JP2003069967A - Video communication system and video communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video communication system and a video communication method that can collect a state at a site in real time and transmit it to a support department so as to cope with diversified and individual environment at the site without being affected from the environment. SOLUTION: A site terminal 11 comprises a main body 41 that can be carried and an information collection part 43 that collects video/audio information. A video/audio information collection device or the like such as a headset 73, a handy camera 75 and a small-sized monitor 77 that takes mount on a body of an information collecting person 71 into account has an exclusive cable one end of which has a particular connection terminal to the respective device. A plurality of signal wires from the video/audio information collection device or the like are given to a conversion attachment 79 mounted on the waist of the information collection person 71, in which the wires is integrated into one extension cable 81 having a plurality of signal wires in the inside.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video communication system and a video communication method for communicating with a remote place.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a telephone, a FAX, an electronic mail, etc. have been used as a means for communication between remote places, and in recent years, in order to improve the performance of a personal computer, video / audio transmission at a personal computer level has been made. The so-called video conference is widely used.

[0003]

By the information transmission means of these prior arts, communication between remote places can be achieved to some extent. However, since it is information such as voice, characters, and still images by means of conventional technology such as telephone, FAX, and electronic mail, it is difficult to grasp the situation at the site in detail, and it takes a lot of time to exchange information. Requires. On the other hand, in a video conference, you can exchange video information, including video recorded in video, but because the video conference system is limited and only fixed room communication is possible, you can share the video outside the video conference room in real time. It is not possible to do so, and when exchanging video recorded video, it is not always the same as the mutual wishes of what you want to convey and what you want to know.

Further, as one example in which communication in a remote place is most desired, for example, exchanging information in order to promptly solve a sudden urgent problem at a production site with advice or a command from a support department, etc. Considering the case, the production site where the problem occurs is often not always appropriate for collecting information. For example, a site where equipment is complicated, a site where noise is generated by mechanical equipment, a site in which a problem is small and which requires close observation, a power failure or voltage drop due to an accident, etc. A certain site, or a production site overseas, where there is a time difference with the support department and it is difficult to receive immediate advice. In these cases, real-time on-site video / audio information exchange and immediate communication support for retrieval of similar examples in the past are necessary, but for example, video conferencing technology has been expanded to provide fixed video conferencing. Although it is conceivable to install many on-site terminal devices near the production site, etc., it is costly and the real-time communication of information is still limited due to the influence of individual and various environments on site.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, and to collect the situation of the site in real time and transmit it to the support department without being affected by the individual and various environments on the site. An object of the present invention is to provide a video communication system and a video communication method capable of responding to information collection in real time according to advice, instructions, etc. from a support department.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a video communication system which enables immediate communication correspondence for retrieval of similar examples in the past even when there is a time difference problem between the production site and the support department. To provide.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a video communication system according to the present invention includes a field terminal device and a support terminal device via a communication network combining a local area network and a telecommunications network. In the video communication system for performing video communication between devices, the field terminal device is a video / audio information collecting device, a communication device connected to the video / audio information collecting device, and connected to the communication network, and these devices. Equipped with a movable base,
The communication device has a connection means that can be connected to a connection port of the communication network having a plurality of connection ports, and performs video communication by connecting to the connection port closest to the site to which the user has moved. To do.

Further, the video communication system according to the present invention is
In a video communication system for performing video communication between a field terminal device and a support terminal device via a communication network, the field terminal device includes a dedicated cable having a unique connection terminal at one end, and information on the field terminal device side is provided. The video / audio information collecting device that can be worn on the body of the collector and the plurality of video / audio signal lines of the dedicated cable are converted into a single extension cable having a plurality of corresponding signal lines therein, It has a conversion attachment that can be worn on the body of the collector, an extension cable connection terminal that is provided on a transportable base and that is connected to the other end of the extension cable, and a communication network connection terminal that is connected to the communication network. A communication device, wherein the cable conversion attachment has a plurality of dedicated cable side connection terminals to which one end side of the dedicated cable is connected to one side, and the other side to the One extension cable side connection terminal to which one end side of the two extension cables is connected, and a signal modulation element provided between the dedicated cable side connection terminal and the extension cable side connection terminal for modulating the video / audio signal And a signal demodulating element for demodulating the modulated video / audio signal, and compensating for deterioration of the video / audio signal in a long extension cable.

In the video communication system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the communication network includes a local area network and a telecommunications network.

Further, in the video communication system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the long distance communication line network is a public communication line network.

In the video communication system according to the present invention, the communication network is within the support range of the support terminal device.
It is preferable that the network has a plurality of connection ports to which the field terminal device can be connected.

Further, the video communication system according to the present invention is
It is preferable to have a database provided in the network and including a communication result between the support terminal device and the field terminal device.

Further, a video communication method according to the present invention is a video communication method using the video communication system,
A setting step of moving the on-site terminal device to the site, connecting the communication device to the communication network, and setting the communication device in a state where information can be exchanged between the on-site terminal device and the support terminal device; Of the video / audio information of the above, and the site information transmitting step of transmitting the information to the support terminal device via the communication network, and the support information is transmitted from the support site to the site site via the communication network, And a support information receiving step of receiving.

In the video communication system according to the present invention,
The on-site terminal device is such that a video / audio information collecting device and a communication device are mounted on a movable base. Therefore, when a problem occurs at the site, move the entire site terminal device to the site and connect the connection means of the communication device to the connection port of the network closest to the site, thereby communicating with the local area network. Video communication can be performed via a communication network that is a combination of networks.

Also, in the video communication system according to the present invention, a plurality of signal lines output from the video / audio information collecting device are converted into a single extension cable having a plurality of signal lines inside by a conversion attachment, and A signal modulator and a signal demodulator are provided before and after to compensate for the deterioration of the signal in the long extension cable. Therefore, for example, even if you have a handy camera in your hand, attach a headset with headphones and speakers to your head, and hang a small monitor from your neck, you will only have one extension cable. Even if extended, the signal deterioration is compensated, so that information gathering and communication activities are extremely easy. Therefore, we support the necessary video and audio information by entering complex sites where equipment is complicated, sites where noise is generated by mechanical equipment, sites where problems are small and observations at close range are required. Information can be collected while communicating in real time with the support terminal device in which the department is located.

Further, the video communication system according to the present invention,
It is preferable to have a database that is provided in the network and that includes the communication results between the support terminal device and the field terminal device. Therefore, it is possible to access the database from the on-site terminal device and search for similar examples in the past, so that even when there is a time difference problem between the production site and the support department, immediate communication correspondence can be performed on the site.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the entire system. Although FIG. 1 shows one site of the domestic production site 1 and one site of the overseas production site 3 as an example of the production site, the production site and the site are not limited to these two sites. These production bases 1 and 3 are connected to a domestic conference room 5 where support departments gather, by a long distance communication line such as a public communication line such as an ISDN line or a dedicated line.

Since the domestic production base 1 and the overseas production base 3 are examples and there is no difference in their contents, the production bases 1 and 3 will be described below.
The domestic production base 1 will be described as a representative. The production site 1 includes a movable local terminal device 11, which will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 2 and the like, a first local area network 19 including a plurality of connection ports 13, a router 15, and a gateway 17. The field terminal 11 is connected to one connection port 13 of the first local area network 19.
Is connected to the long-distance communication line 7 via the gateway 17.

The domestic conference room 5 is a fixed conference room and has a second local area network 29 having a support terminal device 21, a plurality of connection ports 23, a router 25 and a gateway 27. To the second local area network 29, in addition to the support terminal device 21, a database 31 that stores communication results between the field terminal device 11 and the like and the support terminal device 21 regarding past failure cases is connected. Further, it is connected to the telecommunications line 7 via the gateway 27.

The operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be briefly described. When a problem occurs in the site inside the production base 1, the movable field terminal device 11 moves to the problem site, and the field terminal device 11 is connected to the connection port 13 near the site where the problem occurs, and the field terminal The device 11 collects the video / audio information in the vicinity of the problem location in the field, and the collected video / audio information is connected to the connection port 13 and the router 15.
Is transmitted through the first local area network 19 and is transmitted from the gateway 17 to the long distance communication line 7. The video / audio information is transmitted from the long distance communication line 7 to the second local area network 29 via the gateway 27 and to the support terminal device 21 via the router 25 and the connection port 23. In this way, by moving the on-site terminal device 11 to the on-site and reconnecting to the connection port nearest to the on-site, it is possible to perform video communication between the problem occurrence site and the support department via the network. .

Further, the database 31 connected to the second local area network 29 is called to retrieve the communication results between the on-site terminal device 11 and the like and the support terminal device 21, which are accumulated for past failure cases. By that,
For example, even in an overseas production site where it is difficult to receive immediate advice due to a time difference between the production department and the support department, immediate communication support can be provided at the site.

Furthermore, it is possible to communicate between two or more on-site terminal devices 11 or the like, for example, between an overseas factory and a domestic factory via a network. Therefore, for example, the on-site terminal device of the domestic factory can support the on-site of the overseas factory as the role of the support terminal device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a device configuration of the movable field terminal device 11. The on-site terminal device 11 includes a transportable main body 41 and an information collecting portion 43 that collects video / audio information at the site.

The main body 41 is constructed by mounting various equipments on a rack equipped with a portable caster 51, and near the problem occurrence site, the first local area network 1
9 is connected to the connection port 13. The main body 41 is a video conference system main body 5 that is a communication device that is connected to the first local area network 19 or the long-distance communication line 7 and can exchange information with another video conference system or the like.
3 is provided. Further, for example, the monitor 55, the video deck 57, the external speaker 59, and the like are provided with supporting devices for transmitting video / audio information. In addition, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that can handle voltage fluctuations and power outages at the site
61 is provided. The main body 41 is a video of the information collecting part 43.
It is connected to the other end of the extension cable 81 for transmitting and receiving audio signals.

The main body 41 is not limited to the structure in which various devices are mounted on the rack provided with the portable casters 51.
For example, a small and lightweight cart type that can be pulled by hand (the field terminal device 11 in the overseas production base 3 shown in FIG.
Also, a configuration in which various devices are mounted in an attache case type or a backpack type is possible. By using these configurations, it becomes easier to collect information in a narrow place or a distant place.

The information collecting portion 43 is composed of a plurality of video / audio information collecting devices and the like. It is considered that these video / audio information collecting devices and the like are attached to the body of the information collector 71, for example. The example is shown in FIG. For example, a headset 73 including a set of headphones and a microphone is attached to the head of the information collector 71, and the handy camera 75 is lightweight and can be easily operated by the information collector 71 with both hands, and when necessary. A lighting device can also be added. In addition, the small monitor 77 is, for example, an information collector 71.
Can be worn around the neck.

Each of these video / audio information collecting devices and the like is provided with a dedicated cable having a unique connection terminal at one end in accordance with the device. For example, headset 73
From, it is a cable for a monaural microphone voice output, a cable for stereo headphone voice input, and a mini jack. A plurality of signal lines from these video / audio information collecting devices and the like are converted into a single extension cable 81 having a plurality of signal lines inside by a conversion attachment 79 mounted on the waist of the information collector 71, for example. It Extension cable 8
1 can use a shielded cable (so-called STP) or unshielded cable (so-called UTP) including twisted pair wires such as 4 pairs, and is provided with a standard connection terminal and is a general-purpose cable having a standard external shape,
Cables with various twist logarithms and various lengths can be prepared in advance. The other end of the extension cable 81 is connected to the main body 41 described above.

The operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The information collector 71 can exchange voice with the other party without being interrupted by the noise generated by the machine tool even at a site where the noise generated by the mechanical equipment is large, by the headset 73 having the microphone close to the mouth and the headphones covering the ears. In addition, the handy camera 75 is lightweight and can be easily operated with both hands.
Also, when necessary, the illumination can be used to collect the image close to the object even in the field where the object having the problem is small and observation at a close distance is required. Further, for example, the small monitor 77 worn around the neck allows the user to check the image from the other party such as the support department. A plurality of signal lines of these video / audio information collecting devices and the like are put together into a single extension cable 81 having a plurality of signal lines inside by a conversion attachment 79 attached to the waist of the information collector 71, for example. Therefore, the information collector 71 can proceed to collect information in a narrow space where one's body can enter, even in a field where equipment is complicated, by only pulling out one extension cable 81.

The extension cable 81 is routed for a required length, and the other end is connected to the body 41 to
The audio signal is transmitted to the main body 41. The video conference system main body 53, which is a communication device of the main body 41, controls the communication of the video / audio signals, and the first local area network 19, the second local area network 29, and a long-distance communication line such as an ISDN line. The video / audio signals are exchanged between the on-site terminal device 11, the on-site terminal device 11 of the other production base 3 and the support terminal device 21 of the domestic conference room 5 via the.

The plurality of video / audio information collecting devices and the like of the information collecting portion 43 are not limited to being mounted on the body of the information collector 71, and the main body 4 having the portable caster 51.
It is also possible to fix and mount these devices in No. 1 to collect information. Since the information collecting device can obtain stable video / audio and the like by being fixed, the embodiment is changed according to the situation of the site where the problem occurs.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram showing main signal paths inside the on-site terminal device 11. As described above, the conversion attachment 79 has a role of converting a plurality of signal line cables into a single extension cable 81 having a plurality of signal lines therein, in terms of hardware. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of signal transmission, it has an important role of compensating for the deterioration of the video / audio signal during the transmission of the long extension cable 81. That is, since the video / audio signal includes a high frequency component in which the crest value is likely to be deteriorated and the noise is likely to be increased during the transmission of the long cable, the video / audio signal is pre-modulated at the input side of the extension cable 81 to compensate for the signal deterioration, and the output of the extension cable Side demodulate again. Explaining with the configuration of FIG. 3, the plurality of video / audio signals of the various video / audio information collecting devices 73, 75, 77 of the information collecting portion 43 are converted into the signal modulator 8 built in the conversion attachment 79.
3 is modulated, transmitted via the extension cable 81, and demodulated by the signal demodulator 65 inside the main body 41.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram around the modulation and demodulation of the video / audio signal. For simplicity of explanation, the headset 73 including a headphone and a microphone and the handy camera 75 are shown as examples of the video / audio information collecting device, but the devices are not limited to these devices. The conversion attachment 79 is a headset 73, a handy camera 7
5, a plurality of dedicated cable side terminals 101 respectively connected to the specific connection terminals of the dedicated cable, and an extension cable 81
It is provided with one extension cable side terminal 103 connected to the outside, and the external shape is, for example, about 10 cm * 10 cm *.
It is a case of 2 cm or the like. Headset 7 inside the housing
Level adjuster 105 for adjusting the level of the audio signal from the microphone 3 and volume controller 10 for adjusting the volume of the audio signal to the headphones of the headset 73.
7. A signal modulation element such as a balance / unbalance converter 109 composed of an impedance element or a filter for modulating the high frequency characteristics of the video / audio signal is arranged and connected as shown in FIG. The modulator 83 is configured. If necessary, a battery is built in as a power source for the volume adjuster 107 and the like.

A signal demodulation element such as a balance / unbalance converter 113, a level adjuster 115, and a distributor 117 for separating and distributing signals into video and audio is also arranged on the main body 41 side, as shown in FIG. The signal demodulator 65 is connected as a whole and constitutes the signal demodulator 65. An extension cable 81 connects between the two balance / unbalance converters.

The operation of the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described with an example. For example, when an audio signal is output from the microphone of the headset 73, the audio signal is input from the dedicated cable side terminal connection terminal 101 to the signal modulator 83, and the level adjuster 105 suppresses the deterioration of the audio level during the transmission of the extension cable 81. The audio level is adjusted to a predetermined level to compensate. The audio signal whose audio level has been adjusted is then input to the balance / unbalance converter 109. In the balance / unbalance converter 109, the frequency characteristic of the audio signal is modulated by using, for example, an impedance element or a filter. For example, the high frequency component is compensated in relation to the low frequency component, and the modulation is performed to make the deterioration of the high frequency component due to the transmission of the long extension cable 81 inconspicuous. The modulated audio signal is transmitted by a long extension cable, and the balance / unbalance converter 1 on the main body 41 side is transmitted.
13 is input. Here, the frequency characteristic of the voice signal modulated by the balance / unbalance converter 109 of the signal modulator 83 on the side of the conversion attachment 79 is demodulated to restore the original frequency characteristic of the voice signal as a whole. Then when the video signals are being processed simultaneously,
Only the audio signal is separated by the distributor 117.

In this way, the deterioration of the audio signal from the microphone of the headset 73 in the long extension cable 81 can be compensated. In the description, the transmission of the audio signal has been described, but the principle is the same for the video signal.

As the internal structure of the signal modulator 83 and the signal demodulator 65, the level adjusters 105 and 115, the volume adjuster 107, and the balance / unbalance converters 109 and 1 are used.
13, the distributor 117 is shown as an example for convenience of explanation of the audio signal taken as an example, and various signal conversions suitable for them are adopted by adopting various video / audio information collecting devices and the like. The present invention can also be implemented by designing the device and compensating for signal deterioration during transmission of the extension cable.

[0037]

In the video communication system according to the present invention, the field terminal device has the video / audio information collecting device, the communication device and the like mounted on a movable base. Therefore, when a problem occurs at the site, move the entire site terminal device to the site and connect the connection means of the communication device to the connection port of the network closest to the site, thereby communicating with the local area network. It was possible to perform video communication via a communication network that is a combination of networks.

In the video communication system according to the present invention, a plurality of signal lines output from the video / audio information collecting device are connected to each other.
Converted to a single extension cable with multiple signal lines inside, and compensated for deterioration of video and audio signals during transmission of a long extension cable. Therefore, information gathering activities and communication activities became extremely easy, and it was possible to enter the site and collect the necessary video and audio information while communicating in real time with the support terminal device having the support department.

Further, the video communication system according to the present invention,
By accessing the database of past failure cases provided in the network and searching for similar cases in the past, even if there is a time difference problem between the production site and the support department, immediate communication at the site is possible. Became possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an entire video communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a device configuration of a movable field terminal device 11 in the video communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram showing main signal paths inside the field terminal device 11 of the video communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram around the modulation and demodulation of video / audio signals in the video communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 domestic production base, 3 overseas production base, 5 domestic conference room, 7 long distance communication line, 11 field terminal equipment, 13,
23 connection port, 15, 25 router, 17, 27
Gateway, 19 first local area network, 21 support terminal device, 29 second local area network, 31 database, 41 main body, 43
Information collecting part, 51 portable caster, 53 video conference system main unit (communication device), 55 monitor, 57 video deck, 59 external speaker, 61 uninterruptible power supply (UPS), 65 signal demodulator, 71 information collector, 7
3 headset, 75 handy camera, 77 small monitor, 79 conversion attachment, 81 extension cable, 83 signal modulator, 101 dedicated cable side terminal,
103 extension cable side terminal, 105, 115 level adjuster, 107 volume adjuster, 109, 113 balanced / unbalanced converter, 117 distributor.

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Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A video communication system for performing video communication between a field terminal device and a support terminal device via a communication network combining a local area network and a telecommunications network, wherein the field terminal device is An audio information collecting device; a communication device that connects to the video / audio information collecting device and connects to the communication network; and a movable base that mounts these devices, and the communication device has a plurality of connections. A video communication system comprising a connection means capable of connecting to a connection port of the communication network having a port, and performing video communication by connecting to the connection port closest to the site where the user has moved. 2. A video communication system for performing video communication between a field terminal device and a support terminal device via a communication network, wherein the field terminal device comprises a dedicated cable having a unique connection terminal at one end, A video / audio information collecting device that can be worn on the body of the information collector on the terminal device side, and a plurality of video / audio signal lines of the dedicated cable described above in one extension cable having a plurality of corresponding signal lines inside. A conversion attachment that is converted and can be worn on the body of the information collector, an extension cable connection terminal that is provided on a transportable base, and is connected to the other end of the extension cable, and a communication network that is connected to the communication network. A communication device having a connection terminal, wherein the conversion attachment is a plurality of dedicated cable side connection terminals to which one end side of the dedicated cable is connected to one side, One extension cable side connection terminal to which one end side of the one extension cable is connected to one side, and is provided between the dedicated cable side connection terminal and the extension cable side connection terminal, the video / audio signal is provided. And a signal demodulating element for demodulating the modulated video / audio signal, and compensating for deterioration of the video / audio signal in a long extension cable. Characteristic video communication system. 3. The video communication system according to claim 2, wherein the communication network includes a local area network and a long distance communication line network. 4. The video communication system according to claim 1, wherein the long-distance communication line network is a public communication line network. 5. The video communication system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the communication network has a plurality of connection ports to which the field terminal device can be connected, within the support range of the support terminal device. Video communication system characterized by being a network. 6. The video communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a database included in the network, the database including a communication result between the support terminal device and the field terminal device. A video communication system having. 7. A video communication method using the video communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the field terminal device is moved to a site, and the communication device is connected to the communication network. A setting step of setting the communication device in a state in which information can be exchanged between the terminal device and the support terminal device, collecting video / audio information of the site situation, and transmitting the information to the support terminal device through the communication network. A video communication method, comprising: a site information transmitting step; and a support information receiving step in which support information is transmitted from a support site to a site site via a communication network and received by a site terminal device.