This page describes the ViewStation's
HDSconference Video Client manual page.
HDS Conference
Manual Page
NAME
hdsconf - ViewStation video conferencing application
SYNOPSIS
hdsconf [ -addressfile filename ] [ -dest connecthost ] [ -spkrvol
(0 to 100) ] [ -micvol (1 to 100) ] [ -compress ] [ -nocompress ] [
-connector connector ] [ -infor mat format ] [ -brightness (-30 to 30) ]
[ -contrast (-30 to 30) ] [ -saturation (-30 to 30) ] [ -tint (-30 to
30) ] [ -indev audioinputdevice ] [ -outdev audiooutputdevice ] [
-quality (0 to 100) ] [ -vidport networkportnum ] [ -audport
networkportnum ] [ -noaudio ] [ -nosendvid ] [ -nosendaud ] [ -nosend ]
[ -noscreech ] [ -toolkitOption ... ]
DESCRIPTION
hdsconf is a powerful video teleconferencing application which
allows multiple HDS ViewStation users to communicate using video and
audio.
The HDS ViewCam should be connected to the ViewStation's
VIDEO connector. An audio input device should be connected to the
ViewStation's AUDIO IN con nector. This could be the HDS ViewCam's audio
cable, the HDS Headset, or the echo-suppressing CallPort
Speaker/Microphone.
Once the audio devices are attached, the ViewStation must be
configured to recog nize them. The audio device types should be set in
the HDS Setup menu. See the descriptions of the audio Input Device and
Output Device below for more information.
Assuming the devices are properly attached and configured, a
network connection can be made to another ViewStation using the Connect
button. You can specify another host by IP address or by hostname (if
the ViewStation Domain Name Services or Host Resolver File is properly
configured).
Instead of using IP addresses or hostnames, you can arrange
for a list of descrip tive names to be presented. These descriptive
names are placed in an address file. The default address file is /FXUtilities/hds-fx/hdsvideo/lib/HDSconf.list,
where /FXUtilities refers to the current HDSware base
directory. You can change the location of this file using the
HDSconf.addressFileName X resource or the - addressfile command line
option. Each line of the file consists of an IP address (or hostname)
followed by a descriptive name, such as the ViewStation user's name or
ViewStation's office location. Comment lines beginning with the '#'
character are permitted.
The Disconnect button can be used to terminated a session.
The Freeze button can be used to freeze the outgoing video
image. Pressing the button again clears the freeze.
The Send Video button must be used to actually transmit video.
If the Send Video button is not highlighted, no video is being
transmitted.
Depending upon the type of audio devices being used, either
the Hold To Talk button or the Send Audio button will be available at
any given time. The Hold To Talk button is used to transmit audio. To
avoid audio feedback, the speaker audio is temporarily suspended while
using Hold To Talk. Releasing the Hold To Talk button again stops audio
transmitting, and restores the speaker audio. The Hold To Talk button
is only presented if the current combination of Audio In Device and
Audio Out Device might cause local feedback. This generally means that
the HDS Internal Speaker or External Speakers are being used with an
open microphone.
The Send Audio button must be used to transmit audio. Unlike
the Hold To Talk button, the Send Audio button does not disable the
incoming audio. However, the Send Audio button is only available when
the Audio In Device and Audio Out Device do not allow local feedback.
This generally means that the CallPort Spkr/ Mic or the HDS Headset is
being used.
The Speaker Volume slider controls the volume of the current
Audio Out Device.
The Mic Volume slider controls the amount of gain applied to
the Audio In Device. This volume should not normally need to be
adjusted, except by very small amounts. When it is adjusted properly,
the Audio meter level should generally stay in the safe green level,
occasionally straying into the red zone for louder sounds. It should
not be consistently in the red zone, or audio quality may suffer
considerably.
The Audio meter indicates the level of the current Audio Input
Device attached to the AUDIO IN connector. The meter is continuously
updated, even when not transmitting audio. If the level is not
registering green for most sounds, make sure the Audio In Device is set
properly, the device is properly connected, and the Mic Volume slider
is properly adjusted.
The Options menu contains entries for the Video Controls,
Audio Controls, and Network Controls panels.
The Video
Controls panel contains the following items.
The Compression panel item controls whether or not image
compression should be used for the outgoing image. The compression
lowers the amount of network usage, but can decrease the overall image
quality.
The Input Connector item selects which type of video signal is
attached to the ViewStation. The default is the Composite signal which
is a single-plug jack. Another option is the S-Video connector which
has multiple pins and which separates color information from luminance
information. If set incorrectly, the ViewStation video display may
appear black-and-white or otherwise incorrect.
The Input Format item indicates which type of video signal
format is being used. The default is NTSC which is the standard for
North America and several other regions. Other options are PAL which is
dominant in Europe, and SECAM which is dominant in France. Once you
determine the standard for your equipment, you will usually use one
setting exclusively.
The Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, and Tint sliders control
the video characteristics of the outgoing video window.
The Audio Controls panel contains the following items.
The Input Device item indicates the type of device attached to
the ViewStation's AUDIO IN connector. This value must be set properly
or the ViewStation's audio will not operate correctly. The initial
value for the input device comes from the ViewStation's Setup client.
It is better to make any changes to this value in the Setup client menu
"Setup Options/User Preferences/Audio Device Settings/ Audio In Device"
and save the value for the future. NOTE: It is important to change this
value whenever you change the audio device attached to the ViewStation.
Otherwise, the ViewStation will not know what type of device is attached
and severe audio quality problems will result. The input device can be
set to "Unspecified", "HDS ViewCam", "HDS Headset", "CallPort
Spkr/Mic", "HDS Microphone", "HDS Tuner", "VCR", or "Line Level Audio".
The "Line Level Audio" category refers to the output level of many
common home audio devices, such as CD players and cassette decks.
The Output Device item indicates the type of device attached
to the ViewStation's AUDIO OUT connector. This value must be set
properly or the ViewStation's audio will not operate correctly. As with
the Input Device, the initial value for the output device comes from
the ViewStation's Setup client. It is better to make any changes to
this value in the Setup menu "Setup Options/User Preferences/Audio
Device Settings/Audio Out Device" and save the value for the future.
NOTE: It is important to change this value whenever you change the
audio device attached to the ViewStation. Otherwise, the ViewStation
will not know what type of device is attached and severe audio quality
problems will result. The output device can be set to "HDS Internal
Speaker", "External Speakers", "HDS Headset", or "CallPort Spkr/Mic".
The Network Controls panel contains the following items.
The Incoming Rate item shows the number of incoming video
frames per second. This can be affected by the Quality and Compression
settings on the other conferencing ViewStation.
The Incoming Net Use item shows the amount of network use for
the incoming audio and video connections. This can be affected by the
Quality and Compression controls on the other conferencing ViewStation.
The Outgoing Rate item shows the number of outgoing video
frames per second. This can be affected by the local Quality and
Compression controls.
The Outgoing Net Use item shows the amount of network use for
the outgoing audio and video connections. This can be affected by the
local Quality and Compression controls.
The Quality slider controls the general quality of the
out-going image. It controls how much of a change must occur in each
small area of the screen before the area must be retransmitted to the
receiver. The default is 100, which means each area on the screen is
always sent for each new video frame. Lower values mean that less of
the screen must be sent for each new frame. This decreases the outgoing
network usage, but can result in a poorer quality image. Values between
80 and 90 work well for typical cases, although lower values can be
used when network bandwidth is at a premium.
OPTIONS
In addition to the usual Xt and Motif options, hdsconf program
supports the following application-specific options.
-addressfile filename
Specify the file listing addresses and textual descriptions of
ViewStations capable of conferencing. The default value is /FXUtilities/hds-fx/hdsvideo/lib/HDSconf.list.
-dest connecthost
Specify the host for initial connection.
-spkrvol (0 to 100)
Set the audio speaker output volume.
-micvol (1 to 100)
Set the audio input volume.
-compress
Use compression for outgoing video images.
-nocompress
Do not use compression for outgoing video images.
-connector connector
Select the video input connector. connector can be either Composite
or SVideo.
-informat format
Select the video input signal format. format can be NTSC, PAL, or
SECAM.
-brightness (-30 to 30)
Set the initial video window brightness.
-contrast (-30 to 30)
Set the initial video window contrast.
-saturation (-30 to 30)
Set the initial video window saturation.
-tint (-30 to 30)
Set the initial video window tint.
-indev audioinputdevice
Indicate the type of audio device attached to the ViewStation's
AUDIO IN connector. It is better to save this value in the ViewStation's
Setup client or to set it in the ViewStation's Configuration File. The
audioinputdevice can be "Unspecified", "HDS ViewCam", "HDS Headset",
"CallPort Spkr/Mic", "HDS Microphone", "HDS Tuner", "VCR", or "Line
Level Audio". See the DESCRIPTION section for more information.
-outdev audiooutputdevice
Indicate the type of audio device attached to the ViewStation's
AUDIO OUT connector. It is better to save this value in the
ViewStation's Setup client or to set it in the ViewStation's
Configuration File. The audiooutputdevice can be "HDS Internal Speaker",
"External Speakers", "HDS Headset", or "CallPort Spkr/Mic". See the
DESCRIPTION section for more information.
-quality (0 to 100)
See the DESCRIPTION section for more information.
-vidport networkportnum
Specify the Internet TCP network port number to use for the video
connection. The default is 5100.
-audport networkportnum
Specify the Internet TCP network port number to use for the audio
connection. The default is 5101.
-noaudio
Indicates that the ViewStation audio device should not be used.
This is typically useful only if you wish to use the audio device for
another purpose while using the video portion of the conference.
-nosendvid
Indicates that video should not be sent automatically as soon as
the connection is established. The "Send Vid" button will still be
available to start the video manually.
-nosendaud
Indicates that audio should not be sent automatically as soon as
the connection is established. The "Send Aud" or "Hold to Talk" button
will still be available to start the audio manually.
-nosend
Indicates that neither video nor audio should be sent automatically
as soon as the connection is established. This is the sames as
-nosendvid and -nosendaud.
-noscreech
Disables the use of screech detection. Screech detection attempts
to determine when the speaker output signal level is too high and
responds by lowering the Speaker Volume. Use this option to circumvent
this feature.
X RESOURCES
In addition to the usual Xt and Motif resources, the hdsconf
supports the following application-specific resources. The values and
defaults are the same as the corresponding command line options.
HDSconf.addressListFileName: filename
Specify the file listing addresses and descriptions of
conference-capable ViewStations. The default value is
/FXUtilities/hds-fx/hdsvideo/lib/HDSconf.list.
HDSconf.addressList:
addresses
As an alternative to using a file with addresses and
descriptions, the addressList resource can be set directly. If set,
this overrides the use of the addressListFile Name. The resource should
consist of one line for each ViewStation. Each line should contain the
hostname (or host IP address) one or more spaces followed by a
description. Lines should be separated by a newline character.
HDSconf.destAddress:
connecthost
HDSconf.sendVid: Yes | No
HDSconf.sendAud:
Yes | No
HDSconf.send: Yes | No
HDSconf.speakerVolume:
(0 to 100)
HDSconf.micVolume: (1 to 100)
HDSconf.compression: Yes | No
HDSconf.inputConnector: connector
HDSconf.inputFormat: format
HDSconf.brightness: (-30 to 30)
HDSconf.contrast: (-30 to
30)
HDSconf.saturation: (-30 to 30)
HDSconf.quality: (0 to
100)
HDSconf.tint: (-30 to 30)
HDSconf.inputDevice:
audioinputdevice
HDSconf.outputDevice: audiooutputdevice
HDSconf.doAudio: Yes | No
HDSconf.vidPort: networkportnum
HDSconf.audPort: networkportnum
HDSconf.screechDetection: Yes | No
HDSconf.meterSafeColor: Pixel
HDSconf.meterWarningColor: Pixel
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 1995, HDS Network Systems, Inc.
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© 1996 by HDS Network Systems
Inc.