Improved conversational video system

Claim 1

In a video communication network capable of providing textual data messages to a plurality of subscriber terminals throughout said network, at least a portion of said plurality of subscriber terminals comprising subscriber keystations, each of said subscriber keystations comprising a keyboard means for operator input of textual data messages and associated data control signals to said network via said keyboard means and a video display means for providing a textual video display of at least keyboard generated data input to said network; the improvement comprising at least one message switching interface means for routing video conversational textual data messages throughout said network, a plurality of said 55 keystations being operatively connected to said one message switching interface means, said one message switching interface means comprising message routing logic means and storage means operatively connected to said message routing logic means for providing message routing logic control signals and further comprising display control logic means and local video display storage means for locally storing video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least a pair of said keystations 60 which are operatively connected together through said one interface means in a completed call in said network, said keyboard means comprising means for providing unique calling signals to said interface means for initiating calls to a designated keystation portion of said plurality of keystations in said network, said one interface means further comprising means for receiving said calling signals provided thereto for completing a call to said designated connected keystation, said message routing logic means comprising 36 GB 2 139 042 A 36 means for controlling the routing of said calling signals to said designated keystations to control the completed of said initiated calls, said display control logic means comprising means for providing on said pair of connected keystation video display means a video display of video conversational textual data transmitted between said connected keystations in said network with which said call is completed via said separate keyboard means associated with said pair of connected keystations, said one message switching interface means storage means comprising means for retrievably storing at least one subscriber created contact list for each of said keystations connected to said one message switching interface means, each of a plurality of said keyboard means being capable of providing at least a different one of said subscriber created retrievably stored contact lists to said one message switching interface storage means for each of a corresponding plurality of associated ones of said subscriber keystations whereby a plurality of different unique contact lists may be retrievably stored in said one message switching interface storage means, said contact lists each being capable of comprising a plurality of different unique designated keystation identification codes each of which corresponds to a different keystation in said network, said keystation keyboard means unique calling signal providing means being capable of providing a unique contact list calling signal corresponding to a designated one of said retrievably stored contact lists to said one message is switching interface means message routing logic, said message routing logic comprising means capable of retrieving said stored one designated contact list in response to said unique contact list calling signal and sequentiaify providing a calling signal to each of said keystations designated by said identification codes in said contact list until a call is completed with the first one of said designated keystations which is available, said one message switching interface means comprising at least one host computer network control means 20 and a plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means operatively connected between said keystations and said one host computer network control means with at least one keystation being operatively connected to and associated with one keystation terminal controller interface means for each of said plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means, said host computer network control means comprising said message routing logic means and said storage means operatively connected thereto, each 25 of said keystation terminal controller interface means comprising said display control logic means and said local video display storage means for locally storing video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least one of said keystations connected to said keystation terminal controller interface means and local storage means for locally retrievably storing a copy of said subscriber created retrievably stored contact lists created by said one associated subscriber keystation and stored in said host computer 30 network control means storage means and local message routing logic means for locally retrieving said locally stored one designated contact list designated by said one associated subscriber keystation unique calling signal providing means and providing a processed contact request calling signal to said host computer network control means message routing logic means for sequentially providing said calling signal to each of said keystations designated by said identification codes in said locally retrieved and processed 35 co ' ntact list, said keyboard means providing said unique calling signals to said associated keystation terminal controller interface means, said keystation terminal controller interface means comprising means for providing said calling signal to said one host computer network control means and for receiving said calling signals therefrom for completing a call to said one connected keystation; whereby a single call may be simultaneously initiated by said one associated subscriber keystation to a plurality of predesignated 40 keystations in said locally stored contact list to establish a textual data video conversation with the first free subscriber in said plurality. 2. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means responsive to a skip subscriber contact control signal pertaining to designated members of said locally retrieved one designated contact list, said unique calling 45 signal provided by said unique calling signal providing means comprising said skip subscriber contact control signal, said skip subscriber contact control signal designating which member keystations in said one designated contact list said one associated subscriber keystation does not want to complete a call to in response to said unique calling signal, said local message routing logic means responsive means preventing so said processed contact request calling signal from being provided for said designated members of said locally retrieved contact list in said unique calling signal; whereby a dynamic selection of a subgroup of predesignated keystations within said plurality thereof may be made by said one associated subscriber keystation when said simultaneous single call contact list call is placed. 3. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 2 wherein said one designated contact list further comprises a subscriber created interest message for provision to said 55 designated one of said keystations with which said call is completed, said local storage means comprising means for locally retrievably storing said interest message with said contact list, said local message routing logic means further comprising means for locally retrieving said locally stored interest message and providing said retrieved interest message along with said processed contact request calling signal for providing said interest message to said preclesignated keystation with which said contact list call is completed; whereby said predesignated called keystation may respond to said calling keystation interest message upon completion of said call. 4. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said one designated contact list further comprises a subscriber created interest message for provision to said designated one of said keystations with which said call is completed, said local storage means comprising 65 37 GB 2 139 042 A 37 means for locally retrievably storing said interest message with said contact list, said local message routing logic means further comprising means for locally retrieving said locally stored interest message and providing said retrieved interest message along with said processed contact request calling signal for providing said interest message to said predesignated keystation with which said contact list call is completed; whereby said predesignated called keystation may respond to said calling keystation interest message upon completion of said call. 5. A video conversational communication networ in accordance with claim 1 wherein said display control logic means comprises means for providing on said one associated keystation video display means a substantially simultaneous video display of video conversational textual data received from two different designated keystations in said network with which calls are completed for enabling differentvideo conversations to be substantially simultaneously carried out with different keystations on said one associated keystation common video display means using said one associated keystation keyboard means, said unique calling signal provided from said one associated keystation keyboard means comprising a dual contact request control signal pertaining to said locally retrieved one designated contact list for requesting is said call to be completed for two different keystations in said locally retrieved one designated contact list, 15 said local message routing logic means further comprising means responsive to said dual contact request control signal for providing said processed contact request calling signal to said host computer network control means message routing logic means for providing said calling signal to each of said keystations designated by said identification codes in said locally retrieved and processed contract list until a call is completed with the first two of said predesignated keystations in said one designated contact list which are 20 available when said one associated keystation is available to complete said two calls; whereby two calls may be simultaneously initiated by said one associated subscriber keystation to a plurality of predesignaled keystations in said locally stored contact list to establish a textual data video conversation with the first two free subscribers in said plurality. 6. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 5 wherein said local 25 message routing logic means further comprises means responsive to a skip subscriber contact control signal pertaining to designated members of said locally retrieved one designated contact list, said unique calling signal provided by said unique calling signal providing means comprising said skip subscriber contact control signal, said skip subscriber contact control signal designating which member keystations in said one designated contact list said one associated subscriber keystation does not want to complete a call to in response to said unique calling signal, said local message routing logic means responsive means preventing said processed contact request calling signal from being provided for said designated members of said locally retrieved contact list in said unique calling signal; whereby a dynamic selection of a subgroup of predesignated keystations within said plurality thereof may be made by said one associated subscriber keystation when said simultaneous single call contact list call is placed. 7. A video conversational corn munication network in accordance with claim 6 wherein said one designated contact list further comprises a subscriber created interest message for provision to said designated one of said keystations with which said call is completed, said local storage means comprising means for locally retrievably storing said interest message with said contact list, said local message routing logic means further comprising means for locally retrieving said locally stored interest message and providing said retrieved interest message along with said processed contact request calling signal for providing said interest message to said predesignated keystation with which said contact list call is completed; whereby said predesignated called keystation may respond to said calling keystation interest message upon completion of said call. 8. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 5 wherein said one 45 designated contact list further comprises a subscriber created interest message for provision to said designated one of said keystations with which said call is completed, said local storage means comprising means for locally retrievably storing said interest message with said contact list, said local message routing logic means further comprising means for locally retrieving said locally stored interest message and providing said retrieved interest message along with said processed contact request calling signal for providing said interest message to said predesignated keystation with which said contact list call is completed; whereby said predesignated called keystation may respond to said calling keystation interest message upon completion of said call. 9. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said local message routing logic means comprises a message buffer means for locally storing said identification codes 55 of said keystations to be contacted from said locally retrieved and processed contact list, said processed contact request calling signal being sent from said message buffer means to said host computer network control means. 10. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 9 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means responsive to a skip subscriber contact control signal 60 pertaining to designated members of said locally retrieved one designated contact list, said unique calling signal provided by said unique calling signal providing means comprising said skip subscriber contact control signal, said skip subscriber contact control signal designating which member keystations in said one designated contact list said one associated subscriber keystation does not want to complete a call to in response to said unique calling signal, said local message routing logic means responsive means preventing 65 38 GB 2 139 042 A 38 said processed contact request calling signal from being provided for said designated members of said locally retrieved contact list in said unique calling signal whereby a dynamic selection of a subgroup of predesignated keystations within said plurality thereof may be made by said one associated subscriber keystation when said simultaneous single call contact list call is placed, said local message routing logic means responsive means preventing storage of said identification codes of said designated members of said 5 one designated contact list in said message buffer means. 11. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 9 wherein said one designated contact list further comprises a subscriber created interest message for provision to said designated one of said keystations with which said call is completed, said local storage means comprising means for locally retrievably storing said interest message with said contact list, said local message routing 10 logic means further comprising means for locally retrieving said locally stored interest message and providing said retrieved interest message along with said processed contact request calling signal for providing said interest message to said predesignated keystation with which said contact list call is completed; whereby said predesignated called keystation may respond to said calling keystation interest message upon completion of said call. 12. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 9 wherein said display control logic means comprises means for providing on said one associated keystation video display means a substantially simultaneous video display of video conversational textual data received from two different designated keystations in said network with which calls are completed for enabling different video conversations to be substantially simultaneously carried out with different keystations on said one associated keystation keyboard means, said unique calling signal provided from said one associated keystation keyboard means comprising a dual contact request control signal pertaining to said locally retrieved one designated contact list for requesting said call to be completed for two different keystations in said locally retrieved one designated contact list, said local message routing logic means further comprising means responsive to said dual contact request control signal for providing said processed contact request 25 calling signal to said host computer network control means message routing logic means for providing said calling signal to each of said keystations designated by said identification codes in said locally retrieved and processed contact list until a call is completed with the first two of said predesignated keystations in said one designated contact list which are available when said one associated keystation is available to complete said two calls; whereby two calls may be simultaneously initiated by said one associated subscriber keystation to 30 a plurality of predesignated keystations in said locally stored contact list to establish a textual data video conversation with the first two free subscribers in said plurality. 13. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said local storage means comprises means for retrievably storing a plurality of different ones of said contact lists for said one associated keystation, said different ones of said contact lists comprising different groups of said 35 plurality of keystations in said network, each of said different ones of said contact lists being retrievable by said local message routing logic means in response to a different unique contact list calling signal provided from said keyboard means which created said plurality of different ones of such contact lists, whereby a plurality of different contact lists may be selected by a single keystation. - 14. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 whe, ein said one associated keystation keyboard means further comprises means for providing a message transmission confirmation signal to said one associated keystation terminal controller interface means during a textual data video conversation with another keystation with which said call has been completed, said local message routing logic means providing a video displiyable confirmation signal to said local video display storage means for enabling video display thereof in response to receipt of said message transmission confirmation signal by said other keystation while still maintaining control of said textual data video conversation; whereby a sending keystation may receive displayable confirmation of receipt of a textual data video message by a receiving keystation during a textual data video conversation therewith. 15. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 14 wherein said local video display storage means comprises means for enabling a video display of said confirmation signal in conjunction with video display of said textual data video message whose receipt is being confirmed. 16. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 14 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means responsive to a skip subscriber contact control signal pertaining to designated members of said locally retrieved one designated contact list, said unique calling signal provided by said unique calling signal providing means comprising said skip subscriber contact control signal, said skip subscriber contact control signal designating which member keystations in said one designated contact list said one associated subscriber keystation does not want to complete a call to in response to said unique calling signal, said local message routing logic means responsive means preventing said processed contact request calling signal from being provided for said designated members of said locally retrieved contact list in said unique calling signal; whereby a dynamic selection of a subgroup of predesignated keystations within said plurality thereof may be made by said one associated subscriber keystation when said simultaneous single call contact list call is placed. 17. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 16 wherein said local video display storage means comprises means for enabling a video display of said confirmation signal in conjunction with video display of said textual data video message whose receipt is being confirmed. 65 so 39 GB 2 139 042 A 39 18. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 14 wherein said one designated contact list further comprises a subscriber created interest message for provision to said designated one of said keystations with which said call is completed, said local storage means comprising means for locally retrievably storing said interest message with said contact list, said local message routing logic means further comprising means for locally retrieving said locally stored interest message and providing said retrieved interest message along with said processed contact request calling signal for providing said interest message to said predesignated keystation with which said contact list call is completed; whereby said predesignated called keystation may respond to said calling keystation interest message upon completion of said call. 19. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 18 wherein said local video 10 display storage means comprises means for enabling a video display of said confirmation signal in conjunction with video display of said textual data video message whose receipt is being confirmed. 20. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 14 wherein said display control logic means comprises means for providing on said one associated keystation video display means a substantially simultaneous video display of video conversational textual data received from two different designated keystations in said network with which calls are completed for enabling different video conversations to be substantially simultaneously carried out with different keystations on said one associated keystation common video display means using said one associated keystation keyboard means, said unique calling signal provided from said one associated keystation keyboard means comprising a dual contact request control signal pertaining to said locally retrieved one designated contact list for requesting 20 said call to be completed for two different keystations in said locally retrieved one designated contact list, said local message routing logic means further comprising means responsive to said dual contact request control signal for providing said processed contact request calling signal to said host computer network control means message routing logic means for providing said calling signal to each of said keystations designated by said identification codes in said locally retrieved and processed contact list until a call is completed with the first two of said predesignated keystations in said one designated contact list which are available when said one associated keystation is available to complete said two calls; whereby two calls may be simultaneously initiated by said one associated subscriber keystation to a plurality of predesignated keystations in said locally stored contact list to establish a textual data video conversation with the first two free subscribers in said plurality. - 21. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 20 wherein said local video display storage means comprises means for enabling a video display of said confirmation signal in conjunction with video display of said textual data video message whose receipt is being confirmed. 22. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 14 wherein said local message routing logic means comprises a message buffer means for locally storing said identification codes 35 of said keystations to be contacted from said locally retrieved and processed contact list, said processed contact request calling signal being sent from said message buffer means to said host computer network control means. 23. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 22 wherein said local video display storage means comprises means for enabling a video display of said confirmation signal in conjunction with video display of said textual data video message whose receipt is being confirmed. 24. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said one message switching interface storage means further comprises means capable of retrievably storing at least one subscriber created inhibit list for each of said keystations connected to said one message switching interface means, each of a plurality of said keyboard means further being capable of providing at least a different one of said subscriber created retrievably stored inhibit lists to said one message switching interface storage means for each of a corresponding plurality of associated ones of said subscriber keystations whereby a plurality of different unique inhibit lists may be retrievably stored in said one message switching interface storage means, said inhibit lists each being capable of comprising a plurality of different unique designated keystation identification codes each of which corresponds to a different keystation in said 50 network, said local storage means further comprising means for locally retrievably storing a copy of said subscriber created retrievably stored inhibit lists created by said one associated subscriber keystation and stored in said host computer network control means storage means, said local message routing logic means comprising means responsive to a calling keystation keyboard means provided unique calling signal for said one associated keystation for locally retrieving said inhibit list created by said one associated keystation and 55 selectively inhibiting the completion of said call to said one associated keystation when it is free only in response to detection of a keystation identification code corresponding to said calling keystation in said locally retrieved inhibit list, whereby a subscriber keystation may selectively prevent the establishment of a video textual data conversation with predefined subscribers in the network. 25. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 24 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means for providing an inhibit display signal to said calling station display control logic in response to said inhibit list detection of said calling keystation, said calfirfg keystation display control logic providing an inhibit display message video display at said calling keystation in response to said inhibit display signal. 26. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 25 wherein the designated 65 41 GB 2 139 042 A 41 35. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 34 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means for providing an inhibited contact signal to said calling keystation and a pseudo-accept calling signal to said host computer network control means prior to providing said inhibited contact signal; whereby said call is completed with an available called keystation for enabling provision ofsaid inhibit display signal to said calling keystation. 36. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 24 wherein said local message routing logic means comprises a message buffer means for locally storing said identification codes of said keystations to be contacted from said locally retrieved and processed contact list, said processed contact request calling signal being sent from said message buffer means to said host computer network control means. 37. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 36 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means for providing an inhibited contact signal to said calling keystation and a pseudo-accept calling signal to said host computer network control means prior to providing said inhibited contact signal; whereby said call is completed with an available called keystation for enabling provision of said inhibit display signal to said calling keystation. 38. In a video communication network capable of providing textual data messages to a plurality of subscriber terminals throughout said network, at least a portion of said plurality of subscriber terminals comprising subscriber keystations, each of said subscriber keystations comprising a keyboard means for operator input of textual data messages and associated data control signals to said network via said keyboard means and a video display means for providing a textual video display of at least keyboard generated data input to said network; the improvement comprising at least one message switching interface means for routing video conversational textual data messages throughout said network, a plurality of said keystations being operatively connected to said one message switching interface means, said one message switching interface means comprising message routing logic means and storage means operatively connected to said message routing logic means for providing message routing logic control signals and 25 further comprising display control logic means and local video display storage means for locally storing video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least a pair of said keystations which are operatively connected together through said one interface means in a completed call in said network, said keyboard means comprising means for providing unique calling signals to said interface means for initiating calls to a designated keystation portion of said plurality of keystations in said network, 30 said one interface means further comprising means for receiving said calling signals provided thereto for completing a call to said designated connected keystation, said message routing logic means comprising means for controlling the routing of said calling signals to said designated keystations to control the completion of said initiated calls, said display control logic means comprising means for providing on said pair of connected keystation video display means a video display of video conversational textual data 35 transmitted between said connected keystations in said network with which said call is completed via said separate keyboard means associated with said pair of connected keystations, said separate keyboard means comprising means for providing a message transmission confirmation signal to said one message switching interface means from a sending keystation during a textual data video conversation with another receiving keystation with which said call has been completed, said message routing logic means providing a video 40 displayable confirmation signal to said local video display storage means of said sending keystation for enabling video display thereof in response to receipt of said message transmission confirmation signal by said receiving keystation while still maintaining control of said textual data video conversation; whereby a sending keystation may receive displayable confirmation of receipt of a textual data video message by a receiving keystation during a textual data video conversation therewith. 39. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 38 wherein said sending keystation local video display storage means comprises means for enabling a video display of said confirmation signal in conjunction with video display of said textual data video message whose receipt is being confirmed. 40. In a video communication network capable of providing textual data messages lo a plurality of subscriber terminals throughout said network, at least a portion of said plurality of subscriber terminals comprising subscriber keystations, each of said subscriber keystations comprising a keyboard means for operator input of textual data messages and associated data control signals to said network via said keyboard means and a video display means for providing a textual video display of at least keyboard generated data input to said network; the improvement comprising at least one message switching interface 55 means for routing video conversational textual data messages throughout said network, a plurality of said keystations being operatively connected to said one message switching interface means, said one message switching interface means comprising message routing logic means and storage means operatively connected to said message routing logic means for providing message routing logic control signals and further comprising display control logic means and local video display storage means for locally storing 60 video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least a pair of said keystations which are operatively connected together through said one interface means in a completed call in said network, said keyboard means comprising means for providing unique calling signals to said interface means for initiating calls to a designated keystation portion of said plurality of keystations in said network, said one interface means further comprising means for receiving said caPing signals provided thereto for 65 so GB 2 139 042 A keystation content of each of said inhibit lists may be dynamically varied by said keyboard means which created said retrievably stored inhibit list by providing different keystation identification codes associated with said stored inhibit list to said local storage means. 27. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 24 wherein the designated keystation content of each of said inhibit lists maybe dynamically varied by said keyboard means which created said retrievably stored inhibit list by providing different keystation identification codes associated with said stored inhibit list to said local storage means. 28. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 24 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means for providing an inhibited contact signal to said calling keystation and a pseudo-accept calling signal to said host computer network control means prior to 10 providing said inhibited contact signal; whereby said call is completed with an available called keystation for enabling provision of said inhibit display signal to said calling keystation. 29. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 28 wherein said inhibited contact signal comprises an inhibit display signal, said host computer network control means providing said inhibit display signal to said calling station display control logic in response to said inhibit list detection of 15 said calling keystation, said calling keystation display control logic providing an inhibit display message video display at said calling keystation in response to said inhibit display signal. 30. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 24 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means responsive to a skip subscriber contact control signal pertaining to designated members of said locally retrieved one designated contact list, said unique calling 20 signal provided by said unique calling signal providing means comprising said skip subscriber contact control signal, said skip subscriber contact control signal designating which member keystations in said one designated contact list said one associated subscriber keystation does not want to complete a call to in response to said unique calling signal, said local message routing logic means responsive means preventing said processed contact request calling signal from being provided for said designated members of said locally retrieved contact list in said unique calling signal; whereby a dynamic selection of a subgroup of predesignated keystations within said plurality thereof may be made by said one associated subscriber keystation when said simultaneous single call contabt list call is placed, 31. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 30 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means for providing an inhibited contact signal to said calling keystation and a pseudo-accept calling signal to said host computer network control means prior to providing said inhibited contact signal; whereby said call is completed with an available called keystation for enabling provision of said inhibit display signal to said calling keystation. 32. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 24 wherein said one designated contact list further comprises a subscriber created interest message for provision to said designated one of said keystations with which said call is completed, said local storage means comprising means for locally retrievably storing said interest message with said contact list, said local message routing logic means further comprising means for locally retrieving said locally stored interest message and providing said retrieved interest message along with said processed contact request calling signal for providing said interest message to said predesignated keystation with which said contact list call is completed; whereby said predesignated called keystation may respond to said calling keystation interest message upon completion of said call. 33. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 32 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means for providing an inhibited contact signal to said calling keystation and a pseudo-accept calling signal to said host computer network control means prior to 45 providing said inhibited contact signal; whereby said call is completed with an available called keystation for enabling provision of said inhibit display signal to said calling keystation. 34. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 24 wherein said display control logic means comprises means for providing on said one associated keystation video display means a substantially simultaneous video display of video conversational textual data received from two different 50 designated keystations in said network with which calls are completed for enabling different video conversations to be substantially simultaneously carried out with different keystations on said one associated keystation common video display means using said one associated keystation keyboard means, said unique calling signal provided from said one associated keystation keyboard means comprising a dual contact request control signal pertaining to said locally retrieved one designated contact list for requesting 55 said call to be completed for two different keystations in said locally retrieved one designated contact list, said local message routing logic means further comprising means responsive to said dual contact request control signal for providing said processed contact request calling signal to said host computer network control means message routing logic means for providing said calling signal to each of said keystations designated by said identification codes in said locally retrieved and processed contact list until a call is completed with the first two of said predesignated keystations in said one designated contact list which are available when said one associated keystation is available to complete said two calls; whereby two calls may be simultaneously initiated by said one associated subscriber keystation to a plurality of predesignated keystations in said locally stored contact list to establish a textual data video conversation with the first two free subscribers in said plurality. 42 GB 2 139 042 A 42 completing a call to said designated connected keystation, said message routing logic means comprising means for controlling the routing of said calling signals to said designated keystations to control the completion of said initiated calls, said display control logic means comprising means for providing on said pair of connected keystation video display means a video display of video conversational textual data transmitted between said connected keystations in said network with which said call is completed via said separate keyboard means associated with said pair of connected keystations, said one message switching interface means storage means comprising means for retrievably storing at least one subscriber created inhibit list for each of said keystations connected to said one message switching interface means, each of a plurality of said keyboard means being capable of providing at least a different one of said subscriber created retrievably stored inhibit lists to said one message switching interface storage means for each of a 10 corresponding plurality of associated ones of said subscriber keystations whereby a plurality of different unique inhibit lists may be retrievably stored in said one message switching interface storage means, said inhibit lists each being capable of comprising a plurality of different unique designated keystation identification codes each of which corresponds to a different keystation in said network, said message routing logic means comprising means responsive to a calling keystation keyboard means provided unique calling signal for said designated keystation portion for retrieving said inhibit list created by said designated keystation and selectively inhibiting the completion of said call to said designated keystation when it is feee only in response to detection of a keystation identification code corresponding to said calling keystation in said retrieved inhibit list, said one message switching interface means comprising at least one host computer network control means and a plurality of keystation terminal controller inter-face means operatively connected between said keystations and said one host computer network control means with at least one keystation being operatively connected to and associated with one keystation terminal controller interface means for each of said plurality of keystation terminal controller interface means, said host computer network control means comprising said message routing logic means and said storage means operatively connected thereto, each of said keystation terminal controller interface means comprising said 25 display control logic means and said local video display storage means for locally storing video conversational textual data for providing a video display thereof to at least one of said keystations connected to said keystation terminal controller interface means and local storage means for locally retrievably storing a copy of said subscriber created retrievably stored inhibit lists created by said one associated subscriber keystation and stored in said host computer network control means storage means and local message routing logic means comprising means responsive to said calling keystation keyboard means provided unique calling signal for said one associated keystation for locally retrieving said inhibit list created by said one associated keystation and providing a processed inhibited contact signal to said host computer network control means message routing logic means for selectively inhibiting the completion of said call to said one associated keystation when it is free only in response to detection of a keystation identification code corresponding to said calling keystation in said locally retrieved inhibit list, said keyboard means providing said unique calling signal to said associated keystation terminal controller interface means, said keystation terminal controller interface means comprising means for providing at least said calling signals and said inhibited contact signals to said one host computer network control means and for receiving at least said calling signals and said inhibited contact signals therefrom for at least either completing a call to said one 40 connected keystation or inhibiting said call completion; whereby said one associated keystation may selectively prevent the establishment of a video textual data conversation with predefined subscribers in the network contained in said locally stored inhibit lists created by said one associated keystation. 41. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 40 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means for providing an inhibit display signal to said calling 45 station display control logic in response to said inhibit list detection of said calling keystation, said calling keystation display control logic Rroviding an inhibit display message video display at said calling keystation in response to said inhibit display signal. 42. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 41 wherein the designated keystation content of each of said inhibit lists maybe dynamically varied by said keyboard means which 50 created said retrievably stored inhibit list by providing different keystation identification codes associated with said stored inhibit list to said local storage means. 43. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 40 wherein the designated keystation content of each of said inhibit lists may be dynamically varied by said keyboard means which created said retrievably stored inhibit list by providing different keystation identification codes associated 55 with said stored inhibit list to said local storage means. 44. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 40 wherein said local message routing logic means further comprises means for providing an inhibited contact signal to said calling keystation and a pseudo-accept calling signal to said host computer network control means prior to o providing said inhibited contact signal; whereby said call is completed with an available called keystation for 60 enabling provision of said inhibit display signal to said calling keystation. 45. A video conversational communication network in accordance with claim 44 wherein said inhibited contact signal comprises an inhibit display signal, said host computer network control means providing said inhibit display signal to said calling station display control logic in response to said inhibit list detection of said calling keystation, said calling keystation display control logic providing an inhibit display message 43 GB 2 139 042 A 43 video display at said calling keystation in response to said inhibit display signal. 46. A video conversational communication network, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Printed in the UK for HMSO, D8818935, 9184, 7102. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings. London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.