Patent ID: 6677976
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
A method of initiating a video telephony call between at least first and second users, wherein said users have first and second computers and first and second telephones, respectively, wherein said first and second computers are coupled to a computer network and have first and second IP addresses, respectively, wherein said first and second telephones have first and second telephone numbers, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:said first and second computers sending log-in messages to a central server coupled to said computer network, wherein said central server stores said first and second IP addresses in association with said first and second telephone numbers, respectively; said central server sending active user identifying information to said first and second computers for a plurality of users currently logged-in to said central server; said first and second computers each displaying a plurality of available users in response to said active user identifying information, wherein said first computer displays a user selection item corresponding to said second user; said first user activating said user selection item; said first computer sending a video telephony call request identifying said second user to said central server in response to said activation of said selection item; said central server forwarding said video telephony call request to said second computer; said second computer displaying an acceptance selection item; said second user selecting said acceptance selection item; said second computer sending an acceptance message to said central server in response to said selection of said acceptance selection item; said first and second computers launching respective video telephony call clients; said call clients exchanging live video data in response to said first and second IP addresses stored in said central server for a video portion of said video telephony call; and said central server establishing a telephone call between said first and second telephones for a voice portion of said video telephony call using a public switched telephone network in response to said first and second telephone numbers stored in said central server.