Abstract: A method and system in a heterogeneous environment, capable of locating at least one optimal access area or point for supporting one or more access technologies requested by the user. The determination of the optimal access areas or points is based in part on the location of the device, the specified user preferences, service/application requirements and the capabilities of available access network connections. The optimal access points, and alternative options, are mapped in accordance with the resulting location, combined requirements and service/application requirements of the communication device. This mapping and other information/recommendations related to the access points are then provided to the communication device for action by the user.

Abstract: A method of retrieving an address of a previously unknown resource based on the location of the invoking user by consulting a known resource is provided. A user terminal, while roaming, may select an optimal gateway for providing multimedia communications to the terminal by first sending a service request to the terminal's home gateway. In response, the home gateway determines the optimal gateway for use by the user based on the location of the invoking user. The address of the optimal gateway, as determined by the home gateway, is sent to the invoking user terminal, wherein the user sends a service request to the optimal gateway.

Abstract: In a multimedia environment, end-users are provided with the ability to effectively access, manipulate and share one or more multimedia objects, or select portions thereof, independent of the terminal and/or network capabilities that are associated with the terminals employed by each end-user. This may be accomplished, for example, by identifying a set of multimedia data that is stored in a multimedia database that is accessible by each end-user. The set of multimedia data is then adapted in accordance with an information adaptation service and modified in accordance with a transcoder/scalability service. The functions provided by both of these services are based on a number of user preferences and based on a number of terminal and communication (e.g., network) connection capabilities associated with the terminals corresponding to each of the end-users that are to have access to the modified set of multimedia data.