JP2001309086A - Multimedia communication terminal, channel controller, multimedia communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multimedia communication terminal that selects a videophone channel for a speech or a voice channel for a speech and changes its channel to a preset communication channel. SOLUTION: Upon the receipt of a call message from a caller terminal 4 via a communication channel 2, a channel controller 3 analyzes the call message and transmits an incoming call message to a receiving terminal 1 with a designated telephone number. A terminal control section 5 of the receiving terminal 1 receives the incoming call message and a communication channel providing means 15 displays a type of a communication channel designated by a caller on a monitor 12. The terminal control section 5 detects operation contents from an entry key 10, a channel selection transmission means 16 transmits a channel selection response message denoting it to the channel controller 3 when the operation contents indicate the reception through a videophone channel, or the channel selection transmission means 16 transmits a channel selection response message through the voice channel to the channel controller 3 when the operation contents indicate the reception through the videophone channel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applicable to a multimedia communication terminal device, a line control device, and a multimedia communication method for making a video or audio call, and is applicable to, for example, a video telephone system, a video conference system, The present invention relates to a multimedia communication terminal device such as a portable videophone system that can be used outdoors, a line control device, and a multimedia communication method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional videophone device has a function of setting whether or not to transmit a self-portrait to a partner during a call. For example, the video mute function (Phoenix Mini Instruction Manual P.9) has already been commercialized for the videophone device “Phoenix Mini” using an ISDN line.
According to 1), transmission / non-transmission of self-portrait is switched during a call, and self-portrait transmission at the start of a call is prevented by the setting for incoming videophone calls (P.36).

The video telephone described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-46435 has a privacy mode setting function and a telephone directory function for registering a setting as to whether or not to transmit an image together with a telephone number. At the start of the call, transmission / non-transmission of the self-portrait is automatically switched based on these settings.

[0004]

However, the conventional video telephone apparatus provides a function of setting or switching whether or not to transmit an image after connecting to the video telephone channel, but is set to non-transmission. In such a case, there has been a problem that a switching operation to image transmission is always required when starting transmission.

[0005] In addition, when image transmission is set, a call is started in a state where an image is transmitted. Therefore, if an operation timing for switching to non-transmission is incorrect, a video is transmitted against the intention of the user. In addition, when the screen displayed on the monitor of the terminal device is set to the image of the other party, there is a problem that the user is not aware that the image is being transmitted.

[0006] Further, even in the case of a voice call that does not transmit video, a videophone channel whose line usage fee is set higher than that of the voice channel is used, so that the call fee increases and the line usage efficiency is poor. There was also.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-46435 discloses that a call is connected in accordance with pre-registered video transmission / non-transmission settings.
In the conventional device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-27139, video may be automatically transmitted even in a scene not intended by the user of the receiving terminal device, and transmission / non-transmission is performed according to the situation of the user of the receiving terminal device when receiving a call. There was also a problem that transmission could not be switched.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a terminal user on the receiving side that can select whether to talk on a videophone channel or a voice channel, and that a communication channel preset on the receiving side can be selected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multimedia communication terminal device, a line control device, and a multimedia communication method that can be automatically changed.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a voice channel for performing only voice communication and a video telephone channel for performing not only voice communication but also image communication of a still image or a moving image. In a multimedia communication terminal device capable of talking via a communication channel,
Refer to the communication channel presenting means for presenting the type of the communication channel sent from the communication network together with the incoming call notification to the called terminal user at the time of the incoming call, and the presentation of the type of the communication channel by the communication channel presenting means. Channel selection transmitting means for transmitting a channel selection response message indicating the communication channel selected by the called terminal user to the telephone network, at the time of receiving a call by a communication channel desired by the called terminal user. In addition, it is possible to select whether to talk on a video phone channel or on a voice channel.

[0010] Further, a voice channel for performing only voice communication,
And a callable channel for recording the type of a callable communication channel in a multimedia communication terminal device capable of talking via a videophone communication channel that performs not only voice communication but also still image or moving image communication. Recording means, callable channel setting means for setting and recording the type of a communication channel that can be called with respect to the callable channel recording means, and communication recorded in the callable channel recording means when a call is received. A channel selection transmitting means for transmitting a channel selection response message indicating a channel to the telephone network. A multimedia communication terminal device that allows the user to select whether to make a call using a voice channel.

[0011] Further, it is determined whether or not the communication channel sent from the communication network together with the incoming call notification at the time of the incoming call matches the communication channel recorded in the above-mentioned arrivable channel recording means. Automatic incoming call determination means for notifying the user, the channel selection transmitting means refers to the determination result notified by the automatic incoming call determination means, and when the terminal user selects reception, the incoming call can be received. A channel selection response message indicating a communication channel recorded in the channel recording means is transmitted to the telephone network.

Further, automatic incoming call determination for determining whether or not a communication channel sent from a communication network together with an incoming call notification at the time of an incoming call matches a communication channel recorded in the above-mentioned incoming callable channel recording means. Means for transmitting an incoming call rejection message to the telephone network when the automatic incoming call determining means determines that the two do not match.

[0013] Further, in the next invention, the called side of the called side that can make a call through a voice channel that performs only voice communication and a video phone channel that performs not only voice communication but also video communication of still images or moving images is also provided. Upon receiving a channel selection response message from the multimedia communication terminal, switching between the video telephone channel and the audio channel to make a line connection, and receiving a channel selection response message from the multimedia communication terminal on the called side. Switching between a telephone call on a videophone channel and a telephone call on a voice channel.

In the following invention, there is provided a multimedia communication method for making a call using a voice channel for performing only voice communication and a video phone channel for performing not only voice communication but also video communication of a still image or a moving image.
At the time of an incoming call, the type of the communication channel sent from the communication network together with the incoming call notification is presented to the terminal user, and a channel selection response message by the terminal user referring to the presentation is transmitted to the telephone network, At the time of a call, the user is made to select whether to talk on the video telephone channel or on the voice channel according to the communication channel desired by the user of the called terminal.

Further, in a multimedia communication method for making a call using a voice channel for performing only voice communication and a communication channel of a videophone channel for performing not only voice communication but also image communication of a still image or a moving image, an incoming call notification is made when a call is received. Together with the type of the communication channel sent from the communication network to the terminal user, transmitting a channel selection response message by the terminal user referring to the presentation to the telephone network, and receiving the channel selection response message In this case, switching between the videophone channel and the audio channel is performed by making a line connection by switching between the videophone channel and the audio channel, and switching between a videophone channel or a voice channel based on a channel selection response message from the called party. Features.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1. First, a multimedia communication terminal device, a line control device, and a multimedia communication method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multimedia communication terminal device and a line control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
, 1 is a multimedia communication device such as a videophone device as a receiver terminal, 2 is a communication line, 3 is a line control device for performing line connection processing, 4 is a caller terminal, and 5 is a terminal for controlling the entire terminal. A control unit, 6 is a communication interface unit for controlling communication through the communication line 2, 7 is a media demultiplexing unit, 8 is an image codec unit, 9 is a voice codec unit, and 10 is a dial operation and an outgoing / incoming operation from a terminal user. An input key for receiving image data; a camera for capturing image data; a monitor for displaying images and menus;
Reference numeral 3 denotes a microphone for taking in voice data, 14 denotes a speaker for reproducing voices and various sounds, and 15 denotes a communication channel for presenting the type of a communication channel obtained by analyzing an incoming message at the time of an incoming call to a terminal user together with an incoming call notification. The presentation means 16 is a channel selection transmission means for recognizing a reception operation or a channel selection operation performed by the terminal user in response to the incoming call notification, and transmitting a channel selection response message or an incoming call rejection message to the telephone line network.

Next, the operation of the multimedia communication terminal device and the multimedia communication method by the line controller configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the line connection process of the line control device 3 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the incoming call processing of the multimedia communication terminal device 1 which is the receiver terminal in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the line controller 3,
First, when a call message is received from the caller terminal 4 via the communication line 2 (S101), the call message is analyzed and an incoming call message is sent to the multimedia communication terminal device 1 which is the receiver terminal corresponding to the designated telephone number. (S
102).

In the multimedia communication terminal device 1, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
When the terminal control unit 5 receives the incoming call message via the communication interface unit 6 (S201), the terminal control unit 5
The incoming message is analyzed and the communication channel presenting means 15 is analyzed.
To display on the monitor 12 the type of communication channel specified by the caller, and to identify whether the call is a videophone channel call or a voice channel call. The terminal user is notified by changing the sound or the like (S202). Needless to say, the terminal user may be notified by a method other than changing the ring tone, such as displaying on the monitor 12.

Next, the terminal control unit 5 detects an operation of the terminal user on the input key 10 in response to the incoming call notification (S
203), the operation content is determined (S204). That is,
If the operation content of the terminal user is the reception on the videophone channel, the terminal control unit 5 issues an instruction to the channel selection transmission means 16 and sends a response to the channel selection transmission means 16 for the channel selection on the videophone channel. The message is transmitted to the line controller 3 via the communication line 2 and the communication interface unit 6 (S205).

On the other hand, if the operation content of the terminal user is reception on the voice channel, the terminal control unit 5
The channel selection transmitting means 16 transmits a channel selection response message in the voice channel to the line control device 3 (S
206). When the operation content of the terminal user is rejection of incoming call, an incoming call rejection message is transmitted to the line control device 3 (S207).

The line controller 3 receives a channel selection response from the multimedia communication terminal 1 as a receiver terminal (S103), and determines the content of the notification (S103).
104). Specifically, when the content of the notification from the multimedia communication terminal device 1 as the receiver terminal is a channel selection response message on the videophone channel (S
205), and a line connection is made on the videophone channel (S
105), and notifies both the caller terminal 4 and the multimedia communication terminal device 1 as the receiver terminal of the completion of the line connection in the videophone channel (S106). On the other hand, if the notification content is a channel selection response message on the voice channel (S206), the line connection on the voice channel is performed (S107), and the completion of the line connection on the voice channel is received with the caller terminal 4. The notification is made to both of the multimedia communication terminal devices 1 as the user terminals (S108). If the content of the notification is rejection of the incoming call (S207), the connection failure is notified to the caller terminal 4 (S109).

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
When the terminal control unit 5 of the multimedia communication terminal device 1, which is the receiving terminal, receives the incoming call message from the line control device 3, the type of the communication channel specified by the caller is displayed on the monitor 12 and the like. Notify the user of the terminal and let the receiving terminal user select a communication channel.When receiving a call, use the video communication channel or the voice channel depending on the communication channel desired by the receiving terminal user. It is possible to select whether to do so. As a result, the response permission (reception) that was conventionally available on the receiving terminal side
In addition to the two types of options of "Response" and "Rejection of response", the option of permitting responses on other types of communication channels has been added. You can choose to talk or talk over the voice channel.

In the description of the first embodiment, the communication channel presenting means 15 is provided separately from the terminal control unit 5 and the channel selection transmitting means 16 is provided in the terminal control unit 5. However, in the present invention, However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the communication channel presenting unit 15 may be provided in the terminal control unit 5, or the channel selection transmitting unit 16 may be provided outside the terminal control unit 5. The same applies to the second embodiment described below.

The multimedia communication terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the embodiment 2. This invention, line controller, the multimedia communication method will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multimedia communication terminal device and a line control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 1 denote the same or corresponding parts, and a description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 21 denotes a callable channel recording unit for recording a type of a communication channel that can be called by the multimedia communication terminal device 1 as a receiver terminal;
Is a callable channel setting means for the terminal user to set and register the type of communication channel in the callable channel recording unit 21; 23, the communication channel at the time of incoming call is recorded in the callable channel recording unit 21 This is an automatic incoming call determination means for determining whether or not it matches the communication channel and displaying the determination result on the monitor 12.

Next, the operation of the multimedia communication method using the multimedia communication terminal device and the line control device configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Note that FIG. 2 showing the operation of the line connection process of the line control device 3 is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, so that the description is omitted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the incoming call processing of the multimedia communication terminal device 1 which is the receiver terminal of the second embodiment.

In the multimedia communication terminal device 1 according to the second embodiment, first, as in the first embodiment, the terminal control unit 5 receives a call from the line control device 3 via the communication line 2 and the communication interface unit 6. When a call message is received (S
301), the terminal control unit 5 detects the type of the communication channel specified by the caller by analyzing the incoming message by the automatic incoming call determination means 23 (S302).

Next, the automatic incoming call determination means 23 determines whether the communication channel specified by the caller is a videophone channel or a voice channel (S3).
03) If the specified communication channel is the videophone channel, the terminal user reads out the callable channel set in the callable channel recording unit 21 by the callable channel setting means 22 in advance ( (S304), it is determined whether or not the callable channel is a videophone channel (S305).

Here, for example, when the callable channel registered in the callable channel recording unit 21 is a videophone channel, the automatic call determination unit 23 issues an instruction to the terminal control unit 5 to execute the operation. As in the case of the first embodiment, the terminal control section 5 displays on the monitor 12 that the communication channel specified by the caller is the video telephone channel, and can recognize that the call is the video telephone channel. The terminal user is notified by a ring tone or the like (S306).

Then, the terminal control section 5 detects the operation of the called terminal user from the input key 10 in response to the incoming call notification (S307), and determines the content of the operation (S308).
If the operation content of the terminal user is the reception, the channel selection transmitting unit 16 transmits a channel selection response message on the videophone channel to the line control device 3 as in the first embodiment (S309). . On the other hand, when the operation content of the terminal user is rejection of incoming call, the channel selection transmitting unit 16 transmits an incoming call rejection message to the line control device 3 (S310).

On the other hand, when the incoming call message is analyzed in the determination step of step S303 and it is determined that the communication channel specified by the caller is a voice channel, and in the determination step of step S305, the callable channel is a voice channel. If it is determined that the incoming call is a channel, the terminal control unit 5 displays on the monitor 12 that the communication channel specified by the caller is a voice channel, and recognizes that the incoming call is on the voice channel. The user of the receiving terminal is notified by sound (S311).

Next, the terminal control unit 5 detects the operation content of the input key 10 of the terminal user in response to the incoming call notification (S312), and judges the operation content (S313).
Here, if the operation content of the terminal user is reception,
The channel selection transmitting unit 16 of the terminal control unit 5 transmits a channel selection response message in the voice channel to the line control device 3.
(S314). On the other hand, when the operation content of the terminal user is rejection of incoming call, the channel selection transmitting means 16 of the terminal control unit 5 transmits an incoming call rejection message to the line control device 3 (S310). This makes it possible to automatically reject an incoming call on a communication channel other than the communication channel preset by the terminal user.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
The type of a communication channel that can be called by the multimedia communication terminal device 1 that is the receiver terminal is recorded in the callable channel recording unit 21 by the callable channel setting unit 22, and the automatic call determination unit 23 makes a call. When the communication channel designated by the user terminal does not match the communication channel recorded in the communicable channel recording unit 21, the channel selection transmitting means 16 automatically transmits a channel selection response message to the line control device 3. If the user of the receiver terminal sets in advance, the communication channel can be automatically set and the convenience is improved.

In the description of the second embodiment, the processing is performed separately when the communication channel specified by the caller is a videophone channel and when the communication channel is a voice channel. Without distinguishing the two,
For example, when there is an incoming call, the communication channel designated by the caller in step S303 is not determined, that is, without providing the automatic incoming call determination means 23, the incoming callable channel recording unit 21 is always automatically stored. The channel selection transmitting means 16 may transmit a channel selection response message for selecting a recorded callable channel to the line controller 3, or the communication channel specified by the caller may not be used by the receiving terminal. If the caller matches the callable channel registered in the callable channel recording unit 21 in advance, the channel selection transmitting means 16 automatically sends a channel selection response message for selecting the callable channel to the line controller 3. If the transmission is different, the channel selection transmitting means 16 and the like automatically transmit an incoming call rejection message to the line controller 3. It may be. In this case, according to the former, the user of the called terminal is always automatically connected to the line by the callable channel recorded in the callable channel recording unit 21 in advance, while the latter is connected. In the case of, if the communication channel is the same as the communication channel specified by the caller side, the called terminal user is automatically connected to the line by the callable channel recorded in the callable channel recording unit 21 in advance, If the communication channel is different from the communication channel specified by the caller, the incoming call can be rejected, and the convenience of the called terminal user is greatly improved. In addition, a callable channel is set and registered in the callable channel storage unit 21 for each telephone number of a caller or for each telephone number group. According to the caller ID notification service, the type of the communication channel sent from the communication network together with the incoming call notification at the time of the incoming call and the incoming call for each telephone number of the caller or each telephone number group according to the caller ID notification. Of course, the possible channels may be transmitted or determined.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the type of the communication channel sent from the communication network together with the incoming call notification at the time of the incoming call is presented to the called terminal user, and the presentation is referred to. A channel selection response message indicating the communication channel selected by the called terminal user is transmitted to the communication network. Call or voice call.

Also, the type of the communication channel that can be called is recorded, and a channel selection response message indicating the recorded communication channel is transmitted to the telephone network when the call is received. The user of the side terminal can select whether to talk on the videophone channel or talk on the voice channel according to a favorite communication channel recorded in advance. In addition, in the case where an incoming call on a communication channel other than the communication channel recorded by the terminal user is automatically rejected, according to a communication channel preferred by the receiving terminal user,
Incoming calls can be limited to voice channels.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multimedia communication terminal device and a line control device showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a line connection process performed by the line control device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of an incoming call process by the multimedia communication terminal device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multimedia communication terminal device and a line control device showing a configuration of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an incoming call process by the multimedia communication terminal device according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 multimedia communication terminal device, 2 communication line, 3
Line controller, 4 sender terminal, 5 terminal controller, 6
Communication interface unit, 7 Media demultiplexing unit, 8
Image codec section, 9 audio codec section, 10 input keys, 11 camera, 12 monitor, 13 microphone, 1
4 speakers, 15 communication channel presenting means, 16 channel selection transmitting means.

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5C064 AA01 AB03 AB04 AD06 5K030 GA17 HB01 HB02 HB14 HB21 HC02 HC04 JT01 JT09 JT10 KA13 LD13 5K034 AA19 CC02 CC05 DD01 HH01 HH02 HH11 HH63 JJ11 LL05 NN07 NN05 MM07 NN06 NN18 NN34 NN36 NN37 QQ07 QQ10 RR11 RR28 SS06 SS07 TT01 UU16 9A001 BB04 BB06 CC02 HH15 HH23

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A multimedia communication terminal device capable of making a call using a voice channel for performing only voice communication and a video phone channel for performing not only voice communication but also video communication of a still image or a moving image. A communication channel presenting means for presenting the type of the communication channel sent from the communication network together with the incoming call notification to a called terminal user, and the method of referring to the presentation of the type of the communication channel by the communication channel presenting means. Channel selection transmitting means for transmitting a channel selection response message indicating a communication channel selected by the called terminal user to the telephone network, and a television set according to a communication channel preferred by the called terminal user at the time of receiving a call. Multimedia communication characterized by allowing the user to select whether to talk on a telephone channel or on a voice channel Terminal device. 2. A multimedia communication terminal device capable of talking via a voice channel for performing only voice communication and a video phone channel for performing not only voice communication but also image communication of a still image or a moving image. Callable channel recording means for recording the types of possible communication channels; callable channel setting means for setting and recording the types of communication channels that can be called with respect to the callable channel recording means; Channel selection transmitting means for transmitting a channel selection response message indicating the communication channel recorded in the call-possible channel recording means to the telephone network at the time of call reception. Depending on your preferred communication channel, you can select whether to talk on the videophone channel or on the voice channel. Multimedia communication terminal apparatus according to symptoms. 3. The multimedia communication terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising: a communication channel transmitted from the communication network together with an incoming call notification at the time of receiving an incoming call; It is determined whether or not they match, comprising automatic incoming call determination means for notifying the determination result to the terminal user, wherein the channel selection transmitting means refers to the determination result notified by the automatic incoming call determination means A multimedia communication terminal device, wherein when a terminal user selects reception, a channel selection response message indicating a communication channel recorded in said callable channel recording means is transmitted to a telephone network. 4. The multimedia communication terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising: a communication channel sent from the communication network together with an incoming call notification at the time of receiving an incoming call; Automatic incoming call determination means for determining whether or not they match, the channel selection transmission means, if it is determined by the automatic incoming call determination means does not match, transmits an incoming call rejection message to the telephone network, A multimedia communication terminal device characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. A receiving-side multimedia communication terminal device capable of making a call using a voice channel for performing only voice communication and a video-phone channel for performing not only voice communication but also video communication of a still image or a moving image. Receiving a channel selection response message from the multimedia communication terminal device on the called side by switching between the video telephone channel and the audio channel, and using the video telephone channel based on the channel selection response message from the multimedia communication terminal device on the called side. A line control device for switching between a call and a voice channel. 6. A multimedia communication method for making a call using a voice channel that performs only voice communication and a communication channel of a video phone channel that performs not only voice communication but also image communication of a still image or a moving image. Together with the type of the communication channel sent from the communication network to the terminal user, and transmits a channel selection response message by the terminal user referred to the presentation to the telephone network. A multimedia communication method characterized by allowing a user to select whether to talk on a videophone channel or on a voice channel according to a communication channel desired by a terminal user. 7. A multimedia communication method for making a call using a voice channel that performs only voice communication and a communication channel of a video phone channel that performs not only voice communication but also image communication of a still image or a moving image. Together with the type of the communication channel sent from the communication network to the terminal user, transmitting a channel selection response message by the terminal user referring to the presentation to the telephone network, and receiving the channel selection response message In this case, the video telephone channel and the voice channel are switched to establish a line connection, and a call is switched between the video telephone channel and the voice channel based on a channel selection response message from the called party. A multimedia communication method characterized by the following.