Abstract: A method wherein a first user obtains an identifier for a desired destination user, makes a request to a server for a data communication with that desired destination user, retrieves a computer network address from a directory entry for that desired destination user, retrieves the source computer network address from the request packet from the first user, and sends requests to the computers of both users for return of respective stored unique identifiers. When these respective unique identifiers are received at the server, a check is made to see that they correspond to only one respective entry in a database, and the server then sends a message to one of the computers to make a data call to the other computer. Users register initially and download a helper application which stores the user's respective unique identifier together with, in a preferred embodiment, a unique password, which is also stored in the respective entry in the database.

Abstract: A multimedia switching apparatus switches multimedia signals including audio and video signals received from a public telecommunications network to distribute the multimedia signals automatically. The gateway receives the multimedia signals and generates a separate audio and video signal output. The audio signal is switched by an audio switch to a destination under the control of an automatic call distribution arrangement to automatically control the switching of the audio signal. A separate video switch is provided for switching the video signal to a destination logically associated with the destination of the audio signal. The video switch is controlled by monitoring the events in the audio switch to control the switching of the video signal so that it is switched to the logically associated destination. The switching operations of the audio switch are copied by the video switch.