Videoconferencing Glossary
You may have noticed that sometimes the same thing is known by a few different names in Videoconferencing terminology. This can be confusing and seem overly complex but once you know what something is and the other names that people use to refer to it, it becomes much easier to understand. One example is the word Videoconference, it is also known as a video call. Below you will find a list of the most common Videoconferencing terms defined along with other words that are commonly used to describe them.
Data conference
Desktop video client
Endpoint
Far end or remote site
Full duplex conferencing
Hydraport
MCU, bridge and Codian
Multipoint conference
Near end or local site
Point to point
Polycom
Teleconference
Unified communications
Video call
Videoconference unit
Voice activated switching
Data conference - any data from a computer like presentations, spreadsheets, website and Word documents that a presenter shares with all participants in a conference. Bridgit is our preferred data conferencing software
Desktop video client - a software application used to communicate over video with both videoconference units and other desktop video clients. We use Microsoft Office Communicator (MOC) as our desktop video client
Endpoint - the term endpoint describes an entity that can initate and receive communication. In videoconferencing it refers to a videoconferencing unit, in teleconferencing it refers to a phone
Far end or remote site - the site or sites you are connected to, the other sites participating in the videoconference
Full duplex conferencing - conferencing that supports simultaneous two way communication (all of CSU's Videoconferencing facilities provide full duplex conferencing)
HydraPort - a simple control system provided in our high definition admin videoconferencing meeting rooms. The HydraPort allows you to control what is displayed on the plasma screens by pressing a button to select your preferred view. Beneath the buttons you will notice a range of inputs allowing you to connect your laptop and other devices you wish to display or play audio from. If you connect your laptop to the HydraPort it will automatically sense and display it without you having to push the button to select it. If you would like to find out more about the HydraPort please click here
The HydraPort is convenient as the controls and inputs are all in the one place and it sits flush with the desk when not in use.
MCU, Bridge and Codian - MCU stands for Multipoint Conferencing Unit, all of these terms are used to refer to the same piece of videoconferencing hardware, this hardware allows us to easily connect multiple videoconference units including desktop users together for one videoconference. It also allows you dial into a videoconference using a telephone. It provides many other capabilities including automatically connecting booked conferences, notifiying you when the conference is ending soon, managing multiple simultaneous conferences with multiple endpoints and voice activated switching
The term bridge is used to signify the connection between the multiple videoconference units; they may all have different settings so it converges multiple video streams from the multiple units into a single video feed that can be directed to conference participants
Codian is a former supplier of videoconferencing products, in 2007 the company Tandberg purchased it so using the words Codian or Tandberg are just referring to the hardware using it's brand name.
Multipoint conference - two or more videoconference units connected to one single videoconference. These units are connected automatically by the MCU (Codian, bridge) or by people connecting using a conference ID
Near end or local site - your location, the site where you are participating from
Point to point conference - two videoconference units connected to each other, one endpoint connects to another endpoint by dialling it. Endpoint is shortened to point. If two videoconference units (endpoints) connected directly to each other (one staff member used the remote to dial another staff member) a third unit can not connect by dialling one of the units in the existing conference. The conference would have to be started on an MCU (Codian, bridge) if another videoconference unit (endpoint) wanted to join. It would then be called a multipoint conference. If you booked a videoconference using Outlook it will be started on an MCU to allow desktop videoconferencing users to join at any time
Polycom - this is the brand name of the videoconferencing units we use, these units are provided in our teaching spaces, admin rooms and in the mobile units purchased and managed by Schools and Divisions
Teleconference - a teleconference is a live meeting between three or more participants who are in different locations (different campuses or different offices on the same campus). Participants use their telephones to create or join a teleconference. Audio conferencing, voice conferencing, and telephone (or phone) conferencing are all alternative terms used to describe teleconferencing.
Unified communications - technology that combines voice, video, and content into one real time communications solution no matter where the participants are
Video call - connection to a videoconference using either a videoconference unit or a desktop video client like Microsoft Office Communicator (MOC)
Videoconference unit - the collection of hardware that enables participation in a videoconference. (camera, audio, control system)
Voice activated switching - during a videoconference the active speaker's picture will be switched to display in the largest window, if another site starts speaking then they will display in the largest window