Polycom®, Inc. 100
Sharing Content During Conferences
Content such as graphics, presentations, documents, or live video can be shared with conference
participants.
Content sharing architecture is comprised of various aspects:
Content Control Protocols - H.239 (for H.323), BFCP (for SIP), or People+Content (Polycom’s
protocol used for CP conferences prior to H.239 creation)
Content Media Protocols - H.263 (AVC only), H.264 (all conferencing modes), or TIP (Cicso’s
proprietary protocol for TelePresence endpoints).
Content Transmission Methods - Content Video Switching and Multiple Content Resolutions.
Sharing Content in Cascading Environments

Content Control Protocols

Endpoints wishing to share content, request the Content Token from the MCU (in cascaded environments,
the Master MCU). The MCU uses the control protocol to grant the Content Token to the requesting endpoint
(unless in Exclusive Content Mode).
Endpoints incapable of sharing content using one of the supported control protocols, can view content via
the people video layout (see Sending Content to Legacy Endpoints (CP Only)).

Guidelines for Controlling Content Protocol

Only the Content Token owner may send content.
Content Token ownership is valid until:
A new endpoint requests token ownership (unless in Exclusive Content Mode).
The owner relinquishes it.
The Content Token owner endpoint disconnects from the conference.
It is cancelled by the MCU user

Supported Content Control Protocols

Polycom supports content sharing using one of the following content control protocols:
H.239 - For H.323 participants
BFCP - For SIP participants (over TCP or UDP)
People+Content - Polycom’s proprietary content control protocol; for H.323 participants
TIP Auto-Collaboration (CISCO TIP participants). (see Prefer TIP) - TIP Auto-Collaboration for H.264
content sharing
Endpoints supporting the content control protocols above can share content within the same conference.
Video endpoints not supporting one of the content control protocols above, can view content on the people
video layout if the conference is set to Send Content to Legacy Endpoints (see Sending Content to Legacy
Endpoints (CP Only)).