MULTIPOINT AUDIOVISUAL CONFERENCING SYSTEM

摘要

According to the present invention there are provided a system, method and program storage device for establishing a connection for an endpoint (210, 212, 214) to a scheduled audiovisual conference between a plurality of participants, the plurality of participants connecting to the audiovisual conference from a plurality of endpoints (210, 212, 214), connections for the plurality of endpoints (210, 212, 214) to the audiovisual conference being maintained by a multipoint control unit (204), comprising: receiving a request at a conference control server (208) from a participant to connect an endpoint (210, 212, 214) associated with the participant to the scheduled audiovisual conference; obtaining an IP address or a telephone number for the endpoint (210, 212, 214); writing the IP address or the telephone number for the endpoint to the multipoint control unit (204); and communicating audiovisual conference data from the multipoint control unit (204) to the endpoint (210, 212, 214) via the IP address or the telephone number, thereby enabling the endpoint (210, 212, 214) to be connected to the audiovisual conference.