Designing Integrated AV Systems for

the FUTURE (not the Past!)

With Bundled Managed Network Infrastructure

Greg Bronson, CTS-D

Cornell University
 About Cornell University
– Private/Public University, based in Ithaca NY

– 21,000 + students; 12+ Colleges/Schools

– Fun Facts
• First degrees in journalism, veterinary medicine, and the first
doctorates in electrical and industrial engineering.
• Ranked 10th best University in world (July 2015, CWUR)
 Session Outline
– AV/IT Has “Converged”
• New Opportunity
• New Risk
– Cornell Learning Space Environment project catalyst for
cross divisional reset of AV design/build
– Short term “wins” and “challenges”
– Longer term benefits beginning to emerge
 About Cornell University
– IT@Cornell Organizational Structure
• College/Unit “Local” IT/AV Service Groups
– Faculty/Staff Direct Support
– Facilities Direct Support

• Central IT/AV “CIT”

– Academic Technologies
– Integrated AV Engineering
– Network Engineering
– Voice Engineering
 Cornell’s AV (Ithaca)
– Over 400 Teaching Spaces (i.e. classrooms, auds, seminar)
– + More Than 2x That # of Other Spaces (i.e. Conf Rms)
– Many Still “Analog” Systems w/ Minimal Tele data
Integration
 Cornell’s Network (Ithaca)
– Connects 300+ Facilities via 700+ Telecom Rooms
• Plus additional telecom enclosures inside teaching spaces

– 1,800 VLANs (give or take )

– Ezranet/Network Connectivity Program

• Modern network infra supporting voice/video/data services
• Including IP-based telephony, gigabit network connections, and
building-wide wireless coverage.
 AV – IT Convergence (pre 2014)
• Some Legacy AV System’s Are “Connected”
– Videoconferencing H.323/SIP
– Voice lines
– Remote control panel
– AV mostly still “analog” within room

• But, # of Connections/Devices Rapidly Expanding

– “AVoT” (AV of Things!) = Sea of 3rd Party Switch/Hubs?
• Increasing Requirement on Security & Support
 Need for "OFE" Network Connect
• Standardize (Equip “Bundle”) Per AV/Room Type
– CU “Type 1” AV Tech = 8 port HP switch
– CU “Type 3” AV Tech = 24 port HP switch
• Managed Network Switch (dedicated fiber w/ service
levels)
– Integrated AV (content delivery and remote manage)
– Voice (VoIP, through voice gateway)
– Wireless Networking Enhancement (~3 devices per seat)
 Need for “Native” Digital AV
• Consider
– Ability to support full digital EDID/HDCP
– Dedicated analog devices (i.e. VHS/DVD) “…Sunset”
– Legacy analog “goes-in-ta’s” interface (i.e. VGA laptop)
• Go with - In Room HDBaseT
– Crestron DM
– Preference to displays/projection w/ direct HDBaseT in
 Pilot/Test Type 1 System (2014 Q3)
– Six Pilot Rooms
• (+ bench mockup system)
 Pilot/Test Type 1 System (2014 Q1)
Before (Analog, non networked/managed)
 Pilot/Test Type 1 System (2014 Q3)
After
 Pilot/Test Type 1 System (2014 Q4)
– Lessons Learned …
– Technically Worked, Except for
• Wireless presentation issues
• Unplugging – loss of net connect
– And …
• Poor Feedback on UI
• Dim View of Shared Control Processors
• Further Consideration on Equip Locations
Refocus on User Requirements & Standards (2015 Q1)
• Updated room AV system "Types“
– Learning Spaces Environment Project Revisit/Update
– Categorized use cases and primary tech stack

– Type I = basic presentation & optional (soft) collaboration

– Type 2 = dual image pres. plus (soft) collaboration
– Type 3= advanced pres. plus (hard) conferencing
– Type 4= active learning/breakouts
– Type 5= instructional labs
Refocus on User Requirements; CU Types (2015 Q2)
Refocus on User Requirements; CU Types (2015 Q2)
 Updated Designs (2015 Q3)
• Updated AV Designs
– Type 1 w/ Managed AV
 Roll Out into Active Projects
– Changed Structure for New Integrated AV Service
• Managed AV + AV Design Consulting
• Ensure All AV is Design/Built w/ Bundled AV/IT
– 4 Preferred AV Integrators Required to Use “OFE” Switch
– Started with “One Off” Rooms
– Being Adopted More Broadly (Building Wide Projects)
Document/Update Campus Standards

– Document for Repeatable Process

• Service Desk Provisioning
– Cross “IT” (Network, Voice, AV) Engineers and TSPs
(technical support providers) Meetings
– Facilities PM “Toolbox” and Construction Standards
Document/Update Campus Standards
 Leverage Ongoing Support Benefits
• Shelf Stock Consolidated
• Bench Systems for Mockups and Code Pretests
• Streamline Campus and Vendor Support w/ Tier
Training and Handoff/Escalations
• Normalize Security Compliance/Incidents
Leverage Ongoing Support Benefits
Less “Sneakernet” AV with embedded remote tools
 Session Summary
– We’ve Embraced AV/IT “Convergence”
– Technology and Business Opportunities Can/Are Leveraged
(with End User/Owner Benefits!)
– Industries (“AV” and “IT”) Mutually Cooperating/Benefitting
– Document, Share and Learn w/ Others!
 Credits/Thanks
• Jeff Simmons
• Andy Page and Amber Aiken
• Tom Theimer and Sextant Consultants
• Dan Eckstrom
• Ed Fisher
• Infocomm and BICSI
Questions?