Designing a videoconference system for active networks

Active networks are receiving increasing attention due to their promise of great flexibility in tailoring services to applications. This capability stems from the exploitation of network devices whose behaviour can be changed dynamically by applications, possibly using technologies and architectures originally conceived for mobile code systems. Notwithstanding the promise of active networks, real-world applications that clearly benefit by them are still missing. In this paper we describe the design of a videoconference system conceived expressly for operation over active networks. The goal of this activity is to pinpoint the benefits that mobile code and active networks bring to this application domain and to provide isnights for the exploitation of these concepts in other application domains.