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RNP promotes workshop on advanced networks

On September 24 and 25, the National Education and Research Network, through its Innovation Management, promoted the Workshop on Advanced Networks. The event took place at the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics, in Rio de Janeiro. Its aim was to integrate Brazilian research and development groups as well as foster debates on initiatives RNP participates in, innovative in terms of Internet networks.

On that occasion, participants discussed projects of advanced networks developed with the support of RNP and figuring in CNPq-RNP bid notice, from October 2001. They were Infra Life Project, I2TV Project, IQoM Project, Metropoa2 Project, ED-ReMAV-Curitiba Project, QoSWare Project and Quaresma Project.

Some accomplishments in the realm of the projects are worth of note. The staff of Infra Life Project, related to telemedicine, made distances shorter, optimized doctors' time and ensured greater reliability to diagnoses. They developed the HealthNet system, which enables patients' telediagnosis. Moreover, they made it possible to transmit exams on video. They also permitted getting the opinion of more than a doctor before the final diagnosis. The participants of ED-ReMAV-Curitiba Project, on distance education on the local network, have access to the first Brazilian network with a backbone in Gigabits and an ultra-modern laboratory for tests. Through I2TV Project, related to interactive TVs, researchers are creating software, TV programs and equipment for spectators to interact with programs they watch at home.

RNP's Working Groups existing from 2002 to 2003 (Quality of Service, Directories, Voice over IP, Digital Video and Educational Applications through a Network) also took part in the workshop. Created to facilitate the development of new projects together with national research groups, the WGs reported their activities, which can be converted into services to the users of RNP2 backbone.

It is worth mentioning that the Digital Video WG created the prototype of a Digital Video Portal containing a digital library, events and documents. This group designed a Digital Video Network in order to test the multicast transmission. Now, it is implementing a video on demand project. The Educational Applications through a Network WG is preparing documents that make it easier to carry out videoconferences on the Internet2. The Directories WG is getting structured so as to implant a multi campus directory project.

In the workshop, the relevance of Clara - Latin American Cooperation on Advanced Networks - was also stressed. This initiative involves the union of Latin-American academic advanced networks and the creation of an NGO representing them. Furthermore, the pioneer character of Giga Project in Brazil was highlighted. This project will promote the development of optical fiber technologies, applications, services and subprojects associated to broadband and IP protocol, in addition to tests in a high performance laboratory-network, connecting Campinas and Rio de Janeiro. Besides, it will make national enterprises technically more competitive. The work will result from a partnership among RNP, the Research and Development Center on Telecommunications (CPqD), universities, research centers, the government and companies.

[RNP, 10.11.2002]