초록 ▼

Telephone calls, data and other multimedia information including video, audio and data is routed through a switched network which includes transfer of information across the internet. Users can participate in video conference calls in which each participant can simultaneously view the video from eac

Telephone calls, data and other multimedia information including video, audio and data is routed through a switched network which includes transfer of information across the internet. Users can participate in video conference calls in which each participant can simultaneously view the video from each other participant and hear the mixed audio from all participants. Users can also share data and documents with other video conference participants. Users can manage more aspects of a network than previously possible, and control network activities from a central site.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for media communication over a hybrid network which includes a switched network, a packet switched network, and a directory of internet protocol addresses for the packet switched network, the method comprising the steps of:(a) establishing a multicast communication among a plurality of p

1. A method for media communication over a hybrid network which includes a switched network, a packet switched network, and a directory of internet protocol addresses for the packet switched network, the method comprising the steps of:(a) establishing a multicast communication among a plurality of parties via the switched network and the packet switched network for transmitting a first type of information and a second type of information in Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) format and by utilizing the directory of internet protocol addresses, wherein the first type of information is selected from the group consisting of video information and audio information and the second type of information is selected from the group consisting of video information, audio information and data information; (b) simultaneously transmitting the first type of information from one of the plurality of parties to the others of the plurality of parties participating in the multicast communication; and (c) simultaneously transmitting the second type of information from each of the parties participating in the communication to each of the other parties participating in the communication. 2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of searching a listing of the plurality of parties available to participate in the multicast communication.3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one party establishes the communication with at least one other party by choosing the at least one other party according to a corresponding Internet Protocol address.4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one party establishes the communication with at least one other party by choosing the other party from a user interface.5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one party establishes the communication with at least one other party by communicating with a human or automated operator.6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:(a) creating a virtual reality cnvironment in which at least one party participating in the multicast communication is represented by a separate image; and (b) communicating media among the plurality of parties by manipulating virtual objects among the representative images. 7. An apparatus for media communication over a hybrid network which includes a switched network, a packet switched network, and a directory of intemet protocol addresses for the packet switched network, the apparatus comprising:(a) a processor with control software that establishes a multicast communication between at least one of a plurality of parties and the packet switched network for transmitting media communication in Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) format by utilizing the directory of intemet protocol addresses; (b) a processor with control software that transmits the media communication via the packet switched network to at least one other party of the plurality of parties; (c) a processor with control software that receives media communication via the packet switched network from at least one of the plurality of parties; and (d) a processor with control software to control the quality of the transmission and reception of the media communication to obtain designated qualities of service. 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the media communication includes a combination of video information, audio infornation and data information.9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further including a user interface for determining whether an intended recipient of the media communication is available to receive the media communication by searching a listing of the plurality of parties available to participate in the media communication.10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein portions of the media communication are transmitted through assistance of a human or automated operator.11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the transmission and reception are controlled by a resource reservation setup protocol (RSVP) that reserves network resources along a communication path to obtain designated qualities of service for the media communication.12. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising:(a) a processor with control software that transmits the media communication through assistance of a human or automated operator if a human or automated operator is available; (b) a storage medium that stores recorded media information; (c) a processor with control software that transmits the recorded media information from the storage medium to the party if no human or automated operator is available; and (d) a processor with control software that terminates the recorded media information transmission when a human or automated opcrator becomes available. 13. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for media communication over a hybrid network which includes a switched network, a packet switched network and a directory of internet protocol addresses for the packet switched network, the computer program comprising:(a) first software that establishes a multicast communication between at least one party of a plurality of parties and the packet switched network for transmitting media communication in Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) format by utilizing the directory of internet protocol addresses; (b) second software that transmits the media communication via the packet switched network to at least one other party; (c) third software that receives media communication via the packet switched network from the at least one party; and (d) fourth software that controls the quality of transmission and reception to obtain designated qualities of service for the media communication. 14. The computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the media communication includes a combination of video information, audio information and data information.15. The computer program as recited in claim 13, further comprising a fifth software of a listing of the plurality of parties that are currently available to receive media communication.16. The computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the media communication is transmitted through assistance of a human or automated operator.17. The computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the transmission and reception are controlled by a resource reservation setup protocol (RSVP) that reserves network resources along a communication path to obtain designated qualities of service for the media communication.18. The computer program as recited in claim 13, further comprising:(a) fifth software that transmits the media communication through assistance of an operator if available; (b) sixth software that stores recorded media information in a storage location; (c) seventih software that transmits the recorded media information from the storage location to at least one if no operator is available; and (d) eighth software that terminates the recorded media information transmission when the operator becomes available. 19. The computer program as recited in claim 18, wherein the operator is a human.20. The computer program as recited in claim 18, wherein the operator is automated.