Interoperability issues of existing collateral video teleconferencing systems at the United States Pacific Command

In fiscal year 1994, the Deputy Commander in Chief of the United States Commander in Chief Pacific (USCINCPAC) expressed a concern about the lack of interoperability of the multiple video teleconferencing (VTC) systems that have been installed to support the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM). In response to this concern, two quick-reaction studies of the existing USPACOM VTC systems were conducted and provided to the USCINCPAC J6 who is responsible for making recommendations for interconnecting USPACOM sites by VTC. The paper examines the issues of VTC systems interoperability and in specific examines the lack of standardized VTC transmission rates, multiple transmission networks, and the lack of commonality or standardization of video coder/decoders (codecs) and other supporting VTC equipment. Also discussed are alternative methods of interconnecting the existing USPACOM VTC systems, emerging international, U.S. Government, and Department of Defense (DOD) VTC standards, and the proposed migration to a standards-based VTC architecture. Of additional interest is the design of a multipoint control unit (MCU) meeting international standards that has been tested in both the United States and Europe. Certain conclusions and recommendations are provided. More importantly, while the systems examined are specific to USPACOM, the underlying issues concerning interoperability of existing VTC systems and the alternative methods of interconnection are common to and apply across the DOD community