Patent ID: 8019371

Claim:
A method for establishing a multi-user communication session, having a session description, between at least three terminals having incompatible media characteristics, the method comprising: inviting users with terminals having incompatible media characteristics to participate in the communication session; setting up a transcoding session enabling transcoding between the incompatible media characteristics of the terminals based on information about the terminals of the users having accepted the invitation, said information comprising the media characteristics of the users' terminals; establishing the session description according to the transcoding session; during the communication session, transcoding media streams from the terminal of one user according to the transcoding session and transmitting the transcoded media streams according to the session description to the other users participating in the communication session, using the media characteristics of the terminals of said other users; and during the communication session, updating the transcoding session as new users join the communication session based on information about the terminals of the new users and as participating users leave the communication session.