Abstract: An audiovisual communications terminal apparatus is adapted for interconnection to at least another audiovisual communications terminal apparatus by a communications medium to form an audiovisual teleconferencing network. The audiovisual communications terminal apparatus includes an interface device, producing and transmitting means and receiving and broadcasting means. The interface device is operative to condition input audiovisual signals received from the at least another audiovisual communications terminal apparatus and to condition output audiovisual signals for processing by the at least another audiovisual communication terminal apparatus. Conditioning occurs by using an available one of a digital video communications standard and an analog video communications standard. The producing and transmitting means produce the output audiovisual signals and transmit the produced output audiovisual signals through the interface device and into the communications medium.

Abstract: A videoconferencing network of audiovisual communication terminals is interconnected by a telephone network. Each terminal is activated only when the balance in a user account has been read and the account has been made available for debiting. The terminal includes a monitor system for playing out and receiving voice and picture information, an interface system for conditioning signals passing between the monitor system and the telephone network, and a database which contains the locations and telephone numbers of other terminals of the videoconferencing network. The terminal firer includes a display of information from the database, a pointing device by means of which a user can make a selection from the display by indicating the relevant position in the display, and a device for automatically dialing up the selected remote terminal.

Abstract: A videoconferencing network of audiovisual communication terminals is interconnected by a telephone network. Each terminal is activated only when the balance in a user account has been read and the account has been made available for debiting. The terminal includes a monitor system for playing out and receiving voice and picture information, an interface system for conditioning signals passing between the monitor system and the telephone network, and a database which contains the locations and telephone numbers of other terminals of the videoconferencing network. The terminal further includes a display of information from the database, a pointing device by means of which a user can make a selection from the display by indicating the relevant position in the display, and a device for automatically dialing up the selected remote terminal.