Abstract: A multimedia communication system which allows a user at a terminal to efficiently place an order for merchandise with a merchandise provider includes terminals and a multimedia server connected thereto via a public network. The multimedia server includes an information storage unit for storing multimedia information on each merchandise item, a communication control unit for controlling information transmission between terminals and the server via the public network, and a bulletin board service unit for transmitting merchandise items from the information storage unit to the communication control unit in response to a merchandise information look-up request from any of terminals. The multimedia server further has an ordering service unit and a main service unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing image communication between a plurality of terminals are suggested, in which a composing unit is provided for composing a signal transmitted from a predetermined number of terminals at the transmitting side, together with destination information, into one image signal. An encoding unit encodes the composite signal composed by the composing unit. The composite signal encoded at the encoding unit is transmitted to the receiving side through an exchange at the transmitting side.