JP2000152207A

JP2000152207A - Method, system and server for controlling multispot communication and storage medium storing multispot communication control program

Info

Publication number: JP2000152207A
Application number: JP10325626A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Michiaki Matsuura; 道明松浦; Shinya Kaneko; 真也金子
Original assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp
Current assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp
Priority date: 1998-11-16
Filing date: 1998-11-16
Publication date: 2000-05-30

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time required for face image exchange by exchanging face images between a terminal group having exchanged images and a terminal which newly responds each time the terminal responds. SOLUTION: When a starting member terminal responds, a face image ID is sent out to a server. The face image ID is immediately added to a face image ID table. The server inquires the face image of the face image ID of a host of the starting terminal and the face image of the image ID of the starting member of the host terminal according to the face image ID table 300 and then their results are sent and written to the face image ID table 300 on the server. Even if a new terminal responds among terminals which are being called during the face image exchange, the face image ID is put in a queue 700 and the head of the queue 700 is added to the face image table 300 when the exchange of face images in process is completed, so that the exchange of face images is repeated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

【０００１】[0001]

【発明の属する技術分野】本発明は、多地点間通信制御
方法及びシステム及びサーバ及び多地点間通信制御プロ
グラムを格納した記憶媒体に係り、特に、会話型マルチ
メディア通信システムにおいて通話に先立ち喜怒哀楽の
感情に対応した顔画像を通信相手と交換し、通話中は各
端末で送話者の感情をその音声や顔画像から抽出し、抽
出された感情情報を通信相手に伝送し、通信相手は受信
した感情情報に対応した顔画像を読み出して、表示部に
表示する感情通信システムにおける多地点間通信制御方
法及びシステム及びサーバ及び多地点間通信制御プログ
ラムを格納した記憶媒体に関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipoint communication control method and system, a server, and a storage medium storing a multipoint communication control program, and more particularly to an interactive multimedia communication system prior to a call. The face image corresponding to the emotion of sorrow is exchanged with the communication partner, and during the telephone call, the emotion of the sender is extracted from the voice or the face image at each terminal, and the extracted emotion information is transmitted to the communication partner, and the communication partner is The present invention relates to a multipoint communication control method and system in an emotion communication system for reading a face image corresponding to received emotion information and displaying the read face image on a display unit, a server, and a storage medium storing a multipoint communication control program.

【０００２】[0002]

【従来の技術】会話型マルチメディア通信システムの感
情通信システムにおいて、顔画像を交換する時、通信が
初めての相手の場合には、当該顔画像を通信相手に送
り、２度目以上の通信相手の時には、顔画像を送らない
という顔画像の端末間の交換制御が特開平９−１３８７
６７に記載されている。この方法は、送信者が通信装置
の入力手段を用いて送信メッセージ送信処理回路に入力
すると、当該送信メッセージを送信処理回路では、送信
メッセージに送信者を識別する識別信号と、感情を示す
感情信号とを付加して送信データを作成し、伝送路を介
して受信側の通信装置に送信する。受信側の通信装置の
受信処理回路は、送信データを送信した通信装置との間
の通信が初回であるときには、送信データのうち送信者
を表示する画像に関する情報をデータメモリにストアす
る。受信処理回路は、受信した送信データ中の送信メッ
セージを表示装置の目視表示領域に目視表示する。さら
に、識別信号を判別して対応する画像を感情信号に対応
した状態で変更して目視表示する。さらに、送信メッセ
ージは、感情信号に応じた音響によって音響化され、ス
ピーカから出力される。これにより、送信者の感情を受
信者に伝え、かつ送話側の装置から受信側の装置に送信
されるデータのデータ量を減少させることができる。2. Description of the Related Art In an emotion communication system of a conversational multimedia communication system, when exchanging a face image, if the communication is a communication partner for the first time, the face image is transmitted to the communication partner, and a second or more communication partner is transmitted. Occasionally, the control of exchanging a face image between terminals such that a face image is not transmitted is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-1387.
67. In this method, when a sender inputs a transmission message to a transmission message transmission processing circuit using input means of the communication device, the transmission processing circuit converts the transmission message into an identification signal for identifying the sender and an emotion signal indicating emotion. To generate transmission data, and transmit the transmission data to the communication device on the receiving side via the transmission path. When the communication with the communication device that has transmitted the transmission data is performed for the first time, the reception processing circuit of the communication device on the reception side stores, in the data memory, information regarding the image displaying the sender in the transmission data. The reception processing circuit visually displays the transmission message in the received transmission data in a visual display area of the display device. Further, the identification signal is determined, and the corresponding image is changed and visually displayed in a state corresponding to the emotion signal. Further, the transmission message is converted into a sound by a sound corresponding to the emotion signal and output from the speaker. As a result, the emotion of the sender can be transmitted to the receiver, and the amount of data transmitted from the transmitting device to the receiving device can be reduced.

【０００３】[0003]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら、上記の
特開平９−１３８７６７では、端末が１対１（サーバを
介さない）あるいは、サーバを介した多地点間で接続さ
れると、各端末においては、入力された送信メッセージ
の送信が指示された時、顔画像が相手端末に分配され
る。即ち、第１回目の送信メッセージの送信において
は、顔画像が分配されるが、２回目以降の送信メッセー
ジの送信では、顔画像は分配されない。多地点の顔画像
分配については、複数の送信者と同時に通信を行ってい
るとき、目視領域には通信を行っている送信者の画像が
それぞれ表示されるが、各端末では、通信の開始前に他
の地点の顔画像は蓄積していない。つまり、このような
顔画像交換制御では、追加接続がなされる場合には、後
から追加接続された端末は先に接続されている端末の顔
画像を入手できないという問題がある。However, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-138767, when terminals are connected one-to-one (without a server) or between multiple points via a server, each terminal has When transmission of the input transmission message is instructed, the face image is distributed to the partner terminal. That is, the face images are distributed in the first transmission of the transmission message, but are not distributed in the transmission of the second and subsequent transmission messages. For multi-point face image distribution, when communicating with multiple senders at the same time, the image of the communicating sender is displayed in the viewing area, but at each terminal, before the start of communication No facial images of other points are stored. That is, in such face image exchange control, when additional connection is made, there is a problem that a terminal additionally connected later cannot obtain a face image of a terminal connected earlier.

【０００４】具体的には、当初Ａ，Ｂがサーバを介して
接続されている場合、端末Ａには端末Ｂの顔画像、端末
Ｂには端末Ａの顔画像が蓄積され、その後、Ａ，Ｂの通
話がしばらく経過してから、端末Ｃがサーバを介して接
続されたものとする。端末Ｃはその第１回目の送信メッ
セージの送信時に、端末Ａ，Ｂに顔画像Ｃを分配し、こ
の結果、端末Ａ，ＢはＣの顔画像を入手する。しかしな
がら、端末Ａ，Ｂは、端末Ｃの追加接続時には既に第１
回の送信メッセージの送信を行っている可能性が高いの
で、端末Ａ，Ｂは端末Ｃに顔画像を送出することができ
ないという問題がある。[0004] Specifically, when A and B are initially connected via a server, the face image of terminal B is stored in terminal A, and the face image of terminal A is stored in terminal B. It is assumed that the terminal C has been connected via the server after the call of B has passed for a while. When transmitting the first transmission message, the terminal C distributes the face image C to the terminals A and B. As a result, the terminals A and B obtain the face image of C. However, the terminals A and B already have the first
There is a high possibility that the transmission message has been transmitted twice, so that there is a problem that the terminals A and B cannot transmit a face image to the terminal C.

【０００５】本発明は、上記の点に鑑みなされたもの
で、通話に先立ち喜怒哀楽の感情に対応した顔画像を通
信相手と交換し、通話中は各端末で送話者の感情をその
音声や顔画像から抽出し、抽出された感情情報を通信相
手に伝送し、通信相手は受信した感情情報に対応した顔
画像を読み出して、表示部に表示すると共に、多地点の
端末間においても感情情報及び顔画像を伝送することが
可能な多地点間通信制御方法及びシステム及びサーバ及
び多地点間通信制御プログラムを格納した記憶媒体を提
供することを目的とする。The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and exchanges a face image corresponding to emotions of emotions with a communication partner prior to a call, and changes the emotion of the sender at each terminal during the call. Extracted from voice and face images, transmit the extracted emotion information to the communication partner, and the communication partner reads out the face image corresponding to the received emotion information, displays it on the display unit, and also between terminals at multiple points. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multipoint communication control method and system capable of transmitting emotion information and a face image, a server, and a storage medium storing a multipoint communication control program.

【０００６】[0006]

【課題を解決するための手段】図１は、本発明の原理を
説明するための図である。本発明（請求項１）は、複数
の端末がネットワークを介してサーバと接続される多地
点間における多地点間通信制御方法において、ホストと
なる端末（以下、ホスト端末と記す）がサーバと接続し
た後、メンバとなる端末の電話番号をサーバに通知し
（ステップ１）、サーバは、通知されたメンバ端末の電
話番号により、該メンバ端末の呼出しを行った後（ステ
ップ２）、該メンバ端末が応答する毎に（ステップ
３）、該メンバ端末から送信された顔画像ＩＤを待ち行
列に加え（ステップ４）、待ち行列の先頭に存在する顔
画像ＩＤを顔画像ＩＤテーブルに追加し（ステップ
５）、顔画像ＩＤテーブルに基づいて、自地点以外の顔
画像のＩＤを各端末に送出し（ステップ６）、該各端末
から送信された自地点以外の顔画像の蓄積状況を顔画像
ＩＤテーブルに記録し（ステップ７）、顔画像を蓄積す
る画像記憶手段に顔画像交換に必要な顔画像が存在しな
い場合には、各端末に自地点の顔画像の送信を要求し
（ステップ８）、該各端末から送信された顔画像を該画
像記憶手段に蓄積すると共に（ステップ９）、該各端末
から顔画像が送信される毎に、該顔画像の蓄積情報を顔
画像ＩＤテーブルに記録し（ステップ１０）、顔画像Ｉ
Ｄテーブルの記録に基づき、各端末に自端末が所持して
いない他地点の顔画像を送信する（ステップ１１）と共
に、上記の処理を繰り返す。FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. According to the present invention (claim 1), in a multipoint multipoint communication control method in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network, a host terminal (hereinafter referred to as a host terminal) is connected to the server. Then, the server notifies the server of the telephone number of the member terminal (step 1). The server calls the member terminal using the notified telephone number of the member terminal (step 2). Every time a response is made (step 3), the face image ID transmitted from the member terminal is added to the queue (step 4), and the face image ID existing at the head of the queue is added to the face image ID table (step 3). 5) Based on the face image ID table, the ID of the face image other than the own location is sent to each terminal (step 6), and the accumulation status of the face image other than the own location transmitted from each terminal is stored in the face image. If the face image required for face image exchange does not exist in the image storage means for storing the face image in the D table (step 7), the terminal is requested to transmit the face image at the own location (step 8). The face image transmitted from each terminal is stored in the image storage means (step 9), and each time a face image is transmitted from each terminal, the stored information of the face image is stored in the face image ID table. Recording (step 10), face image I
Based on the record in the D table, a face image of another point not owned by the terminal is transmitted to each terminal (step 11), and the above processing is repeated.

【０００７】本発明（請求項２）は、サーバにおいて、
メンバ端末から送信された顔画像ＩＤを待ち行列に加え
る際に、画像記憶手段に顔画像を蓄積していない、また
は、各端末に他地点の顔画像を送信していないタイミン
グで行う。本発明（請求項３）は、顔画像ＩＤテーブル
において、ホスト端末、応答したメンバ端末及びサーバ
での当該多地点間の通信に関わる顔画像の蓄積状況を蓄
積する。[0007] The present invention (claim 2) provides a server
When the face image ID transmitted from the member terminal is added to the queue, the process is performed at a timing when the face image is not stored in the image storage means or the face image at another location is not transmitted to each terminal. According to the present invention (claim 3), in the face image ID table, the accumulation status of the face image related to the multipoint communication between the host terminal, the responding member terminal and the server is accumulated.

【０００８】本発明（請求項４）は、複数の端末がネッ
トワークを介してサーバと接続される多地点間における
多地点間通信制御方法において、各端末が任意の時刻に
各々サーバにアクセスする時に、各端末から送信される
顔画像ＩＤを待ち行列に加え、待ち行列の先頭に存在す
る顔画像ＩＤを顔画像ＩＤテーブルに追加し、顔画像Ｉ
Ｄテーブルに基づいて、自地点以外の顔画像の蓄積状況
を各端末に問い合わせ、その結果を該顔画像ＩＤテーブ
ルに記録し、顔画像を蓄積する画像記憶手段に顔画像交
換に必要な顔画像が存在しない場合には、各端末に自地
点の顔画像の送信を要求し、各端末から送信された顔画
像を画像記憶手段に蓄積すると共に、該画像記憶手段で
の各顔画像の蓄積状況を顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録し、
顔画像ＩＤテーブルの記録に基づいて、各端末の自端末
が所持していない他地点の顔画像を送信し、上記の処理
を繰り返す。According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multipoint communication control method in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network, wherein each terminal accesses the server at an arbitrary time. The face image ID transmitted from each terminal is added to the queue, and the face image ID existing at the head of the queue is added to the face image ID table.
Based on the D table, each terminal is inquired about the accumulation status of the face image other than the own location, the result is recorded in the face image ID table, and the face image necessary for face image exchange is stored in the image storage means for storing the face image. If no is present, each terminal is requested to transmit a face image at its own location, the face images transmitted from each terminal are stored in the image storage means, and the accumulation status of each face image in the image storage means is stored. Is recorded in the face image ID table,
Based on the record in the face image ID table, each terminal transmits a face image of another location that the terminal does not own, and repeats the above processing.

【０００９】本発明（請求項５）は、顔画像ＩＤを顔画
像ＩＤテーブルに追加する際に、各端末からの顔画像の
蓄積状況を顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録中でない、また
は、各端末から送信された顔画像を画像記憶手段に蓄積
していないタイミングで行う。本発明（請求項６）は、
顔画像ＩＤの代わりに、端末ＩＤを用いる。According to the present invention (claim 5), when the face image ID is added to the face image ID table, the accumulation status of the face images from each terminal is not being recorded in the face image ID table, or This is performed at a timing when the transmitted face image is not stored in the image storage means. The present invention (claim 6)
The terminal ID is used instead of the face image ID.

【００１０】図２は、本発明の原理構成図である。本発
明（請求項７）は、複数の端末がネットワークを介して
サーバと接続される多地点間における多地点間通信制御
システムであって、ホストとなる端末（以下、ホスト端
末と記す）３０は、サーバと接続した後、メンバとなる
端末の電話番号をサーバに通知する電話番号通知手段を
有し、サーバ１０は、送信された顔画像ＩＤの順序を管
理する待ち行列１１と、顔画像ＩＤを記録する顔画像Ｉ
Ｄテーブル１２と、顔画像を記録する画像記憶手段１３
と、通知されたメンバ端末の電話番号により、該メンバ
端末の呼出しを行った後、該メンバ端末が応答する毎
に、該メンバ端末から送信された顔画像ＩＤを待ち行列
１１に加える顔画像ＩＤ取得手段１４と、待ち行列１１
の先頭に存在する顔画像ＩＤを顔画像ＩＤテーブル１２
に追加する顔画像ＩＤ追加手段１５と、顔画像ＩＤテー
ブル１２に基づいて、自地点以外の顔画像のＩＤを各端
末に送出し、該各端末から送信された自地点以外の顔画
像の蓄積状況を顔画像ＩＤテーブル１２に記録する顔画
像蓄積状況記録手段１６と、画像記憶手段１３に顔画像
交換に必要な顔画像が存在しない場合には、各端末に自
地点の顔画像の送信を要求し、該各端末から送信された
顔画像を該画像記憶手段１３に蓄積すると共に、該各端
末から顔画像が送信される毎に、該顔画像の蓄積情報を
顔画像ＩＤテーブル１２に記録する顔画像送信要求手段
１７と、顔画像ＩＤテーブル１２の記録に基づき、各端
末に自端末が所持していない他地点の顔画像を送信する
多地点顔画像送信手段１８とを有し、顔画像ＩＤ取得手
段１４、顔画像ＩＤ追加手段１５、顔画像蓄積状況記録
手段１６、顔画像送信要求手段１７及び多地点顔画像送
信手段１８の処理を繰り返す制御手段１９とを有する。FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. The present invention (claim 7) is a multipoint communication control system between multiple points in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network, wherein a host terminal (hereinafter referred to as a host terminal) 30 Has a telephone number notifying unit for notifying the server of the telephone number of the terminal that is to be a member after connecting to the server. The server 10 includes: a queue 11 for managing the order of the transmitted face image IDs; Face image I to record
D table 12 and image storage means 13 for recording face images
After calling the member terminal according to the notified telephone number of the member terminal, the face image ID transmitted from the member terminal is added to the queue 11 every time the member terminal responds. Acquisition means 14 and queue 11
The face image ID existing at the top of the
Based on the face image ID adding means 15 and the face image ID table 12, the ID of the face image other than the own point is sent to each terminal, and the face image other than the own point transmitted from each terminal is stored. If there is no face image required for face image exchange in the face image accumulation state recording means 16 for recording the situation in the face image ID table 12 and the image storage means 13, the terminal transmits the face image at its own location to each terminal. Request and store the face image transmitted from each terminal in the image storage means 13 and record the stored information of the face image in the face image ID table 12 every time the face image is transmitted from each terminal. And a multi-point face image transmitting means 18 for transmitting a face image of another point not owned by the terminal to each terminal based on the record of the face image ID table 12. Image ID acquisition means 14, face image I Additional means 15, and a control unit 19 to repeat the process of the face image storing status recording unit 16, a face image transmission requesting unit 17 and the multi-point facial image transmitting means 18.

【００１１】本発明（請求項８）は、制御手段１９にお
いて、顔画像蓄積状況記録手段１６または、顔画像送信
要求手段１７を実行していない時に、顔画像ＩＤ追加手
段１５を実行させる。本発明（請求項９）は、顔画像Ｉ
Ｄテーブル１２において、ホスト端末、応答したメンバ
端末及びサーバでの当該多地点間の通信に関わる顔画像
の蓄積状況を蓄積する。According to the present invention (claim 8), the control means 19 causes the face image ID adding means 15 to be executed when the face image accumulation status recording means 16 or the face image transmission request means 17 is not executed. According to the present invention (claim 9), the face image I
In the D table 12, the accumulation status of the face images related to the multipoint communication between the host terminal, the responding member terminals, and the server is accumulated.

【００１２】本発明（請求項１０）は、複数の端末がネ
ットワークを介してサーバと接続される多地点間におけ
る多地点間通信制御システムであって、サーバは、送信
された顔画像ＩＤの順序を管理する待ち行列と、顔画像
ＩＤを記録する顔画像ＩＤテーブルと、顔画像を記録す
る画像記憶手段と、各端末が任意の時刻に各々サーバに
アクセスする時に、各端末から送信される顔画像ＩＤを
待ち行列に加える顔画像ＩＤ取得手段と、待ち行列の先
頭に存在する顔画像ＩＤを顔画像ＩＤテーブルに追加す
る顔画像ＩＤ追加手段と、顔画像ＩＤテーブルに基づい
て、自地点以外の顔画像の蓄積状況を各端末に問い合わ
せ、その結果を該顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録する顔画像
蓄積状況問い合わせ・記録手段と、画像記憶手段に顔画
像交換に必要な顔画像が存在しない場合には、各端末に
自地点の顔画像の送信を要求する顔画像送信要求手段
と、各端末から送信された顔画像を画像記憶手段に蓄積
すると共に、該画像記憶手段での各顔画像の蓄積状況を
顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録する顔画像蓄積状況記録手段
と、顔画像ＩＤテーブルの記録に基づいて、各端末の自
端末が所持していない他地点の顔画像を送信する多地点
顔画像送信手段と、顔画像ＩＤ取得手段、顔画像ＩＤ追
加手段、顔画像蓄積状況問い合わせ・記録手段、顔画像
送信要求手段、顔画像蓄積状況記録手段、及び多地点顔
画像送信手段とを制御する制御手段とを有する。According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multipoint communication control system in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network, wherein the server determines an order of transmitted face image IDs. , A face image ID table for recording a face image ID, an image storage means for recording a face image, and a face transmitted from each terminal when each terminal accesses the server at an arbitrary time. A face image ID obtaining means for adding an image ID to the queue, a face image ID adding means for adding a face image ID existing at the head of the queue to the face image ID table, and a face image ID table based on the face image ID table. A face image accumulation status inquiry / recording unit for inquiring each terminal about the accumulation status of the facial image and recording the result in the face image ID table; If no image exists, a face image transmission requesting unit for requesting each terminal to transmit a face image at its own location, and a face image transmitted from each terminal are stored in the image storage unit. A face image storage status recording means for recording the storage status of each of the face images in the face image ID table, and transmitting a face image of another location which is not owned by the terminal of each terminal based on the record of the face image ID table Face image transmission means, face image ID acquisition means, face image ID addition means, face image accumulation status inquiry / recording means, face image transmission request means, face image accumulation status recording means, and multipoint face image transmission means And control means for controlling

【００１３】本発明（請求項１１）は、制御手段におい
て、顔画像蓄積状況問い合わせ・記憶手段、顔画像送信
要求手段、及び顔画像蓄積状況記録手段が実行中でない
時に、顔画像ＩＤ追加手段を実行させる。本発明（請求
項１２）は、顔画像ＩＤの代わりに、端末ＩＤを用い
る。本発明（請求項１３）は、複数の端末がネットワー
クを介して接続される多地点間における多地点間通信制
御システムのサーバであって、送信された顔画像ＩＤの
順序を管理する待ち行列と、顔画像ＩＤを記録する顔画
像ＩＤテーブルと、顔画像を記録する画像記憶手段と、
端末と接続した後、メンバとなる端末の電話番号を該端
末から取得する電話番号取得手段と、通知されたメンバ
端末の電話番号により、該メンバ端末の呼出しを行った
後、該メンバ端末が応答する毎に、該メンバ端末から送
信された顔画像ＩＤを待ち行列に加える顔画像ＩＤ取得
手段と、待ち行列の先頭に存在する顔画像ＩＤを顔画像
ＩＤテーブルに追加する顔画像ＩＤ追加手段と、顔画像
ＩＤテーブルに基づいて、自地点以外の顔画像のＩＤを
各端末に送出し、該各端末から送信された自地点以外の
顔画像の蓄積状況を顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録する顔画
像蓄積状況記録手段と、画像記憶手段に顔画像交換に必
要な顔画像が存在しない場合には、各端末に自地点の顔
画像の送信を要求し、該各端末から送信された顔画像を
該画像記憶手段に蓄積すると共に、該各端末から顔画像
が送信される毎に、該顔画像の蓄積情報を顔画像ＩＤテ
ーブルに記録する顔画像送信要求手段と、顔画像ＩＤテ
ーブルの記録に基づき、各端末に自端末が所持していな
い他地点の顔画像を送信する多地点顔画像送信手段とを
有し、顔画像ＩＤ取得手段、顔画像ＩＤ追加手段、顔画
像蓄積状況記録手段、顔画像送信要求手段及び多地点顔
画像送信手段の処理を繰り返す制御手段とを有する。According to the present invention (claim 11), in the control means, when the face image accumulation status inquiry / storage means, the face image transmission request means, and the face image accumulation status recording means are not being executed, the face image ID adding means is provided. Let it run. According to the present invention (claim 12), a terminal ID is used instead of the face image ID. The present invention (claim 13) is a server of a multipoint communication control system between multipoints in which a plurality of terminals are connected via a network, wherein the queue manages the order of transmitted face image IDs. A face image ID table for recording a face image ID, an image storage means for recording a face image,
After the connection with the terminal, the member terminal is called by the telephone number acquiring means for acquiring the telephone number of the member terminal from the terminal, and the member terminal is called by the notified telephone number of the member terminal. A face image ID acquiring means for adding the face image ID transmitted from the member terminal to the queue, and a face image ID adding means for adding the face image ID existing at the head of the queue to the face image ID table. A face image that transmits the ID of the face image other than the own location to each terminal based on the face image ID table and records the accumulation status of the face image other than the own location transmitted from each terminal in the face image ID table If there is no face image required for face image exchange in the storage status recording means and the image storage means, each terminal is requested to transmit a face image at its own location, and the face image transmitted from each terminal is For image storage means Each time a face image is transmitted from each of the terminals, a face image transmission requesting means for recording the accumulated information of the face image in the face image ID table, and Multi-point face image transmission means for transmitting a face image of another point not owned by the terminal itself; face image ID acquisition means, face image ID addition means, face image accumulation status recording means, face image transmission request means And control means for repeating the processing of the multipoint face image transmitting means.

【００１４】本発明（請求項１４）は、制御手段におい
て、顔画像蓄積状況記録手段または、顔画像送信要求手
段が実行していない時に、顔画像ＩＤ追加手段を実行さ
せる。本発明（請求項１５）は、顔画像ＩＤテーブルに
おいて、ホスト端末、応答したメンバ端末及びサーバで
の当該多地点間の通信に関わる顔画像の蓄積状況を蓄積
する。The present invention (claim 14) causes the control means to execute the face image ID adding means when the face image accumulation status recording means or the face image transmission request means is not executing. According to the present invention (claim 15), in the face image ID table, the accumulation status of the face image related to the multipoint communication between the host terminal, the responding member terminal and the server is accumulated.

【００１５】本発明（請求項１６）は、複数の端末がネ
ットワークを介して接続される多地点間における多地点
間通信制御システムのサーバであって、端末から送信さ
れた顔画像ＩＤの順序を管理する待ち行列と、顔画像Ｉ
Ｄを記録する顔画像ＩＤテーブルと、顔画像を記録する
画像記憶手段と、各端末が任意の時刻に各々サーバにア
クセスする時に、各端末から送信される顔画像ＩＤを待
ち行列に加える顔画像ＩＤ取得手段と、待ち行列の先頭
に存在する顔画像ＩＤを顔画像ＩＤテーブルに追加する
顔画像ＩＤ追加手段と、顔画像ＩＤテーブルに基づい
て、自地点以外の顔画像の蓄積状況を各端末に問い合わ
せ、その結果を該顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録する顔画像
蓄積状況問い合わせ・記録手段と、画像記憶手段に顔画
像交換に必要な顔画像が存在しない場合には、各端末に
自地点の顔画像の送信を要求する顔画像送信要求手段
と、各端末から送信された顔画像を画像記憶手段に蓄積
すると共に、該画像記憶手段での各顔画像の蓄積状況を
顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録する顔画像蓄積状況記録手段
と、顔画像ＩＤテーブルの記録に基づいて、各端末の自
端末が所持していない他地点の顔画像を送信する多地点
顔画像送信手段と、顔画像ＩＤ取得手段、顔画像ＩＤ追
加手段、顔画像蓄積状況問い合わせ・記録手段、顔画像
送信要求手段、顔画像蓄積状況記録手段、及び多地点顔
画像送信手段とを制御する制御手段とを有する。[0015] The present invention (claim 16) is a server of a multipoint communication control system between a plurality of terminals to which a plurality of terminals are connected via a network. Queue to manage and face image I
A face image ID table for recording D, image storage means for recording face images, and a face image for adding a face image ID transmitted from each terminal to a queue when each terminal accesses the server at an arbitrary time ID acquisition means, face image ID addition means for adding the face image ID existing at the head of the queue to the face image ID table, and, based on the face image ID table, the status of accumulation of face images at locations other than the own location. And a means for inquiring / recording a face image accumulation status for recording the result in the face image ID table. If no face image necessary for face image exchange exists in the image storage means, the face of the own location is stored in each terminal. A face image transmission requesting unit for requesting image transmission, and a face image transmitted from each terminal is stored in an image storage unit, and a storage status of each face image in the image storage unit is stored in a face image ID table. A face image accumulation status recording means for recording, a multi-point face image transmitting means for transmitting a face image of another point not owned by each terminal based on the record of the face image ID table, and a face image ID acquisition Control means for controlling the face image ID adding means, the face image accumulation status inquiry / recording means, the face image transmission request means, the face image accumulation status recording means, and the multi-point face image transmission means.

【００１６】本発明（請求項１７）は、サーバの制御手
段において、顔画像蓄積状況問い合わせ・記憶手段、顔
画像送信要求手段、及び顔画像蓄積状況記録手段が実行
中でない時に、顔画像ＩＤ追加手段を実行させる。本発
明（請求項１８）は、サーバにおいて、顔画像ＩＤの代
わりに、端末ＩＤを用いる。According to the present invention (claim 17), the control means of the server adds a face image ID when the face image accumulation status inquiry / storage means, the face image transmission request means, and the face image accumulation status recording means are not being executed. Execute the means. According to the present invention (claim 18), a terminal ID is used in the server instead of the face image ID.

【００１７】本発明（請求項１９）は、複数の端末がネ
ットワークを介して接続される多地点間における多地点
間通信制御システムのサーバに搭載される多地点間通信
制御プログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、端末と接
続した後、メンバとなる端末の電話番号を該端末から取
得する電話番号取得プロセスと、通知されたメンバ端末
の電話番号により、該メンバ端末の呼出しを行った後、
該メンバ端末が応答する毎に、該メンバ端末から送信さ
れた顔画像ＩＤを待ち行列に加える顔画像ＩＤ取得プロ
セスと、待ち行列の先頭に存在する顔画像ＩＤを顔画像
ＩＤテーブルに追加する顔画像ＩＤ追加プロセスと、顔
画像ＩＤテーブルに基づいて、自地点以外の顔画像のＩ
Ｄを各端末に送出し、該各端末から送信された自地点以
外の顔画像の蓄積状況を顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録する
顔画像蓄積状況記録プロセスと、顔画像を蓄積する画像
記憶手段に顔画像交換に必要な顔画像が存在しない場合
には、各端末に自地点の顔画像の送信を要求し、該各端
末から送信された顔画像を該画像記憶手段に蓄積すると
共に、該各端末から顔画像が送信される毎に、該顔画像
の蓄積情報を顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録する顔画像送信
要求プロセスと、顔画像ＩＤテーブルの記録に基づき、
各端末に自端末が所持していない他地点の顔画像を送信
する多地点顔画像送信プロセスと、顔画像ＩＤ取得プロ
セス、顔画像ＩＤ追加プロセス、顔画像蓄積状況記録プ
ロセス、顔画像送信要求プロセス及び多地点顔画像送信
プロセスの処理を繰り返す制御プロセスとを有する。The present invention (claim 19) provides a storage medium storing a multipoint communication control program installed in a server of a multipoint multipoint communication control system in which a plurality of terminals are connected via a network. After connecting to the terminal, after calling the member terminal by a telephone number acquisition process of obtaining the telephone number of the terminal to be a member from the terminal, and by calling the notified terminal number of the member terminal,
Each time the member terminal responds, a face image ID acquisition process for adding the face image ID transmitted from the member terminal to the queue, and a face for adding the face image ID existing at the head of the queue to the face image ID table Based on the image ID addition process and the face image ID table, the I
D to each terminal, and a face image accumulation status recording process of recording the accumulation status of the face image at a location other than the own location transmitted from each terminal in the face image ID table. If there is no face image required for image exchange, the terminal requests each terminal to transmit a face image at its own location, stores the face image transmitted from each terminal in the image storage means, and Each time a face image is transmitted from the user, based on the face image transmission request process of recording the accumulated information of the face image in the face image ID table and the recording of the face image ID table,
A multi-point face image transmission process of transmitting a face image of another point not owned by the terminal to each terminal, a face image ID acquisition process, a face image ID addition process, a face image accumulation status recording process, a face image transmission request process And a control process for repeating the process of the multi-point face image transmission process.

【００１８】本発明（請求項２０）は、制御プロセスに
おいて、顔画像蓄積状況記録プロセスまたは、顔画像送
信要求プロセスが実行されていない時に、顔画像ＩＤ追
加プロセスを実行させる。本発明（請求項２１）は、顔
画像ＩＤテーブルにおいて、ホスト端末、応答したメン
バ端末及びサーバでの当該多地点間の通信に関わる顔画
像の蓄積状況を蓄積する。According to the present invention (claim 20), in the control process, when the face image accumulation status recording process or the face image transmission request process is not executed, the face image ID adding process is executed. According to the present invention (claim 21), in the face image ID table, the accumulation status of the face image related to the multipoint communication between the host terminal, the responding member terminal and the server is accumulated.

【００１９】本発明（請求項２２）は、複数の端末がネ
ットワークを介して接続される多地点間における多地点
間通信制御システムのサーバに搭載される多地点間通信
制御プログラムを格納した記憶媒体であって、各端末が
任意の時刻に各々サーバにアクセスする時に、各端末か
ら送信される顔画像ＩＤを待ち行列に加える顔画像ＩＤ
取得プロセスと、待ち行列の先頭に存在する顔画像ＩＤ
を顔画像ＩＤテーブルに追加する顔画像ＩＤ追加プロセ
スと、顔画像ＩＤテーブルに基づいて、自地点以外の顔
画像の蓄積状況を各端末に問い合わせ、その結果を該顔
画像ＩＤテーブルに記録する顔画像蓄積状況問い合わせ
・記録プロセスと、顔画像を蓄積する画像記憶手段に顔
画像交換に必要な顔画像が存在しない場合には、各端末
に自地点の顔画像の送信を要求する顔画像送信要求プロ
セスと、各端末から送信された顔画像を画像記憶手段に
蓄積すると共に、該画像記憶手段での各顔画像の蓄積状
況を顔画像ＩＤテーブルに記録する顔画像蓄積状況記録
プロセスと、顔画像ＩＤテーブルの記録に基づいて、各
端末の自端末が所持していない他地点の顔画像を送信す
る多地点顔画像送信プロセスと、顔画像ＩＤ取得プロセ
ス、顔画像ＩＤ追加プロセス、顔画像蓄積状況問い合わ
せ・記録プロセス、顔画像送信要求プロセス、顔画像蓄
積状況記録プロセス、及び多地点顔画像送信プロセスと
を制御する制御プロセスとを有する。The present invention (claim 22) provides a storage medium storing a multipoint communication control program installed in a server of a multipoint multipoint communication control system in which a plurality of terminals are connected via a network. When each terminal accesses the server at an arbitrary time, the face image ID transmitted from each terminal is added to the queue.
Acquisition process and face image ID at the head of the queue
Is added to the face image ID table, and based on the face image ID table, each terminal is inquired about the accumulation status of the face images other than the own location, and the result is recorded in the face image ID table. A face image transmission request for requesting each terminal to transmit a face image at its own location when an image storage status inquiry / recording process and a face image required for face image exchange do not exist in the image storage means for storing the face image. A face image accumulation status recording process for accumulating a face image transmitted from each terminal in an image storage unit and recording an accumulation status of each face image in the image storage unit in a face image ID table; A multi-point face image transmission process of transmitting a face image of another location not owned by each terminal based on the record in the ID table, a face image ID acquisition process, and a face image ID A process, a face image storage state inquiry and recording process, the face image transmission request process, a control process for controlling the face image storage state recording process, and multi-point facial image transmission process.

【００２０】本発明（請求項２３）は、制御プロセスに
おいて、顔画像蓄積状況問い合わせ・記録プロセス、顔
画像送信要求プロセス、及び顔画像蓄積状況記録プロセ
スが実行中でない時に、顔画像ＩＤ追加プロセスを実行
させる。本発明（請求項２４）は、顔画像ＩＤの代わり
に、端末ＩＤを用いる。上記のように、本発明では、サ
ーバからメンバを呼び出すサーバ発信型の多地点間通信
を対象としている。この場合、すぐに応答するメンバ端
末もあれば、呼出し後、相当時間を経過して初めて応答
する端末もあることが予想される。一番応答の遅い端末
に合わせて顔画像交換を開始すると、全体として顔画像
交換の所要時間が長くなる。このため、端末が応答する
毎に、既に互いに顔画像交換の済んだ端末群と新たに応
答した端末の間で顔画像交換を行うようにすれば、一つ
でも端末が応答すれば顔画像交換を行うことが可能とな
り、顔画像交換に要する時間を全体として短縮すること
が可能となる。According to the present invention (claim 23), in the control process, when the face image accumulation status inquiry / recording process, the face image transmission request process, and the face image accumulation status recording process are not being executed, the face image ID adding process is performed. Let it run. The present invention (claim 24) uses a terminal ID instead of a face image ID. As described above, the present invention is directed to server-originated multipoint communication in which members are called from a server. In this case, it is expected that some member terminals respond immediately, and some terminals respond only after a considerable time has elapsed after the call. If the face image exchange is started in accordance with the terminal having the slowest response, the time required for the face image exchange becomes longer as a whole. For this reason, every time a terminal responds, if a face image exchange is performed between a group of terminals that have already exchanged face images and a terminal that has newly responded, if at least one terminal responds, face image exchange will be performed. Can be performed, and the time required for face image exchange can be reduced as a whole.

【００２１】[0021]

【発明の実施の形態】図３は、本発明の多地点間通信に
おける感情通信システム構成を示す。同図に示すシステ
ムは、端末Ａ３０〜端末Ｎ３Ｎがネットワーク２０を介
してサーバ１０に接続されている構成である。例えば、
端末としては、情報携帯端末（ＰＤＡ）＋ＰＨＳ電話機
を想定すると共に、サーバは、複数のＩＳＤＮ６４回線
によりネットワークと接続されるものとする。FIG. 3 shows a configuration of an emotion communication system in multipoint communication according to the present invention. The system shown in the figure has a configuration in which terminals A30 to N3N are connected to a server 10 via a network 20. For example,
It is assumed that the terminal is a personal digital assistant (PDA) + PHS telephone and the server is connected to the network by a plurality of ISDN 64 lines.

【００２２】感情通信システムの顔画像の交換では、上
記の構成で実現されるが、さらに、以下のことも前提と
する。通信相手の顔画像の蓄積は、通信の終了後、各端末
の利用者が選択（顔画像を蓄積する／蓄積しない）する
ものとする。当該の多地点間通信（Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ，…）において、
参加端末間（Ａ，Ｂ間等）で初めての通信の場合には、
当該端末間で顔画像を交換するが、２回目以上の通信の
場合には、顔画像の交換は行わないことにより、顔画像
交換に要する時間の短縮を図る。The exchange of face images in the emotion communication system is realized by the above-described configuration, but further presupposes the following. It is assumed that the user of each terminal selects (accumulates / does not accumulate face images) the communication partner's face image after the end of communication. In the multipoint communication (A, B, C, ...),
For the first communication between participating terminals (between A and B)
The face images are exchanged between the terminals, but in the case of the second or later communication, the exchange of the face images is not performed, thereby shortening the time required for the face image exchange.

【００２３】端末所持者は好きな時に、自地点の顔
画像を最新のものに変更が可能である。このため、例え
ば、Ａ，Ｂ間の通信が２回目以上であっても、Ａの所有
者が自地点の顔画像を最新のものに取り替えた場合に
は、Ｂは通話に先立ってＡの顔画像を新たに入手しなけ
ればならない。次に、サーバ１０について説明する。The terminal owner can change the face image of his / her own location to the latest one at any time. Therefore, for example, even if the communication between A and B is the second time or more, if the owner of A replaces the face image at his / her own location with the latest one, B receives the face of A before calling. I have to get a new image. Next, the server 10 will be described.

【００２４】図４は、本発明のサーバの構成を示す。同
図に示すサーバ１０は、中央処理部１００、電話番号蓄
積部２００、顔画像ＩＤテーブル３００、画像メモリ４
００、同報分配部５００、回線終端部６００、６０１、
…、６０Ｎ、待ち行列７００から構成される。以下に説
明において、多地点間通信の主催者をホスト（１名）と
呼び、それ以外の参加者をメンバと呼ぶこととする。FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the server of the present invention. The server 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a central processing unit 100, a telephone number storage unit 200, a face image ID table 300, an image memory 4
00, broadcast distribution unit 500, line termination units 600, 601,
, 60N, and a queue 700. In the following description, the host of the multipoint communication is referred to as a host (1 person), and the other participants are referred to as members.

【００２５】ホスト端末３０がサーバ１０の複数の回線
に割り当てられた代表電話番号をダイヤルすると、サー
バと接続される交換機において、複数回線の中から空き
回線（回線終端部６００につながった回線）が選択さ
れ、サーバ１０と接続される。ホスト端末３０は、サー
バ１０と接続後、複数メンバ端末の電話番号をサーバ１
０に送信し、電話番号は電話番号蓄積部２００に格納さ
れる。When the host terminal 30 dials a representative telephone number assigned to a plurality of lines of the server 10, an empty line (a line connected to the line terminating unit 600) is selected from the plurality of lines in an exchange connected to the server. Selected and connected to server 10. After connecting to the server 10, the host terminal 30 enters the telephone numbers of the plurality of member terminals into the server 1.
0, and the telephone number is stored in the telephone number storage unit 200.

【００２６】中央処理部１００は、電話番号蓄積部２０
０からメンバの電話番号を読み出し、呼び出しのために
空きの回線終端部６０１、６０２、…につながった回線
を探し、当該空き回線終端部からネットワークにつなが
れたメンバ端末を一斉に呼び出す。最初のメンバ端末が
応答すると、サーバ１０へその顔画像ＩＤ（顔画像ＩＤ
は例えば、当該端末の電話番号と顔画像の作成日時より
構成される）が送出される。最初のメンバ端末応答であ
るので、直ちに、顔画像ＩＤは顔画像ＩＤテーブルに追
加される。サーバ１０は、顔画像ＩＤテーブル３００に
基づき、最初のメンバ端末には、ホストの顔画像ＩＤの
顔画像、ホスト端末には最初のメンバの画像ＩＤの顔画
像の有無を問い合わせると、その結果が送信されてくる
ので、その結果をサーバ１０の顔画像ＩＤテーブル３０
０に書き込む。この顔画像ＩＤテーブル３００を見れ
ば、端末に送信すべき顔画像が明らかになるので、サー
バ１０の画像メモリ４００に必要な画像がない場合、顔
画像を各端末からサーバ１０にアップロードし、画像メ
モリ４００に蓄積した後、所望の顔画像を各端末に分配
することとなる。The central processing unit 100 includes a telephone number storage unit 20
The telephone number of the member is read from 0, a line connected to an empty line termination unit 601, 602,... Is searched for a call, and the member terminals connected to the network are simultaneously called from the empty line termination unit. When the first member terminal responds, the face image ID (face image ID) is sent to the server 10.
Is composed of, for example, the telephone number of the terminal and the date and time when the face image was created). Since this is the first member terminal response, the face image ID is immediately added to the face image ID table. Based on the face image ID table 300, the server 10 inquires the first member terminal about the presence or absence of the face image of the host's face image ID and the host terminal about the presence or absence of the face image of the first member's image ID. Since the result is transmitted, the result is stored in the face image ID table 30 of the server 10.
Write to 0. By looking at the face image ID table 300, the face image to be transmitted to the terminal becomes clear. If there is no necessary image in the image memory 400 of the server 10, the face image is uploaded from each terminal to the server 10, and After storing in the memory 400, a desired face image is distributed to each terminal.

【００２７】なお、上記顔画像交換中に呼出し中の端末
の中で新たに端末の応答があってもその顔画像ＩＤは待
ち行列７００に並び、進行中の顔画像の交換が終了した
時点で待ち行列７００の先頭が顔画像テーブル３００に
追加されることにより、前述の顔画像の交換を繰り返
す。この顔画像の交換が行われた後、各端末の画面に
は、当該多地点通信の参加者の顔画像が表示される。ま
た、各端末では、音声あるいは、顔画像から感情を抽出
し、同報分配部５００により発言者の音声と共に、感情
情報が各端末に分配される。端末に到着した音声はスピ
ーカで再生されると共に、感情情報に対応した顔画像が
画像メモリ４００から選択されて画面に表示される。It should be noted that even if there is a new terminal response among the calling terminals during the face image exchange, the face image IDs are queued in the queue 700 and when the ongoing face image exchange is completed. When the head of the queue 700 is added to the face image table 300, the exchange of the face images described above is repeated. After the face images are exchanged, the face images of the participants of the multipoint communication are displayed on the screen of each terminal. In each terminal, emotions are extracted from the voice or the face image, and the broadcast distribution unit 500 distributes the emotion information together with the voice of the speaker to each terminal. The voice arriving at the terminal is reproduced by the speaker, and a face image corresponding to the emotion information is selected from the image memory 400 and displayed on the screen.

【００２８】[0028]

【実施例】以下、図面と共に本発明の実施例を説明す
る。図５は、本発明の一実施例のサーバにおける３地点
通信（端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ）の顔画像交換制御のフローチャ
ートであり、当該フローチャートの動作の交換シーケン
スを図６に示す。Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of face image exchange control of three-point communication (terminals A, B, and C) in the server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an exchange sequence of operations in the flowchart.

【００２９】図６は、本発明の一実施例のＡ，Ｂ，Ｃ間
の通信が初めての時の顔画像の交換シーケンスチャート
である。ここで、以下で使用されるコマンドの実現例を
示す。以下の説明中の○内の数字と、図中の○内の数字
は対応するものとする。電話番号の通知（ホスト端末→サーバ）：電話番号
通知のコマント＋ホスト端末の顔画像のＩＤ＋メンバＡ
の電話番号＋メンバＢの電話番号＋… 追加接続端末の電話番号の通知（ホストあるいはメ
ンバ端末→サーバ）：追加電話番号通知コマンド＋追加
メンバ端末Ｃの電話番号＋追加メンバ端末Ｄの電話番号
＋… 応答（メンバ端末→サーバ）：応答コマンド＋応答
端末の顔画像ＩＤ顔画像の有無の問い合わせ（サーバ→ホスト・メン
バ端末）：問い合わせコマンド＋端末Ａから受信した顔
画像ＡのＩＤ＋端末Ｂから受信した顔画像ＢのＩＤ＋… 顔画像の有無の問い合わせに対する回答（ホスト・
メンバ端末→サーバ）：回答コマンド→で受信した顔
画像ＡのＩＤ＋その有無＋で受信した顔画像ＢのＩＤ
＋その有無＋…ここで、「有り」とは、各端末において
自分が所持している他地点の顔画像のＩＤ群とサーバか
ら送信されてきた問い合わせ対象の顔画像ＩＤを照合
し、問い合わせ対象の顔画像が自地点で所持している顔
画像の中に存在することを意味する。FIG. 6 is a face image exchange sequence chart when communication between A, B, and C is performed for the first time in one embodiment of the present invention. Here, an implementation example of the command used below is shown. It is assumed that the numbers in the circles in the following description correspond to the numbers in the circles in the figure. Notification of telephone number (host terminal → server): Command of telephone number notification + ID of face image of host terminal + member A
Notification of the telephone number of the additional member terminal + the telephone number of the additional member terminal (host or member terminal → server): an additional telephone number notification command + the telephone number of the additional member terminal C + the telephone number of the additional member terminal D + … Response (member terminal → server): response command + face image ID of response terminal Inquiry of presence / absence of face image (server → host / member terminal): inquiry command + face image A ID received from terminal A + received from terminal B ID of face image B + ... Answer to inquiry about presence / absence of face image (host /
(Member terminal → server): ID of face image A received by answer command → ID of face image B received by presence / absence +
+ Presence / absence +... "Presence" means that each terminal compares the ID group of the face image of the other location owned by each terminal with the face image ID of the inquiry target transmitted from the server, and Means that the face image exists in the face image possessed at the own point.

【００３０】「無し」は、自地点が所持している顔画像
の中に問い合わせ対象の顔端末ＩＤに含まれる電話番号
が一致するものは存在しない、あるいは、顔画像ＩＤに
含まれる電話番号は存在するが、両者の作成日時が異な
るという２つの場合が存在する。顔画像の要求（サーバ→ホスト・メンバ端末）：顔
画像要求コマンド＋コマンドの送出先の端末ＩＤ顔画像の送出（ホスト・メンバ端末→ホスト）：顔
画像分配コマンド＋顔画像データ顔画像の分配（サーバ→ホスト・メンバ端末）：顔
画像分配コマンド＋顔画像データ受信終了：受信完了コマンド＋受信完了送出元の端
末ＩＤなお、端末ＩＤは、例えば、電話番号、顔画像ＩＤは電
話番号＋顔画像の作成日時により構成される。"None" means that there is no face image possessed by the own location that matches the telephone number included in the face terminal ID to be queried, or the phone number included in the face image ID is However, there are two cases in which the date and time of creation are different. Request for face image (server → host / member terminal): face image request command + terminal ID of command transmission destination Face image transmission (host / member terminal → host): face image distribution command + face image data distribution of face image (Server → host member terminal): face image distribution command + face image data reception end: reception completion command + reception completion transmission source terminal ID Note that the terminal ID is, for example, a telephone number, and the face image ID is a telephone number + face It is composed of the date and time when the image was created.

【００３１】以下の処理は、サーバ１０の中央処理部１
００で行うものとする。まず、端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ間の通信
が初めての時について説明する。サーバ１０から端末
Ｂ，Ｃの呼出しを行うと、電話番号をサーバ１０に通知
するときに、ホストの顔画像ＩＤがサーバ１０に通知さ
れ、端末Ｂからの応答時にメンバの顔画像ＢのＩＤがサ
ーバ１０に送信される。メンバＣの応答は遅れており、
図６の顔画像交換中のステップ２１５で実施される。The following processing is performed by the central processing unit 1 of the server 10.
00 is assumed. First, a case where communication between the terminals A, B, and C is performed for the first time will be described. When the terminals B and C are called from the server 10, when the telephone number is notified to the server 10, the face image ID of the host is notified to the server 10, and when the terminal B responds, the ID of the member's face image B is changed. Sent to server 10. Member C ’s response is late,
This is performed in step 215 during face image exchange in FIG.

【００３２】上記の各コマンドを参照しながら図５のフ
ローチャートの動作を説明する。ステップ１０１）最初のメンバ応答であり、待ち行列
７００には、顔画像ＢのＩＤしか並んでいないので直ち
にステップ１０２に移行する。ステップ１０２）最初の応答であるので（ステップ１
０３〜ステップ１０６を実施していない）、ステップ１
０３に移行する。The operation of the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the above commands. Step 101) Since this is the first member response, and only the ID of the face image B is arranged in the queue 700, the process immediately proceeds to step 102. Step 102) Since this is the first response (Step 1)
03 to Step 106 are not implemented), Step 1
Shift to 03.

【００３３】ステップ１０３）Ｂの顔画像ＩＤのＢを
顔画像ＩＤテーブル３００に追加する。図７は、本発明
の一実施例のＡ，Ｂ，Ｃ間の通信が初めてのときの顔画
像ＩＤテーブルの生成過程を示す。同図の各行は、端末
Ａ，Ｂ及びサーバ１０における最新の顔画像Ａ，Ｂの蓄
積状況を示す。ステップ１０４）各端末に対し、サーバ１０は、顔画
像の有無を問い合わせる（図６のステップ２０７、２０
９）。即ち、端末Ａに対しては顔画像ＢのＩＤ、端末Ｂ
に対しては顔画像ＡのＩＤを送出する。顔画像ＩＤを各
端末が受信すると、各端末で受信した顔画像ＩＤと自地
点の端末のメモリ中にそれまでの通信で保持している通
信相手の顔画像ＩＤとを照合し、存在すれば「有り」と
いうことで、当該顔画像ＩＤと共に“○”、存在しなけ
れば当該顔画像ＩＤと共に“×”に相当するコードをサ
ーバ１０に回答する（図６のステップ２０８、２１
０）。Step 103) B of the face image ID B is added to the face image ID table 300. FIG. 7 shows a process of generating a face image ID table when communication between A, B, and C is performed for the first time in one embodiment of the present invention. Each row in the figure shows the accumulation status of the latest face images A and B in the terminals A and B and the server 10. Step 104) The server 10 inquires of each terminal whether or not there is a face image (Steps 207 and 20 in FIG. 6).
9). That is, for the terminal A, the ID of the face image B, the terminal B
, The ID of the face image A is transmitted. When each terminal receives the face image ID, the terminal compares the face image ID received by each terminal with the face image ID of the communication partner held in the memory of the terminal at the own location in the communication up to that time, and if there is, A response corresponding to "O" with the face image ID, and a code corresponding to "X" with the face image ID if not, are sent to the server 10 (steps 208 and 21 in FIG. 6).
0).

【００３４】顔画像ＩＤテーブル３００には、各端末か
ら送信された照合結果が記入される。このケースでは、
各端末Ａ，Ｂには顔画像ＩＤそのものが存在しないこと
から、“×”が記入される（図７のＴ２，Ｔ３）。ステップ１０５）図７のＴ４で示される顔画像ＩＤテ
ーブル３００の「サーバ」行をチェックすることによ
り、必要な顔画像Ａ，Ｂは存在しないことがわかる。こ
のため、端末Ａに顔画像Ａ，端末Ｂには顔画像Ｂを要求
する（図６のステップ２１１、２１３）。送信要求を受
けた端末Ａ，Ｂは、各々最新の顔画像Ａ，Ｂをサーバ１
０に送出する（図６ステップ２１２、２１４）。また、
顔画像を受信する毎に、画像メモリ４００に顔画像が蓄
積されたことを記録するために顔画像ＩＤテーブル３０
０の「サーバ」行に“○”に相当するコードが記入され
る（図７のＴ４，Ｔ５）。この結果、サーバ１０には、
送信する顔画像が準備できたことになる。In the face image ID table 300, the comparison result transmitted from each terminal is entered. In this case,
Since there is no face image ID in each of the terminals A and B, "x" is entered (T2, T3 in FIG. 7). Step 105) By checking the “server” row of the face image ID table 300 indicated by T4 in FIG. 7, it is found that the necessary face images A and B do not exist. For this reason, the terminal A requests the face image A and the terminal B requests the face image B (steps 211 and 213 in FIG. 6). The terminals A and B that have received the transmission request send the latest face images A and B to the server 1 respectively.
0 (steps 212 and 214 in FIG. 6). Also,
Each time a face image is received, a face image ID table 30 is stored to record that the face image has been stored in the image memory 400.
A code corresponding to “○” is entered in the “server” line of 0 (T4, T5 in FIG. 7). As a result, the server 10
The face image to be transmitted is ready.

【００３５】ステップ１０６）端末Ａには、顔画像
Ｂ、端末Ｂには顔画像Ａを送信する（図６のステップ２
１６、２１８）。また、図６の受信完了信号（図６のス
テップ２１７、２１９）を受信すると、サーバ１０の画
像メモリ４００では、図７のＴ６，Ｔ７に示すように各
端末に顔画像が存在していることを示すために、「Ａ」
行、「Ｂ」行に“○”に相当するコードを記入する。以
上で、最初に応答したメンバＢとホストＡの間で顔画像
の交換が終了する。Step 106) The face image B is transmitted to the terminal A, and the face image A is transmitted to the terminal B (step 2 in FIG. 6).
16, 218). When the reception completion signal (steps 217 and 219 in FIG. 6) is received in FIG. 6, the image memory 400 of the server 10 determines that a face image exists in each terminal as shown in T6 and T7 in FIG. "A" to indicate
A code corresponding to “○” is written in the “B” line. As described above, the exchange of the face image between the member B and the host A responding first is completed.

【００３６】上記のステップ１０６が終了すると、再び
ステップ１０１に戻る。この時に、待ち行列７００に
は、既にステップ２１５のタイミングで端末Ｃが応答し
ているので、Ｃの顔画像ＩＤが存在する。ステップ１０
３において、今度は、Ｃの顔画像ＩＤを顔画像ＩＤテー
ブル３００に追加し、図８のＴ８に示すような顔画像Ｉ
Ｄテーブル３００が作成され、今度は、端末Ａと端末
Ｃ、端末Ｂと端末Ｃ間で顔画像の交換を行うこととな
る。図９には、既に顔画像の交換が済んでいる端末群に
対して、新たに端末が参加して多地点間通信を行う時
に、実施する顔画像交換の組み合わせを示す。このよう
に顔画像交換は、新たに加わる端末と、すでに顔画像交
換が済んでいる端末との組み合わせが対象となる。When step 106 is completed, the process returns to step 101 again. At this time, since the terminal C has already responded to the queue 700 at the timing of step 215, the face image ID of C exists. Step 10
3, the face image ID of C is added to the face image ID table 300, and the face image ID as shown in T8 of FIG.
The D table 300 is created, and face images are exchanged between the terminals A and C and between the terminals B and C. FIG. 9 shows a combination of face image exchanges performed when a new terminal joins a group of terminals that have already exchanged face images to perform multipoint communication. As described above, the face image exchange covers a combination of a newly added terminal and a terminal that has already undergone face image exchange.

【００３７】例を挙げると、４地点通信に端末Ｅが加わ
って５地点間通信を構成する場合は（端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ，
Ｄ）と端末Ｅが顔画像交換の組み合わせとなる。更に、
端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ間の通信が２度目以上の場合において、
端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ間の通信が初めての場合との相違は、図
１０、図１１、図１２に示すように、端末Ｂが応答した
時に行われる端末Ａ、端末Ｂの顔画像交換において、端
末Ａ，端末Ｂの通信が２回目以上であるから、サーバ１
０の画像メモリ４００に顔画像は蓄積されない。さら
に、端末Ｃも端末Ａ，Ｂとは２度目以上の通信となるか
ら、結局、端末Ａ、端末Ｂ、端末Ｃ間では顔画像の交換
自体が行われない。For example, when the terminal E is added to the four-point communication to form the five-point communication (terminals A, B, C,
D) and the terminal E form a combination of face image exchange. Furthermore,
In the case where the communication between the terminals A, B, and C is for the second time or more,
The difference from the first communication between the terminals A, B, and C is that, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, in the face image exchange of the terminals A and B performed when the terminal B responds, Since the communication between the terminal A and the terminal B is the second time or more, the server 1
No face image is stored in the 0 image memory 400. Further, since the terminal C also communicates with the terminals A and B for the second time or more, the face images themselves are not exchanged between the terminal A, the terminal B, and the terminal C after all.

【００３８】なお、上記の実施例では、顔画像交換中
に、顔画像テーブルの大きさを変えることは、制御を複
雑にすることから、顔画像交換中はメンバの応答が新た
にあっても顔画像テーブルの大きさを変えないようにす
るため、顔画像ＩＤ用の待ち行列を設けた。なお、上記
の本発明の制御方法は、端末が任意の時刻にサーバにそ
れぞれアクセスする端末発信型の多地点間通信でも適用
可能である。さらに、通話中のメンバ追加も、現在通話
中の端末に関する顔画像ＩＤテーブルがサーバに生成さ
れており、追加されたメンバの応答の後、画像ＩＤテー
ブルに当該追加メンバ顔画像ＩＤを追加することにより
顔画像の交換を実施すれば良いから、上記のアルゴリズ
ムがそのまま利用できる。In the above-described embodiment, changing the size of the face image table during the face image exchange complicates the control. In order to keep the size of the face image table unchanged, a queue for a face image ID is provided. The above control method of the present invention is also applicable to terminal-originated multipoint communication in which a terminal accesses a server at an arbitrary time. In addition, when adding a member during a call, a face image ID table relating to the terminal currently in the call is generated in the server, and after the response of the added member, the additional member face image ID is added to the image ID table. The above algorithm can be used as it is because the face image can be exchanged according to

【００３９】また、本発明における制御方法は、顔画像
の交換に先立って電話番号と顔画像の作成日時で構成さ
れる顔画像ＩＤに限定されることなく、例えば、電話番
号で構成される端末ＩＤ（これは電話番号通知サービス
を端末側が利用すればサーバでは容易に入手できる）を
顔画像の交換に先立って利用してもよい。また、上記の
実施例では、図４の構成に基づいて説明したが、同図に
示す中央処理部１００の動作をプログラムとして構築
し、サーバとして利用されるコンピュータに接続される
ディスク装置や、フロッピーディスク、ＣＤ−ＲＯＭ等
の可搬記憶媒体に格納しておき、本発明を実施する際に
インストールすることにより、本発明を容易に実現でき
る。The control method according to the present invention is not limited to a face image ID consisting of a telephone number and a date and time of creation of a face image prior to exchanging a face image. The ID (which can be easily obtained at the server if the terminal uses the telephone number notification service) may be used prior to the face image exchange. Although the above embodiment has been described based on the configuration of FIG. 4, the operation of the central processing unit 100 shown in FIG. 4 is constructed as a program, and a disk device connected to a computer used as a server, a floppy disk, The present invention can be easily realized by storing it in a portable storage medium such as a disk or a CD-ROM and installing it when implementing the present invention.

【００４０】なお、本発明は、上記の実施例に限定され
ることなく、特許請求の範囲内で種々変更・応用が可能
である。It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified and applied within the scope of the claims.

【００４１】[0041]

【発明の効果】上述のように、本発明によれば、サーバ
からメンバを呼び出すサーバ発信型の多地点間通信を対
象としてシステムにおいて、すぐに応答するメンバ端末
もあれば、呼出し後、相当時間を経過して初めて応答す
る端末もあることが予想される。一番応答の遅い端末に
合わせて顔画像交換を開始すると、全体として顔画像交
換の所要時間が長くなる。このため、端末が応答する毎
に、既に互いに顔画像交換の済んだ端末群と新たに応答
した端末の間で顔画像交換を行うようにすれば、一つで
も端末が応答すれば、顔画像交換を行うことが可能とな
り、顔画像交換に要する時間を全体として短縮できると
いう効果を奏する。As described above, according to the present invention, in a system intended for server-originated multipoint communication in which members are called from a server, there are some member terminals that respond immediately, and a considerable amount of time after calling. It is expected that some terminals will respond only after elapse. If the face image exchange is started in accordance with the terminal having the slowest response, the time required for the face image exchange becomes longer as a whole. For this reason, every time a terminal responds, if a face image exchange is performed between a terminal group that has already exchanged a face image and a terminal that has newly responded, if at least one terminal responds, a face image is exchanged. Exchange can be performed, and the time required for face image exchange can be shortened as a whole.

[Brief description of the drawings]

【図１】本発明の原理を説明するための図である。FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

【図２】本発明の原理構成図である。FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

【図３】本発明の多地点間通信における感情通信システ
ムの構成図である。FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an emotion communication system in multipoint communication according to the present invention.

【図４】本発明のサーバの構成図である。FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a server of the present invention.

【図５】本発明の一実施例のサーバにおける端末間の顔
画像の交換処理のフローチャートである。FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a face image exchange process between terminals in the server of one embodiment of the present invention.

【図６】本発明の一実施例の端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ間の通信が
初めての時の顔画像の交換シーケンスである。FIG. 6 is a face image exchange sequence when communication between terminals A, B, and C according to an embodiment of the present invention is performed for the first time;

【図７】本発明の一実施例の端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ間の通信が
初めての時の顔画像ＩＤテーブルの生成過程の例（その
１）である。FIG. 7 is an example (part 1) of a process of generating a face image ID table when communication between terminals A, B, and C is performed for the first time in one embodiment of the present invention.

【図８】本発明の一実施例の端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ間の通信が
初めての時の顔画像ＩＤテーブルの生成過程の例（その
２）である。FIG. 8 is an example (part 2) of a process of generating a face image ID table when communication between terminals A, B, and C is performed for the first time in one embodiment of the present invention.

【図９】本発明の一実施例の新たに端末が追加すること
により実施する顔画像交換を示す表である。FIG. 9 is a table showing face image exchange performed by newly adding a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

【図１０】本発明の一実施例の端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃが２度目
以上の交換シーケンスである。FIG. 10 shows a second or more exchange sequence of terminals A, B, and C according to one embodiment of the present invention.

【図１１】本発明の一実施例の端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ間の通信
が２度目以上の顔画像ＩＤテーブルの生成過程の例（そ
の１）である。FIG. 11 is an example (part 1) of a process of generating a face image ID table for the second or more times of communication between terminals A, B, and C according to an embodiment of the present invention.

【図１２】本発明の一実施例の端末Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ間の通信
が２度目以上の顔画像ＩＤテーブルの生成過程の例（そ
の２）である。FIG. 12 is an example (part 2) of a process of generating a face image ID table for the second or more communication between the terminals A, B, and C according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

１０サーバ１１待ち行列１２顔画像ＩＤテーブル１３画像記憶手段１４顔画像ＩＤ取得手段１５顔画像ＩＤ追加手段１６顔画像蓄積状況記録手段１７顔画像送信要求手段１８多地点顔画像送信手段２０ネットワーク３０ホスト端末３１，３２端末１００中央処理部２００電話番号蓄積部３００顔画像ＩＤテーブル４００画像メモリ５００同報配信部６００回線終端部７００待ち行列 Reference Signs List 10 server 11 queue 12 face image ID table 13 image storage means 14 face image ID acquisition means 15 face image ID addition means 16 face image accumulation status recording means 17 face image transmission request means 18 multipoint face image transmission means 20 network 30 host Terminal 31, 32 Terminal 100 Central processing unit 200 Phone number storage unit 300 Face image ID table 400 Image memory 500 Broadcast distribution unit 600 Line termination unit 700 Queue

フロントページの続きＦターム(参考） 5B089 GA11 GA21 JA16 JB03 JB14 KA00 KB06 KC15 KC28 5C064 AA01 AA06 AC02 AC08 AC12 AC22 AD06 AD14 AD16 5K015 AA00 AB01 JA00 JA01 JA10Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5B089 GA11 GA21 JA16 JB03 JB14 KA00 KB06 KC15 KC28 5C064 AA01 AA06 AC02 AC08 AC12 AC22 AD06 AD14 AD16 5K015 AA00 AB01 JA00 JA01 JA10

Claims

[Claims]

1. A multipoint communication control method in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a terminal to be a host (hereinafter, referred to as a host terminal) to a server; The server notifies the server of the telephone number of the terminal to be used, and the server uses the notified telephone number of the member terminal to call the member terminal, and each time the member terminal answers, Sent face image I
D is added to the queue, and the face image ID existing at the head of the queue is replaced with the face image ID.
The terminal adds the face image ID to the terminal based on the face image ID table, and sends the face image ID of the face image other than the own location transmitted from each terminal to the face image ID. If the face image required for the face image exchange does not exist in the image storage means for recording the face image and storing the face image, each terminal is requested to transmit the face image at its own location, and transmitted from each terminal. A face image is stored in the image storage means, and each time a face image is transmitted from each terminal, the stored information of the face image is recorded in the face image ID table. Transmitting a face image of another point not owned by the terminal to each terminal, and repeating the above processing.

2. When the server adds the face image ID transmitted from the member terminal to the queue, the server does not store the face image in the image storage means, 2. The multipoint communication control method according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed at a timing when the face image of the point is not transmitted.

3. The multipoint communication according to claim 1, wherein, in the face image ID table, the accumulation status of the face images related to the multipoint communication in the host terminal, the responding member terminal, and the server is stored. Control method.

4. A multipoint communication control method in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network, wherein each terminal accesses the server at an arbitrary time.
A face image ID transmitted from each terminal is added to a queue, and a face image ID existing at the head of the queue is a face image ID.
Image storage means for adding to a table, inquiring each terminal about the accumulation status of face images other than the own location based on the face image ID table, recording the result in the face image ID table, and accumulating the face image If there is no face image required for face image exchange, the terminal requests each terminal to transmit a face image at its own location, stores the face image transmitted from each terminal in the image storage means, The accumulation status of each face image in the image storage means is recorded in the face image ID table, and based on the record in the face image ID table, a face image of another terminal which is not owned by each terminal is transmitted. , A multipoint communication control method characterized by repeating the above processing.

5. When the face image ID is added to the face image ID table, the accumulation status of the face image from each terminal is stored in the face image I.
5. The multipoint communication control method according to claim 4, wherein the multipoint communication control method is performed at a timing when the image is not being recorded in the D table or the face image transmitted from each terminal is not stored in the image storage means.

6. The multipoint communication control method according to claim 1, wherein a terminal ID is used instead of the face image ID.

7. A multipoint communication control system in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network, wherein a terminal serving as a host (hereinafter referred to as a host terminal) is connected to the server. And a telephone number notifying unit for notifying a server of a telephone number of a terminal to be a member, the server comprising: a queue for managing an order of transmitted face image IDs; and a face for recording the face image IDs. An image ID table, an image storage means for recording a face image, and a call from the member terminal based on the notified telephone number of the member terminal, and transmission from the member terminal every time the member terminal answers. A face image ID obtaining means for adding the obtained face image ID to the queue, and a face image ID adding means for adding the face image ID existing at the head of the queue to the face image ID table. Based on the face image ID table, the ID of the face image other than the own location is transmitted to each terminal, and the accumulation status of the face image other than the own location transmitted from each terminal is recorded in the face image ID table. If the face image required for face image exchange does not exist in the image storage means, the terminal requests each terminal to transmit a face image at its own location, and the A face image transmission requesting means for storing a face image in the image storage means, and recording the accumulated information of the face image in the face image ID table each time the face image is transmitted from each terminal; A multi-point face image transmitting means for transmitting a face image of another point not owned by the terminal to each terminal based on the record of the ID table, the face image ID obtaining means, the face image ID adding means The face image accumulation status recording hand The face image transmission request means and the multipoint communication control system characterized by a control means to repeat the process of multi-point facial image transmitting means.

8. The multipoint communication according to claim 7, wherein said control means executes said face image ID adding means when said face image accumulation status recording means or said face image transmission request means is not being executed. Control system.

9. The multipoint communication according to claim 7, wherein the face image ID table stores the accumulation status of the face images related to the multipoint communication in the host terminal, the responding member terminal, and the server. Control system.

10. A multipoint communication control system in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a server via a network, the server comprising: a queue for managing an order of transmitted face image IDs; A face image ID table for recording the face image ID, an image storage means for recording the face image, and when each terminal accesses the server at an arbitrary time,
A face image ID acquisition unit that adds a face image ID transmitted from each terminal to the queue; a face image ID addition unit that adds a face image ID existing at the head of the queue to the face image ID table; Based on the face image ID table, each terminal is inquired about the accumulation status of the face image other than the own location, and the result is recorded in the face image ID table.
A recording unit; a face image transmission request unit for requesting each terminal to transmit a face image at the own location when a face image required for face image exchange does not exist in the image storage unit; A face image storage status recording unit for storing the face images stored in the image storage unit and recording the storage status of each face image in the image storage unit in the face image ID table; A multi-point face image transmitting means for transmitting a face image of another point not owned by the terminal of each terminal based on the terminal; the face image ID obtaining means; the face image ID adding means; A multipoint communication control system comprising: a recording unit; a face image transmission request unit; a face image accumulation status recording unit; and a control unit that controls the multipoint face image transmission unit.

11. The control means causes the face image ID addition means to be executed when the face image accumulation status inquiry / storage means, the face image transmission request means, and the face image accumulation status recording means are not being executed. The multipoint communication control method according to claim 10.

12. A terminal ID instead of the face image ID
The multipoint communication control system according to claim 7 or 10, wherein:

13. A server for a multipoint communication control system between multipoints in which a plurality of terminals are connected via a network, wherein the queue manages the order of transmitted face image IDs; A face image ID table for recording an ID, an image storage unit for recording a face image, a telephone number acquiring unit for acquiring a telephone number of a terminal to be a member after connection with the terminal, and a member notified After calling the member terminal by the telephone number of the terminal, every time the member terminal responds, a face image ID acquisition unit that adds the face image ID transmitted from the member terminal to the queue, A face image ID adding means for adding a face image ID existing at the head of the queue to the face image ID table; and an I of a face image other than the own location based on the face image ID table. Is stored in the face image ID table, and the face image storage status recording means for recording the face image storage status other than the own location transmitted from each terminal in the face image ID table. If there is no face image, the terminal requests each terminal to transmit a face image at its own location, stores the face image transmitted from each terminal in the image storage means, and outputs the face image from each terminal. A face image transmission requesting means for recording the accumulated information of the face image in the face image ID table every time the face image is transmitted, based on the recording of the face image ID table, A multi-point face image transmission unit for transmitting a face image of a point, the face image ID acquisition unit, the face image ID addition unit, the face image accumulation status recording unit, the face image transmission request unit, and the multi-point Repeat the processing of the face image transmission And a control means for returning the server.

14. The server according to claim 13, wherein the control unit executes the face image ID adding unit when the face image accumulation status recording unit or the face image transmission requesting unit is not executing.

15. The server according to claim 13, wherein the face image ID table stores the accumulation state of the face images related to the multipoint communication between the host terminal, the responding member terminals, and the server.

16. A server of a multipoint communication control system between multipoints in which a plurality of terminals are connected via a network, a queue for managing the order of face image IDs transmitted from the terminals, A face image ID table for recording the face image ID, an image storage means for recording the face image, and when each terminal accesses the server at an arbitrary time,
A face image ID acquisition unit that adds a face image ID transmitted from each terminal to the queue; a face image ID addition unit that adds a face image ID existing at the head of the queue to the face image ID table; Based on the face image ID table, each terminal is inquired about the accumulation status of the face image other than the own location, and the result is recorded in the face image ID table.
A recording unit; a face image transmission request unit for requesting each terminal to transmit a face image at the own location when a face image required for face image exchange does not exist in the image storage unit; A face image storage status recording unit for storing the face images stored in the image storage unit and recording the storage status of each face image in the image storage unit in the face image ID table; A multi-point face image transmitting means for transmitting a face image of another point not owned by the terminal of each terminal based on the terminal; the face image ID obtaining means; the face image ID adding means; A server comprising: a recording unit; a face image transmission request unit; a face image accumulation status recording unit; and a control unit that controls the multi-point face image transmission unit.

17. The control means causes the face image accumulation state inquiry / storage means, the face image transmission request means, and the face image accumulation state recording means to execute the face image ID adding means when the operation is not being executed. The server according to claim 16.

18. A terminal ID instead of the face image ID
17. The server according to claim 13, wherein the server is used.

19. A storage medium storing a multipoint communication control program mounted on a server of a multipoint multipoint communication control system in which a plurality of terminals are connected via a network, comprising: After the connection, a telephone number acquisition process of acquiring the telephone number of the terminal to be a member from the terminal, and calling the member terminal by the notified telephone number of the member terminal, and then the member terminal answers. A face image ID acquisition process for adding the face image ID transmitted from the member terminal to the queue, and a face image ID existing at the head of the queue for the face image ID.
A face image ID adding process to be added to the table, and transmitting the ID of the face image other than the own point to each terminal based on the face image ID table, and storing the face image other than the own point transmitted from each terminal. A face image accumulation status recording process for recording the situation in the face image ID table; and, if there is no face image required for the face image exchange in the image storage means for accumulating the face image, the face image at the own location is stored in each terminal. , And the face image transmitted from each terminal is stored in the image storage means. Each time a face image is transmitted from each terminal, the stored information of the face image is stored in the face image ID table. A multi-point face image transmission process for transmitting a face image of another point not owned by the terminal to each terminal based on the record of the face image ID table; ID taking And a control process for repeating a process of obtaining the face image ID, a process of recording the face image accumulation status, a process of requesting the transmission of the face image, and a process of transmitting the multipoint face image. A storage medium storing a control program.

20. The control process, when the face image accumulation status recording process or the face image transmission request process is not being executed, the face image I
20. A storage medium storing the multipoint communication control program according to claim 19, wherein the storage medium stores the multipoint communication control program.

21. The multipoint communication according to claim 19, wherein the face image ID table stores the accumulation status of the face images related to the multipoint communication in the host terminal, the responding member terminal, and the server. A storage medium storing a control program.

22. A storage medium storing a multipoint communication control program mounted on a server of a multipoint multipoint communication control system in which a plurality of terminals are connected via a network, wherein each terminal is When accessing each server at any time,
A face image ID acquisition process for adding a face image ID transmitted from each terminal to a queue; a face image ID addition process for adding a face image ID existing at the head of the queue to the face image ID table; Based on the image ID table, each terminal is inquired about the accumulation status of the face image other than the own location, and the result is recorded in the face image ID table.
A recording process; and a face image transmission requesting process for requesting each terminal to transmit a face image at its own location when a face image required for face image exchange does not exist in the image storage means for storing the face image. A face image accumulation status recording process for accumulating a face image transmitted from a terminal in the image storage unit and recording an accumulation status of each face image in the image storage unit in the face image ID table; A multi-point face image transmission process of transmitting a face image of another point not owned by the terminal of each terminal based on the record of the table, the face image ID acquisition process, the face image ID addition process, and the face image Accumulation status inquiry / recording process,
A storage medium storing a multipoint communication control program, comprising: a control process for controlling the face image transmission request process, the face image accumulation status recording process, and the multipoint face image transmission process.

23. The control process causes the face image ID addition process to be executed when the face image accumulation status inquiry / recording process, the face image transmission request process, and the face image accumulation status recording process are not being executed. A storage medium storing the multipoint communication control program according to claim 22.

24. A terminal ID instead of the face image ID
A storage medium storing the multipoint communication control program according to claim 19 or 22.