Abstract: A method and system for scheduling and conducting videoconferences that ensure that the necessary bandwidth for the videoconference will be available and that select the least cost equipment to carry the videoconference. An embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of determining for a schedule request by a user if the necessary bandwidth to conduct a videoconference will be available. Also, the embodiment measures the performance of equipment and systems used to conduct the videoconference and determines if the equipment and systems are performing at a level necessary to conduct the videoconference. Alternative embodiments may include selecting multipoint endpoints to support the videoconference, scheduling videoconferences over two independent networks, emulating routers to ensure that the least cost route for the videoconference is selected, and responding to a scheduling request by informing the user to reschedule the videoconference when the network cannot support the videoconference.

Abstract: A method and system for sharing information between a variety of telecommunication and computing resources. The system may employ client software modules to connect any combination of these resources to one another through a central server. The operation of the system may reduce the demand for bandwidth on a network as compared to other systems by distributing information from a resource only when that information changes.