Methods and systems for multimedia communication via public telephone networks

A system for providing a plurality of multimedia telecommunication services to a plurality of multimedia workstations at least two of which are distributed among a first premise and a second premise, the system comprising:

• a multimedia central office located at a third premise, the multimedia central office including:
• a digital switch complex coupled to at least one of the plurality of workstations via a public digital telephone network;
• at least one twisted pair transceiver coupled to a second one of the plurality of workstations via at least one twisted pair link in a telephone loop plant;
• and
• at least one switch complex operatively associated with the digital switch complex and the at least one twisted pair transceiver;
• wherein the multimedia central office transceives signals with one of the multimedia workstations interfaced to the public digital telephone network, transceives signals with one of the multimedia workstations interfaced to the twisted pair link in the telephone loop plant, and the signals include audio signals, video signals, and digital data signals.