In this paper, we present the design and implementation of the Beteus (Broadband Exchange for Trans-European Usage) communication platform. BETEUS is an european project aiming at developing a generic, stable, flexible and scalable communication platform which provides support for interactive work between distributed end-users. In terms of interactive work, BETEUS concentrates on distributed classrooms, tele-seminars, multimedia document archival and retrieval and tele-tutoring. The problems raised during the realization of the BETEUS communication platform are outlined and the proposed solutions explained. The follow-up of BETEUS in Switzerland through the TELEPOLY project which concerns operational teleteaching between the two Swiss federal institutes of technology (EPFL and ETHZ) is also presented.
Yousef Jalali, Natascia Petringa, Mary Jean Bürer