JPH06225294A - Group video communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the load of a first user terminal at the time of distributing a video to second user terminals for many third persons by providing a viewing means viewing video information which is bi-directionally communicated between first user terminals by accessing it from the second user terminals. CONSTITUTION:This system is composed of the first user terminals (a) and (b), a group communication controller A, a connection conversion processing means B, a selection distribution processing means C, a communication exchanging network X and the second user terminals 1 to (n). Then, video information which is bi-directionally communicated between the first user terminals (a) and (b) is converted/multiplexed for uni-directional transmission and the multiplexed video is sent to the second user terminals 1 to (n) in response to access from one or plural second user terminals 1 to (n) so that video information which is bi-directionally communicated between the first user terminals (a) and (b) is viewed by accessing from the second user terminals 1 to (n). Thus, it is unnecessitated to mount both a multi ground simultaneous connection function and a simultaneous multiplex sending function of video information to each of the first user terminals (a) and (b).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to transport switching networks (eg,
A specific plurality of first exchanged via a public communication network)
User video communication terminal (hereinafter simply referred to as user terminal)
The present invention relates to a group video communication system capable of accessing and viewing inter-video information from a second user terminal for other third parties.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, a video communication system using a public communication network X as a transmission / switching network has two specific first user terminals a and b or more than one not shown. The bidirectional video communication path is set between the first user terminals of the above, and the video information is transmitted and received only between the specific first user terminals. Examples of such video communication include systems such as a television (TV) telephone and a television (TV) conference.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional video communication system, the video information exchanged between the specific first user terminals is used by the second user terminal for a third party other than the concerned party. It was impossible to access and view from.

Therefore, in the prior art, the video information currently exchanged between the specific first user terminals a and b can be obtained by accessing the second user terminal for a third party. In order to do so, a simultaneous branch connection of the communication path to the second user terminal for the third party is requested to each of the specific plurality of first user terminals a and b. It is necessary that the specific first user terminals a and b are equipped with a simultaneous multipoint connection function and a simultaneous multiplex transmission function of video information. When the number of second user terminals for third parties increases,
There has been a problem that the number of communication paths that require simultaneous connection increases and the load on the first user terminal becomes enormous.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a video communication performed between specific first user terminals to a third party other than the parties concerned. A second aspect of the present invention is to provide a group video communication system that can be accessed and viewed from a second user terminal.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in a group video communication system according to the present invention, a video which is bidirectionally communicated between two or more specific first user terminals. One-way transfer conversion / multiplexing means for converting and multiplexing information for one-way transfer, and the multiplexed video in response to access from one or a plurality of second user terminals. A video sending means for sending to the user terminal and a viewing means for accessing and viewing video information bidirectionally exchanged between the first user terminals from the second user terminal are provided. That is the most main feature.

[0008] Further, a second image information combining processing means for combining the second image information based on the image information between the first user terminals, and the second combined image information is second. It is characterized in that it is provided with a distribution means for distributing to the user terminal of.

[0009]

According to the above-mentioned means, the video information which is bidirectionally communicated between the specified two or more first user terminals is converted and multiplexed for the one-way transfer, and one or a plurality of second video information is transmitted. In response to the access from the user terminal, the multiplexed video is transmitted to the second user terminal, and the video information bidirectionally exchanged between the first user terminals is transmitted. Since it is accessed and viewed from the second user terminal, the video information exchanged between the specific first user terminals is accessed and viewed from the second user terminal for other third parties. can do. As a result, it becomes unnecessary to mount a multi-point simultaneous connection function and a video information simultaneous multiplex transmission function for each of a plurality of specific first user terminals, which is required in the conventional technique, and a large number of third party The load on the first user terminal when trying to distribute the video information to the second user terminal is reduced.

The second video information is combined based on the video information between the first user terminals, and the second video information thus combined is distributed to the second user terminals. Since the second user terminal receives the second video information on one communication channel, the communication channel can be saved.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In all the figures, components having the same function are designated by the same reference numeral, and repeated description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a group video communication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a and b are specific first user terminals (first user video communication terminals), A is a group communication control device, B is connection conversion processing means, C is selective distribution processing means, and X is. Is a transmission / switching network (for example, a public communication network is used), 1, 2 ... N are second user terminals for third parties (second user video communication terminals).

In the group video communication system according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, specific first user terminals a and b mutually transmit video information and the like via bidirectional communication paths Y and Z, respectively. It is a video communication terminal that is exchanging.

The group communication control device A for realizing the group video communication system of the present invention is incorporated in the transfer switching network X, and is provided with the connection conversion processing means B and the selective distribution processing means C. The connection conversion processing means B is
Video received from each of the first user terminals a and b at the same time as the two-way communication path between the first user terminal a and the first user terminal b is pulled in from the transmission switching network X for mutual connection. The information is buffered in the group communication control device A, and the conversion / multiplexing means for one-way transfer synchronously multiplexes both for one-way simultaneous transmission and outputs them to the selective distribution processing means C. A plurality of this connection conversion processing means B are prepared, and a plurality of video information groups are usually input to the selective distribution processing means C.

An example of the structure of the connection conversion processing means B is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, B1 and B2 are communication terminal devices, and B
Reference numerals 3, B4 and B5 are buffer memories and bus interface devices, and B6 is a channel synchronous multiplexing device.

The communication terminators B1 and B2 terminate the communication procedure with each video communication terminal and control data transfer with the buffer memory and the bus interface devices B3 and B4.
The buffer memory and the interface devices B3 and B4
Performs data transmission and reception on the bus according to the internal bus procedure.
The buffer memory and the interface devices B3 and B4 are
It receives the data sent from the respective devices B4, B3 and transfers the data to the communication termination devices B1, B2. The buffer memory and bus interface device B5 receives the data sent from the buffer memory and interface devices B3 and B4, respectively, and transfers the data to the channel synchronization multiplexer B6. The channel synchronous multiplexer B6 synchronously multiplexes the received data and sends it to the selective distribution processing means C. In this way, distribution to the second user terminals 1, 2, ... N for third parties without hindering the transmission and reception of the bidirectional video information between the first user terminals a and b. The video information for use can be transferred to the selective distribution processing means C.

On the other hand, the second user terminals 1, 2, ... N for third parties are used to enable communication images exchanged between the specific first user terminals a and b to be viewed. It is connected to the selective distribution processing means C via a transmission switching network (communication network) X,
The desired distribution image can be selected by accessing the selective distribution processing means C at any time.

The selection distribution processing means C selects a desired one of a plurality of video information from the connection conversion processing means B according to the selection control information from the second user terminals 1, 2 ,. N are selected and distributed and transferred to the second user terminals 1, 2, ... N via the transfer switching network (communication network) X. In this case, the group communication control device A controls to deliver the communication image after the selected time to the second user terminals 1, 2, ... N.

As the image selecting means, (a) the terminal number of the first user terminal a or b is designated.

(B) The channels are sequentially switched while watching the image as in the case of watching a broadcast television (TV).

(C) Only viewing of a specific video is limited by the unique identification number (ID) of the accessing user terminal.

There are various conceivable examples such as the above, but it is not necessary to specify here, and any one may be adopted. Also, in normal communication, the communication line between the first user terminals a and b does not pass through the group communication control device A, but the first user terminals a and b when making a call A communication path via the group communication control device A is set by calling with a special number, which enables viewing from a second user terminal 1, 2, ... N for a third party. To do. By doing this,
Connection is made to the group communication control device A according to the intention of the side on which the communication video is viewed.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a group video communication system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In the group video communication system of the second embodiment, "a specific first user terminal a, b such as a videophone is used.
The third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the second user terminals 1, 2, ... However, as a component of the group communication control device A, the video composition processing means D
The difference is that.

In the second embodiment, the connection conversion processing means B buffers the video information received from each of the first user terminals a and b, and then transfers it to the video synthesis processing means D together with the synchronization information. To do. Receiving this, the video synthesizing processing means D synthesizes the two video information transferred from the connection conversion processing means B as one video information.

As a synthesizing method, synthesizing is made into left and right divided screens. Various methods such as transparent overlay composition are conceivable, but any means may be used without limitation. The combined image information is output to the selective distribution processing means C. Subsequent selective distribution processing means C
The operation in is similar to that of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the second user terminals 1, 2, ... N only need to receive the combined single video information, and the communication channel at the time of reception can be saved. User terminals 1, 2, ... Required for the first embodiment
-Display control of multiple images on the n side is not required.

Although the present invention has been specifically described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Absent.

For example, here, an embodiment is shown in which two-way communication video is viewed between two specific first user terminals a and b. However, the present invention includes three or more first user terminals a and b. It is needless to say that the same can be applied to the case where the user terminal of (1) performs bidirectional communication.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the implementation in the public communication network as the transmission and switching network X, but by providing the group communication control device A in a private branch exchange (PBX) or the like in a private network, the present invention can be realized. The group video communication system can be realized.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the bidirectional video information exchanged between the specific first user terminals is used for the second use for a third party other than the party concerned. It can be accessed from the user terminal and viewed from the second user terminal.

As a result, it becomes unnecessary to mount a multipoint simultaneous connection function and a video information simultaneous multiple transmission function for each of a plurality of specific first user terminals, which is required in the conventional technique, and a large number of third terminals are provided. The load on the first user terminal when trying to distribute the video information to the second user terminal for a person is reduced.

In addition, other ordinary people can simultaneously proceed with a conference, an interview, a round-table discussion, etc. using a user terminal such as a television (TV) telephone via a public communication network (transmission switching network). By using the public communication network, new communication means can be provided, such as access to the communication network for viewing.

The second video information is combined based on the video information between the first user terminals, and the second video information thus combined is distributed to the second user terminals. Since the second user terminal receives the second video information on one communication channel, the communication channel can be saved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a group video communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram showing a configuration example of connection conversion processing means according to the first embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a group video communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration example of a video communication system using a public communication network X as a conventional transmission / switching network.

[Explanation of symbols]

a, b ... First user terminal, 1, 2, ... N ... Second user terminal, A ... Group communication control device, B ... Connection conversion processing means, B1, B2 ... Communication termination device, B3 , B4, B
5 ... Buffer memory and bus interface device, B
6 ... Channel synchronization multiplexer, C ... Selective distribution processing means,
D ... Image synthesis processing means, X ... Transmission exchange network (public communication network), Y, Z ... Bidirectional communication path.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a group video communication system in which a plurality of video communication terminals communicate with each other via a transmission switching network (communication network), bidirectional communication between two or more specific first user video communication terminals. One-way transfer conversion / multiplexing means for converting and multiplexing communication video information for one-way transfer;
A video sending means for sending the multiplexed video to the second user video communication terminal in response to access from one or a plurality of second user video communication terminals; and the first use. A group video communication system comprising: a viewing unit for accessing and viewing video information bidirectionally exchanged between the user video communication terminals from the second user video communication terminal. 2. The group video communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a second video information synthesizing processing means for synthesizing the second video information based on the video information between the first user video communication terminals. A group video communication system comprising: a distribution unit that distributes the combined second video information to a second user video communication terminal.