Virtual Courtroom In-Court Setup

The Liberty Virtual Courtroom is an optional service integrated into the Liberty Court Recorder.

Courts may purchase a subscription for the Virtual Courtroom service from their Liberty reseller.

A court subscribing to the service can create links and phone codes that provide Internet-based access for remote participants accessing the courtroom.

Courtroom Setup

To use the Virtual Courtroom, courts must setup the room according to the following steps: 

• Review and implement the recommended computer setup.
• Review and implement the recommended audio configuration.
• Configure the Court Recording application.
• Provide courtroom cameras as required.
• Optionally provide and connect a telephone line(PSTN) to be used by the conference system.

The diagram below provides an overview of the required setup.

The courtroom must have a sound reinforcement system, commonly referred to as a DSP that includes speakers to allow remote participants to be heard in the courtroom. The DSP must send the audio from the courtroom microphones to the recording computer and it must have echo cancelling features to eliminate echo and feedback. Courtroom cameras can be used to send video to the remote participants.

Review and implement the recommended computer setup.

The following recommendations are provided for the computer and network configurations:

• The recording PC must be rated with at least a CPU score of 20,000 or higher, according to CPU Benchmarks provided by PassMark benchmarking assessments found on this linked webpage. The Intel i5-14400T processor is an excellent example of a processor that will handle the stress or running the virtual courtroom. Contact your Liberty reseller or Liberty support for questions about various advanced configurations.
• An Internet connection with a speed of at least 15Mbps both up and down must be provided.
• The recording PC must have a second video output display port that connects to a large screen monitor. A second monitor display allows persons in the courtroom to see the remote participants.
• The recording PC should have a second network port where audio /video traffic is isolated on a separate network from general network traffic. A separate network switch is required to facilitate connection of the cameras and the audio equipment.   
• UDP Firewall ports must be opened so the Recorder can initiate communications traffic to the Internet-based conference server. The default ports used are all UDP, port number 3479 and UDP ports 50000 to 50999.
• Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) security systems used by the account, such as Zscaler or Prisma (Palo Alto Networks), must allow all traffic destined for the conference server. All such traffic must be set to "bypass" the SASE system. SASE systems are known to restrict and inhibit the transmission of audio/video traffic. Review this linked document or contact Liberty Recording for more details on the need for audio/video traffic to bypass Zscaler.
• If telephone support is required, then a telephone line directed at the conference server on the Internet to facilitate telephone calls into the virtual court is required.

Review and Implement a recommended Audio Configuration

Courts must use a sound reenforcement system that includes echo cancellation and feedback supression, commonly refered to as a DSP. Scroll down on this page to the section entitled Supported Audio Recording DSPs for a list of DSPs widely used with the virtual courtroom.

Configure the Recording Application

In the Recorder options, go to the Remote Conferencing tab.

Remote Conferencing Tab Settings

• Automatically open remote conferencing Window automatically opens the remote conferencing Window every time the application is started. 
• Create subfolder for received files creates a subfolder where any files sent by remote participants will be saved. 
• Provide SIP call support enables a button on the user interface where SIP connections can be managed. 
• Allow multi-manager conference allows for multiple concurrent manages to manage conferences associated with the recorder.   

Server Settings

On the Remote Conferening dialog, click the Server Settings button. 

Specify the server url and credentials, as provided by Liberty Recording. 

In most cases, the recorder program will also act as a conference manager and "Work as conference manager" must be enabled. If, however, conferencing will be managed by another party, and the recorder will be prohibited from managing the conference, then disable "Work as conference manager".  

Audio & Video Settings

On the Remote Conferening dialog, click the Audio & Video Settings button. 

Playback Devices for Received Audio

• Primary: This is the audio device to which the audio from remote parties will be routed. Usually, this device will be a channel on the sound-system DSP from which the audio will be routed to speakers that can be heard throughout the courtroom. 
• Private Rooms: This audio output (speaker) device is used when the operator has initiated a parallel-private-room connection to a remote party using a SIP connection. The audio from such a connection will be routed to the specified audio device.   

Number of active, simultaneous interepreters indicates the maximum number of simultaneous interpreters the system can support. If one or more simultaneous interpreters are specified, then the associated "Settings" button will become active. Clicking on the Settings button will open the "Playback devices for Interpreters" dialog. In the "Playback devices for Interpreters" dialog, different audio output devices can be specified for each interpreter active in the conference. This allows the court to route the different interpreter's audio to different audio devices in the courtroom. 

Capture devices for Private Rooms

• Audio Device this audio input (microphone) device is used when the operator has initiated a parallel-private-room connection to a remote party using a SIP connection. 
• Video Device this video input device (camera, or similar) is used when the operator has initiated a parallel-private-room connection to a remote party using a SIP connection. 

Send Video to remote participant(s) confirms that courtroom video is to be sent to the remote participants. Opening the associated "Settings" allows for selection of the various video devices defined to the recorder, so that only a subset of the video sources is sent to the remote participants, as defined by the court.

Enhancements for Sent Audio specifies various enhancements that may be applied against the audio sent to the remote participants.

• Acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) allows for the selection of an AEC algorithm that can be applied against audio being sent to the remote participants. 
• Use Noise Supression enables the audio noise supression algorithm to be applied against the audio being sent to the remote participants. 
• Use Automatic Gain Control (AGC) enables the automatic gain control algorithm to be applied against the audio being sent to the remote participants. 

Provide Courtroom Cameras

The Virtual Courtroom facility can send video from the courtroom to remote participants. We strongly recommend the use of Axis brand IP cameras or other, similar IP cameras for capturing video in the courtroom.

Provide a telephone line (PSTN) to be used by the conference system, if applicable.

The Virtual Courtroom facility can support remote participants using old-style dial telephones connecting to the conference.

Court IT staff must discuss providing and connecting such a telephone line with Liberty Recording.