LifeSize Icon

The LifeSize Icon series is a line of the high-performance video systems supporting function of intellectual video - video conference, considerably simplified and completely protected from failures.

Target use

The LifeSize Icon system perfectly is suitable for any meeting room and a conference room and is so simple in use that the entered person can be connected to video conference for only several seconds by a one click of the button.

Functions of summary schedules of meetings and pop-up reminders will not allow to miss another meeting. The integrated lists of meetings allow to find quickly meetings and to be connected to them on demand, and directories on the basis of names and expanded functions of search provide quick and simple access to the person which it is required to contact.

The Smart Video technologies expanding possibilities of users in establishment of close business contacts products of the LifeSize Icon series bring video conferences to new qualitative level.

Key advantages

• Ease of use

The LifeSize Icon systems are developed so that as much as possible to simplify their use. On the screen in a simple and evident form all functions necessary for establishment of a reliable communication are provided. Access to all video applications can be got simple clicking of the button therefore the technology party of a conference requires less attention, allowing to find more time for the solution of the main objectives.

• Expansibility and flexibility

Thanks to the possibility of adaptation to changes of needs of the company put when developing it is possible to update the software and accessories at any time. Whether it is required to expand Wednesday with several displays, to increase performance or to add support of new features, for example record or group calls — the LifeSize Icon series will provide protection of investments and compliance to future needs of the growing company.

• Integration into the LifeSize UVC Platform platform

The powerful integrated infrastructure applications on the LifeSize UVC Platform platform are opened before users by ample opportunities. The simplified setup and preparation for work allow IT specialists to include functions of stream transfer and record, to manage network, it is safe to bypass firewalls and NAT, to support group video calls and as required to involve new functionality of video transmission.

• High performance and power

Support of video in the HD 1080p60 format provides the maximum clearness and smoothness of movements, and opportunities for the presentations in format 1080p allow to achieve unsurpassed detailing for successful joint work.

LifeSize Icon 600

The employee of Frost & Sullivan research company Robert Arnold prepared the state-of-the-art review of the solution of a video conferencing of LifeSize. It was faced by a task using specialists of LifeSize or the qualified partner of the company to test the equipment as the normal user who does not have vocational education with limited IT resources or at all without like those.

For preparation of the overview the set for video conference of LifeSize Icon 600 consisting of the Icon 600 codec, the camera LifeSize 10x, the LifeSize Digital MicPod microphone and the Samsung 32 screen’ 1080p LED was tested.

For operation of the Icon 600 codec wire Ethernet-connection and HDMI wires for connection to the screen and the camera is used. The camera, the screen and the codec are connected to network of 220 V separately. The digital Digital MicPod microphone is connected to the codec through the LifeSize Link cable which is very similar to mini USB and also provides a power supply of the microphone.

Robert set a test set of the equipment of video conference at the home office and connected it independently. At the same time the cloud platform of LifeSize UVC working at the virtualized software and the equipment located in data center of LifeSize was used.

Configuration

Installation and connection of Icon to a home network also does not cause difficulties, however the users performing installation independently need to know the public IP address, the IP address of the Icon system and the IP address for registration for UVC. If the user is out of corporate network and uses the network screen, then he needs to know how it is safe to configure it. For this purpose he needs to permit ping for connection test with the equipment and to register rules for traffic transmission to such services as to LifeSize Manager and other UVC applications. These applications can physically be located both in corporate network, and in a cloud. If the user is able to configure, for example, house Wi-Fi, then he will cope also with installation of the basic Icon configurations and the network screen.

"By the end of tests on my system all additional options, except the application for mobile video conference of LifeSize UVC ClearSea and the mode of the double screen which allows to bring different documents to one display, and a session of VKS – to another were set. To the middle of my testing LifeSize submitted the new beta of software with enhanced capabilities of record. As my system was at my place, I had to set the beta, using the web interface of the administrator of Icon. Eventually this process was painless and took me only about 10 minutes – an excellent example of what simple should be solution management of communication based on software", – Robert Arnold notes.

Short description and analysis of the main opportunities of the solution Icon 600

Remote control. The Icon remote control is an elegant ergonomic design which does not distract on itself(himself) attention – numerous keys of traditional panels are hidden that gives to users the chance to concentrate on the screen and a video meeting. The design basis – ideology of the ILS systems (indication on a windshield) – in fact, leaves only two buttons: the button of shutdown of video/audio which is ideally located on top for quick access and a choice key in the form of a castor that does navigation convenient and clear.

Camera. Possibilities of the camera LifeSize 10x significantly differ from opportunities of the fixed cameras. The camera LifeSize is connected to the codec via the HDMI connector and has the following functionality: support 1080p60; a possibility of installation of an inclination in two planes and automatic adjustment of sharpness and also a possibility of remote control the camera other participants of video conference (function can be blocked by settings of the administrator via the web interface). In addition users can mount using the panel 10 options of provision the cameras that allows to select quickly the best foreshortening depending on physical parameters of the meeting room and the number of conferees.

Menu. One more advantageous difference of the Icon interface from difficult menus of the VIDEOCONFERENCING traditional systems consists in the elements of design similar to smartphones and tablets. The panel of the menu is located at the top of the screen and is quickly scrolled to the left or to the right using the switching button on the remote control. The design of the descending menu repeats the menu of the smartphone or the tablet of cross type. Using the button of the choice it is possible to switch between different options, such as system parameters, calls, sound, calendar, record, presentations, control of the camera, etc.

Schedule. In the table of the schedule users can see all meetings which they organized or to which they are invited and to participate in them using a one click. Calls can be also appointed by the administrator in the LifeSize® UVC Multipoint™ web interface. Integration with Microsoft Outlook/Exchange gives the chance to enter video meetings to the schedule and to invite to them other users the same as it happens to audio-and web conferences.

Status. The Status panel which is in the house menu under the point "System" gives the chance to users to see the status of different components of a system in real time and with the clear description that it allows to reveal faults and to carry out diagnostics. For example, if MicPod, the camera or the equipment cable are not connected, the Status button lights up and the description of a malfunction is given.

Multipoint calls. LifeSize UVC Multipoint Enterprise Edition supports following features: compatibility with users of Microsoft Lync and with users of the systems of other producers; display up to 49 participants on the screen; image resolution 1080p30; the schedule of conferences and the individual coder for each participant.

Layout. The unified Icon interface allows to change arrangement of participants of a group conference on the screen directly during the video meeting. The Icon system used together with infrastructure of UVC provides the widest options of display on the screen of both participants of conferences, and own image, the presentations and video content.

Presentation. UVC supports exchange of documents and video content with quality 1080p60. Any content can be broadcast during video conference from the computer connected to the Icon codec via HDMI or DVI connectors. Can show the presentations both organizers of meetings, and other participants.

Web interface. The solution SmartVideo has several administrative interfaces: a user interface for the Icon system and also for applications of the infrastructure UVC platform. In the presence of access to the Icon web interface the user can execute a number of functions, such as change of preferences of calls, settings of the camera, or to use the manager of calls for enrollment and call management. Also the web interface can be applied to diagnostics, software updating and accomplishment of other administrative functions.

It should be noted that the web interface of the UVC platform can provide access as to the user functions of applications, such as UVC VideoCenter, UVC ClearSea, UVC Multipoint, and to administrative applications, such as UVC Manager, UVC Transit, UVC Access. Such uniform access point and setup of all components of a system did not exist in traditional visual communication systems – in them this function is implemented by installation of the additional tool.

2014: LifeSize Icon 800

On July 11, 2014 it became known of a release of the LifeSize Icon 800 system from LifeSize company.

LifeSize Icon 800 is the highly productive, based on standards system of a video conferencing for big conference rooms. It supports several cameras and displays and provides video with the permission 1080r60.

LifeSize Icon 800 is supplied a set of entrance and output interfaces for data acquisition from PTZ cameras, notebooks, video recorders and to that similar devices. The simple and intuitive user interface of the LifeSize Icon 800 system provides convenient and comfortable holding sessions of a video conferencing with excellent quality of video and simple data exchange. The built-in LifeSize Link Adapter provides connection to the LifeSize Icon 800 system of LifeSize Phone or Digital MicPod microphones with cables up to 60 m long that gives the chance of deeper placement of microphones in the hall.

In composition of LifeSize Icon 800:

• the LifeSize Icon 800 codec sizes 2RU 48.3 cm (19') with fastening in 19" a rack;
• LifeSize Camera 10x;
• LifeSize Phone microphone;
• LifeSize Link Adapter adapter;
• 6-finger tip control of remote control;
• set of cables.

Specific Features

• video conferencing and data exchange with the permission 1080r;
• touch screen LifeSize Phone of the 2nd generation;
• simple interaction through SIP, H.323 and H.264;
• broad set of interfaces (4 video inputs of Full HD, 2 video outputs of Full HD, 7 audivkhod, 4 audio outputs, 2 inputs of USB 3.0);
• support of two displays (any 720p or 1080p HD displays);
• support of several video sources;
• The PTZ camera with a 10-fold optical zoom in a set;
• completely integrated HD microphones: a range of 4.57 m, work with long cables by means of the LifeSize Link adapter, additional support to two microphone systems - LifeSize Digital MicPods;

the simple and clear user interface with the touch screen;

• rack mounting.

2015: Icon 400 и Icon Flex

Lifesize company announced at the beginning of 2015 two new terminals - Icon 400 and Icon Flex. Both above-stated systems are focused on small meeting rooms and are the integrated solutions integrating the codec with the video camera. The cameras PTZ Full HD with the permission 1080p30 enter into the structure of Icon 400 and Icon Flex. Both solutions can be delivered with the MicPod microphone or a tube of Phone with the touch screen. The last can be used and separately - for audio conferences.

One of distinctive features of the Icon Flex system is that it is intended for work in a unified environment with such existing applications as Microsoft Lync Skype, Google Hangouts or Cisco Jabber. At connection of the user devices to the Icon Flex terminal (through USB ports) all available profile applications are automatically identified at the expense of what the general communication environment allowing to communicate comfortably regardless of a software and hardware platform of the specific gadget is created.

Both Icon 400, and Icon Flex can be connected easily to Lifesize Cloud services to involve all available "cloud" functionality.