Importance

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Abstract

A video conversational data communication network (30) in which subscribers (34, 36) may conduct conversational video textual data communications with one or more keystations (70, 602, 98) in the network (30). Each keystation (70, 602, 98) is associated with a keystation terminal controller interface (68, 96, 600) which is in turn connected to a switching concentrator computer (46, 48, 110, 112, 114) and a message switching node (32, 42, 44) for routing calls throughout the network (30). The concentrators (46, 48, 110, 112, 114) enable calls to be directly routed to controllers (68, 96, 600) sharing the same node (32, 42, 44) without having to go through the node (32, 42, 44). The controller (68, 96, 600) locally stores (304, 306) video conversational textual data for its associated keystations (70, 82, 84, 98, 100, 602) and enables two different designated keystations to conduct two different video conversations with a common keystation in a split screen display (76). The split screen display (76) may also be used to display retrievable data from a data base (50, 52) for simultaneous display (76) along with a video conversation. The data is transmitted between connected controllers (96, 602) in packets which contain less than the total displayable data content of the video message input via the keyboard (72). The controller (96, 602) also enables preparation of responses prior to transmission to the other party and while receiving a transmission from that party. Prior to completion of a call, the controller (96, 602) provides an incoming calls queue video display (76) at the connected keystations (96, 602).

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First Claim