Abstract: Audiovisual programs are transmitted over a low-bandwidth network in a compressed form in which the number of video frames has been reduced by selecting "significant" frames. The user sees a series of still images accompanying an apparently full audio channel. The frames are downloaded to the user in an order designed to assure, first, that the next few frames necessary for viewing are present, but also so that the user can scroll throughout the program even as it is being downloaded. This is accomplished by first downloading the full audio for the program portion requested by the user's viewer software, and then downloading the video frames based on requests from the viewer software, which has access to a table indicating which video frames are associated with which audio portions. The software uses the table to download frames needed immediately, as well as to download advance frames based on their significance.

Abstract: The invention provides an on-demand real-time video conefrencing system in a circuit switched communications network. The on-demand real-time video conferencing system includes at least one video conference control system that receives an on-demand request for a video conference from a user and, in real-time, allocates video conferencing resources and connects the user with at least one other video conference participant through the circuit switched communications network. Each of the at least one video conference control system includes a video conference connection unit and a voice response unit. The video conference connection unit includes a plurality of video ports coupled to the circuit switched communications network.

Abstract: A communications system uses a World Wide Web (Web) server to provide multimedia messaging functions over the Internet. Multimedia workstations are interconnected via the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Parties are provided with multimedia mailboxes on message servers that are connected to the PSTN and the Internet. In order to identify the message server on which a called party's mailbox is located, the Web server provides the multimedia number of the called party's message server when a call is made. In addition, the Web server provides the multimedia number of the called party. When a multimedia call is unanswered, the system uses the multimedia number of the message server and the called party multimedia number provided by the Web server to record and store a message for the called party in the called party's mailbox.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for handling multimedia messages when the intended recipient is unavailable. The telecommunication based method and system allows a party to leave a greeting message which will be furnished to a caller when the party is unavailable. The method and system further allows a caller to leave a multimedia message for the unavailable intended recipient. The method and system further alerts the party that a multimedia message has been recorded and allows the party to retrieve the multimedia message.

Abstract: Internet access is provided to a multimedia terminal (101, 102, 103, 104) supporting the H.320 protocol through a gateway server (125) that is connected to the Internet. The data stream of the H.320 bearer channel (ISDN phone line or switched 56 kbps facilities) is used for the exchange of data between the accessing terminal and the gateway server, which outputs and receives such data onto and from the Internet, respectively. The gateway server is implemented to function to directly exchange on the H.320 data stream information requests and responsive data in the TCP/IP format used for Internet transport. Alternatively, the gateway server is implemented to function as a proxy to which requests are passed from the terminal over the H.320 data stream, and where function calls are made and locally converted to TCP/IP format for transport onto the Internet.