| The Thin Multimedia Collaboration Client |
by Tsahi Levent-Levi
Foreword: This whitepaper notes the trend toward embedding PC functionality within LCD monitors, thanks to "Moore's Law's" impact on processors and other silicon components. It goes on to describe an innovative application for this technology, the "thin multimedia collaboration client," and offers a Windows XP Embedded-based example.
The Thin Multimedia Collaboration Client:
An LCD Monitor and Personal Video Conferencing Tool for Windows-based Desktops
by Tsahi Levent-Levi
The Windows-based desktop PC is fast becoming the communications epicenter for the home and office. This includes IP telephony, instant messaging (IM), and video-based communications.
At the same time, space-saving LCD monitors are becoming more and more popular. With commoditization driving prices down in an effort to increase profitability and market share, LCD monitor manufacturers are seeking ways to differentiate offerings by adding new built-in multimedia features.
One of the most commercially viable and profitable options is the thin client paradigm, which has a full PC embedded within the LCD display.
What is a thin multimedia collaboration client?
By definition, a thin client is a networked computer that does not have a hard disk drive. By intent, it is small and used for client/server applications where the bulk of the data processing occurs on servers. A "thin client LCD display" is a display that has a networked computer actually embedded within the LCD display.
Recent rapid advances in processing power, driven by the widespread adoption of Moore's law, have made it possible to "hide" a full-fledged desktop computer within an LCD screen. These thin clients offer more than enough processing power for most enterprise or networked users.
With the migration toward thin client technology in the LCD monitor industry in full swing, the next step is enabling real-time audio and video communication that transform the monitor into a personal video conferencing system.
This new paradigm, a "thin multimedia collaboration client," must deliver a superior user experience compared to simple video conferencing, and ease of use and collaboration are essential, and must deliver these critical features:- Two- and three-way video conferencing
- Interoperability
- Presence and instant messaging
- Document sharing
- Privacy
These video collaboration clients are being introduced today from two sides of the industry: from LCD manufacturers; and from room video conferencing equipment vendors. In March, 2007, industry leader Samsung unveiled a Windows XP Embedded-based LCD display that delivers these capabilities at the CeBIT 2007 exhibition in Hannover, Germany. Other manufacturers will surely follow suit.
Thanks to their easy integration with video network infrastructure, these "new and improved" thin clients are an excellent option for large-scale enterprise deployments, such as banks, travel agencies, insurance companies, hospitals, contact centers and more.
Ideal architecture
A standard thin client requires an application chip to be embedded in the LCD monitor itself. Developing a thin multimedia collaboration client requires more horsepower, which means that additional chips need to be an integral part of the solution. To support video conferencing, the thin multimedia collaboration client must support VoIP signaling, as well as deliver additional media processing functionality. Media processing is also an important element in any thin multimedia collaboration client, because higher resolutions and frame rates and improved audio quality are imperative for a satisfactory solution.
To overcome these challenges, the basic architecture of a thin client will not suffice. A single-chip solution, with an embedded version of the Windows XP operating system, can deliver both excellent audio and video quality and high system responsiveness.
The diagram below offers a high level overview of the system architecture required to support video collaboration and communications on a thin client. It is by no means complete, but it outlines the important system components.
Thin multimedia collaboration client architecture
(Click to enlarge)
Why Windows XP Embedded?
Windows XP Embedded is the componentized version of the Windows XP operating system. It provides an excellent option for thin client architecture because it offers the best of both worlds. It is a general purpose operating system, suitable for the personal computer desktop environment in terms of the technology and applications it offers. At the same time it can be placed in embedded environments, where resources are scarce.
The advantages of using Windows XP Embedded on a thin multimedia collaboration client platform include, among others:- It can run a large variety of applications that can be preinstalled on the system. As the system is Windows XP-based in a sense, most applications that work on Windows XP will also work on Windows XP Embedded. This is especially important as it relates to support for popular office tools used by many enterprises.
- Windows XP Embedded delivers the full power of Windows login credentials when running video telephony services. Once you login, a thin multimedia collaboration client can restrict or allow certain functions and services, as needed, such as disabling international dialing, allowing conference chairing, etc.
- Windows XP Embedded is componentized. Because developers can mix and match parts of the Windows XP operating system when using the Embedded version, they can reduce footprints and use only the necessary components of the operating system for the specific operation of a thin multimedia collaboration client.
- Windows XP Embedded supports persistent storage devices such as flash ROM. As thin multimedia collaboration clients usually do not have an internal hard drive, the use of flash ROM is important.
- Windows XP Embedded includes the management tools that are critical for enterprise deployments. These tools are actually what bring some of the advantages of thin clients in general into play.
- Windows XP Embedded provides the same management, authorization and access control mechanisms that exist in Windows XP, enabling easy migration or scaling to thin multimedia collaboration clients.
A success story
Samsung Electronics unveiled "SYNCON," its new thin multimedia collaboration client running Windows XP Embedded, at CeBIT 2007. This client was developed on top of an existing Samsung LCD monitor, and includes many of the capabilities and features described in this article.
Samsung's SYNCON LCD thin client
Key features of the SYNCON device include:- Support for V2oIP (voice and video over IP) conferences using SIP protocol
- H.263 video codec with CIF and 4CIF resolutions
- G.711 audio codec
- Document sharing
- Call management
- Presence and instant messaging
The SYNCON is a thin multimedia collaboration client built inside a 22-inch wide display monitor, and equipped with a full set of embedded peripherals, including a 2 megapixel camera, microphone, and speaker. It executes Windows XP Embedded as the user interface's operating system of choice, and utilizes internal flash memory-based as nonvolatile storage instead of a hard drive.
While the unveiling of the Samsung SYNCON has been widely covered in the press, Wainhouse Research, a firm that has extensively covered the Unified Communications and rich media conferencing fields since 2000, offers industry insight worth noting:
"...you can bet that a company like Samsung didn't get into this market to sell hundreds or thousands per year; they have to be looking at tens of thousands per year to be even marginally interested. The SYNCON is more expensive than a desktop PC with webcam and software, but will offer much higher video performance."
(Source: The Wainhouse Research Bulletin, Vol. 8 #8, March 16, 2007.)
Using today's technology to expand offerings
The technology to produce a thin multimedia collaboration client, running on Windows XP Embedded, exists today and has been deployed in a commercially available product. The development effort does involve complex combination of signaling and media integration. But as the SYNCON case shows, industry leaders believe that the effort will bear fruit. This compelling new paradigm meets the needs of enterprises migrating to IP networks, and delivers significant benefits to enterprises while leveraging investments in network infrastructure and operating systems.
 About the author: Tsahi Levent-Levi is a seasoned product manager and system architect in the telecom industry. His experience includes product management and development, project management, with a strong background in development and management of complex VoIP projects. Tsahi currently is Product Manager for a wide range of Radvision VoIP and 3G client products, which enjoy significant market share in the industry. In addition, Tsahi serves as chairman of the IMTC's (International Multimedia Telecommunications Trade Consortium) IMS Activity Group, which focuses on interoperability issues relating to IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) client applications. He also regularly participates in related 3GPP standardization conferences, where he works tirelessly to improve the standards for the industry as a whole. He can be reached at tsahil@radvision.com.
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