JPH04344789A - Remote conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the remote conference system in which a sense of disorder in the operation is surely decreased when a common job such as a conference tying remote locations is implemented. CONSTITUTION:The system is provided with a virtual conference console (virtual conference console 12), a setting means (central control system 1) setting a virtual conference room 11 depending on the mutual relation of position participants A-E taking seat thereon, plural image pickup means (TV cameras 3B1-3E1) picking up the participant in the virtual conference room set by the setting means and plural display means (display devices 3B-3E) displaying a video image of the participant, and plural virtual conference nodes 2-4 corresponding to number of remote locations.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a teleconferencing system, and in particular to a teleconferencing system characterized by the ability to comfortably conduct meetings between remote locations using an appropriate information transmission medium. be.

0002

[Prior Art] In order to smoothly carry out collaborative work by many participants such as in a conference between remote locations, T.
V transmitters/receivers and other necessary electronic systems and devices are placed at required locations, and video and audio signals are exchanged electronically as information that allows participants to understand each other's situations. There is. However, there is a problem in that the conventional methods have a disadvantage in that the positions of those participating in such collaborative work may be slightly misaligned with each other, making the use of the conventional methods very uncomfortable. An example of this type of conventional system is the "Line-of-Sight Image Communication System" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-50691. In the method disclosed in this publication, an image signal that shows the person's face from the front is sent to the person with whom one wants to have a conversation, that is, an image signal that allows the person's line of sight to meet, and other people By sending an image signal that makes the participants look away from each other, it is possible to communicate among the participants in the meeting.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional technology as described above, the positional relationship between many participants differs depending on the participants, so it is difficult to communicate with other participants. The problem with this method was that the interlocutors did not seem to be facing each other, and there was still a strong sense of discomfort when using it.

[0004] This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional technology. The object of the present invention is to provide a remote conference system that steadily reduces discomfort.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A remote conference system according to the present invention provides a virtual conference table (virtual conference table 12 in FIG. 1).
and a setting means (central control system 1) for setting a virtual conference room (11) determined by the mutual positional relationship of the participants (A to E) seated therein, and participation in the virtual conference room set by the setting means. multiple means of photographing people (
A plurality of virtual conference room nodes (2) corresponding to remote locations are equipped with a plurality of display means (displays 3B-3E) for displaying images of participants (TV cameras 3B1-3E1) and
~4).

[0006]

[Operation] According to the present invention, a virtual conference table (virtual conference table 12 in FIG. 1) and participants (A to E) seated at the virtual conference table (virtual conference table 12 in FIG. 1)
Settings of virtual conference rooms (11) determined by mutual positional relationships are performed by the central control system 1 as a setting means. Then, a virtual meeting room node corresponding to the remote location (
For example, the photographing means in 3) (TV cameras 3B1 to 3E)
The optimal video of the participants photographed in step 1) is displayed on the corresponding video of the display means (displays 3B to 3E). By doing so, the conference can be held between participants at remote locations without causing any visual discomfort.

[0007]

Embodiment FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a remote conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a central control system 1 performs overall control and management necessary for meetings held between remote locations, and also functions as a virtual conference room setting means, which will be described later in connection with FIG. It is something that we fulfill. For example, if this meeting is to be held between a corporate entity's head office and multiple branch offices, a large computer located within the head office may be used for this purpose. #1 Virtual conference room node 2,... #
i virtual conference room node 3, ... #n virtual conference room node 3
is a node corresponding to conference participants at the head office and each branch office, and is displayed on an appropriate display screen for remote conferences at the head office and each branch office. Here, #1 virtual conference room node 2
corresponds to the head office, #i virtual conference room node 3,...
- It is assumed that #n virtual conference room node 3 corresponds to each branch office. The control lines 5, 6, and 7 connect the #1 virtual conference room node 2, #i virtual conference room node 3, and #n virtual conference room node 3 to the central control system 1, respectively, and each node is connected to the central control system 1. This central control system 1 performs various controls regarding the positional relationships between the conferences and issues related to the progress of the conference. Further, the video/audio transmission lines 8, 9, and 10 connect the virtual conference room nodes,
Video and audio information corresponding to the body movements and opinions expressed by conference participants as the conference progresses is exchanged between each virtual conference room node.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram functionally showing the remote conference system according to the above embodiment. In this FIG. 1, a virtual conference room 11 set in the central control system 1
A circular virtual conference table 12 is set up, and participant A
, B, C, D, and E are seated surrounding this virtual conference table 12. At an arbitrary #i virtual conference room node 3, participant A has joined the conference, and the other participants appear on the corresponding display. In other words, the appearances of participants B, C, D, and E are as follows.
It appears on the corresponding displays 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E. And TV camera 3B1, 3C1, 3D1, 3E1
All of these images show images of participant A, and an appropriate image is selected and transmitted to the other participants. Here, the video information showing Participant A's appearance is transmitted to the other participant through the TV camera that captures the image that is closest to a face-to-face situation for the other participant as the other participant in the current conversation. It is like that. For example, now participant A
Suppose that a person is having a conversation with participant B, and when the image of participant A shown on the TV camera 3B1 is closest to a face-to-face situation for participant B, the image of participant A shown on this TV camera 3B1 appears. The video will be transmitted to the participant B mentioned above. Since the case where participant A is interacting with participant B is taken as an example here, participant C,
I have not met D and E. However, participant C,
The image of Participant A, which can be viewed from both D and E as being in a posture where Participant A is having a conversation with Participant B, causes each of Participant C, D, and E to feel a sense of discomfort. It is transmitted without incident.

[0009]

Effects of the Invention As described above in detail, the remote conference system according to the present invention provides a virtual conference table (virtual conference table 12 in FIG. 1) and participants seated thereon (A
~E) Virtual conference room determined by mutual positional relationship (11
) is made by the central control system 1 as a setting means. Then, the photographing means (TV camera 3B1) in the virtual conference room node (for example 3) corresponding to the remote location
The most suitable video of the participants photographed in steps 3E1) to 3E1 is displayed on the corresponding display means (displays 3B to 3E). By doing so, it is possible to carry out a conference between participants at a remote location without causing an unnatural appearance.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram functionally showing a remote conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a remote conference system according to the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1... central control system, 2... #1 virtual conference room node, 3... #i virtual conference room node, 4...
#n Virtual conference room node, 5-7... Control line, 8-1
0... Video/audio transmission line, A to E... Conference participants, 3B to 3E... Display, 3B1 to 3E1
・・・TV camera

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Setting means for setting a virtual conference room determined by a virtual conference table and mutual positional relationships of participants seated thereon; a plurality of virtual conference room nodes corresponding to remote locations and equipped with a plurality of photographing means and a plurality of display means for displaying images of participants;
A remote conference system for holding a conference between participants in a remote location, in which, from the perspective of a participant belonging to a specific node, there is a video of a participant belonging to another node who is the other party of the dialogue. A remote conference system characterized in that the most suitable one is selected and displayed.