JPH08214074A - Simple participation type communication conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To allow the system to contribute to more smooth conference progress with a few limintation of a participation place to a remote location conference. CONSTITUTION: When a party taking part in a conference through a conference terminal with respect to a notice of start of the conference uses its own terminals B40-2, C40-3 to reply participation in the conference to a conference server 60 or a host conference terminal A40-1, and a simple conference participant uses its own terminal D40-4 to reply simple participation to the host conference terminal A40-1. When the conference is started, the conference server 60 sets a channel automatically to the conference participation register terminals B40-2, C40-3 and access by the simple conference participant itself of the simple conference participation terminal D, for example, uses an optional telephone set 50-1 in the communication network 300 to make access and the conference server 60 accepts the access to set a channel to allow the simple participant to take part in the conference.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipoint video conference communication system which communicates with a video terminal via a node for multipoint communication, so that a conference can be made simply from terminals other than dedicated conference terminals. The present invention relates to a simple participation type teleconferencing system capable of participating in a conference.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a remote conference system has mainly been a system between two points via a wide area network. The main purpose of this type of teleconferencing system is to be placed remotely, even if the participants in the conference are in remote locations with each other and must travel and gather to hold the conference in a specific location. Meeting participants gather in a meeting room and hold a meeting while watching TV to reduce travel time and transportation time.

The basic structure of this type of teleconferencing system consists of a television system capable of displaying a plurality of participants and a voice system using a microphone / speaker. Then, the television system can see the image of the participant of the other party, and the audio system can know the utterance content.

Further, an electronic blackboard system can be added as an auxiliary device. In this case, the contents written on the electronic blackboard can be displayed on the television of the other electronic blackboard system and used as a reference material. Furthermore, by adding a FAX and transmitting the materials to be used, more convincing arguments can be made.

By the way, the conventional teleconference system of this kind is premised on the synthesis / distribution control of the video signal and the audio signal between the dedicated conference terminals having both the above-mentioned television system and the audio system. The current situation is that the conference cannot be accessed from a telephone or the like having only a voice signal transmission function.

Therefore, in the conventional teleconferencing system,
Meeting participants must be in the meeting room where the meeting terminal is installed according to the time when the meeting is held, and at the place where the meeting terminal is available at the time when participation in the meeting is permitted. No one was able to announce their opinion to the conference at all.

[0007]

As described above, in the above-mentioned conventional teleconference system, since the composition is based on the control of the synthesis / distribution of the video signal and the audio signal between the dedicated conference terminals, the conference participants are There is no way to express your opinion that you are not in the conference room with the conference terminal according to the time when the conference is held. There was a problem that it might not be possible to proceed.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned problems and allows a conference to be attended even if the conference terminal is not always installed, and allows access from any place to present an opinion to ensure a smooth conference. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple participation type teleconferencing system that contributes to the progress of.

[0009]

A simple participation communication conference system of the present invention is a conference terminal having a video system for processing a video signal and an audio system for processing an audio signal,
A multipoint communication control device that is connected to the conference terminal via a communication network and performs a synthesis / distribution control of the video signal and the audio signal with each conference terminal, and at least an audio signal accommodated in the communication network. The multipoint communication control device comprises an access control means for performing access control with the non-conference terminal, and a non-conference terminal after the access is completed to the combination / distribution control. It is characterized in that it is provided with a simple participation terminal control means to be incorporated, and it is possible to participate in a simple meeting by at least an audio signal from a non-conference terminal.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the multipoint communication control device is constructed so as to be capable of controlling access to non-conference terminals such as telephones accommodated in the communication network, and these non-conference terminals can be simplified as necessary. As a participating terminal, it is incorporated in the original synthesis / distribution control of video and audio signals between conference terminals.

As a result, even a person who cannot join the conference because he / she cannot attach to the conference terminal at the time of the communication conference can join the conference using, for example, an arbitrary telephone, and there is no vacancy of the participants. A meaningful meeting can be realized regardless of the place of participation.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a simple participation communication conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, each conference terminal (A to D) 40
-1 to 40-4 are conference servers 60 through the communication network 300.
Connected to the remote conference system. Furthermore,
In the present invention, a large number of telephones 50 connected in the communication network 300 are incorporated in this remote conference system as simple participation terminals.

In the simple participation communication conference system of the present invention, the conference server 60, the conference terminal 40, and the telephone 5
The communication network 300 for connecting 0s includes a wide area network and a premises network, and a wide band ISDN network or the like can be used as the wide area network, and an ATM-LAN or STM is used as the premises network.
A multimedia LAN can be used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a more specific configuration of the simple participation communication conference system of the present invention, and particularly focuses on the disclosure of the detailed configuration of the conference terminal 40. As can be seen from the figure, the basic configuration of the conference terminal 40 includes a video system including the conference terminal control device 41 and its controlled parts, that is, the terminal device 420 and the camera 430, a microphone 440 and a speaker 450. Voice system.

In this system, the video signal from the camera 430 and the audio signal from the microphone 440 are sent to the conference server 60 via the conference terminal controller 410. The conference server 60 synthesizes a plurality of video signals into one screen, synthesizes audio signals, and sends them to the conference terminal 40 again. It is well known that when the composite signal is returned from the conference server 60, the signal of the conference terminal of the return destination is excluded.

On the other hand, in the conference terminal 40 that receives the signal sent from the conference server 60, the conference terminal control device 41
With the control of 0, the terminal device 420 displays the synthesized image on the display unit, and the speaker 450 reproduces the synthesized voice. As a result, the conference participants can listen to the voices and images of the other participants on their own conference terminal 40 and can proceed with the conference as if they were gathered in one conference room.

In this system, the terminal device 420 is
Specifically, it can be realized by a personal computer or a workstation. Since the personal computer or workstation has a video board for displaying images, the image sent from the conference server 60 via the conference terminal control device 410 can be displayed in the window on the screen.

Other peripheral device options in this system include an electronic blackboard / digitizer 460 and a facility 470. These optional devices are used for transmitting and receiving digital image information and still images.

Further, FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the conference server 60 in this system. This conference server 60
Is the service control system 610 and the status monitoring terminal 62.
0, a voice and image recording device 630, and a voice and image recording control device 640.

Here, the service control system 610 is
In addition to the above-described synthesis / distribution control of the video signal and the audio signal between the conference terminals 40, the access control with the simple participation terminal described later and the synthesis / distribution control between the conference terminals 40 after the access is completed are performed. It also controls the easy participation terminal control.

The status monitoring terminal 620 is connected to the service control system 610 and manages the operation of the system. The voice and image recording device 630 records the conference result, circulation information, and the like under the control of the voice and image recording control device 640.

Next, a basic conference setting procedure in this communication conference system will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the conference organizer who intends to hold the conference receives the conference server 6 from his conference terminal.
Through 0, the conference holding notice is sent to each conference terminal scheduled to participate by email. In this example, the user of the conference terminal 40-1 is a conference organizer, the users of the conference terminals 40-2 and 40-3 are participants of the conference terminal, and the users of 40-4 are simple conference participants. I am trying.

In this case, the conference terminal A used by the conference organizer is registered in the conference server 60 as a host terminal. As shown in FIG. 5, the person who participates in the conference by using the conference terminal notifies the conference server 60 or the host terminal A in advance from the conference terminals B and C of his / herself that he / she will participate in the conference by the conference participation reply. On the other hand, the simple conference participant replies from the conference terminal D at hand to the conference server 60 or the host terminal A in advance that simple conference will participate in this conference.

Based on the above answers, the meeting will start as soon as the date and time of the meeting is reached. At the start of this conference, regarding the conference participation registration terminals B and C for which it is answered that the conference terminal normally participates, the conference server 60 automatically connects the lines to these conference terminals B and C. Set.

On the other hand, with respect to the conference terminal D to which the simple participant has answered that the simple participation is to be performed, the line is not set, and as shown in FIG. The line is set after waiting for access from the telephone 50-1. This simple participation terminal (phone 5
With regard to 0-1), it is possible to register the number of the simple participation terminal in the conference server 60 in advance and have the conference server 60 automatically set the number.

As a result, in this system, the conference terminal 4
It is possible to easily participate in the conference not only from 0 but also from the ordinary telephone 50, the restrictions on the conference participation place can be greatly relaxed, and the vacancy of the conference participants can be minimized.

When the telephone 50 is used as the simple participation terminal as in this embodiment, the simple conference participants can participate in the conference only by voice, but simple image communication is also possible depending on the optional function to be added.

FIG. 7 shows a system configuration of a simple participation terminal for realizing this function, which is configured by connecting an ID card reader 510 to the telephone 50. With respect to the configuration on the terminal side, personal information (a face photograph or the like) of a simple conference participant is registered in the conference server 60 in advance in association with the person's ID.

In such a configuration, the information recorded on the ID card is read by the ID card reader 510 and transmitted to the conference server 60, and the conference server 60 stores personal information stored in advance based on the ID transmitted. By reading out and transmitting it to another conference terminal 40, and displaying the personal information from the file, that is, the face photo of the simple participant, in the portion where the moving image is combined and shown to the conference participant, The discomfort that you can only confirm it can be resolved, albeit a little.

As a method of not using the ID card reader 510, there is a method of sending the ID number to the conference server 60 by a push sound, and in this case, the same function as above can be supported.

In addition, in a simple conference participation using the telephone set 50, when the line is connected to the conference server 60, if a prepaid card compatible telephone such as a public telephone is used, the prepaid card is used. By providing the data decoder with the function of an ID card decoder, participation in a conference from a public telephone can be easily realized.

Further, when there is a person who wants to request the participation in the conference during the conference, as shown in FIG. 6, the host terminal A calls, for example, the telephone 50-2 in the location of the person to set the line, You can also request to join the conference.

In addition to the above, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified or applied without departing from the above-mentioned gist.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The multipoint communication control device is configured to support access control with non-conference terminals such as telephones, and these non-conference terminals are used as simple participation terminals as necessary to synthesize video signals and audio signals between original conference terminals. Since it is incorporated into distribution control, when conducting a teleconference using a conference terminal at a remote place, even if the activity is at a place where there is no conference terminal or is moving, a simple form can be used by using the telephone at hand. It has an excellent advantage that it can contribute to the smooth progress of the conference by avoiding the delay of the conference due to the increase of non-participants in the important conference.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a simple participation communication conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a specific configuration diagram of a simple participation communication conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a conference server of a simple participation communication conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram for explaining a conference notification procedure in the simple participation communication conference system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram for explaining a conference participation reply procedure in the simple participation communication conference system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram for explaining a procedure during a conference in the simple participation communication conference system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a simple participation terminal incorporated in the simple participation type communication conference system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a system configuration diagram for explaining another example of the conference setting procedure in the simple participation communication conference system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 40 conference terminal 410 conference terminal control device 420 terminal device 430 camera 440 microphone 450 speaker 460 electronic blackboard / digitizer 470 facsimile 50 telephone 510 ID card decoder 60 conference server 610 service control system 620 status monitoring terminal 630 voice and image recording device 640 voice and Image recording control device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A conference terminal having a video system for processing a video signal and an audio system for processing an audio signal, and the video signal and audio between the conference terminal and each conference terminal connected via a communication network. The multipoint communication control device that performs signal synthesis / distribution control, and the non-conference terminal that is housed in the communication network and has at least a voice signal transmission / reception function. An access control means for controlling access to a terminal and a simple participation terminal control means for incorporating a non-conference terminal into the synthesis / distribution control after completion of access are provided, and at least a simple conference participation by a voice signal from the non-conference terminal is provided. A simple participation type teleconferencing system characterized by making it possible. 2. The non-conference terminal has a reading means for reading the terminal identification information recorded on the recording medium and a transfer means for transferring the read terminal identification information to the multipoint control controller. The simple participation communication conference system according to claim 1, wherein the point-to-point communication control device activates the access control based on terminal identification information transferred from the non-conference terminal. 3. The multipoint communication control device is notified from a storage unit that stores individual video information of the non-conference terminal in correspondence with the terminal identification information of the non-conference terminal, and a non-conference terminal that simply participates in the conference. The simple participation communication conference system according to claim 1, further comprising: individual video synthesizing means for reading individual video information corresponding to the terminal identification information to be incorporated into the synthesizing / distribution control. 4. The non-conference terminal has a reading means for reading the terminal identification information recorded on a recording medium, and a transfer means for transferring the read terminal identification information to a multipoint control controller. 4. The simple participation communication conference system according to claim 3, wherein the terminal identification information is notified to the point-to-point communication control device by using the reading means and the transfer means. 5. The simple participation type communication conference system according to claim 3, wherein the non-conference terminal notifies the multipoint communication control device of the terminal identification information by dialing the terminal identification information. .