The Berkeley Internet Broadcasting System (BIBS) can be used for video conferencing, high quality video broadcasting, and distance learning. Standard Internet protocols and applications (e.g., IP-Multicast, RTP, and the Internet MBone tools) are being used to construct the system. Thousands of live, scheduled replay, and on-demand programs can be broadcast simultaneously to any computer on or off campus. In addition, conventional video programs (e.g., "over the air" broadcast television channels, cable channels, and video programs distributed by the OMS) can also be delivered through the BIBS System. This technology has been used by BMRC researchers to broadcast seminars worldwide on the Internet (e.g., the Berkeley Multimedia Interfaces and Graphics (MIG) Seminar and to produce special events (e.g., the China/Berkeley/All UC Conference internet video conferencing demonstration). In essence, BIBS is a cable distribution system that operates on the Internet.

Tools currently being developed at the BMRC as part of the BIBS include: 1) a Broadcast Management System, 2) a Director's Console, 3) a Video Production Switcher, and 4) a Questionboard floor control tool.

1. The Broadcast Management System, is a key component of BIBS. Production of an Internet MBONE broadcast requires the setup and configuration of many software processes and hardware devices. Which processes are required and how they should be configured varies with the scope of the broadcast and the configuration of the room from which the broadcast is being generated. As the complexity and number of elements involved in the broadcast increases, ensuring that all components are correctly configured becomes unmanageable. Moreover, as more live broadcasts are generated from studio classrooms, operational and management support tools are required to reduce costs. Performing broadcast setup automatically for live broadcasts and scheduled replays is the task of the Broadcast Management System.
   
   
2. The Director's Console is a software tool that provides a single coherent user interface for managing the production of a particular Internet broadcast. It provides facilities for monitoring the broadcast video and audio streams, selecting the broadcast video feeds from a number of possible sources (for example, cameras, presenter pc, slides etc.) and for choosing and executing video effects (see VPS below).
   
   
3. The Video Production Switcher (VPS) is a software-only system designed to provide video effects processing such as video titling, overlay, and transitions. It is modeled after a traditional broadcast television studio production switcher, which uses special purpose custom designed hardware. The first prototype implementation of the VPS uses a single processor to generate each effect. Current research is concerned with developing algorithms to distribute video effects processing automatically across large numbers of processors for efficient parallel computation.
   
   
4. The Questionboard tool (QB) is designed to enable remote audience participation in MBone seminars and classes. Current tools assume a videoconference model with a small number of participants. In larger seminar settings there is little remote participation due to the absence of good floor control mechanisms. QB addresses this problem by providing a mechanism for the speaker or moderator to select audience members who have questions to ask, and allowing participants to enter questions asynchronously using text or audio.

Finally, BMRC has developed web pages to advertise BIBS programs on the Berkeley campus. This program guide lists programs being broadcast on different channels, which users can join. Programs include class lectures, interviews, and previously recorded material (e.g., Cal Sports Highlight Shows.) During Fall 1998 we have experimented with broadcasting six classes in addition to the Berkeley MIG Seminar. These classes are recorded in an on-line archive that allows students to review lectures using any computer directly connected to the campus network. Industrial and government research grants and donations support this research.