Media dependent module interface for computer-based conferencing system

Claim 1

A media dependent module for a computer-based conferencing system, wherein: the media dependent module provides an interface between an upper-level conferencing driver of the conferencing system and a lower-level communications driver of the conferencing system to isolate the conferencing driver from the communications driver; the media dependent module is dependent upon hardware of the communications driver; and the media dependent module is adapted to perform a plurality of functions called by the conferencing driver, wherein the plurality of functions comprises: a first function for preparing the media dependent module for a conferencing session; a second function for requesting a connection to a remote conferencing node; a third function for accepting an incoming connection request; a fourth function for rejecting the incoming connection request; a fifth function for initiating a listen mode on an established connection; a sixth function for closing the established connection; a seventh function for ending the conferencing session; an eighth function for retrieving information about the media dependent module; a ninth function for verifying that a link packet of a specified size can be sent on the established connection: and a tenth function for sending the link packet on the established connection; wherein: the first function is an MDM -- BeginSession function; the second function is an MDM -- MakeConnection function; the third function is an MDM -- AcceptConnection function; the fourth function is an MDM -- RejectConnection function; the fifth function is an MDM -- Listen function; the sixth function is an MDM -- CloseConnection function; the seventh function is an MDM -- EndSession function; the eighth function is an MDM -- GetCharacteristics function; the ninth function is an MDM -- ClearToSend function; and the tenth function is an MDM -- Send function.