Multipoint Remote Focus-Sharing Tool: FocusShare

This page and some files may include obsolete information

News

	Book chapter "Multipoint Multimedia Conferencing System for Efficient and Effective Remote Collaboration" was published (2010)
	Paper titled Multipoint Multimedia Conferencing System with Group Awareness Support and Remote Management was published (2008)
	Source files of DirectShow filters are available for download (September 9, 2004).
	An English version of ReadMe for installation is available (May 15, 2004).
	English pages are uploaded (March 4, 2004).
	Source files of DirectShow filters for IPv6/IPv4 multicast are available for download (February 4, 2004).
	New version of execution file is available for download (December 11, 2003).
	Brief explanation is provided for DirectShow filters at Using DirectShow Filters Included in Focus Share (December 3, 2003).
	We are happy to announce that FocusShare was awarded the Implementation Award - Grand Prix at IPv6 Application Contest 2003 held by the IPv6Promotion Council. Thank you!
	(Completed) A demonstration is scheduled to be given at the IPv6 Pavilion at CEATEC JAPAN to be held at Makuhari Messe from October 7 (Tuesday) to 11 (Saturday), 2003. Please stop by the IPv6 Pavilion if you attend CEATEC JAPAN (October 3, 2003).

Purpose

FocusShare aims to simplify multipoint remote sharing of video, audio, and visual areas of interest by utilizing the IPv6/IPv4 multicast capability.

Main Features and Functions

FocusShare is an application that provides a simple and efficient means of sharing video, audio, and visual areas of interest among multiple remote points using IPv6/IPv4 multicast.

Supports sharing of diversified visual areas of interest (focus points).

Allows peripheral information to be presented while showing focus point in detail.

Achieves Focus+Context display through non-linear zooming.

Performs video processing on the sending side.

Combines and displays focus points sent at high-resolution/high-frame-rate or full images at low resolution/low-frame-rate on the receiving side.

	Allows focus point to be shown in detail while minimizing required transmission band.
	Enables resolution and other parameters to be controlled according to focus point in question while using existing codecs.
	Achieves Focus+Context through cooperation between the sending and receiving sides.

Enables multiple users to share multiple pointers (not only one pointer).

Achieves efficient sharing regardless of number of users by exchanging pointer information through multicasting.

Focus+Context Display

Non-linear zooming

Displays focus point (elliptical area) selected by mouse in original resolution and reduces other areas in a non-linear manner (a rectangular area and size may also be specified for the focus point).

(Click on picture to magnify.)

Combines video images having different resolutions and frame rates.

Displays focus point (rectangular area) selected by mouse at high resolution and high frame rate and other areas at low resolution and low frame rate (an elliptical area and size may also be specified for the focus point).

(Click on picture to magnify.)

Pointer Sharing (Multiple Telepointers)

Uses multicasting to exchange focus-point information (mouse position) among multiple users and enable pointer sharing.

Three pointers (telepointers) are being shared in the two pictures below.

(Click on picture to magnify.)

Allows pointer shape to be set.

Pointer shape and color may be selected from a menu as shown in picture below.

(Click on picture to magnify.)

Demonstration Videos

Sending and receiving:

overview.wmv (about 20 MB, requires Windows Media 9 Series Player)

Captions are written in Japanese

Sharing of focus-point information:

features.wmv (about 16 MB, requires Windows Media 9 Series Player)

Captions are written in Japanese

Applications

Deliver seminars, lectures, etc. over an intranet or other network:

The Focus+Context function and the pointer remote sharing function enable an instructor in a real-time remote lecture to point out focus points appropriately and efficiently, and enable students to provide direct feedback on points where they have questions.

Deliver remote lectures via satellite:

Capitalize on the affinity between the broadband properties of satellite communications and IP multicasting.

The use of FocusShare in Space Collaboration Systems (SCS) is being studied for video conferences.

Multipoint remote videoconferencing that shares focus points:

	Promote effective conferencing by multipoint remote sharing of focus points (pointers) in addition to video and audio.
	FocusShare makes for smooth bidirectional conferencing by making it easy to exchange focus-point information among multiple locations.

Downloads

	FocusShare, Sender/Receiver Application Manual （September 9, 2004 Version, 2.9MB）
	FocusShare, Multi Video Receiver Application Manual （September 9, 2004 Version, 611kB）
	FocusShare, Executable Files and Documents (September 9, 2004 Version、9.2MB)
	FocusShare, Source files of DirectShow filters including IPv6/IPv4 multicasting (September 9, 2004 Version、661kB)
	FocusShare, Source files of FocusShare applications (September 9, 2004 Version、610kB)

ReadMe

	An English version of ReadMe file in the installation package (Execution file, etc) issued December 11, 2003
	Please read "ReadMe" to install and use FocusShare.

Source files, etc.

Source files for DirectShow filters (September 9, 2004 version, ZIP file, about 661 kB)

prototype version (issued December 11, 2003)

Execution file, etc. (manual included; ZIP file, about 4.5 MB)

Now supports USB PC camera and some codecs to enable testing under even more environments.

Manual (PDF file, about 2.5 MB) (in Japanese)

September 30, 2003 version

Manual

September 30, 2003 version (PDF file, about 2.5 MB) (in Japanese)

Execution file, etc.

Prior prototype versions are available at the IPv6 application contest site.

Using DirectShow Filters

DirectShow filters, which are software modules used in this tool, can be used in developing other applications. Functions can be easily tested using GraphEdit included in Microsoft DirectShow (DirectX) SDK.

The following DirectShow filters are included in the tool. A brief description of how to use these filters is provided (under construction).

	Multicast Server: Transmits data (DirectShow media sample) by IPv6/IPv4
	Multicast Client: Receives data (DirectShow media sample) by IPv6/IPv4
	Video Format Transform
	Non-linear Zoom
	Image Composition: Combines two video images having different resolutions and frame rates
	Pointer Position: Obtains mouse position (using DirectInput)
	Pointer Mixer: Combines video and pointer information
	4 Image Composition: Not used in this tool but can be used for combining four screens

Inquiries

Department of Information and Computer Sciences
Graduate School of Advanced Integration Science
Chiba University
1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba-city
Chiba, Japan 261-0014

Noritaka OSAWA

We welcome comments on provided information and any other opinions and impressions.