KR100943963B1 - Image conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A video conference system for adding a microphone is provided to reduce a producing cost by increasing the number of microphones without additional installation of audio mixers. CONSTITUTION: A video conference system includes microphone devices, cameras and a video conference controller. The microphone device includes a microphone, the first amplifier, a signal sensor, a touch switch, a touch sensor, the second amplifier, a timing controller, a communicating unit, an MCU(Main Controller Unit) and a switch. The Camera is installed in different location and captures images of a designated person respectively. The video conference controller includes a key input unit(110), an audio processor(112), a video matrix(114), a conference room monitor(118), a main controller monitor(120), an MCU(122) and a memory(124).

Description

Video conferencing system {IMAGE CONFERENCE SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a videoconferencing system, and more particularly, to integrate the audio processing unit and the video processing unit into one system, to enable the camera to focus the speaker when the speaker speaks, and to prevent the occurrence of synchose during the video switching. The present invention relates to a videoconferencing system in which an operator can adjust the volume of a microphone when a speaker's voice signal is weak during a videoconference.

Nowadays, with the development of communication system, the compression technology of digital video data has been developed, and the video conferencing system has appeared to allow people at a long distance to have a meeting while watching the image displayed on the monitor screen. In other words, the image of the person who attended the video conference is recorded by the video camera, converted into an electrical signal, encoded and transmitted to the other party through the transmission channel, and the receiving end receives and decodes the other party's video signal through the transmission channel. Video conference is performed by outputting to the monitor of the terminal. At this time, when a voice is inputted to the person who attended the video conference, that is, the microphone placed in front of the speaker, the video signal is detected and a control signal is sent to the video camera so that the video camera is moved in the preset direction. The speaker is photographed by changing the direction or moving the position of the image camera.

In general, a video conference system is a system that conducts a meeting at each location by combining video and audio of conference rooms in remote locations. In recent years, video conferencing systems are required to facilitate the exchange of information with remote locations and to speed up decision making in accordance with the wider and diversified socio-economic activities.

Video conference system basically installs cameras, monitors, microphones, speakers, etc. in each conference room and combines them into two-way video and audio lines.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional videoconferencing system.

A plurality of microphones (M1 to M8) for inputting voices of a plurality of speakers, respectively,

An audio mixer 10 for controlling the sound direction of the voice signal input from the plurality of microphones M1 to M8, changing the sound volume, and controlling the tone and intensity of the sound signal;

With plural cameras CA1-CA4 which respectively photograph images of plural speakers,

By turning on one of the plurality of cameras CA1 to CA4 in which an on state of the plurality of microphones M1 to M8 corresponds to the position of the microphone, the image signals photographed from the plurality of cameras CA1 to CA4 are processed. Output video metrics 12,

Receives a microphone on signal of one of the plurality of microphones M1 to M8 from the audio mixer 10, and outputs a camera driving control signal of the corresponding position to the video matrix 12 and outputs from the audio mixer 10. A main controller 14 for controlling to transmit the processed audio processing signal and the video processing signal output from the video matrix 12;

The video codec 16 encodes and transmits the audio signal output from the audio mixer 10 and the video signal output from the video matrix 12 under the control of the main controller 14.

When the power is turned on, the audio mixer 10 operates the plurality of microphones M1 to M8 to detect voice signals input from the plurality of microphones M1 to M8, and amplifies the voice signals to a predetermined level and outputs the voice signals. At this time, the audio mixer 10 may be set to an automatic mode and a manual mode. If the automatic mixer is set to the automatic mode, a voice signal is inputted from a microphone in which a speaker speaks to make a conference among a plurality of microphones M1 to M8. Sensing and transmits a microphone detection signal to which the voice signal is input to the main controller (14). Then, the main controller 14 transmits a corresponding camera driving control signal among the plurality of cameras CA1 to CA4. The video matrix 12 rotates a corresponding camera at a position where a microphone to which a voice signal is input is installed among the plurality of cameras CA1 to CA4 to capture an image of a speaker. Here, the audio mixer 10 is manufactured to install up to eight microphones, and the video matrix 12 is manufactured to install up to four cameras. For example, if eight microphones are installed, the image of the speaker at the installed position of the microphones M1 to M2 is taken by the camera CA1, and the image of the speaker at the installed position of the microphones M3 to M4 is the camera CA2. The camera CA3 captures the image of the speaker at the installed position of the microphones M5 to M6, and the camera CA4 captures the image of the speaker at the installed position of the microphones M7 to M8. . And if you have four microphones, you can install just one camera. The image signal obtained by capturing the image of the speaker from the camera is image-processed from the video matrix 12 and transmitted to the video codec 16. The video codec 16 encodes an audio signal output from the audio mixer 10 and an image signal of a speaker output from the video matrix 12 under the control of the main controller 14 and transmits the encoded video signal through the Internet network.

However, if there is no need for a teleconference and a meeting is conducted in one conference room, it is set to manual mode and there is no need to send the speaker's image to the outside. Therefore, by turning off all installed cameras or driving only one camera The entire image in the conference room can be displayed.

However, the conventional video conferencing system as described above has the audio mixer 10, the video matrix 12, and the main controller 14 as separate and separate products. Each controller 14 is purchased to produce a video conferencing system, and one audio mixer 10 is designed to be equipped with up to eight microphones (M1 to M8). Since one audio mixer must be installed for every eight microphones, manufacturing cost increases.

In the conventional video conferencing system as described above, since the operator cannot monitor the video conferencing status during the video conferencing, when the speaker's voice signal is weak during the video conferencing, the volume of the microphone cannot be adjusted so that the other party cannot hear the contents well. There was a problem.

In addition, the conventional video conferencing system has no microphone on / off function, so the speaker cannot check whether the microphone is turned on or enlarged, and whenever the speaker's image is switched, the noise is generated. Or a temporary fluttering screen state) occurs, giving the participants a feeling of tiredness and discomfort.

An object of the present invention is to integrate the audio mixer and video matrix and the main controller to solve the above problems can be compactly integrated, and to increase the microphone in response to the increase in the speaker without the additional installation of the audio mixer to manufacture It is to provide a video conferencing system that can significantly reduce the cost.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the operator to monitor the status of the video conferencing during video conferencing, so that the operator can adjust the volume of the microphone when the speaker's voice signal is weak during the video conferencing, the remote party to listen to the contents well To provide a video conferencing system that allows.

It is another object of the present invention to add a microphone on / off function so that a speaker can check whether his microphone is turned on or enlarged, and a video conferencing system that automatically turns off another microphone besides the speaker's microphone to remove ambient noise. In providing.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent synchro noise (screen splashing: the screen turns black or temporarily flutters like an off state) whenever the speaker's image is switched, thereby causing eye fatigue and discomfort to the meeting participants. To provide a video conferencing system that does not give.

The video conference system of the present invention for achieving the above object,

A microphone (MIC) for inputting a voice signal and converting the signal into an electrical signal, a first amplifier (AMP1) for amplifying the voice signal converted from the microphone (MIC) into an electrical signal, and amplified from the first amplifier (AMP1) A signal sensor 101 for sensing a voice signal, a touch switch 102 for turning on / off a microphone, a touch sensor 103 for sensing a touch signal input from the touch switch 102, and the first The second amplifier AMP2 for amplifying and outputting the voice signal of the speaker output from the amplifier AMP1, the timing control unit 108 for counting the set time, the microphone detection signal and the voice volume control signal are RS485. RS485 communication unit 107 for interfacing with the communication method, and receives the use microphone detection signal from the signal sensor 101 to be output to the RS485 communication unit 107, and receives the microphone on / off signal from the touch sensor 103 year Controls to display the microphone on / off status, outputs a switching on / off signal when the microphone on / off signal is detected from the touch sensor 103, and outputs a speaker voice signal volume control signal from the RS485 communication unit 107. And a MCU 106 for outputting a volume gain control signal and outputting a microphone on / off indication and a switching off signal for blocking the voice signal when the voice signal is not input from the microphone for a predetermined time period. A plurality of microphone devices each composed of a switch 109 which is turned on / off by a switching on / off signal of 106 and outputs or cuts off a speaker voice signal output from the second amplifier AMP2;

A plurality of cameras installed at different positions and configured to capture images of a plurality of speakers each designated; And

Predetermined speaker voice signals input from a key input unit 110 including a microphone mode key, an up / down key, an auto / manual mode selection key, a conference mode selection key, and a memory key, and a plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn. The audio processing unit 112 outputs the amplified signal at a level, and selects and drives the plurality of cameras CAM1 to CAM4 based on a predetermined control signal to receive video signals of the selected speakers. The video matrix 114 to be output, the conference room monitor 118 installed in the conference room to display the speaker image signal output from the sink generator 116, and the speaker installed in the broadcasting room and output from the sink generator 116. The main controller main body 120 for displaying an image signal and the microphone mode key, up / down key, auto / manual mode selection key, conference mode selection key, and memory key signals of the key input unit 110 are received. Set the number of cameras and the number of cameras and set the microphone auto / manual mode, and when it is set to auto mode, it controls to switch the image by driving the camera assigned to the microphone which is turned on among a plurality of microphone devices. The MCU 122 controls to turn off the microphone when a voice signal is not input for a predetermined time from the microphone, and outputs a microphone volume adjustment control signal when a specific microphone volume control request signal is input, and the MCU 122. A video conferencing controller, which is connected to a microphone and camera quantity setting value, a microphone auto / manual mode setting value, and a memory 124 for storing a program of the present invention; Characterized by including.

Preferably, the plurality of microphone devices further include a volume controller 105 for controlling the gain of the second amplifier AMP2 according to a predetermined control signal.

The video conferencing controller may further include a sync generator 116 that receives the speaker image signal output from the video matrix 114 and prevents the synch noise when switching the image to a predetermined control signal.

It is preferable to include an operator terminal 126 connected to the MCU 122 to set the microphone number and camera quantity setting and the microphone auto / manual mode, and generate a specific microphone volume control signal.

According to the present invention, the audio mixer, the video matrix, and the main controller can be integrated and compact, and the microphone can be expanded in response to the increase in the speaker without additional installation of the audio mixer, thereby significantly reducing the manufacturing cost. have.

In addition, during the video conference, the operator can monitor the status of the video conferencing so that if the speaker's voice signal is weak during the video conferencing, the operator can adjust the volume of the microphone so that the remote party can listen to the contents well. There is an advantage to that.

In addition, by installing on / off switch and LED for each microphone device, the speaker can check whether his microphone is turned on or enlarged, and the other microphone besides the speaker's microphone can be automatically turned off to remove the ambient noise.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent synchro noise (screen splashing: the screen turns black or temporarily flutters like an off state) whenever the speaker's image is switched, thereby causing eye fatigue and discomfort to the meeting participants. There is an advantage that does not give.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. It should be understood, however, that the invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention described below are merely for explaining the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art, and detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations in the art that may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention are provided. Note that it is omitted.

2 is a schematic block diagram of a videoconferencing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn, which are respectively installed in front of a plurality of speakers for inputting a voice signal during a conference;

A plurality of cameras CAM1 to CAM4 installed at different positions to capture images of a plurality of speakers each designated;

A video conferencing controller 100 for processing and outputting audio signals input from the plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn and speaker image signals input from the plurality of cameras CAM1 to CAM4;

And a codec 200 for encoding a voice signal and a video signal of a speaker processed by the video conferencing controller 100 and transmitting the encoded audio signal to a remote location through the Internet network 300.

3 is a detailed block diagram of the plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn.

A microphone (MIC) for inputting a voice signal and converting it into an electrical signal;

A first amplifier AMP1 for amplifying a voice signal converted from the microphone MIC into an electrical signal;

A signal sensor 101 for sensing an amplified voice signal from the first amplifier AMP1;

A touch switch 102 for turning the microphone on and off,

A touch sensor 103 for sensing a touch signal input from the touch switch 102;

An LED 104 indicating a microphone on / off state by a predetermined control signal,

A volume controller 105 for controlling the gain of the speaker's voice signal output from the first amplifier AMP1 by a predetermined control signal;

A second amplifier AMP2 for amplifying and outputting a voice signal of a speaker output from the first amplifier AMP1 in response to a gain controlled by the volume controller 105;

A timing controller 108 for counting the set time,

RS485 communication unit 107 for interfacing the microphone detection signal and the voice volume control signal using the RS485 communication method,

Receives the use microphone detection signal from the signal sensor 101 to be output to the RS485 communication unit 107, receives the microphone on / off signal from the touch sensor 103 and controls to display the microphone on / off status, Outputting a switching on / off signal when a microphone on / off signal is detected from the touch sensor 103, receiving a speaker voice signal volume control signal from the RS485 communication unit 107, and outputting a volume gain control signal; Main control unit (MCU) 106 for outputting a switching off signal for displaying the microphone on / off and blocking the voice signal when the voice signal is not input from the microphone for a predetermined time;

And a switch 109 which is turned on / off by the switching on / off signal of the MCU 106 and outputs or cuts off a speaker voice signal output from the second amplifier AMP2.

The plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn each have the same configuration as shown in FIG. 3.

The plurality of microphone devices (MIC1 ~ MICn) can be installed from at least one up to 99 depending on the size of the meeting room.

4 is a detailed block diagram of the videoconferencing controller 100 of FIG. 2.

A key input unit 110 having a microphone mode key, an up / down key, an automatic / manual mode selection key, a meeting mode selection key, a memory key, and a volume control mode selection key;

An audio processor 112 for amplifying and outputting a speaker voice signal input from the plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn to a predetermined level;

A video matrix 114 for selectively driving the plurality of cameras CAM1 to CAM4 to a predetermined control signal to receive and output video signals of the selected speaker image signal, and to output the video signal 114;

A sink generator 116 that receives the speaker image signal output from the video matrix 114 and prevents the synch noise when switching the image to a predetermined control signal;

A conference room monitor 118 installed in the conference room for displaying the speaker image signal outputted from the sink generator 116;

A main controller main body monitor (120) installed in a broadcasting room and displaying a speaker image signal output from the sync generator (116);

The microphone number key, the up / down key, the auto / manual mode selection key, the conference mode selection key, and the memory key signal of the key input unit 110 are received and the microphone quantity and camera quantity setting and the microphone automatic / manual mode setting are performed. When set to the mode, it controls to switch the image by driving the camera assigned to the microphone which is turned on among the plurality of microphone devices (MIC1 to MOICn) .When the automatic mode is set, the audio signal is not input for the set time. MCU 122 which controls to turn off the microphone when the microphone is not provided, and outputs a microphone volume adjustment control signal when a specific microphone volume control request signal is input from the key input unit 110 or the operator terminal 126.

A memory 124 connected to the MCU 122 and storing a microphone and camera quantity setting value, a microphone auto / manual mode setting value, a program of the present invention, and the like;

The operator terminal 126 is connected to the MCU 122 and generates a microphone quantity and a camera quantity setting of the present invention, a microphone automatic / manual mode setting, and a specific microphone volume control request signal.

5 is a control flowchart for photographing a speaker's image by driving a corresponding camera whenever a speaker's microphone is switched on during a video conference according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a control flowchart for operating the videoconferencing system of the present invention in an operator terminal installed at a remote location.

2 to 6 will be described in detail the operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The number of microphones of the present invention consists of a capacity to be installed from at least one to a maximum of 99 and the number of cameras is configured from a capacity to be installed from at least one to four. Therefore, in the present invention, even if more than eight microphones are exceeded, the videoconferencing system can be operated without additional installation of the audio mixer, thereby significantly reducing the manufacturing cost. Here, for example, 99 microphones MIC1 to MIC99 may be used to capture an image of a speaker using one camera, and 49 microphones MIC1 to MIC49 of the 99 microphones MIC1 to MIC99 may be cameras CAM1 and 50 microphones. The MIC50 to MIC99 can also take a picture of the speaker with the camera CAM2. In addition, three cameras (CAM1 to CAM3) can be assigned 99 microphones (MIC1 to MIC99) to capture the image of the speaker, and four cameras (CAM1 to CAM3) can be assigned to 99 microphones (MIC1 to MIC99) respectively. You can also take a picture of the speaker.

The plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn are respectively installed in front of the plurality of speakers to input audio signals during the conference. The plurality of cameras CAM1 to CAM4 are installed at different positions to capture images of a plurality of designated speakers, respectively. The video conferencing controller 100 processes and outputs audio signals input from the plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn and speaker image signals input from the plurality of cameras CAM1 to CAM4. The voice signal and the image signal of the speaker output from the videoconferencing controller 100 are encoded through the codec 20 and transmitted to the remote videoconferencing system via the Internet network 300.

For example, the microphone devices MIC1 to MIC8 will be described assuming that the camera CAM1 captures an image of each speaker, and the microphone devices MIC9 to MIC20 will capture a picture of each speaker. When the touch switch 103 of the microphone device MIC1 is touched, the touch sensor 103 detects a microphone on state. The touch switch 103 is on when touched once and off when touched again. When the MCU on signal is detected from the touch sensor 103, the MCU 106 notifies the MCU 122 of the main controller through the RS485 communication unit 107 that the microphone on state of the microphone device MIC1 is on. Transmits the drive control signal of the camera CAM1 to the video matrix 114. The video matrix 114 rotates the camera CAM1 to capture an image of the speaker located in front of the microphone device MIC1. When the rotation of CAM1 is completed, the camera CAM1 captures the image of the speaker located in the microphone device MIC1, and the captured speaker's image is applied to the video matrix 114. The video matrix 114 is a camera. An image signal of the speaker photographed from the CAM1 is processed and output, and the image signal of the speaker processed through the video matrix 114 is passed through the sync generator 116 to the conference monitor 118 and the main controller main body monitor. The video signal of the speaker processed through the video matrix 114 is applied to the codec 200 via the sync generator 116.

In addition, when the microphone on state signal of the microphone MIC1 is detected from the touch sensor 103, the MCU 106 transmits a switching on signal to the switch 109 to turn on the switch 109 and turn on the LED 106. Lights up to indicate that the microphone (MIC1) is on. At this time, when the speaker speaks the conference proceeding voice, it is input to the microphone MIC of the microphone device MIC1, and the voice signal is converted into an electrical signal and output. The first amplifier AMP1 first amplifies and outputs an audio signal converted from the microphone MIC to an electrical signal to a predetermined level. The signal sensor 101 senses the first amplified voice signal from the first amplifier AMP1 and applies it to the MCU 106. The second amplifier AMP2 further amplifies the voice signal of the speaker output from the first amplifier AMP1 to the switch 109 in response to the gain controlled by the volume controller 105. The switch 109 is switched on by the switching on signal of the MCU 106 and applied to the audio processor 112 with a speaker voice signal output from the second amplifier AMP2. The audio processor 112 amplifies the speaker voice signal to a predetermined level and applies it to the codec 200. The codec 200 compresses and encodes the speaker voice signal and the image signal and transmits the same to the remote video conference system through the Internet network 300 to perform a video conference.

When the speaker's image signal is transmitted to the remote location and the touch switch 103 of the microphone device MIC9 is touched, the touch sensor 103 detects the microphone on state. The touch switch 103 is on when touched once and off when touched again. When the MCU on signal is detected from the touch sensor 103, the MCU 106 notifies the MCU 122 of the main controller through the RS485 communication unit 107 that the microphone on state of the microphone device MIC1 is on. Transmits a drive control signal of the camera CAM2 to the video matrix 114. The video matrix 114 rotates the camera CAM2 to capture an image of the speaker located in front of the microphone device MIC9. When the rotation of CAM2 is completed, the camera CAM2 captures an image of the speaker located in the microphone device MIC1, and the captured speaker's image is applied to the video matrix 114. The video matrix 114 is applied to the video matrix 114. The video signal of the speaker captured by the camera CAM2 is processed and output, and the video signal of the speaker processed through the video matrix 114 is passed through the sync generator 116 to monitor the conference monitor 118 and the main controller main body. Is applied to 120 are respectively displayed, and an image signal of a speaker via the video processing matrix 114 is applied to the codec (200 via a sync generator (116).

In addition, when the microphone on state signal of the microphone MIC2 is detected from the touch sensor 103, the MCU 106 transmits a switching on signal to the switch 109 to turn on the switch 109 and turn on the LED 106. To indicate that the microphone MIC2 is on. At this time, when the speaker speaks the conference proceeding voice, it is input to the microphone MIC of the microphone device MIC1, and the voice signal is converted into an electrical signal and output. The first amplifier AMP1 first amplifies and outputs an audio signal converted from the microphone MIC to an electrical signal to a predetermined level. The signal sensor 101 senses the first amplified voice signal from the first amplifier AMP1 and applies it to the MCU 106. The second amplifier AMP2 further amplifies the voice signal of the speaker output from the first amplifier AMP1 to the switch 109 in response to the gain controlled by the volume controller 105. The switch 109 is switched on by the switching on signal of the MCU 106 and applied to the audio processor 112 with a speaker voice signal output from the second amplifier AMP2. The audio processor 112 amplifies the speaker voice signal to a predetermined level and applies it to the codec 200. The codec 200 compresses and encodes the speaker voice signal and the image signal and transmits the same to the remote video conference system through the Internet network 300 to perform a video conference. At this time, if the speaker speaks by turning on the microphone device MIC1 and then turns on the microphone device MIC9, the MCU 122 controls the microphone-off control signal to the MCU 106 of the microphone device MIC1 through the RS485 communication unit 107. Send it. Then, the MCU 106 of the microphone device MIC1 turns off the LED 104 to indicate a state in which the microphone device MIC1 is turned off. The microphone device MIC1 outputs a switching off signal to the switch 109 to turn off the switch 109.

If a microphone on state of another microphone device other than the microphone devices 1 and MIC9 is detected among the plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn, video conferencing is performed by repeating the same method as described above.

As described above, an operation of automatically conducting a video conference by turning off the microphone when the speaker does not detect a voice signal for a predetermined time with the microphone device in the microphone on state during the video conference will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

First, in step 201, the MPU 122 checks whether the power switch provided in the videoconferencing controller 100 is turned on and proceeds to step 122 when the power switch is turned on. In step 122, the MPU 122 initializes the camera to a state in which the camera is designated to capture the speaker's image in correspondence with the number of microphones and the number of cameras.

For example, the microphone devices MIC1 to MIC8 assume that the camera CAM1 captures an image of each speaker, and the microphone devices MIC9 to MIC20 assume that the camera CAM2 captures an image of each speaker. Assuming that the first speaker speaks through the microphone device MIC1, in step 203, the MPU 122 checks whether the touch switch 102 of the microphone device MIC1 is touched through the RS485 communication unit 107 to turn on the microphone. . In step 204, the MPU 122 applies a timer on signal to the MCU 106 through the RS communication unit 107. Then, the MCU 106 drives the timing controller 108 to turn on the timer, and in step 205, the MCU 122 transmits the LED lighting control signal to the MCU (MIC1) of the microphone device MIC1 through the RS485 communication unit 107. In this case, the MCU 106 of the microphone device MIC1 lights up the LED 104 to indicate the microphone on state, and in step 206, the MCU 122 of the speaker device located in the microphone device MIC1 is displayed. In order to capture an image, a driving control signal of the camera CAM1 is applied to the video matrix 114. At this time, the video matrix 114 rotates the camera CAM1 to capture an image of the speaker located in the microphone device MIC1. In step 207, the MPU 122 checks whether the timer of the timing controller 108 has elapsed a setting time (for example, 5 minutes) through the RS485 communication unit 107, and if the setting time has elapsed, in step 207. In step 208, the MCU 122 performs a tie. When the MCU 106 transmits an off signal through the RS485 communication unit 107, the MCU 106 controls the timing controller 108 to turn off the timer, and in step 209, the MCU 122 transmits the RS485 communication unit 107. Outputs the microphone off control signal through the video matrix 114 and the camera off control signal through the video matrix 114. Then, the MCU 106 of the microphone device MIC1 lights the LED 104 to indicate the microphone on state. The video matrix 114 turns off the camera CAM1, but if the set time has not elapsed in step 207, the process proceeds to step 210. The MCU 122 indicates that the speaker of the microphone device MIC1 has a touch switch 102. Touch to check if the microphone is off and proceed to step 208 if the microphone of MIC1 is off. switch And on that test. It determines whether the next speaker is For example, if the current speaker in the microphone device (MIC9) The touch switch 102 of the microphone device (MIC9) is a touch-on microphones. When the microphone of the microphone device MIC9 is turned on, the MCU 122 transmits a timer reset signal to the MCU 106 through the RS485 communication unit 107 in step 212. Then, the MCU 106 controls the timing control unit 108 to reset the timer to count the time from zero again. Thereafter, in step 213, the MCU 122 applies the LED lighting control signal to the MCU 106 of the microphone device MIC9 through the RS485 communication unit 107. At this time, the MCU 106 of the microphone device MIC9 turns on the LED 104 to display the microphone on state. In step 214, the MCU 122 applies the driving control signal of the camera CAM9 to the video matrix 114 to capture an image of the speaker located in the microphone device MIC9. At this time, the video matrix 114 rotates the camera CAM9 to capture the image of the speaker located in the microphone device MIC9 and repeats the operation from step 207.

In addition, the number of microphones may be set by operating the key input unit 110 of the video conferencing controller 100 of FIG. 2 or by executing a program mounted on the operator terminal 126 and specifying and setting a camera corresponding to the set number of microphones. In addition, it is possible to adjust the volume of the voice signal of the speaker input from the mode conversion and the microphone. An operation of setting the operation through the operator terminal 126 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

First, the operator executes a video conferencing system operating program mounted on the operator terminal 126. Types of modes include microphone mode, auto / manual mode, and conference mode. In the microphone mode, the time setting mode for automatically turning off the microphone device is set in the time setting mode, the microphone quantity setting mode for setting the microphone quantity, and the camera setting mode corresponding to the microphone quantity, if the speaker does not input a voice signal for a predetermined time. Classified as Auto / Manual mode is the Auto mode, which turns on the camera to record the speaker's image by rotating the camera corresponding to the microphone device when the microphone unit is turned on. This mode turns off the microphone unit. The conference mode is classified into a video conference mode and an audio conference mode. The video conference mode is a mode in which a microphone and a camera are operated to simultaneously operate an audio and a speaker's video signal, and the audio conference mode does not display a speaker's video. This mode turns off the camera operation and processes only the speaker's voice signal to amplify and output the speaker.

Therefore, the current mode as described above is set in step 301. In step 302, the microphone quantity is set. For example, if you need 10 microphones, select the microphone quantity and set the number of microphones to 10. If the microphone orientation is set in step 303, the number of cameras is set, and then the camera is designated according to the number of microphones. That is, 99 microphones (MIC1 to MIC99) can be used to capture an image of a speaker using one camera. Among the 99 microphones (MIC1 to MIC99), 49 microphones (MIC1 to MIC49) are cameras (CAM1) and 50 microphones (MIC50). MIC99) can also take a picture of the speaker with the camera CAM2. In addition, 99 microphones MIC1 to MIC99 can be allocated to the three cameras CAM1 to CAM3 to capture the image of the speaker, and there are 99 to four cameras CAM1 to CAM3.

The mode is set as described above, and if there is a stored preset in step 304, the flow proceeds to step 306. In addition, when the touch switch 102 of the specific microphone device is switched on and is switched on, the process proceeds to step 306. In step 306, the camera moves to the corresponding camera preset and the flow proceeds to step 307. In step 307, the MCU 122 selects the camera designated by the video matrix 114 so as to select the camera channel, and in step 308, the LED 104 of the switched-on microphone device is controlled to turn on.

In step 309, if the volume control mode is selected to adjust the volume of the specific microphone device during the video conference, the volume control mode is selected in step 310. Thereafter, the microphone volume level is set in step 311, and the set volume value is stored in the memory 124 in step 312.

In addition, to change the mode among the microphone mode, the auto / manual mode, and the conference mode, it is checked whether the mode conversion mode is selected in step 313. If the mode conversion mode is selected, the flow proceeds to step 314. In operation 314, the corresponding mode is selected and set, and the converted mode is stored in the memory 124 in operation 315.

On the other hand, when the operation of setting the mode by the key input unit 110 provided in the controller 100 for video conferencing, when the mode selection key is pressed, a menu for selecting a microphone mode, an auto / manual mode and a conference mode is displayed. It is displayed on the monitor 120, and it is selected by the up / down key among the displayed modes. Pressing the Enter key after selecting the microphone mode displays the time setting and the microphone quantity setting.Then select the time setting or the microphone quantity setting mode with the up / down keys, press the enter key, select the number with the up / down keys, and press the enter key. After pressing the key, press the memory key to store the selected number in relation to the time setting time or the number of microphones. After selecting auto / manual mode, press enter key to select auto or manual mode by up / down key, press enter key and press memory key to set auto mode or manual mode. In conference mode, press the Enter key after selecting the conference mode to select the video conference or audio conference mode by up / down key, press the Enter key and press the save key to set the video conference or audio conference mode. When the volume control key is pressed, a plurality of microphone channels are displayed, and one of the displayed microphone channels is selected by the up / down key, and the volume level is selected by the up / down key again, then press the Enter key and the memory key is pressed. Stores the volume level of the microphone device.

<Brief description of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1 is a block diagram of a conventional videoconferencing system.

2 is a schematic block diagram of a videoconferencing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a detailed block diagram of a plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn.

4 is a detailed block diagram of the videoconferencing controller 100 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart for photographing a speaker's image by driving a corresponding camera whenever a speaker's microphone is switched on during a video conference according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a control flow diagram for operating the videoconferencing system of the present invention in an operator terminal installed at a remote location.

<Brief description of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: video conferencing controller 200: codec

300: Internet network

110: key input unit 112: audio processing unit

114: Video Metrics 116: Sync Generator

118: meeting room monitor 120: main controller main body monitor

122: MCU 124: memory

126: operator terminal rod

Claims (4)

In a video conference system, A microphone (MIC) for inputting a voice signal and converting the signal into an electrical signal, a first amplifier (AMP1) for amplifying the voice signal converted from the microphone (MIC) into an electrical signal, and amplified from the first amplifier (AMP1) A signal sensor 101 for sensing a voice signal, a touch switch 102 for turning on / off a microphone, a touch sensor 103 for sensing a touch signal input from the touch switch 102, and the first The second amplifier AMP2 for amplifying and outputting the voice signal of the speaker output from the amplifier AMP1, the timing control unit 108 for counting the set time, the microphone detection signal and the voice volume control signal are RS485. RS485 communication unit 107 for interfacing with the communication method, and receives the use microphone detection signal from the signal sensor 101 to be output to the RS485 communication unit 107, and receives the microphone on / off signal from the touch sensor 103 year Controls to display the microphone on / off status, outputs a switching on / off signal when the microphone on / off signal is detected from the touch sensor 103, and outputs a speaker voice signal volume control signal from the RS485 communication unit 107. And a MCU 106 for outputting a volume gain control signal and outputting a microphone on / off indication and a switching off signal for blocking the voice signal when the voice signal is not input from the microphone for a predetermined time period. A plurality of microphone devices each composed of a switch 109 which is turned on / off by a switching on / off signal of 106 and outputs or cuts off a speaker voice signal output from the second amplifier AMP2; A plurality of cameras installed at different positions and configured to capture images of a plurality of speakers each designated; And Predetermined speaker voice signals input from a key input unit 110 including a microphone mode key, an up / down key, an auto / manual mode selection key, a conference mode selection key, and a memory key, and a plurality of microphone devices MIC1 to MICn. The audio processing unit 112 outputs the amplified signal at a level, and selects and drives the plurality of cameras CAM1 to CAM4 based on a predetermined control signal to receive video signals of the selected speakers. The video matrix 114 to be output, the conference room monitor 118 installed in the conference room to display the speaker image signal output from the sink generator 116, and the speaker image installed in the broadcasting room and output from the sink generator 116. The main controller main body 120 displaying the signal and the microphone mode key, up / down key, automatic / manual mode selection key, conference mode selection key, and memory key of the key input unit 110 receive the number of microphones. Volume and camera quantity settings, microphone auto / manual mode setting, and when set to auto mode, controls the camera to switch the image by turning on the specified camera among the microphone devices. The MCU 122 controls the microphone to be turned off when a voice signal is not input from the microphone for a predetermined time, and outputs a microphone volume adjustment control signal when a specific microphone volume control request signal is input. A video conferencing controller connected to the memory 124, the memory 124 storing a microphone and camera quantity setting value, a microphone auto / manual mode setting value, a program of the present invention, and the like; Video conferencing system comprising a. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of microphone devices, And a volume controller (105) for controlling the gain of the second amplifier (AMP2) by a predetermined control signal. The videoconferencing controller according to claim 1 or 2, And a sync generator (116) for receiving a speaker image signal output from the video matrix (114) to prevent sink noise when switching the image to a predetermined control signal. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And an operator terminal (126) connected to the MCU (122) to set a microphone quantity, a camera quantity setting, a microphone auto / manual mode, and generate a specific microphone volume control request signal.

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