System and method for providing videoconferencing services

Abstract

A broadband system includes a broadband switch network, a broadband session controller, and a broadband service control point. The broadband network provides connections between information sender/receivers in response to instructions from a broadband service control point or in response to requests originated by an information sender/receiver. The broadband service control point provides processing instructions and/or data to the broadband controller and information sender/receiver. Applications supported by the broadband network include video-on-demand and videoconferencing services for system users. For video-on-demand, a settop controller is associated with a video display of each system user. One or more video information providers ('VIPs') stores video information to be sent to the user's settop controller via the broadband switch network. The broadband session controller communicates with the user's settop controller and VIPs and requests processing information from the broadband service control point in response to predetermined triggers. The broadband session controller instructs the broadband switch network to establish the broadband connection between the VIP and a predetermined settop controller. For settop controller-based videoconferencing, the settop controller controls cameras, microphones, video displays, and speakers. In addition, an integrated service control point integrates broadband and telephone networks to provide efficient and effective integrated broadband and telephone services. Both broadband and telephone services can be provisioned via a video interface at a user's remote location. Also, the integrated network provides unique caller identification delivery services.