The H.324 multimedia communication standard

ITU-T H.324 is the new international standard for multimedia communication on low-bit-rate circuit-switched networks, including ordinary analog telephone lines. It supplies any combination of real-time video, audio, and data. H.324 was designed, above all, to provide the best possible performance (video and audio quality, delay, etc.) on low-bit-rate networks. This article covers the H.324 system and its component standards, including the V.34 modem, H.223 multiplexer, H.245 control protocol, G.723.1 audio coder, and H.263 video coder. Call setup procedures and optional features like encryption and data application protocols are also described. The standard should ensure interoperability among a diverse variety of H.324 terminals, including PC-based multimedia videoconferencing systems, voice/data modems, encrypted telephones, World Wide Web browsers with live video. Remote security cameras. and standalone videophones. Products compliant with H.324 should all interoperate with each other and, through appropriate gateways, with ITU-T H-series terminals on ISDN, LANs, and ATM/B-ISDN networks