20140286180 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MULTIMEDIA COMMUNCIATIONS ACROSS CONVERGENT NETWORKS - The present invention provides for bidirectional or duplex transmission of multimedia content such as live video and/or audio between access devices of a calling party and a called party in a convergent network. The quality of transmission is managed through a convergent communications platform, which periodically tests performance characteristics of network routes in operative communication with the platform, categorizes the network routes based on measured performance metrics, and selects network operators whose network characteristics meet the desired duality parameters of a particular multimedia content to be transmitted (e.g., real time high definition video conference). The management of transmissions is transparent to the end users who will be able to communicate with others regardless of the type of devices or networks the caked parties use or subscribe to. | 09-25-2014 |