This paper,based on our experience with multimedia conferencing,discusses network control and coordination functions needed to support multimedia multiparty applications.In particular,the discussion focuses on user interfaces for these applications.Whereas conventional,singlemedium devices(such as mlephoncs)present their users with one connection to one party during a call,these new applications make multiple network resources visible to their users.Accordingly,our experience suggests that the user interfaces for these applications should not be built as simple additions to interfaces for convendonal devices,but rather should reflect new communication models with independent controis of the network resources associated with the application.This paper describes important features of user interfaces for multimedia conferencing systems,illustrating how individual controls for network resources can be made available to the application user during a communication session.We also explain benefits of building user interfaces as collection of modules.in which some modules are responsible for conference conduct,and others provide controls for exchange of information in each medium.
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