Patent ID: 6671263
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A multimedia telecommunications call centre comprising;a computer network carrying addressed multimedia calls, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a multipoint controller, the multipoint controller controlling the setting up of a logical call control channel between the first and second terminals by establishing respective logical communication call control channels between the multipoint controller and the first terminal and between the multipoint controller and the second terminal, the controller transmitting set up signals to each of said first and second terminals through said respective logical communication call control channels so that all communications between the first and second terminals during the setting up of the logical call control channel are made through the multipoint controller, thereby permitting a multimedia call to be made from the first terminal to the second terminal, a call physical datastream then being carried from the first terminal to the second terminal directly across the computer network without mediation by the multipoint controller; wherein one of the first and second terminals comprises a gateway that interfaces between the computer network and an external network during the setting up of a delivery of an addressed multimedia call from the external network to the other of one of the first and second terminals.