Mathematical Sciences: The MSRI Multi-Cast Backbone Project

多播骨干网是一项新技术，它使互联网上高效的视频、音频和书面通信成为可能。Mbone是网络社区目前使用的一种健壮的技术。它允许互联网工程任务组用虚拟会议取代频繁的会议，参与者留在他们的家里。然而，在传统的学术学科中，这种媒介的使用很少。我们正处于一个关键时期，在这个时期，姆博恩的使用模式将会形成。数学科学研究所在建立Mbone在数学科学中使用的建设性和有价值的模式方面发挥着重要作用。该项目的参与地点包括印第安纳大学、斯坦福大学、俄亥俄州立大学、不列颠哥伦比亚大学的数学系、加州大学的几个校区、南加州大学、犹他大学和华盛顿大学以及华盛顿州立大学。参与机构包括MSRI、LBL、几何中心和菲尔兹研究所。我们打算允许多达20个额外的数学网站成为项目参与者。这将以先到先得的方式进行，条件是场址满足技术专门知识和设备的特定最低要求。MSRI的重要会议将多播，以便任何能够接收Mbone广播的人都可以参加。此外，我们计划开发和定期多播一系列适合新媒体和更广泛受众的特别活动。赞助机构将有必要的设备和软件支持，以接收和加入Mbone多播。本提案的参与者将获得必要的软件支持，以便与具有Mbone功能的其他站点进行白板和谈话会议。这个项目的一个目标是将大量的数学站点集合起来，使用这种技术进行数学交流。我们相信，一旦该实用程序得到证明，它将在数学科学界迅速推广使用。MSRI通常每年有大约1000名访客，他们停留的时间从一周（讲习班）到一年不等。合作在这些时期开始或继续。在适当的情况下，我们将帮助离开的研究人员在他们的家用机器上安装白板协作软件，并允许他们访问多播骨干网。这将允许通过这种媒介进行持续的合作，同时进一步将MBone的使用能力扩展到数学社区。

The Multicast Backbone is a new technology that makes possible efficient video, audio and written communication over the Internet. Mbone is a robust technology currently used by the networking community. It has allowed the Internet Engineering Task Force to replace frequent meetings by virtual conferences whose participants remain at their home sites. However, the use of this medium within traditional academic disciplines has been sparse. We are in a critical period when patterns of usage of the Mbone will be formed. The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute is in a strong position to play a key role in establishing a constructive and valuable pattern for the use of the Mbone in the mathematical sciences. Participating sites in this project are the mathematics departments of Indiana University Stanford University, The Ohio State University, University of British Columbia, several campuses of the University of California, the Universities of Southern California, Utah and Washington, and Washington State University. Participating Institutes include MSRI, LBL, the Geometric Center, and the Fields Institute. We intend to allow up to 20 additional mathematical sites to become project participants. This will be done on a first-come, first -served basis, provided the sites meet specific minimum requirements for technical expertise and equipment. Important meetings at MSRI will be multicast so that anyone able to receive Mbone broadcasts will be able to attend. In addition, we plan to develop and regularly multicast a series of special events adapted to the new medium and a broader audience. Sponsoring institutions will have the necessary equipment and software support to receive and to join in Mbone multicasts. Participants in this proposal will be given the necessary software support to conduct whiteboard and talk sessions with other sites having Mbone capability. A goal of this project is to assemble a critical mass of mathematical sites using this technology for mathematical commu nication. We believe that once the utility is demonstrated, there will be a rapid spread of its use in the mathematical sciences community. MSRI has about 1000 visitors in a typical year, who stay for periods ranging from one week (workshops) to one year. Collaborations are initiated or continued during these periods. Where appropriate, we will help departing researchers to install whiteboard collaboration software on their home machines and to be permitted access to the Multicast Backbone. This will allow continued collaboration via this medium and, at the same time, further spread the capability to use the MBone into the mathematical community.