Multiparty Interactive Multimedia COnferencing Services - MIMICS

Project proposal of the MIMICS Project, submitted to the European Commission under the ESPRIT Programme. The main objective of the MIMICS Project is to provide an innovative hardware and software platform for multiparty communication. In particular, the system will provide the hardware and software for the management of Multipoint communication. The hardware will include user terminals and Multipoint Control Units (MCUs) which will fully conform to the T.120 series of standards. The software modules will include APIs and Application Services. In addition, the Project aims to experiment with the creation of service centres that offer multimedia conferencing services both to generic users who simply need communication facilities and to specialised users. It also aims to experiment with the use of the hardware and software platform in two trial applications: An Emergency Management System will be experimented with and validated in regard to the provision of civic services in two field trials, one in Italy and one in Scotland. A second trial will be organised by Agusta for the remote assistance of helicopters. The project will also promote European-led standards for the new technology in cooperation with other projects. Partners will have an active role in the ITU and IMTC (International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium) standardisation bodies.