Method and apparatus for maintaining configuration information of a teleconference and identification of endpoint during teleconference

An apparatus for initiating a teleconference on a digital processing system, said apparatus comprising:

• a means for processing;
• a means for storing information and at least one teleconferencing application, said means for storing being coupled to said means for processing, said means for processing executing said teleconferencing application to initiate said teleconference using said information which is stored independently of said teleconferencing application such that another teleconferencing application program stored in said means for storing is capable of using said information.

A method for initiating a teleconference comprising:

• retrieving information stored in a memory containing an address and configuration data for said teleconference;
• retrieving a teleconference application program stored in said memory and using said information to initiate a teleconference with said teleconference application program, said information being independent of said teleconference application program such that another teleconference application program is capable of using said information.

A computer readable medium containing executable computer program instructions in a digital processing system, said instructions when executed in said digital processing system causing said digital processing system to perform the steps of:

• retrieving information from a memory containing an address and configuration data for a teleconference
• retrieving a teleconference application program from said memory and using said information to initiate said teleconference with said teleconference application program, said information being independent of said teleconference application program such that another teleconference application program stored in said memory is capable of using said information.

A method for initiating a teleconference from a first processor comprising:

• transmitting a representation of an image to a second processor;
• and
• prior to receiving a confirmation of an acceptance to begin said teleconference, displaying said image at said second processor.

An apparatus in a digital processing system for initiating a teleconference, said apparatus comprising:

• means for transmitting a teleconference request from a first processor;
• means for transmitting a representation of an image to a second processor prior to receiving a confirmation of an acceptance to said teleconference request.

A computer readable medium in a digital processing system, said computer readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which, when executed in said digital processing system, cause said system to perform the steps of:

• transmitting a teleconference request from said digital processing system;
• transmitting a representation of an image prior to receiving a confirmation of an acceptance to said teleconference request.

A method for initiating a teleconference comprising:

• determining a network parameter of a first system;
• examining at least one information record, which may be used to initiate a teleconference, to determine whether a second system specified by said one information record is compatible with said network parameter;
• displaying an indicia of said at least one information record if said second system is compatible with said network parameter.

A method for initiating a teleconference comprising:

• receiving at a first system a message from a second system;
• determining an address of said first system;
• associating at said first system an information record having said address with said message, said information for initiating a teleconference with said second system.