Intra-Enterprise Deployment Model

The intra-enterprise network deployment model for TelePresence systems connects not only buildings within a campus, but also geographically separated campus sites and branch offices. The intra-enterprise model expands on the intracampus model to include sites connected through a WAN(< 1 Gigabit), whether private WAN or VPN.

The intra-enterprise deployment model is suitable for businesses that often require employees to travel extensively for internal meetings. Deploying TelePresence systems within the enterprise not only improves productivity—by saving travel time—but also reduces travel expenses. Furthermore, the overall quality of work/life is often improved when employees have to travel less.

The network infrastructure of an intra-enterprise deployment model is a combination of Cisco Catalyst switches within the campus and Cisco routers over the WAN, which can include private WANs, MPLS VPNs, or Metro Ethernet networks. WAN speeds can range from 34 Mbps E3 circuits to 10 Gbps OC-192 circuits. Figure 1 illustrates the intra-enterprise TelePresence deployment model.

 
Figure 1: TelePresence intra-enterprise network deployment model

Note

A valuable consideration when selecting WAN/VPN service providers is to identify those that have achieved Cisco Powered Network designation. Furthermore, an increasing number of Cisco Powered providers have earned QoS Certification for WAN/VPN services. This means that they have been assessed by a third party for the capability of their service level agreements (SLA) to support real-time voice and video traffic and for their use of Cisco best practices for QoS. For a list of recommended service providers, see the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/cpn. The use of Cisco Powered networks is recommended—but not mandatory—for Cisco TelePresence intra-enterprise deployments. The key is meeting the service levels required by TelePresence

In both the intracampus and intra-enterprise deployment models, customers can also deploy multipoint TelePresence resources to facilitate multisite meetings (meetings with three or more TelePresence rooms). These resources might be located at any one of the campus locations or might be located within the service provider cloud as either a colocated resource or a managed/hosted resource.

Multipoint platforms and network design recommendations, such as additional bandwidth and latency considerations, Cisco TelePresence Multipoint switch considerations, scaling considerations, and so on

Intracampus Deployment Model | TelePresence Network Deployment Models

The intracampus network deployment model has TelePresence systems limited to a single enterprise campus or between sites interconnected through a high-speed (Gigabit or higher) metropolitan-area network (MAN). This deployment model is applicable for enterprises that have a large number of buildings within a given campus and employees who are often required to drive to several different buildings during the course of the day to attend meetings. Deploying multiple TelePresence systems intracampus can reduce time lost by employees driving between buildings to attend meetings, without sacrificing meeting effectiveness, and thus improve overall productivity. The intracampus deployment model is also commonly used with the other deployment models—where customers deploy multiple CTS rooms within their headquarters campus to meet demand for room availability as part of a global intra-enterprise or intercompany deployment.

The network infrastructure of an intracampus deployment model is predominantly Cisco Catalyst switches connecting through GigE or 10GigE links. Figure 1 illustrates the intracampus TelePresence deployment model.

 
Figure 1: TelePresence intracampus network deployment model

Connecting a CTS-3200 System

The CTS-3200 is a large-scale conference room TelePresence system that enables TelePresence technology for large room venues, supporting up to 18 users at a single location. Although the number of displays and cameras are unchanged (as compared to the CTS-3000), you can add additional microphones to the CTS-3200 to support additional participants. The minimum room dimensions to support a CTS-3200 are 8 x 24 x 23 feet.

Specifically, the CTS-3000 includes the following:

• One Cisco TelePresence primary codec
• Two Cisco TelePresence secondary codecs
• One Cisco Unified 7975G IP Phone
• Three 65-inch plasma displays
• Three high-definition cameras
• Nine microphones
• Three speakers
• One input for auxiliary audio
• One input for auxiliary video or another optional secondary codec for high-speed auxiliary video that you can use for a document camera or PC

As with the previously discussed CTS systems, the primary codec is the central part of the CTS-3200 system to which all other components interconnect.

Explicitly, the Cisco Unified 7975G IP Phone connects to the TelePresence primary codec via an RJ-45 cable that provides it with network connectivity and 802.3af PoE.

A video cable connects the primary codec to the center 65-inch plasma display, another cable connects the right display to the (right) secondary codec, and a third connects the left display to the (left) secondary codec. As with the CTS-3000 system, this cable is essentially an HDMI cable but with a proprietary element for carrying management information instead of audio signals (because the master codec independently processes the audio signals). Each of these secondary codecs, in turn, connects to the primary codec via an RJ-45 cable; however, no 802.3af PoE is required over these Ethernet links because the secondary codecs have independent power supplies.

Three cameras are mounted on the central display, and each camera connects to its respective codec:

• The left camera connects to the (left) secondary codec.
• The center camera connects to the primary codec.
• The right camera connects to the (right) secondary codec.

Each camera connects to its respective codec through two cables:

• An RJ-45 cable, which provides 802.3af PoE and network connectivity to the camera
• A video cable to carry the video signals to the codec

Additionally, three speaker cables connect the (left, center, and right) speakers to the primary codec, respectively.

One microphone cable connects the center microphone to the primary codec. The remaining eight microphones connect to the audio extension box, which is, in turn, connected to the primary codec. The audio extension box also houses the HDMI splitter. The HDMI splitter connects to the auxiliary video output of the primary codec. You can connect up to four displays or a projector and three displays to the HDMI ports on the audio extension box.

The primary codec also has inputs for low-speed (5 frames per second) auxiliary audio and video inputs, such as for sharing documents or slide-based presentations. Video input can come from a PC or optional document camera. An IPS provides control for the on/off function of the document camera, attached projector, and lighting shroud of the CTS unit through an Ethernet connection.

Optionally, you can connect another secondary codec to the primary codec to provide high-speed (30 frames per second) auxiliary audio and video input, such as for sharing high-quality video presentations. The auxiliary codec connects to the primary codec via the RJ-45 cable from the Ethernet port normally used for the document camera. Auxiliary audio still connects to the primary codec.

The primary codec of the CTS-3200 provides a connection for an optional headset.

Finally, an RJ-45 cable provides 10/100/1000 Ethernet connectivity from the primary codec to the network infrastructure. Figure 1 illustrates the interconnections for a CTS-3200 system.

 
Figure 1: Connectivity schematic for a CTS-3200 system

In summary, a basic pattern of connectivity is in each of these TelePresence systems. Specifically, the primary codec is the heart of all TelePresence systems; all other components connect (directly or indirectly) to the primary codec, which provides power, connectivity, and control to all subcomponents. Larger systems, such as the CTS-3000/3200, leverage secondary codecs to distribute processing. And finally, all TelePresence systems connect to the network through a single RJ-45 cable from the primary codec (not including optional accessories, such as the DMP). In this manner, all TelePresence system subcomponents are abstracted from the network, and the system appears as a single unit from the network’s perspective.

Connecting a CTS-3000 System

The CTS-3000 is a conference room TelePresence system that supports up to six users at a single location. The most obvious changes—aside from the expanded form-factor (with furniture to match)—are the two additional 65-inch displays. To support the additional processing required by the additional displays (and corresponding cameras), the primary codec distributes processing to secondary codecs. The minimum room dimensions to support a CTS-3000 are 8 x 15 x 19 feet.

Specifically, the CTS-3000 includes the following:

• One Cisco TelePresence primary codec
• Two Cisco TelePresence secondary codecs
• One Cisco Unified 7975G IP Phone
• Three 65-inch plasma displays
• Three high-definition cameras
• Three microphones
• Three speakers
• One input for auxiliary video that you can use for a document camera or PC

As with the CTS-500 and CTS-1000 systems, the primary codec is the central part of the CTS-3000 system to which all other components interconnect. Explicitly, the Cisco Unified 7975G IP Phone connects to the TelePresence primary codec via an RJ-45 cable that provides it with network connectivity and 802.3af PoE.

A video cable connects the primary codec to the center 65-inch plasma display; another cable connects the right display to the (right) secondary codec; and a third connects the left display to the (left) secondary codec. As with the CTS-1000 system, this cable is essentially an HDMI cable but with a proprietary element for carrying management information instead of audio signals (because the master codec independently processes the audio signals). Each of these secondary codecs, in turn, connects to the primary codec via a RJ-45 cable; however, no 802.3af PoE is required over these Ethernet links because the secondary codecs have independent power supplies.

Three cameras are mounted on the central display, and each camera connects to its respective codec:

• The left camera connects to the (left) secondary codec.
• The center camera connects to the primary codec.
• The right camera connects to the (right) secondary codec.

Each camera connects to its respective codec via two cables: an RJ-45 cable, which provides 802.3af PoE and network connectivity to the camera, and a video cable to carry the video signals to the codec.

Additionally, three speaker cables and three microphone cables connect the (left, center, and right) speakers and (left, center, and right) microphones to the primary codec, respectively.

The primary codec also has inputs for auxiliary audio and auxiliary video. Auxiliary video can come from a PC connection or from a document camera connection (but not both at the same time). An IPS provides control for the on/off function of the document camera, attached projector, and lighting shroud of the CTS unit through an Ethernet connection.

Finally, an RJ-45 cable provides 10/100/1000 Ethernet connectivity from the primary codec to the network infrastructure. Figure 1 illustrates these interconnections for a CTS-3000 system.

 

Figure 1: Connectivity schematic for a CTS-3000 system