CUSeeMe/2 1.1 Beta
====================


Description :
---------------
CUSeeMe is a video conferencing program originally developed for the MAC and
the PC (Windows) platforms by Cornell University. It is a truely remarkable
technology which lets you see live video transmissions over the internet.

Normally live video requires a very high bandwidth connection , but since
this only transmits differences between video frames and at a resolution
 of 160 x 120 , it will work with even a modest 14.4 kbps connection. But
a 28.8 kbps connection is recommended.

More information about the CUSeeMe concept can be found at :
http://cu-seeme.cornell.edu

The homepage for CUSeeMe/2 can be found at :
 http://inet.uni-c.dk/~deckkh

This 32 bit multithreaded Os/2 release supports a number of features not
found in the Windows counterparts at the time of writing :

  o - scalable windows
  o - recording of client video and playback of recorded sessions
  o - adjustable playback speed x1,x2,x4,x8
  o - sound effects
  o - automatic retry to connect to ref , if you dont get connected
  o - saving of chat log possible
  o - separate video playback viewer
  o - fully chat enabled
  o - ref categories impl.
  o - TCP/IP Interface selction
  o - Private chat
  o - Revised user interface with sizeable panes
  o - Throughput gauge
  o - Window arrangement
  o - Sound effects setup
  o - queue connect
  o - Password protection
  o - Reflector hotkeys.
  o - Delete refs by date
  o - Sort refs by name or by last connect

Requirements :
-----------------

Os/2 Warp 3.x or 4.x
MMPM/2 
Connection to the Internet of min 14.4 kbps
Dive
Dart


Limitations in current release:
---------------------------------

This version cannot

  o send/receive audio.
  o send/receive color video

Installation :
----------------
Just copy all of the files in CUOS208.ZIP to a directory of your choice
and run INSTALL.CMD to create an Workplace object for it. Dial your
internet provider and click on the CUSeeMe/2 icon.



User Guide :
---------

The *first* thing you should do , when starting CUSeeMe/2 for the first time
is to set the transmission speed to match the speed , with which you are
connected to the net. See Transmission settings.

Upon startup , You will be granted with a little splash screen and a little
sound effect. The next window will be the reflector list window. To connect
to a reflector just double click it. When you get connected you will usually
receive a message of the day (MOTD) , which you can just click ok to. If the
reflector will not let you in , you will receive an error message.

When you get connected , switch to the clients window. In this window you will
see the other people , who are connected to the reflector. There will be
lurkers and senders. To see the video from a sender just double click on the
one , that you want to see. When new clients join the reflector you will hear
a little sound. The color of the icn indicate whether the client is a lurker
or a sender. If the icon is blue , he is either a lurker or sending color. If
the icon is green you should be able to view video.

The right mouse button can be used to activate context sensitive menus on
container items.

You can categorize users into 3 categories :

 o john doe
 o twit
 o worthwhile

with simple filters , you can select which ones you wish to see. When users
in the Worthwhile category joins the ref , you will hear a different sound
being played to get your attention.

If you get tired of the user list being constantly updated and users at the
button of the list scroll out of view , simple select toggle autoupdate.
You will still see users coming and going on the ref, but the statistics
on the users will no longer be updated.


The setting called "Respect end of frame" specifies whether you want to update
the video window only when a complete frame has been received or if you want to
update the video window continously , whenever new video packets arrive. Should
be disabled on low bandwidth connections (< 28.8).


How do I send video for others to see ?
------------------------------------------

At present there are a number of available plugins for use with CUSeeme/2.
A plugin is simply  a DLL , that connects to a video source . In your
CUOS208.ZIP you should find the following plugins :

o KKHPLUG0.DLL

  This is a very simple pattern generator. This is useful only in testing
  situations.


o KKHPLUG1.DLL

  This will allow you to transmit a bitmap.

o KKHPLUG2.DLL

  This will interface to the QCAM software by UseFul software. You
  will have to download and register the QCAM software separately.
  Look for a file called something like QPICTOS2.ZIP

Other plugins :

o QV2CUCME.DLL

  This will interface to the QuickCam viewer developed by
  Dale Whitfield. Goto either of these sites :

   http://www.shadow.net/~senja/qv2.htm
   http://www.compulink.co.uk/~elad/qv2.htm

  and download the software. Dale's sw will let you use a Connectix
  Color CAM as well as the BW CAM.


If you are a developer you can write your own plugin. Email me
and I will mail you a sample.

To install a plugin select the PlugIn Center from the Setup menu.
Press the Add button and then Browse for the plugin. When you have
selected your plugin make sure that you enable it. You can have many
plugins installed concurrently but you can only enable one at a time.

Graphics
-----------

The graphics shown at program startup was done by Michael Holm Andersen.
If you are into raytracing , 3D modelling and other sophisticated graphics
I recommend  , that you point your browser at his new site at
http://www.mjm.dk/vi


CUVid/2
-----------

CUVid/2 is a standalone player , that will allow you to view your recorded
vid files without being connected to the net. The program accepts a .vid file
as a parameter , which means , that you can open your drives foldes and select
the vid file ,that you want to view and then just drop it on the CuVid/2
icon and the vid file will start playing. Yes I know , it just too simple
right ? I have had 4 vid files playing at the same time at x8 speed without problems.


Transmission Settings:
-----------------------

You should tell CUSeeme/2 the speed with which you are connected to
the net. You do this with the Transmission Settings from the Ref menu.

You can specify this info as a generel system  settings or you
can use another set of settings on a specific ref. If you want to
override the generel settings on a specific ref use the reflector
editor to specify this.


Ref categories :
---------------------

When you have worked with CUSeeMe/2 for a while you will probably have
gathered a long list of reflectors. It will be increasingly hard to
remember , what is going on these reflectors. To assist in this put your
reflectors into categories. With the Show/Category menu item on the Ref
pulldown menu you can select which reflectors , that you want to be visible
in the reflector container.



Other info :
-------------

The program is currently freeware, which means that you can distribute
it freely on the net. I may decide (soon) otherwise. We shall see.

I have provided the IP's of a couple of reflectors that you can connect
to. You can find IP's of other reflectors by browsing the net. Reflectors
come and go :-) Or you can find an up2date list at
http://www.face2face.com/CU-SeeMe/short.html


I would appreciate feedback on Me/2. Good or bad , I want to hear it.

Please understand , that this is beta software , which usually means bugs.
I think the program is stable enough to be spread among the public. If
you think that you have found a bug please email me with the details. If
the program traps please mail me the trap screen info (yes All of it) and a
description of what you were doing , when the trap occurred.


I will post updates about CUSeeMe/2 in the os/2 tcp/ip news group.

Author :
----------
Kim Kruse Hansen
deckkh@inet.uni-c.dk

Disclaimer :
--------------
I  shall not be held liable for any liability with respect to any claim by
the user or any other party arising from use of the program.


Troubleshooting :
-------------------

If you have problems connecting to a reflector do the following to diagnose
the problem :

o try to ping the ref . If you cant ping the ref , CuSeeMe/2 cant connect
  either.
o try the windows version from Cornell or White Pine. Booh :-)
o run DIAG.CMD and mail me the output
o if you are a advanced user , you might want to trace the situation.
   IPTRACE collects trace data and IPFORMAT formats the trace into a
   human readable file. IPTRACE and  IPFORMAT are included with Warp 4.0. I
   dont know about Warp 3.x.

Remember, as I mentioned Ref's come and go , sometimes they disappear for weeks
and then they reappear.


