A multimedia collaboration system integrates separate real-time and asynchronous
network pathsthe former for real-time audio and video, and the latter for
control signals and textual, graphical and other datain a manner that is
interoperable across different computer and network operating system platforms
and which facilitates close approximations of face-to-face collaboration, while
liberating the participants from the limitations of time and distance.
In one embodiment, the system and method include at least one analog video-signal
source, a plurality of video display devices, and at least one communication control
component configured to produce digital control-signals. This system and method
further provide for a computer network having an unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
defining a UTP communication path arranged for video-signal transportation and
configured to multiplex analog video-signals originating at one of the video-signal
sources, with digital control-signals from one of the communication control components.
The system and method further provide for the transmission of multiplexed signals
along the UTP communication path to at least one of the video display devices,
and use the control-signals to control reproduction of TV quality color video images
on at least one of the video display devices, based on the video-signals.
