JP2000059750A - Video conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video conference system capable of improving the convenience of a multi-point video conference by eliminating complicated operation such as switching of a screen during a video conference among plural points. SOLUTION: This video conference system is provided with a multi-point conference device 2 that applies image compositing processing and audio compositing processing to an image signal and an audio signal outputted from each signal transmission means 11 respectively and with a changeover switch 3, that selects and outputs either of output signals from a signal transmission means 11 and the multi-point conference device 2 to a signal reception means 2 and the multi-point conference device 2, and allows a controller 1 receiving a call setup signal to control the operation of the changeover switch 3 and the multi-point conference device 2 so as to allow a monitor to make optimum split screen display in response to number of participants of video conference terminals 20-1 to 20-N.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video conference system which displays video images of video conference terminals participating in a video conference between a plurality of points on a monitor of each video conference terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the use of digital public networks,
Video conferencing systems have become popular. In such a video conference system, a video image and a voice are usually exchanged between a plurality of remote points to hold a conference. In the past, a one-to-one connection type interactive system was generally used. . On the other hand, recently, companies and governments with geographically dispersed offices and departments have increased the demand for a video conference system between multiple locations (multiple locations). Has been made.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional video conference system, the operation unit of the video conference terminal device is complicated, and when the number of participants in the video conference changes, for example, the monitor is used. It is necessary to make adjustments so that the displayed divided images are not arranged unnaturally. Therefore, the number of operations during the video conference increases, and the convenience deteriorates.
As a result, the usage rate of the entire video conference system decreases,
There has been a problem that the cost of introducing and operating the video conference system is extremely high.

[0004] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and can eliminate complicated operations such as screen switching during a video conference between a plurality of locations, thereby improving the convenience of the multi-point video conference. The purpose is to obtain a video conference system that can do it.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a video conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a signal transmitting means for transmitting an image signal and an audio signal from a video camera and a microphone, and a monitor and a speaker. A plurality of video conference terminals, comprising: a signal receiving unit that receives an image signal and an audio signal to be output to the terminal; and a call setting signal transmitting unit that transmits a call setting signal related to a video conference together with the signal transmitting unit and the signal receiving unit. Installed on the device,
A multipoint conference device that receives an image signal and an audio signal output from each of the signal transmission units and performs an image synthesis process and an audio synthesis process respectively on a video conference device commonly connected to the plurality of video conference terminal devices. A switching switch device for switching and outputting one of the output signals from the signal transmitting means and the multipoint conference device to the signal receiving means and the multipoint conference device, and receiving the call setting signal. The control device controls the operation of the changeover switch device and the multipoint conference device so as to display an optimal divided screen on the monitor according to the number of participants of the video conference terminal device. is there.

In the video conference system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control device automatically determines the number of video conference terminal devices participating in the video conference from the number of call settings output by the call setting signal transmitting means. It is intended to be grasped.

The video conference system according to a third aspect of the present invention causes the control device to monitor a change in the number of video conference terminal devices participating in the video conference. The operation of the changeover switch device and the multipoint conference device is controlled so as to perform an optimal split screen display.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 20-1 to 20
-N denotes N (N is an integer of 2 or more) video conference terminal devices, and 10 denotes a video conference device that connects each of the video conference terminal devices 20-1 to 20-N. Among them, each of the video conference terminal devices 20-1 to 20-N includes a signal transmission unit 11 for transmitting an image signal from a video camera and an audio signal from a microphone, and an image signal output to a screen monitor or a speaker. Receiving means 12 for receiving audio and audio signals, and video conference terminal devices 20-1 to 20-20
-N call setting and a call setting signal transmitting unit 13 for performing input setting for performing various services in a video conference.

On the other hand, the video conference apparatus 10 includes a multipoint conference apparatus 2 having a function of receiving image signals and audio signals in a multipoint video conference and synthesizing them on a screen and a function of voice synthesis, and a video conference terminal apparatus 20. -1 to
20-N, the output signal of the input system device and the output signal of the multipoint conference device 2 are accommodated as switch input signals, and one of the switch input signals is selected as the video conference terminal device 20-1. A changeover switch device 3 for outputting a switch output signal to the output system device 20-N and the multipoint conference device 2;
20-N in response to a call setting instruction
And a control device 1 for controlling the changeover switch device 3.

Next, the operation will be described in detail. When making a request such as an instruction to hold or end a conference in a video conference, the video conference terminal devices 20-1 to 20-N
Use the call setting signal sending means 13. That is, when performing a multipoint video conference, the operators of the video conference terminal devices 20-1 to 20-N use the call setting signal transmission unit 13 to set up a call for the multipoint video conference. . Therefore, the call setting information is sent to the control device of the video conference device 10. The control device 1 creates switch switching information of the changeover switch device 3 based on the information of the call setting, and transmits this to the changeover switch device 3.
Therefore, the changeover switch device 3 controls the changeover of the changeover switch device 3 based on the control signal as the switch changeover information.

Further, the control device 3 controls the video conference device 10
Video conference terminal devices 20-1 to 20- in which a multipoint video conference is set
The number of participants of N is also automatically grasped from the number of call settings. The control device 1 also controls the video conference terminals 20-1 to 20- during a multipoint video conference.
Regarding the screen during the conference output to the video output system device such as the monitor screen of the N signal receiving means 12, the video conference terminal devices 20-1 to 20-N participating in the multipoint video conference
In accordance with the number, switch switch information for performing an optimal split screen display is created, and this switch switch information is transmitted to the switch device 3. For this reason, the changeover switch device 3 controls the changeover of the changeover switch device 3 based on the control signal that is the switch changeover information.

When the number of the video conference terminals 20-1 to 20-N participating in the multipoint video conference is changed, the number of the video conference terminals 20-1 to 20-N is changed according to the switch switching control. The screen during the conference, which is output to the video output system device such as the monitor screen of the 20-N signal receiving means 12, is always displayed in the optimal divided screen.

In the above-described embodiment, the automatic optimal split screen display function at the time of the multipoint video conference has been described. Also in the service, the automatic optimal split screen display function can be applied. Also, the connection method is applied to both an immediate connection method in which the call setting operation is performed when starting a video conference and a reservation connection method in which a conference date and time is set in advance and a reservation connection is automatically made. be able to.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, a signal transmitting means for transmitting an image signal and an audio signal from a video camera and a microphone, and an image signal and an audio signal output to a monitor and a speaker are received. A plurality of video conference terminal devices, comprising: a plurality of video conference terminal devices; and a signal setting device that transmits a call setting signal related to a video conference together with the signal transmission device and the signal reception device. A video conference device commonly connected to the video conference device is provided with a multipoint conference device that receives an image signal and an audio signal output from each of the signal transmission units and performs an image synthesis process and a voice synthesis process, respectively. Disconnecting one of the output signals from the signal transmitting means and the multipoint conference device to the signal receiving means and the multipoint conference device. The selector switch device that outputs provided,
In response to the call setting signal, the control device controls the changeover switch device and the operation of the multipoint conference device so as to perform an optimal split screen display on the monitor according to the number of participants of the video conference terminal device. With such a configuration, it is possible to eliminate complicated operations such as screen switching during a multipoint video conference, and as a result, it is possible to improve the convenience of the multipoint video conference. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 control device 2 multipoint conference device 3 changeover switch device 10 video conference device 11 signal transmission means 12 signal reception means 13 call setting signal transmission means 20-1 to 20-N video conference terminal device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A signal transmitting means for transmitting an image signal and an audio signal from a video camera and a microphone; a signal receiving means for receiving an image signal and an audio signal to be output to a monitor and a speaker; A call setting signal transmitting unit that is provided in the plurality of video conference terminals together with the signal receiving unit and transmits a call setting signal relating to the video conference; and a call setting signal transmitting unit that is commonly connected to the plurality of video conference terminals. A multipoint conferencing device that receives an image signal and an audio signal output from each of the signal transmitting units and performs an image synthesizing process and an audio synthesizing process, respectively; Switching for switching and outputting one of the output signals from the point conference device to the signal receiving means and the multipoint conference device And controlling the operations of the change-over switch device and the multipoint conference device so as to perform the optimal split screen display on the monitor in accordance with the number of participation of the video conference terminal device in response to the call setting signal and the call setting signal. A video conference system, comprising: 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device automatically recognizes the number of TV conference terminal devices participating in the video conference from the number of call settings output by the call setting signal transmitting means. Video conferencing system. 3. The control device monitors a change in the number of video conference terminals participating in a video conference, and when there is a change, performs the switching so as to display an optimal split screen on the monitor. The video conference system according to claim 1, wherein the video conference system controls operations of the switch device and the multipoint conference device.