Documentation  

1. Class set-up, notes access, session and replay initiation     

1.1.  Introduction

1.2.  IRI-h Online Management

1.2.1. Class Configuration

1.2.2. Intranet Configuration

1.2.3. Class Replay from Web browser

1.2.4. Notes/Class Materials

1.3.  IRI-h Initiation

1.3.1. IRI-h Session Initiation – Web Based

·         Automatic Start Session           

1.3.2. IRI-h Session Initiation – Command Line

·         Options           

2. Conducting a session within IRI-h environment.

2.1. Upper Toolbar – Token Controlled Services

                        2.1.1 Presenter – Control Window Layout

            2.1.2. Pointer

                        2.1.3. Annotation

            2.1.4. IRI Window Manager

2.2. Lower Toolbar – Shared View Resources

                        2.2.1. Audio

·         Speaker on/off

·         Microphone on/off

·         Administrator Version – sender Kill/Restart – Receiver Kill/restart           

            2.2.2. IPV- Tool Sharing

·         Local Machine is applications server

·         Tool on remote application server - only accessible to presenter

            2.2.3. Video

·         Student Version

·         Administrative Version

oReceiver on/off

o Receiver kill/restart

o Sender kill/restart

2.2.4. Survey

            2.2.5. Replay

·         Select Streams from Services

·         Open Class / Start Replay

·         Pause Replay

·         Stop Replay

·         Seek Specific Time – not implemented.

            2.2.6. Pointer

·         Cursor Attached

·         Click Activated

            2.2.7. Annotation

·         Pencil                       

·         Text

·         Clear

·         More Options

2.2.8. Problem/Situational Awareness

·         Class Material

·         Audio/Video Problems

·         Interactivity/Network Problems

2.3. Lower Toolbar – Private Control Options

            2.3.1. Notebook

·         Creating Text note

·         Taking snapshot

·         Saving notes

·         Deleting notes                       

2.3.2. Site Video

2.3.3. Call Student

2.3.4. Monitoring tools

·         Participant Monitor

·         Service Monitor           

2.3.5. Bandwidth control for clients behind gateway up/down

3. Notes     

3.1  About VPN

                1.Class set-up, notes access, session and replay initiation

1.1. Introduction
 

Interactive Remote Instruction for heterogeneous environments (IRI-h) is a Java based system to enable "Active Learning " over the Internet. Students and a Teacher participate in a class by running the IRI-h client software on their computers connected to the Internet. Thus the computer becomes the window to a virtual classroom for each participant. The " H" in the acronym stands for various meanings of "heterogeneity". IRI-h works for both PC and Unix platforms as well as for heterogeneous network environments such as client at a host that can not be reached through multicast or that has bandwidth limitations or shows long round-trip delays.             Once the IRI-h software has been started and you have entered your login and password, the IRI-h user interface will be shown. Two main windows compose this interface: upper panel and shared view  (see figure below)

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 1.2. IRI-h Initiation

    1.2.2  IRI-h Session Initiation - Command line

              Without Gateway

                 1) Login to res-iri as startirih             // For running the session manager.

                     startirih > cd ~iridev

                     /home/iridev > cd services/bin

                    …/services/bin > startservers

                    …/services/bin > startwebserver

                    …/services/bin > runsm

 

                 2) Open a command prompt             // For running session participant.

                    :> F:

                    F:> cd participant\bin

                    …\bin :> runsp –m res-iri/port [– options]     

 

                  Running the runsm would produce the port number.

 

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             With Gateway

                           

                 1) Login to res-client1 as startirih                          //For running the gateway.

                      res-client1 > cd ~iridev

                    /home/iridev > cd services/bin

                …/services/bin > rungw

 

                 2) Login to res-iri as startirih                         // For running the session manager.

                     startirih > cd ~iridev

                     /home/iridev > cd services/bin

                     …/services/bin > startservers

                     …/services/bin > startwebservers

                      …/services/bin > runsm –g res-client1/port

 

                3) Open a command prompt                         // For running session participant.

                      :> F:

                      F:> cd participant\bin

                   …\bin :> runsp –m res-iri/port [– options]     

 

                 Running the rungw would produce the port number.           

 

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               Options

 

                -rec [Path] –rep [Path]         - For recording and replay servers.

                 - vs 1                                   - Site Video.

                 -tmulti                                  - Multicast Disable.            

                         -r                                      - STUDENT/ TEACHER/ ADMIN.

                        -m                                      - Manager Option.

                        -ar                                      - Audio Server Option.

                        -app                                   - Application Server.

                

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2.Conducting a session from within IRI-h environment

 

2.1. Upper Toolbar - Token Controlled Services

 

In the upper panel, the user can choose to be the presenter , the pointer holder or the annotation holder by clicking on the appropriate button. All of these services can only be used by one person at a time. So if you have the pointer and someone else clicks on the pointer button, the pointer will be transferred to the other person. Now would be a right time to detail each of these services.    back to top   2.1.1. Presenter - COntrol Window Layout    The presenter is the person who can resize and move windows in the shared view. Therefore, the presenter will choose the layout of the windows in the shared view for every person.    2.1.2. Pointer    The pointer service displays the pointer of whoever is its owner in every machine in the session. To get the pointer, simply click on the “pointer” button. So, if you need to point to something in the shared view, you can take the pointer and everybody will be able to see what you are pointing to.   2.1.3. Annotation     The annotation lets you draw circles, lines and write text on the shared view. To get the annotation, click on the Annotation tab on the upper panel.Drawings or illustrations made using the Annotation option are visible on the screen of every other user.

2.1.4. IRI Window Manager    Another service provided on the upper panel  is the layout manager. The layout manager helps  you manipulating the shared view window and the upper panel. When you click on the big square of the layout manager (see figure below), the shared view window is minimized. If you click it again, the shared view window size is restored. To reset both windows to their original location and size, press the “Reset” button.

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2.2. Lower Toolbar - Shared view resources

 

2.2.1. Audio

                                               

Student/Teacher Interface Options

 Speaker on/off

The user may Activate/Deactivate the speaker using the [] icon respectively.

 

 Microphone on/off

The user may Activate/Deactivate the microphone [] icon

 

 Administrator Interface          

The administrator may Activate/Deactivate the microphone and speaker using the [ ] or [ ] icon respectively. Administrator may Start/Stop the audio sender using the [] icon and Start/Stop the audio receiver using the [ ] icon.

 

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2.2.2. IPV - Tool Sharing

                        Local Machine is Application Server

IPV is used to share windows of the users computer with the other participants.

Click on the ‘Local IPV’ button.[ ]. The Sharing tool selection list shows up. Choose one of the options from the drop down list and place that window on screen. That window is shown completely in the other user’s screen. The user may pull up a different window on screen, but there is no guarantee that it will be shown fully until it is selected from the sharing tool selection list.



 

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    Tool on remote application server

                  It allows the presenter to remotely start an application, share it through IPV, and adjust its position and size. All actions are                   performed at the application server machine (a participant configured to act as application server).

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             2.2.3. Video

Student/Teacher Interface Options

The user may Activate/Deactivate his own camera using the [ ] icon.

Administrator Interface       

 The administrator may Activate/Deactivate his own camera using the [ ] icon. 

Pressing the [ ] icon will disable the video sender. To minimize video windows, press

the [ ] icon. To stop receiving all video windows, press the [ ] icon.

 

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 2.2.4. Survey

 

The Survey tool can be used to conduct online exams. Clicking on the [ ] icon brings up the survey tool window. First choose the number of questions in the extreme right column and press ‘Ok’. Choose Yes/No option or Multiple choice option by selecting the radio button on the left. Select the appropriate answers and click ‘Send’. Another window pops up and click ‘Send Results’ on it. Clicking on the ‘New Survey’ button on the later window can begin a new survey.

 



 

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2.2.5. Replay

 

Using this options, participants can replay previous recorded sessions. Pressing the Replay [] icon in the bottom tool bar, produces a list of recorded sessions from which the user can choose from.

Open specific class/date session

        Clicking on the Replay button will open a window displaying a list of recorded sessions which can be selected.

Select streams from services

        Four check boxes are provided to the user may select the Media streams that he/she be replayed.

Start replay

        After selecting the session to be replayed and the streams, pressing the 'Start Replay' button starts the recorded session.

Pause replay

        Pressing the Pause button pauses the replay. Pressing the play button restarts it.

Stop replay

        Stops the replay.

 

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                   2.2.6. Pointer

 

                                    There are two modes of operation of the pointer. The movement of the pointer is visible on all the participant's screens.

 

                       Cursor Attached

                                         Pressing the [] icon makes the pointer go to attach mode. In the attach mode, the pointer follows the mouse.

 

                        Click Activated

                 In this, the pointer has to be clicked on and dragged to the specific location using the mouse. Pressing the [] buttons make the pointer go to the Click activated mode.

 

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        2.2.7. Annotation

To share drawings and annotations with other users, press the Annotation button in the top tool bar. The Annotation LED will turn green and annotation options would be displayed on screen. The following options are provided. Using them on your screen, displays them on the screen of other session participants.

        Pencil

                            Participants can draw free hand by clicking on the pencil icon [].

 

        Text

                              To input text, click on the text icon []. The double click on the part of the screen on which you want to input the text. A   text box appears. Write into it and press [] or cancel it using []. The text (if any) will be displayed in that location or close   to it.

 

        Clear

               Pressing the Clear button [] shows a window asking the user to confirm the clear action.Pressing Yes will clear all the   annotations.

 

        More Options

                Press on the ‘Annotation Options’ button to see the remaining annotation options. Click on the icon you want to use and   draw the     illustration on the screen.

 



 

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                    2.2.8. Problem/Situational Awareness

 

Participants may indicate to the presenter if they have any problem with class material or with Audio, Video, Interactivity, Etc. through the situational awareness option. 3 LEDs in the tool bar indicate the current situation.

 

 



 

The above screen is used to intimate the instructor about the current situation. The 3 option checkboxes may me checked and sent to the instructor using the ‘Send to instructor’ button.

 



 

The results are immediately visible in the ‘View Result’ space. Any participant can use ‘Refresh result’ button. However, the ‘Clear Result’ button can only be used by the presenter. Pressing this button resets the vote count to zero and set the 3 indicator LED’s to green.

 



 

3 LED’s show the situational awareness on screen.    

 

LED	Denotes
First	Percentage of participants who do not understand the class material.
Second	Percentage of participants who have an audio/video/IPV problem.
Third	Percentage of participants who have an interactivity problem.

 

Each of the 3 LED’s can have 4 different colors.

 

Colors                      Percentage of people                                                      having problem

Green                                          0  – 25

Orange                                        26 –50

Pink                                            51 – 75

Red                                             76 – 100

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2.3. Lower Toolbar - Private Control Options

The Control Options button contains information that is not shared among other people in the class. Tools such as  notebook, class monitor, state monitor, log viewer and IPV refresh are provided here. In addition to that, you can exit the session by pressing the Exit option and shutdow the entire session by pressing Shutdown. In order to select which tools you want to be displayed (notebook, class monitor, state monitor and log viewer), click  on the Control Options button and check the tools that you want while unchecking the ones that you don't want (see figure on left) Once the tool's interface has been displayed on the window, you can use them as follows:

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                   2.3.1. Notebook

 

                     Participants may take notes and as well record any or all of the class material by using a notebook option and access it later for reference. The options provided include taking down text notes, recording snapshots of the screen, recording audio, etc. The notes can be saved locally by pressing the [ ] icon. When the participant exits the session, a window props up requesting permission to upload the notes onto the web. Pressing Yes will enable the participant to review his notes from any computer after logging in.

 Creating text note

                           Creates a text note.

 Taking snapshop

                          Captures a snapshot on the screen.

 Saving notes

                         The written notes can be saved using the save [] icon

 Deleting notes

                         Unwanted notes can be deleted.

 

 

 



 

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               2.3.2. Site Video

 

At a classroom location, there maybe a web cam mounted which gives the wholesome view of the entire class. This video may be viewed by choosing the Site Video option from the Control Options tab.

 

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               2.3.3. Call Student

 



 

 

List of students along with the login name is shown on screen. Selecting a student and pressing the call button displays the student’s video and audio displayed on screen. The ‘call’ option changes to ‘kill’ and by pressing it, the user can terminate the student’s audio/video. Pressing ‘call’ option again would bring back student’s audio/video on screen.

 

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               2.3.4. Participant and Services Monitors

                       Participant Monitor

                    This monitor gives information about the participant including the login name, machine name, bandwith and  10 other fields relating to the participant

                     Services Monitor

                      This monitor gives the details about the staus of the partipant with respect to all the various services being                       provided. Pressing the additional fields button would

IRI-h classroom sessions can be monitored using site video. The IP address of the participant machines, login name of the users and their roles can be seen in the Class and State monitors. The monitors also provide additional information such as the status of Presenter, Pointer, etc. To view the information, click on the Control Options tab and choose state and class monitors from there.

 

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2.3.5. Bandwidth Control for clients behind gateway up/down

 

                         Bandwidth Control is enabled only for participants served by the gateway (multicast disabled) and allows the participant to send a message to the gateway when he precieves a bandwidth problem to step down his (tunneled)  bandwidth, and when he sees improvements sends a message to step up bandwidth again. The Bandwidth up and down options will be disabled for 1 minute after a message is sent. the gateway initially sends the partipant all video steams (max is 3) and IPV in the hightest rate (has 3 rate groups of 400, 300, and 200 Kbps). the gateway will respond to the  bandwidth down message by closing a video if there is any (not implemented), or moving him to a lower IPV bandwidth group if no video stream is closed. the gateway will respond to the  bandwidth up message by moving the participant to a higher IPV bandwidth group if available, else resend him one of the video streams that were closed in a previous  bandwidth down action (not implemented).

 

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3. Notes

3.1. About VPN

Usually, A VPN will support multicast, so that IRI-h could run with VPN without any problem. But in some cases, multicast capability on VPN may be disabled or the multicast loopback mode may not work correctly depending on the VPN configuration.            If the multicast capability is not enable on VPN, the clients using VPN cannot connect directly to session manager. Instead, they should connect to session manager through a gateway.            If only multicast loopback mode does not work, you may change the routing table on the client machine to let multicast loopback packets return to the same IP address. When using VPN, a client machine will have two IP addresses, an original IP and a new IP assigned by VPN server. So on local routing table there will be two entries for loopback with same metric. And usually the entry with original IP address is before the other one. That’s why multicast loopback packets from the new IP go back to the original one. The entry whose interface is the new IP address assigned by VPN server should be given a high metric. On Windows there’s a command “route” to change local routing table.