Method and apparatus for conferencing with bandwidth control

A method for conferencing in a telecommunications system comprising the steps of:

• producing a unique corresponding video stream having a bandwidth and a unique corresponding audio stream having a bandwidth for transmission over a network by each of N nodes in communication with each other through the network, where N is greater than or equal to three and is an integer, to other nodes of the N nodes;
• and
• controlling and setting dynamically at predetermined levels each stream's bandwidth from each node.

A bandwidth manager comprising:

• means for communicating with a network having N nodes, where N is greater than or equal to three and is an integer, each node of the N nodes able to produce a unique corresponding video stream having a bandwidth and a unique corresponding audio stream having a bandwidth for transmission over the network to other nodes of the N nodes;
• and
• means for dynamically controlling and setting each stream's bandwidth from each node at predetermined levels.

A method for controlling bandwidth in a telecommunications network comprising the steps of:

• communicating from a bandwidth manager with a network having N nodes, where N is greater than or equal to three and is an integer, each node of the N nodes able to produce a unique corresponding video stream having a bandwidth and a unique corresponding audio stream having a bandwidth for transmission over the network to other nodes of the N nodes;
• and
• dynamically controlling and setting each stream's bandwidth from each node at predetermined levels with the bandwidth manager.