Patent ID: 7174365

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling a plurality of multipoint control units (MCUs), comprising: a first application program interface (API) adapted to allow an operator to communicate with the apparatus using a web browser; a second API adapted to allow the apparatus to communicate with a plurality of MCUs; and a database adapted to store capability factors for the plurality of MCUs; the apparatus adapted to: receive and store information input by the operator using the first API concerning the capability factors for the plurality of MCUs; evaluate capability factors of at least two multimedia terminals; compare the capability factors of the at least two multimedia terminals to the capability factors of the MCUs; and responsive to the comparing of capability factors, direct a communicative interconnection using the second API between the at least two multimedia terminals via at least two of the plurality of MCUs, wherein the at least two multimedia terminals can be serviced by more than one of the plurality of MCUs and wherein the at least two of the plurality of MCUs are chosen based on the comparing of capability factors.