Multimedia Collaboration

Multimedia Collaboration

Peer-to-peer (P2P) applications are often designed to open an uncontrolled channel through network boundaries (normally through tunneling).

Therefore, they provide a way for dangerous content, such as botnets, spyware applications, and viruses, to enter an otherwise protected network.

Because P2P networks can be established and managed using a series of multiple, overlapping master and slave nodes, they can be very difficult to fully detect and shut down. If one master node is detected and shut down, the "bot herder" that controls the P2P botnet

Instant messaging systems can generally be categorized in three classes:

• P2P networks
• Brokered communication
• Server-oriented networks

All these classes will support basic "chat" services on a one-to-one basis and frequently on a many-to-many basis.

Most instant messaging applications do offer additional services beyond their text messaging capability, for instance, screen sharing, remote control, exchange of files, and voice and video conversation. Some applications even allow command scripting.

Instant messaging and chat are increasingly considered a significant business application used for office communications, customer support, and "presence" applications. Instant message capabilities will frequently be deployed with a bundle of other IP-based services such as VolP and video conferencing support.