A telecooperation reference model for knowledge-based configuration

Telecooperation means to fulfil different tasks within distributed (study-) groups with the help of multimedia communication services and systems, so-called telecooperation systems (Tcoop system). The immense progress in the underlying information and telecommunication technology increases the functionality, variability, and complexity of such Tcoop systems. In addition there is a great demand for Tcoop systems individually tailored to the customer's need in an increasingly competitive market. Provider of telecommunication services traditionally have used computer-based support systems to fulfil parts of this task. However, up to now advantage has seldom been taken of a model-based approach to this problem which could help to cover the whole process. This paper is concerned with the concepts, the architecture, the representation, and the semantics of a reference model used for this purpose and shows how the configuration of the Tcoop system can be based on that.