JP2002330225A - Conference speech system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable one-to-one secret speaking with an arbitrary conference participant independently of the channel of a disclosed conference while speaking in this disclosed conference is performed by using a plurality of terminals. SOLUTION: Channels 18A and 18B for secret conference independent of channels 16A-16C for disclosed conference of respective subscriber terminals 14A-14C are formed by a channel switch 121 of an exchange 12. Secret speaking between the subscriber terminals 14A and 14C is enabled during disclosed conference speaking. Then, audio signals sent from the respective subscriber terminals 14A-14C are distributed and outputted to receiving side subscriber terminals except for a transmitting side subscriber terminal in the case of disclosed conference speaking, and switching is performed so that the audio signals of the subscriber terminals 14A and 14B under one-to-one secret speaking can not be outputted to the subscriber terminal 14C which does not take part in secret speaking, and the audio signal of such a subscriber terminal 14C can be outputted to the subscriber terminals 14A and 14B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conference call system which enables a confidential call during a public conference call. More specifically, the present invention relates to a confidential conference call path independent of a public conference call path. The present invention relates to a conference call system that enables one-to-one confidential communication between arbitrary subscriber terminals during a public conference call by controlling the voice transmission direction of each communication path by an exchange.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional conference call system includes a plurality of subscriber terminals 60A, 60B, 60C,
An exchange 62 is provided between the subscriber terminals 60A, 60B, and 60C to form a communication path 62A for an open conference. In the conference call system having such a configuration, when a public conference call is mutually performed between the subscriber terminals 60A, 60B, and 60C, as shown in FIG.
The communication paths 62A of 0B and 60C are connected by the exchange 62. This allows a plurality of subscribers to make an interactive call at the same time.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional conference call system, all the subscriber terminals 60A, 60B, and 60C participating in the conference can be connected only by the public conference call path 62A. Because it is not possible, the speech of one conference participant will be heard by all participants in the same conference call. For this reason, there is a problem that a one-on-one confidential call cannot be made with any conference participant as in an actual conference. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a conference call that enables a one-to-one confidential call with any conference participant independently of the communication path of the public conference when a public conference call is performed using a plurality of terminals. It is to provide a system.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an exchange and a plurality of subscriber terminals accommodated in the exchange. A conference call system that enables a one-to-one confidential call between any two subscriber terminals during a public conference call,
The exchange is controlled so that a communication path for an open conference between the subscriber terminals participating in the open conference is formed, and a secret call request from one of the two arbitrary subscriber terminals to the exchange is made. Control means for controlling the exchange so that a confidential conference communication path independent of the public conference communication path is formed between any two subscriber terminals; A subscriber terminal that distributes and outputs a received voice signal to a receiving subscriber terminal other than the transmitting subscriber terminal, and that does not participate in the confidential call when the voice signal of the subscriber terminal performing the confidential call on a one-to-one basis. And a distribution circuit that switches so that the audio signal of the subscriber terminal that does not participate in the confidential call is output to the subscriber terminal that performs the confidential call.

[0005] In the present invention, the control means controls the exchange so that a communication path for the public conference is formed between the subscriber terminals participating in the public conference, and concealment from the arbitrary subscriber terminal to the exchange is performed. In response to a call request, the exchange is controlled such that a confidential conference communication path independent of the public conference communication path is formed between arbitrary subscriber terminals. Further, the distribution circuit distributes and outputs the audio signal transmitted from each subscriber terminal to the receiving subscriber terminal other than the transmitting subscriber terminal at the time of the public conference call, and performs one-to-one confidential communication. Switching is performed so that the voice signal of the subscriber terminal to be performed is not output to the subscriber terminal that does not participate in the confidential call, and the voice signal of the subscriber terminal that does not participate in the confidential call is output to the subscriber terminal that performs the confidential call. . Therefore, according to the conference call system of the present invention, since two types of communication paths for the conference call and the confidential call are used at the same time, the one-to-one confidential call can be performed independently of the public conference during the conference call. Can be. Further, according to the conference call system of the present invention, since the voice transmission direction of both the communication path for the conference call and the confidential call is controlled by the distribution circuit, the contents of one-to-one communication independent of the conference call can be obtained. Will not be communicated to anyone other than the practitioner.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conference call system in which a confidential call can be performed during a public conference call according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of a confidential call in the conference call system of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the conference call system includes an exchange 12 and a plurality of subscriber terminals 14A to 14C. The exchange 12 includes a communication path switch 121 for forming public conference communication paths 16A to 16C (solid lines) and confidential conference communication paths 18A and 18B (dashed lines) between the subscriber terminals 14A to 14C, and an entire exchange 12. A central control unit (CC) 122 for controlling (corresponding to the control means described in the claims); a storage device (MM) for storing various programs such as an exchange control program and a confidential call control program; 123 is provided.

[0008] The communication path switch 121 is connected to the subscriber terminals 14A to 14A through separate line circuits 124A to 124C.
14C is connected.
1, each of the subscriber terminals 14A to 14C during a public conference call.
Is distributed to the receiving subscriber terminal other than the transmitting subscriber terminal and output, and the voice signal of the subscriber terminal performing one-on-one confidential communication does not participate in confidential communication. Distribution circuit 12 that switches so that the voice signal of the subscriber terminal that does not participate in the confidential call is not output to the subscriber terminal and is output to the subscriber terminal that performs the confidential call.
5 is connected. Also, the line circuits 124A to 12A
4C and the distribution circuit 125 are connected to the central control unit 122 via a signal line 127. A line trunk 126 for controlling an interface with a line is connected to the communication path switch 121. The conference participant inquiry information providing means described in the claims comprises the central control device 122 and the storage device 123 shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the conference call system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
In FIG. 1, when a public conference is held among three of the subscriber terminals 14A to 14C, the subscriber terminals 14A to 14C
Are connected to each other by public conference communication paths 16A to 16C formed by the communication path switch 121, and each audio signal transmitted from each of the subscriber terminals 14A to 14C is distributed by the distribution circuit 125. It is distributed to other subscriber terminals except for the above, and output through the respective communication paths 16A to 16C. Thereby, the subscriber terminals 14A to 14A
A public conference call between C becomes possible. In FIG. 1, the arrow indicated by a solid line indicates the transmission direction of the audio signal during a public conference call.

For example, when a confidential call is made between the subscriber terminal 14A and the subscriber terminal 14B, the subscriber terminal 14
A and the public conference communication paths 16A to 16C between the subscriber terminal 14B and the subscriber terminal 14C are maintained as they are, and the conference communication communication paths 18A and 18B connecting the subscriber terminal 14A and the subscriber terminal 14B are established. It is newly formed.
The distribution circuit 125 is connected to the subscriber terminals 14A, 14B
The central controller 122 controls the voice signal on the communication path so that the voice signal of the subscriber terminal 14C is not output to the subscriber terminal 14C that does not participate in the confidential call, and the voice signal of the subscriber terminal 14C is output to the subscriber terminals 14A and 14B. The direction of voice transmission is switched and controlled. Thereby, the subscriber terminals 14A, 1
A confidential call between 4B becomes possible. Note that, in FIG. 1, the arrow indicated by a broken line indicates the transmission direction of the audio signal during a confidential conference call.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the operation of a confidential call in the conference call system of the present embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the subscriber terminal 14 during a conference call
A case where a confidential call is performed between the subscriber terminals 14A and 14B among A to 14C will be described. First, when inquiring a conference participant, by operating an operation unit (not shown) such as a keyboard provided at the subscriber terminal 14A during a conference call, the exchange 12 Central control unit 1 through line circuit 124A of
A conference participant inquiry request signal is sent to 22 (operation 1).
In the exchange 12 receiving this request signal, the subscriber terminal 14
Send the conference participant inquiry information to A. The transmitted conference participant inquiry information is displayed on a display unit (not shown) provided in the subscriber terminal 14A. Here, the transmitted conference participant inquiry information is based on a combination of subscriber information such as a caller number stored in advance in the storage device 123 of the exchange 12 and a participant number in the current conference call. Each participant terminal is configured to be identified by a simple expression. Based on this information, the subscriber terminal 14A easily determines the operation 2 for calling the confidential call partner.

When the subscriber terminal 14A wants to start a confidential call with the subscriber terminal 14B in response to the conference participant inquiry request, an operation unit (not shown) such as a keyboard provided on the subscriber terminal 14A is provided. By performing the operation, a confidential call start request signal is transmitted to the exchange 12. The exchange 12, which has received the confidential call start request signal, performs processing 1
Generates a new call for connecting the subscriber terminals 14A and 14B, and transmits a calling signal to the subscriber terminal 14B. Accordingly, the voice of the conference call and the ringing tone are synthesized and transmitted to the subscriber terminal 14B in the public conference state (state 1). Here, the type of the ringing tone is prepared for each conference participant, and it is easy to determine in advance that the confidential call request is from the subscriber terminal 14A by the conference participant reference information obtained by the operation 1 in the state 1 or in the state 1. You can know. In this case, in addition to the ring tone of the confidential call, confidential call requester information in the same format as the conference participant information is transmitted to the subscriber terminal 14 as the confidential call partner.
B is displayed on the display unit (not shown).

In order to establish a confidential call in response to the confidential call request, an operation unit (not shown) such as a keyboard provided on the subscriber terminal 14B in the state 1 is operated (operation 3). By doing so, the central control unit 1 is connected from the subscriber terminal 14B through the line circuit 124A.
22, a response signal to the confidential call request of the subscriber terminal 14A is transmitted. The exchange 12 receiving this response signal
In processing 2, the communication paths 18A and 18B for the confidential communication used by the new call are set, and the existing conference communication paths 16A and 16A are set.
The voice transmission direction of 16B is switched by the distribution circuit 125, and the communication paths 18A and 18B for the confidential conference are connected between the subscriber terminals 14A and 14B. Then, a signal indicating establishment of the confidential call is transmitted to the subscriber terminals 14A and 14B. As a result, the subscriber terminals 14A and 14A
B is placed in a confidential communication state (state 2), and a confidential conference between the two is enabled.

The state 2 indicates that a confidential call is being made between the subscriber terminal 14A and the subscriber terminal 14B.
When the subscriber terminal 14A wants to end the confidential call, the operation 4 transmits a confidential call end request signal to the central control unit 122 through the line circuit 124A of the exchange 12 by operation 4.
The exchange 12, which has received the confidential call termination request signal, transmits a disconnection signal to the subscriber terminal 14B in order to terminate the confidential call, releases the confidential call path in process 3, and distributes the voice transmission direction of the conference call path. Switching is performed by the circuit 125, and the communication paths 16A to 16C for the open conference are restored to the original connection state so that the open conference is performed among the three subscriber terminals 14A to 14C.

According to this embodiment, since two types of communication paths, one for a conference call and one for a confidential call, are used at the same time, for example, the subscriber terminal 14A is connected independently of the open conference during the conference call. A one-to-one confidential call between 14B can be performed. In addition, since the voice transmission direction of both communication paths for the conference call and the confidential call is controlled by the distribution circuit, for example, the one-way communication between the subscriber terminals 14A and 14B is independent of the conference call.
The contents of a one-to-one call are not transmitted to anyone other than the person who made the call. Further, according to the present embodiment, the conference participant and the confidential call partner selection operation, and the conference participant reference information for associating the conference participant and the confidential call ringing tone, respectively, are transmitted from the exchange to the subscriber at any time during the conference. Since the call is transmitted to the terminal, the other party of the confidential call can be arbitrarily selected, and the confidential call request can be recognized from whom.

Next, another embodiment of the conference call system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
10 is a schematic configuration of a conference call system according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which a public call and a secret call between subscriber terminals 32 are enabled using an ISDN exchange 30. In FIG. 3, two B channels B1 and B2 provided by the ISDN basic interface are used as communication paths for a conference call and a confidential call. Further, it is possible to use the D channel D1 of ISDN as a control / information path,
It is possible to display, on the terminal, conference participant inquiry information at the time of conference participant inquiry operation and information capable of recognizing a caller at the time of calling a secret call.

Next, still another embodiment of the conference call system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a conference call system according to still another embodiment of the present invention. 4, FIG. 4 is different from FIG. 1 in the case where speech is temporarily made to the entire conference from during a confidential call, and the parts denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 represent the same components. In this embodiment, the voice from the subscriber terminal 14A is transmitted to all the participants in the conference via the conference channel.
The voice from B is transmitted only to the subscriber terminal 14A through the secret communication path. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the initial state is a secret communication state similar to the case shown in FIG. In this state, when the subscriber terminal 14A tries to speak to the entire conference during the temporary conference speech start confidential call, an operation unit (not shown) such as a keyboard provided on the subscriber terminal 14A is operated. As a result, a request for starting a conference is made to the central control unit 122 of the exchange 12 through the line circuit 124A of the exchange 12 (operation 4). In the exchange 14, which has received the conference speech start request signal, in the process 4, the conference communication channels 16A and 16B and the secret communication channels 18A and 18B are performed.
Is switched to a connection state as shown in FIG. Then, the subscriber terminal 14A, the subscriber terminal 14B
To send a conference utterance start signal to the user. Thereby, the temporary public conference call from the subscriber terminal 14A to the subscriber terminals 14B and 14C can be resumed (state 4).

In state 4, the subscriber terminal 14A is temporarily speaking to the entire conference during the confidential call with the subscriber terminal 14B, but ends the temporary conference speech from the subscriber terminal 14A. In this case, by operating an operation unit (not shown) such as a keyboard provided on the subscriber terminal 14A, a request to end the conference speech is made to the exchange (operation 6). In the exchange 12 which has received the conference utterance end request signal, the distribution circuit 125 switches the voice transmission directions of both communication paths for the confidential communication by the processing 5 to establish the connection state as shown in FIG. Then, a conference speech end signal is transmitted to the subscriber terminals 14A and 14B. In this way, the subscriber terminal 14A and the subscriber terminal 14B are again in the secret call.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, two types of communication paths, one for conference calls and one for confidential calls, are used simultaneously.
During the conference call, a one-to-one confidential call can be performed independently of the public conference. Further, according to the present invention, since the voice transmission direction of both the communication path for the conference call and the confidential call is controlled by the distribution circuit, the contents of the one-to-one call independent of the conference call are different from those of the caller. Is not transmitted to Further, according to the present invention, the conference participant and the confidential call partner selection operation, and the conference participant reference information for associating the conference participant and the confidential call ring tone, respectively, from the exchange to the subscriber terminal at any time during the conference. Since the transmission is performed, the other party of the confidential call can be arbitrarily selected, and the request for the confidential call can be recognized from whom.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conference call system according to the present invention, which enables a confidential call during a public conference call.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of a confidential call in the conference call system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a subscriber terminal 32 using an ISDN exchange 30.
10 is a schematic configuration of a conference call system according to another embodiment of the present invention, which enables a public call and a confidential call between the users.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a conference call system according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining an operation of a confidential call of the conference call system according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional conference call system.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 exchanges, 14A to 14C subscriber terminals, 16
A to 16C: Public conference call path, 18A, 18B ...
Talk channel for confidential conference, 121… Talk switch, 122
... Central control device, 123 ... Storage device, 125 ... Distribution circuit.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An exchange comprising: an exchange; and a plurality of subscriber terminals accommodated in the exchange, wherein during a public conference call between each of the subscriber terminals participating in the conference, one or more of the subscriber terminals are connected between any two of the subscriber terminals.
A conference call system that enables a one-to-one confidential call, comprising controlling the exchange so as to form a public conference communication path between the subscriber terminals participating in the public conference, The exchange is controlled so that a secure conference call path independent of the public conference call path is formed between any two subscriber terminals in response to a secure call request from one of the subscriber terminals to the exchange. Control means for distributing and outputting the voice signal transmitted from each of the subscriber terminals during a public conference call to the receiving subscriber terminals other than the transmitting subscriber terminal, and performing one-to-one confidential communication. Switch so that the voice signal of the subscriber terminal that does not participate in the secure call is not output to the subscriber terminal that does not participate in the secure call, and the voice signal of the subscriber terminal that does not participate in the secure call is output to the subscriber terminal that performs the secure call Conference call system, characterized in that it comprises a distribution circuit, the that. 2. A conference participant reference information providing means for transmitting conference participant reference information in response to a conference participant reference request accompanying a confidential call request from the subscriber terminal to the exchange, wherein the conference participant reference is provided. Based on the information, a confidential call partner terminal to start a confidential call is selected, a confidential call start request signal is transmitted to the exchange, and the exchange receiving the confidential call start request signal calls the confidential call partner terminal. And a call signal is transmitted, a communication path for a confidential conference is set for a response from the confidential call partner terminal, and a voice signal of the subscriber terminal performing the confidential call on a one-to-one basis becomes a confidential call. In order not to output to subscriber terminals that do not participate,
2. The conference call system according to claim 1, wherein said distribution circuit is switched and controlled such that a voice signal of a subscriber terminal not participating in the confidential call is output to the subscriber terminal performing the confidential call. 3. The conference participant inquiry information is based on a combination of subscriber information such as a caller number stored in advance in the exchange and a participant number in a current conference call.
2. The conference call system according to claim 1, wherein each participant terminal is configured to be identified by a simple expression. 4. When a secure call between the subscriber terminals is to be terminated, a secure call termination request signal is transmitted from the subscriber terminal on the secure call start request side to the exchange, and the secure call termination request signal is received. The said exchange transmits a disconnection signal for terminating the confidential call to the confidential call partner terminal to release the confidential call path, and switches the distribution circuit to the voice transmission direction of the open conference call path. Item 3. The conference call system according to Item 1 or 2. 5. When temporarily speaking to the whole conference during a confidential call between the subscriber terminals, a conference speech start request is made to the exchange, and the conference speech start request signal is received. 3. The conference call system according to claim 1, wherein the exchange switches the voice transmission direction of the confidential call communication path and transmits a conference utterance start signal to the subscriber terminal. 6. When terminating a temporary conference message from the subscriber terminal, a request for terminating a conference message is sent from the subscriber terminal to the exchange. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the voice transmission direction of the communication path for confidential communication is switched to transmit a conference utterance end signal to the subscriber terminal, and the subscriber terminal is again in the confidential communication. Conference call system.