JP2001186490A - Distributed system, its display method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distributed system which is operated without a psychological reluctance feeling concerning privacy invasion by performing display control with reciprocity taken into consideration when the picture of a working state is displayed. SOLUTION: When a user indicates a shift into rest mode through a work interruption (shutter) button 93 via a mouse 62, the display of the work state picture of the user shifted into the rest mode is stopped on the screen of other users' terminal equipment and a blind graphic picture being a previously registered still picture is displayed in place of it. At the same time, the server manager part 41 of a host server device 11 stops display of the work state pictures for displaying whole independent office on the screen of the user terminal equipment of the user which is shifted into the rest mode and a graphic picture simulating the traffic sign of 'Do not enter', which is a previously registered still picture, is displayed in place of it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, connecting a plurality of user terminal devices and one host server device via a communication line network, for example, to establish an office space. The present invention relates to a distributed system suitable for constructing a virtual office space having an effect on a network, a display method thereof, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, organizations such as companies, organizations, public institutions, etc. employ employment workers (hereinafter referred to as "workers") who engage in clerical work, sales work, and technical work that does not require large facilities. The office space, which is the place, is secured as its own real estate or by a lease agreement, and workers usually arrive at the office space by the start time of employment using public transportation or private cars and gather,
It was common practice to perform group work within fixed working hours. In an office space, a telephone, a copying machine, a facsimile, a computer, and a computer network have been equipped, so that the efficiency of various tasks has been improved.

[0003] This custom of working collectively is a relatively new phenomenon that has been adopted for the efficient operation of factories since the Industrial Revolution in the history of mankind. The adverse effects of collective work such as air pollution due to the increase in the number of workers have become remarkable, and as a result of the availability of communication infrastructure such as the Internet and various communication technologies, collective work is inevitable for organizations and their workers. The idea of distributed work, in which employees who belong to the same organization work at their homes or places of preference, and perform the organization's intended tasks as a whole, is becoming more and more attractive. Was.

Generally, in an organization such as a company, in order to perform distributed work, one room of each worker's home is used as a work space (home office), and a plurality of home offices distributed to remote locations are used as communication lines. It is common practice to use a home communication terminal device such as a telephone or a facsimile and communication application software to make necessary communication between workers. As a communication line, a subscriber telephone network, an ISDN network, an xDSL subscriber network, a dedicated line for the Internet, and the like are used, and as a communication application system, an electronic mail system, WWW
(World Wide Web) system, video conference system, etc. are used.

Workers may use satellite offices or telecottages provided by their organizations or local governments instead of home offices as working places, or temporarily work in their own cars (mobile offices). Sometimes used as a place.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional home office. The home office 101a is generally a room or a part of a room of a worker's home, in which a personal computer 102a, a telephone 105a, a facsimile transceiver 106a, an ISDN terminal adapter 104a, a DSU (line termination unit) 1
07a is installed.

In this case, the personal computer 102
a is connected from the serial communication port to the data port of the ISDN terminal adapter 104a, and the telephone set 105a and the facsimile transceiver 106a are respectively connected to the analog ports of the ISDN terminal adapter 104a.

The ISDN terminal adapter 104a is D
It is connected to the ISDN subscriber network 108a via the SU 107a, and the main office 109a,
Another home office 110a or mobile office 1
It communicates with 11a.

In place of the ISDN subscriber network, a general subscriber telephone network can be used. In this case, a personal computer is connected to the network by using a modem (modem) instead of the ISDN terminal adapter, and the telephone and the telephone are connected. The facsimile transceiver is connected to a general telephone line using another general telephone line, or is connected to the same general telephone line as a modem (modulator / demodulator) using a line switching device or the like. The telephone and the facsimile transceiver are not separate products, and often use a telephone with a built-in facsimile function.

[0010] Communication application software 103a is installed in the personal computer 102a in advance, and the communication application software 103a is used for communication with a main office, another home office, or a mobile office.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing various communication applications as a table. The e-mail client software 21a is used for exchanging e-mail with other workers located in the main office, another home office, or a mobile office, and enables creation, transmission, reception, reading, and the like of e-mail. The group schedule management software 22a makes it possible to register and confirm the work schedule of a worker himself or to confirm the work schedule of another worker. The World Wide Web browser software 23a mainly enables browsing of a homepage created by an organization to which a worker belongs, a bulletin board for organization members placed there, and the like.

The video conference software 24a exchanges voice and images with other workers to hold a meeting or conference, and uses a communication line without actually going out or moving to another place. To be able to do.

The collaboration software 25a is a software for opening a shared whiteboard or the same application software on the display of each personal computer with other workers, and performing a collaborative work on the shared whiteboard. It may be included in the conference software 24a.

As described above, conventionally, when a worker belonging to an organization works in a home office, a telephone, a facsimile transceiver, a personal computer, and communication application software installed in the personal computer are used to communicate with other workers. It was common to promote business while taking action.

[0015]

However, the equipment and communication application software conventionally used were not originally developed to support distributed work, but were developed with emphasis on versatility. Or, it was developed on the premise of a collective work office and work style, so it is difficult to use it for efficient distributed work, and especially communication within the organization that was possible with conventional collective work It was not possible to carry out distributed work while maintaining the form and amount of work, and the spread of distributed work itself did not proceed, and there was a problem that it was particularly difficult to shift from collective work to distributed work.

The following describes problems when using conventional equipment and software. FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an office in a case where five workers in a department composed of five people as one department in an organization such as a company perform distributed work. Of the five workers, three workers A, B, and C are workers working in the home office 101a, worker D is working in the main office, and worker E is working in the mobile office. .

In such an organization, the working mode before starting distributed work is collective work. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a group work, which is a work mode before the worker shown in FIG. 14 starts distributed work. They work side by side with office desks in the same office.

For example, since worker A can easily understand the situation of worker B both visually and aurally, he understands the sign that worker B is not likely to be too busy, and determines an appropriate timing. I was able to talk to worker B.

On the other hand, in the case of the distributed work shown in FIG. 14, the act of asking a question itself can be performed by using a telephone or a video conference software among various devices and communication application software shown in FIGS. . However, when worker A calls worker B using telephone or videoconferencing software, worker A cannot check the status of worker B before calling, so for example, Since worker B was answering another phone and talking or was taking a break, he moved from the home office to the living room in the same residence, resulting in no response. There is a problem that the work itself for calling the worker B is wasted, and the efficiency of the work is deteriorated.

In this case, the worker A can send a question to the worker B by e-mail using the e-mail client software. In this method, if the question requires an immediate response, the worker B Is unclear when it can respond, causing difficulty in the work plan of worker A.

The worker A can confirm the schedule of the worker B by using the group schedule management software 22a. However, contents registered in this kind of group schedule management software usually include an action plan in units of one hour. It is not limited to work schedules, etc., and detailed break times are not entered, and work schedules etc. are merely entered, and reflect the actual situation of actual workers. This is not always the case, so if you make a phone call or video conference call for an urgent business like this example, it cannot be a means to confirm the other party's situation. There is also a problem that it cannot be used as a means for determining when to receive an e-mail reply.

To address these problems, one conventional approach is to use video conferencing software 24a running on a worker's personal computer.
Attempts to connect multiple workers' images, connect them continuously during working hours, and try to solve each other's work by showing each other's work status images (hereinafter referred to as “always connected using video conferencing software” Operation).

As an example of this, US White Pine
Software Inc. Developed and sold by Enha
nounced CU-SeeMe and Reflector
(Enhanced CU-SeeMe server software) will be described. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a screen of a personal computer of a worker. As shown here, the images of the other workers are not limited to during the meeting,
By being displayed continuously during working hours, it is possible to check based on this display whether another worker is present in the home office or on the phone, for example. is there.

However, what is displayed on the screen is only the name of the worker, the image thereof, and the operation information of the system (whether or not an image is being received, the frame rate, the communication speed, etc.). If there are no workers in the image,
The work situation, such as whether the worker is on a vacation day and there is no expectation of being able to contact you during the day, or if you are just temporarily taking a break and returning immediately or going out for business purposes Could not know.

The image displayed on the screen and the name of the user are the same as those of a general personal computer GU.
It is displayed based on the standard method of I (Graphical User Interface), contains graphic images imitating a private room office, and does not correspond to the organization,
It cannot function as a virtual office space, creating a sense of unity within the organization that multiple workers need to work continuously and for a long period of time, creating a sense of loneliness and alienation of each worker I couldn't eliminate the feeling.

Further, as a basic problem of this attempt to show each other's work situation images, the user is constantly monitoring his / her own work place and work behavior from other users, Or feeling that their privacy has been violated.

Regarding this problem of psychological resistance, as can be seen from the positional relationship in a group work, which is a work mode before the worker starts distributed work, as shown in FIG. In an office, the visual positional relationship among a plurality of workers working there is such that each other can see one another, and another can see himself. This reciprocity (Recipro
is secured so that in a typical large-room office, workers can view their work place and work behavior from others around them, but thereby become self- You do not generally feel that your privacy has been violated, monitored, or snooped.

Therefore, if the reciprocity of “the person who can see the person who can see the person” is maintained as described above, for example, it is assumed that the always-connected operation using the video conference software is performed between the workers who are geographically dispersed. Also, since a visual positional relationship similar to that in a normal office is created, the psychological resistance described above should not occur.

However, in the always-on operation using the video conference software shown in the prior art, this reciprocity is not always maintained, which is the main cause of the above-mentioned problem of psychological resistance. It is considered.

That is, as an example, in a terminal device which always operates the video conference software, generally,
When a user changes clothes and performs private work, a privacy function is provided to stop capturing of an image of the user or transmission of the captured image to another user's terminal device or server device. However, if the user chooses this privacy feature, the user will not see the image of his work status to other users,
The one-way state that the image of the work status of another user can be viewed continues.

As a result, reciprocity is lost, which means that for other users, there is a possibility that someone who does not display an image on the screen of their own terminal device may be watching themselves, and thus the television. There has been a situation in which there is actually a danger that the user's own behavior is monitored by the always-on operation of the conference software, and the user always has a psychological resistance that there is a danger of being monitored.

A certain type of multi-point video telephone system (Nynex of Nynex) premised on always-on operation.
Instead of completely stopping the transmission of images as a privacy function, Portfoles generates an unclear image that has been subjected to a filtering process that intentionally degrades the clarity of the work status image, and that processing is performed. Some devices have a function of controlling own privacy by transmitting an image to a terminal device of another user. However, in this case, as in the case described above, regarding the image of the user's work status, the image in which the amount of information has been reduced by the filtering process is shown to other users, but the image of the work status of another user is displayed. An asymmetrical state of being able to see clearly is generated, and in this case, reciprocity is lost, and there is a risk that other users may have a psychological sensation of being monitored for their own actions.

As described above, by using the equipment and communication application software provided in the conventional home office, smooth communication is not possible as in the case of collective work. As a result, there is a problem that the amount of communication itself is reduced by hesitating to communicate between workers.

A decrease in the amount of communication inevitably causes a sense of unity within the organization, and gives the worker a sense of isolation and alienation, which is a major problem in performing distributed work. Was. In addition, if the teleconferencing software is always connected for the purpose of avoiding this, since the conventional teleconferencing software does not perform image display control based on reciprocity, there is a psychological resistance to privacy infringement as described above. There was a problem that occurs.

[0035] Such a problem is not limited to the office where the management of working conditions is required, but also occurs in other systems.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and a plurality of user terminal devices installed in different places and a single host server device are usually connected via a communication network. In this way, it is possible to perform business while smoothly communicating between workers who are geographically dispersed. For example, as a result, a plurality of offices (home office, mobile office, main office) which are dispersed in different locations , Satellite offices, and the like), a distributed system suitable for functioning as a whole as one office space, a display method thereof, and a storage medium.

Further, according to the present invention, when an image of a situation is displayed, by performing display control incorporating reciprocity,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a distributed system that can be operated without causing a psychological resistance to privacy infringement, a display method thereof, and a storage medium.

[0038]

To achieve the above object, a distributed system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a terminal device installed in each of a plurality of users, and a communication line connected to the terminal device. And a server device connected through the terminal, in a distributed system that displays information about other users on the screen of the user terminal device, on the screen of the user terminal device, as the information about the other user, A status display unit for displaying an image of another user,
The status display means performs display control of an image of a status of a user other than the specific user on a terminal device of another user based on an instruction of the specific user.

[0039] In the distributed system according to the second aspect, in the distributed system according to the first aspect, when the situation display means does not display an image of the user's situation, a graphic image imitating a blind, a door, or the like. Or character information indicating a break is displayed.

[0040] In the distributed system according to the third aspect, in the distributed system according to the first or second aspect, the status display means may display the status of another user based on an instruction from a terminal device of the specific user. The display of the image is stopped.

[0041] In the distributed system according to the fourth aspect, in the distributed system according to the third aspect, when the display of the image of the other user's situation is stopped, the situation display means substitutes a traffic sign prohibiting the entry of the vehicle. It is characterized by displaying a graphic image imitating the like or the like, or character information indicating that the display is stopped.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distributed system comprising: a terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users; and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. In a distributed system for displaying information about another user on a screen, a status display means for displaying an image of the user as information about the other user on a screen of a terminal device of the user, the status display The means displays an image obtained by performing a filtering process on the image of the situation of the specific user on the terminal device of another user based on an instruction of the specific user.

In the distributed system according to the sixth aspect, in the distributed system according to the fifth aspect, the situation display means performs the same filtering process on the image of the situation of another user on the terminal device of the specific user. The image is displayed.

[0044] In the distributed system according to the seventh aspect, in the distributed system according to the first or fifth aspect, the status display means adds the image of the status of the other user to the image of the other user. At least one of character information relating to a situation and a graphic image representing the office of the other user is displayed.

In the distributed system according to the eighth aspect, in the distributed system according to the first or fifth aspect, the status display means displays an image of each office of a plurality of users belonging to the same organization on the screen. It is displayed in the upper virtual office area.

In the distributed system according to the ninth aspect, in the distributed system according to the eighth aspect, the status display means includes a virtual room including a conference room, a data room, a refresh room, and the like on a screen of the terminal device. A user shared space area is displayed simultaneously with the office area.

In the distributed system according to the tenth aspect, in the distributed system according to the seventh aspect, the character information relating to the situation includes a user's name, a current work situation, a reason for not working, and a current work situation. It is character information including at least one of the work locations.

[0048] A display method of a distributed system according to claim 11, comprising: a terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users; and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. In a display method of a distributed system for displaying information about another user on a screen of a terminal device,
Displaying, on the screen of the user's terminal device, an image of the situation of the user as information relating to the other user; and displaying the specific user at another user's terminal device based on a specific user's instruction. Performing a display control of an image of a user's situation other than the above.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the distributed system display method according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the step of stopping the display of the image of the status of another user on the terminal device of the specific user is performed. It is characterized by having.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distributed system display method, comprising: a terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users; and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. In a display method of a distributed system for displaying information about another user on a screen of a terminal device,
Displaying, on the screen of the user's terminal device, an image of the situation of the user as information relating to the other user; and displaying the specific user at another user's terminal device based on a specific user's instruction. Displaying an image obtained by performing a filtering process on the image in the above situation.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the distributed system display method according to the thirteenth aspect, wherein a similar filter process is performed on the image of the situation of another user at the terminal device of the specific user. And a step of displaying the selected image.

A storage medium according to a fifteenth aspect is provided by a computer in a distributed system having a terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. In a storage medium that is executed and stores a program for displaying information about another user on a screen of the user terminal device, the program includes, on a screen of the user terminal device, the information as the information about the other user. A step of displaying an image of the situation of the user, and a step of controlling display of an image of a situation of a user other than the specific user on a terminal device of another user based on an instruction of the specific user. Features.

In a storage medium according to a sixteenth aspect, in the storage medium according to the fifteenth aspect, the program includes a step of stopping display of an image of a situation of another user on the terminal device of the specific user. It is characterized by.

A storage medium according to claim 17 is provided by a computer in a distributed system including a terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. In a storage medium that is executed and stores a program for displaying information about another user on a screen of the user terminal device, the program includes, on a screen of the user terminal device, the information as the information about the other user. A procedure of displaying an image of the situation of the user, and a procedure of displaying an image obtained by performing a filtering process on the image of the situation of the specific user on the terminal device of another user based on an instruction of the specific user. It is characterized by including.

In the storage medium according to the eighteenth aspect, in the storage medium according to the seventeenth aspect, the program may include an image obtained by performing a similar filtering process on an image of a situation of another user at the terminal device of the specific user. Is displayed.

In the distributed system according to the nineteenth aspect, in the distributed system according to the first or fifth aspect, the image of the situation of the user is an image of the work situation of the user.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the distributed system display method according to the eleventh or thirteenth aspect, the image of the user's situation is an image of the work situation of the user. Features.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the fifteenth or seventeenth aspect, the image of the user's situation is an image of the work situation of the user.

[0059]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a distributed system, a display method and a storage medium of the present invention will be described. The distributed system according to the present embodiment realizes various functions as a distributed office system by simultaneously connecting a plurality of user terminal devices to a host server device via a communication line network, and as a result, operates a distributed office. Things.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a distributed office system. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a host server device, which is installed in a main office (such as a head office of various organizations such as a company introducing a distributed office) and has a LAN (Local Area Net) in the main office.
work) 12.

Reference numerals 13 and 14 denote user terminal devices for workers who work in the main office. In this embodiment, the terminal devices are realized by combining personal computers 18 and 22, user terminal software 19 and other devices. . The personal computers 18 and 22 are LAN
It is connected to the host server device 11 through 12.
The personal computer 22 is a portable personal computer.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a user terminal device for a user who works in a home office. In the present embodiment, similarly to the user terminal device 13, it is realized by combining a personal computer 18, user terminal software 19, and other devices. ing. Personal computer 18
Is connected to the host server device 11 through the Internet 21.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a portable user terminal device for a user who works in a mobile office. In this embodiment, like the user terminal device 14, a portable personal computer 22, user terminal software 19, and other devices are connected. It is realized in combination. The personal computer 22 is connected to the host server device 11 via the Internet 21.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the host server device 11. The software included in the host server device 11 includes a software program developed using the C ++ language or the like and an existing software program, and includes an OS (Operating System).
WindowsNT (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States) is adopted as m). In the figure, 41 is a server manager unit, 48 is a driver unit, 46 is a mail transmission unit, and 47 is a DLL (Dynamic LinkLibr).
ary) section, 49 is a dynamic Web server section, 50 is a database connector section, 51 is Windows NT (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, USA), and 53 is a database section.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the user terminal devices 13 and 15. The main components of the user terminal device are a personal computer 18 and terminal device software 19, and in addition to these,
Two types (back and front) of video cameras 65 and 66 are connected to a video input terminal provided in the personal computer main body 61. However, there is a case where only one of the video cameras is used. Also, a display 64, a keyboard 63, a mouse 62, a speaker 67, a microphone 68
Are connected to input / output terminals corresponding to respective devices provided in the personal computer main body 61. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a situation where the device shown in FIG. 3 is actually installed in a home office where a user works.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the software for the user terminal device. The software for the user terminal device includes a software program developed using the C ++ language and the like and an existing software program,
Windows 98 (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, USA) is used as the OS. In the figure, 72 is Wi
An nws / Dialog section, 73 is a program component section, 74 is a signal line, 75 is an HTML section, and 76 is a Web Browser (component) section.

Next, the operation of various functions in the distributed office system will be described. To simplify the explanation,
It is assumed that each user has already completed connection to the host server device using his or her user terminal device and has started working.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of the screen of the user terminal device. 81 is an image of the work status of another user.
Reference numeral 82 denotes a work status data display unit on which character information as the work status data of the user is displayed. 83 is a graphic image showing the user's private office space. The combination of these three is a virtual private room office for this user.

In this embodiment, nine private offices are displayed on the same screen. However, the number of private offices may be larger or smaller. Then, the entire display space 84 is set as a private office area. The space between the private room office and the adjacent private room office is a virtual corridor.

An image 81 of the work status of the user displayed as a part of the private room office is a fixed image predetermined by the rear camera 65 or the front camera 66 provided in the user terminal device used by the user. This is an image captured at a frame rate. The processing operation of this image will be described.

The captured image is input from each camera to the personal computer 18 through the video input terminal of the personal computer main body 61, and is transmitted to the QCIF format (176 × 144 pix) by the image compression transmission program component of the program component section 73.
els) is compressed and coded as a compressed image, and the signal line 74
(See FIG. 5).

Upon receiving the compressed image, the host server device 11 transmits the image to all user terminal devices other than the user terminal device that captured the image, by the operation of the software of the server manager unit 41.

These user terminal devices display the received compressed image as an image of the work situation of the private room office on each screen using the image decompression display program component of the program component unit 73. Note that the received original image format (176 × 144 Pixels) is reduced and displayed depending on the size of the display screen of the user terminal device.

Next, the user's work status data display section 8
2 will be described. Normally, when the user is performing personal work in a home office or the like, only the name of the user is displayed in this portion, but information on this name is stored in the database unit 53 of the host server device 11. Is stored as information about

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a summary of information stored in the database unit 53 as a table. The user name is stored in the personal profile information 17-16, and this information (character string) is transmitted from the database unit 53 of the host server device 11 to the database connector unit 50, the dynamic web server unit 49, and the server manager unit 41. Through the program component unit 73 of the user terminal device
Is displayed on the screen of the user terminal device by the user work situation data display program component included in the program.

Further, when the user desires to manually display the work status data other than the name on the user terminal devices by all means, the user is required to display a part of the user terminal device which is different from the private room office area display. Perform input operation from the control box displayed in.

FIG. 8 shows a control box. The control box 91 has a work start button 9
2. A work interruption (shutter) button 93, a work interruption (filter) button 94, a work end button 95, a message button 96, a memo transmission button 98, a mail button 99, a conference room reservation button 100, and the like are provided.

When the user designates a message button 96 included in the control box 91 with the mouse 62 provided in the user terminal device, a message input dialog 111 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the screen of the user. FIG. 9 shows a message input dialog. The user inputs a desired sentence in the free sentence message input area 112 or selects one of the prepared sentences from the existing message selection area 113.

These sentences mainly relate to the current work place and the current situation (for example, that the user is taking a break or going out, a message to be transmitted to other users, etc.). The character information input or selected in this manner is stored in the Windows of the user terminal device software 19.
The data is transferred from the ws Dialog section 72 to the server manager section 41 of the host server apparatus 11 via the server communication program component of the program component section 73.

The server manager unit 41 records this character information in the database unit 53, and immediately stores the character information in the program component units 7 of all other user terminal devices.
3 is displayed on the work status data display unit 82, which is a part of the private room office display on the screen of each user terminal device, using the user work status data display program component.

As described above, in the private room office area on the screen of each user terminal device, the image of the work status of other workers belonging to the same department in the organization and the character information on the work status are displayed. It is possible to check the status of the entire workplace at a glance.

Further, on the screen of the user terminal device, next to the display of the private room office area 84, a shared space area 8 is displayed.
5 is displayed. In the shared space area 85, an image indicating each room of the conference room, the training room, the refresh room, and the video room (material room) and an image indicating the entrance to each room are displayed.

Further, the private room office area 84 and the shared space area 85 are usually displayed simultaneously on one screen of the user terminal device, but this is a virtual office space of one department in the organization. It is shown that. Here, this form of screen display is called an office view. Private room offices displayed in the same office view belong to users belonging to the same department in principle.

Next, the processing operation of each function when a user takes a break from work will be described. As mentioned earlier, certain users in the form of decentralized work temporarily (e.g.,
In the case of taking a break after leaving completely for 10 minutes, the fact is displayed on the screen of another user's user terminal device so that the other user can make a telephone call to the user during the break (particularly in this embodiment). Even if a normal telephone (not shown) or a telephone call using a telephone line is performed, it is possible to prevent useless work such as no response.

When a user takes a break, it is possible to select either not to transmit an image of the work status of the user at all or to transmit an unclear image. For example, if a user wants to change their clothes at work or take a break for a reason such as temporarily interrupting their work and talking to their family at work, they want to ensure their privacy. If you want to send an image of the work status indicating that you are at the work place to other users, such as when you want to receive a telephone call about work from another worker, while treating this as a break, Regarding images, it is possible to transmit an unclear image that can protect privacy.

In the present embodiment, when the user takes a break from work, a display indicating that the user is taking a break is displayed on the screens of the user terminal devices of all users and the image transmission is stopped by the following method. Alternatively, it is possible to transmit an unclear image.

That is, when a certain user takes a break, the work interruption (shutter) button 9 of the control box 91 displayed on the screen of the user terminal device is used.
3 or the work interruption (filter) button 94 with the mouse 62
, The mode can be shifted to the resting mode. In addition to notifying another user that the user simply enters a break, but also wanting to notify the other user of the reason and related information (such as an estimated time at which the break will end), the message button 96 of the control box 91 is used.
Can be selected from existing messages and other messages can be input at the same time in the dialog box shown in FIG. 9 displayed by pointing the mouse 62 with the mouse 62, and the user enters the resting mode by such an operation. Transition.

As described above, when the user shifts to the resting mode, information indicating that the user is taking a break is stored in the Windows / Dialog section 72 of the user terminal software 19.
Is transferred to the server manager unit 41 of the host server device 11 via the server communication program component of the program component unit 73.

The server manager section 41 records this information together with the break start time information and the like in the attendance information database 17-18 of the database section 53 of the host server apparatus 11, and immediately transmits the information that the user is taking a break to another. Notify the user work status data display program component in the program component unit 73 of all user terminal devices.

As a result, the user work status data display program component of each user terminal device displays a text indicating that a break is taking place on the work status data display portion 82 which is a part of the private room office display on the screen of each user terminal device. , And other related messages when entered by the user taking a break.

Next, a description will be given of the control relating to the work situation image when the user shifts to the resting mode.

When the user instructs the work interruption (shutter) button 93 with the mouse 62 when shifting to the resting mode, he or she desires not to display an image of his or her work status on the user terminal device of another user at all. That means. Accordingly, the image compression transmission program component in the program component unit 73 of the user terminal software 19 of the user immediately stops its operation, and the host server device of the compressed image via the signal line 74 (see FIG. 5). 11 is also stopped.
Therefore, the transmission of the image of the user work status from the host server device 11 to the user terminal devices of the users other than the user is also interrupted.

At the same time, the information that the user who has shifted to the break mode has shifted to the break mode with the work break (shutter) button 93 is sent to the host server 11 via the server communication program component of the program component unit 73. Is transferred to the server manager 41, and is immediately notified to the image decompression display program component in the program component 73 of all other user terminal devices, and is a part of the private office display on the screen of the user terminal device. The display of the work status image of the user who has shifted to the resting mode is stopped, and instead, a blind graphic image, which is a still image registered in advance in the image expansion display program component, is displayed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display state when the display of the work status image is stopped. FIG. 7A shows a state in which a blind graphic image as a still image is displayed. still,
Instead of displaying the blind graphic image, a graphic image including a character indicating a break may be displayed, or nothing may be displayed.

At the same time, for the purpose of maintaining the reciprocity, the server manager unit 4 of the host server device 11
1 stops the transmission of the image of the work situation of each user receiving from each user terminal device to the user terminal device of the user who has shifted to the break mode. Therefore, the image decompression display program component of the user terminal device of the user who has shifted to the resting mode stops displaying the work status image of all the private office displays on the screen, and instead, the image decompression display program component A graphic image imitating a vehicle entry prohibition traffic sign, which is a registered still image, is displayed. The display form is shown in FIG.
Shown in Instead of a graphic image imitating a traffic sign prohibiting the entry of a vehicle, an image including characters and graphics indicating that display is stopped may be displayed, or nothing may be displayed.

As described above, when the user shifts to the resting mode by the work interruption (shutter) button, not only the other users cannot see the image of the work situation of the resting user, but also the user who is resting. Cannot view images of the work status of other working users, so the working user may have a psychological resistance that the resting user can monitor his / her work place and work behavior. Disappears.

Next, the control related to the image of the work situation when the user shifts to the break mode by operating the work suspension (filter) button 94 will be described.

When the user designates the work interruption (filter) button 94 with the mouse 62 when the user shifts to the resting mode, the image of his / her work situation is replaced with an unclear image for the above-described reason. Means that the user wants to display it on the user terminal device. Therefore, the image filter processing program component in the program component unit 73 of the user terminal device software 19 of the user performs a filter process on the work status image captured by the camera 65 or 66 of the user terminal device, and performs a filter process. The previously unclear image is compression-encoded by the image compression transmission program component as the above-described compressed image in the QCIF format, and is promptly transferred to the host server device 11 via the signal line 74 (see FIG. 5).

Upon receiving the compressed image, the host server device 11 transmits the image to all the user terminal devices other than the user terminal device that captured the image by the operation of the software of the server manager unit 41.

These user terminal devices display the received compressed image as an image of the working status of the private room office on each screen by using the image decompression display program component of the program component unit 73. Note that the received original image format (176 × 144 pixels) is reduced and displayed depending on the size of the display screen of the user terminal device.

Although the mosaic processing is used in this embodiment as the filter processing, a blur processing, a noise addition processing, a monochrome processing, a color halftone processing, an outline detection processing, and the like may be used.

At the same time, in order to maintain the reciprocity described above, the user's own user terminal device which has shifted to the resting mode is connected to the signal line 74 from the host server device 11.
After performing a decompression process on the compressed image related to the work status of the other user received via the image decompression display program component, the same filter processing as described above is performed by the operation of the image filter processing program component for all the images, The image obscured by the processing is displayed as an image of the work status of each of the private room office displays on the screen. Note that the host server device 11 may perform filtering on an image obtained by capturing the work status of another user, and then transmit the filtered image to the terminal device of each user.

As described above, when the user shifts to the rest mode by the work interruption (filter) button 94,
Other users can see the work image of the user during the break only as an unclear image with privacy protection, but the user during the break also has an unclear image of the work status of the other user at work. , It is unfair for working users to protect their privacy only during breaks, as seen in the conventional technology, and to disclose their privacy to users during breaks. You will no longer have the psychological resistance that comes from your state.

When the mode is changed to the resting mode by such a method, the resting mode is ended by operating the dialog box, and the work is returned to the normal work (the display of the character indicating that the rest is in progress is terminated, and the blind is stopped). It is possible to terminate the image display or to cancel the image filter processing of the work situation and return to the original image).

Here, the processing operation in the case of taking a break during work has been described. However, when the user finishes working for one day and instructs the work end button 95 shown in FIG. If the user does not work at all, the image decompression display program component of each user terminal device executes the one-office office display on the screen of each user terminal device in the same manner as when the above-mentioned work interruption (shutter) button 93 is selected. A blind graphic image, which is a still image registered in advance in the image decompression display program component, is displayed in a part for displaying an image of the work status, which is a part.

It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a memory map of a ROM built in the PC main body 61 as a storage medium. This ROM stores an image expansion display program component, an image compression transmission program component, a user work status data display program component, a server communication program component, an image filter processing program component, and the like, as a part of the program component unit 73. . The storage medium for supplying such a program component is not limited to the ROM, and may be, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-RO.
M, CD-R, DVD, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, and the like can be used.

[0108]

According to the present invention, via a communication network,
For example, by connecting a plurality of user terminal devices and one host server device and sharing an image of, for example, the work status of each user among all the users, it is equivalent to opening an office (office) space, for example. A virtual office space on the network with the same effect as above, and a group of workers located in remote locations creates a feeling of alienation and loneliness even if they continue their geographically dispersed work for a long time It is possible to realize a distributed system that can be operated without having to do so.

As described above, by connecting a plurality of user terminal devices installed in different places and usually one host server device via a communication network, the work terminals which are geographically dispersed exist. Enables business to be carried out with smooth communication between parties, resulting in multiple offices (including home offices, mobile offices, main offices, satellite offices, etc.) distributed in different locations as one office space as a whole Can function as

Further, when displaying the image of the work situation, by performing display control incorporating reciprocity, it is possible to realize a distributed office system which can be operated without causing a psychological resistance to privacy infringement.

Therefore, for an organization such as a company,
Costs related to securing and maintaining office space (real estate) can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to employ excellent workers who cannot commute to the office or move to the vicinity. Further, it is possible to hire human resources who are forced to stay at home due to physical disability, family circumstances, and the like. In addition, corporate activities can be continued even if the transportation network is damaged due to a natural disaster such as an earthquake or heavy snow.

Further, for the worker, the load of commuting and loss of time are reduced. In addition, employment opportunities for disabled people, elderly people, women, etc. who have difficulty in commuting work will increase.

Furthermore, for society, air pollution is reduced due to the decrease in private cars. In addition, costs related to the development of public transportation networks can be reduced. Furthermore, the problem of over-concentration in urban areas and depopulation in rural areas can be mitigated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a distributed office system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a host server device 11;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of user terminal devices 13 and 15;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of FIG. 3 in a home office where a user works
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a situation in which the devices shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of software for a user terminal device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of a screen of a user terminal device.

FIG. 7 is a table showing an overview of information stored in a database unit 53;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a control box.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a message input dialog.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display state when the display of the work status image is stopped.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a memory map of a ROM built in a PC main body 61 as a storage medium.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional home office.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing various communication applications as a table.

FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically illustrating an office configuration in a case where five workers in a department composed of five people as one department in an organization such as a company perform distributed work.

15 is a diagram showing a group work which is a work mode before the worker shown in FIG. 14 starts distributed work.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a screen of a personal computer of a worker.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 Host server device 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 User terminal device 18 Personal computer 19 Software for user terminal device 41 Server manager unit 53 Database unit 61 Personal computer body (PC body) 62 Mouse 64 Display 65, 66 Camera 73 Program Component part 81 Work status image 82 Work status data display part 83 Private room office space 84 Private room office area 85 Shared space area 91 Control box 93 Work break (shutter) button 94 Work break (filter) button

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Kato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 5C064 AA02 AB04 AC02 AC12 AC20 AD02 AD06 5E501 AA02 AB16 AB19 AB20 AC15 AC32 AC34 BA03 BA14 CA02 CB02 CB09 CB14 DA02 EA05 EA12 EB05 EB19 FA13 FA14 FA44

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users, and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line, wherein information about other users is displayed on a screen of the terminal device of the user. In a distributed system that displays, on a screen of a terminal device of the user, a status display unit that displays an image of the other user as information about the other user is provided, and the status display unit includes a specific user. A display control of an image of a situation of a user other than the specific user on a terminal device of another user based on the instruction. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the situation display means displays a graphic image imitating a blind, a door, or the like, or character information indicating a break when the image of the situation of the user is not displayed. Item 3. The distributed system according to Item 1. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the status display unit stops displaying an image of the status of another user based on an instruction from the terminal device of the specific user. Distributed system. 4. When the display of the image of the status of the other user is stopped, the status display means displays a graphic image imitating a traffic sign prohibiting vehicle entry or character information indicating that the display is stopped. 4. The distributed system according to claim 3, wherein the information is displayed. 5. A terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users, and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line, wherein information about other users is displayed on a screen of the user's terminal device. In a distributed system that displays, on a screen of the terminal device of the user, status display means for displaying an image of the user as information on the other user is provided. And displaying an image obtained by performing a filtering process on the image of the situation of the specific user on the terminal device of another user based on the distributed system. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the status display means displays an image obtained by performing similar filtering on an image of the status of another user on the terminal device of the specific user.
A distributed system as described. 7. The situation display means displays at least one of character information relating to the situation of the other user and a graphic image representing the office of the other user in addition to the image of the situation of the other user. The distributed system according to claim 1, wherein the information is displayed. 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the status display unit displays an image of each office of a plurality of users belonging to the same organization in a virtual office area on the screen. 5. The distributed system according to 5. 9. The status display means displays, on the screen of the terminal device, a virtual user shared space area including a conference room, a data room, a refresh room and the like simultaneously with the office area. The distributed system according to claim 8, wherein 10. The character information relating to the situation is character information including at least one of a user's name, a current work situation, a reason for not working, and a current work place. The distributed system according to claim 7. 11. A terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users, and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line, wherein information on other users is displayed on a screen of the terminal device of the user. A display method of a distributed system for displaying, on a screen of a terminal device of the user, a step of displaying an image of the situation of the user as information relating to the other user; and Controlling the display of an image of the situation of a user other than the specific user on the terminal device of the other user. 12. The display method for a distributed system according to claim 11, further comprising a step of stopping display of an image of a situation of another user on the terminal device of the specific user. 13. A terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users, and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line, wherein information about other users is displayed on a screen of the user's terminal device. A display method of a distributed system for displaying, on a screen of a terminal device of the user, a step of displaying an image of the situation of the user as information relating to the other user; and Displaying a filtered image of the image of the situation of the specific user on the terminal device of the user. 14. The display method for a distributed system according to claim 13, further comprising a step of displaying, on the terminal device of the specific user, an image obtained by performing similar filtering on an image of the situation of another user. . 15. A terminal device of a user executed by a computer in a distributed system comprising a terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. In a storage medium storing a program for displaying information about another user on the screen of the above, the program, on a screen of the terminal device of the user, an image of the situation of the user as information about the other user A storage medium comprising: a display step; and a display control step of displaying an image of a situation of a user other than the specific user on a terminal device of another user based on an instruction of the specific user. 16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the program includes a step of stopping display of an image of another user's situation on the terminal device of the specific user. 17. A terminal device of a user executed by a computer in a distributed system including a terminal device installed for each of a plurality of users and a server device connected to the terminal device via a communication line. In a storage medium storing a program for displaying information about another user on the screen of the above, the program, on a screen of the terminal device of the user, an image of the situation of the user as information about the other user Storage medium characterized by including a procedure of displaying, and a procedure of displaying an image obtained by performing a filtering process on an image of the situation of the specific user on a terminal device of another user based on an instruction of the specific user. . 18. The storage according to claim 17, wherein the program includes a step of displaying, on the terminal device of the specific user, an image obtained by performing similar filtering on an image of the situation of another user. Medium. 19. The distributed system according to claim 1, wherein the image of the situation of the user is an image of the work situation of the user. 20. The display method for a distributed system according to claim 11, wherein the image of the status of the user is an image of the work status of the user. 21. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the image of the situation of the user is an image of a work situation of the user.