JP2003319358A - Video conference system, terminal included in the same, and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video conference system for performing more efficient access management under a communication environment wherein a plurality of terminals can access a particular terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The video conference system for executing access management to connect the particular terminal (300B) to any of terminals making an access request to the particular terminal (300B) via a prescribed transmission means for realizing two-way interaction, includes: a management table (25) for managing the interactive state of the particular terminal (300B) for a preset interactive available time and managing reservation information of the terminal (300C) making an access request during the interaction of the particular terminal (300B); and a communication control means (200) for distributing information with respect to at least a scheduled waiting time until the start of the interaction or a schedule time of the start of interaction to respective terminals (3C) making the access request and waiting for the interaction during the interaction of the particular terminal (300B) while referencing the management table (250). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video conference system or the like for performing access management to a terminal device among a plurality of terminal devices connected by a predetermined transmission means, which is waiting for a dialogue with a specific terminal device. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a two-way interactive system has been constructed which realizes a remote dialog for transmitting and receiving text data and video data between remote sites via transmission means such as English conversation learning and counseling. In such remote communication, not only the exchange of text data and the image of the other party's interlocutor, but also a more intimate dialogue in which the interlocutors indirectly see each other through the image of the other party's interlocutor. As a system for realizing the environment, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3074677
The issue proposes a two-way interactive system that enables remote interaction in a state of line-of-sight matching.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION As a result of studying a conventional two-way interactive system, the inventors have found the following problems. That is, the conventional two-way interactive system that realizes remote communication has a configuration suitable for one-to-one two-way interaction, and multipoint connection in which a large number of users simultaneously participate through a plurality of terminal devices. In the application to the video conferencing system, it was not possible for the participants to share dialogue information uniformly so that the dialogue could not proceed smoothly.

[0004] For example, in English conversation learning and the like, bidirectional dialogue is carried out with a plurality of student side terminal devices connected to the teacher side terminal device. In such English conversation learning, while a teacher has an interactive conversation with any student, other students have to wait for a while to have an interaction with the teacher. In addition, it has been known from experience that when a computer trouble or a disaster occurs, even after calling a service center (call center) such as after-sales service of a company, it is almost busy and contact cannot be made smoothly. Such a situation in which access is concentrated occurs also in the “neat consultation” that is accepted 24 hours a day, and there is a problem that it is not possible to respond efficiently at present.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a video conference system for performing more efficient access management in a communication environment in which a plurality of terminal devices can access a specific terminal device. An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device included in the video conference system, a communication method, a computer program for executing the communication method, and a recording medium having the computer program recorded therein.

[0006]

A video conference system according to the present invention realizes a two-way dialogue through a plurality of terminal devices connected by a predetermined transmission means. In particular, the video conferencing system connects the specific terminal device and the terminal device that has made an access request to the specific terminal device through a predetermined transmission means to perform access management in order to realize a two-way dialogue. It is a two-way interactive system that is provided with a management table for access management and communication control means. The management table manages the dialogue situation of the specific terminal device by preset possible dialogue time,
The reservation information of the terminal device that has made the access request during the dialogue of the specific terminal device is managed. Further, the communication control means,
While referring to the management table, at least the information about the scheduled waiting time until the start of the dialogue or the scheduled start time of the dialogue is delivered to each of the terminal devices waiting for the dialogue requesting the access during the dialogue of the specific terminal device.

The communication control means may notify at least one of the specific terminal device and the terminal device that is in dialogue with the specific terminal device, as the conversation reservation status, the number of terminals waiting for the dialogue for which an access request is made. , A specific terminal device, and / or at least one of the terminal devices in dialogue with the specific terminal device, are notified of the remaining time of the dialogue, and further, of the terminal devices waiting for dialogue, the next dialogue partner with the specific terminal device. The terminal device may be notified that the scheduled time to start the dialogue is approaching. In this way, by notifying the terminal user in the dialogue of the dialogue waiting status, there is an effect of promoting the dialogue progress. In this specification, a terminal device waiting for a dialogue means a terminal device that has reserved a dialogue with the specific terminal device among the terminal devices that have made an access request to the specific terminal device.

Further, the communication control means updates the dialog possible time managed in the management table with a predetermined fluctuation width according to the number of access requests to the specific terminal device received during the dialog of the specific terminal device. Is preferred. in this case,
The progress of the dialogue can be made to correspond to the access status to the specific terminal device, and efficient access management can be performed in a situation where the communication line is congested.

Further, from the viewpoint of efficient access management, the communication control means refers to the management table,
On the condition that the scheduled time for starting the next dialogue managed by the management table has come, the connection of the terminal device in the dialogue mode with the specific terminal device is set to one of the terminal devices waiting for dialogue. You may switch automatically to the terminal device which becomes the next conversation partner with a specific terminal device. However, since the dialogue between the terminal devices connected to the specific terminal device is actually performed between the users of the respective terminal devices, it is not realistic for the communication control means to control until the correct dialogue end time. Therefore, the communication control means, for each terminal device in the dialogue standby that has made an access request to the specific terminal device,
It is preferable to notify the time zone defined by the shortest time and the longest time as the dialogue waiting time or the scheduled time for starting the dialogue. Also, in consideration of the circumstances of each user of the terminal device that has made an access request to the specific terminal device, the communication control means starts the dialogue specified by the terminal device waiting for the dialogue that made the access request to the specific terminal device. It is preferable to manage the scheduled time with the management table.

Although the video conference system having the above-mentioned structure includes a plurality of terminal devices, the communication control means may be a server separately prepared for data distribution on a predetermined transmission means. Any of the terminal devices of each user may function as the communication control means. In particular, the terminal device according to the present invention includes at least a database that stores the management table and a control unit that functions as the communication control unit.

Next, the communication method according to the present invention is suitable for a communication system in which data is transmitted and received by a plurality of types of media via a plurality of terminal devices connected by a predetermined transmission means as described above. Is the way.

[0012] Specifically, the communication method according to the present invention is a two-way dialogue in which any one of a specific terminal device and a terminal device that has made an access request to the specific terminal device is connected via a predetermined transmission means. To manage access to realize
This management table manages the dialogue status of the specific terminal device and the reservation information of the terminal device that has made an access request during the dialogue of the specific terminal device, by using a management table in which a preset possible dialogue time is recorded. Referring to, the information about at least the scheduled waiting time until the start of the dialogue or the scheduled start time of the dialogue is delivered to each of the terminal devices waiting for the dialogue that has made the access request.

Particularly, in the communication method according to the present invention, in order to promote the progress of the dialogue, the dialogue in which an access request is made as a dialogue reservation status to at least one of the above-mentioned specific terminal device and the terminal device which is in dialogue with the specific terminal device. Notify the number of waiting terminals, notify at least one of the specific terminal device and the terminal device that is in dialogue with the specific terminal device, the remaining time of the dialogue, and further You may notify the terminal device which becomes the next conversation partner with a specific terminal device that the scheduled time of dialogue start has approached.

In order to perform efficient access management in response to fluctuations in traffic on the communication line, the communication method uses the above-mentioned management according to the number of access requests to the specific terminal device received during the dialogue between the specific terminal devices. It is preferable to update the interactive time managed in the table with a predetermined fluctuation range. In addition, referring to the management table, the connection of the terminal device in the interactive mode with the specific terminal device is provided on condition that the scheduled time for starting the next dialog managed by the management table has come. It is also possible to automatically switch to a terminal device which becomes a next conversation partner with the specific terminal device among the terminal devices waiting for the conversation. However, since the dialogue between the specific terminal device and the connected terminal device is actually performed between the users of each terminal device, it is not realistic to control until the correct dialogue end time. Therefore, the communication method sets a time period defined by the shortest time and the longest time as a dialogue waiting time or a scheduled dialogue start time for each terminal device waiting for a dialogue that has made an access request to a specific terminal device. Notice. In addition, in consideration of the circumstances of each user of the terminal device that has made an access request to the specific terminal device, the scheduled start time of the dialogue specified by the terminal device waiting for the dialogue that made the access request to the specific terminal device is managed as described above. It is preferable to manage in a table.

The communication method as described above may be a program executed by a computer or the like, and in this case, the program may be distributed via a network whether wired or wireless. , CD, DVD, flash memory or the like.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a video conference system and the like according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. In the description of the drawings, the same parts will be denoted by the same reference symbols and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a video conference system according to the present invention. The video conference system according to the present invention has a predetermined transmission means 27.
A multipoint connection type bidirectional in which data is transmitted and received by a plurality of types of media, such as video, audio, slide images, text data of terminal users, or composite data of these, through a plurality of terminal devices connected by The interactive system is included, and in particular, the server 200 is provided as a communication control unit that manages access to the specific terminal device 300B from the plurality of terminal devices 300A and 300C.

In the video conference system according to the present invention, the server 200 has a management table 250 for managing access to the specific terminal device 300B.
In particular, this management table 250 is stored in the specific terminal device 300.
The interaction status of B is managed by a preset available time, and the terminal device that made the access request during the interaction of the specific terminal device 300B (if the specific terminal device 300B is in the interaction with the terminal device 300A, the other Terminal device 300
By managing the reservation information (corresponding to C), access management of the terminal device 300C waiting for a dialogue is individually supported. Although the video conference system having the above-described structure includes the terminal device of each user who has made an access request to the specific terminal device, the communication control means has the predetermined transmission means 27 as described above. It may be the server 200 separately prepared above for data distribution, or may be any of the terminal devices of the respective users.

In particular, the video conference system and the communication method according to the present invention realize a remote dialogue between terminal devices connected via the transmission means 27, for example, Japanese Patent No. 307.
The bidirectional interactive system described in Japanese Patent No. 4677 is applicable, and between a specific terminal device and a terminal device that is in dialogue with the specific terminal device (for example, the terminal device 300A in FIG.
It is suitable for a multi-point connection type interactive interactive system that enables line-of-sight matching in 300B).

First, a two-way interactive system applied to the video conference system will be described here.
Although this interactive interactive system is a system that realizes a one-to-one basic remote communication in a state where the line-of-sight coincides, the line-of-sight cannot be matched between the interlocutors, and text data and image data are simply It is also applicable to a two-way interactive system capable of transmitting and receiving.

FIG. 2 is a logical block diagram showing the entire interactive interactive system that enables line-of-sight matching between interlocutors at remote locations. This system realizes a two-way dialogue between an interlocutor 3A (first interlocutor) at point A (first point) and an interlocutor 3B (second interlocutor) at point B (second point). It is a system that does. Especially, this system is a system suitable for counseling system and home learning that establishes intimate trusting relationships and realizes close communication even between interlocutors in remote places, and teachers, doctors, A counselor such as a psychologist or a facilitator who guides the entire conference can be envisioned. Therefore, this system has various functions and configurations so that these counselors can provide information necessary for counseling and an ideal counseling environment.

Specifically, at the point A, (a) a chair 4A (having a height adjusting mechanism 40A) on which an interlocutor 3A (for example, a counselor) sits, and (b) a table 2A to which the interlocutor 3A faces. (C) The terminal device 20A having a mechanism for matching the lines of sight of the interlocutors via the transmission means 27 is installed, and the interlocutor 3A is isolated by the partition 22A. On the other hand, at point B, (a) Interlocutor 3
A chair 4B (having a height adjustment mechanism 40B) on which B (for example, a client receiving counseling) sits, and (b)
The table 2B to which the interlocutor 3B faces, and (c) the transmission means 2
The terminal device 20B provided with a mechanism for matching the line of sight between the interlocutors via 7 is installed, and the interlocutor 3B is isolated by the partition 22B. Here, the transmission means 27 enables transmission and reception of image information and audio information between the terminal device 20A at the point A and the terminal device 20B at the point B, so as to enable transmission and reception of the optical fiber transmission line 31 (main transmission line) and the satellite. The communication transmission path 32 (transmission path for backup) and the like are included. The transmission means 27 may be wired or wireless. In addition, the transmission means includes a network such as a telephone line network that has already been installed, and a bulletin board system (BBS: Bulletin Board Syste
m) is also included.

At point A, the chair 4A described above functions to define the position of the interlocutor 3A. This chair 4A is preferably fixed in order to keep a constant distance from the display unit 21A of the terminal device 20A. However, even if the chair 4A is not fixed, the chair 4A can be installed by installing the table 2A on the interlocutor 3A and the display unit 21A.
It becomes possible to maintain a constant distance from the display unit 21A (the fact that the existence of the table 2A serves as a reference for the psychological distance of the interlocutor 3A has been confirmed). The configuration of the terminal device 20B at the point B where the other party's interlocutor 3B (for example, a person who receives counseling) is the same.

At the point A, the terminal device 20A (1)
A monitor TV arranged on the table 2A for displaying the image of the interlocutor 3B based on the image information transmitted from the terminal device 20B at the point B via the transmission means 27.
A display unit 21A provided with 1A, (2) an image pickup unit 6A for taking in the image of the interlocutor 3A picked up by the CCD camera 5A as image information, and transmitting it to the terminal device 20B at the point B, (3 ) A voice output unit 23A for outputting the voice of the interlocutor 3B based on the voice information transmitted from the terminal device 20B at the point B via the transmission means 27.
(Speaker), and (4) a voice input unit 24A (microphone) for collecting the voice of the interlocutor 3A as voice information and transmitting it to the terminal device 20B at the point B. In addition, this system, as a counseling system, realizes more detailed communication.
Input a character or a graphic, display the input character or graphic on the display unit 21A, and transmit the character or graphic information to the terminal device 20B at the point B as a character or graphic information (keyboard, pointing, An image processing device 26A (including a control unit) which is provided between each component and the transmission means 27 and which performs signal processing, transmission control, video data editing work, etc. With. The terminal device 20B at the point B is also configured in the same manner as the terminal device 20A at the point A, and specifically, the display unit 21B and the CCD.
Imaging device 600 including camera 5B and imaging unit 6B
B, a voice output unit 23B, a voice input unit 24B, a character / graphics input unit 25B, and a video processing device 26B.

Further, the terminal devices 20 at the points A and B
In A and 20B, the configurations of the imaging devices 600A and 600B (imaging means) will be described. For convenience of description, when referring to components common to the terminal devices 20A and 20B at points A and B, for example, the imaging device 60
The description will be made by omitting the letters A and B that distinguish each point like 0. In addition, unless specifically described, the terminal device 20A at the point A is described in principle, and the terminal device 20 at the point B having a common configuration is described.
Overlapping description of B is omitted.

This image pickup device 600 includes a microminiature CCD camera 5 (5A) which is an image pickup section, and a support mechanism 10 for mounting the CCD camera 5 at a predetermined position in a supported state (see FIG. 3).
Reference unit) and an image pickup unit 6 (6A) for controlling the CCD camera 5. The monitor TV 1 (1A) is placed on the table 2 (2A), and the interlocutor 3
(3A) is a chair 4 (4) provided with a height adjusting mechanism 40 (40A) placed at a distance L (m) from the monitor TV 1.
Sitting in A). This distance L (LA) is set to 0.5 m or more and 5 m or less. An outer diameter of 20 mm or less and a length of about 100 mm between the interlocutor 3 and the monitor TV 1 to be photographed.
A cylindrical microminiature CCD camera 5 is provided. Further, the CCD camera 5 is installed so that its imaging direction is directed to the interlocutor 3 who is imaged. Then, the image of the interlocutor 3 imaged by the camera 5 is transmitted as image information from the imaging unit 6 to the other interlocutor side (transmitted to the terminal device 20B at the point B via the transmission means 27).
Depending on the interlocutor, the space between the display unit 21 and the interlocutor may be weakened. Therefore, in order to cope with such a situation, it is preferable that the CCD camera 5 has a deep focal depth.

Next, a specific installation position of the microminiature CCD camera 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the image pickup unit 6 of the image pickup device 600 is installed on the display unit 21 for displaying the transmitted image of the other interlocutor. An image of the interlocutor himself / herself taken by the camera 5 is captured in the body of the imaging unit 6 (captured by the imaging unit 6 via the camera cable 50)
In addition to the changeover switch 6a, various adjustment switches 6b are provided for switching between the display of 1) and the display of the transmitted image of the interlocutor 3B. The switch 210 includes a power switch for turning on / off the power of the monitor TV 1. The CCD camera 5 is installed by a support mechanism 10 (robot arm) at a predetermined position in front of the monitor screen 8 on which the transmitted image 9 of the interlocutor 3B is displayed. The monitor screen 8 can be sufficiently used if it has a size of about 4 inches.

Specifically, the CCD camera 5 is located at a position forward w (cm) from the monitor screen 8, and the monitor screen 8
It is arranged near the head 9a of the interlocutor image 9 displayed in FIG.
The central axis of the cylindrical CCD camera 5 is located at a position h (cm) above the eye position of the interlocutor image 9 shown by the dotted line.

As described above, since the microminiature CCD camera 5 is located near the head above the eye position of the interlocutor image 9 displayed on the screen 8 of the large monitor TV 1, it is particularly suitable for two-way dialogue. No trouble will occur. For example, the CCD camera 5 is provided above the eye position (the position shown by the dotted line in the figure) of the interlocutor image 9 displayed on the screen 8 at h = about 10 (cm), and between the monitor TV 1 and the interlocutor 3. In the case of the system configuration in which the distance L is set to about 2.5 (m), the parallax angle is 2.3 °.
It is possible to sufficiently fall below the detection limit parallax angle of 3 ° (the interval w between the monitor screen 8 and the CCD camera 5 is 10 (c
Even if there is about m), there is no particular effect on the variation of the parallax angle). That is, if the eyes of the other party (the eyes of the image of the other interlocutor 3B displayed on the monitor screen 8) can be clearly seen at the time of line-of-sight matching, even if the microminiature camera 5 is provided near the head, the monitor It has been confirmed that if the screen 8 of the TV 1 is large, there is almost no hindrance to the interactive dialogue. As a result of the experiment, the size of this screen 8 is 35 cm in width and 26 cm in height.
It has also been confirmed that good two-way dialogue can be realized if the size is at least a certain level. It should be noted that if mutual interlocutors are acquaintances, there is a result that there is a tendency that there are few psychological obstacles even if the size of the screen is small, and it is advisable to properly use the screen size according to the application.

Further, the parallax angle will be described with reference to FIG. In this specification, the parallax angle refers to the line of sight of the interlocutor 3 to be photographed, which is directed to the interlocutor image 9 displayed on the monitor screen 8 and to the CCD camera 5, as shown in FIG. The angle θ formed by the line of sight of the interlocutor 3 is defined. In other words, it means the shift angle of the installation position of the CCD camera 5 with respect to the line of sight of the interlocutor 3. In addition, the line-of-sight matching here means the 4th Japan Electrical Engineers Union Meeting (N)
o. 1998), it means that the unnaturalness due to the installation position of the CCD camera 5 is below the allowable limit. Quantitatively, the parallax angle is 4.5 ° or less in the left and right direction (both temple sides of the image 9 with respect to the eye center A of the interlocutor image 9), and 12 ° directly above (with respect to the image center A, The head 9b side of the image 9) and 8 ° below (the body side of the image 9 with respect to the image center A) or less are within the line-of-sight matching range. Of course, the smaller the parallax angle, the better, and the detection limit is 3 ° or less in the horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, the area in which the CCD camera 5 can be installed is the conical area shown in FIG. In addition,
This conical area is the center point A of the interlocutor image 9 displayed on the monitor screen 8 and the eye 30 of the interlocutor 3 (in this embodiment, the center of both eyes of the interlocutor image 9 is the center point of the interlocutor image 9). Defined as A), the line of sight 31 of the interlocutor 3 connecting
It is defined by the line-of-sight matching region 9b on the monitor screen 8 and the position of the eye 30 of the interlocutor 3 when the monitor is separated by a predetermined distance L (m).

When the size of the interlocutor image 9 displayed on the monitor screen 8 is small, the CCD camera 5 and the head of the interlocutor image 9 do not necessarily have to overlap each other. Rather, the head of the interlocutor 9 is hidden by the CCD camera 5 and becomes difficult to see. As described above, the condition for line-of-sight matching is a parallax angle of 3 °.
This means that the CCD camera 5 and the eyes of the interlocutor image 9 are present in the area (3), specifically about 3 cm (h in FIG. 2) at a position 50 cm away from the screen. Therefore, within this range, the line-of-sight matching state is maintained even if the CCD camera 5 and the head of the interlocutor image 9 are displaced. This dialogue image 9
The displacement of the CCD camera 5 can be realized by, for example, adjusting the image display position on the monitor screen 8 or adjusting the support portion of the CCD camera 5 to change the position of the CCD camera 5 itself.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the terminal device according to the present invention. This terminal device includes a display unit 21 such as a monitor (corresponding to the display units 21A and 21B in the two-way interactive system shown in FIG. 2) and a video processing unit 26 (FIG. 2).
(Corresponding to the video processing devices 26A and 26B in the two-way interactive system shown in FIG. 2), an external recording device 700, a pointing device 900 such as a mouse, and a display unit 21.
An image pickup device 600 including an image pickup unit such as a CCD camera 5 and an image pickup unit 6 for picking up an interlocutor located in front of the speaker, and a speaker 920 for outputting the voice of the other interlocutor. The video processing section 26 is a data input / output section for receiving image information from the image pickup unit 6 included in the image pickup means and other information media, and for transmitting and receiving image information of the other party's interlocutor via the transmitting means 27. 261 (in the figure, I
/ O), the control unit 263, the image information transmitted and received,
A database 262 for storing character data, video data, etc. prepared in advance by the interlocutor himself (D /
B), data for enabling the drawing unit 264 to display a predetermined pattern on the display unit 21 in accordance with the instruction of the control unit 263, and the acquisition of position information from the pointing device 900 such as a mouse and the exchange of data with the external recording device 700. Input / output unit 265 (I / O in the figure), speaker 920
And a sound source controller 910 for generating audio data output from.

The external recording device 700 is, for example, a magnetic tape, a CD, an optical disk, a hard disk, a DVD,
Including flash memory. When the terminal device functions as the server 200, the control unit 263 functions as communication control means for realizing the communication method according to the present invention, and the management table 250 is stored in the D / B 262.

Next, the communication method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Note that this communication method is shown in FIG.
The video conference system shown in Fig. 2 is used (the configuration for realizing the interactive dialogue between the individual terminal devices is the same as that of the interactive dialogue system shown in Fig. 2). The configuration shown in 6 is the same.

For example, in the case of English conversation learning, the terminal device 300A (student-side terminal device) that first requests access to the specific terminal device 300B (teacher-side terminal device) is performing remote dialogue by various information media. When an access request is made to the specific terminal device 300B from any of the terminal devices 300C (other student side terminal devices), the monitor screen 8 on the display unit 21 of the terminal device 300C that made the access request For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the waiting time until the start of the dialogue is displayed for each teacher who can interact with the teacher. Note that in FIG. 7A, an image window 800a is displayed on the monitor screen 8 for presenting a still image (may be a moving image) of a teacher (user of the specific terminal device 300B who can access) who can interact. At the same time, the waiting time for dialogue with each teacher is displayed. This waiting time information is distributed from the server 200 side with reference to the management table 250. The still image of the teacher displayed on the monitor screen 8 of the display unit 21 of the student side terminal device may be registered in the D / B 262 in advance.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the display unit 21
A student whose waiting time is displayed on the monitor screen 8 of the student (the terminal device 30 that has made an access request to the specific terminal device 300B).
The 0C user) confirms the waiting time for the dialogue with the teacher who wants the dialogue, and determines whether to apply for the dialogue with the desired teacher. The interactive application is performed by operating the mouse 900 and clicking the application button displayed on the monitor screen 8 along with the waiting time, and the server 200 which has received the interactive application information.
(Communication control means) registers the terminal device that has applied for the dialogue in the management table 250 as the terminal device waiting for the dialogue (the reservation information is managed by the management table 250).

Further, on the monitor screen 8 of the display unit 21 of the terminal device which has issued the access request, for example, FIG.
As shown in, a window 800b prepared for each dialog field may be displayed. Such a monitor display is particularly effective when the number of users of the terminal device requesting access to the specific terminal device 300B is unspecified.
In this case, a window 800 in which each waiting time is presented for each dialogue field as information presented to the terminal user who has made an access request to the specific terminal device 300B.
b is displayed on the monitor screen 8 of the display unit 21. User presented with window 800b (specific terminal device 300
Terminal device 300C user who has made an access request to B)
Confirms the waiting time in the field in which the conversation is desired, and determines whether to apply for the conversation with the specific terminal device 300B. This dialog application is also performed by operating the mouse 900 to click the application buttons displayed in the window 800b for each dialog field, and the server 200 that has received the dialog application information.
The (communication control means) registers the terminal device, which has applied for the dialogue, in the management table 250 as a terminal device on standby for multiple dialogues. If the user wants to hold a dialog after a certain period of time, the reservation button 810 may be clicked and the dialog start time may be designated by the user.

Particularly, in the communication method according to the present invention,
The server 200 can be applied in various ways to promote the progress of dialogue. For example, at least one of the specific terminal device 300B and the terminal device 300A having a dialog with the specific terminal device 300B is notified of the number of terminals waiting for a dialog requesting an access as the dialog reservation status, or the specific terminal device 30.
0B and the terminal device 3 in dialogue with the specific terminal device 300B
As shown in FIG. 8, the remaining time of the dialogue is notified to at least one of the terminal devices 00A and 00A, which is a terminal to be the next dialogue partner with the specific terminal device 300B among the terminal devices 300C waiting for the dialogue. The device may be notified that the scheduled time to start the dialogue is approaching. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the monitor screen 8 of the display unit 21 in the terminal device waiting for the dialogue. On the monitor screen 8, a still image of the dialogue partner of the specific terminal device 300B on which the dialogue reservation is made ( A window 800c that presents a moving image) and a time monitor 820 that displays the time remaining until the start of the dialogue are displayed.

Further, the server 200 manages the access efficiently in response to the fluctuation of the traffic of the communication line. Therefore, the server 200 responds to the number of access requests to the specific terminal device 300B received during the dialogue of the specific terminal device 300B. It is preferable to update the interactive time managed by the management table 250 with a predetermined fluctuation range. Also, server 2
00 refers to the management table 250, and the terminal device 300A that is in the interaction mode with the specific terminal device 300B on condition that the scheduled time for starting the next interaction managed by the management table 250 has come. The connection may be automatically switched to the terminal device which becomes the next dialog partner with the specific terminal device 300B among the terminal devices 300C waiting for the dialog.
However, the terminal device 3 connected to the specific terminal device 300B
The dialogue between 00A is actually performed by each terminal device 300A, 3A.
Since it is performed between the users of 00B, it is not realistic to control until the correct dialogue end time. Therefore, the server 200 sets a time zone defined by the shortest time and the longest time as the dialogue waiting time or the dialogue start scheduled time for each of the terminal devices 300C waiting for the dialogue that has made an access request to the specific terminal equipment 300B. Is notified (see FIG. 7A).

Normally, when an inquiry is made to a service center or the like, the user (requester) on the side of making an access request to the specific terminal device is not worried because he cannot know when to connect to the specific terminal device. Feel Further, the interlocutors during the dialogue have no means to know how many queues are occurring. However, according to the present invention, the predicted value of the waiting time of the user is objectively displayed to the requester. In order to display the waiting time in this way, it is necessary to limit the conversation time according to the queue (group of terminal devices waiting for conversation). Specifically, if the number of people waiting is zero, it is not necessary to limit the conversation time according to the queue,
By increasing the number of people waiting (number of requesters waiting for dialogue) to one or two, the maximum possible dialogue time was 20 minutes, which was 15 minutes or 10 minutes, which is a practical obstacle to dialogue. It will be reduced within a range that does not exist. In addition, when the available time for dialogue is at least 10 minutes, of course, even if the number of waiting persons increases to 4, 5, the dialogue reservation is accepted in the state of being reserved for 10 minutes. In addition, although it is assumed that the dialogue ends earlier than the preset possible dialogue time, in that case, the waiting time presented to each waiting requester is shortened in real time.

On the contrary, when the dialogue time becomes long, except for the emergency, for example, a countdown display (clock sign) is displayed to the interlocutor from 1 minute before to automatically stop or forcibly terminate. (It will be announced to the requester in advance), and it is considered that it can be handled in most cases. That is, you can limit the conversation time according to the queue, change the maximum conversation time, and even
By notifying the number of waiting people to at least one of the dialogue participants, it is possible for two-way conversation with each other to help each other, and the requester himself / herself can grasp the approximate waiting time and the dialogue start time, and as a whole, the mutual support spirit. Dialogue can be realized. In the emergency dialogue, it is preferable to prioritize the dialogue requests and adjust the dialogue order on the server side.

Further, the requester cannot perform other work if he or she constantly accesses the specific terminal device because of a dialogue request to the service center or the like. However, according to the present invention, since each requester can know the approximate waiting time, it becomes possible to shift to another work for a certain fixed time. In this case, the conversation status is searched every 10 minutes, and when the conversation starts (for example, 30 seconds before the conversation starts), the mode is automatically switched to the conversation standby mode, which enables more efficient access management.

Further, the requester who has made the dialogue reservation has a waiting time until the dialogue starts. In this case, the server 2
00 to provide music (BGM), CM, virtual shopping, and virtual bookstore admission services, both the service provider and the requester waiting for a dialogue can effectively use the waiting time. At this time, it is preferable that the requester himself / herself select the genre instead of unilaterally providing the multimedia to the requester, so that the requester can easily obtain necessary information. In this case, as a matter of course, the dialogue start notice is notified, for example, 30 seconds before the dialogue start time.
Efficient access management is possible by automatically switching to the interactive mode a few seconds before (if the user requests canceling the dialog, the requester will automatically switch the terminal device to the interactive mode. It is possible to avoid it and continue working as desired).

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, while referring to the management table for performing access management, the communication control means makes a request to each terminal device that has made an access request during the dialogue of the specific terminal device. Since at least the information about the scheduled waiting time until the start of the dialogue or the scheduled time of the dialogue start is distributed, the user of the terminal device that has made the access request can easily grasp the dialogue situation of the specific terminal device. The effect is that it is possible to judge whether or not to apply for dialogue by itself.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a video conference system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a two-way interactive system that realizes line-of-sight matching between remote places via transmission means.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the image pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and a diagram for explaining a method of installing a CCD camera for line-of-sight matching.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a parallax angle.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an area where a CCD camera is to be installed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal device in the video conference system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a monitor screen in a terminal device that has made an access request to a specific terminal device in the communication method according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a monitor screen in a terminal device in a dialogue waiting state in the communication method according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

8 ... Monitor screen, 21 (21A, 21B) ... Display section, 3
(3A, 3B) ... Interlocutors A, B, 5 (5A, 5B) ... C
CD camera, 6 (6A, 6B) ... Imaging unit, 600
(600A, 600B) ... Imaging device, 26 (26A, 2
6B) ... video processing device, 200 ... server, 250 ... management table, 262 ... D / B, 263 ... control unit, 20A,
20B, 300A, 300B, 300C ... Terminal device, 9
10 ... Sound source controller, 900 ... Mouse (pointing device), 920, 920a, 920b ... Speaker.

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. A video conference in which access control is performed to connect a specific terminal device and one of the terminal devices that have made an access request to the specific terminal device via a predetermined transmission means to realize bidirectional interaction. In the system, a management table that manages the dialogue status of the specific terminal device according to a preset possible dialogue time, and manages reservation information of the terminal device that has made an access request during the dialogue of the specific terminal device, A communication control unit that distributes at least information about a scheduled waiting time until the start of the dialogue or a scheduled time of the dialogue start to each terminal device that has made an access request during the dialogue of the specific terminal device with reference to the management table. Video conferencing system with and. 2. The communication control means notifies, to at least one of the specific terminal device and a terminal device which is in conversation with the specific terminal device, the number of terminals waiting for an interaction requesting access as an interaction reservation status. Claim 1 characterized by the above.
Video conferencing system described. 3. The television according to claim 1, wherein the communication control means notifies at least one of the specific terminal device and the terminal device in conversation with the specific terminal device of the remaining time of the conversation. Conference system. 4. The communication control means, in accordance with the number of access requests to the specific terminal device received during the dialog of the specific terminal device, the interaction possible time managed by the management table within a predetermined fluctuation range. The video conference system according to claim 3, which is updated. 5. The communication control means notifies the terminal device, which is a terminal device waiting for a dialog, the next dialog partner with the specific terminal device that the scheduled time for starting the dialog is approaching. The video conference system according to claim 4, which is characterized in that. 6. The communication control means refers to the management table, and on condition that the scheduled start time of the next dialog managed by the management table has come, the communication control means communicates with the specific terminal device. 2. The video conferencing system according to claim 1, wherein the connection of the terminal device which is in the standby state is automatically switched to the terminal device which is the next conversation partner with the specific terminal device among the terminal devices waiting for the dialogue. . 7. The communication control means defines a minimum waiting time and a maximum waiting time as a dialogue waiting time or a dialogue starting scheduled time for each terminal device waiting for dialogue which has made an access request to the specific terminal equipment. The video conferencing system according to claim 1, wherein the video conference system notifies the time zone. 8. The communication control means manages, in the management table, a scheduled dialog start time designated by a terminal device waiting for a dialog requesting access to the specific terminal device. 1. The video conference system described in 1. 9. A terminal device which realizes a two-way dialogue by transmitting and receiving data to and from at least one of a plurality of terminal devices connected to a predetermined transmission means, wherein the dialogue status of the specific terminal device. And a database that stores a management table that manages reservation information of the terminal device that made an access request during the dialog of the specific terminal device, while referring to the management table. , For each terminal device that has made an access request to the specific terminal device,
A terminal device comprising at least a communication control means for delivering information about a scheduled waiting time until the start of a dialogue or a scheduled time when a dialogue starts. 10. The communication control means notifies at least one of the specific terminal device and a terminal device that is in dialogue with the specific terminal device, as a dialogue reservation status, the number of terminals waiting for dialogue that has made an access request. The terminal device according to claim 9, wherein: 11. The terminal according to claim 9, wherein the communication control means notifies at least one of the specific terminal device and the terminal device that is in conversation with the specific terminal device of the remaining time of the conversation. apparatus. 12. The communication control means, in accordance with the number of access requests to the specific terminal device received during the dialog of the specific terminal device, the interaction possible time managed by the management table within a predetermined fluctuation range. The terminal device according to claim 11, which is updated. 13. The communication control means notifies the terminal device, which is the next conversation partner with the specific terminal device, among the terminal devices waiting for the dialogue, that the scheduled time for the dialogue start is approaching. The terminal device according to claim 12, wherein the terminal device is a terminal device. 14. The communication control means refers to the management table, and if the scheduled time for starting the next dialog managed by the management table is reached, a dialog mode is established with the specific terminal device. 10. The terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the connection of the terminal device which is set to "1" is automatically switched to the terminal device which is the next conversation partner with the specific terminal device among the terminal devices waiting for the dialogue. 15. The communication control means defines the minimum waiting time and the longest time as a dialogue waiting time or a dialogue starting scheduled time for each terminal waiting for dialogue which has made an access request to the specific terminal equipment. The terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the terminal device notifies the user of the time period to be set. 16. The communication control means manages, in the management table, a scheduled dialog start time designated by a terminal device waiting for a dialog requesting access to the specific terminal device. 9. The terminal device according to item 9. 17. A communication method for performing access management so as to realize a two-way dialogue by connecting either a specific terminal device or a terminal device that has made an access request to the specific terminal device via a predetermined transmission means. The management of a reservation status of a preset interactive time is stored in the interactive information of the specific terminal device and reservation information of the terminal device that has made an access request during the interactive operation of the specific terminal device. Then, while referring to the management table, a communication method for delivering at least information regarding a scheduled waiting time until the start of the dialogue or a scheduled time of the dialogue start to each of the terminal devices that have made the access request. 18. The number of terminals waiting for a dialogue requesting an access as a dialogue reservation status is notified to at least one of the particular terminal device and a terminal device which is in dialogue with the particular terminal device. Item 17. The communication method according to Item 17. 19. The communication method according to claim 17, further comprising notifying at least one of the specific terminal device and the terminal device which is in conversation with the specific terminal device, of the remaining time of the conversation. 20. According to the number of access requests to the specific terminal device received during the dialog of the specific terminal device, the interaction possible time managed in the management table is updated with a predetermined fluctuation range. 20. The communication method according to claim 19. 21. The terminal device, which is a terminal device waiting for a dialog, to be a next dialog partner with the specific terminal device is notified that the scheduled time for starting the dialog is close. The communication method described. 22. A terminal device which is in an interactive mode with the specific terminal device, on condition that the scheduled time for starting the next dialog managed by the management table is reached by referring to the management table. 18. The communication method according to claim 17, wherein the connection is automatically switched to a terminal device which is a next conversation partner with the specific terminal device among the terminal devices waiting for the dialogue. 23. Notifying each terminal device waiting for a dialogue that has made an access request to the specific terminal equipment, a dialogue waiting time or a time zone defined by the shortest time and the longest time as a scheduled time for starting the dialogue. 18. The communication method according to claim 17, wherein: 24. The communication method according to claim 17, wherein the management table manages a scheduled dialog start time designated by a terminal device waiting for a dialog requesting access to the specific terminal device. 25. A computer according to any one of claims 17 to 24.
A computer program for carrying out the method according to any one of. 26. A computer according to any one of claims 17 to 24.
A recording medium on which a computer program for executing the method according to claim 1 is recorded.