JPH05327707A - Multi-medium communication conference equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically receive the data on various media by a conference terminal of the receiver side and to easily control the data when these data are simultaneously transmitted through a conference terminal of the transmitter side in the voices, the images, or the handwritten input, etc., in an automatic answering mode where the operator of the receiver side conference terminal is absent and also to perform the prescribed necessary processing to the incoming conference terminal of the opposite party even in an automatic answering mode in order to secure the communication between both conference terminals in regard of a multi-medium communication conference equipment. CONSTITUTION:In an automatic answering mode, a communication control part 11 receives the data on various medium from a conference terminal of the opposite part via a circuit 12. At the same time, a system control part 7 produces a directory in a memory 10 in response to the calling side. Then those medium data are stored in the directory produced as a single file for each medium. In a reproduction mode, these medium data can be easily and simultaneously reproduced just with designation of the directory corresponding to the conference terminal of the opposite party.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multimedia communication conferencing apparatus, and more particularly to a multimedia communication conferencing apparatus for conducting a conference while exchanging voice data, image data, handwritten input data and the like between remote parties via a communication line. ..

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, there has been multimedia communication in which various types of information (media) such as voice, image or characters are combined or switched to perform communication. In particular,
In recent years, a multimedia communication conferencing apparatus for performing a remote conference between remote parties by this multimedia communication is being developed.

Conventionally, as this kind of multimedia communication conference apparatus, for example, there is one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-6191, and image data input from each medium such as a scanner or a video camera has its attribute. Some have created a directory according to the information and manage it in a storage device.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional multimedia communication conference apparatus, when data is input from each medium to the directory, it is divided into different directories according to the attribute of the data and stored in the storage device. It was accumulated and managed. For this reason, when reproducing a plurality of media data sent from the partner conference terminal on the receiving conference terminal, each file must be searched.
There was a problem that various media data sent from the same partner could not be taken out respectively, and the operator took time to operate.

Further, in a usual multimedia communication conference apparatus, it is assumed that an operator exists at both conference terminals on the transmitting and receiving sides and the operator manages the transmitted and received data, and the reception is performed in the answering machine mode as in the present invention. No consideration was given to the storage and management of multiple media data that were created. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and at the time of the answering machine mode in which the operator of the receiving side conference terminal is absent, various media data such as voice, image, or handwriting input from the transmitting side conference terminal are simultaneously provided. When sent, the receiving conference terminal can automatically receive these data and manage the data easily.Also, in the answering machine mode, the other conference terminal that received the call can perform the necessary processing to ensure mutual communication. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multimedia communication conferencing apparatus capable of communicating between conference terminals of the above.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In a multimedia communication conferencing apparatus that conducts a conference while communicating between mutual conference terminals using a plurality of media such as voice data, image data, or handwritten input data, from the other conference terminal as an answering machine when the conference terminal operator is absent. A data automatic receiving means for automatically receiving the various media data sent, and a directory for creating one directory in a memory for storing the received data when various media data is received from the partner conference terminal in the answering machine mode. A creation unit and a data storage unit for storing the received various media data in the created one directory are provided, and the various media data sent from the partner conference terminal in the answering machine mode are included in one directory unit. It is special to store / playback and manage data. To.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multimedia communication conferencing apparatus for conducting a conference while communicating between mutual conference terminals using a plurality of media such as voice data, image data or handwritten input data. Data automatic receiving means for automatically receiving the various media data sent from the other conference terminal in the answering machine when the operator is absent, and various media data for each communication when receiving various media data from the other conference terminal in the answering machine mode. And associated data storage means for associating the media data with each other and storing each in a storage medium corresponding to each media data. The various media data sent from the partner conference terminal in the answering machine mode in one communication unit. Data management is performed by storing / playing on each storage medium in association with each other. It is characterized in.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multimedia communication conferencing apparatus for conducting a conference while communicating between mutual conference terminals using a plurality of media such as voice data, image data or handwritten input data. When the operator is absent, the data automatic receiving means for automatically receiving the various media data sent from the other party's conference terminal in the answering machine mode, and the predetermined processing item to be instructed to the communicating party when the answering machine mode is set In advance, in the answering machine mode, there is provided a processing matter registering means for pre-registering the above, and a processing matter executing means for giving an instruction to the conference terminal of the other party in accordance with the registered predetermined processing matter at the time of an incoming call in the answering machine mode. To communicate by executing a predetermined process that is registered in advance on the conference terminal that received the call. And butterflies.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, various media data sent from the other conference terminal in the answering machine mode are stored in one directory, and each directory unit is reproduced at the time of reproduction so that the same conference terminal can be reproduced. It is possible to simultaneously reproduce various types of media data by an easy operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, various media data sent from the partner conference terminal in the answering machine mode are associated with each other for each communication, and are stored in the storage media corresponding to each media data. ,
A conversion means or the like for converting the media data according to the storage medium is not required, and at the time of reproduction, the reproduction can be performed simultaneously from each storage medium based on the association of the data in one communication unit.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the answering machine mode is set, predetermined processing items to be instructed to the communication partner who is in the answering machine are registered in advance, and the predetermined processing items registered when the call is received in the answering machine mode. By instructing the partner conference terminal to send a message or the like in accordance with the processing items, it is possible to perform predetermined communication even if the operator of the conference terminal on the receiving side is absent.

[0012]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below based on examples.
First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multimedia communication conference apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an operation unit for inputting a telephone number of a destination using a key input device such as a ten-key pad or a display, and displaying data in an image memory on the display to give an instruction. Reference numeral 2 denotes a tablet, which detects a contacted portion with a dedicated pen and inputs position information thereof to input data such as handwritten characters. Three
Is a display unit, which is composed of a CRT or LCD for displaying images and a display control unit for controlling those image displays. The display control unit controls enlargement / reduction of display contents and screens such as multi-windows. Take control. Reference numeral 4 is a video camera for inputting moving image data. 5 is a scanner, for example CCD (Char
ge Coupled Device) is used.
The document is read line by line and output as image data. Reference numeral 6 is an encoding / decoding unit, for example, CCITT recommendation T.264 which standardizes handwritten character data input from a tablet for telewriting. Encoding / decoding is performed by the method shown by 150, or image data input from the scanner 5 is encoded or decoded into MH, MR, MMR, etc. used in facsimile communication and the like. 7
Is a system control unit for controlling the entire multimedia communication conference apparatus according to the present embodiment based on various programs. 8 is a RAM (Random Access)
Memory) stores various data necessary for controlling the multimedia communication conferencing apparatus. 9 is a ROM (Rea
d Only Memory) stores the control program of this apparatus. Reference numeral 10 denotes a memory, which is composed of a storage device such as a hard disk, which temporarily stores image data read by the scanner 5, receives image data, handwritten input data, and further a codec (COD).
The audio signal digitized by EC) is stored. 1
A communication control unit 1 is connected to the line 12 to communicate with the conference terminal of the other party, and at the same time, a voice codec and a speaker 13 for converting analog voice into digital signals and vice versa.
Alternatively, it has a built-in telephone or the like shown in the handset 14 and controls transmission / reception of various data and voice communication using the built-in telephone.

The multimedia communication conferencing apparatus in this embodiment is mainly used as a communication conferencing apparatus for communicating various data in real time with the other party's conference terminal, but when the operator of the other party's conference terminal is absent, the answering machine is in the answering machine. By transmitting an image data file using the facsimile function and recording a voice message using the answering machine function, it is possible to convey the message to the conference terminal of the other party who is absent.

The present invention is characterized in that, in this answering machine mode, various media data by voice, image or handwriting input are collectively managed for each communication, and the burden on the operator of reproducing the stored data is reduced.
Therefore, the receiving operation in the answering machine mode will be described. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data management state in the memory of the multimedia communication conference apparatus according to the invention of claim 1, and FIG. 3 is a data management state of the multimedia communication conference apparatus according to the invention of claim 2. It is a figure which shows an example.

In the case of claim 1, as shown in FIG. 2, here, the voice data (message) received by the communication control unit 11 via the line 12 is converted into a digital signal by a voice codec, and other image data and It is stored together with the handwritten input data in the hard disk device of the memory 10. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of an embodiment according to the invention described in claim 1. As shown in FIG. 4, in step 100, a plurality of different media data (voice, image, handwriting input, etc.) is received from the partner conference terminal in the answering machine mode.

Then, in step 101, the system control unit 7 creates one new directory in the memory 5,
The received various media data are stored as one file for each media in one directory created corresponding to the calling side. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the created directory A15 is stored in association with the telephone number, name, etc., which is the identifier of the conference terminal of the other party. This directory A15 includes image data (file No. 1), handwriting input data (file No. 2), and voice data (file N) from the destination A here.
O. 3) has been sent.

Further, the directory B16 indicates that handwritten input data (file No. 4) and voice data (file No. 5) have been sent from the destination B. In this way, when the identifier of the conference terminal (A or B) of the other party who has transmitted the multimedia data is displayed on the display of the operation unit 1, the operator who sees this displays,
You can specify the directory you want to play.

At the time of reproduction, by performing the above-mentioned designation in step 102, various media data stored in the directory are reproduced at the same time. That is, when the directory A15 is designated, the image data and the handwriting input data are displayed on the display unit 3, and the voice data is D via the voice codec of the communication control unit 11.
A / A conversion is performed, and the speaker 13 outputs a voice.

Next, the case of claim 2 is a case where the received data is stored in different storage devices for each medium. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, image data (file No. 1) and handwriting input data (file No. 1).
2) and the like are stored in the hard disk device 17, and the audio signal is recorded on the magnetic tape 18. In this way, when accumulating various received media data in different storage devices, various media data received during one communication are stored in association with each other.

This association can be realized by assigning the same link number to the data file of each medium in this embodiment. That is, in each memory at this time, as shown in FIG. 3, various media data in one communication are associated with each other by the link number (here, link No. 1). Then, the link number and the identifier of the partner conference terminal are associated with each other and displayed on the display. Therefore, if the operator wants to play back the data from a given conference terminal,
By designating the link number corresponding to this, various media data (image data, handwriting input data, voice signal) sent from the partner conference terminal can be reproduced.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of an embodiment according to the invention described in claim 2. First, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case of claim 2, in step 200, a plurality of different media data (voice, image, handwriting input, etc.) is received from the partner conference terminal in the answering machine mode. Next, in step 201, the system control unit 7 generates a link number corresponding to the calling side and stores it together with the link number in each storage medium corresponding to the received data. That is, FIG.
, The generated link number (link NO.
In 1), the hard disk device 17 stores digital data such as image data and handwriting input data together with various media data sent from the same conference terminal.
The analog audio signal is stored on the magnetic tape 18. With this configuration, the communication control unit 11 for D / A converting an audio signal
It is possible to omit the internal audio codec and reduce the cost.

At the time of data reproduction, step 202
And the link number (link NO.
By specifying 1), it is possible to simultaneously reproduce various media data sent from one same conference terminal stored in each storage medium in one communication based on the link number. That is, the image data and the handwritten input data are displayed on the display of the display unit 3, and the audio signal is output from the speaker 13.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of an embodiment according to the invention described in claim 3. In the case of claim 3, here, as shown in FIG. 1, a processing item to be instructed to a specific opponent when the answering machine is set is previously stored in the RAM.
Register in 8. Then, in this embodiment, as a processing item to be instructed to a specific partner, for example, when there is an incoming call from the registered partner, a predetermined voice response message is sent and a text file or an image created in advance is sent. The file is transmitted and displayed on the display of the other party.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, in step 300, the above-mentioned processing items corresponding to a specific opponent are set in advance when the answering mode is set. Then, when there is an incoming call from the partner conference terminal set in step 301, the operator of the partner conference terminal, which has received the message, transmits the above message according to the registered procedure, and based on these information. You can perform the required processing.

By thus registering the processing items with the conference terminal of the other party in order, even if the operator of the conference terminal of the receiving side is absent, a predetermined communication is performed with the operator of the conference terminal of the transmitting side. It becomes possible.

[0026]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, since various media data received from the conference terminal of the other party in the answering machine is accumulated in one directory, each file is reproduced at the time of reproduction. It becomes unnecessary to search for, the burden on the operator is reduced, and the reproduction can be easily performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, various media data received from the conference terminal of the other party in the answering machine mode are associated with each other for each communication, and are stored in a storage medium suitable for each media data. As a result, there is no need for media data conversion means to match the storage media, and at the time of playback, it is possible to perform playback from each storage medium at the same time based on the association of data in units of communication, thus burdening the operator. Is reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the answering machine mode is set, predetermined processing items to be instructed to the communication partner in the absence are registered in advance, and when receiving a call, the conference terminal of the other party is in accordance with the registered items. Since messages and other messages are automatically sent to the recipient, the specified conference can be communicated even if the receiving conference terminal operator is absent, eliminating the need for the other conference terminal operator to wait for the person to return. , The convenience is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multimedia communication conference apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data management state in a memory of the multimedia communication conference apparatus according to the invention of claim 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data management state of a multimedia communication conference device according to a second aspect of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of an embodiment according to the invention described in claim 1.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation of an embodiment according to the invention described in claim 2;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an operation of an embodiment according to the invention described in claim 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Operation part 2 Tablet 3 Display unit 4 Video camera 5 Scanner 6 Encoding / decoding part 7 System control part 8 RAM 9 ROM 10 Memory 11 Communication control part 12 Line 13 Speaker 14 Handset 15 Directory A 16 Directory B 17 Hard disk device 18 Magnetic tape

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A multimedia communication conferencing apparatus for conducting a conference while communicating between mutual conference terminals using a plurality of media such as voice data, image data or handwritten input data, in an answering machine mode when the operator of the conference terminal is absent. As a data automatic receiving means for automatically receiving the various media data sent from the other conference terminal, and when various media data are received from the other conference terminal in the answering machine mode, one is stored in the memory for storing the received data. A directory creating means for creating a directory, and a data storage means for storing the received various media data in the created one directory are provided, and various media data sent from the partner conference terminal in the answering machine mode are stored. Data is stored / played in units of one directory. Multimedia communication conference device which is characterized in that sense. 2. A multimedia communication conferencing apparatus for conducting a conference while communicating between mutual conference terminals using a plurality of media such as voice data, image data, or handwritten input data, in an answering machine mode when the conference terminal operator is absent. As a data automatic receiving means for automatically receiving the various media data sent from the other conference terminal, and when various media data is received from the other conference terminal in the answering machine mode, the various media data for each communication are associated with each other. And associated data storage means for respectively storing in a storage medium corresponding to each media data, and various media data sent from the partner conference terminal in the answering machine mode are associated with each communication unit in each storage medium. A feature of storing / reproducing and managing data Ruchimedia communication conference equipment. 3. A multimedia communication conferencing apparatus for conducting a conference while communicating between mutual conference terminals using a plurality of media such as voice data, image data or handwritten input data, in an answering machine mode when the operator of the conference terminal is absent. As a data automatic receiving means for automatically receiving the various media data sent from the other party's conference terminal, and when the answering mode is set, the predetermined processing items to be instructed to the communicating party are registered in advance. It is provided with processing item registration means and processing item execution means for giving an instruction to the other conference terminal according to the predetermined predetermined processing item when the incoming call is received in the answering machine. On the other hand, it is a multimedia device characterized by executing predetermined processing registered in advance and communicating. A communication conference device.