Patent ID: 6937612

Claim:
A method for carrying communications traffic between first and second devices of the same or different types, the first device being coupled to a service provider, the second device being coupled to an exchange distant from the service provider, and the service provider and exchange being coupled for communication across an intermediate network, comprising the steps of: receiving at the service provider a call signal from the first device, the call signal containing an address of the second device; setting up a preliminary communications link between the service provider and the exchange to exchange information as to the capabilities of the first and second devices, the information exchanged on the preliminary link including at least one of a communications standard, a desired data rate and a type of data for transmission by the first terminal and, in reply, associated reception capabilities of the second terminal as a subset of the capabilities of the first terminal; using the information at the service provider to determine a procedure for converting, if necessary, traffic for transmission between the first and second devices; and, setting up a call to transmit the traffic between the first and second devices, converting the traffic as necessary.