Brihaspatisync is a platform-independent highly scalable live lecture delivery and interaction tool for holding live classroom sessions over internet using both multicast and unicast technology.

The Brihaspatisync is built using java as standalone application. There are five basic components in this system. The server module manage the authentication process, allocation  and deallocation of multicast IP address. It uses MySQL database which is shared with Brihaspati (The virtual class room). consequently, the instructor, student logins and  passwords are across both the tools.

 Features List:

·         Platform independent technology

·         Instructor interface with full control

·         Shared whiteboard

·        Text chat

·         Audio/video communication

·         Desktop sharing

·         Http-tunnel support: can also work behind firewalls.

·         Peer-to-peer (p2p) architecture

·        Both multicast and unicast network communication

·         Recorder for archiving the lecture sessions.

 Architecture

 The Brihaspati_sync is built using Java, as standalone application. There are five basic components in this system.  

Server: The server module manages the authentication process, allocation and deallocation of multicast IP address. It uses mysql database common to Brihaspati. Consequently, the instructors' students' and guest logins and passwords are same across both of the tools.

Client: The client module manages the Session Announcement, Delivery of live lectures,  Access Control list, Interaction between student and instructor (one to one and one to many Communication), Group discussion, Raising a query, Transmission of Audio, Video, Text, Recorder (User can record important lectures), Sharing study materials, adding, removing, Updating and Loading, Monitoring student activity by the instructor, Screen Capture Utility

 Functions (Instructor)

Session: Instructor can announce one or more session schedule for Lecture.

Whiteboard: The instructor can make drawings using freehand as well as predefined graphic components along with the chatting. This makes live discussion over internet more effective.

Chat: The users can communicate online. Of course, they have to be logged on at the same time for this.

Audio/Video: The Instructor can capture and receive unicast Audio/Video from separate terminal and multicast Audio/Video data to multicast.

Screencapture: The Instructor can capture and  receive unicast desktop screen activities and transmit it to multicast.

Handraise:when student handraise instructor can allow audio control  to him for ask query.

 Functions (Student)

Session: Student can view a list of sessions and information about that session Lecture announced by Instructor.

Whiteboard: student can only view the drawing of whiteboard that are making by instructor.

Chat: The users can communicate online via text chat

Audio/Video: Student can only receive multicast audio/video data which transmitted by instructor.

Screencapture: Student can receive instructor’s desktop activities from multiocast.

 Functions (guest )

Guest can only view the all activities and noting to do in system.

Future Enhancement:

·         Layered codec

·         Dynamic adjustment to bandwidth variations.

·        Can be integrated with Brihaspati asynchronous tool.

·         Multi-server Clustering