Architecture and mechanisms for large-scale and loose-coupled multimedia conferencing over integrated services packet switching networks

Advances in transmission services and multimedia computers have promoted the evolution of applications into information and knowledge sharing. Computer conferencing is the most distinguish one. Most current work are for the small-scale and strict-coupled audio-visual conferencing over virtual circuit transmission facilities, while our research focus oil the large-scale and loose-coupled multimedia conferencing over high-speed integrated services packet switching networks, e.g. the global Internet. Proposed architecture and related mechanisms are introduced hierarchically in this paper, as well as the necessary session control, group management and quality control. The experience on preliminary implementation has shown the valuable hints for research on high performance networking.