

CU-SeeMe (General Information)
Desktop Videoconferencing Software
from Cornell University

A videoconferencing program, CU-SeeMe, is available free from Cornell
University under copyright of Cornell and its collaborators.  CU-SeeMe
provides a one-to-one connection, or by use of a reflector, a one-to-many,
a several-to-several, or a several-to-many conference depending on user
needs and hardware capabilities.  It displays 4-bit grayscale video windows
at 160x120 pixels or at double that diameter. The PC version does not (yet)
include audio.  So as far as we know, CU-SeeMe was the first and may still
be the only software available for personal computers which supports
real-time multiparty videoconferencing on the Internet.

CU-SeeMe is intended to provide useful conferencing at minimal cost. 
Receiving requires only a personal computer with a screen capable of
displaying 256 colors and a connection to the Internet.  Sending requires the
same plus a camera and video capture capability such as a VideoSpigot
for Windows or Creative Labs Video Blaster board.

At this time, CU-SeeMe runs in an early prototype under Windows and in a
more mature version on the Macintosh using an IP network connection.  With
CU-SeeMe each participant can decide to be a sender, a receiver, or both. 
Warning: Although being improved with each version, CU-SeeMe is not mature
production software--USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.  And also, PLEASE TREAT THE
INTERNET KINDLY--keep b/w limits set down under 100kbps, or less if you
share limited bandwidth with others.  Many folks connected to the Internet
can use CU-SeeMe with default settings and cause no problem to anyone else;
but unfortunately, not everyone.  If you don't know whether using CU-SeeMe
will mess up the network for someone else, check it out first, please.

CU-SeeMe initially was written for the Macintosh by Tim Dorcey with design
assistance and sponsorship by Richard Cogger of the Advanced Technology
Group in the Network Resources division of Cornell University's Information
Technologies (CIT).  Important early contributions came from: Cornell
University Medical Colleges (CUMC), Scott Brim, and John Lynn.  Steve Edgar
and Rich Kennerly have done the main work in developing the Windows
version.

Since October 1, 1993, the CU-SeeMe Project receives funding from the
National Science Foundation.  NYSERNet (New York State Educational Research
Network) provides valuable support for CU-SeeMe spreading the word
throughout the Internet community as well as creating one of the first
public reflector sites for user testing.  And a very significant
collaborative effort at Cornell University Medical Colleges (CUMC)
contributes to substantial expertise and code.

This material is partially based on work sponsored by the National Science
Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. NCR-9318337.  The Government has
certain rights in this material.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions
or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science
Foundation.

Other documents, CU-SeeMe Project: Plans, Goals, & Rationale, and
Information on Public Reflectors will also be available (soon) on our ftp
server for those interested in more detail about how to get and use the
program.  Subscription to a cu-seeme-l maillist is also available for
communication among CU-SeeMe users.

Please send comments, suggestions and bug reports to r.cogger@cornell.edu. 
You can be a great help in making CU-SeeMe a good, stable application.

Be Seeing You!
********************************************************
Copyright C1993, 1994, Cornell University

Cornell hereby grants permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute the 
CU-SeeMe version 0.60 program for any purpose and without fee, provided 
that these copyright and permission notices appear on all copies and 
supporting documentation, the name of Cornell not be used in advertising or 
publicity pertaining to distribution of the program without specific prior 
permission, notice be given in supporting documentation that copying and 
distribution is by permission of Cornell.  CORNELL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS
OR WARRANTEES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.  By way of example, but not limitation,
CORNELL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTEES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE OR
DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS, OR
OTHER RIGHTS.  Cornell shall not be held liable for any liability with
respect to any claim by the user or any other party arising from use of the
program.

********************************************************

HOW TO OBTAIN CU-SeeME SOFTWARE

Use ftp (File Transfer Protocol) to:

Server:        gated.cornell.edu
UserID:        anonymous
Password:      <none>
directory:     /pub/video

PC Windows versions have a 'W' in the version number which distinguishes
them from Macintosh versions.

Download the latest README file, if there is one later than the date at the 
top of this file you are reading.  Then get the application and other files 
you need.
*****************************************************************************

HOW TO TEST CU-SeeMe

To connect for a CU-SeeMe video conference, you must have the IP address of 
another CU-SeeMe user or the address of a CU-SeeMe reflector.  If calling 
another user, the user must have CU-SeeMe running in *WAITING* status on 
their desktop.  Use Connect or Connect to > in the Connections menu.  We 
suggest that you begin by using two PCs, one connecting to the other, 
for a first test of CU-SeeMe.

You will need to use a reflector to have a multiparty conference on the 
Internet.  The CU-SeeMe reflector program is a Unix program which we have 
tested so far only on Sun Sparc workstations.  If you are not familiar with 
IP networks, reflectors and/or your particular network set-up, ask your 
system administrator for help in operating a CU-SeeMe reflector.  
Instructions on how to operate a reflector follow.

********************************************************
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE CU-SeeMe MAIL LIST

For anyone interested in following developments in CU-SeeMe or its use, or 
in contacting other CU-SeeMe users, an automated maillist has been 
established.  The list is provided for unrestricted discussion of the 
CU-SeeMe packet video software.  Developers and project management all read 
the list.  To date there has been little traffic, but we expect more as new 
versions are released over the next few months.  We, and other users, would 
also like to hear about and discuss innovative uses of CU-SeeMe.  Please 
write and tell us your story.
    To join the list, send a message with the following line as the entire 
message body to listserv@cornell.edu:

subscribe cu-seeme-l  <first name> <last name>

(Substitute your actual name, please; it's amazing how many don't.)  
You should receive a confirming message with extensive instructions on 
use of the list.

You can send mail to be distributed to the list to: cu-seeme-l@cornell.edu. 
 Please be sure to send to this address ONLY when you want your message 
redistributed.
        

********************************************************
HOW TO OPERATE A CU-SeeMe REFLECTOR:

1. Obtain software -- a tar file may be obtained via anonymous ftp from
gated.cornell.edu in directory /pub/video as reflect.v9.tar. Untar and
install in the usual way on a Sun Sparc with a good Internet connection. 

2. Issue the unix command: "reflect" and then open connections to the Sun 
from Mac's running CU-SeeMe0.42 or CU-SeeMe0.60. 

3.  On the version 9 reflector, if you issure "reflect -s" each Mac will 
receive a copy of its own video stream as well as any other streams.

4.  The tar file for v9 includes the sources for the reflector so folks can 
try porting to other platforms.  Anything with Berkeley networking should 
be OK, but we did find an incompatibility with the sockets implementation 
in AIX for the RS-6000.

5.  We have carried up to 6 participants on a reflector.  But give some 
thought to how reflectors are linked together and how many streams are 
flowing on which paths.  Currently, CU-SeeMe limits open windows to 8, but 
trying to have 8 folks each send one stream and receive 7 thru the same 
reflector, assuming it has just one ethernet interface, would mean 8 
streams in and 56 out.  If each tries to get 100Kbps through at some point 
in time, you would be trying to get 6.4 Mbit/sec thru the ethernet.  That 
would probablybe deep into the collision realm.  With the -g and -r 
parameters, you can set up a reflector net which could give a fairly large 
conference; PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE LOAD YOU PUT ON THE INTERNET.

The reflector (version .09) accepts the following parameters:

-s                  self-reflect mode
-d                  debug mode 
-t tracefile        specifiy the name of a tracefile
-c ipaddress        normal client
-r ipaddress        "respond" as a server to a BCC client
-g ipaddress        "go get" video from specified BCC server
-m ttl ipaddress    multicast to ipaddress with TTL set to ttl

-s is debugging option that sends the clients video stream back to himself

-d prints out debugging and packet trace information

-t traces "events" to the specified log file.  Right now the reflector 
   always logs "events" to a log file, if the file name is not specified
   the file reflect.log is used

-c is used to construct an admit list for the reflector.  If you want 
   to restrict access to the reflector, use a series of -c options.  Only
   those users with the listed IP addresses will be permitted to use the 
   reflector.  If no -c options are specified, the reflector will 
   accept any and all clients.  

-r tells the reflector to "respond" to a second reflector, at the specified
   IP address, providing a "blind carbon copy" of all video streams coming 
   to this reflector.  Note that nothing is accepted from this second 
   reflector, it is a one way pipe, intended to impact the conference 
   minimally.

-g tells the reflector to "go get" video from the primary reflector at the
   specified IP address, thus providing a watch only service for Mac 
   clients who connect to this reflector to observe the conference on the 
   primary reflector.   Ordinarily, such clients should open connections 
   unchoosing the "I will send" option, to conserve bandwidth.   
   Alternatively, a reflector could use this option with the -m option to 
   function as a relay to the mbone.  Caution: you might think that setting 
   up complementary -g -r pairs on two reflectors would give you a general 
   inter-reflector link, allowing you to distribute reflector load. In fact 
   it will produce a loop and a lot of collisions.

-m multicast all video streams to the specified IP multicast group address 
   (it *must* be a multicast group address) with the specified TTL. This  
   option is currently only useful in conjunction with nv 3.1 used to 
   receive the video streams.  If compiling the sources, use -DMULTI to 
   enable this option.  To use -m, you must run the reflector on a unix 
   system with multicast kernal.  

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f.jill charboneau                     Advanced Technologies and Planning Group
                                              Cornell Information Technologies
cu-seeme information designer                               Cornell University  
                                                            Ithaca N.Y.  14853
jfc1@cornell.edu                                                  607/255-5993

         "Never mistake a clear view for a short distance."
                                                       -Paul Saffo         
                                  
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