BBN Technologies

Networked Voice for Collaborative Groups

BBNTalk is a flexible and scalable, multi-user VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) conversation-collaboration system that you can use by itself or in conjunction with other multi-user systems. Define discrete conversation groups, join one or more groups, speak to just one group from among many: BBNTalk remains flexible and reliable.

Based on a client-server architecture, BBNTalk operates in the Windows™ environment. Users can opt for voice activation or push-to-talk operation and can "mix and match" those choices for various conversation groups. BBNTalk can handle up to 64 conversation groups, and it can record communications for later playback and analysis.

In Use Today with Military Training Simulations

The U.S. Military uses BBNTalk today to train personnel before deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. BBNTalk's flexibility enables it to simulate the complex communications entailed in military convoy operations: on the commander's radio nets, among a vehicle's occupants, in a squad, and in whatever other groups are needed to accurately capture the realities of communication in the field.

Multiple Uses

The many possible uses of BBNTalk for group communications, whether simple or complex, include:

• Military exercises
• Civilian and military training sessions
• Multi-player behavioral studies
• Other group communications

Automated or Manual Configuration

You can establish communication groups once and have BBNTalk use that configuration automatically every time it starts, or you can set up communication groups manually. You can also reconfigure communication groups on the fly: at any time during a session.

Graphical User Interface

BBNTalk employs an easy to use, graphical user interface that employs standard Windows-based interactive dialog boxes familiar to users.

Session Recording and Meta Data

BBNTalk can record all communications and export them in common audio-file formats. It also exports XML-formatted metadata about the session for later analysis (for example, metadata for each communication includes when it occurred, the speaker, and the communication group.

The BBNTalk Client window, showing the members of several communication groups (in this example call signs identify each participant).

Features

• Voice-over-IP architecture: for use over any IP-based network
• Standalone operation, or use it in parallel with other multi-user applications
• Can simulate complex, real-world communications with a flexible setup that allows multiple communication groups with independent and overlapping memberships
• Voice activated or push-to-talk operation, tailorable for each communication group and each user
• Automatic or manual setup of conversation groups for each session, and these are reconfigurable during a session
• A recording facility for later playback and analysis
• Full graphical user interface
• Optional command-based operation and XML-based, automated setup
• Robust client-server architecture
• Operates in a Windows™ environment (requires DirectX™ version 9 or better)

Easy to Use

Launch BBNTalk with a command and arguments, or set it up once and start it with the desktop-shortcut icon:

Control BBNTalk using its graphical user interface: