A method, of making an audio-video telephone call using an audio and video communication system (1) that comprises:
- a first telephony device (122) and a second telephony device (222) that may communicate with each other over a telephony communications network (8);
- an audio-video service provider (6) that may communicate over said telephony communications network (8) with both the first and second telephony devices (122,222) respectively along a first communication path (130,132) and a second communication path (230,232);
- a first computer (102) and a second computer (202), said computers (102,202) being in proximity with respectively the first telephony device (122) and the second telephony device (222), at least one of the computers (102,202) having a video input means (110) and the first computer (102) and second computer (202) each having a data input means (106,108;206,208), a visual display unit (104,204), and communication means (112,117;212,217) by which the first computer (102) and second computer (202) may make a connection to the service provider (6) respectively along a third communication path (116,124) and a fourth communication path (216,224);
- in which the first telephony device (122) and first computer (102) are operable by a first user and the second telephony device (222) and second computer (202) are operable by a second user, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- a) using the first computer communication means (112,117) to make a first connection to the service provider (6);
- b) initiating an audio telephone call between the first telephony device (122) and the second telephony device (222) via the service provider (6) and the first and second communication paths (130,132;230,232);
- c) communicating caller-id data between the first user and the service provider (6) along the first communication path (130,132) and/or the third communication path (116,124) so that the service provider (6) can correlate both the call and the first connection with each other;
- d) using the second computer communication means (212,217) to make a second connection to the service provider (6);
- e) communicating an access code from the service provider to the first user, and then communicating in the audio telephone call said access code from the first user to the second user;
- f) communicating said access code between the second user and the service provider (6) along at least the fourth communication path (216,224) so that the service provider (6) can correlate both the call and the second connection with each other;
- g) uploading at least one video image from the video input means (110) to the service provider (6);
- h) downloading said video image(s) from the service provider (6) to the first computer (102) and/or second computer (202) to be displayed on the respective video display unit(s) (104,204) when the second user has answered said telephone call and when both the first and second connections are correlated with the call.