JP4472590B2 - Network conference system and network conference method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network conference system and a network conference method for performing a conference using a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  In a conventional network conference system, an image display device such as a projector and an information terminal device such as a plurality of personal computers are connected to a LAN constructed in a conference room where a conference is held, and connected by participants of the conference. Each information terminal device is operated and a desired image is displayed on the image display device, so that the conference is in progress.

  However, in order for these information terminal devices to be connected to the LAN constructed in the conference room, the contents necessary for connection must be set in each information terminal device.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a conventional network conference system.

  In the network conference system shown in FIG. 6, an image is displayed in a conference room 101, and a projector 102 having a wireless LAN function and an access point 103 having a wireless LAN function and a wired LAN function are connected by a wireless LAN. In addition, an access point 103 and a plurality of PCs (Personal Computers) 104-1 to 104-n, which are information terminal devices, are connected by a wired LAN. The projector 102, the access point 103, and the PCs 104-1 to 104-n are preset with contents for connecting to a network constructed in the conference room 101.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a form in which a PC is brought into the conventional network conference system shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, a PC 105 having a wireless LAN function is brought into the conference room 101 in which the network conference system shown in FIG. The PC 105 is an information terminal device that has been used for a conference in another conference room, and therefore, contents for connecting to a network constructed in another conference room are set. Therefore, in order to be able to connect the PC 105 to the network conference system built in the conference room 101, it is necessary to change the network settings set in the PC 105. Among the setting contents of the network to be changed, the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server is provided on the network for the route information of the wired LAN with the IP address and the subnet mask, and is automatically set by the function of the DHCP server. A method is considered.

Also, a slave information terminal device that is a slave of a conference participant makes a connection request to a master information terminal device that is a master connected to an image display device such as a projector, and the master information terminal device and the slave information terminal device Information to be used for the conference from the slave information terminal device to the image display device via the master information terminal device using the configured link, and the information received by the image display device Is considered (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-064418

  However, to change the settings of PCs brought in from other conference rooms, even if a DHCP server is used, only the IP address and subnet mask are automatically assigned. The participant who brought in the PC must know the setting contents of the network built in the conference room, and the setting contents must be set manually, which takes time and effort. There is a problem.

  Also, the method described in Patent Document 1 is an effective communication method in the network conference system only when the master information terminal device and the slave information terminal device are in a state in which communication is possible in advance. If you bring in a slave information terminal device that is not connected to the information terminal device, you will have to manually make the settings necessary to enable communication between them, which will take time. There is a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional technology as described above, and is a network conference system and network that can automatically connect an information terminal device possessed by a conference participant to a desired network. The purpose is to provide a meeting method.

A network conference system for conducting a conference using a first network,
A second network to be connected when acquiring the information of the first network;
A first information terminal device connected to the first network;
Connectable to the first network and the second network, and connected to the second network for a time until receiving an information reception response transmitted via the second network at power-on. A connection information transmitting terminal device for transmitting information of the first network via the second network and changing a connection destination to the first network when the information reception response is received ;
Connected to the second network, receives and registers the information of the first network transmitted by the connection information transmitting terminal device, and transmits the information reception response via the second network. A management terminal that transmits to the terminal device ;
The information of the first network registered in the management terminal is acquired via the second network, and the first network can be connected based on the acquired information of the first network And a second information terminal device that performs setting and connects to the first network.

Also, connection information connectable to the first information terminal device connected to the first network, the second network connected when acquiring the information of the first network, and the first network. A network conference method for performing a conference using a transmission terminal device, a management terminal connected to the second network, and a second information terminal device,
In the connection information transmitting terminal device, a process of connecting to the second network only for a time until receiving an information reception response transmitted via the second network at power-on;
A process of transmitting information of the first network in the connection information transmitting terminal device;
Processing for receiving and registering the information of the first network transmitted from the connection information transmitting terminal device in the management terminal;
When the management terminal receives the information of the first network, a process of transmitting the information reception response from the management terminal to the connection information transmission terminal device via the second network;
When receiving the information reception response , the connection information transmitting terminal device changes the connection destination to the first network ;
In the second information terminal device, processing for acquiring the information of the first network registered in the management terminal via the second network;
The second information terminal device includes a process for performing setting to connect to the first network based on the acquired information of the first network.

  In the present invention configured as described above, the connection information transmission terminal in which the information of the first network constructed in the conference room or the like is changed when the connection destination is switched from the first network to the second network. The information of the first network transmitted to the management terminal via the second network by the apparatus and received by the management terminal is registered, and the information of the first network registered in the management terminal is the second. The setting that can be connected to the first network is performed on the basis of the information of the first network acquired by the second information terminal device and acquired by the information terminal device of the second information terminal device. The second information terminal device is connected to the first network, and the connection destination of the connection information transmitting terminal device is changed from the second network to the first network.

  For this reason, even when it is necessary to participate in a plurality of conferences, it is necessary for the second information terminal device to grasp the setting contents of all the first networks or to manually change the settings each time. If the information of the first network is registered in one management terminal and the second information terminal device is connected to the management terminal, the information of the first network registered in the management terminal Information can be acquired, and settings for connecting to the first network are performed based on the acquired information. Thus, if only the connection information to the management terminal is grasped, connection can be made without manually setting the network of an arbitrary conference to be joined.

  As described above, in the present invention, the information of the first network constructed in the conference room or the like is transmitted by the connection information transmitting terminal device whose connection destination is changed from the first network to the second network when the power is turned on. The information of the first network transmitted to the management terminal via the second network and received by the management terminal is registered, and the information of the first network registered in the management terminal is registered as the second information. The second information is obtained by setting the terminal device so that it can be connected to the first network based on the information of the first network acquired by the second information terminal device through the second network. Since the information terminal device is connected to the first network and the connection destination of the connection information transmitting terminal device is changed from the second network to the first network, the conference The information terminal apparatus participant possesses can be automatically connected to a desired network.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a projector 2 which is an image display device that displays an image in a conference room 1 and is used as a connection information transmission terminal device having a wireless LAN function, a wireless LAN function, and a wired LAN The access point 3 having a function is connected by a wireless LAN, and the access point 3 and a plurality of PCs (Personal Computers) 4-1 to 4-n which are first information terminal devices are connected by a wired LAN 7. Also, a management terminal 6 that manages the setting contents of the projector 2 is provided. The projector 2, the access point 3, and the PCs 4-1 to 4-n are preset with contents for connecting to the network constructed in the conference room 1. The management terminal 6 has a wireless LAN function, the communication mode is set to ad hoc in advance, and the SSID (Service Set Identifier) of the management terminal 6 is set to “A” in advance. In addition, the communication mode of the projector 2 and the access point 3 is preset in the infrastructure, and the SSID of the projector 2 and the access point 3 is preset to “B”. Here, the wireless LAN in which the SSID is set to “A” is the second network, and the wireless LAN and the wired LAN 7 in which the SSID is set to “B” are the first network.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a PC having a wireless LAN function is brought into the conference room 1 shown in FIG. 1 from the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the present embodiment is a form in which a PC 5 which is a second information terminal device having a wireless LAN function is brought into the conference room 1 in which the network conference system shown in FIG. 1 is constructed. ing. The PC 5 is an information terminal device that has been used for a conference in another conference room, and therefore, contents for connecting to a network constructed in another conference room are set. Therefore, in order to be able to connect the PC 5 to the network conference system constructed in the conference room 1, it is necessary to change the setting contents of the network set in the PC 5. The management terminal 6 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is installed in any place that can be connected to the projector 2 and the PC 5 on the first and second networks without being in the conference room 1. good.

  Below, the network conference method in the form comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the network conference method in the form shown in FIG.

  First, when the power of the projector 2 is turned on (step S1), the SSID preset in “B” is the set value of the management terminal 6 so that the projector 2 connects to the management terminal 6. A ”(step S2), the IP address system is changed to one that can be connected to the management terminal 6 (step S3), and the communication mode is changed to ad hoc. That is, the setting of the first network is changed to the setting of the second network. Here, the IP address system is an IP address and a subnet mask. As for the IP address system of the projector 2 to be changed, a prescribed IP address system connectable to the management terminal 6 may be defined in advance and used, or the DHCP server may be connected to the management terminal 6. A function may be provided to automatically change to an IP address system that can be connected to the management terminal 6.

  Next, a connection request is transmitted from the projector 2 to the management terminal 6 using the changed SSID and IP address system (step S4), and the transmitted connection request is received by the management terminal 6 (step S5). ).

  When the management terminal 6 receives the connection request, the management terminal 6 transmits a connection request response to the projector 2 (step S6).

  Whether or not the connection between the projector 2 and the management terminal 6 is successful is determined based on whether or not the connection request response transmitted from the management terminal 6 has been received by the projector 2 (step S7).

  If the connection request response is not received by the projector 2, it is determined that the connection between the projector 2 and the management terminal 6 has failed, and after a preset time, the process returns to step S4 again.

  On the other hand, when the connection request response is received by the projector 2, it is determined that the connection between the projector 2 and the management terminal 6 is successful, and information on the first network stored in the projector 2 is stored in the management terminal 6. (Step S8). Here, the first network information transmitted to the management terminal 6 is information for connecting the projector 2 to the access point 3, and a unique ID, infrastructure, etc. for identifying the projector 2 Communication mode, SSID, presence / absence of DHCP server, IP address system, and the like.

  When the information on the first network is received by the management terminal 6 (step S9), an information reception response is transmitted to the projector 2 at the management terminal 6 (step S10). At the same time, the received first first information is received. Network information is registered in a management table provided in the management terminal 6 (step S11). In this management table, network information transmitted from other projectors and received by the management terminal 6 is also registered. In other words, information on the network constructed in another conference room that is holding a conference using another projector arranged to be connectable to the management terminal 6 by wireless LAN is also registered in the management table. Yes.

  Then, depending on whether or not the information reception response transmitted from the management terminal 6 is received by the projector 2, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the first network information from the projector 2 to the management terminal 6 is successful. (Step S12).

  If the information reception response is not received by the projector 2, it is determined that transmission of the first network information from the projector 2 to the management terminal 6 has failed, and after a preset time, the process returns to step S4 again. .

  On the other hand, when the information reception response is received by the projector 2, it is determined that the transmission of the first network information from the projector 2 to the management terminal 6 is successful. Then, the network settings such as the SSID, IP address system, and communication mode in the projector 2 are returned to the first network settings set in advance in the projector 2 (step S13).

  The processing described above is preprocessing that enables the projector 2 to be used.

  Hereinafter, a connection process by the PC 5 will be described after the above-described pre-process is performed.

  Since the PC 5 shown in FIG. 2 is brought from another conference room or the like and the network setting content set in the PC 5 can be used in the conference room 1, the second network setting content, that is, the SSID is It is set to “A” and the IP address system is changed to one that can be connected to the management terminal 6 (step S14), and an inquiry about the projector registered in the management terminal 6 is sent to the management terminal 6. Then, the inquiry is received by the management terminal 6 (step S16), and the projector information registered in the management table in the management terminal 6 is transmitted from the management terminal 6 to the PC 5. (Step S17).

  When the projector 5 information received from the management terminal 6 is received by the PC 5 (step S18) and the projector that can be used by the PC 5 is the projector 2, when the projector 2 is selected from the received information, The setting contents of the first network corresponding to the information of the selected projector 2 are set in the PC 5 (step S19). As for this setting, at least the communication mode is set to the infrastructure mode, the SSID is set to “B”, and the IP address system is set to an IP address system that allows the PC 5 and the projector 2 to be connected.

  When the setting of the first network, which is the setting content connectable to the projector 2, is set to the PC 5, a connection request is transmitted to the projector 2 by the PC 5 (step S20), and the connection request is received by the projector 2 ( Step S21).

  When the connection of the PC 5 is permitted in the projector 2 that has received the connection request, the SSID setting of the projector 2 is changed from “B” to “A” (step S22), and the projector 2 is in use. The projector 2 notifies the management terminal 6 (step S23). That is, the setting is changed to the second network setting.

  When the management terminal 6 notifies the projector 2 that it is in use (step S24), the fact is registered in the management table in the management terminal 6 (step S25).

  On the other hand, when the projector 2 notifies the management terminal 6 that the projector 2 is in use, the SSID setting of the projector 2 is changed from “A” to “B” (step S26), and the PC 5 A connection permission is transmitted to the PC 5 (step S27).

  When the transmitted connection permission is received by the PC 5 (step S28), communication between the PC 5 and the projector 2 becomes possible.

  Thereafter, the image displayed by the projector 2 can be controlled based on the operation in the PC 4-1 to PC 4-n and the PC 5, and the image displayed by the projector 2 is the screen of the PC 4-1 to PC 4-n and the PC 5. Can be displayed.

  In this way, as long as only the setting contents of the management terminal 6 such as the SSID and the IP address system are recognized in common, even if the movable PC 5 is brought into any conference room, the conference room Automatically connect to the network built in However, it goes without saying that information on the network constructed in the conference room is registered in advance in the management table in the management terminal 6.

  The access point 3 or the PC 4-1 to 4-n can be connected to the above-described functions of the projector 2, that is, the first network and the second network, and is connected to the second network when the power is turned on. If the function of transmitting the information of the first network to the management terminal 6 through the second network and then changing the connection destination to the first network is provided, the function is provided. May be a connection information transmitting terminal device.

  Further, even if the PC brought into the conference room 1 from the outside has a wired LAN function and is connected to the wired LAN constructed in the conference room 1, the same processing can be considered.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a PC brought from outside in the conference room 1 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a wired LAN.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, in the conference room 1, a projector 8 that is an image display device used as a connection information transmission terminal device that displays an image, and a plurality of PCs 4-that are first information terminal devices. 1 to 4-n and a management terminal 9 that manages the setting contents of the projector 8 are connected by a wired LAN 7, and a PC 10 that is a second information terminal device is brought into the conference room from the outside. And connected to the wired LAN 7. The PC 10 is an information terminal device that has been used for a conference in another conference room, and therefore, contents for connecting to a network constructed in another conference room are set. Therefore, in order to be able to connect the PC 10 to the wired LAN 7, it is necessary to change the setting contents of the network set in the PC 10.

  Information such as the IP address system of the projector 8 is registered in the management table in the management terminal 9 when the projector 8 is activated. Specifically, when the projector 8 is powered on, the setting of the connection destination of the projector 8 is changed to the setting of the second network that can be connected to the management terminal 9, and the projector 8 and the PC 4 preset in the projector 8 are set. When the information on the first network to which -1 to 4-n is connected is transmitted from the projector 8 to the management terminal 9, and the management terminal 9 acquires the information, the acquired information is used for management. The information is registered in the management table in the terminal 9, and then the connection destination setting of the projector 8 is returned to the first network setting.

  In order to acquire information for connecting the PC 10 to the conference room 1 from another conference room and connecting to the projector 8, the second network that can be connected to the management terminal 9 is set. As a result, the PC 10 acquires the information of the first network registered in the management table of the management terminal 9. The IP address system of the PC 10 is changed based on the acquired first network information, and the PC 10 can be connected to the projector 8.

  The PC 4-1 to 4-n can be connected to the above-described functions of the projector 8, that is, the first network and the second network, and the first network is connected to the second network when the power is turned on. Is transmitted to the management terminal 9 via the second network, and then the connection destination is changed to the first network, the connection information transmission terminal device provided with the function is provided. It may be.

  Similar processing is also conceivable when the projector has the function of a management terminal.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment having a projector having the function of a management terminal in the network conference system shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the present embodiment displays an image in the conference room 1 and is a projector 11 that is an image display device used as a connection information management terminal device having a wireless LAN function, a wireless LAN function, and a wired LAN. The access point 3 having a function is connected by a wireless LAN, and the access point 3 and a plurality of PCs 4-1 to 4-n that are first information terminal devices are connected by a wired LAN 7, A PC 5, which is a second information terminal device having a wireless LAN function brought from outside such as another conference room, is connected to the projector 11 via the wireless LAN. Furthermore, the projector 11 includes a general-purpose wireless LAN processing unit 12 for connecting to the access point 3 via a general-purpose wireless LAN that is a first network, and a management network that is a second network that independently constructs a network. A management wireless LAN processing unit 13 for connecting to the PC 5 via the wireless LAN is provided. As a result, the projector 11 has the function of the management terminal 6 shown in FIG. 2, and information on the first network is transmitted from the projector 11 to the PC 5 via the second network. The number of terminals can be reduced.

  When the management wireless LAN processing unit 13 is provided in the access point 3 or the PCs 4-1 to 4 -n, the connection information management terminal device is provided with the management wireless LAN processing unit 13. Also good.

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the network conference system of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a PC having a wireless LAN function is brought into the conference room shown in FIG. 1 from the outside. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the network conference method in the form shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows one form in which PC brought in from the outside in the meeting room shown in FIG. 1 was connected to wired LAN. It is a figure which shows one form which has a projector which has the function of the management terminal in the network conference system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of embodiment of the conventional network conference system. It is a figure which shows the form in which PC was brought in from the outside to the conventional network conference system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Conference room 2, 8, 11 Projector 3 Access point 4-1 to 4-n, 5, 10 PC
6,9 Management terminal 7 Wired LAN
12 General-purpose wireless LAN processing unit 13 Wireless LAN processing unit for management

Claims (2)

A network conference system for conducting a conference using a first network,
A second network to be connected when acquiring the information of the first network;
A first information terminal device connected to the first network;
Connectable to the first network and the second network, and connected to the second network for a time until receiving an information reception response transmitted via the second network at power-on. A connection information transmitting terminal device for transmitting information of the first network via the second network and changing a connection destination to the first network when the information reception response is received ;
Connected to the second network, receives and registers the information of the first network transmitted by the connection information transmitting terminal device, and transmits the information reception response via the second network. A management terminal that transmits to the terminal device ;
The information of the first network registered in the management terminal is acquired via the second network, and the first network can be connected based on the acquired information of the first network A network conference system comprising: a second information terminal device configured to connect to the first network. A connection information transmitting terminal that is connectable to a first information terminal device connected to a first network, a second network connected when acquiring information of the first network, and the first network A network conference method for performing a conference using a device, a management terminal connected to the second network, and a second information terminal device,
In the connection information transmitting terminal device, a process of connecting to the second network only for a time until receiving an information reception response transmitted via the second network at power-on;
A process of transmitting information of the first network in the connection information transmitting terminal device;
Processing for receiving and registering the information of the first network transmitted from the connection information transmitting terminal device in the management terminal;
When the management terminal receives the information of the first network, a process of transmitting the information reception response from the management terminal to the connection information transmission terminal device via the second network;
When receiving the information reception response , the connection information transmitting terminal device changes the connection destination to the first network ;
In the second information terminal device, processing for acquiring the information of the first network registered in the management terminal via the second network;
A network conferencing method comprising: a process of performing connection setting to the first network based on the acquired information of the first network at the second information terminal device.

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