The Sony
PCS-1 provides effective data-sharing capabilities,
which significantly enhance the benefits offered by
conventional audio and video-based conferencing. In
addition, it brings superb acoustic quality –
which has won critical acclaim from the audio conference
market – into videoconferencing applications for
more natural sound clarity.
The Sony PCS-1 can provide major
improvements in the way your organization communicates,
allowing you to engage in simple, immediate, and face-to-face
communication with your staff, or
to make critical project decisions.
Sharing Presentation
Documents in XGA Resolution
Connecting an optional PCS-DSB1 Data Solution Box and
the Sony PCS-1 can transfer screen shots in XGA resolution
from your PC to remote sites through a network or an
ISDN line. This allows you to share presentation documents
created in software applications such as Microsoft®
PowerPoint®, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Word,
as well as other still images on your PC screen with
your videoconferencing counterparts. Up to two PCs can
be connected to a PCS-DSB1 for faster transition between
presenters, and with the touch of a button,
screen shots from the selected PC can easily be transmitted.
You can choose to view the screen
shots with a single monitor in “Picture in Picture”
mode*, or using a second monitor in “Full-screen”
mode.
* In “Picture in Picture”
mode with a single monitor, screen shots are displayed
in the main screen area, while video is displayed in
a small window positioned at the corner.
Digital Whiteboard
Function Support
Using a digital whiteboard recorder*, notes and drawings
on a whiteboard can be electronically
converted and then transferred in real time to remote
sites to be displayed on a screen. In addition, notes
and drawings can be captured by the “SnapShot”
mode, saved in a JPEG file, and recorded to Memory StickTM
media attached to the Sony PCS-1 – exceptionally
useful for later viewing and distribution purposes.
* Digital whiteboard recorders
are available from VideoCentric Ltd.
Flexible Installation
The Sony PCS-1 comprises the Camera Unit and Communication
Terminal (Main unit). This unique two-piece design provides
the flexibility to meet various installation needs.
Integrated with the optional PCS-STG1 or PCS-STP1 Camera
Stand, its compact and stylish configuration provides
the convenience of using a projector and FPD (Flat Panel
Display) together, making a great impression on conference
participants. Its small size of 147 (W) x 130 (H) x
138 (D) mm and light weight of 1.1 kg allows the Camera
Unit to be easily installed in space criticalenvironments.
Positioned on top of the Communication Terminal, the
combined unit provides a footprint of just 258 (W) x
171 (D) mm – small enough to sit on top of any
TV monitor.
Outstanding
Audio Quality
To communicate clearly and effectively in a meeting,
audio is an indispensable factor. Sony audio technology,
which has been leading the audio conference market for
so long, now makes videoconference audio even more natural
and crisp:
Super Acoustic
System Support
The optional CTE-600 Communication Transducer is an
acoustic system that comprises six radially arranged
uni-directional microphones and one omni-directional
speaker. Each microphone constantly detects the audio
level in the conference room; however, only the microphone
that detects the largest audio level sends a signal
to the Sony PCS-1. What this means is that the active
speaker’s voice is clearly transmitted, while
minimizing background noise. The speaker system is designed
such that sound is projected horizontally in all directions,
for clear sound quality in meetings involving as many
as 15 to 20 participants.
MPEG-4 Audio
Encoding
The Sony PCS-1 features AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
at 14 kHz, compliant with the MPEG-4 standard. It emits
superb audio quality for a point-to-point videoconference
via a network, with
double the bandwidth frequency of conventional audio
encoding.
Excellent Video
Quality
The Sony PCS-1 is equipped with encoding capabilities
compliant with the ITU-T H.323 standard for network-based
videoconferencing at up to 2 Mb/s and 30 frames/s. With
connection to an optional PCS-B768 ISDN Unit, it is
possible to hold a videoconference compliant with the
ITU-T H.320 standard at up to 768 kb/s via an ISDN line.
Multi-point
Videoconferencing
Using optional MCU (Multi-point Control Unit) Software,
a multipoint videoconference comprising up to six sites
can be set up. The PCS-323M1 H.323 MCU Software enables
a multi-point videoconference compliant with the ITU-T
H.323 standard, while the PCS-320M1 H.320 MCU Software
enables a multi-point videoconference compliant with
the ITU-T H.320 standard, and also accepts audio-only
connections by telephone. These configurations also
offer data-sharing capabilities. When a multipoint videoconference
for seven to ten sites is required, two Sony PCS-1 units
with PCS-323M1 H.323 MCU Software installed can be cascaded.*
These two units can then be connected to further four
systems each, resulting in up to ten systems being connected
and controlled simultaneously.
* Data-sharing capabilities
are not available in this configuration.
Memory Stick
Support
Attaching Memory Stick media to the Sony PCS-1 allows
presentation documents and digital photos to be displayed
in 4CIF format without connecting to a PC. The graphics
displayed can also be transferred to remote sites for
data-sharing purposes. In addition, an address book
and system settings can be saved and edited in the Memory
Stick media.
QoS (Quality
of Service) Enhancement Functions
When holding a videoconference via a network, a common
concern is how to maintain picture quality in varying
levels of performance. The Sony PCS-1 provides two advanced
functions to enhance a QoS on the network:
Adaptive Rate
Control
The adaptive rate control function varies the bit rate
of A/V data corresponding to changing network conditions
and selects the most appropriate frame rates. When network
traffic becomes congested, it automatically lowers the
video bit rate, and when the network condition recovers,
it raises the bit rate up to the initial value. This
function can help prevent the picture quality from being
degraded.
ARQ (Auto Repeat
reQuest)
The ARQ function recovers lost packets by resending
the same packets, buffered in the encoder, which helps
to avoid a picture collapse. |
