Multimedia conferencing system

摘要

Several novel methods are disclosed for implementing a multimedia conference. In connection with a first embodiment, a conference is initiated when the communications link establishment device of a first endpoint device establishes a point-to-point communications link with a second endpoint device over the network. Next, the user of the first or second endpoint device selects an option of setting up a multipoint, multimedia conference by entering a request into the user interface device of the respective endpoint device. The request is forwarded to the first endpoint device endpoint processor which commands the first endpoint device communications link establishment device to establish a communications link with the reservation system. The first endpoint device endpoint processor then issues an information request to the reservation system for a network address (and/or telephone number) and a conference identification number uniquely specifying a given multimedia conference. The reservation system relays this information request to the MMS. The MMS provides the reservation system with the conference identification number and the network address (and/or telephone number). The conference identification number and network address (and/or telephone number) are downloaded from the reservation system processor into the first endpoint device endpoint processor. The conference identification number and network address (and/or telephone number) are stored in endpoint memory, and are also downloaded to the second endpoint device endpoint processor. The point-to-point communications link between the first and second endpoint devices is disconnected. The first and second endpoint device endpoint communications link establishment devices each establish a communications link with the MMS at the network address (and/or telephone number) downloaded into respective endpoint device memories. Multimedia conferences established according to various preferred embodiments disclosed herein are perceived by endpoint device users to be procedurally continuous, such that, once a communications link is established with a given endpoint device, this communications link is perceived to be substantially continuous until such time as the multimedia conference has been fully implemented. <MATH>