Abstract: A method of announcing a description of a media session, for example a multimedia conference, that is to take place over multicast capable links is provided in networks configured for Internet Protocol operation. A modular method of announcing media sessions includes: (a) generating a first base module having a first data structure having user oriented data relevant to the media session; (b) generating at least one media module having a second data structure with media oriented data necessary for a user to receive a respective media stream of the media session; (c) providing a link between the first base module and the at least one media module; and, (d) announcing the media session by making at least the first base module available to potential recipients of the media session.

Abstract: A method and system manages media stream connections in a media session, for example a multimedia conference, that is to take place over multicast capable links provided in networks configured for Internet Protocol operation, (i.e., the communications network known as the MBone (Internet Protocol Multicast Backbone)). The method comprises receiving a session description of a media session by way of a session announcement over a network; parsing the session description to determine appropriate media application program(s) for processing at least one media stream of the session description, and connecting the one or more selected media streams to one or more respective media application programs utilising a session control configured for managing media stream connections for the one or more media application programs.