System and method for collection and redistribution of video conferences

A method for distributing video calls, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of incoming video calls and entered called party numbers originating in response to entering the called party number from a corresponding plurality of calling endpoints over a data network;
• forming a corresponding plurality of first connections with each of the plurality of calling endpoints;
• storing the received called party numbers;
• streaming data over the plurality of first connections while the plurality of calling endpoints await availability of one answering endpoint;
• and
• passing a call request including a called party number to form a second connection between one of the plurality of corresponding calling endpoints and the one answering endpoint to replace one of the plurality of first connections when the one answering point is available.

A communication system for coupling hearing-impaired users with an interpreter, comprising:

• a plurality of calling video phones configured to couple a corresponding plurality of hearing-impaired users over a network to a single network address;
• a video relay service configured to couple over the network and addressable by the single network address, the video relay service configured to receive a plurality of video calls originating in response to an entered called party number from corresponding ones of the plurality of calling video phones and to form a corresponding plurality of first connections with each of the plurality of calling video phones and to receive each of the entered called party numbers and maintain the plurality of video calls on hold and in a priority and to forward one of the plurality of video calls having priority including the respective one of the entered called party number to form a second connection;
• and
• an answering video phone configured to couple an interpreter over the network to one of the plurality of calling video phones, the answering video phone comprising logic configured to update the video relay service when the answering video phone is available for connection with one of the plurality of calling video phones corresponding to the one of the plurality of video calls having priority, the second connection being formed directly between the one of the plurality of calling video phones and the answering video phone upon the video relay service transferring a call request including the entered called party number to at least one answering endpoint.