JPH0983988A - Video conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video conference system unnecessitating adjustment, etc., of a camera before the start of a conference. SOLUTION: Camera information such as an camera angle, a focus concerning the camera 7 for photographing the attendants of the conference and microphone information such as the sound volume of a microphone concerning the microphone 9 for sound-collecting the speech contents of the attendants are stored in a master station 1 by coordinating by each of attendants. The stored contents stored in this master station 1 are sent to each slave station 2-1 to 2-i. Corresponding to these contents, each slave station adjusts the camera 7 and the microphone 9. As the master station holds information on the camera angle, the focus and the sound volume of camera of each station by coordinating by each sheet, lecturers' labor and time which must be spent at the time of holding a conference are saved so that the conference is smoothly held. As the master station centralized-controls information, information the slave stations should store is reduced so that a cost for constructing the system is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video conference system, and more particularly to a video conference system for conducting educational lectures among a plurality of stations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of video conference system has been
As shown in FIG. 10, one master station 1, a plurality of slave stations 2-1, 2-2, etc., a master station 1 and a slave station 2-i (i =
, 2, ...) and communication lines 3 and 4 that connect them to each other.

The master station 1 gives instructions to the transmission device section 5 that multiplexes images and voices with each slave station and transmits them bidirectionally, the line switching section 6 that switches the line 3, and the line switching section 6. The line switching operation panel 31 to be performed, the person camera 7 for photographing the lecturer of the lecture, the camera operation console 30 for remotely instructing the camera control section 32, and the position of the person camera (camera angle) are stored. Then, from the camera control unit 32 for turning the person camera 7 in response to the instruction from the camera console 30, the monitor 8, the microphone (hereinafter, microphone) 9 for collecting sound, the speaker 10, and the line 4. The main control unit 11 for receiving the request for speech and the speech permission operation panel 33 for permitting speech to the participants of each slave station.

Each of the slave stations 2-i has a transmitter unit 5 for bidirectionally transmitting images and sounds to and from the master station, a person camera 7 for photographing a lecture participant, and a remote camera. A camera console 30 for instructing the controller 32, a camera controller 32 for rotating the person camera 7 in response to an instruction from the camera console 30, a monitor 8, a microphone 9 for collecting sound, It comprises a speaker 10, a speech request button 34 for generating a speech request, and a sub-control unit 14 for sending a speech request to the line 4.

In the conventional video conference system having such a configuration, the transmission device section 5 of the main station 1 multiplexes the video of the instructor photographed by the person camera 7 and the voice of the instructor collected by the microphone 9, and the line switching section. 6 and the communication line 3 to each of the slave stations 2-i. Subordinate 2-i
Then, the video and audio of the instructor sent from the main station 1 via the communication line 3 are separated by the transmission device unit 5 and output to the monitor 8 and the speaker 10.

On the other hand, the transmission device section 5 of the slave station 2-i uses the microphone 9 and the image of the participant photographed by the person camera 7.
The voices of the participants collected by are multiplexed and transmitted to the main station 1 via the communication line 3.

At the beginning of a lecture, when a question is given from a lecture participant at each station, the questioner is photographed by operating the camera console 30. When the operator operates the camera console 30, the control content is notified to the camera control unit 32. The camera control unit 32 controls the person camera 7 to rotate according to the notified contents. As a result, the video of the questioner is displayed on the monitor 8 of the main station 1 and the question is asked.

The operation of each slave station 2-i in this conventional video conference system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the slave station 2-1, if there is a question from a lecture participant during a lecture, a question request is sent to the master station (steps 101 → 102). When the question is permitted in response to this request, the camera angle, focus, etc. are adjusted from the console in the slave station (step 103 → 10).
4). Then, when the camera angle or the like is bad, fine adjustment is performed (steps 105 → 106).

The above-mentioned question request and camera adjustment are performed until the end of the conference (steps 105 → 107 → 101).
…). Finally, the details of fine adjustment are stored in the camera control unit 32, and the operation ends (steps 107 → 108 ...).

Subordinate stations 2-2, 2-3 other than the subordinate station 2-1
The same operation is performed in ...

By the way, another video conference system is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 318771/1992. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video conference system described in the publication. The video conferencing system shown in the figure is a video conferencing system having a remote type video camera that an operator remotely controls from an operation panel. Then, this system automatically measures the distance from the TV camera to the subject, outputs the result as distance information, and the remote TV camera 24, converts the distance information into predetermined pictograms, and outputs the image from the remote TV camera. Superimposing device 25 for superimposing on a signal to generate a composite image signal
And a monitor 23 for displaying the composite image signal generated by the superimposing device 25, and an operation panel 22 provided with operation switches having the same configuration for pictograms. In the figure, 26 is a system controller, and 27 is an image transmission device.

In such a configuration, the remote television camera 24 automatically measures the subject distance 1 at the same time as photographing the subject 20, and outputs distance information m. Superimposing device 25
Converts the received distance information m into a predetermined pictogram and superimposes it on the image output signal n captured by the remote television camera 24 to generate a composite image signal o. This composite image signal o is displayed on the transmission television monitor 23. Operator 2
1 operates the switch of the operation panel 22 having the same configuration as the pictogram according to the current focus information displayed in pictograms on the transmission TV monitor 23, and the system controller 2
The focus of the electric lens of the remote TV camera 24 is remotely adjusted via 6.

[0014]

Normally, although the position of the subject is fixed, in the conventional video conference system described above, the adjustment of the camera such as the focus adjustment must be performed before the conference is held. Therefore, there is a drawback that it is very troublesome. Further, since the camera angles must be stored and controlled in each slave station, there is a drawback that the control device is expensive and that each station needs an operator who adjusts the camera when holding a conference.

Such a drawback cannot be solved by the conventional techniques described in the above patent publications.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a video conference system which does not require adjustment of cameras before a conference is held. .

[0017]

The video conference system according to the present invention collects the camera information such as the camera angle and the focus of the video camera for photographing the video conference attendees and the speech contents of the attendees. Main station having a storage means for storing microphone information such as microphone volume of each microphone in association with each attendee, and N units for adjusting the television camera and the microphone according to the stored contents of the storage means. And (N is a positive integer) slave stations.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The operation of the present invention is as follows.

The camera information such as a camera angle and a focus of a TV camera for photographing the attendees of the video conference and microphone information such as a microphone volume of a microphone for collecting the speech of the attendee are included in the attendance. It is stored in the main station in association with each person. The slave station adjusts the television camera and the microphone according to the stored contents stored in the master station.

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a video conference system according to the present invention, and the same portions as those in FIG. 10 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, the master station 1 is connected to slave stations 2-i via communication lines 3 and 4. The transmission device unit 5 of the master station 1 multiplexes the video of the instructor captured by the person camera 7 and the voice of the instructor collected by the microphone 9, and transmits the multiplexed voice of the instructor to the slave station 2-i via the line switching unit 6 and the communication line 3. Transmit to each.

In the slave station 2-i, the video and audio of the instructor sent from the master station 1 via the communication line 3 are transmitted to the transmission device section 5.
Are separated and output to the monitor 8 and the speaker 10.
The transmission device unit 5 of the slave station 2-i multiplexes the image of the participant captured by the person camera 7, the image of the participant collected by the microphone 9 and the voice of the participant collected by the microphone 9, and the communication line 3 to the main station 1.

The instructor console 12 has a line switch and a microphone 9.
Is used as a terminal for adjusting the sound volume, adjusting the angle / focus of the person camera 7, and permitting a speech in response to a speech request from the slave station 2-i.

The participant console 13 is used as a terminal for adjusting the volume of the microphone 9, adjusting the angle / focus of the person camera 7, and requesting a speech to the main station 1.

The communication lines 3 and 4 may be of any type, such as a telephone line and a dedicated line. A line using satellites is also acceptable.

Now, the main control section 11 in the main station 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the main control unit 11. In the figure, the main control unit 11
Receives information from the slave station (slave station information a and utterance request b), notifies the data analysis unit 112 of the information, and notifies the slave station of information from the data analysis unit 112 (lecture start instruction c and utterance permission d). The slave station communication unit 111, which analyzes the information from the slave station communication unit, and stores the storage unit 116 and the console control unit 1.
17 and notifies the camera control unit 113, the microphone control unit 116, and the line control unit 115 of the information by analyzing the information from the operator console control unit 117, and takes out the necessary information from the storage unit 116 to the slave station communication unit 111. The data analysis unit 112 for notifying is included.

In the figure, the main control unit 11 includes a camera control unit 113 for controlling the camera 7 according to the information from the data analysis unit 112 and a microphone for controlling the microphone 9 according to the information from the data analysis unit 112. The control unit 116, the line control unit 115 that controls the line switching unit 6 according to the information from the data analysis unit 112, and holds the slave station information from the data analysis unit 112 in association with each seat and holds the data analysis unit 112. A storage unit 116 that notifies the slave station of information in response to a request from the operator, and a data analysis unit 112 that stores information from the console 12.
The information from the data analysis unit to the operator console 12
And an operation console control unit 117 for notifying the user.

That is, the main control unit 11 stores the function of storing the camera focus information of the seat position of each station and the volume adjustment data of the microphone, the volume adjustment of the microphone 9 of the main station 1 and the angle / focus adjustment of the person camera 7. Function to perform, function to request switching of video / audio to the line switching unit 6, and communication line 4
It has a function of exchanging information with the slave station 2-i via the.

Next, the sub controller 14 in each slave station 2-i will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the sub control unit 14 in each slave station 2-i. In the figure, the sub-control unit 14 receives information (lecture start instruction c and speech permission d) from the main station, and the information is analyzed by the data analysis unit 1.
22 is analyzed and information from the data analysis unit 122 (subordinate station information a and utterance request b) is notified to the master station, and information from the master station communication unit 121 is analyzed,
A data analysis unit 122 that notifies information to the console control unit 125, the camera control unit 123, and the microphone control unit 124, a camera control unit 123 that controls the camera 7 according to the information from the data analysis unit 122, and a data analysis unit. A microphone control unit 124 that controls the microphone 9 according to information from 122;
An operation console control unit 125 that notifies the data analysis unit 122 of information from the operation console 13 and notifies the operation console 13 of information from the data analysis unit 122 is also included.

That is, the sub-control unit 14 in each slave station 2-i
Has a function of adjusting the volume of the microphone 9 in the slave station and an angle / focus adjustment of the person camera 7, and a function of exchanging information with the master station 1 via the communication line 4.

Next, the slave station information a, the speech request b in FIG.
About lecture start instruction c and speech permission d
This will be described with reference to (d). In addition, the same figure (a)-(d)
In, the equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the slave station information a transmitted from each slave station to the master station is the slave station number, that is, the slave station NO40 indicating which slave station, and the camera of each seat in the slave station. Seat information 41 to 4X including focus information 401 and microphone adjustment data 402 (X is a positive integer,
In this example, X = 5). The camera focus information 401 is optimum camera focus information for each seat, and may include information on the camera angle. The microphone adjustment data 402 is optimum microphone adjustment data for each seat, and when the microphone is moved, information on its angle and position may be included.

Further, referring to FIG. 3B, the utterance request b transmitted from each slave station to the master station is the slave station station number, that is, the slave station NO40 indicating the number of the slave station, and whether or not to request the utterance. Request request 403 indicating whether or not, and request requester seat information 40 indicating the seat information of the participant who requested the request.
And 4.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 3C, the lecture start instruction c transmitted from the master station to the slave station includes the slave station NO40 and the camera focus information 401 of each seat in the slave station, as in the slave station information a. The seat information 41 to 4X including the microphone adjustment data 402 (X is a positive integer, X = 5 in this example). Camera focus information 4
01 and the microphone adjustment data 402 are the same as the slave station information a.

Further, referring to FIG. 3D, the speech permission d transmitted from the master station to the slave station is the slave station NO 40, the speech permission 405 indicating whether or not the speech is permitted, and the participant who permits the speech. Requester seat information 40 that indicates the seat information of the
And 4.

Returning to FIG. 1, in the video conference system having such a configuration, when the system is constructed, the conference room of each slave station is
The person's camera 7 is adjusted by the participant's console 13 of each station, and the optimum adjustment data is used as slave station information in the main controller 11.
To notify. This operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of each slave station when the system is constructed. In the figure, each slave station first creates the slave station information a described above. In this case, camera adjustment such as camera angle and focus is performed for a certain seat (step 51). Next, microphone adjustment such as microphone volume is performed (step 52).

Since the same adjustment is performed for all the seats, the next seat is sequentially adjusted (step 53 → 5).
4 → 51 ...). That is, all seats in the station are adjusted.

When all seats have been adjusted, the contents of the adjustment are transmitted to the master station 1 as the slave station information a (step 53 → 55).

The above operation is performed in each slave station. By transmitting the contents adjusted by each station to the master station in this way, the operation of each slave station at the time of system construction is completed.

In the master station 1, the slave station information transmitted from each slave station is stored in the storage section 116. This operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main station when the system is constructed. In the figure, the master station constantly monitors whether slave station information has been received (step 61). When it is received, the received slave station information is stored in the storage unit 116 (step 61 → 6).
2). The above operation is performed until the slave station information for all slave stations is stored. In this way, the main controller 11
The slave station information sent from each slave station is stored in the storage unit 116 and distributed to the slave stations 2-i at the start of the lecture.

When the conference room is added or the layout is changed, the slave station information is stored in the storage section 116 in the main control section 11 in the same procedure as in FIGS. 5 and 6.

As described above, the main control unit 11 controls the angles of the person cameras 7 in all the conference rooms used in the video conference system.
The focus information and the adjustment data of the microphone 9 can be stored in association with each seat.

When the system construction is completed and the lecture is started, the angle / focus information of the person camera of each station and the adjustment data information of the microphone stored in the storage unit 116 are
As a lecture start instruction c, the main control unit 11 notifies the sub control unit 14 in each slave station, and the sub control unit 14 holds this until the lecture ends.

At the beginning of the lecture, the instructor's microphone 9 in the main station 1
Only the volume is adjusted, not the microphones in the slave stations.

When operating the person camera 7 of each station at each station, the seat number is designated by the console. The control information is notified to the sub control unit 14 by designating the seat number on the console 12. Sub-control unit 1
In 4 the seat number notified and the main control unit 1 at the time of holding the conference
The person camera 7 is switched to the selected seat number in accordance with the information notified from 1, and the person camera 7 is automatically focused.

Next, the operation of the master station and the slave station when the participant has a question to the lecturer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operations of the master station and the slave stations when making a question request and a question permission.

In the slave station 2-1, the sub control unit 14 monitors whether or not there is a question about the lecture from the participants (step 78). On the other hand, the master station 1 monitors whether or not there is a message request (question request) from each slave station (step 71).

In the slave station 2-1, when there is a question about the lecture, the lecture participants make a speech request (question request) using the participant console 13, and the speech request b is sent via the sub-control unit 14. It is transmitted to the main station 1 (step 78 → 7)
9). After this transmission, the system waits for permission (step 80).

When there is a request from the slave station, the master station 1 notifies the instructor console 12 to that effect. The instructor recognizes on the screen of the instructor console 12 that the participant has requested to speak. When allowing the utterance, the instructor can allow the utterance by using the instructor console 12. In the case of permitting, the seat information about the seat of the slave station that has made the request is read from the storage unit, and this seat information is transmitted to the sub-control unit 14 of the slave station as the above-mentioned statement permission instruction d.

The sub-control unit 14 of the slave station which has received the utterance permission instruction d downloads the information (step 8).
1) The camera and microphone are adjusted according to the downloaded data (step 82). That is, the volume of the microphone 9 is adjusted and the angle / focus of the person camera 7 is adjusted, and the speech of the participant who requested the speech is permitted.

The above operation is performed in each slave station until the end of the conference (steps 83 → 78 ...).

Further, when the person camera 7 is finely adjusted during the lecture, it is performed on the instructor console 12 of the main station 1 (step 7).
4 → 75 ...). The instructor can remotely operate the person camera in each slave station by using the instructor console 12 while watching the monitor 8 in the master station 1. The above operation is performed in the main station until the end of the conference (steps 76 → 71 ...).

Information on fine adjustment during the lecture is stored in the storage unit 116 in the main control unit 1 (step 77).

Next, a screen display example of the instructor console 12 in the master station 1 and a screen display of the participant console 13 in the slave station in the above operation will be described with reference to FIG. The example of the screen display of is shown.

This display screen is a touch panel type switch, and in the state shown in the figure, "line switching",
Sub-screens 81 to 84 of “microphone adjustment”, “camera adjustment”, and “subordinate information” are displayed, respectively. In the "line switching" sub-screen, the "master station" and "slave station 2" out of "slave station 1" to "slave station 2" are selected and the display color is different from the others (shaded area). 2 shows a state in which the video and audio of No. 2 are transmitted to each slave station by the line switching unit 6.

Also, "microphone adjustment" and "camera adjustment"
"Seat 1" to "seat 5" are displayed on the child screen of. Then, by touching any one of the "seat 1" to "seat 5", the child screen of that portion is further opened, seat information is transmitted, and the camera and microphone can be adjusted. .

Furthermore, "slave station 1" to "slave station 4" are displayed on the child screen of "slave station information". Then, by touching any of the "slave station 1" to "slave station 4", the sub-screen at that portion is further opened, and the camera and the microphone can be finely adjusted.

FIG. 9 shows a screen display example of the participant console 13.

This display screen is a touch panel type switch, and in the state shown in the figure, "microphone adjustment" is performed.
And child screens 91 and 92 of "camera adjustment" are displayed, respectively. "Seat 1" to "seat 5" are displayed on the child screens of "microphone adjustment" and "camera adjustment". Then, by touching any one of the "seat 1" to "seat 5", the child screen of that portion is further opened, seat information is transmitted, and the camera and microphone can be adjusted. . In other words, these sub-screens are used to adjust the camera and microphone when constructing the main conference system. Then, the adjustment content is transmitted to the main station and stored as described above.

During the conference, a sub-screen of "speak request" in which "seat 1" to "seat 5" are displayed (not shown) is displayed, and among these "seat 1" to "seat 5". If any one of them is touched and then the "speak request" portion 93 is touched, the request is transmitted to the main station.

It should be noted that only one operator console 13 for participants may be provided for each slave station, or one operator console 13 may be provided for each participant.

By the way, in general, video conferences are held regularly and the conference room is fixed. Therefore, if the system is configured as described above, a user-friendly video conference system can be realized.

In the above-described system, the main control unit of the main station holds the camera angle / focus of each station and the volume information of the microphone in correspondence with each seat, so that it should normally be performed at the time of holding a conference. The time and effort of the instructor, which must be saved, can be saved and the meeting can be held smoothly.
Further, since the master station centrally manages the information, the control section of the slave station has less information to be stored and the cost for constructing the system is lower. Further, once the system is constructed, the master station can operate all the cameras in the slave stations, so that it is not necessary to have a camera operator in each slave station.

Although the contents of the video conference are lectures in the above embodiments, it is obvious that the present invention can be applied to various conferences without being limited to this case. It is also clear that the above-mentioned camera information and microphone information may be stored in association with each other for each type of meeting.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the main control section of the main station, the camera angle / focus of each station and the volume information of the microphone are held in correspondence with each seat, so that the conference is normally performed. This has the effect of saving the instructor's time and effort, which must be held at the time of the meeting, and enabling the meeting to be held smoothly. Further, since the master station centrally manages the information, there is an effect that the control section of the slave station has less information to be stored and the cost for constructing the system is reduced. Furthermore, since the master station can operate all the cameras in the slave stations once the system is constructed, there is an effect that it is not necessary to provide a camera operator to each slave station.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a main control unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a sub control unit in FIG.

4A is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of slave station information, FIG. 4B is a configuration of a request for speech, FIG. 4C is a configuration of instruction for starting a lecture, and FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a slave station in the video conference system of FIG.

6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main station in the video conference system of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the video conference system of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example of a teacher's console.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a participant console.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional video conference system.

11 is a flowchart showing an operation of the video conference system of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another conventional video conference system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 main station 2-i slave station 3, 4 communication line 5 transmission device section 6 line switching section 7 human camera 8 monitor 9 microphone 10 speaker 11 main control section 12, 13 console 14 sub control section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Camera information such as a camera angle and a focus of a TV camera for photographing a teleconference attendee, and microphone information such as a microphone volume of a microphone for collecting the speech of the attendee. A master station having storage means for storing the attendees in association with each other, and N (N is a positive integer) slave stations for adjusting the television camera and the microphone according to the stored contents of the storage means. A video conferencing system including: 2. Each of the N slave stations includes transmitting means for transmitting the camera information and microphone information in its own station to the master station, and the master station transmits the camera information and microphone information transmitted by the transmitting means. The video conferencing system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage control means for storing in the storage means. 3. The master station further includes transmitting means for transmitting the storage content of the storage means to the slave station, and the slave station adjusts the television camera and the microphone in accordance with the transmitted storage content. The video conference system according to claim 2, which is characterized in that.