Reuters Limited

Jack G Wigan

John M Richards

David G Ure

A video conversational data communication network (30) in which subscribers (34, 35) may conduct conversational video textual data communications with one or more keystations (70, 602, 98) 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 message switching node (32) for routing calls throughout the network (30). The keystation controller interface (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 video conversational textual data is transmitted between connected keystation controller interfaces (96, 602) in packets which contain less than the total displayable data content of the conversational video textural data message input via the keyboard (72). The keystation controller interface (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 keystation controller interface (96, 602) provides an incoming calls queue video display (76) at the connected keystations (96, 602). This video display (76) may contain a unique identifier for each keystation initiating a call as well as an interest message. The receiving keystation may then randomly select any of the displayed incoming calls irrespective of position in the queue and the video conversation may then take place using the associated keyboards (72) and video displays (76). A hard copy print out of the video conversation may then be obtained on a printer (102, 604).

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London, United Kingdom

Jack G Wigan