting and eliminate shadows on meeting participants. The design of the lighting shroud gives off the exact amount of light required to reduce shadows without over lighting the faces of participants. 

Multichannel Wide-Band Audio

Wide-band, full-duplex, spatial audio provides a user experience not found in other telepresence systems. The CTS-3000 provides four separate audio channels:

• Three wide-band AAC-LD channels used for TelePresence participants
• One G.711/G.722 channel that adds in audio-only participants or provides audio associated with document sharing (auto-collaborate)

Each CTS-3000 has three microphones and three speakers, one for each table segment. Speakers are located directly under each display, allowing audio to emanate from the segment of the active speaker, naturally drawing the attention of participants to the person speaking. If the fourth audio channel is added to a call, its audio is mixed and played out all three speakers. This allows the audio add-in to be heard across all table segments without drawing attention to one segment of the system.