JP2001188740A - Electronic conference system and device and method related with the same system and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic system for making an electronic conference proceed smoothly. SOLUTION: A server 100 preferentially applies a right to speak to a user who presides at a convention among the users of plural clients 150, and applies the right to speak to the other users according to the flow of the convention. For example, when the first user speaks to the second user, the server 100 applies the next right to speak to the second user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic conference system, an apparatus and a method related thereto, and a memory medium used for controlling the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an electronic conference system for performing an electronic conference (for example, chat) using a computer connected via a network line. In a conventional electronic conference system, a plurality of users participating in a conference can freely speak at any time according to their own judgment while referring to the statements of others. In addition, the screen for displaying the content of a comment made by another person or one's own is automatically updated at regular intervals.

[0003]

However, in the conventional electronic conference system, it was difficult to smoothly proceed with the conference. For example, conventionally, when the content of a comment is a question or a response to a specific person among the participants, it is necessary to include a name or the like specifying the specific person in the content of the comment (text). Also, in the past, everyone could freely speak at any time, and the content of the comment was automatically displayed at regular intervals, so that the content of the comment was changed,
In many cases, meetings did not proceed smoothly as a whole.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and has as its object to enable an electronic conference to proceed more smoothly.

[0005]

An electronic conference system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of user interfaces, and a plurality of participants who participate in an electronic conference via the plurality of user interfaces. Control means for making the plurality of participants open to the plurality of participants via the plurality of user interfaces and adjusting the speaking rights of the plurality of participants.

[0006] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the control means adjusts the speaking right of a plurality of participants according to the flow of the electronic conference.

[0007] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control means gives priority to a participant selected in advance and gives an electronic conference to other participants. It is preferable to give the floor according to the flow.

[0008] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the control means always gives a floor to the preselected participant.

[0009] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the pre-selected participant is a participant registered as a moderator.

[0010] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control means assigns the next speaking right to the second participant specified when the first participant speaks. Is preferred.

[0011] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, each of the user interfaces has a specifying means for specifying a participant of the other party at the time of making a comment, and the control means comprises: It is preferable to give the participant specified by the specifying means the next floor.

[0012] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the specifying means specifies all participants or any one participant as a participant of a speech partner.

[0013] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the specifying means specifies a participant of the utterance partner based on an instruction of the participant who makes the utterance.

[0014] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, each of the user interfaces may be configured such that when the specifying means specifies a participant of the other party to speak based on an instruction of the participant to speak, Is preferably transmitted to the control means.

In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that each of the user interfaces adds information indicating the participant specified by the specifying means to the content of the statement.

[0016] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that each of the user interfaces has means for allowing a participant having a floor to exercise or abandon the floor.

[0017] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that when the participant having the speaking right gives up the speaking right, the control means gives the speaking right to all the participants.

[0018] In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that when the participant having the speaking right gives up the speaking right, the control means gives the other participants a speaking right.

In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, when one of a plurality of participants having the floor has exercised the floor, the control means removes a participant selected in advance. It is preferable to lose the voice of the other participants.

In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that each of the user interfaces has means for displaying information indicating a participant of the electronic conference.

In the electronic conference system according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the information indicating the participant includes an identification name of the participant and / or an image representing the participant.

An information processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes one of the plurality of user interfaces constituting one of the electronic conference systems according to the first aspect of the present invention. It is characterized by the following.

An information processing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is provided with the control means constituting the electronic conference system according to any one of the first aspects of the present invention. .

An information processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that constitutes one user interface in an electronic conference system including an electronic conference control device and a plurality of user interfaces. And input control means for inputting information in accordance with the following, and utterance control means for permitting utterance of the user who operates the input means when the electronic conference control device has given the utterance right to the user.

An information processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that when a user who operates the input means makes a comment, a specifying means for specifying a mate of the utterance and a mate specified by the specifying means It is preferable that the apparatus further includes a transmission unit that transmits the information to be displayed to the electronic conference control device together with the comment content information.

[0026] In the information processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the specifying means specifies all participants or any one participant of the electronic conference as the utterance partner.

[0027] In the information processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the specifying means specifies a person to speak based on an instruction from a user given by the input means.

[0028] In the information processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means includes information indicating the opponent specified by the specifying means based on an instruction from a user given by the input means, together with statement content information. Preferably, it is transmitted to the electronic conference control device.

[0029] The information processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention further comprises means for allowing the user operating the input means to exercise or abandon the right to speak when the user is permitted to speak. Is preferred.

[0030] The information processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention preferably further comprises means for displaying information indicating participants of the electronic conference.

In the information processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the information indicating the participant includes an identification name of the participant and / or an image representing the participant.

An information processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus for controlling a plurality of user interfaces in an electronic conference system, wherein the plurality of user interfaces participating in the electronic conference via the plurality of user interfaces are provided. It is preferable that the system further includes control means for opening the contents of the utterance of the participant to the plurality of participants via the plurality of user interfaces and adjusting the right to speak of the plurality of participants.

[0033] In the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the control means adjusts the speaking right of a plurality of participants according to the flow of the electronic conference.

[0034] In the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the control means gives priority to a participant selected in advance and gives an electronic conference to other participants. It is preferable to give the floor according to the flow.

[0035] In the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the control means always gives a floor to the preselected participant.

[0036] In the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the pre-selected participant is a participant registered as a moderator.

[0037] In the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the control means may give the next participant the second participant specified when the first participant speaks. Is preferred.

[0038] In the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, each of the user interfaces has a specifying means for specifying a participant of the utterance partner when making a utterance.
It is preferable that the control means gives the next voice to the participant specified by the specifying means.

[0039] In the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that when the participant having the speaking right gives up the speaking right, the control means gives the speaking right to all the participants.

In the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that when the participant having the speaking right gives up the speaking right, the control means gives the other participants a speaking right.

[0041] In the information processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when one of a plurality of participants who have the floor has exercised the floor, the control means removes a predetermined participant. It is preferable to lose the voice of the other participants.

An electronic conference method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention connects a plurality of user interfaces to a server and, under the control of the server, participates in the electronic conference via the plurality of user interfaces. The present invention is characterized in that the contents of remarks of the participant are disclosed to the plurality of participants via the plurality of user interfaces, and the electronic conference is held while adjusting the right to speak of the plurality of participants.

A method for controlling an electronic conference according to a seventh aspect of the present invention connects a plurality of user interfaces to a server and joins the electronic conference via the plurality of user interfaces under the control of the server. The statement contents of the plurality of participants are disclosed to the plurality of participants via the plurality of user interfaces and the right to speak of the plurality of participants is adjusted.

An information processing apparatus control method according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling an information processing apparatus constituting one user interface in an electronic conference system including an electronic conference control apparatus and a plurality of user interfaces. When the electronic conference control device gives a right to speak to a user of the information processing device, the electronic conference control device permits the user to speak.

A method for controlling an information processing device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling an information processing device for controlling a plurality of user interfaces in an electronic conference system. The statement contents of a plurality of participants participating in the conference are disclosed to the plurality of participants via the plurality of user interfaces, and the speaking rights of the plurality of participants are adjusted.

A memory medium according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is a memory medium storing a control program for an information processing device constituting one user interface in an electronic conference system including an electronic conference control device and a plurality of user interfaces. And wherein the control program permits the user of the information processing apparatus to speak when the electronic conference control apparatus gives the user the right to speak.

[0047] A memory medium according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is a memory medium storing a control program for an information processing device for controlling a plurality of user interfaces in an electronic conference system, wherein the control program comprises The statement contents of a plurality of participants who participate in the electronic conference via a user interface are disclosed to the plurality of participants via the plurality of user interfaces, and the right to speak of the plurality of participants is adjusted. I do.

[0048]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic conference system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This electronic conference system is configured by connecting a server 100 and a plurality of clients 150 via a network 180.

The server 100 is an information processing device such as a personal computer, and functions as a server (electronic conference control device) for controlling an electronic conference by incorporating software. The server 100 includes a statement storage unit 101 that stores information (contents of statements, etc.) sent from each client 150, a communication unit 102 for communicating with each client 150 via the network 180, and a statement of a user of each client 150. A utterance control unit 103 for controlling the right (possibility of utterance); a utterance processing unit 104 for processing information (utterance content information and the like) transmitted from each client 150 and generating utterance list information to be provided to each client 150 Database 1 that stores information (for example, information on users who are qualified to participate in a conference) to be referred to when the speech control unit 103 controls the speaking right of each user.
05.

As the network 180, for example, L
Various forms such as an AN, the Internet, and a wireless line can be adopted.

Each client 150 is an information processing device such as a personal computer, and functions as a client (user interface) for an electronic conference by incorporating software. Each client 150 includes a communication unit 151 for communicating with the server 100 via the network 180, a speech processing unit 152 for processing a user's speech, and an input unit 15 such as a keyboard and a mouse.
3. A storage unit 154 for storing information on members currently participating in the conference and control information such as the right to speak, and a screen display provided to the user based on statement list information and control information sent from the server 100. The display control unit 155 controls the display unit 156, and the display unit 156 displays an image.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the specific contents of the information stored in the database 106. "User ID" 2
Is an ID for identifying the user. In FIG. 2, for convenience, the IDs of the users A, B, C, D.
A, IDB, IDC, IDD,... The password 202 is a code for authenticating the user. In FIG. 2, the passwords of the users A, B, C, D,... Are described as PWA, PWB, PWC, PWD. The identification name is the name of the user (for example, real name, nickname, etc.), and in FIG.
The names of B, C, D ... are "A", "B", "C", "
D "... The identification image 204 is an identification image of the user (for example, an image that can be easily visually identified such as a photograph of the face of the user), and in FIG. , B, C, D... (IIA, IIB, IIC, IID,...)
・ It is written. The authority index 205 is an index (level) indicating a floor, for example, “1” indicates a user (for example, a moderator) having a floor with priority, and “
"0" indicates that the user does not have a priority speaking right (a user to whom the speaking right is given according to the flow of the conference).

Here, the authority index 205 may be dynamically changed while the conference is in progress. This can be, for example, to determine the moderator at the start of a meeting,
This is suitable when the moderator is changed during the meeting. The update of the authority index 205 can be performed, for example, in response to a request from a user (client).

In an ordinary electronic conference system, the server simply transmits information obtained by arranging utterance contents received from the client in chronological order to each client at appropriate time intervals. On the other hand, in the electronic conference system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the server 100 adjusts the speaking right of the user (client) so that the conference proceeds smoothly.

Further, in this electronic conference system, since the server 100 has a function of authenticating a user who has a qualification to participate in the conference, it prevents an unqualified user from participating in the conference and seeing the contents of the conference. be able to.

Further, in this electronic conference system, each client 150 displays the presence or absence of the user's speaking right on the display unit 156 based on the control information sent from the server 100. Therefore, the user can recognize in real time whether or not the user has the floor. In this electronic conference system, permission and prohibition of the speech are physically controlled, but the presence / absence of the speech is controlled only by displaying on the display unit 156 (the user makes his / her own speech while watching the display). Method) can also be adopted.

Further, in this electronic conference system, each client 150 can clearly display a function of displaying a list of current conference participants, and clearly indicate to whom a statement is made by user operation. Has the ability to do.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a login screen when the user of the client 150 participates in the electronic conference. The image of the login screen is displayed on the display control unit 1 based on the information (conference number, participants) acquired from the server 100.
55.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a field in which a user who intends to participate in a conference inputs login information. 302
Is a field for inputting a conference number to be joined. Reference numeral 303 denotes a field for inputting the user ID of the participant. Reference numeral 304 denotes a field for inputting a participant's password. A participation button 305 is pressed (for example, clicked with a mouse) to
Issuing a participation request, that is, transmitting login information to the server 100 and authenticating the server 100 can be performed. A field 306 displays a list of participants in the conference. For example, the participants of the conference with the conference number: 1 are A, B, and C. FIG. 2 shows information of a user corresponding to one conference number (conference number: 1).

When the log-in information is transmitted to the server 100 by pressing the participation button 305 and authentication is performed (approval of the participation request), the log-in screen shown in FIG. 3 is switched to a conference screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conference screen during the progress of the conference. The image of this conference screen is
Information acquired from 00 (speaking right control information, conference number,
Display control unit 15 based on participant information and statement list information).
5 generated.

Reference numeral 401 denotes a field for displaying utterance availability information as to whether or not a conference participant can speak at present. Reference numeral 402 denotes a button for exercising the floor, and when the conference participant has the floor, when pressed (for example, clicks with a mouse), the floor can be exercised. Reference numeral 403 denotes a button for giving up the floor, and is pressed when the conference participant has the floor (for example,
Clicking with the mouse) gives up the floor. Reference numeral 404 denotes a field for displaying a currently participating conference number and its own identification name.

Reference numeral 405 denotes a field for displaying to whom the content of the utterance is, that is, a group of buttons for specifying a person to be uttered. 406 (406a,
406b and 406c) are buttons that are pressed when speaking to a specific participant. A button 407 is pressed when speaking without specifying the other party (when speaking for all). The comment content information input to the comment content input field 408 is transmitted to the server 100 by pressing one of the buttons 406 or the button 407.

Reference numeral 408 denotes a field for inputting a comment content. Reference numeral 409 denotes a field for displaying statement list information of participants in the conference. Reference numeral 410 denotes an example of a comment content (a content in which A speaks to D) including a notation for specifying a partner of the comment. This notation indicates that, when the speaker sends any message content information to the server 100 by pressing one of the button groups 406, that is, when the speaker speaks to a specific participant, the client 150 Is automatically added by the comment processing unit 152.

Here, in order to facilitate understanding of the electronic conference system, a specific use example of the electronic conference system will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the user A as the moderator exercises the floor by pressing a button (voice floor exercise button) 402, and says, "I took up the electronic conference system this time." The button (all members) 407 to be the target of the comment is pressed and transmitted to the server 100.
Here, since user A is speaking to all,
After this remark, everyone has the right to speak.

Next, the user A further exercises his / her speaking right by pressing a button (exercising right button) 402, and makes a statement to everyone saying “What do you think about this theme?” Button (all members) 4
07 is transmitted to the server 100. Also here, since the user A speaks to all the members, the speaking right is given to all the members after this comment.

Next, the user B exercises the floor by pressing a button (voice floor exercise button) 402,
The comment “Before proceeding with this examination, first ask Mr. D's survey report.” Is sent to the server 100 by pressing the button (all) 407 with all members as the subject. Also here, since the user B speaks to all the members, the speaking right is given to all the members after this comment.

Next, the user A exercises the floor by pressing a button (voice floor exercise button) 402,
Says, "Mr. D, please give me a survey report."
A button (the button is not shown in FIG. 2, but is displayed on the conference screen of the client 150 used by the user B) in the button group 406 is set as the target person. To the server 100.
Therefore, the notation “> D” is displayed together with the comment content input by the user A. Here, user A
Speaks to user D, so only user D (and user A as moderator) is given the right to speak,
The state shown in FIG. 4 has been reached. In other words, in the state shown in FIG. 4, a message "Can speak" indicating that user D has the right to speak is displayed in field 401. At this time, "Cannot speak" is displayed on the screen of the other user.

In this state, the user D presses the button (speaking right exercise button) 402 to exercise the speaking right.
By inputting the content of the comment in the field 408 and pressing one of the buttons 406 or the button 407 of the button group 406 for designating the target person of the comment, the content of the comment is transmitted to the server 100. Here, when the user D presses one of the button groups 406 and transmits the content of the utterance to the server 100, the right to speak is given to the user associated with the pressed button (and the user A as the moderator). . On the other hand, when the user D presses the button (all) 407 and transmits the content of the utterance to the server 100, the right to speak is given to all.

Next, a general operation of the electronic conference system will be described.

The storage section 154 of each client 150 stores an index indicating whether or not the user has the right to speak, and the display control section 155 and the speech processing section 152 determine the right to speak of the user based on the index. Recognize the presence or absence. That is, the display control unit 155 displays the utterance availability information 401 on the conference screen based on the index, and the utterance processing unit 152
Based on this index, the user is allowed to speak only when the user has the right to speak.

The comment processing unit 152 of the client 150
Means that the user who has the floor exercises the floor (button 40
When the user presses (2), a notification to that effect (speaking right exercise notification) is sent to the server 100 via the communication unit 151.

When the statement processing unit 104 of the server 100 receives a statement of the exercise of the right to speak from any one of the clients 150, it prohibits other users except the moderator from speaking. Specifically, the server 100 transmits, to the client 150 of the other user, control information indicating that speech is prohibited. The client 150 that has received the control information updates the index regarding the presence / absence of the right to speak stored in a predetermined area of the storage unit 154 according to the control information. Further, the display control unit 155 updates the conference screen based on the index (displays “Cannot speak” on the display of the field 401).

Client 1 in which the user has exercised the floor
The 50 comment processing unit 152 adds the identification name of the speaker at the head of the comment content information, and adds a notation specifying the individual when the person to be commented is an individual, and the communication unit 151.
To the server 100 via the.

Upon receiving the comment content information, the server 100
The comment processing unit 104 updates the comment list information (a series of comment contents) by adding and storing the comment content information sent from the client 150 in the comment storage unit 102, and stores the comment list information in each client 150. Send to
In addition, the statement control unit 103 of the server 100 specifies the participant and the moderator who give the right to speak based on the target information of the person to speak and the authority index 205 of the database 105, and remarks the specified participant and the moderator. The control information to be permitted is transmitted to the corresponding client 150 via the communication unit 102, and the control information for prohibiting other participants from speaking is transmitted to the corresponding client 150 via the communication unit 102.

The user having the floor can also give up the floor by pressing the button 403.
When the user having the speaking right abandons the speaking right (presses the button 403), the speaking processing unit 152 of the client 150 notifies the server 100 via the communication unit 151 of the effect (the speaking right abandonment notification). .

When the speech processing unit 104 of the server 100 receives the speech right waiver notification from the client 150, it gives the speech right to all the users. Specifically, the server 100 transmits control information indicating that the right to speak is given to all the clients 150. In the client 150 receiving the control information, the client 150
The index relating to the presence / absence of the right to speak stored in the predetermined area of No. 4 is updated. Further, the display control unit 155 updates the display of the conference screen based on the index.

As described above, in this electronic conference system, when any participant exercises the floor, the other participant loses the floor, with the exception that the participant is registered in the database 105 as the moderator. Participants always have a say.

When a participant (including a moderator) speaks to a specific participant, the right to speak is given to only the specific participant and the moderator. This state is changed after the specific participant has made a speech or after the specific participant has relinquished the right to speak. If the particular participant speaks, the right to speak is transferred to the target (or all), and if the particular participant relinquishes the right to speak, everyone is granted the right to speak.

Hereinafter, the flow of processing in this electronic conference system will be described.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing in the server 100. The processing shown in these flowcharts is controlled by software incorporated in the server 100. This software can be incorporated in the server 100 using a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a communication line, for example.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for the server 100 to manage participants in a conference. Step S
In step 101, the process waits for the user of the client 150 to issue a participation request (including a conference number, a user ID, and a password).
Then, it is determined whether or not the user related to the participation request is a user registered in the database 105. If the user involved in the participation request is a user registered in the database 105, the process proceeds to step S104. If the user is not registered, participation is rejected in step S103.

In step S104, the user associated with the participation request is added to the participant list, and the participant list is updated. In step S105, the updated participant list information is transmitted to the client 150 of the user participating in the conference.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for the server 100 to manage a conference. In step S201, the user having the moderator's qualification is specified with reference to the database 105, and based on other information (for example, a notice of exercising the right to speak, a notice of abandonment of the right to speak, and a person to speak regarding the previous statement) , The user having the floor is determined.

In step S202, step S201
The control information for controlling each user's right to speak is transmitted to each client 150 based on the result determined in (1).
Specifically, for example, control information to that effect is transmitted to the client 150 of the user who gives the floor, and control information to that effect is transmitted to the client 150 of the user who does not give the floor. I do.

In step S203, it is determined whether a notice of exercising the floor or a notice of abandoning the floor has been received from the client 150 of the user having the floor, and if the notice has been received, the process proceeds to step S201. In this case, a user having the floor is newly determined in consideration of this notification.

On the other hand, if the notification has not been received, in step S204, the utterance content information (identifier of the utterer, utterance content, and if the utterer is an individual, the identifier of the utterer is entered. It is determined whether or not (YES) has been received, and if it has been received, the process proceeds to step S205, and if not, the process proceeds to step S203. Note that the comment content information is transmitted from the corresponding client 150 only after the notification of the right to exercise the right to speak.

In step S205, the statement list information is updated based on the received statement content information, and step S2 is executed.
In step 06, the updated statement list information is transmitted to the clients 150 of all the users, and step S201 is performed.
Return to

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing on each client 150 side. The processing shown in these flowcharts is controlled by software incorporated in each client 150. This software can be incorporated in each client 150 using a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a communication line, for example.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the joining process and the displaying process of the joining information in each client 150. In step S301, the login screen shown in FIG. In step S302, login information (conference number, user I
D, password). Step S303
Then, a participation request including the input information is issued to the server 100.

In step S304, the participation is
0, it is determined whether or not it has been approved. If it has been approved, the process proceeds to step S305. If it has not been approved, the process proceeds to step S309, and a message that participation has been rejected is displayed on the display unit 156. The process returns to step S301.

In step S305, the participant list information is received from the server 100. In step S306, the participant list information 406 of the conference screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed based on the participant list information. . The participant list information is also a group of buttons for selecting a speech target person (to whom the speech is directed) and instructing transmission of the speech.

In step S307, the process waits for reception of the participant list information transmitted from the server 100 when another user has participated. When the information has been received, in step S308, the participant list information on the conference screen is displayed. 406 is updated, and the process returns to step S307.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process related to a conference in each client 150. In step S401, it is determined whether or not the control information of the floor has been received from the server 100. If the information has been received, in step S402, the control information 4 of the floor on the conference screen has been received.
Update 01.

In step S403, it is determined whether or not statement list information has been received. If the information has been received, statement list information 409 on the conference screen is updated in step S404.

In step S405, it is determined whether or not the user has the right to speak based on the control information of the right to speak. If the right to speak has been granted, the process proceeds to step S406, and the user is granted the right to speak. If not, the process returns to step S401.

In step S406, it is determined whether or not the user exercises the floor, that is, whether or not the user has pressed button (speaking right exercise button) 402, and the user exercises the floor. In this case, the process proceeds to step S407, and otherwise, the process proceeds to step S411.

In step S407, a floor right exercising notice is sent to the server 100. In step S408, the input of the utterance in the field 408 is controlled, and the utterance to one or all of the button group 406 for specifying the utterance target is made. If the button 407 for declaring a certain thing is pressed, that is, if transmission of utterance content information is instructed, the process proceeds to step S409.

In step S409, statement content information including the identification name of the speaker (the user), the statement content, and the comment target person (when an individual is selected) is transmitted to the server 100, and the process proceeds to step S401. Return.

In step S411, it is determined whether or not the user has abandoned the right to speak, that is, whether or not the user has pressed the button (abstain right to speak button) 403, and the user has abandoned the right to speak. In this case, step S412
In step S4, if the server 100 notifies the server 100 of a relinquishment of the floor and the user does not relinquish the floor.
Return to 01.

The above description relates to the case where a moderator is set in advance. However, the moderator is determined by an electronic conference, and information specifying the moderator is transmitted from one or more (for example, all) clients 150. By transmitting the authority index 205 to the server 100, the authority index 205 of the database 105 may be updated.

As described above, according to the electronic conference system, the conference can be smoothly advanced by controlling the speaking right of each user.

According to this electronic conference system, the authority of the moderator or the like regarding the progress of the conference is strengthened by physically determining the user to whom the floor is given priority, thereby facilitating the conference. Can be.

Further, according to this electronic conference system, it is possible to make a utterance specifying a person to be uttered by a simple operation, and in addition, it is possible to automatically control the right to speak according to this specification. Thus, the burden on each user for determining the right to speak is reduced.

It is to be noted that an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer of the system or the apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by a program (or CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0109]

According to the present invention, for example, by adjusting the right to speak of a participant, it is possible to smoothly proceed with the electronic conference.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic conference system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing specific contents of information stored in a database of a server.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a login screen when a user of a client participates in an electronic conference.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conference screen during a conference.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for a server to manage participants in a conference.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for a server to manage a conference.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process regarding a participant in each client.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process regarding a conference in each client.

Claims (43)

[Claims] 1. An electronic conference system, comprising: a plurality of user interfaces; and a plurality of participants who participate in an electronic conference via the plurality of user interfaces are uttered by the plurality of user interfaces via the plurality of user interfaces. Control means for making the information public to the participants and adjusting the voices of the plurality of participants. 2. The electronic conference system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit adjusts the speaking right of a plurality of participants according to a flow of the electronic conference. 3. The control means according to claim 2, wherein said control means gives priority to the participant selected in advance and gives the other participant the right to speak according to the flow of the electronic conference. The electronic conference system according to claim 1. 4. The electronic conference system according to claim 3, wherein said control means always gives a right to speak to said preselected participant. 5. The electronic conference system according to claim 3, wherein the participant selected in advance is a participant registered as a moderator. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means gives the next participant the next participant specified when the first participant speaks. The electronic conference system according to claim 1. 7. Each of the user interfaces has a specifying means for specifying a participant of the utterance partner at the time of making a comment, and the control means performs the following with respect to the participant specified by the specifying means. The electronic conference system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a right to speak is given. 8. The electronic conference system according to claim 7, wherein said specifying means specifies all participants or any one participant as a participant of a speech partner. 9. The electronic conference system according to claim 7, wherein said specifying means specifies, based on an instruction of a participant who speaks, a participant of the speech partner. 10. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein:
The electronic conference system according to claim 9, wherein when the identification unit identifies a participant of the utterance partner based on an instruction of a participant who speaks, the content of the utterance is transmitted to the control unit. 11. The user interface according to claim 1,
The electronic conference system according to claim 9, wherein information indicating the participant identified by the identification unit is added to the content of the statement. 12. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein:
12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for allowing a participant having a floor to exercise or abandon the floor.
The electronic conference system according to any one of the above items. 13. The electronic conference system according to claim 12, wherein said control means gives a speaking right to all participants when a participant having the speaking right abandons said speaking right. 14. The electronic conferencing system according to claim 12, wherein said control means gives a floor to another participant when a participant having the floor has abandoned the floor. 15. The control means, when one of a plurality of participants having a floor has exercised the floor, loses the floor of another participant except for a participant selected in advance. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein
Electronic conferencing system according to the section. 16. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein:
The electronic conference system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit configured to display information indicating a participant of the electronic conference. 17. The electronic conference system according to claim 16, wherein the information indicating the participant includes an identification name of the participant and / or an image representing the participant. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
An information processing apparatus comprising one of the plurality of user interfaces constituting the electronic conferencing system described in the paragraph. 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
An information processing apparatus comprising the control unit constituting the electronic conferencing system described in the above section. 20. An information processing apparatus constituting one user interface in an electronic conference system including an electronic conference control device and a plurality of user interfaces, wherein: input means for inputting information according to a user operation; An information processing apparatus, comprising: a utterance control unit that permits utterance of a user who operates the input unit when the control unit has given the utterance right to the user. 21. An electronic conference control device, comprising: a specifying unit for specifying a partner of the utterance when a user operating the input unit makes a utterance; 21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmit the information to the information processing apparatus. 22. The method according to claim 23, wherein the identifying unit includes:
22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein all participants or any one participant in the electronic conference are specified. 23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said specifying means specifies a speech partner based on an instruction from a user given by said input means. 24. The electronic conference control device according to claim 24, wherein the transmitting unit transmits information indicating the partner specified by the specifying unit together with statement content information to the electronic conference control device based on an instruction from the user given by the input unit. 24. The information processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein 25. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for allowing said user to exercise or abandon said right to speak when said user operating said input means is permitted to speak. The information processing device according to claim 1. 26. The information processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for displaying information indicating a participant of the electronic conference. 27. The information processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the information indicating the participant includes an identification name of the participant and / or an image representing the participant. 28. An information processing apparatus for controlling a plurality of user interfaces in an electronic conference system, wherein a statement made by a plurality of participants participating in the electronic conference via the plurality of user interfaces is transmitted to the plurality of user interfaces. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a control unit that discloses to a plurality of participants via the control unit and adjusts a voice of the plurality of participants. 29. The information processing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said control means adjusts the speaking right of a plurality of participants according to the flow of the electronic conference. 30. The control means according to claim 29, wherein the control means gives priority to the participant selected in advance and gives the other participant the right to speak according to the flow of the electronic conference. The information processing apparatus according to claim 28 or 29. 31. The information processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said control means always gives a voice to said preselected participant. 32. The pre-selected participant is a participant registered as a moderator.
32. The information processing apparatus according to claim 31 or claim 32. 33. The control method according to claim 28, wherein the control unit gives the next participant the second participant specified when the first participant speaks. The information processing device according to claim 1. 34. Each of the user interfaces includes:
The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a specifying unit that specifies a participant of the other party at the time of the remark, wherein the control unit gives a right to speak to the participant specified by the specifying unit. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 28 to 33. 35. The control method according to claim 28, wherein when the participant having the speaking right gives up the speaking right, the control means gives the speaking right to all the participants. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 36. The control device according to claim 28, wherein when the participant having the speaking right abandons the speaking right, the controlling unit gives the speaking right to another participant. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 37. The control means, when one of a plurality of participants having a floor has exercised the floor, loses the floor of another participant except for a predetermined participant. The information processing device according to any one of claims 28 to 34, characterized in that: 38. A connection between a plurality of user interfaces and a server, and, under the control of the server, the contents of statements of a plurality of participants who participate in an electronic conference via the plurality of user interfaces by the plurality of user interfaces. An electronic conference method, wherein the electronic conference is made public to the plurality of participants via the Internet and the electronic conference is performed while adjusting the voices of the plurality of participants. 39. A connection between a plurality of user interfaces and a server, and, under control of the server, the contents of statements of a plurality of participants who participate in an electronic conference via the plurality of user interfaces through the plurality of user interfaces. A method of controlling a teleconference, wherein the method is disclosed to the plurality of participants via the Internet and the right to speak of the plurality of participants is adjusted. 40. A method for controlling an information processing device constituting one user interface in an electronic conference system including an electronic conference control device and a plurality of user interfaces, wherein the electronic conference control device is a user of the information processing device. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus, wherein when a right to speak is given, the user is allowed to speak. 41. A control method of an information processing apparatus for controlling a plurality of user interfaces in an electronic conference system, wherein said plurality of participants participating in the electronic conference via said plurality of user interfaces are said to be said plurality of said plurality of user interfaces. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising: releasing information to a plurality of participants via a user interface; and adjusting a voice of the plurality of participants. 42. A memory medium storing a control program of an information processing device constituting one user interface in an electronic conference system including an electronic conference control device and a plurality of user interfaces, wherein the control program is a computer-readable storage medium. A memory medium characterized by permitting a speech of a user of the information processing apparatus when the conference control apparatus gives the user the right to speak. 43. A memory medium storing a control program of an information processing device for controlling a plurality of user interfaces in an electronic conference system, wherein the control program is configured to control a plurality of user interfaces participating in an electronic conference via the plurality of user interfaces. A memory medium, wherein the contents of remarks of the participant are disclosed to the plurality of participants through the plurality of user interfaces and the right to speak of the plurality of participants is adjusted.