Videoconferencing in the context of 3D virtual environments promises better spatial consistency and mutual awareness for its participants. However, in the absence of IP Multicast and limited upload bandwidth of today's DSL connections, the feasibility of such systems in supporting even a small group of users is in question. This paper presents the design and implementation of an awareness driven 3D videoconferencing application that runs on a peer-to-peer architecture and our own End System Multicast protocol. The paper highlights the unique requirements of multiparty videoconferencing applications and presents a solution that can support 4-10 bandwidth-limited users without the need for IP Multicast capability.
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