JP2002244988A - Cooperative work supporting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooperative work supporting system to support efficient cooperative works. SOLUTION: A working site device 1 produces a virtual space which describes each actual working site virtually and sends the result to a Center device 2. The Center device 2 performs composition of the virtual spaces, produces the descriptions of the virtual cooperative working site, and transmits the result to the working site devices 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooperative work support system for supporting a plurality of workers performing work in their own workplaces, and more particularly to a support for improving the efficiency of cooperative work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the Internet and the World-Wide Web
2. Description of the Related Art Information sharing technology using an in-company network (intranet) based on (WWW) has been actively developed. In particular, for a company having a plurality of business sites, there is a demand for a system for more efficiently performing a conference held between the sites and cooperative work between the sites.

Further, recently, SOHO (Small Offi
(ce / Home Office) Workers who perform work at home using information communication via a network called workers are increasing. A system is needed to make the process more smoothly. In particular, it is anticipated that such an SOHO worker will be required to develop an infrastructure that enables a virtual company to be set up on a network.

[0004] Such a situation is the same in business between companies that actually exist, and the Internet and World-
With the widespread use of the Wide Web, the market for e-commerce will expand in the future, and as the basis of business activities shifts to networks, it will be important to develop systems that support teleconferencing between companies, joint design, and the like.

[0005] Conventionally, there are many systems such as a video conference system and a desktop conference system for communicating with a remote place via a digital telephone line or a computer network. However, these systems offer services including remote video display on displays and screens, voice communication using speakers and microphones, or shared applications for collaborative work. It is not possible to control various devices existing in the real space.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 20-210, for example, discloses that a cooperative work can be performed while communicating through video and audio in a virtual space on a network.
The technology disclosed in JP-A-00-250864, “Cooperative work support system” and the like exist. According to this technology, specifically, communication is realized with an appropriate partner according to the work situation currently performed by each user in a cooperative work performed in a virtual space.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional system for supporting cooperative work, since the actual work space is not reflected, it is possible to interact with other workers in a virtually constructed work place. However, there has been a problem that work cannot be efficiently performed using devices existing in the real space.

Further, when a single real space is projected to form a virtual space for work, it is not different from work in a real space, so that the work that can be performed is limited. There was a problem that it was not possible to efficiently.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a cooperative work support system for supporting a cooperative work to be efficiently performed.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art comprises a plurality of computer devices provided for a real space for cooperative work in a cooperative work support system. Means for generating a plurality of unit virtual spaces by imaging each of the real work spaces on a computer, means for synthesizing the plurality of unit virtual spaces to image a virtual cooperative workplace, and Means for providing to the device, communication means for performing mutual communication between the workers in the virtual cooperative workplace, and communication performed in the virtual cooperative workplace,
Means for transmitting a device control operation in the real work space to a corresponding device in the real work space.

[0011] Accordingly, a real space (a room or a desk, a computer, a facsimile, a copier, a camera, a microphone, a display, a printer, a lighting device, or the like (herein referred to as a device including furniture) in which the worker performs work. ) Including space)
By integrating the interfaces of input / output and operation provided by the devices existing in the real space, and integrating the integrated interface with the real environment between remote locations, efficient cooperative work can be performed. Assist. In addition, input / output and document operations with devices existing in each real workspace are dynamically integrated by being plugged into a shared information exchange channel.
Preferably, it is delivered on a virtual workspace. By doing so, it becomes possible to efficiently perform cooperative work in a virtual cooperative workplace using the real space as an interface between real spaces existing in remote places.

Further, the cooperative work support system further includes means for imaging a virtual space virtually formed on a computer, and the means for imaging the virtual cooperative work place includes a real work space in the virtual cooperative work place. It is preferable to combine the virtual space with the image to image the virtual cooperative workplace. As a result, in addition to the interface with the real world, the operation of virtual devices shared in the virtual space such as a cooperative work application and a shared document repository are integrated in the virtual cooperative workplace.

Further, it is preferable that the means for generating the unit virtual space recognizes an operable device installed in the real environment to be imaged, and images the device in the unit virtual space.

The means for providing the virtual cooperative workplace to the computer device further authenticates the worker, and provides the virtual cooperative workplace to the computer device of the worker only when the worker is authenticated. It is also preferred.

[0015] It is also preferable that the means for providing the virtual cooperative workplace to the computer device provides an image of an interface preset for each device for device control operations in a real work space.

Further, the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem of the conventional example is a cooperative work support method, which comprises using a plurality of computer devices provided for a real space for cooperative work. Providing the virtual cooperative workplace to the computer device by imaging each space on a computer to generate a plurality of unit virtual spaces, synthesizing the plurality of unit virtual spaces, and imaging a virtual cooperative workplace Performing the communication between the workers in the virtual cooperative workplace, and performing a device control operation in the real work space performed in the virtual cooperative workplace. And transmitting to the user.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A collaborative work support system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a real-time remote room using a “room” composed of a plurality of displays and various operation panels placed in a real space such as a conference room as a user interface. The space is virtually integrated, and more specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of workplace-side devices 1 respectively arranged in a plurality of real workplaces, and each of the workplace-side devices 1 is connected via the Internet. And the center-side device 2 is basically configured. In addition, the workplace side device 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, for each device placed in the corresponding workplace, the device control unit 11, the virtualization manager 12, the display device 13, and the Web client unit 14 are provided for each device. The control unit 11 includes a device driver 15 of a compatible device and a Web server unit 16. The virtualization manager 12 also includes a Web server. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the center-side device 2 includes a synthesis coordinator 21, a shared tool server 22, and a Web server unit 23. still,
The workplace-side device 1 and the center-side device 2 are realized by software processing by a personal computer and a server computer, respectively.

The device control section 11 of the workplace-side device 1 transmits the operation contents to each device and distributes information obtained from the device in accordance with the operation via the Internet. Specifically, the device control unit 11 transmits the operation instruction received via the Web server unit 16 to the device driver 15.
To the device side via Also, information input from the device is received via the device driver 15 and is held by the Web server unit 16 so that the information can be distributed. Then, when the information input from the device via the Internet is requested, the Web server unit 16 distributes the information to the request source via the Internet.

For example, when the device is a “camera”,
The device driver 15 outputs an image captured by the camera to the Web server 16 at regular time intervals, and the Web server 16 distributes the image via the Internet.
If the device is a “microphone”, the device driver 15
Converts the audio signal input from the microphone into a digital signal, and the Web server section 16 distributes the data as stream data using a known protocol such as the RTP protocol via the Internet.

The display device 13 includes a monitor and a speaker. The monitor and the speaker reproduce the video / audio data received from the Web server unit 23 of the center apparatus 2 by the Web client unit 14 via the Internet. As a result, a worker located in the real work space can view information from another worker and device operations in the other real work space as a virtual image.

The virtualization manager 12 includes a device control unit 11
A virtual space in which a URL that is an access route to the Web server unit 16 is embedded. This virtual space can be specifically described by VRML or the like, and its generation processing can be realized by a known method, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted. The virtual space generated here corresponds to the unit virtual space of the present invention. The virtualization manager 12 distributes this virtual space to the center device 2 via the built-in Web server unit 16.

The synthesis coordinator 21 of the center device 2
Synthesizes the description of the virtual space acquired and collected from the virtualization manager 12 of the workplace-side device 1 to generate a description of a virtual workplace (virtual cooperative workplace). Specifically, this processing can be realized by analyzing the VRML description and connecting its ends in accordance with a predetermined standard. Further, the synthesis coordinator 21 takes in the virtual interface generated by the shared tool server 22 into the virtual cooperative workplace and synthesizes it.

The shared tool server 22 is a shared document repository, an electronic whiteboard, or the like. The interface of the shared tool server 22 is described in VRML as a virtual file locker or a real whiteboard, and is synthesized by the synthesizing coordinator 21 in a virtual cooperative workplace. Is done. Web server unit 23
Is the VRM generated by the synthesis coordinator 21
The L description is provided to the workplace-side device 1 in response to a request.

A feature of the present embodiment is that the Web server unit 23 distributes a voice signal and a device operation signal received from the workplace apparatus 1 to the corresponding workplace apparatus 1 together with the VRML description. Specifically, the audio signal is delivered to all the workplace-side devices 1, and the device operation signal is sent to the corresponding URL (since the device operation is performed on the device specified by the URL included in the VRML description). Is transmitted to

Next, the operation of the cooperative work support system according to the present embodiment will be described. At the time of activation, the virtualization manager 12 of the workplace-side apparatus 1 sets, as shown in FIG. 4, a set of a device type list (DEVICE_TYPE) and a URL (WORKSPACE) of a virtual space to be generated. The information is read, and an applet that operates as a device driver is read based on a list of device types. Then, the virtualization manager 12 starts the processing as shown in FIG. 5, and transmits a connection request to the combining coordinator 21 of the center-side device 2 (S1). Then, the synthesis coordinator 21 of the center-side device 2 transmits an authentication request to the virtualization manager 12 (S2), and the virtualization manager 12 transmits the URL of the virtual space generated by itself and the password set in advance. Send and log in (S3). Here, the synthesizing coordinator 21 performs authentication using the password, and when the password matches a password registered in advance, requests the URL of the Web server unit 16 of the device control unit 11 corresponding to each device ( S
4). Then, the virtualization manager 12 checks these URLs.
Is provided to the synthesis coordinator 21 (S5), the synthesis coordinator 21 acquires a description of the virtual space by referring to the URL of the virtual space generated by the virtualization manager 12 (S6), and Synthesize and
A description of the virtual cooperative workplace is generated (S7). Then, the description of the virtual cooperative workplace is distributed to the workplace-side device 1,
Thereafter, the synthesis coordinator 21 intermittently performs the process S5.
Referring to the URL received in the above, a cycle for transmitting and receiving voice signals and transmitting information about devices, acquiring a description of the virtual space generated by the virtualization manager 12 and updating the description of the virtual cooperative workplace is described. Repeat (S8).

When the work is completed, the virtualization manager 12 requests logout (S9), and the synthesizing coordinator 21 deletes the description from the virtual cooperative workshop to update the description of the virtual cooperative workshop. (S
10).

The Web client section 14 of each workplace-side device 1 has a Java VM, and an execution environment for Java applets is provided. Then, a device in another workshop provided in the virtual cooperative workshop (that is, an operation panel applet for controlling the device) or an applet of a shared tool (video playback applet) provided by the shared tool server 22 is loaded. This web
It is executed by the client unit 14. It is also preferable that the operation panel applet can be downloaded in advance from the center device 2 for each operation target device. In a computer to which a speaker is connected, audio data delivered as a packet of the RTP protocol is reproduced in real time by an audio reproduction applet installed as one of the shared tool applets.

An event caught by the JavaVM event mechanism during operation of the shared tool applet in the virtual cooperative workplace is distributed through an operation event channel. The Java RMI proxy corresponding to the operation event channel is generated on the Web client unit 14 of the workplace side device 1 when the description of the virtual cooperative workplace is loaded, and communicates with the server process synthesized in the virtual cooperative workplace. Perform

Incidentally, the synthesizing coordinator 21 of the center apparatus 2 synthesizes the description of the virtual space collected from the plurality of workplace-side devices 1. When the description of the virtual space is synthesized, distinction from the real space becomes a problem, and convenience is reduced. Therefore, the synthesis coordinator 21 of the center-side device 2 prepares a description of a plurality of virtual cooperative workplaces synthesized for each workplace-side device 1 serving as a distribution destination, excluding the virtual space acquired from the workplace-side device 1, It is preferable to distribute to the corresponding workplace-side device 1. In addition, this function
A Web page realized on the Servlet and including a description of a virtual cooperative workshop corresponding to each workshop-side device 1 is a JSP (Java
Server page), and may be dynamically generated on the Web server 23 and distributed to each workplace-side device 1.

The transmission of the operation content to the device or the shared tool is transmitted from each workplace side apparatus 1 through the proxy, caught by the Web server 23, and transmitted and distributed to the other proxies. As a result, the operation contents are transmitted in real time between the remote locations.

[0031]

According to the present invention, there are provided a plurality of computer devices provided for a real space for cooperative work,
A plurality of real work spaces are respectively imaged on a computer, a plurality of unit virtual spaces are generated, the plurality of unit virtual spaces are combined, a virtual cooperative workplace is imaged, and the virtual cooperative workplace is provided to a computer device. In addition, coordination between the workers in the virtual cooperative workplace and communication of device control operations in the real work space performed in the virtual cooperative workplace to corresponding devices in the real work space. Since the work support system is used, work can be performed efficiently using devices existing in the real space, and work that can be performed by combining multiple real spaces to form a virtual space for work The content can be expanded beyond the real space, and it can help you work more efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a cooperative work support system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of the workplace-side device 1.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a center-side device 2.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of setting data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the cooperative work support system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Workplace side device, 2 center side device, 11 device control unit, 12 virtualization manager, 13 display device, 14 Web client unit, 15 device driver, 16, 23 Web server unit, 21 synthesis coordinator, 22 shared tool server.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of computer devices provided for a real space that performs cooperative work, means for imaging a plurality of real workspaces on a computer, respectively, and generating a plurality of unit virtual spaces; Means for synthesizing the unit virtual space and imaging the virtual cooperative workplace; means for providing the virtual cooperative workplace to a corresponding computer device in the real space; and mutual communication between workers in the virtual cooperative workplace. Communication means for performing communication, and means for transmitting a device control operation in the real work space performed in the virtual cooperative work place to a corresponding device in the real work space, the cooperative work comprising: Support system. 2. The cooperative work support system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for imaging a virtual space virtually formed on a computer, wherein the means for imaging the virtual cooperative workplace is provided in the virtual cooperative workplace. And synthesizing the virtual space according to an image of the real work space to image a virtual cooperative work place. 3. The collaborative work support system according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating the unit virtual space recognizes an operable device installed in a real environment to be imaged, and A cooperative work support system, wherein a device is imaged in the unit virtual space. 4. The cooperative work support system according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing the virtual cooperative workplace to a computer device further authenticates the worker, and Only providing the virtual cooperative workplace to the computer device of the worker. 5. The cooperative work support system according to claim 1, wherein said means for providing said virtual cooperative workplace to said computer device is provided for controlling each device in a real work space. A collaborative work support system characterized by providing an interface image set in advance for each user. 6. A process of imaging a plurality of real work spaces on a computer by using a plurality of computer devices provided for a real space that performs cooperative work to generate a plurality of unit virtual spaces; Synthesizing a unit virtual space, imaging a virtual cooperative workplace, providing the virtual cooperative workplace to the computer device, and performing mutual communication between the workers in the virtual cooperative workplace, Transmitting a device control operation in the real work space performed in the virtual cooperative work place to a corresponding device in the real work space. 7. A procedure for mutually communicating between a plurality of computer devices provided for a real space for cooperative work in a server computer, a plurality of real workspaces being respectively imaged on a computer, A step of generating a virtual space; a step of combining the plurality of unit virtual spaces to image a virtual cooperative workplace; a step of providing the virtual cooperative workplace to the computer device; Performing a mutual communication between workers; and transmitting a device control operation in the real workspace to a corresponding device in the real workspace performed in the virtual cooperative workshop. Cooperative work support program.