JP2015061086A - Transmission terminal and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow efficient setting of a transmission terminal according to a user.SOLUTION: The transmission terminal for image or sound communication comprises: a first acquisition unit for acquiring biological information of a user; an identification unit for identifying identification information of the user associated with the acquired biological information; a reading unit for reading first setting information to be used when the transmission terminal associated with the identified identification information connects with a network; and a setting unit for setting network setting of the transmission terminal by using the read first setting information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmission terminal and a program.

  A conference system for performing a remote conference with a remote place via a communication network such as the Internet has become widespread. In this conference system, in a conference room where there is one party such as an attendee who conducts a remote conference, the terminal device of the remote conference system is used to capture and collect images of the conference room and other voices such as speeches. Then, it is converted into digital data, transmitted to the other party's terminal device, displayed on the display of the other party's conference room, and output as voice by a speaker, and a conference between remote locations is performed in a state close to the actual conference.

  A transmission terminal used in a conference system has been downsized to the extent that it can be easily carried by recent technological advances. Therefore, the user can carry out a new remote conference after carrying the transmission terminal used in a certain place and setting it in another place and making settings according to the place. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that can automatically change a network setting of a device according to a place where the device is used so that the device can be used regardless of the location.

  For example, when a transmission terminal is shared and used by a plurality of users, a network setting of the transmission terminal may be rewritten when a user other than the user uses the transmission terminal in another place. Therefore, in some cases, it is necessary for the user to reconfigure the network every time a remote conference is executed, which is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to enable efficient setting of network settings of a transmission terminal according to a user.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the transmission terminal in one embodiment of the present invention is:
A transmission terminal for performing image or voice communication,
A first acquisition unit for acquiring user biometric information;
A specifying unit that specifies identification information of the user associated with the acquired biological information;
A reading unit that reads first setting information used when the transmission terminal associated with the identified identification information is connected to a network;
A setting unit configured to set the network setting of the transmission terminal using the read first setting information;
Have

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently set the network setting of the transmission terminal according to the user.

1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The external view of the terminal which concerns on this embodiment. The hardware block diagram of the transmission terminal which concerns on this embodiment. The hardware block diagram of the transmission management system which concerns on this embodiment. The functional block diagram of the transmission terminal which comprises the transmission system which concerns on this embodiment, a relay apparatus, and a transmission management system. The conceptual diagram which shows a destination list management table. The conceptual diagram which shows a personal authentication setting management table. The conceptual diagram which shows an administrator password management table. The flowchart which shows the registration process of a personal setting. 10 is a flowchart showing destination list acquisition processing. The flowchart which shows the registration process of the personal setting after the meeting completion. The sequence diagram which shows a personal setting registration process. The sequence diagram which shows a personal setting application process. The sequence diagram which shows a personal setting registration inquiry process. The figure showing the example of an initial setting screen. The figure showing the example of a personal setting screen. The figure showing the example of a personal setting screen. The figure showing the example of a personal setting screen. The figure showing the example of a personal setting screen. The figure showing the example of a personal setting screen. The figure showing the example of an initial setting screen. The figure showing the example of the setting screen for administrators. The figure showing the example of the setting screen for administrators. The figure showing the example of an inquiry screen. The figure showing the example of the registration screen of destination terminal ID. The figure showing the example of the display screen of a destination list. The conceptual diagram which shows a change quality management table. The conceptual diagram which shows a relay apparatus management table. The conceptual diagram which shows the transmission terminal authentication management table. The conceptual diagram which shows the transmission terminal management table. The conceptual diagram which shows a session management table. The conceptual diagram which shows an address priority management table. The conceptual diagram which shows the transmission rate priority management table. The conceptual diagram which shows a quality control table.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<< Overall Configuration of Embodiment >>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission system 1 according to this embodiment of the present invention.

  In addition, the transmission system includes a data providing system that transmits content data in one direction from one transmission terminal to the other transmission terminal via the transmission management system, and information between a plurality of transmission terminals via the transmission management system. Includes a communication system that communicates emotions and the like. This communication system is a system for mutually transmitting information, emotions, etc. between a plurality of communication terminals (corresponding to “transmission terminals”) via a communication management system (corresponding to “transmission management system”). Another example is a video conference system or a video phone system using voice communication.

  In the present embodiment, assuming a video conference system as an example of a communication system, a video conference management system as an example of a communication management system, and a video conference terminal as an example of a communication terminal, a transmission system, a transmission management system, The transmission terminal will be described. That is, the transmission terminal and the transmission management system of the present invention are not only applied to a video conference system, but also applied to a communication system or a transmission system.

  First, the transmission system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of transmission terminals (10aa, 10ab,...), A display (120aa, 120ab,...) For each transmission terminal (10aa, 10ab,. The apparatus (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d), the transmission management system 50, the program providing system 90, and the maintenance system 100 are constructed.

  The plurality of transmission terminals 10 perform transmission by transmitting and receiving image data and / or audio data as an example of content data.

  In the following, “transmission management system” is simply represented as “management system”. Further, an arbitrary transmission terminal among the plurality of transmission terminals (10aa, 10ab,...) Is represented as “transmission terminal 10”, and an arbitrary display among the plurality of displays (120aa, 120ab,...) Is “display 120”. An arbitrary relay device among the plurality of relay devices (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) is represented as “relay device 30”. Further, a terminal as a request source that requests the start of a video conference is represented as a “request source terminal”, and a terminal as a request destination (relay destination) is represented as a “destination terminal”.

  In the transmission system 1, a management information session for transmitting and receiving various types of management information is established between the request source terminal and the destination terminal via the management system 50. Further, between the request source terminal and the destination terminal, four pieces of data of high resolution image data, medium resolution image data, low resolution image data, and audio data are transmitted and received via the relay device 30. Four sessions are established.

  The relay device 30 shown in FIG. 1 relays content data among a plurality of transmission terminals 10. The management system 50 centrally manages login authentication from the transmission terminal 10, management of the call status of the transmission terminal 10, management of the destination list, communication status of the relay device 30, and the like. The image of the image data may be a moving image or a still image, or both a moving image and a still image.

  A plurality of routers (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70ab, 70cd) select an optimum route for image data and audio data. In the following, an arbitrary router among the routers (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70ab, 70cd) is represented as “router 70”.

  The program providing system 90 includes an HD (Hard Disk) 204, which will be described later, and stores a transmission terminal program for causing the transmission terminal 10 to realize various functions (or to cause the transmission terminal 10 to function as various means). The transmission terminal program can be transmitted to the transmission terminal 10. The HD 204 of the program providing system 90 also stores a relay device program for causing the relay device 30 to realize various functions (or to cause the relay device 30 to function as various means). The relay device program can be transmitted. Further, the HD 204 of the program providing system 90 also stores a transmission management program for realizing various functions in the management system 50 (or causing the management system 50 to function as various means). A transmission management program can be transmitted.

  The maintenance system 100 is a computer for performing maintenance, management, or maintenance of at least one of the transmission terminal 10, the relay device 30, the management system 50, and the program providing system 90. For example, when the maintenance system 100 is installed in the country and the transmission terminal 10, the relay device 30, the management system 50, or the program providing system 90 is installed outside the country, the maintenance system 100 is remotely connected via the communication network 2. In addition, maintenance such as maintenance, management, and maintenance of at least one of the transmission terminal 10, the relay device 30, the management system 50, and the program providing system 90 is performed. In addition, the maintenance system 100 does not go through the communication network 2, and the model number, the manufacturing number, the sales destination, the maintenance inspection in at least one of the transmission terminal 10, the relay device 30, the management system 50, and the program providing system 90. Or, maintenance such as failure history management is performed.

  Incidentally, the transmission terminals (10aa, 10ab, 10ac,...), The relay device 30a, and the router 70a are communicably connected via the LAN 2a. The transmission terminals (10ba, 10bb, 10bc,...), The relay device 30b, and the router 70b are communicably connected via a LAN 2b. The LAN 2a and the LAN 2b are communicably connected by a dedicated line 2ab including a router 70ab, and are constructed in a predetermined area A. For example, the region A is Japan, the LAN 2a is constructed in a Tokyo office, and the LAN 2b is constructed in an Osaka office.

  On the other hand, the transmission terminals (10ca, 10cb, 10cc,...), The relay device 30c, and the router 70c are communicably connected via a LAN 2c. The transmission terminal 10d (a, 10db, 10dc,...), The relay device 30d, and the router 70d are communicably connected via a LAN 2d. The LAN 2c and the LAN 2d are communicably connected via a dedicated line 2cd including the router 70cd, and are constructed in a predetermined area B. For example, region B is the United States of America, LAN 2c is built in a New York office, and LAN 2d is Washington D.C. C. Is built in the office. Area A and area B are connected to each other via routers (70ab, 70cd) via the Internet 2i.

  In addition, the management system 50 and the program providing system 90 are communicably connected to the transmission terminal 10 and the relay device 30 via the Internet 2i. The management system 50 and the program providing system 90 may be installed in the region A or the region B, or may be installed in a region other than these.

  In the present embodiment, the communication network 2 of the present embodiment is constructed by the LAN 2a, the LAN 2b, the dedicated line 2ab, the Internet 2i, the dedicated line 2cd, the LAN 2c, and the LAN 2d. The communication network 2 may include a place where wireless communication such as WiFi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) is performed in addition to wired communication.

  In FIG. 1, four sets of numbers shown under each transmission terminal 10, each relay device 30, management system 50, each router 70, and program providing system 90 are IP addresses in general IPv4. It is shown simply. For example, the IP address of the transmission terminal 10aa is “1.2.1.3”. In addition, IPv6 may be used instead of IPv4, but IPv4 will be used for the sake of simplicity.

  In addition, each transmission terminal 10 is not only a call between a plurality of offices, a call between different rooms in the same office, a call within the same room, a telephone call outdoors and indoors or outdoors and outdoors. May be used in When each transmission terminal 10 is used outdoors, wireless communication such as a cellular phone communication network is performed.

  The transmission terminal 10 in one embodiment of the present invention holds a combination of settings of the transmission terminal 10 for each user. The transmission terminal settings include, for example, network settings and language settings. The network setting is, for example, a communication setting necessary for the transmission terminal 10 to connect to the transmission management system 50. Whether the IP address can be dynamically configured, a default gateway, a DNS (Domain Name System) server setting, and the like. Including. The language setting includes setting of a display language for messages output from the transmission terminal 10. In addition, the transmission terminal settings may be screen display settings such as font and brightness, profile settings such as the user name and image used at the time of conference connection, and the current location. The setting of the transmission terminal includes arbitrary setting items that can be set for each individual.

  The transmission terminal 10 recognizes biometric information (for example, the user's face, fingerprint, vein, voice, etc.), identifies the user, reads the previously set transmission terminal settings, and applies the settings. Can do.

  In addition, the transmission management system 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention manages a destination list defined for each user. The destination list is a list including the names and terminal IDs of transmission terminals that can be connected from the transmission terminals used by the user. The user registers in advance transmission terminals included in the destination list through the Web or the like. As described above, the transmission terminal 10 specifies a user who uses the transmission terminal 10, then acquires a user destination list from the transmission management system 50, and displays a list of transmission terminals that are destination candidates on the screen. To do.

  With such a function, the transmission terminal 10 in this embodiment can efficiently set a transmission terminal by specifying a user using biometric information, and further specify other transmission terminals that are destination candidates. make it easier. Furthermore, the transmission terminal 10 can also prevent use of the transmission terminal by an unauthorized user who is not registered by authenticating the user using biometric information.

<< Hardware Configuration of Embodiment >>
Next, the hardware configuration of this embodiment will be described.

<< Appearance of transmission terminal >>
FIG. 2 is an external view of the transmission terminal according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the transmission terminal 10 will be described as the X-axis direction, the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction in the horizontal plane as the Y-axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction (vertical direction) as the Z-axis direction. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission terminal 10 includes a housing 1100, an arm 1200, and a camera housing 1300. Among them, the front side wall surface 1110 of the housing 1100 is provided with an air intake surface (not shown) formed by a plurality of air intake holes, and the rear side wall surface 1120 of the housing 1100 is formed with a plurality of exhaust holes. An exhaust surface 1121 is provided. Thus, by driving a cooling fan built in the housing 1100, outside air behind the transmission terminal 10 can be taken in via an intake surface (not shown) and exhausted to the rear of the transmission terminal 10 via an exhaust surface 1121. it can. A sound collecting hole 1131 is formed in the right wall surface 1130 of the housing 1100, and sounds such as voice, sound, noise can be collected by a built-in microphone 114 described later.

  An operation panel 1150 is formed on the right wall surface 1130 side of the housing 1100. The operation panel 1150 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons (108a to 108e) to be described later, a power switch 109 to be described later, and an alarm lamp 119 to be described later, and outputs sound from a built-in speaker 115 to be described later. A sound output surface 1151 formed by a plurality of sound output holes for passing through is formed. In addition, a housing portion 1160 as a recess for housing the arm 1200 and the camera housing 1300 is formed on the left wall surface 1140 side of the housing 1100. The right side wall surface 1130 of the housing 1100 is provided with a plurality of connection ports (1132a to 1132c) for electrically connecting cables to an external device connection I / F 118 described later. On the other hand, the left wall surface 1140 of the housing 1100 is provided with a connection port (not shown) for electrically connecting the cable 120c for the display 120 to an external device connection I / F 118 described later.

  In the following description, “operation button 108” is used when an arbitrary operation button is indicated among the operation buttons (108a to 108e), and “an arbitrary connection port is indicated among the connection ports (1132a to 1132c)”. This will be described using the connection port 1132 ”.

  Next, the arm 1200 is attached to the housing 1100 via a torque hinge 1210, and the arm 1200 is configured to be able to rotate in the vertical direction with respect to the housing 1100 within a tilt angle θ1 of 135 degrees. ing. FIG. 2 shows a state where the tilt angle θ1 is 90 degrees.

  The camera housing 1300 is provided with a built-in camera 1021 that can capture images of users, documents, rooms, and the like. A torque hinge 1310 is formed in the camera housing 1300. The camera housing 1300 is attached to the arm 1200 via a torque hinge 1310. The camera housing 1300 is attached to the arm 1200 via a torque hinge 1310. The pan angle θ2 of ± 180 degrees is assumed with respect to the arm 1200, with the state shown in FIG. And a tilt angle θ3 of ± 45 degrees can be rotated in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  Although not illustrated, the transmission terminal 10 according to the present embodiment may be a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a wristwatch-type or glasses-type wearable computer.

  The relay device 30, the transmission management system 50, and the program providing system 90 have the same external appearance as a general server computer.

<< Hardware configuration example of transmission terminal >>
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the transmission terminal 10 according to this embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the transmission terminal 10 of the present embodiment is used to drive a CPU 101 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 and an IPL (Initial Program Loader) that control the operation of the entire transmission terminal 10. ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 storing a program, RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 used as a work area of the CPU 101, a flash memory 104 storing various data such as a transmission terminal program, image data, and audio data, An SSD (Solid State Drive) 105 that controls reading or writing of various data to the flash memory 104 according to the control of the CPU 101, a media drive 107 that controls reading or writing (storage) of data to the recording medium 106 such as a flash memory, and transmission When selecting the destination of the terminal 10 An operation button 108 to be operated, a power switch 109 for switching on / off the power of the transmission terminal 10, and a network I / F (Interface) 111 for data transmission using the communication network 2. Yes.

  The transmission terminal 10 also includes a built-in camera 112 that captures an image of a subject under the control of the CPU 101 to obtain image data, an image sensor I / F 113 that controls driving of the camera 112, a built-in microphone 114 that inputs sound, The built-in speaker 115 that outputs audio, the audio input / output I / F 116 that processes input / output of audio signals between the microphone 114 and the speaker 115 according to the control of the CPU 101, and the image data on the external display 120 according to the control of the CPU 101 Interface I / F 118 for connecting various external devices, biometric authentication device 119 for acquiring biometric information such as a user's fingerprint, vein or voice, and each of the above components As shown in FIG. 3, an address bus and data for electrical connection And a bus line 110 of the scan and the like.

  The display 120 is a display unit configured by a liquid crystal or an organic EL that displays an image of a subject, an operation icon, and the like. The display 120 is connected to the display I / F 117 by a cable 120c. The cable 120c may be an analog RGB (VGA) signal cable, a component video cable, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) or DVI (Digital Video). Interactive) signal cable may be used.

  The camera 112 includes a lens and a solid-state image sensor that converts an image (video) of an object by converting light into electric charges. As the solid-state image sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) Etc. are used.

  External devices such as an external camera, an external microphone, and an external speaker can be connected to the external device connection I / F 118 by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like. When an external camera is connected, the external camera is driven in preference to the built-in camera 112 under the control of the CPU 101. Similarly, when an external microphone is connected or when an external speaker is connected, each of the external microphones and the built-in speaker 115 is given priority over the internal microphone 114 and the internal speaker 115 according to the control of the CPU 101. An external speaker is driven.

  Note that the recording medium 106 is detachable from the transmission terminal 10. Further, as long as it is a non-volatile memory that reads or writes data according to the control of the CPU 101, not only the flash memory 104 but also an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) or the like may be used.

  Further, the transmission terminal program may be installed in an installable or executable format, recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 106, and distributed. The transmission terminal program may be stored in the ROM 102 instead of the flash memory 104.

  Note that, as described above, when the transmission terminal 10 is a device such as a smartphone or a tablet, the display 120 may be provided in the transmission terminal 10. Furthermore, the microphone 114, the camera 112, and the speaker 115 are not necessarily built in, and may be externally attached.

<< Hardware configuration example of transmission management system >>
FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the transmission management system 50 according to this embodiment of the present invention. The transmission management system 50 includes a CPU 201 that controls the overall operation of the transmission management system 50, a ROM 202 that stores a program used to drive the CPU 201 such as an IPL, a RAM 203 that is used as a work area for the CPU 201, and a transmission management program. HD 204 for storing data, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 205 for controlling reading or writing of various data to the HD 204 according to control of the CPU 201, media for controlling reading or writing (storage) of data to a recording medium 206 such as a flash memory Drive 207, display 208 for displaying various information such as a cursor, menu, window, character, or image, network I / F 209 for data transmission using communication network 2, character A keyboard 211 having a plurality of keys for inputting numerical values and various instructions, a mouse 212 for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, etc., and a CD as an example of a removable recording medium A CD-ROM drive 214 for controlling reading or writing of various data to / from a ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) 213, and an address for electrically connecting the above components as shown in FIG. A bus line 210 such as a bus or a data bus is provided.

  The transmission management program is a file in an installable or executable format, and may be recorded and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 206 or CD-ROM 213. . The transmission management program may be stored in the ROM 202 instead of the HD 204.

  Further, since the relay device 30 has the same hardware configuration as the transmission management system 50 described above, the description thereof is omitted. However, a relay device program for controlling the relay device 30 is recorded in the HD 204. Also in this case, the relay device program is a file in an installable or executable format, and is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 206 or CD-ROM 213 for distribution. Good. The relay device program may be stored in the ROM 202 instead of the HD 204.

  Further, since the program providing system 90 and the maintenance system 100 have the same hardware configuration as the transmission management system 50 described above, the description thereof is omitted. However, a program providing program for controlling the program providing system 90 is recorded in the HD 204. Also in this case, the program providing program is a file in an installable or executable format, and may be recorded and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 206 or the CD-ROM 213. Good. The program providing system program may be stored in the ROM 202 instead of the HD 204.

  As another example of the detachable recording medium, the recording medium is provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or a Blu-ray Disc. May be.

<< Functional Configuration of Embodiment >>
Next, the functional configuration of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of each terminal, device, and system constituting the transmission system 1 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, the transmission terminal 10, the relay device 30, and the transmission management system 50 are connected so that data communication can be performed via the communication network 2. Further, the program providing system 90 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted in FIG. 5 because it is not directly related to the video conference communication.

<Functional configuration of transmission terminal>
The transmission terminal 10 includes a transmission / reception unit 11, an operation input reception unit 12, a login request unit 13, an imaging unit 14, an audio input unit 15a, an audio output unit 15b, a final narrowing unit 16, a display control unit 17, a delay detection unit 18, A storage / reading processing unit 19, an input unit 20, a biometric information acquisition unit 21, an authentication unit 22, an administrator setting management unit 23 and a personal setting management unit 24 are included. Each of these units is a function realized by any one of the constituent elements shown in FIG. 3 operating according to a command from the CPU 101 according to the transmission terminal program expanded from the flash memory 104 onto the RAM 103, Or a functioning means. Further, the transmission terminal 10 has a storage unit 1000 constructed by the RAM 103 shown in FIG. 3 and the flash memory 104 shown in FIG.

(Personal authentication setting management table)
In the storage unit 1000, a personal authentication setting management DB (Data Base) 1001 configured by a personal authentication setting management table as shown in FIG. The personal authentication setting management table includes a personal ID assigned to each user, an authentication data name of authentication data representing characteristics of biometric information extracted from the biometric information of the user, a plurality of network settings, and network settings. Are associated with the language setting of the language used for display.

(Administrator setting information)
The storage unit 1000 also stores administrator setting information 1002. The administrator setting information represents the setting contents of the administrator setting that can be set only by the administrator of the transmission terminal 10. The administrator settings are set through a setting screen as illustrated in FIG. The administrator setting information includes the following settings, for example.
Whether or not the transmission terminal can be used only for users who have been successfully authenticated by biometric information. By enabling this setting, unauthorized use of the transmission terminal 10 by a user whose biometric information is not registered can be prevented.
-Whether or not to display a screen prompting the user who has not registered personal settings to perform personal settings after the conference is over. By enabling this setting, it is possible to prompt a user who has not registered personal settings to register settings.

(Functional configuration of transmission terminal)
Next, each functional configuration of the transmission terminal 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5. In the following, in describing each functional configuration of the transmission terminal 10, among the components illustrated in FIG. 3, the relationship with the main components for realizing the functional configurations of the transmission terminal 10 is also described. explain.

  The transmission / reception unit 11 of the transmission terminal 10 shown in FIG. 5 is realized by the command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3 and the network I / F 111 shown in FIG. Various data (or information) is transmitted / received to / from other transmission terminals, devices or systems. The transmission / reception unit 11 starts receiving state information indicating the state of each terminal as a destination candidate from the transmission management system 50 before starting a call with a desired destination transmission terminal. This status information includes not only the operating status (online or offline status) of each transmission terminal 10 but also whether online communication is possible, whether the call is in progress, or is off The detailed state of is shown. In addition, the status information includes not only the operating state of each transmission terminal 10, but also the cable 120c is disconnected from the transmission terminal 10 at the transmission terminal 10, outputs audio but does not output an image, or outputs no audio. Various states such as “MUTE” are shown. Below, the case where status information shows an operation state is demonstrated as an example.

  The operation input receiving unit 12 is realized by a command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3 and the operation buttons 108 and the power switch 109 shown in FIG. 3 and receives various inputs by the user. For example, when the user turns on the power switch 109 shown in FIG. 3, the operation input receiving unit 12 shown in FIG. 3 receives the power ON and turns on the power.

  The login request unit 13 is realized by a command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3, and requests the login from the transmission / reception unit 11 to the transmission management system 50 via the communication network 2 when receiving the power ON. The login request information indicating the fact and the current IP address of the request source terminal are automatically transmitted. When the user turns the power switch 109 from the ON state to the OFF state, the operation input receiving unit 12 completely turns off the power after the transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the state information indicating that the power is turned off to the transmission management system 50. To. Thereby, on the transmission management system 50 side, it is possible to grasp that the transmission terminal 10 is switched from the power ON to the power OFF.

  The imaging unit 14 is realized by a command from the CPU 101 illustrated in FIG. 3 and the camera 112 and the image sensor I / F 113 illustrated in FIG. 3. Output data.

  The voice input unit 15a is realized by the command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3 and the voice input / output I / F 116 shown in FIG. 3, and the user's voice is converted into a voice signal by the microphone 114. Thereafter, audio data relating to the audio signal is input.

  The audio output unit 15b is realized by the command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3 and the audio input / output I / F 116 shown in FIG. 3, and outputs an audio signal related to the audio data to the speaker. To output sound.

  The final narrowing unit 16 is realized by an instruction from the CPU 101 illustrated in FIG. 3, and performs a final narrowing process for finally narrowing down from a plurality of relay devices 30 to one relay device 30. The final narrowing unit 16 measures the reception date and time when the pre-transmission information is received by the transmission / reception unit 11 for each pre-transmission information described later received by the transmission / reception unit 11. Further, the final narrowing unit 16 determines, for each pre-transmission information whose reception date / time is measured, the pre-transmission information based on the difference between the measured reception time and the transmission date / time included in the pre-transmission information. The required time (T) from transmission to reception is calculated. In addition, the final narrowing unit 16 finally selects one relay device by selecting the relay device 30 to which the pre-transmission information that required the shortest required time is relayed among the calculated required times.

  The display control unit 17 is realized by the instruction from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3 and the display I / F 117 shown in FIG. 3. As will be described later, the received image data having different resolutions are combined. Control for transmitting the combined image data to the display 120 is performed. Further, the display control unit 17 can transmit the destination list information received from the transmission management system 50 to the display 120 and cause the display 120 to display the destination list. Further, the display control unit 17 can display the initial setting screen of the transmission terminal 10 on the display 120 in accordance with a user input operation. In addition, the display control unit 17 displays personal settings, setting screens related to administrator settings, and the like on the display 120 in response to instructions from the personal setting management unit 24 and the administrator setting management unit 23 described later. be able to.

  The delay detection unit 18 is realized by a command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3 and detects a delay time (ms) of image data or audio data sent from another terminal 10 via the relay device 30. .

  The storage / reading processing unit 19 is executed by the instruction from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3 and the SSD 105 shown in FIG. 3 or realized by the instruction from the CPU 101, and stores various data in the storage unit 1000. Processing for reading various data stored in the unit 1000 is performed. The storage unit 1000 stores a terminal ID (Identification) for identifying the transmission terminal 10, a password, and the like. The terminal ID may be stored in advance in the transmission terminal 10 or may be input to the transmission terminal 10 when the user of the transmission terminal 10 uses it. Furthermore, the storage unit 1000 overwrites and stores image data and audio data received when a call is made with the destination terminal. Among these, the image is displayed on the display 120 by the image data before being overwritten, and the sound is output from the speaker 150 by the sound data before being overwritten.

  Note that the terminal ID of this embodiment and a relay device ID described later indicate identification information such as a language, characters, symbols, or various signs used to uniquely identify the transmission terminal 10 and the relay device 30, respectively. Further, the terminal ID and the relay device ID may be identification information in which at least two of the language, characters, symbols, and various indicia are combined.

  The input unit 20 is realized by the operation button 108 illustrated in FIG. 3 and receives an operation input from an administrator or user of the transmission terminal 10.

  The biometric information acquisition unit 21 acquires biometric information for identifying a user, which is executed by the instruction from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3 and the camera 112, microphone 114, or biometric authentication device 119 shown in FIG. can do. The biometric information includes image information obtained by imaging the user's face, fingerprint, or vein shape, and audio information obtained by collecting the user's voice. For example, the biometric information acquisition unit 21 can acquire the biometric information of the user when the transmission terminal 10 is activated, when a predetermined button or the like is pressed, before the start of the conference, or during the execution of the conference. When the biometric information acquisition unit 21 acquires biometric information, the biometric information acquisition unit 21 may cause the display 120 to output a screen that prompts input of biometric information.

  The authentication unit 22 is realized by a command from the CPU 101 illustrated in FIG. 3, and authenticates the user using the user's biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 21. Specifically, the authentication unit 22 extracts the characteristics of the biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 21, and the authentication is successful when it can be regarded as matching with any of the authentication data indicated in the personal authentication setting management table. Judge that On the other hand, the authentication unit 22 determines that the authentication has failed when the extracted feature cannot be regarded as matching any authentication data.

  As a method for comparing / collating the feature extracted from the biometric information with the authentication data by the authentication unit 22, existing techniques such as face authentication, fingerprint authentication, vein authentication, or voiceprint authentication can be used. For example, the authentication data represents a feature extracted from the biometric information of the user acquired in advance, and the authentication unit 22 compares the feature extracted at the time of authentication with the feature indicated by the authentication data, and the degree of similarity. Can be considered to match if the value exceeds a certain threshold.

  The administrator setting management unit 23 is realized by a command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3, and after authenticating the administrator of the transmission terminal 10, accepts the setting from the administrator through the screen shown in FIG. 23, The contents of the setting are stored as administrator setting information 1002.

  More specifically, the administrator setting management unit 23 is illustrated in FIG. 22 when “setting for administrator” is selected on the initial setting screen displayed on the transmission terminal 10 illustrated in FIG. The administrator password input screen is output. Upon receiving the password input, the administrator setting management unit 23 transmits the terminal ID of the transmission terminal 10 and the input password to the transmission management system 50 via the communication network 2. When the administrator setting management unit 23 receives the result indicating that the authentication is successful, the administrator setting management unit 23 outputs the administrator setting screen of FIG. Thereafter, when the “save” button is selected on the administrator setting screen of FIG. 23, the administrator setting management unit 23 stores the contents as 0 administrator setting information 1002 in the storage unit 100. It is assumed that the terminal ID and the administrator password are registered in the transmission management system 50 in advance.

  The personal setting management unit 24 is realized by a command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 3, and includes a registration receiving unit 241, a personal ID acquisition unit 242, a personal ID specifying unit 243, a personal setting reading unit 244, a personal A setting application unit 245 and a destination list acquisition unit 246 are further included. The personal setting management unit 24 manages personal settings of a user who uses the transmission terminal 10.

  The registration accepting unit 241 accepts registration of personal settings of the user of the transmission terminal 10. When “personal setting” is selected on the initial setting screen displayed on the transmission terminal 10 illustrated in FIG. 15, the registration receiving unit 241 outputs the biometric information acquisition screen illustrated in FIG. 16. . In the example of FIG. 16, the user's biometric information is image information of the user's face. When acquiring the biometric information, the registration receiving unit 241 stores data representing the characteristics of the biometric information extracted from the biometric information in the storage unit 1000 as authentication data.

  The registration receiving unit 241 acquires a personal ID through a personal ID acquisition unit 242 described later.

  Further, the registration receiving unit 241 displays the information display screen illustrated in FIG. 17 and then outputs the network setting screen illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the user can set different network settings as, for example, “setting 1” to “setting 5”. Network settings include, for example, location name, wired / wireless type, manual / automatic setting of IP address setting, IP address, subnet mask (in the case of manual setting), default gateway, DNS server manual / Includes automatic settings and proxy settings. The network setting may include a setting as to whether or not the setting is handled as a default setting.

  Although not illustrated in FIG. 19, the registration receiving unit 241 receives display language settings for messages output from the transmission terminal 10, screen display settings such as font and brightness, user profile settings, and the like. Also good. The registration receiving unit 241 can store these settings by adding a new column to the personal authentication setting management table illustrated in FIG.

  When the setting by the user is completed, the registration receiving unit 241 uses the acquired personal ID, the authentication data name (for example, the file name) for specifying the authentication data described above, and the set network setting as the individual. Store in the authentication setting table. And the registration reception part 241 outputs a setting completion screen so that it may be illustrated in FIG.

  The personal ID acquisition unit 242 requests the transmission management system 50 to issue a personal ID via the communication network 2 in response to a request from the registration reception unit 241. Then, the personal ID acquisition unit 242 passes the personal ID acquired from the transmission management system 50 to the registration reception unit 241.

  The personal ID specifying unit 243 specifies the personal ID of the user who is using the transmission terminal 10. The personal ID specifying unit 243 can specify the user's personal ID by causing the authentication unit 22 described above to authenticate the user's biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquiring unit 21.

  The personal setting reading unit 244 reads personal settings (that is, network settings, language settings, etc.) associated with the personal ID specified by the personal ID specifying unit 243.

  The personal setting application unit 245 applies the setting read by the personal setting reading unit 244 to the transmission terminal 10.

  After the transmission terminal 10 is connected to the transmission management system 50, the destination list acquisition unit 246 receives a destination list corresponding to the personal ID of the user being used (that is, a list of terminal IDs of transmission terminals that are candidates for connection). Is acquired from the transmission management system 50. The destination list acquisition unit 246 can also output the acquired destination list via the display control unit 17. An example of the output screen of the destination list is shown in FIG.

<Functional configuration of relay device>
The relay device 30 includes a transmission / reception unit 31, a state detection unit 32, a data quality confirmation unit 33, a change quality management unit 34, a data quality change unit 35, and a storage / read processing unit 39. Each of these units functions or functions realized by any of the constituent elements shown in FIG. 4 operating according to instructions from the CPU 201 according to the relay device program expanded from the HD 204 onto the RAM 203. Means. The relay device 30 includes a storage unit 3000 configured by the RAM 203 illustrated in FIG. 4 and / or the HD 204 illustrated in FIG.

(Change quality control table)
In the storage unit 3000, a change quality management DB (Data Base) 3001 configured by a change quality management table as shown in FIG. In the change quality management table, the IP address of the terminal 10 as the relay destination (destination) of the image data and the image quality of the image data relayed by the relay device 30 are associated with the relay destination and managed.

(Each functional configuration of the relay device)
Next, each functional configuration of the relay device 30 will be described in detail. In the following description, in describing each functional configuration of the relay device 30, among the components illustrated in FIG. 4, the relationship with the main components for realizing each functional configuration of the relay device 30 is also described. explain.

  The transmission / reception unit 31 of the relay device 30 shown in FIG. 5 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4 and the network I / F 209 shown in FIG. Various data (or information) is transmitted / received to / from other terminals, devices or systems.

  The state detection unit 32 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 illustrated in FIG. 4, and detects the operating state of the relay device 30 having the state detection unit 32. The operating state includes “online”, “offline”, “busy”, or “temporarily interrupted”.

  The data quality confirmation unit 33 is realized by an instruction from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4, searches the change quality management DB 3001 using the IP address of the destination terminal as a search key, and determines the image quality of the corresponding relayed image data. By extracting, the image quality of the relayed image data is confirmed.

  The change quality management unit 34 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4 and changes the contents of the change quality management DB 3001 based on quality information to be described later sent from the management system 50. For example, by transmitting and receiving high-quality image data between a request source terminal (transmission terminal 10aa) whose terminal ID is “01aa” and a destination terminal (transmission terminal 10db) whose terminal ID is “01db”, While the conference is being performed, the request source terminal (transmission terminal 10bb) and the destination terminal (transmission terminal 10ca) that perform another video conference start the video conference via the communication network 2 or the like. When a delay in receiving image data occurs in the transmission terminal 10db), the relay device 30 lowers the image quality of the image data relayed up to now from high image quality to medium image quality. In such a case, the content of the change quality management DB 3001 is changed so as to lower the image quality of the image data relayed by the relay device 30 from the high image quality to the medium image quality based on the quality information indicating the medium image quality.

  The data quality changing unit 35 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4, and the image quality of the image data sent from the transmission source terminal is determined based on the contents of the changed change quality management DB 3001. change.

  The storage / reading processing unit 39 is realized by the instruction from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4 and the HDD 205 shown in FIG. 4, and stores various data in the storage unit 3000 or stored in the storage unit 3000. To read various data.

<Functional configuration of transmission management system>
The transmission management system 50 includes a transmission / reception unit 51, a transmission terminal authentication unit 52, a state management unit 53, a transmission terminal extraction unit 54, a terminal state acquisition unit 55, a primary narrowing unit 56, a session management unit 57, a quality determination unit 58, a storage A read processing unit 59, a delay time management unit 60, a personal ID issuing unit 61, a destination list registration receiving unit 62, and an administrator authentication unit 63 are provided. Each of these units functions or functions realized by any one of the components shown in FIG. 4 operating according to a command from the CPU 201 according to the management system program expanded from the HD 204 onto the RAM 203. Means. The management system 50 also has a storage unit 5000 constructed by the HD 204 shown in FIG.

(Relay device management table)
In the storage unit 5000, a relay device management DB 5001 configured by a relay device management table as shown in FIG. 28 is constructed. In this relay device management table, for each relay device ID of each relay device 30, the operating status of each relay device 30, the date and time when the transmission management system 50 received the status information indicating the operating status, the IP of the relay device 30 The address and the maximum data transmission rate (Mbps) in the relay device 30 are managed in association with each other. For example, in the relay device management table shown in FIG. 28, the relay device 30a whose relay device ID is “111a” has an “operating state” of “online” and the date and time when the status information was received by the management system 50 is “2009”. "November 10, 13:00" indicates that the IP address of this relay device 30a is "1.2.1.2" and that the maximum data transmission rate in this relay device 30a is 100 Mbps. Yes.

(Terminal authentication management table)
Furthermore, in the storage unit 5000, a terminal authentication management DB 5002 configured by a terminal authentication management table as shown in FIG. 29 is constructed. In this terminal authentication management table, each password is associated with each terminal ID of all transmission terminals 10 managed by the transmission management system 50 and managed. For example, the terminal authentication management table shown in FIG. 29 indicates that the terminal ID of the transmission terminal 10aa is “01aa” and the password is “aaaa”.

(Transmission terminal management table)
In the storage unit 5000, a transmission terminal management DB 5003 configured by a transmission terminal management table as shown in FIG. 30 is constructed. In this transmission terminal management table, for each terminal ID of each transmission terminal 10, the transmission management system 50 receives a destination name when each transmission terminal 10 is a destination, an operating state of each transmission terminal 10, and login request information described later. The received date and time and the IP address of the transmission terminal 10 are associated and managed. For example, in the transmission terminal management table shown in FIG. 30, the transmission terminal 10aa with the terminal ID “01aa” has the terminal name “Japan Tokyo Office AA terminal” and the operation state “online (call possible)”. The date and time when the login request information is received by the management system 50 is “13:40 on November 10, 2009”, and the IP address of this transmission terminal 10aa is “1.2.1.3”. It is shown.

(Destination list management table)
Further, in the storage unit 5000, a destination list management DB 5004 configured by a destination list management table as shown in FIG. 6 is constructed. In this destination list management table, the terminal ID of the destination terminal registered as a destination terminal candidate is associated with the personal ID assigned to the user of the request source terminal that requests the start of a call in a video conference. Is done. For example, in the destination list management table shown in FIG. 6, an example of a destination terminal candidate that can request the start of a call in a video conference from a user whose personal ID is “00001” is as follows. .
-Transmission terminal 10ab whose terminal ID is "01ab"
-Transmission terminal 10ba whose terminal ID is "01ba"
-Transmission terminal 10bb whose terminal ID is "01bb"
-Transmission terminal 10ca whose terminal ID is "01ca"
-Transmission terminal 10cb whose terminal ID is "01cb"
-Transmission terminal 10da whose terminal ID is "01da"
-Transmission terminal 10db whose terminal ID is "01db"
The destination terminal candidate is updated in response to a registration or deletion request from the user, for example, via the Web.

(Session management table)
In the storage unit 5000, a session management DB 5005 configured by a session management table as shown in FIG. 31 is constructed. In this session management table, for each selection session ID used to execute a session for selecting the relay device 30, the relay device ID of the relay device 30 used for relaying image data and audio data, the request source terminal Management system that receives a terminal ID, a terminal ID of the destination terminal, a reception delay time (ms) when image data is received at the destination terminal, and delay information indicating the delay time from the destination terminal The reception date and time received at 50 is managed in association with each other. For example, in the session management table shown in FIG. 31, the relay device 30a (relay device ID “111a”) selected in the session executed using the selection session ID “se1” has the terminal ID “01aa”. Between the request source terminal (transmission terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (transmission terminal 10db) whose terminal ID is “01db”, and the destination terminal (transmission terminal 10db) It is indicated that the delay time of the image data is “200 (ms)” at “14:00 on November 10, 2009”. When a video conference is performed between the two transmission terminals 10, the reception date and time of the delay information may be managed based on the delay information transmitted from the request source terminal instead of the destination terminal. However, when a video conference is performed between three or more transmission terminals 10, the reception date and time of delay information is managed based on the delay information transmitted from the transmission terminal 10 on the receiving side of image data and audio data. To do.

(Address priority management table)
Furthermore, in the storage unit 5000, a priority management DB 5006 configured by an address priority management table as shown in FIG. 32 is constructed. In this address priority management table, in any transmission terminal 10 and any relay device 30, the more “same” in the four dot address (Dot Address) portions of the general IPv4 IP addresses, the more the address The difference between the dot addresses and the address priority are managed in association with each other so that the priority point becomes higher. This “same” means that the dot address portions are the same, and “different” means that the dot address portions are different. For example, in the address priority management table shown in FIG. 32, when the three values are the same IP address from the top to the bottom of the dot address, the address priority point is “5”. When the two values are the same IP address from the top to the bottom of the dot address, the address priority point is “3”. In this case, whether the value of the lowest dot address is the same or not is not related to the priority. In the case of IP addresses having the same highest value of dot addresses and different second values from the top, the address priority point is “1”. In this case, whether or not the values of the third and lowest dot addresses from the top are the same has no relation to the priority. In the case of IP addresses having different uppermost values of dot addresses, the address priority point is “0”. In this case, whether or not the values of the second, third, and lowest dot addresses from the top are the same has no relation to the priority.

(Transmission speed priority management table)
The priority management DB 5006 built in the storage unit 5000 also includes a transmission rate priority management table as shown in FIG. In this transmission rate priority management table, the maximum data transmission rate and the transmission rate priority are set such that the higher the maximum data transmission rate (Mbps) value in the relay device 30, the higher the transmission rate priority point. Associated and managed. For example, in the transmission rate priority management table shown in FIG. 33, when the maximum data transmission rate in the relay apparatus 30 is 1000 Mbps or more, the transmission rate priority point is “5”. When the maximum data transmission rate in the relay device 30 is 100 Mbps or more and less than 1000 Mbps, the transmission rate priority point is “3”. When the maximum data transmission rate in the relay device 30 is 10 Mbps or more and less than 100 Mbps, the transmission rate priority point is “1”. When the maximum data transmission rate in the relay device 30 is less than 10 Mbps, the transmission rate priority point is “0”.

(Quality control table)
Furthermore, in the storage unit 5000, a quality management DB 5007 configured by a quality management table as shown in FIG. 34 is constructed. In this quality management table, the longer the delay time (ms) of the image data at the requesting terminal or the destination terminal, the lower the image data delay time and the image data quality so that the image quality of the image data relayed by the relay device 30 is lowered. (Image quality) and are managed in association with each other.

(Administrator password management table)
In the storage unit 5000, an administrator password management DB 5008 configured by an administrator password management table as shown in FIG. 8 is constructed. In this administrator password management table, a transmission terminal ID and an administrator password preset for the transmission terminal ID are managed in association with each other.

(Functional configuration of the management system)
Next, each functional configuration of the transmission management system 50 will be described in detail. In the following, in describing each functional configuration of the transmission management system 50, among the components shown in FIG. 4, the relationship with the main components for realizing each functional configuration of the management system 50 Also explained.

  The transmission / reception unit 51 is executed by the instruction from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4 and the network I / F 209 shown in FIG. Or information).

  The transmission terminal authentication unit 52 is realized by a command from the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 4, and uses a terminal ID and password included in the login request information received via the transmission / reception unit 51 as a search key, as a storage unit The terminal authentication is performed by searching the 5000 terminal authentication management DB 5002 and determining whether the same terminal ID and password are managed in the terminal authentication management DB 5002.

  The state management unit 53 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4, and this request source is stored in the transmission terminal management DB 5003 (see FIG. 30) in order to manage the operating state of the request source terminal that has requested login. The terminal ID of the terminal, the operation state of the request source terminal, the reception date and time when the login request information is received by the management system 50, and the IP address of the request source terminal are stored and managed in association with each other. Further, the state management unit 53 sets the power switch 109 of the transmission terminal 10 from the ON state to the OFF state, so that the state management unit 53 transmits the power supply OFF state information sent from the transmission terminal 10 to The operating state indicating online in the transmission terminal management DB 5003 (see FIG. 30) is changed to offline.

  The transmission terminal extraction unit 54 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4 and searches the destination list management DB 5004 (see FIG. 6) using the terminal ID of the request source terminal that requested the login as a key. A terminal ID is extracted by reading out terminal IDs of candidate destination terminals that can talk to the terminal. Further, the transmission terminal extraction unit 54 searches the destination list management DB 5004 (see FIG. 6) using the terminal ID of the request source terminal that requested the login as a key, and registers the terminal ID of the request source terminal as a destination terminal candidate. The terminal IDs of the other request source terminals are also extracted.

  The terminal status acquisition unit 55 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4 and uses the terminal ID of the destination terminal candidate extracted by the transmission terminal extraction unit 54 as a search key, as a transmission terminal management DB 5003 (FIG. 30) and the operating state is read for each terminal ID extracted by the transmission terminal extracting unit 54. Thereby, the terminal state acquisition unit 55 can acquire the operating state of the candidate destination terminal that can make a call with the request source terminal that has requested the login. Further, the terminal state acquisition unit 55 searches the transmission terminal management DB 5003 using the terminal ID extracted by the transmission terminal extraction unit 54 as a search key, and also acquires the operating state of the request source terminal that has requested login.

  The primary narrowing-down unit 56 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4, and this final narrowing-down process is performed in order to support a final narrowing-down process that finally narrows down from a plurality of relay apparatuses 30 to one relay apparatus 30. Perform the previous primary narrowing process.

  The primary screening unit 56 generates a selection session ID used for executing a session for selecting the relay device 30. Further, the primary narrowing-down unit 56 transmits the transmission terminal management DB 5003 (see FIG. 30) based on the terminal ID of the request source terminal and the terminal ID of the destination terminal included in the start request information transmitted from the request source terminal. ) Is extracted, the corresponding IP address of each transmission terminal 10 is extracted. Further, the primary screening unit 56 selects the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose operation state is “online” from among the relay devices 30 managed by the relay device management DB 5001 (see FIG. 28). Thus, the relay device 30 is selected.

  Further, the primary screening unit 56 searches the relay device management DB 5001 (see FIG. 28) based on the extracted IP address of the request source terminal and the IP address of the destination terminal, thereby selecting the relay device selected above. For each dot address of 30 IP addresses, it is investigated whether it is the same or different from each dot address in each IP address of the request source terminal and destination terminal. Further, the primary narrowing-down unit 56, for each relay device, of the upper two points having the higher points of the integrated points obtained by integrating the higher points with respect to the transmission terminal 10 at the address priority points and the transmission speed priority points. By selecting the relay device 30, the relay device 30 is further selected. In the present embodiment, the top two relay devices 30 with high points are selected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If one relay device 30 can be narrowed down as many as possible, the top points with high points are selected. Three or more relay devices 30 may be selected.

  Further, the primary narrowing-down unit 56 refers to the priority management DB 5006 (see FIG. 33) and determines an address priority point for each investigated relay device 30. Further, the primary narrowing-down unit 56 searches the priority management DB 5006 (see FIG. 32) based on the maximum data transmission rate of each relay device 30 managed in the relay device management DB 5001 (see FIG. 28). The transmission speed priority point is determined for each relay device 30 narrowed down by the first narrowing-down process.

  Subsequently, the session management unit 57 is realized by an instruction from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4, and the selection session generated by the primary narrowing-down unit 56 is stored in the session management DB 5005 (see FIG. 31) of the storage unit 5000. The ID, the terminal ID of the request source terminal, and the terminal ID of the destination terminal are associated and stored and managed. Further, the session management unit 57 relays the relay device 30 finally selected by the final selection unit 16c of the transmission terminal 10 for each selection session ID with respect to the session management DB 5005 (see FIG. 31). Store and manage device IDs.

  The quality determination unit 58 is realized by an instruction from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4, and searches the quality management DB 5007 (see FIG. 34) using the delay time as a search key to extract the image quality of the corresponding image data. Thus, the image quality of the image data to be relayed to the relay device 30 is determined.

  The storage / reading processing unit 59 is executed by the command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4 and the HDD 205 shown in FIG. 4, and stores various data in the storage unit 5000 or stored in the storage unit 5000. To read various data.

  The delay time management unit 60 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4 and corresponds by searching the transmission terminal management DB 5003 (see FIG. 30) using the IP address of the destination terminal as a search key. The terminal ID is extracted, and in the session management table of the session management DB 5005 (see FIG. 31), the delay time indicated by the delay information is added to the delay time field in the record including the extracted terminal ID. Remember and manage.

  The personal ID issuing unit 61 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 illustrated in FIG. 4, and issues a personal ID in response to a request from the personal ID acquisition unit 242 of the transmission terminal 10. The personal ID issuing unit 61 creates a new personal ID entry in the destination list management table in response to a new personal ID being issued.

  The destination list registration accepting unit 62 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 4 and accepts registration of transmission terminal IDs constituting the destination list through the Web or the like. The destination list registration accepting unit 62 accepts input of the terminal ID of a transmission terminal that is a destination candidate through a browser setting screen as exemplified in FIG. 25, for example. At this time, the destination list registration receiving unit 62 may request input of a personal ID before displaying the screen of FIG. The destination list registration receiving unit 62 stores the input personal ID and the terminal ID of the designated transmission terminal in the destination list management table.

  The administrator authentication unit 63 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 illustrated in FIG. 4 and authenticates the administrator of the transmission terminal 10. Specifically, the administrator authentication unit 63 receives the terminal ID and password of the transmission terminal 10 from the administrator setting management unit 23 of the transmission terminal 10, and the combination is stored in the administrator password management table. Check the combination and correctness. Then, when the combination of the terminal ID and the password is correct, the administrator authentication unit 63 determines that the authentication is successful, and passes the authentication result indicating the successful authentication to the administrator setting management unit 23 of the transmission terminal 10. Otherwise, the authentication result of the authentication failure is passed to the administrator setting management unit 23 of the transmission terminal 10.

<< Processing or Operation of Embodiment >>
Next, processing flows and operation examples of the transmission terminal 10 and the transmission management system 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

<< Personal setting registration process >>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing in which the transmission terminal 10 accepts registration of personal settings by a certain user.

  First, when the transmission terminal 10 is activated, the login request unit 13 makes a login request by transmitting the terminal ID and password of the transmission terminal 10 to the transmission management system 50 (step S101). . After the login request is accepted, the user operates the transmission terminal 10 and opens the initial setting screen illustrated in FIG.

  The registration accepting unit 241 accepts selection input of a personal setting button on the initial setting screen illustrated in FIG. 15 (step S102). Next, the registration receiving unit 241 displays a biometric information acquisition screen illustrated in FIG. 16 and acquires the biometric information of the user through the biometric information acquisition unit 21 (step S103). As described above, the biological information is, for example, image information such as a face or a fingerprint or voice information by voice.

  Next, the registration receiving unit 241 determines whether the authentication unit 22 has succeeded in authentication using the biometric information acquired in Step S103 (Step S104). If the authentication fails, that is, if the user has not made personal settings (NO in step S104), the registration reception unit 241 causes the personal ID acquisition unit 242 to acquire a personal ID (step S105). Then, the registration receiving unit 241 outputs a setting input screen illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 and receives a setting input (step S106). On the other hand, when the authentication is successful, that is, when the user has already completed the personal setting (YES in step S104), the registration receiving unit 241 outputs FIG. 18 or 19 and inputs the setting from the user. Is accepted (step S106).

  Next, when the setting by the user is completed, the registration receiving unit 241 completes the personal ID, the authentication data name of the authentication data that is data representing the characteristics extracted from the biometric information acquired in step S103, and the input setting. Are stored in the personal authentication setting table (step S107).

<< Personal setting application process >>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process in which the transmission terminal 10 applies the user's personal settings and displays the user's destination list.

  First, after the transmission terminal 10 is activated, the authentication unit 22 performs authentication using the user's biometric information acquired through the biometric information acquisition unit 21 (step S201). Next, the personal ID specifying unit 243 specifies the personal ID of the authenticated user by the authentication in step S201 (step S202). Next, the personal setting reading unit 244 reads the setting associated with the specified personal ID by referring to the personal authentication setting management table (step S203). Then, the personal setting application unit 245 reflects the read setting on the transmission terminal 10 (step S204).

  Next, the login request unit 13 makes a login request by transmitting the terminal ID and password of the transmission terminal 10 to the transmission management system 50 (step S205). When the login request is accepted, the destination list acquisition unit 246 transmits the personal ID to the transmission management system 50 and requests the destination list (step S206). Next, the destination list acquisition unit 246 acquires the destination list transmitted from the transmission management system 50 (step S207). Then, the destination list acquisition unit 246 outputs, for example, the screen illustrated in FIG. 26 and displays the destination list (step S208).

<< Personal setting registration inquiry process >>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the transmission terminal 10 prompts registration of personal settings after the conference ends. Here, the processing flow is started from a state in which a conference is being executed on the transmission terminal 10.

  First, during the execution of the conference, the registration reception unit 241 acquires the user's biometric information through the biometric information acquisition unit 21 (step S301). For example, when the biometric information is an image of the user's face, the image of the user's face can be acquired from the image captured as the conference screen. Next, the registration receiving unit 241 determines whether the authentication unit 22 has succeeded in authentication using the biometric information acquired in Step S301 (Step S302). Here, if it is determined that the authentication has been successful, that is, if the user has made personal settings, the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the authentication has failed, that is, if the user has not made personal settings (NO in step S302), the registration receiving unit 241 determines whether the conference has ended (step S303). If the registration accepting unit 241 determines that the conference has ended (YES in step S303), the registration accepting unit 241 displays an inquiry screen as shown in FIG. 24 for inquiring whether to register personal settings (step S304). On the other hand, if the registration receiving unit 241 determines that the conference has not ended (NO in step S303), the registration receiving unit 241 returns to step S301.

  After displaying the inquiry screen, the registration accepting unit 241 determines whether or not an input to the user for personal setting (pressing the “Yes” button in FIG. 24) has been accepted from the user (step S305). If it is determined that an input for personal setting is not accepted (NO in step S305), the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the input for performing the personal setting is accepted (YES in step S305), the personal ID is acquired, the setting input is accepted, and the personal authentication setting registration is performed in the same manner as in steps S105 to S107 in FIG. (Steps S306-S308).

<< Operation example of the entire system >>
Next, an operation example of the entire system corresponding to the above-described processing of FIGS. 9 to 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, a specific example will be described using an example in which a user who has not performed personal settings uses the transmission terminal 10aa (terminal ID “01aa”).

<< Personal setting registration action >>
First, an operation example of the entire system related to the personal setting registration process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when the input unit 20 accepts a user power-on operation, the power of the transmission terminal 10aa is turned on (step S401). When the transmission terminal 10aa is activated, the login request unit 13 of the transmission terminal 10aa makes a login request to the transmission management system 50 through the communication network 2 (step S402). At this time, the login request unit 13 transmits the terminal ID “01aa” of the transmission terminal 10aa and the password “aaaa” to the transmission management system 50 together with the login request. Also, the transmission management system 50 is notified of the IP address of the transmission terminal 10aa.

  The transmission terminal authentication unit 52 of the transmission management system 50 authenticates the transmission terminal 10aa using the combination of the terminal ID and password of the transmission terminal 10aa received together with the login request (step S403). Here, since the combination of the terminal ID “01aa” of the transmission terminal 10aa and the password “aaaa” is registered in the transmission terminal authentication management table (FIG. 29), the transmission terminal authentication unit 52 has succeeded in the authentication. Judge.

  Next, the state management unit 53 of the transmission management system 50 sets the “operation state” of the entry whose terminal ID is “01aa” in the transmission terminal management table (FIG. 30) to “ON line (call possible)”. (Step S404). Then, the transmission terminal authentication unit 52 of the transmission management system 50 transmits authentication result information indicating that the authentication is successful to the transmission terminal 10aa (step S405).

  After the login request is accepted, the user operates the transmission terminal 10 and opens the initial setting screen illustrated in FIG.

  The registration accepting unit 241 of the transmission terminal 10aa accepts selection input of a personal setting button on the initial setting screen illustrated in FIG. 15 (step S406). Next, the registration receiving unit 241 displays a biometric information acquisition screen illustrated in FIG. 16 and acquires the biometric information of the user through the biometric information acquisition unit 21 (step S407). Here, it is assumed that the biological information acquisition unit 21 acquires an image of the user's face through the camera 112 and the image sensor 113.

  Next, the registration reception unit 241 of the transmission terminal 10aa determines that the authentication unit 22 has failed to authenticate using the acquired face image of the user (that is, the user has not made personal settings), and receives the registration. The unit 241 instructs the personal ID acquisition unit 242 to acquire a personal ID. In response, the personal ID acquisition unit 242 transmits a personal ID issue request to the transmission management system 50 (step S408). The personal ID issuing unit 61 of the transmission management system 50 issues a new personal ID “00001” (step S409) (here, it is assumed that the personal ID “00001” has not been issued so far).

The personal ID acquisition unit 242 of the transmission terminal 10aa acquires the personal ID “00001” transmitted from the transmission management system 50 (step S410). Next, the registration receiving unit 241 outputs a setting input screen illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 and receives a setting input (step S411). When the input is completed, the registration receiving unit 241 stores the following information in the personal authentication setting management table (FIG. 7).
-The personal ID “00001” acquired in step S410
-Data name “00001a.jpg” of authentication data generated by extracting features from the face image acquired in step S407
-Settings entered by the user (Network settings 1 and 2, network setting number and language used as default)
Thereafter, the personal ID issuing unit 61 of the transmission management system 50 registers the entry of the personal ID issued in step S409 in the destination list management table (FIG. 6) (step S413). The user who acquired the personal ID can register or edit the destination list through the screen of the Web browser exemplified in FIG.

  Next, it is assumed that the user operates the transmission terminal 10 and opens the initial setting screen illustrated in FIG. 15 again.

  The administrator setting management unit 23 of the transmission terminal 10aa accepts an input of the “manager setting” button on the initial setting screen displayed on the transmission terminal 10 illustrated in FIG. 15 (step S414). Next, the administrator setting management unit 23 receives an input of the administrator password “XXXXXXXXXX” from the user (step S415). The administrator authentication unit 63 of the transmission management system 50 receives the input administrator password and the terminal ID “01aa” of the transmission terminal 10aa, and performs authentication using the administrator password management table (step S416).

  When the administrator setting management unit 23 receives the result indicating that the authentication is successful from the transmission management system 50, the administrator setting management unit 23 outputs the administrator setting screen of FIG. 23 and receives the setting input from the user (step S417). Then, when the “save” button is selected on the administrator setting screen of FIG. 23, the administrator setting management unit 23 stores the content as 0 setting information 1002 for the administrator in the storage unit 100 (step S102). S418).

<< Personal setting application action >>
Next, an operation example of the entire system related to the personal setting application process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when the input unit 20 accepts a user power-on operation, the power of the transmission terminal 10aa is turned on (step S501). When the transmission terminal 10aa is activated, the authentication unit 22 includes the image of the user's face (extracted features) acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 21 and the authentication data name in the personal authentication setting management table (FIG. 7). The authentication data shown is collated to authenticate the user (step S502). The personal setting application unit 245 applies the personal setting corresponding to the personal ID “00001” of the user specified by the authentication to the transmission terminal 10aa (step S503).

  Next, the login request unit 13 of the transmission terminal 10aa makes a login request to the transmission management system 50 through the communication network 2 (step S504). At this time, the login request unit 13 transmits the terminal ID “01aa” of the transmission terminal 10aa and the password “aaaa” to the transmission management system 50 together with the login request. Also, the transmission management system 50 is notified of the IP address of the transmission terminal 10aa.

  The transmission terminal authentication unit 52 of the transmission management system 50 authenticates the transmission terminal 10aa using the combination of the terminal ID and password of the transmission terminal 10aa received together with the login request (step S505). Here, since the combination of the terminal ID “01aa” of the transmission terminal 10aa and the password “aaaa” is registered in the transmission terminal authentication management table (FIG. 29), the transmission terminal authentication unit 52 has succeeded in the authentication. Judge.

  Next, the state management unit 53 of the transmission management system 50 sets the “operation state” of the entry whose terminal ID is “01aa” in the transmission terminal management table (FIG. 30) to “ON line (call possible)”. (Step S506). Then, the transmission terminal authentication unit 52 of the transmission management system 50 transmits authentication result information indicating that the authentication has been successful to the transmission terminal 10aa (step S507).

  Next, the destination list acquisition unit 246 of the transmission terminal 10aa notifies the transmission management system 50 of the personal ID “00001” and requests a destination list (step S508). The transmission terminal extraction unit 54 of the transmission management system 50 searches the destination list management table (FIG. 6) using the personal ID as a key, and extracts the terminal ID of the destination terminal (step S509). Here, the destination terminal IDs “01ab, 01ba, 01bb” and the like are extracted. Then, the transmission terminal extraction unit 54 transmits the extracted terminal ID of the destination terminal and the destination name (described in the transmission terminal management table of FIG. 30) corresponding to each terminal ID to the transmission terminal 10aa as a destination list. (Step S510).

  The destination list acquisition unit 246 of the transmission terminal 10aa receives the destination list (step S511). Then, the destination list acquisition unit 246 stores the received destination list in the storage unit (step S512).

  On the other hand, the terminal state acquisition unit 55 of the transmission management system 50 acquires the operation state of the destination terminal extracted in step S509 from the transmission terminal management table (FIG. 30) (step S513). Then, the terminal state acquisition unit 55 transmits the terminal ID of the destination terminal and the acquired operating state to the transmission terminal 10aa (step S514).

  The destination list acquisition unit 246 of the transmission terminal 10aa receives the terminal ID of the destination terminal and the acquired operating state (step S515). Next, the destination list acquisition unit 246 stores the received terminal ID of the destination terminal and the acquired operating state in the storage unit 1000 (step S516). Then, the destination list acquisition unit 246 displays the terminal ID, name, and operating state of the destination terminal using the screen illustrated in FIG. 26 (step S517).

  Note that if the setting “validate the use of the transmission terminal only for users who have been successfully authenticated by biometric information” is enabled by the administrator in advance, when the authentication in step S502 fails, the transmission terminal 10aa The connection to the transmission management system 50 may not be performed. Further, when the authentication fails, the transmission terminal 10aa further restricts the function (for example, turns off the power, disconnects the network connection, disables a specific function, or operates until the authentication is successful). May be prohibited).

  In the operation example shown in FIG. 13, the user is authenticated immediately after the transmission terminal 10aa is turned on. For example, after the login request of the transmission terminal 10aa is successful (for example, step S507). After).

<< Personal setting registration inquiry action >>
Next, an operation example of the entire system related to the personal setting registration inquiry process will be described with reference to FIG. This operation example will be described on the assumption that a user who does not have a personal ID and has not made personal settings is currently performing a conference using the transmission terminal 10aa.

  First, during the execution of the conference, the authentication unit 22 indicates the image of the user's face (extracted features) acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 21 and the authentication data name in the personal authentication setting management table (FIG. 7). The user is authenticated by collating the authentication data (step S601). Here, the authentication fails because the authentication data having the characteristics matching the user's face image is not registered. Next, the conference is terminated by the user's operation (step S602).

  When the conference ends, the registration receiving unit 241 displays an inquiry screen as shown in FIG. 24 for inquiring whether to register personal settings (step S603). Next, the registration receiving unit 241 receives an input for performing personal setting (step S604).

  Thereafter, the user's personal ID is issued and settings are registered by the same operation as steps S408-S413 in FIG. 12 (steps S605-S610).

  It should be noted that the inquiry screen in step S603 is effective when a setting “display a screen for prompting a user who has not registered personal settings after the conference is finished to perform personal settings” by the administrator in advance is effective. May only be displayed.

<< Main effects of this embodiment >>
The transmission terminal 10 in the present embodiment can identify a registered user by using biometric information after the transmission terminal 10 is activated, and can automatically reflect personal settings registered in advance by the user. . In addition, the transmission terminal 10 can display a destination list that is registered in advance by the user and is a candidate for the destination, and can easily identify a destination terminal that the user frequently uses. Furthermore, the transmission terminal 10 can prevent the unauthorized user from using the transmission terminal by authenticating the user using the biological information.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmission system 2 Communication network 10 Transmission terminal 11 Transmission / reception part 12 Operation input reception part 13 Login request part 14 Imaging part 15a Audio | voice input part 15b Audio | voice output part 16 Final narrowing down part 17 Display control part 18 Delay detection part 19 Storage | reading process Unit 20 Input unit 21 Biometric information acquisition unit 22 Authentication unit 23 Administrator setting management unit 24 Personal setting management unit 30 Relay device 50 Transmission management system 50
61 Personal ID issuing unit 62 Destination list registration receiving unit 63 Administrator authentication unit 241 Registration receiving unit 242 Personal ID acquisition unit 243 Personal ID identification unit 244 Personal setting reading unit 245 Personal setting application unit 246 Destination list acquisition unit 1000 Storage unit 1001 Individual Authentication setting management DB
1002 Administrator setting information 5000 Storage unit 5008 Administrator password management DB

JP 2004-94736 A

Claims (11)

A transmission terminal for transmitting images or sounds,
A first acquisition unit for acquiring user biometric information;
A specifying unit that specifies identification information of the user associated with the acquired biological information;
A reading unit that reads first setting information used when the transmission terminal associated with the identified identification information is connected to a network;
A setting unit configured to set the network setting of the transmission terminal using the read first setting information;
A transmission terminal. The transmission terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: a second acquisition unit configured to acquire terminal information of another transmission terminal capable of communicating with the transmission terminal, which is associated with the identified identification information. The second acquisition unit acquires the terminal information from a transmission management system that manages communication between the transmission terminal and another transmission terminal.
The transmission terminal according to claim 2. A display unit for displaying the acquired terminal information, wherein the terminal information includes identification information of the other transmission terminal;
The transmission terminal according to claim 3. The second acquisition unit further acquires status information of the other transmission terminal from the transmission management system,
The display unit displays the status information together with the identification information of the other transmission terminal.
The transmission terminal according to claim 4. A storage unit that stores second setting information indicating whether or not to limit a function that can be used in the transmission terminal when the identification unit cannot identify the identification information of the user;
In accordance with the second setting information, a control unit that restricts functions available to the user at the transmission terminal,
The transmission terminal according to claim 1, comprising: The first setting information includes third setting information indicating the setting of the display language of the transmission terminal.
The transmission terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The biological information is image information obtained by imaging the user's face, fingerprint or vein, or audio information obtained by recording the user's voice.
The transmission terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A reception unit that accepts registration of biometric information of a new user;
A third acquisition unit for acquiring identification information of the new user;
An input unit for receiving input of first setting information from the new user;
A second storage unit for storing the new user's biometric information, identification information, and the first setting information;
The transmission terminal according to claim 1, comprising: The accepting unit accepts registration of the biological information in response to termination of communication with the other transmission terminal.
The transmission terminal according to claim 9. A program for performing image or voice communication on a computer,
A first acquisition step of acquiring user biometric information;
A specifying step of specifying identification information of the user associated with the acquired biological information;
A step of reading first setting information used when the computer associated with the identified identification information is connected to a network;
A setting step for setting network settings of the computer using the read first setting information;
A program that executes