GCSVA-a multiparty videoconferencing system with distributed group and QoS management

In this paper, we introduce the multiparty videoconferencing system GCSVA (group communication and scalability in videoconferencing over ATM). It has been designed for the support of collaborative applications. The main features of GCSVA are: a strong floor control organization, dynamic scalability of video streams according to the number and the performance of the connected hosts, and a distributed group and QoS management. We describe these features as well as the design decisions made for their introduction. Finally, we give a short overview about the group communication protocol which constitutes the central element of the approach.