1. A method of transmitting visual information over a network comprising: filtering a full resolution image signal to produce a series of sub-bands, wherein at least one of the sub-bands constitutes a base sub-band representing an image of reduced resolution and wherein additional sub-bands carry higher resolution information; and transmitting at least the base sub-band to a far end endpoint to permit image reconstruction at the far end endpoint at a degree of resolution dependent on the number of sub-bands used to reconstruct the image.