A videoconferencing system uses a stand-alone video/audio transcapture
module with an H.323-compliant broadband Internet connection through a
server to conduct real-time videoconferencing. The system provides
directory service to work behind Network Address Translation systems by
means of backend servers that use Lightweight Directory Assistance
Protocol servers to map numbers to IP addresses. The system further
incorporates an automatic firmware update service to provide updated
firmware updates each time the transcapture module is rebooted. The
system also provides an automatic commercial download service to provide
module specific bannerization capability, so that each transcapture
module can receive directed commercials.