Adirondack Advanced Network (AAN) Provides Disaster Recovery Services to Remote Mountain Towns in New York
The Adirondack Advanced Network (AAN), an IP over frame relay network, is configured with several RADVision Gateways and Video Interface Units that provide disaster recovery and communications services to remote locations in New Yorkís Adirondack mountain region. FEMA, the State Department of New York, Verizon, Cisco and RADVision teamed to establish the AAN in 1997. The network was first used in January 1998 when the Adirondacks were hit by record-breaking ice storms, snow and severe cold. The New York Department of State and FEMA set up disaster recovery command centers to reach communities that had lost electric power and phone service. State Department and FEMA directors were able to maintain direct voice and video contact with the repairmen who were working to restore power to the area.  

The 70 video conferencing end points and 40 desktop conferencing systems on the network are manufactured by a number of different suppliers including PictureTel, VCON, Tandberg, VTEL and Intel. Many of these systems require data conversion from H.320 to H.323 and from ISDN to H.323. The AAN team deployed RADVision OnLAN videoconferencing gateways and Video Interface Units (VIUs) in order to link H.320 video conferencing systems. The RADVision VIU converts the H.320 data into an IP-encapsulated H.323 stream that can run on the IP over frame network.  

The AAN also uses a RADVision L2W Gateway that converts H.320 data from ISDN to encapulated H.323 so that it can also run on the network. The VIU contacts the RADVision L2W Gateway, requesting the network address of the ISDN lines. The RADVision Gateway allows the VIU to establish its network connection and enables videoconferencing users to make multipoint calls. RADVision's Gateway also provides all sites on the AAN with centralized access to ISDN lines. This has saved network developers the expense of installing ISDN lines in each location while giving them the flexibility of being able to move videoconferencing equipment from room to room without ever having to move lines.  

AAN, which is powered by Cisco routers, was prototyped with funds from the New York State Advanced Telecommunications project funded by Verizon, formerly Bell Atlantic. The network is also used for distance learning, training and non-critical community outreach services.        

Original can be found at: RadVision