JP2022047969A - Call control device, call control method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

To perform communication with a simpler procedure and with less influence on the surroundings when the other party is absent.SOLUTION: A call control device includes a connection destination determination unit that determines a connection destination which is a device used by a request destination user in response to receiving a call request from a user terminal, a connection start determination unit that determines whether the request destination user can make a call at the connection destination determined by the connection destination determination unit, and a call control unit that connects the user terminal and the connection destination in a call when it is determined that the request destination user is in a state in which a call can be made.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for a user to communicate with another person located at a remote place.

Due to the partial enforcement of work style reform related bills, staggered commuting and remote work are recommended. Recently, due to the effects of natural disasters and epidemics, efforts are being made to further promote teleworking and remote work. In the process, business is being promoted by utilizing various communication tools.

Web conferencing tools are used for meetings. When holding a meeting using a web conferencing tool, check the usage environment and schedule of the participants in advance, set the start time, and set the meeting schedule. Then, it is necessary to notify the participants of advance information such as conference identification information and password. By performing such a procedure and holding a web conference, it is possible to hold a conference in the same state as when you are in the office.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-11580

On the other hand, there are some problems in realizing conversations that can be completed in a short time. Since web conferencing requires the setting and notification of advance information as described above, it is inefficient to use web conferencing for conversations that can be completed in a short time. It is also possible to use a telephone or a call application, but since the state of the other party is unknown, there is a possibility that incoming calls will be made many times even though the other party is absent. Then, for example, the ringtone may be repeatedly played from the other party's terminal, which may cause trouble to people around.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique that enables communication with a simpler procedure and with less influence on the surroundings when the other party is absent.

One aspect of the present invention is determined by a connection destination determination unit that determines a connection destination, which is a device used by the request destination user, and the connection destination determination unit, in response to receiving a call request from the user terminal. At the connection destination, it is determined that the connection start determination unit for determining whether or not the request destination user can make a call and the request destination user can make a call. In this case, it is a call control device including a call control unit for connecting the user terminal and the connection destination in a call.

One aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned call control device, which receives attendance confirmation information which is information capable of determining whether or not a user can make a call from the connected device. And make a decision based on the received information.

One aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned call control device, and the presence confirmation information is an image taken by an image pickup device related to the connection destination.

One aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned call control device, and when it is determined that the request-destination user is not in a state of being able to make a call, a call is made to the user terminal of the request-destination user. It is further provided with a disconnection processing unit for transmitting disconnection information which is information indicating that a call could not be made even though there was a request for.

One aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned call control device, in which the disconnection processing unit receives information regarding a message to the requesting user from a user terminal of the requesting user, and obtains the information regarding the message. It is transmitted to the user terminal of the user of the request destination.

One aspect of the present invention is determined in a connection destination determination step for determining a connection destination, which is a device used by the request destination user, and a connection destination determination step, in response to receiving a call request from the user terminal. At the connection destination, it is determined that the connection start determination step for determining whether or not the request destination user can make a call and the state where the request destination user can make a call. In this case, the call control method includes a call control step for connecting the user terminal and the connection destination in a call.

One aspect of the present invention is a computer program for operating a computer as the above-mentioned call control device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to communicate with a simpler procedure and with less influence on the surroundings when the other party is absent.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the system structure of the call system 100 of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the specific example of the functional structure of a user terminal 10. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the specific example of the functional structure of a shared device 20. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the specific example of the functional structure of a call control device 30. It is a sequence chart which shows the specific example of the processing flow of a call system 100. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the screen used when the user inputs a call instruction. It is a sequence chart which shows the specific example of the flow of the process when the user B cannot make a call in the call system 100.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a system configuration of the call system 100 of the present invention. The call system 100 is a system for users located at remote locations to communicate with each other. The call system 100 includes a plurality of user terminals 10 (for example, 10_1 and 10_2), a shared device 20, and a call control device 30. The plurality of user terminals 10, the shared device 20, and the call control device 30 are communicably connected via the network 40. The network 40 may be a network using wireless communication or a network using wired communication. The network 40 may be configured by combining a plurality of networks.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the user terminal 10. The user terminal 10 is a terminal device used by the user. The user terminal 10 is configured by using information devices such as a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer (including both a stationary type and a portable type), a portable game machine, a stationary game machine, and a dedicated device. The user terminal 10 includes a communication unit 11, an imaging unit 12, a voice input unit 13, a voice output unit 14, a display unit 15, an input unit 16, a storage unit 17, and a control unit 18.

The communication unit 11 is a communication device. The communication unit 11 may be configured as, for example, a network interface. The communication unit 11 communicates data with another device via the network 40 according to the control of the control unit 18. The communication unit 11 may be a device that performs wireless communication or a device that performs wired communication.

The image pickup unit 12 is configured by using a camera. The image pickup unit 12 may be configured as the camera itself, or may be configured as an interface for connecting the camera to the user terminal 10 as an external device. The camera captures a predetermined space according to its position. The camera is preferably provided at a position where the face of the user using the user terminal 10 can be imaged. For example, a camera may be provided so that the face of the user who sees the display unit 15 can be imaged. The image pickup unit 12 outputs the data of the image captured by the camera to the control unit 18.

The voice input unit 13 is configured by using a microphone. The voice input unit 13 may be configured as the microphone itself, or may be configured as an interface for connecting the microphone to the user terminal 10 as an external device. The microphone acquires the voice spoken by the user using the user terminal 10. The voice input unit 13 outputs the voice data acquired by the microphone to the control unit 18.

The audio output unit 14 is configured by using an audio output device such as a speaker or headphones. The audio output unit 14 may be configured as an audio output device itself, or may be configured as an interface for connecting the audio output device to the user terminal 10 as an external device. The voice output device outputs voice at a volume that can be heard by the user using the user terminal 10. The voice output unit 14 outputs voice according to the voice signal output by the control unit 18.

The display unit 15 is an image display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, and an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The display unit 15 may be an interface for connecting the image display device to the user terminal 10. In this case, the display unit 15 generates a video signal for displaying an image and outputs the video signal to an image display device connected to the display unit 15. The image display device is provided so that the user using the user terminal 10 can see the displayed image.

The input unit 16 is configured by using an existing input device such as a keyboard, a pointing device (mouse, tablet, etc.), a button, and a touch panel. The input unit 16 is operated by the user when inputting the user's instruction to the user terminal 10. The input unit 16 may be an interface for connecting the input device to the user terminal 10. In this case, the input unit 16 inputs the input signal generated in response to the user's input in the input device to the user terminal 10. The input unit 16 may be configured in any way as long as the user's instruction can be input to the user terminal 10.

The storage unit 17 is configured by using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 17 stores data used in the processing of the control unit 18.

The control unit 18 is configured by using a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory. The control unit 18 functions as a call control unit 181 and a notification control unit 182 by executing a program by the processor. All or part of each function of the control unit 18 may be realized by using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The above program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include, for example, flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, CD-ROMs, portable media such as semiconductor storage devices (eg SSD: Solid State Drive), hard disks built into computer systems, and semiconductor storage. It is a storage device such as a device. The above program may be transmitted over a telecommunication line.

The call control unit 181 performs processing related to a call made with another user terminal 10. The notification control unit 182 performs processing related to notification to the user.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the shared device 20. The sharing device 20 is an information device installed at a predetermined place. The shared device 20 is used by a user located in a predetermined place where it is installed. The shared device 20 is used by a plurality of users. The sharing device 20 is configured by using information devices such as a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer (including both a stationary type and a portable type), a portable game machine, a stationary game machine, and a dedicated device. The sharing device 20 is configured in the same manner as the user terminal 10 described above. However, the image display device of the sharing device 20 may be larger than the image display device of the user terminal 10. The audio output device of the sharing device 20 may output audio so that it can be heard in a wider area. The camera of the sharing device 20 may be configured to capture a wider area.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the call control device 30. The call control device 30 is a device that controls communication between users. The call control device 30 is configured by using an information processing device such as a server device or a cloud device. The call control device 30 includes a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33.

The communication unit 31 is a communication device. The communication unit 31 may be configured as, for example, a network interface. The communication unit 31 communicates data with another device via the network 40 according to the control of the control unit 33. The communication unit 31 may be a device that performs wireless communication or may be a device that performs wired communication.

The storage unit 32 is configured by using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 32 stores data used in the processing of the control unit 33.

The control unit 33 is configured by using a processor such as a CPU and a memory. The control unit 33 functions as a call control unit 331, an authentication unit 332, a connection destination determination unit 333, a connection start determination unit 334, and a non-connection processing unit 335 by executing a program by the processor. In addition, all or a part of each function of the control unit 33 may be realized by using hardware such as ASIC, PLD and FPGA. The above program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include, for example, flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, CD-ROMs, portable media such as semiconductor storage devices (for example, SSDs), and storage of hard disks and semiconductor storage devices built in computer systems. It is a device. The above program may be transmitted over a telecommunication line.

The call control unit 331 performs a process for realizing a call made between the user terminal 10 and another user terminal 10. The communication protocol to be processed by the call control unit 331 may be any protocol as long as it can realize a call.

The authentication unit 332 performs an authentication process on the user terminal 10 and its user based on the information transmitted from the user terminal 10. For example, the authentication unit 332 may receive information about the user's face from the user terminal 10 and authenticate whether the user of the user terminal 10 is a legitimate user based on the information. In that case, for example, the storage unit 32 may store information about the face of a regular user in advance. The information about the face may be, for example, the face image itself, the information about the feature amount obtained from the face image by a predetermined algorithm, or other information.

When the connection destination determination unit 333 receives information regarding a call request (for example, call request information) from the user terminal 10, the connection destination determination unit 333 and the request source user terminal 10 in order to realize a call with the user who is the other party of the call. The user terminal 10 of the connection destination to be connected to the call is determined.

The connection start determination unit 334 determines whether or not to make a communication connection for a call (hereinafter referred to as "call connection") with the user terminal 10 which is the connection destination determined by the connection destination determination unit 333.

The disconnection processing unit 335 performs processing (hereinafter referred to as "disconnection processing") when the request target call cannot be realized for the user terminal 10 which is the transmission source of the call request. ..

FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing a specific example of the processing flow of the call system 100. In the example of FIG. 5, the call request source is the user A, and the call request destination is the user B. That is, the user A wants to make a call with the user B, and wants to make a call with the user B by using his / her own user terminal 10. User A inputs a call instruction (step S101).

The call instruction is to instruct the user terminal 10 to execute a process for the user A to make a call with the user B. It is desirable that the call instruction includes information indicating the user who requested the call. The call instruction may be realized in any form. For example, the call instruction is realized by the user A uttering a predetermined wording indicating the call instruction (for example, "Connect with (user B's name)", "(user B's name), a little nice."). May be done. In this case, the voice input unit 13 of the user terminal 10 inputs the voice of the user A to the control unit 18. The control unit 18 recognizes that a predetermined word such as "(user B's name), a little good." Is uttered by performing the voice recognition process. The control unit 18 determines that the call instruction has been input in response to this recognition.

As for the information indicating the user of the call destination (hereinafter referred to as "call destination information"), the information indicating the user of the call destination may be used as it is, or the information indicating the user of the call destination may be used as it is. It may be determined. For example, a table in which the call name of each user (name called by a person, for example, the name or nickname of each user) and the user identification information indicating each user are associated with each other may be registered in the storage unit 17. In this case, the call control unit 181 may acquire the user's identification information as the call destination information based on the call name indicated by the voice recognition result and the table registered in the storage unit 17.

The call instruction may be input in other embodiments. For example, the user A may operate the input unit 16 to operate a button related to a call instruction displayed on the user terminal 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of a screen used when a user inputs a call instruction. Hereinafter, a specific example of the call instruction will be described with reference to FIG. When the user operates the input unit 16 to display the address book, a plurality of user names registered in the address book are displayed in each user name display area 91. When the user selects (for example, taps) the user name display area 91 of the desired user, the user name display area 91 expands and the call button 92 is displayed. When the user selects (for example, taps) the call button 92, the call control unit 181 of the user terminal 10 determines that the call instruction has been made. Although two specific examples of the mode of inputting the call instruction have been given, the call instruction may be input in other modes.

When a call instruction is input, the call control unit 181 of the user terminal 10 acquires user information (step S102). The user information is information required for the user terminal 10 and the user A to be authenticated by the call control device 30. For example, the user information may be authentication information stored in advance in the storage unit 17 of the user terminal 10. The authentication information may be, for example, information previously assigned to the user A (for example, a user ID and password), or information previously assigned to the user terminal 10 (for example, a MAC address or a device). It may be (identification information, etc.). The authentication information may be, for example, the biometric information of the user A or the image of the face. The biometric information may be acquired by, for example, a biometric sensor provided in the user terminal 10. The image of the face may be taken by, for example, the image pickup unit 12 provided in the user terminal 10.

When the user information is acquired, the call control unit 181 generates call request information including call instruction information and user information. Then, the call control unit 181 transmits the call request information to the call control device 30 (step S103).

When the call control unit 331 of the call control device 30 receives the call request information, the call control unit 331 performs an authentication process using the user information included in the call request information (step S104). When the received user information does not indicate a legitimate user, the authentication unit 332 transmits error information to the user terminal 10 which is the source of the call request information, and ends the process. On the other hand, when the received user information indicates a legitimate user, the authentication unit 332 notifies the call control unit 331 that the user terminal 10 which is the transmission source of the call request information has been authenticated.

The connection destination determination unit 333 determines the device to be connected to the call based on the call destination information included in the call request information. The connection destination determination unit 333 acquires the address information of the connection destination based on the address table associated with, for example, the call destination information and the address information of the device (for example, the user terminal 10) shown in the call destination information. May be good. The connection destination determination unit 333 notifies the call control unit 331 and the connection start determination unit 334 of the determined address information of the connection destination.

The connection start determination unit 334 requests the presence confirmation information to the determined address information of the connection destination (step S106). The presence confirmation information is information that can determine whether or not the user can make a call. The presence confirmation information is, for example, an image taken by a camera (for example, an image pickup unit 12 or an image pickup unit 22) of a device (for example, a user terminal 10 or a sharing device 20) used when a user makes a call. In this case, the connection start determination unit 334 performs a process of detecting a human face in the image which is the presence confirmation information, and determines that the user can make a call when the human face is detected. You may. The presence confirmation information may be information indicating the result of processing for detecting a human face in the image taken by the above camera. In this case, the control unit of the user terminal 10 or the sharing device 20 may perform face detection processing. In that case, the presence confirmation information may be information indicating whether or not a face has been detected. When the presence confirmation information indicates that the face is detected, the connection start determination unit 334 may determine that the user can make a call. In the example of the sequence chart of FIG. 5, the request destination of the presence confirmation information is the user terminal 10 of the user B.

Upon receiving the request for the presence confirmation information, the call control unit 181 of the user terminal 10 generates the presence confirmation information (step S107) and transmits the generated presence confirmation information to the call control device 30 (step S108). ). The connection start determination unit 334 of the call control device 30 determines whether or not the user (user B) of the user terminal 10 can make a call based on the received presence confirmation information (step S109). ). When it is determined that the user (user B) of the user terminal 10 can make a call based on the presence confirmation information, the call control unit 331 transmits a connection request to the user terminal 10 (step S110). ). The connection request may be, for example, a call to the user terminal 10.

The call control unit 181 of the user terminal 10 that has received the connection request may make a call connection with the requesting user terminal 10 (user terminal 10 of the user A) regardless of the operation of the user B (step S111). With such a configuration, the user A can start a conversation with the user B in a more natural way.

The call control unit 181 of the user terminal 10 that has received the connection request may output information indicating that the call is requested by the user A. Such output may be performed, for example, by displaying a predetermined character string or an image on the display unit 15 together with the information indicating the user A who is the request source. Such output may be performed, for example, by outputting a predetermined voice in the voice output unit 14. Such output may be performed, for example, by outputting the voice of a predetermined wording indicating the call instruction of the user A input as the call instruction from the voice output unit 14. The user terminal 10 of the user B may make a call connection in response to the operation indicating that the user B starts a call with respect to such an output (step S111). The operation indicating to start a call is, for example, an operation of pressing a predetermined button or an operation of the user B uttering a predetermined word.

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart showing a specific example of the processing flow when the user B cannot make a call in the call system 100. Since the processing of steps S101 to S109 in FIG. 7 is the same as the processing of the same reference numeral in FIG. 5, the description thereof will be omitted. When it is determined that the user (user B) of the user terminal 10 cannot make a call based on the presence confirmation information, the disconnection processing unit 335 requests the user terminal 10 of the requesting source to make a call. Notify that B is absent (step S201).

The notification control unit 182 of the user terminal 10 that has received the notification of absence prompts the user A to input a message. For example, the notification control unit 182 may prompt the user A to input the message by outputting the information indicating that the user B is absent and the information recommending the input of the message to the user B. .. The user A inputs a message for the user B to the user terminal 10 (step S202). The input of the message may be performed by the utterance of the user A, or may be performed by operating an input device such as a keyboard or a touch panel. The notification control unit 182 transmits the message input by the user A to the call control device 30 (step S203).

The non-connecting processing unit 335 of the call control device 30 generates the non-connecting information. The disconnection information is information indicating that a call was requested but the call could not be made. The disconnection information may include information indicating a call request source (user A in the case of FIG. 7). The information at the time of disconnection may include information according to the received message. The disconnection processing unit 335 transmits the disconnection information to the user terminal 10 (step S204).

When the notification control unit 182 of the user terminal 10 receives the information at the time of disconnection, the notification control unit 182 notifies the user of the information indicating that the user is disconnected. For example, the notification control unit 182 may display information indicating the request source and information indicating the date and time when the call is requested on the display unit 15. In this case, the user can know that the call was requested, the date and time, and the user who requested the call by checking the display contents of the display unit 15 later. The notification control unit 182 indicates that the voice is recorded when the information indicating that the voice of the user (user A) who requested the call is recorded is included in the disconnection information. Information (text or image) may be displayed on the display unit 15. In this case, the notification control unit 182 accesses the call control device 30 in response to the operation of the user B, acquires and reproduces the recorded voice of the user A. When the non-connection information contains information indicating that the text has been recorded by the user (user A) who requested the call, the notification control unit 182 displays the recorded text on the display unit 15. You may.

The notification control unit 182 may display a button for communicating with the requesting user A together with information indicating that the connection has not been established. Buttons for communication include, for example, a button for chatting (a button for sending a pre-entered character string to user A) and a button for indicating a call request to user A. Is.

In the call system 100 configured in this way, the user can start a call with the other user by inputting a call instruction by a predetermined operation. Further, when the other user is absent, the process corresponding to the incoming call is not performed on the other user terminal 10. Therefore, when the other party is absent, it is possible to communicate with the surroundings with less influence.

(Modification example)
The connection destination determination unit 333 may acquire the address information of the connection destination, for example, based on the feature amount table in which the call destination information and the information regarding the feature amount of the face image are associated with each other. In this case, for example, the connection destination determination unit 333 acquires information on the feature amount associated with the call destination information. Next, the connection destination determination unit 333 receives the image taken by the image pickup unit 22 from each sharing device 20. The connection destination determination unit 333 searches for a face image corresponding to the feature amount associated with the call destination information in the image received from each sharing device 20. The connection destination determination unit 333 determines the image sharing device 20 in which the face image corresponding to the feature amount associated with the call destination information is detected as the connection destination device.

Whether or not the connection start determination unit 334 can acquire the schedule information of the user (for example, user B) on the user terminal 10 of the call destination and make a call based on the schedule information of the user B at the time of determination. May be determined. For example, if a schedule indicating that you are away from your desk is registered, or if a meeting schedule that is not related to the requesting user (for example, the requesting user is not registered) is registered. May be determined to be in a state in which a call cannot be made, and may be determined to be in a state in which a call can be made if these schedules are not registered.

The function implemented in the control unit 33 of the call control device 30 may be implemented separately in a plurality of devices. For example, the authentication unit 332 may be implemented as an authentication device communicably connected to the call control device 30 via the network 40. In this case, the call control device 30 transmits the information required for the authentication process to the authentication device when performing the authentication process. The authentication device transmits information indicating the authentication result to the call control device 30.

When the connection start determination unit 334 determines whether or not the user can make a call using the user terminal 10, the image pickup unit 22 of the shared device 20 is used instead of the image pickup section 12 of the user terminal 10. The captured image may be used. For example, when the places where the user uses the user terminal 10 are limited in advance, in the image taken by the image pickup unit 22 of the predetermined sharing device 20 capable of taking an image of those places, the face of the callee user is displayed. The determination may be made based on whether or not it is detected.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

100 ... Call system, 10 ... User terminal, 20 ... Shared device, 30 ... Call control device, 40 ... Network, 11 ... Communication unit, 12 ... Imaging unit, 13 ... Voice input unit, 14 ... Voice output unit, 15 ... Display Unit, 16 ... Input unit, 17 ... Storage unit, 18 ... Control unit, 181 ... Call control unit, 182 ... Notification control unit, 21 ... Communication unit, 22 ... Imaging unit, 23 ... Voice input unit, 24 ... Voice output unit , 25 ... Display unit, 26 ... Input unit, 27 ... Storage unit, 28 ... Control unit, 281 ... Call control unit, 282 ... Notification control unit, 31 ... Communication unit, 32 ... Storage unit, 33 ... Control unit, 331 ... Call control unit, 332 ... Authentication unit, 333 ... Connection destination determination unit, 334 ... Connection start determination unit, 335 ... Non-connection processing unit

Claims (7)

A connection destination determination unit that determines the connection destination, which is a device used by the request destination user, in response to receiving a call request from the user terminal.
A connection start determination unit that determines whether or not the requesting user can make a call at the connection destination determined by the connection destination determination unit.
A call control unit that connects the user terminal to the connection destination when it is determined that the requesting user is in a state where the call can be made.
A call control device. The first aspect of claim 1 is that the presence confirmation information, which is information that can determine whether or not the user can make a call, is received from the connected device, and the determination is made based on the received information. Call control device. The call control device according to claim 2, wherein the presence confirmation information is an image taken by an image pickup device related to the connection destination. Information indicating that a call was requested but could not be made to the user terminal of the requesting user when it was determined that the requesting user was not in a state where the call could be made. The call control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a disconnection processing unit for transmitting disconnection information. The disconnection processing unit receives information about a message to the requesting user from the user terminal of the requesting user, and transmits the information about the message to the user terminal of the requesting user, according to claim 4. The call control device described. A connection destination determination step that determines a connection destination, which is a device used by the request destination user, in response to receiving a call request from the user terminal.
A connection start determination step for determining whether or not the requesting user can make a call at the connection destination determined in the connection destination determination step.
A call control step for connecting the user terminal and the connection destination by a call when it is determined that the requesting user can make a call.
Call control method having. A computer program for operating a computer as the call control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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