h.323 conferencing systems can communicate with each other in point-to-point conferences, but if we add a multipoint conference unit (mcu) to the lan, several users can join in a single video meeting. an mcu is a device that centralizes the connections and characteristics of a multipoint video meeting.

    to join multipoint meetings through an mcu, a system must be registered with a gatekeeper which is registered with the same mcu. a system enters a meeting by either calling the mcu (dial its ip address, as you would any endpoint) or answering a call from the mcu.

   

    for non-vcon endpoints, the mcu is the only available solution for fully interactive multiparty video meetings.

    vcon offers an affordable software solution for multiparty conferences: interactive multicast. if your system does not support it, and you want to add it, contact your local vcon distributor. see chapter 7, .multi-party conferencing with interactive multicast. for more information.