May 2012
A research Project codename: ChaserView™
Last Updated: April 26, 2012
-----------------------------------------------------------
Software by iPixCel is the license holder of ChaserView(tm)
BGANX Communications, LLC is the distribution company
for:
ChaserView Version 2.1.9.5
Copyright (c) 2012 www.BGANX.com, All Right Reserved
-----------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
========
* WHAT IS BGANX ChaserView
* How to Buy ChaserView
* General Operation
* Known Bugs / Issues
* Recent Updates
-----------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS BGANX ChaserView
========================
BGANX ChaserView is a software solution for:
Windows Mobile and Windows Operating Systems ONLY!
ChaserView is designed for low latency duplexed video
conferencing over BGAN and other wireless networks.
ChaserView supports BGAN, CDMA EVDO, 1xRTT, GSM,
GPRS,
HSPDA, and most other IP based networks on PCs, selected
Pocket PCs, Handheld PCs, and selected Smartphones.
ChaserView runs on wireless networks such as GAN
and BGAN
with bandwidths as low as 28.8 kilobits/second.
ChaserView delivers Sculpture(tm) like video if people
are
in low bandwidth areas and displays full color video
if
they are in broadband areas.
In low bandwidth areas, Sculpture(tm) video possesses:
* clearer shape
* smoother motion
* shorter / lower latency
* much cheaper computational cost than do conventional
video technologies such as H.264
-----------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy ChaserView
=====================
contact: Mansour Ansari
8248 NW 98th
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73162
(405) 414-7791
e-mail: support@ipixcel.org
via web: http://www.ipixcel.com
ChaserView is a custom software application for wireless
distribution, streaming and video conferencing in
bidirectional mode using low power CPU platform such
as
Pocket PC, Smartphone, Tablet PC, Slates, and Netbooks.
This custom software solution offers unmatched capabilities
of video conferencing in low latency supporting bandwidth
ranges starting from 9600 baud to true broadband ranges.
This conferencing software offers level 1 encryption,
low latency, and unmatched performance over wireless
networks. Currently ChaserView software offers point
to
point connection over wireless and as related work,
a
multi-point, multi-session, and multi-participant
version due release in 2011.
For easy deployment of software, the entire solution
is
developed using C++, resulting in small executable
and
fast download and deployment with less than 10 MB
setup
file.
A fully functional free version of software is available
for evaluation for 14 days.
Most commercially available Web Cameras are supported
and work with our ChaserView software.
In Addition to Windows's PC platform, ChaserView
can
operate on Pocket PCs with ARM CPU core or Intel core
platform, offering bidirectional audio and video
conferencing, chat and picture transmission over wireless
networks such as AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon.
At the heart of ChaserView software is an innovative
network/bandwidth manager that offers unmatched access
to granular level bandwidth selection ranging from
9600
baud, 14.4 K, 28.8 K, 33.6 K, 56 K, 64 K, 128 K, 256
K,
384 K, 512 K, etc. The ability to manage the bandwidth
at granular level is unmatched by any other video
conferencing software as most off of the shelf
conferencing software requires a preset amount of
bandwidth to operate. ChaserView is also fully secure,
point to point operation over wireless in secure mode
with no interaction from middle servers such as are
used
by Skype or Google/Yahoo Video.
-----------------------------------------------------------
General Operation
=================
* These instructions assume that if your PC is behind
a
firewall or on a router that your Network Administrator
has opened ports 8100, 8110, and 8120. If these ports
are
not opened then ChaserView will not work as designed.
* This will allow ChaserView to stream data between
the
2 PC's:
* Port 8100 is used to send and receive ChaserView
Status
Data. Such as:
* Initial Session "Handshake" which identifies
the
"Name" of the ChaserView Remote PC
* Call was rejected by "Do Not Disturb"
on the Remote
PC
* either connected PC has decided to end the ChaserView
Session
* Statistical Data
* Text Chat Messages
* Status Change Messages such as:
* Remote Video On / Off
* Remote Audio On / Off
* Port 8110 is used to send and receive Video
* Port 8120 is used to send and receive Audio
For BGAN
--------
* Set up your BGAN SIM card as STATIC IP and then
configure your terminal
* no need to use the streaming class. After static
IP
is configured and you have verified your new static
IP, double click on ChaserView Icon.
* to verify the static IP - turn the BGAN terminal
on.
* next access the internet via any web browser
* in the address bar of your web browser, go to:
http://www.whatismyip.com
* If the IP Address doesn't match the static IP
Address which is assigned to you, then contact
your BGAN Air Time Provider
For All Connection Types
------------------------
* Go to ChaserView's interface
* Assuming that your video camera device is connected
(and turned on), then click on File menu, then
Options, then the Video Tab
* select your Video Camera from the "Camera
Capture
Device" list
* set your "Resolution" to "320 x
240" or smaller
* set your "Frames Per Second Rate" to
15 or less
* set your "Key Frame Interval" to 5
* set your "Bandwidth (Kbps) to 56
* Press the "Save and Exit" button to
Save your new
settings. This will also restart your Video using
your new Video Settings.
* When you are ready to connect to another PC using
ChaserView, use the File Menu, then choose Dialer
which will show you the "Dialer - Remote IP Address"
dialog. Enter the static IP Address of the Remote
PC that you wish to connect to... then press the OK
button. This will change the "Remote IP"
Address on
the Main Program to show what you entered in the
"Dialer" Dialog. If you are satisfied with
what you
keyed in, press the "Connect / Call" button.
* Upon successful connection:
* the "Remote IP" Address will be "remembered"
* you will see the "Name" of the Remote
PC
* you will be able to see the Remote Video and
hear the Remote Audio.
Connection Types
----------------
* Your PC using ChaserView can connect to a ChaserView
Session using:
* BGAN
* Landline
* ADSL
* Cable
* Dailup Connection
* Cell Phone. Such as:
* Sprint CDMA
* Verizon CDMA
* AT&T HSPDA
* SmartPhone or Pocket PC attached to the above
networks
as long as ChaserView Mobile version is loaded and
the
unit is turned on and the person on the other end
is
available to answer the call.
CDMA users
----------
Setup your CDMA account before connecting to another
ChaserView unit.
Due to the nature of CDMA you most likely will see
a
different IP Address for your CDMA Air Card each time
you
use your CDMA Air Card. (Dynamic IP Address)
For optimal performance you will need a Static IP
Address.
Here are 2 ways to get a Static IP Address:
1. Contact your CDMA Provider and pay a small monthly
fee for a Static IP Address.
2. Use a product like DNS2GO.
We have tested the DNS2GO (www.DNS2GO.com) product
and
it works very well.
Once you have a DNS account, for example: mydns.dns2go.com,
then you can use the account to connect to or be connected.
This account will track your IP number assigned to
your
CDMA account every time you turn the device on as
well as
when the IP Address changes as you are moving between
cell
towers.
*** Important Note *** DNS2GO works only on Windows
PCs and
not Windows Mobile OS devices!
*** Note *** Some CDMA Providers offer a Static IP
Address
for a small monthly fee so that your connection
will use the same (Static) IP Address every time.
In this case, you will not need to use a DNS
Provider.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Known Bugs / Issues
===================
* If you have 2 cameras that are the same, then both
cameras
are usable but only the first camera's audio recording
device
will be usable. This is because the currently available
tools
are not able to detect the second camera's audio recording
device in Windows. We are looking to find a solution
to this
issue for a future update.
* When you have a ChaserView Session to another computer
then
disconnect then reconnect to the same PC, you may
not see
the Frame Properly rendered until the 1 to 10 seconds
have
elapsed at which time the Remote PC will send a "key
frame"
which will refresh the whole video frame from the
Remote PC.
When a "key frame" is received it contains
the whole video
frame, not the small portions of the video frame which
are
different than the last "key frame" that
was sent. This is
because the Remote Video only sends partial updates
between
the key frames which only update the small portion
of the
picture that was changed since the last "key
frame". This
allows ChaserView to send less Video Data than if
a whole
frame was sent every time which in turn uses less
bandwidth
to stream the Video Data.
* On Options Dialog if you click outside of display
are of
one of the tabs, the current tab will not be shown.
If you
then click on one of the tabs, the selected tab will
reappear.
* Microsoft LifeCam Cinema Web Camera is currently
causing crash
issues with ChaserView. We are aware of the issue
and we are
working on resolving the problems using this Web Camera.
For
more information on this Web Camera, see the following
link:
http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/LifeCam-Cinema/product/01E5B0BE
If the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema Drivers are not
installed
then this Web Camera works fine. However if the Microsoft
LifeCam Cinema 3.50 Drivers are installed, there was
a crash
issue when a connection was made to the PC using this
camera.
We have made a work-around adjustment for Version
2.1.4.0 to
resolve this issue. We are in the process of testing
this
work-around to insure that it will perform correctly
on many
PC's.
* On the ChaserView Bandwidth Usage Graphs, if you
see an initial
Graph Value above 0.0 Kbps on the Remote Video Bandwidth
and
the Remote Audio Bandwidth then they both go to 0.0
Kbps shortly
thereafter.
This usually indicates that the Ports used by ChaserView
have
not been opened for 2 way communication through a
router. For
the PC that needs to run ChaserView, Open Ports 8100,
8110, and
8120.
However this could also indicate that the Remote
PC has turned
off both the Video and Audio after connecting. See
the "Stop
Video" and "Stop Talk" buttons.
* There is a codec issue with "Combined Community
Codec Pack"
with one or more of their DirectX Codecs which causes
ChaserView not to properly create the Live Video Window
which
then crashes ChaserView.
When the "Combined Community Codec Pack"
was uninstalled,
then ChaserView was able to create the Live Video
Window.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Recent Updates
==============
Version 2.1.9.5 Updates:
* ChaserView Program:
* Video Encryption added as an option which may
be turned
on and off. When ChaserView is launched, this is set
to
OFF by default.
* Added Remote Video Encryption Status.
* Added Remote Audio Encryption Status.
* Remote Audio is not encrypted at this time. This
is
reserved as a possible future feature.
* Added Local Video Resizing.
* Added User Defined Splash Screen as an option.
* Added User Defined Logo for About Form and Main
Form.
* Options Form comes up as if Chat Form is shown
and
Statistics Form is shown. Options Form will now properly
be shown below the 2 Forms for Chat and Statistics
instead of being shown on top of one or both of them.
Version 2.1.9.0 Updates:
* ChaserView Program:
* We now allow these video sizes:
128 x 96 (NEW)
160 x 120
176 x 144
320 x 240
352 x 288
360 x 200 (NEW)
640 x 480
720 x 400 (NEW)
* Remote Video Size Percentage is used via ComboBox
Value
to Resize Incoming Remote Video Window.
* Range 50% (Half Size) to 200%. (Double Size)
* Fixed the Options Form Dialog Tab Issue where
when you
clicked outside of the range of tabs that the tab
data
would disappear.
* ChaserView Bandwidth Usage Graphs Program:
* Fixed a BLINK issue when File Transfers are running.
* Fixed an error in the Watermarking of Captured
Images
from ChaserView.
* Now converts the Captured Images from Bitmap (BMP)
Format to JPG Format before uploading images.
Version 2.1.8.0 Updates:
* Created iPresence-U-Live to Receive Ultrasound
Live Video
from the iPresence-U Version 2.1.8.0 software which
is
ChaserView Version 2.1.7.0 with added Terason T3000
Ultrasound
Controls.
* Therefore iPresence-U contains everything from
ChaserView
up to Version 2.1.7.0!
Version 2.1.7.0 Updates:
* New Default Values:
* Reconnect after Timing Out: False
* Show Video Bandwidth Graph: No
* Video Resolution: 320 x 240
* New "Check for Update" Feature added
to About Menu for the
ChaserView Bandwidth Usage Graph Program.
* If Internet Connection is available, then Checks
to see
if an update is available.
* If the Version Number and Program Date matches
what is
available to be downloaded, then nothing to do.
Otherwise, You will be informed that a "ChaserView
Update is Available". Simply follow the instructions
on the screen to download and update ChaserView.
* NOTE * You must exit every ChaserView Program
when
instructed to do so OR the programs will not
be updated correctly.
If not updated correctly means that you will
have to rerun the "Check for Update" process
to get everything updated.
This is due to the fact that when a program
is "running" in the Windows Operating System,
Windows will not let you update that program
until it is no longer "running".
---
*** Note ***
The optional features in Version 2.1.7.0 below are
ONLY
available via a custom configuration.
If these optional features are not available to
you, then
anything that deals with these items is not usable.
Contact us for more information.
- See the "How to Buy ChaserView" section
at the top of
the http://www.ipixcel.com/chaserview_readme.htm web
page for more information.
---
* If Second Video Camera Option is allowed (Capture
Pictures
Video Window), then:
* Able to now save Video from the Capture Pictures
Window.
* At program start Video Recording is set to Off.
* At Create Capture Pictures Video Window, we now
check
to see whether to Record the Video or Not.
* Added New Menu Item on the Tools Menu and New
Button on
the Main Dialog for starting and stopping the recording
of Video from the Capture Pictures Window.
* When either one is used, the status is properly
changed
on both.
* At program launch, If 2 or more cameras connected
AND 2
cameras are allowable via the ChaserView Special
Configuration, then:
* Menu Item and Button are enabled.
* Otherwise, they are both disabled.
* If 2 Cameras Option is not setup, then the New Menu
Item and New Button are disabled... even if there
are 2 or more cameras connected to the PC.
* After program is started and 2 Cameras are allowable...
The Menu Item and Button are re-enabled once 2 cameras
are connected when the Videos are to be rebuilt for
any
reason.
* Pressing the New Menu Item or the New Button will
Stop
and Start Recording for the Capture Pictures Video
Window
by first stopping the current Capture Pictures Video
Window
then restarting it with or without recording of the
Video
per the New Setting.
* 15 Frames per second on the Capture Pictures Video
Window
is enforced whether we are recording the video or
not.
* If Recording of Video is set and we switch cameras,
then
the Capture Pictures Video Window will stop then restart
with the new camera Recording its' Video.
* Logic is now in place to start and stop the Recording
of
the Capture Pictures Video Window when either the
New Menu
Item or New Button is pressed.
* NOTE * We will be making some further adjustments
to the Video
Recording Capabilities in the very near future.
Version 2.1.6.0 Updates:
* Text Chat issue is resolved.
* By default, Audio Out is set to ON at program launch.
* The "Start Talk" / "Stop Talk"
button shows "Stop Talk" which
indicates that the Audio Out is set to ON.
* When we have a Connection (Inbound or Outbound),
the Status of
the "Talk" is checked.
* If set to "Stop Talk", then we Stop the
Audio Out then
restart it... this causes the Audio Out to send Audio
to the
Remote PC.
* If set to "Start Talk", this means that
the Audio is OFF...
We do nothing because the Audio Out is already stopped.
* When we make a change to any of the Options... The
logic now
checks to see if Audio Out is Set to ON.
* If set to "Stop Talk", then we Stop the
Audio Out then
restart it... this causes the Audio Out to send Audio
to the
Remote PC.
* If set to "Start Talk", this means that
the Audio is OFF...
We do nothing because the Audio Out is already stopped.
* Fixed a Video Width and Video Height issue regarding
Remote Video,
Local Video, and optional Second "Capture Pictures"
Video where
the Video Width and Video Height values were changed
improperly.
* Now uses 3 separate sets of Video Widths and Video
Heights to
prevent any further issues.
* If Local Video to use "Microsoft LifeCam Cinema"
Camera, then
uses 640 by 480 Resolution.
* This prevents a Video Graphics glitch where the
video looks
garbled on the Remote PC when this Camera is used.
* Upon calling or receiving a call, we automatically
do the
following to insure that the Video Out and Audio Out
are
properly working:
* If Video Out is "Started", then:
* Stop Video Out
* Start Video Out
* If Audio Out is "Started", then:
* Stop Audio Out
* Start Audio Out
---
*** Note ***
The optional features in Version 2.1.6.0 below are
ONLY
available via a custom configuration.
If these optional features are not available to
you, then
anything that deals with these items is not usable.
Contact us for more information.
- See the "How to Buy ChaserView" section
at the top of
the http://www.ipixcel.com/chaserview_readme.htm web
page for more information.
---
* When Second Video Camera Window is allowed and
when a second
Video Camera is installed, then the Automatic Picture
Capture
default value now uses 0 when initially used which
translates
to "Off". (No Automatic Picture Capturing.)
* When Second Video Camera Window is allowed, then
when to upload
pictures, logs into the configured FTP site then immediately
enters "Passive" Mode.
Version 2.1.5.0 Updates:
* When connected to a Remote ChaserView Session,
we have
greatly reduced Remote PC Audio Sound Dropouts.
* From General Configuration Data, now shows "Camera
1" or
"Camera 2" button name on the Live Video
Window's Caption
depending on which Video Camera Device is currently
being
used.
* Added the ability to capture picture snapshots
for the
Local Video Window and the Remote Video Window using
buttons on the Main ChaserView Dialog.
* Whenever any picture is captured, a Snapshot Sound
Effect
is used.
---
*** Note ***
The optional features in Version 2.1.5.0 below are
ONLY
available via a custom configuration.
If these optional features are not available to
you, then
anything that deals with these items is not usable.
Contact us for more information.
- See the "How to Buy ChaserView" section
at the top of
the http://www.ipixcel.com/chaserview_readme.htm web
page for more information.
---
* Added the ability to View a second Camera which
is used
for Capture Pictures.
This window is only available if you have 2 or more
cameras installed in your computer.
When Viewable, you are allowed to set a Picture
Capture
Interval to control how often pictures in this "Window"
can be captured. If you select an interval of 0 seconds,
then the Automatic Picture Capture Feature is turned
off.
You may capture pictures at any time by pressing
the
"Capture Pictures Save" button.
* ChaserView Graph Program:
* Added the ability to Configure File Transfers
(FTP
Settings) and Configure "Picture Watermark"
Settings.
FTP Setting Dialog has the ability to create an
ASP
Page for ChaserView for viewing uploaded pictures
on a web page. Your Customized ChaserView ASP Page
is
then uploaded along with all files necessary to view
this new Web Page.
* This assumes that your Web Site is capable of
viewing Active Server Pages. (ASP)
Here's a Sample Web Page from our FotoMover Product
to give you the look and feel of the ChaserView Web
Page:
http://www.bganx.com/FotoMover/Demo/FotoMover.asp?1=mansour&2=a2006-03-21&3=203543&COLOR=1
* Now has the ability to Watermark Saved Pictures
then
Automatic Upload those Pictures to a Web Page for
viewing at a later time.
Only uploads Captured Pictures from Local Video
Window
and Capture Pictures Window from ChaserView.
Version 2.1.4.0 Updates:
* Audio Capture Device changes are now enabled. When
you
change to different Audio Capture Device, it stops
then
restarts the Audio Capture.
* This means you can easily switch the Audio Source
from
say Camera 1 to Camera 2.
* Options Form Dialog changes:
* Added "Audio Capture Filter" button
to the Audio Tab.
This allows you to fine tune the selected Audio Capture
Device's settings.
* Added "Video Capture Filter" and "Video
Capture Pin"
buttons to the Video Tab. This allows you to fine
tune
the selected Video Capture Device's settings.
* Added "Camera 1 Button Caption" and
"Camera 2 Button
Caption" buttons on the General Tab to allow
you to
change the Button Names which are shown on the Main
Form of ChaserView.
* Remote Video now shows up correctly no matter what
the
Video Camera's closest Video Resolution to the Desired
Video Size chosen on the Video Tab on the Options
Form
Dialog.
* ChaserView uses a new methodology to predictively
select the closest Camera Video Size to the Selected
Video Resolution from the Video Tab on the Options
Form Dialog.
For Example, If the Desired Video Size is 320 by
240
pixels but the Video Camera Capture Device doesn't
have
that size, then the program may find 720 by 480 pixels
as the closest match from say a FireWire Camera.
* This allows the FireWire Cameras to now function
properly in ChaserView.
*** Note *** We tested using NTSC with Composite
Video
using direct connection with FireWire
(1394) cable and using EasyCap USB 2.0
Capture Device connected to a Sony DV-Cam
on Windows XP and Windows 7 systems.
You may be able to find this device or a similar
device
at your local computer retailer or online.
We have supplied these links to make it easier for
you
to find the EasyCap USB 2.0 Device product online:
[Google Search]
http://www.google.com/products?q=easycap+usb+2.0+video+capture+adapter+with+video+editor+software&hl=en&aq=0&oq=easycap+USB+2.0
[Amazon Store]
http://www.amazon.com/Easycap-USB-Video-Capture-Adapter/dp/B001BWU8US
[Atlas Store]
http://www.theatlasstore.com/p/1114136/video-tv-dvd-vhs-audio-capture-adapter-usb-20-easycap.html
[Brilliant Store]
http://www.brilliantstore.com/computer_monitor_accessories_dekcell_cpa_1280.html
[Shoptronics Store]
http://www.shoptronics.com/easycap-usb-video-adapter-with-audio.html
* Current list of Available Video Resolutions for
ChaserView:
* 160 by 120 pixels
* 176 by 144 pixels
* 320 by 240 pixels
* 352 by 288 pixels
* "ChaserView Video Bandwidth Usage Graph"
improved to
show Graphs of the Video Frames Per Second and Audio
Bandwidth on the Local PC and Remote PC.
* We have made a work-around adjustment to resolve
the Microsoft
LifeCam Cinema crash issue when the Microsoft LifeCam
Cinema 3.50
Drivers are used. We are in the process of testing
this work-around
to insure that it will perform correctly on many PC's.
* Connected Time now works correctly every time during
a connected
ChaserView Session.
Version 2.1.3.0 Updates:
* Now allows multiple cameras that are the same to
work
properly when switching between the cameras.
* Resizing the Local Video and Remote Video works
properly
without excess white space under the Video.
* When connected to a Remote ChaserView Session,
the Remote
Video Caption now shows the Remote PC's Name.
* Fixed Text Chat so that the text doesn't go outside
of the
width of the Text Chat History List. Also scrolls
to the
last line in the list when the List is updated.
* Log Files are now created while the program is
running:
1. Connection Log which tracks connections / disconnect
data
2. Statistics Log
3. Text Chat History Log
* "My Internet IP Address" now correctly
shows the correct
Internet IP Address whether connected to the Internet
or
Not on the About Form and the Miscellaneous Tab on
the
Options Form.
On Miscellaneous Tab, when you reconnect or disconnect
from
the Internet then when you press the "Refresh
IP Address"
button then ChaserView will update the "My Internet
IP
Address".
* For Example, when connected to the Internet you
will see
something like "12.34.56.78". Then when
disconnected from
the Internet you will see "unknown". Then
when reconnected
to the Internet you will see something like "12.34.56.78"
again.
* Added "Show Video Bandwidth Graph?"
(Default value is "Yes".)
to the General Tab on the Options Form.
When set to "Yes" you will be able to
Visually watch the Video
Bandwidth in a moving Graph, while connected to ChaserView
Session on a Remote PC. When not connected, the graph
will
not update until connected again.
If you change this value to "No" then
press either the
"Save and Update" button -OR- "Apply
Changes" button, then
the updates to this graph will stop.
* "Start Video" / "Stop Video"
button now works correctly
whether we are connected or not connected to a ChaserView
Session.
* If you do not have a camera when the program is
first launched
after the initial showing of the Options Form Dialog,
then
ChaserView does not allow the Options Form Dialog
to come up.
To use a camera after you have started ChaserView
without a
camera, simply exit the program, hook up your camera,
then
restart ChaserView.
You may still connect to a ChaserView Session to
a Remote PC.
You will be able to see the Remote Video and hear
the Remote Audio.
*** Note *** The side without a Video Camera will
most likely
be streaming the audio from the input of their sound
card.
So if there is music being played on that PC that
most likely will be heard on the Remote PC as well
as an echo back of the incoming audio.
* Minor Memory Leak fixed.
* Added Automatic Reconnect on Dropped Call Feature.
This new feature ONLY works when all 3 of these
conditions are
TRUE:
1. We made an outgoing call to the Remote PC.
2. Call was dropped due to timeout during the ChaserView
Session.
3. The "Reconnect after Timing Out" Menu
Item is checked.
*** Note *** ONLY 1 attempt is made to reconnect
when the call
is dropped due to timeout.
Once reconnected then if connection is lost again,
then another reconnection attempt is made.
-----------------------------------------------------------
*** End ***
