B-ISDN multimedia communication and collaboration platform using advanced video workstations to support cooperative work

A distributed real-time computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) platform called the B-ISDN group teleworking system is described. The system combines the high-speed multimedia communication capability with advanced video integrated workstations. The aim of this system is to support ad hoc meetings and real-time collaborative work between small groups of people who are geographically distributed. The main features of the system are face-to-face communication and the capability for sharing and comanipulating shared multimedia information including video. The concept and architecture of the system are described. A prototype group teleworking system that uses B-ISDN multimedia workstations is also described. A mock remote medical consultation application for the system is presented