Systems and processes for scheduling and conducting audio/video communications

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods of scheduling and conducting video visits, as well as computer architecture for providing such scheduling and conducting, where the participants in the visit are not required or able to interact with the audio/video equipment for the initial connection to start the video visit. In some embodiments, participants are also not able to interact with the equipment during the actual visit, and thus the equipment employed during the video visit may be isolated from physical contact by the participants. To initiate or terminate a video visit, a data center establishes a data connection with each participant, and thus the flow of data between the participants moves across a computer network and via the data center. The visit may be monitored in virtually real-time by splitting the data transmitted between the participants and sending it to a monitoring terminal, rather than establishing a separate connection for the monitoring.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM AND RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This Application is a Divisional Application of, and claims priority from, U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 973,025, filed Oct. 25, 2004, which is commonly owned with the present Application. The disclosure of this Parent Application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] Disclosed embodiments herein relate generally to audio and video communications, and more particularly to scheduling and conducting monitored or unmonitored video visits, as well as the computer architecture for providing such scheduling and conducting of video visits between any number of endpoints. BACKGROUND [0003] When two parties want to communicate in real-time over great distances, the telephone has been the traditional communications device of choice. Advancements in technologies over the years have now permitted both audio and video communications between parties over great distances. This form of communi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] In another embodiment, devices may be employed to verify the identity of the first participant, such as biometric devices. Such biometric technologies are defined as automated devices/methods for identifying or authenticating the identity of a living person based on a physiological or behavioral characteristic. For example, fingerprint reading devices, retina scanning devices, voice identification devices, face mapping devices, signature comparison devices and the like may be employed to further ensure security during the video visit by authenticating the identity of the first participant. Moreover, if the participants are being charged for making the video visit, the data center may also determine if

Problems solved by technology

In addition, in some embodiments participants are also not

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