JP2004015482A - Television communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a television communication system which executes television communications, irrespective of the difference of operating environments of communication terminals. <P>SOLUTION: A chairman terminal T1 sends a message including telephone communication-participating connection information (URL) to participant terminals T2. The participant terminal T2 receives the message to start a WWW browser, accesses a base station Bs, utilizing the connection information, and sends data for authenticating the participant terminal T2 to be subjected to authentication. The base station Bs sends an up-let to the participant terminal T2 to execute it, thereby acquiring terminal attribute information of this terminal T2. The base station Bs then determines starting conditions of television communication participating computer programs so as to conform with the acquired terminal attribute information, and sends them to the participant terminal T2. This terminal T2 starts the television communication participating computer programs according to the starting conditions thereof, thus participating in a television communication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【００２６】
表１には、各種通信端末に対する配信映像の各種解像度が例示されている。通信端末としては、「ＰＣ端末」，「ＴＶ＋ＴＶ電話（家庭用テレビまたはテレビ電話）」，「ＰＤＡ」，「携帯ＴＶ電話（携帯型テレビ電話）」が例示され、解像度としては、「自画像配信用画面解像度（自己の通信端末から発した映像の受信解像度）」，「教師（議長）等高重要度受信解像度（議長の映像の受信解像度）」，「他参加者等低重要度画面受信解像度（他の参加者の映像の受信解像度）」が例示されている。本テレビ通信システムでは、基地局Ｂｓは、テレビ通信に参加する通信端末から集約した映像データを各通信端末に配信するが、配信映像の解像度を変換する際、処理能力の観点からは、当該配信映像のアスペクト比（横縦比）を変化させないことが好ましい。上記の表１では、基本的なアスペクト比は４：３である。但し、基地局Ｂｓが十分な処理能力をもつのであれば、アスペクト比を変化させてもよい。
【００２７】
また、以下の表２に、基地局Ｂｓから各種通信端末に配信する音声のフォーマットの一例を示す。
【００２８】
【表２】

【００２９】
表２には、配信音声のフォーマットとして、「自己音声配信用フォーマット（自己の通信端末から発した音声のフォーマット）」，「教師（議長）等高重要度音声受信方式（議長の音声のフォーマット）」，「他参加者等低重要度音声受信方式（他の参加者の音声のフォーマット）」が例示されている。尚、表２中の「Ｌｉｎｅａｒ　ＰＣＭ（Ｌｉｎｅａｒ　）」、「Ｔｗｉｎ　ＶＱ（Ｔｒａｎｓｆｏｒｍ　ｄｏｍａｉｎ　Ｗｅｉｇｈｔｅｄ　ＩＮｔｅｒｌｅａｖｅ　Ｖｅｃｔｏｒ　Ｑｕａｎｔｉｚａｔｉｏｎ；変換領域重み付けインタリーブ・ベクトル量子化）」、「ＭＰＥＧ４（Ｍｏｖｉｎｇ　Ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅ　Ｅｘｐｅｒｔｓ　Ｇｒｏｕｐ　ｐｈａｓｅ　４）」および「ＣＥＬＰ（Ｃｏｄｅ　Ｅｘｃｉｔｅｄ　Ｌｉｎｅａｒ　Ｐｒｅｄｉｃｔｉｏｎ）」は音声の符号化方式であり、「Ｇ７２３．１」は、ＩＴＵ−Ｔ（国際電気通信連合電気通信標準化部門）勧告によるテレビ電話およびインターネット電話向け音声符号化規格である。これらは、何れも公知の音声符号化技術である。表２では、通信端末の処理能力が低い程に、小さな処理負荷で配信音声を再生できるようにサンプリング周波数の設定がなされている。
【００３０】
また、以下の表３に、テレビ通信システムでの共有資料の種類とその解像度を例示する。
【００３１】
【表３】

【００３２】
表３に示される通り、「資料表示の種類」として、ＨＴＭＬ（ＨｙｐｅｒＴｅｘｔ　Ｍａｒｋｕｐ　Ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ）やＸＭＬ（ｅＸｔｅｎｓｉｂｌｅ　Ｍａｒｋｕｐ　Ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ）などのページ記述言語で記述したウェブページ（Ｗｅｂ　Ｐａｇｅ）や静止画や動画や音声が、通信端末の動作環境やその通信環境に応じて選択される。同時に、「資料表示解像度」として資料の受信解像度も、通信端末の動作環境やその通信環境に応じて選択できる。
【００３３】
尚、動画再生処理の負荷が大きい通信端末に対しては、基地局Ｂｓは、動画配信しない処理や、動画から静止画を抽出して配信する処理などを実行できる。
【００３４】
次に、基地局Ｂｓから通信端末Ｔ１〜Ｔｎに配信する映像の振り分け処理について説明する。基地局Ｂｓおよび通信端末Ｔ１〜Ｔｎの間で中継されるデータは、所定のデータ長以下のパケットに分割されて伝送される。基地局Ｂｓは、テレビ通信システムに参加する通信端末から集約した映像データをパケット単位で取捨選択し、各通信端末に応じて個別にパケットを構成する（パッキングする）というパケットの振り分け処理を実行する機能を有する。
【００３５】
図３は、その振り分け処理の一例を説明するための図である。図３に示すように、本例での映像データのパケットは、テレビ通信を開催する講師の使用端末から伝送された「Ｖ０：講師画像」と、テレビ通信に参加する生徒１〜３の使用端末から伝送された「Ｖ１：生徒１画像」，「Ｖ２：生徒２画像」および「Ｖ３：生徒３画像」とで示される。講師端末に配信するパケットＩＰ：Ｔ０は、講師端末以外の生徒１〜３の通信端末から発信されたパケットＶ１，Ｖ２，Ｖ３をパッキングしたもの、生徒１端末に配信するパケットＩＰ：Ｓ１は、当該生徒１端末以外の通信端末から発信されたパケットＶ０，Ｖ２，Ｖ３をパッキングしたもの、生徒２端末に配信するパケットＩＰ：Ｓ２は、当該生徒２端末以外の通信端末から発信されたパケットＶ０，Ｖ１，Ｖ３をパッキングしたもの、生徒３端末に配信するパケットＩＰ：Ｓ３は、当該生徒３端末以外の通信端末から発信されたパケットＶ０，Ｖ１，Ｖ２をパッキングしたものである。
【００３６】
図３に示した例では、各生徒の通信端末へ当該生徒を除く参加者の映像データを配信していたが、この代わりに、低解像度の表示装置を搭載した通信端末へ、重要度の高い講師の映像のみを配信するようにパケットを取捨選択する振り分け処理も可能である。
【００３７】
以上のパケットの振り分け処理によって、通信端末の動作環境やその通信環境に適合したデータ配信を、パケット単位で柔軟に且つ効率良く行うことが可能となる。
【００３８】
第２の実施形態．
次に、通信端末Ｔ１〜Ｔｎが有するユーザー・インターフェースの差異を解消する実施形態について説明する。通信端末Ｔ１〜Ｔｎが備えるユーザー・インターフェースは、キーボード，マウス，リモコン，ソフトキーボード，スタイラスペン、テンキーなどの操作子を備えている。これら操作子の入力方法としては、ワン・クリック、ダブル・クリック、ドラッグ＆ドロップ、キータイピング、タッチ、ドローイング、プッシュおよびダイヤルなどが存在する。これら操作子の入力データは、操作子の種類に応じて異なるプロトコルで表現されている。
【００３９】
基地局Ｂｓは、上記認証を受けた通信端末Ｔ１〜Ｔｎに対して、操作子のプロトコルを標準的なプロトコルに変換するプログラム実行型ファイルを送付し実行させる手段を備えている。そのプログラム実行型ファイルとしては、アプレット，スクリプト・ファイルの何れでもよい。
【００４０】
図４は、本実施形態の動作例を説明するための概略図である。図４に示した例では前記プログラム実行型ファイルとしてアプレットを採用している。基地局Ｂｓは、通信端末Ｔｋ（ｋ＝１〜ｎ）から取得した端末属性情報により、当該通信端末Ｔｋが備える操作子のプロトコルの種類を知ることになる。次いで、図４に示すように、基地局Ｂｓは、その操作子のプロトコルを標準的なプロトコルに変換するアプレットを通信端末Ｔｋに送付する。通信端末Ｔｋでは、そのアプレットは、操作子Ａ〜操作子Ｃの入力データのプロトコルを標準的なプロトコルに変換するプロトコル変換を実行する。そして、標準的なプロトコルに変換された入力データ（コマンド，パラメータ）は、基地局Ｂｓに発信され、他の通信端末などへデータ通信される。
【００４１】
このように、通信端末Ｔｋは、基地局Ｂｓからプロトコル変換用のプログラムを提供され、そのプログラムを実装せずに済み、複数の操作子Ａ〜操作子Ｃの操作系の差異を吸収した、標準的なプロトコルの入力データを発信することが可能である。よって、通信端末Ｔｋは、操作子の種類に依らずにテレビ通信に簡易に参加することが可能となる。また、通信端末Ｔｋは、また、新しいプロトコルに対応した操作子が市場に投入された場合、通信端末Ｔｋがその操作子対応のプロトコル変換用のプログラムを搭載せずとも、基地局Ｂｓがその操作子に対応するプロトコル変換用のプログラムを用意すれば足りるため、市場の変化に迅速に追従できる。
【００４２】
第３の実施形態．
上述した通り、上記第１の実施形態（図２）では、ステップＳ５，Ｓ６において、基地局Ｂｓは、通信端末Ｔ２にアプレットを送付し実行させて当該通信端末Ｔ２の端末属性情報を取得していたが、本発明の第３の実施形態は、上記第１の実施形態におけるステップＳ５，Ｓ６の処理を不要とするものである。
【００４３】
図５に、本実施形態の動作を説明するための概略図を示す。図５に示すように、通信端末Ｔｋ（ｋ＝１〜ｎ）に、上記テレビ通信参加用のコンピュータ・プログラムをインストールする際に、当該通信端末Ｔｋの識別データもそのコンピュータ・プログラムと共に通信端末Ｔｋにインストールされる。具体的には、前記識別データは、オペレーティング・システムのシステム構成情報を管理するデータベースに登録されたり、アプリケーションが作成するファイル・タイプや各種パラメータ情報を格納するテキスト・ファイルに登録されたりする。また、識別データは、通信端末Ｔｋを識別する情報であればよく、ＰＣやＰＤＡなどの機種をおおまかに示す符号でもよい。
【００４４】
また、基地局Ｂｓは、通信端末Ｔｋにインストールされた識別データに対応する端末属性情報を格納した識別用データベース（識別用ＤＢ）を備えている。
【００４５】
図５に示すように、通信端末Ｔｋは、ＵＲＬを指定して基地局Ｂｓのウェブサーバ（認証サーバ）にアクセスして接続を確立し、そのウェブサーバに上記認証に必要な認証情報と共に識別データを送付する。ウェブサーバは、当該通信端末Ｔｋの認証処理を実行すると共に、識別用データベースを参照して当該通信端末Ｔｋの端末属性情報を取得し識別することができる。基地局Ｂｓが端末属性情報を取得した後は、上記第１の実施形態におけるステップＳ７，Ｓ８の処理が実行され、通信端末Ｔｋに組み込まれたテレビ通信参加用のコンピュータ・プログラムが起動される。
【００４６】
尚、前記識別データを利用する実施形態では、図６に示すような処理も可能である。すなわち、通信端末Ｔｋには、テレビ通信参加用のコンピュータ・プログラムと共に前記識別データがインストールされる。通信端末Ｔｋが、認証を受けるために基地局Ｂｓのウェブサーバにアクセスすると、このウェブサーバは、認証処理を実行後、認証が成功した場合に限ってアプレットを通信端末Ｔｋに送付する。通信端末Ｔｋにおいて、そのアプレットは実行され、識別データを取得して基地局Ｂｓに送付する。そして、基地局Ｂｓのウェブサーバは、識別用データベースを参照して当該通信端末Ｔｋの端末属性情報を取得し識別することができる。
【００４７】
第４の実施形態．
本発明の第４の実施形態では、上記通信端末Ｔ１〜Ｔｎは、上記したテレビ通信参加用の接続情報を含むメッセージを受信すると、このメッセージを他の通信端末へ自動的に転送する手段を更に備える。これにより、最初にメッセージを受信した通信端末からテレビ通信に参加するのが困難な場合でも、メッセージの転送先の通信端末からテレビ通信に参加することが可能になる。また、同じメッセージを共有する複数の通信端末から、テレビ通信に同時に参加することも可能になる。
【００４８】
図７は、本実施形態の動作例を説明するための概略図である。図７において、通信端末Ｔｋ（ｋ＝１〜ｎ）をＰＣ端末と呼び、他の通信端末Ｔｓ（ｓ＝１〜ｎ）を専用端末と呼ぶものとする。ＰＣ端末Ｔｋは、端末属性情報１とオーナー情報Ｂを有し、専用端末Ｔｓは、端末属性情報２とオーナー情報Ｂを有する。ＰＣ端末Ｔｋのオーナーと専用端末Ｔｓのオーナー（ユーザー）は同じである。
【００４９】
図７に示す通り、ＰＣ端末Ｔｋは、テレビ会議開催者Ａから、テレビ会議参加用の接続情報を含むメッセージを受信すると、代理転送処理により、このメッセージを専用端末Ｔｓに転送する。そのメッセージは、接続情報の他に、テレビ会議開催者Ａの「開催者情報」と、基地局Ｂｓから認証を受けてテレビ会議への参加を可能にする「接続認証情報」とを含むものである。この結果、ＰＣ端末Ｔｋのオーナーは、専用端末Ｔｓから基地局Ｂｓにアクセスしてテレビ会議に参加できる。
【００５０】
次に、図８は、本実施形態の他の動作例を説明するための概略図である。図８において、通信端末Ｔｋ（ｋ＝１〜ｎ）をＰＣ端末と呼び、他の通信端末Ｔｓ（ｓ＝１〜ｎ）を専用端末と呼び、更に他の通信端末ＴｍをＰＤＡ端末と呼ぶものとする。
【００５１】
テレビ会議開催者Ａは、テレビ会議への参加を認めた参加可能者を割り振って、上記メッセージを発信する。ここで、参加可能者は、ＰＣ端末Ｔｋのオーナーである参加者Ｂと、専用端末Ｔｓのオーナーである参加者Ｃと、ＰＤＡ端末のオーナーである参加者Ｄである。テレビ会議開催者Ａの通信端末から発せられるメッセージには、テレビ会議開催者Ａの「開催者情報」と、「参加者情報」と、基地局Ｂｓにアクセスするための「接続情報」と、基地局Ｂｓから認証を受けてテレビ会議への参加を可能にする「接続認証情報」とを含む。ＰＣ端末Ｔｋ，専用端末ＴｓおよびＰＤＡ端末Ｔｍは、それぞれ、ＰＣ，セットトップボックスおよびＰＤＡである。
【００５２】
テレビ会議開催者Ａから発せられたメッセージは、ＰＣ端末Ｔｋ、専用端末ＴｓおよびＰＤＡ端末Ｔｍを順次転送される。そのメッセージが通信端末で転送される際に、当該メッセージに含まれる参加者情報は書き換えられ、その他の開催者情報、接続情報および接続認証情報は維持される。よって、参加者Ｃは参加者Ｂの代理として、参加者Ｄは参加者Ｃの代理として、それぞれテレビ会議に参加することが可能となる。
【００５３】
このように第４の実施形態によれば、テレビ会議開催者Ａが発したメッセージを複数の通信端末に転送できるため、テレビ会議に参加しようとする者は、例えば、就業先のＰＣ端末、自宅のセットトップボックス、外出先でのＰＤＡ端末などの何れの通信端末からでもテレビ会議に簡易に参加できる。また、メッセージには接続認証情報が含まれており、この接続認証情報を利用しない限り基地局Ｂｓから認証を受けられないため、テレビ会議の秘匿性を確保できる。
【００５４】
【発明の効果】
以上の如く、本発明の請求項１に係るテレビ通信システムによれば、テレビ通信に参加しようとする通信端末は、テレビ通信開催者などの他の通信端末から受信したメッセージに含まれる接続情報に従って基地局にアクセスし、テレビ通信参加用の認証を要求できる。その通信端末が基地局から認証を受けた場合には、基地局は、その通信端末の端末属性情報を取得し、その通信端末の動作環境や通信環境に適した起動条件を決定し、決定した起動条件を含む起動情報を通信端末に提供できる。そして、通信端末では、テレビ通信参加用のコンピュータ・プログラムが起動条件に従って動作し、基地局は、通信端末の動作環境やその通信環境に適合したテレビ通信の中継処理を行うことが可能となる。
【００５５】
請求項２によれば、基地局は、プログラム実行型ファイルを通信端末に送付し実行させることで正確な端末属性情報を取得でき、起動条件を的確に決定できる。
【００５６】
請求項３によれば、通信端末は、当該通信端末が有する操作子の入力情報を、標準的なプロトコルの情報に変換して基地局に発信できる。また、通信端末は、プロトコル変換用のプログラムを実装せずに済むため、操作子の種類に依らずにテレビ通信に簡易に参加することが可能となる。
【００５７】
請求項４によれば、基地局は、テレビ通信に参加する通信端末の動作環境やその通信環境に適合したデータ配信を、パケット単位で柔軟に且つ効率良く行うことが可能となる。
【００５８】
請求項５によれば、通信端末は、ＨＴＴＰによる汎用的な方法で認証を要求できると共に、自己の端末属性情報を基地局に通知できるため、通信端末のユーザーは簡易にテレビ通信に参加できる。
【００５９】
そして、請求項６によれば、複数の通信端末は、テレビ通信参加用の接続情報を含むメッセージを共有できるため、当該メッセージを共有する何れの通信端末からも、テレビ通信に参加することが可能となる。よって、たとえメッセージが会社のＰＣに送付されたとしても、外出先の携帯型ＰＣにそのメッセージを転送させ、携帯型ＰＣからテレビ通信に参加することが可能である。また、そのメッセージを受信した通信端末のユーザーがテレビ通信に代理で参加することも可能となる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施形態に係るテレビ通信システムの全体構成を示す概略図である。
【図２】第１の実施形態に係るテレビ通信システムの動作を説明するための概略図である。
【図３】映像の振り分け処理の一例を説明するための図である。
【図４】本発明の第２の実施形態の動作例を説明するための概略図である。
【図５】本発明の第３の実施形態の動作例を説明するための概略図である。
【図６】本発明の第３の実施形態の他の動作例を説明するための概略図である。
【図７】本発明の第４の実施形態の動作例を説明するための概略図である。
【図８】第４の実施形態の他の動作例を説明するための概略図である。
【符号の説明】
ＮＷ　ネットワーク
Ｂｓ　基地局
Ｔ１，Ｔ２，Ｔ３，Ｔｎ　通信端末[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a television communication system for exchanging video and audio between multiple points via a communication network such as a computer network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a television communication system for transmitting and receiving video and audio between multiple points via a network such as the Internet. In this type of television communication system, video data and audio data transmitted from a communication terminal such as a PC (personal computer) or a portable information terminal are collected in a base station (server) via a network. The base station performs a relay process of delivering the aggregated video data and audio data to each communication terminal.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As communication terminals that can access a network using the Internet technology, various devices such as a stationary PC, a portable PC, a set-top box, a portable terminal, a word processor, and a car navigation device are distributed. These communication terminals generally have different terminal attributes (operating system, operation system, screen display size, number of colors, input device, amount of installed memory, etc.) for each model.
[0004]
However, in the conventional television communication system, due to the processing capability of the base station, a device having a common operating environment is adopted as a communication terminal capable of participating in the television communication, and a format of distribution data from the base station to each communication terminal is used. The principle was that they were almost common. In a system in which communication terminals with different operating environments are mixed, for example, video data distributed according to the screen display size of a stationary PC may not match the screen display size of a portable terminal, or communication data connected to a high-speed line may be transmitted. There arises a problem that data delivered to a terminal cannot be received by a communication terminal connected to a low-speed line.
[0005]
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a television communication system capable of performing television communication irrespective of a difference in operating environment of a communication terminal.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 includes a plurality of communication terminals arranged at a plurality of points in a communication network, and a base station that performs a relay process of television communication between the plurality of communication terminals. A base station, the base station comprising: an authentication unit that performs authentication of the communication terminal that intends to participate in television communication; and a communication terminal that is authenticated by the authentication unit. Acquiring terminal attribute information, means for determining the start condition of a computer program for television communication participation mounted on each of the communication terminals according to the terminal attribute information, addressed to the authenticated communication terminal, Means for sending the start information including the start condition to start information for starting a computer program for television communication participation mounted on the communication terminal, the communication terminal comprising: The computer program for participating in television communication, a message receiving unit for receiving a message including connection information for participating in television communication from another communication terminal, and the communication terminal accessing the base station using the connection information. Means for requesting the authentication of, the computer program for participation in the television communication is activated in response to the activation information sent from the base station, operates according to the activation conditions, and the base station Is characterized in that a relay process of television communication suitable for the activation condition is executed for each of the communication terminals.
[0007]
The invention according to claim 2 is the television communication system according to claim 1, wherein the base station acquires terminal attribute information of the communication terminal for the communication terminal that has been authenticated by the authentication unit. The information processing apparatus further includes means for sending and executing a program execution type file to acquire the terminal attribute information from the communication terminal, and determining the activation condition so as to conform to the terminal attribute information.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 3 is the television communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base station sends a protocol of an operator in the communication terminal to the communication terminal authenticated by the authentication unit. And a means for sending and executing a program execution type file for converting the file into a standard protocol.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 4 is the television communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein data relayed between the communication terminals is divided into packets having a predetermined data length or less. And the base station includes means for selecting data transmitted from each of the communication terminals participating in the television communication in packet units and configuring a packet individually according to each of the communication terminals. Things.
[0010]
The invention according to claim 5 is the television communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication terminal uses the connection information according to HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Means for transmitting its own identification data to the base station together with the authentication information necessary for the authentication, wherein the base station identifies the terminal attribute information of the communication terminal corresponding to the identification data received from the communication terminal. It is provided with means for performing.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 6 is the television communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication terminal transmits a message including connection information for participating in the television communication to another of the television communication devices. It further comprises means for transferring to a communication terminal.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
First embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a television communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This television communication system includes networks (communication networks) NW, a plurality of communication terminals T1, T2, T3,..., Tn arranged at a plurality of points in the NW, and a base station Bs. These communication terminals T1 to Tn are, specifically, a network-compatible PC, a set-top box (home communication terminal), a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant; Personal Digital Assistants) and a car. It is sufficient if it is a navigation device or the like, and is composed of a plurality of models. Each of the communication terminals T1 to Tn includes a computer program (application) for participating in television communication and an execution environment thereof.
[0013]
In the present embodiment, examples of the network NW include the Internet, an intranet using the Internet technology, a LAN (Local Area Network), and a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The communication terminals T1 to Tn and the base station Bs have a function of performing bidirectional IP (Internet Protocol) communication according to a predetermined communication protocol group.
[0014]
Hereinafter, the operation of the television communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the television communication system. In FIG. 2, step numbers S1, S2,... In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the communication terminal T1 is referred to as a "chairman terminal" of a chairman who calls for holding a television communication, and the other communication terminals T2 are referred to as "participants who participate in TV communication in response to the call. Terminal ".
[0015]
First, in step S1, the chair terminal T1 transmits a message including connection information for participation in television communication to the participant terminal T2. As a means for transmitting the message, e-mail or instant messaging may be used. In addition, the connection information includes a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and an IP address of the base station Bs.
[0016]
In the next step S2, the participant terminal T2 receives the message using the message receiving means. In the following step S3, the participant terminal T2 accesses the base station using the started WWW browser using the connection information (URL) included in the received message, and establishes a connection. Requesting authentication to the base station Bs.
[0017]
Specifically, the message received by the participant terminal T2 is displayed on a display device or the like. The user of the participant terminal T2 selects the connection information (URL) included in the message by pressing and releasing (one-clicking) a button attached to a mouse, a trackball, or the like once, so that the WWW browser is displayed. Activate and automatically send the authentication data to the base station Bs by HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).
[0018]
In the next step S4, the base station Bs receives the authentication data transmitted from the participant terminal T2 and executes the authentication processing of the participant terminal T2 by the authentication means. The authentication data includes the ID and password of the participant terminal T2, and the authentication unit performs an authentication process for comparing the ID and password with the registration information. As a result, if the authentication has failed, the authentication unit notifies the participant terminal T2 of the fact and terminates the process. If the authentication has succeeded, the authentication unit shifts the process to the next step S5.
[0019]
In the next step S5, the base station Bs sends an applet (small program) to the participant terminal T2. In the following step S6, the sent applet is executed at the participant terminal T2, and the terminal attribute information (operating system, protocol of operator, screen display size, number of colors, memory capacity, file system) of the participant terminal T2 is executed. , Communication environment, terminal type, etc.) and transmit them to the base station Bs. Next, the base station Bs determines an activation condition to be applied to the computer program for participating in television communication mounted on the participant terminal T2 so as to match the acquired terminal attribute information.
[0020]
In the present embodiment, the applet is sent from the base station Bs to the participant terminal T2 and executed, but instead, a script file may be sent and executed. In the present invention, since the program execution type file such as the applet or the script file is sent to the participant terminal T2 and executed, the base station Bs can obtain accurate terminal attribute information of the participant terminal T2.
[0021]
In the next step S7, the base station Bs transmits the computer program for participating in the television communication to the client (participant terminal T2) by sending the activation condition included in the activation information to the participant terminal T2. Issue a startup instruction. In the following step S8, in the participant terminal T2, the computer program for participating in the television communication is automatically activated by the received activation information and operates according to the activation conditions. As a result, the participant terminal T2 can participate in the television communication called by the chair terminal T1 by the computer program.
[0022]
Further, the base station Bs performs a relay process suitable for the activation condition sent to the participant terminal T2. For example, the base station Bs adjusts the bit rate of the distribution data according to the communication environment of the participant terminal T2, converts the resolution of the video data according to the resolution of the display device of the participant terminal T2, The format of the material file shared by communication is selected or converted according to the platform (operating system, file system, software, etc.) of the participant terminal T2. Thereby, the base station Bs can perform the relay processing of the television communication suitable for the operating environment of the participant terminal T2 and the communication environment.
[0023]
It is preferable that the base station Bs includes an individual authentication unit for each type of the communication terminals T1 to Tn, and these authentication units have individual connection information (URL and IP address) on the network NW. Is preferred. For example, in a message transmitted from the chair terminal T1 to the communication terminal T2, a list of a plurality of pieces of connection information respectively corresponding to a plurality of models is included, and the user of the participant terminal T2 is notified of the communication terminal T2 Can select connection information corresponding to the model. For example, if the participant terminal T2 is a mobile terminal, the authentication means for the mobile terminal can be accessed. If the participant terminal T2 is a PC, the authentication means for the PC can be accessed.
[0024]
Table 1 below shows an example of the resolution of a video distributed from the base station Bs to various communication terminals.
[0025]
[Table 1]

[0026]
Table 1 exemplifies various resolutions of the distribution video to various communication terminals. Examples of the communication terminal include “PC terminal”, “TV + TV phone (home video or video phone)”, “PDA”, and “portable TV phone (portable video phone)”. Screen resolution (reception resolution of video transmitted from own communication terminal), "Teacher (chairperson) high importance reception resolution (chairperson video reception resolution)", "Other participants and other low importance screen reception resolution ( Reception resolution of video of other participants). In the present television communication system, the base station Bs distributes the video data aggregated from the communication terminals participating in the television communication to the respective communication terminals. It is preferable that the aspect ratio (aspect ratio) of the image is not changed. In Table 1 above, the basic aspect ratio is 4: 3. However, if the base station Bs has a sufficient processing capability, the aspect ratio may be changed.
[0027]
Table 2 below shows an example of a format of audio delivered from the base station Bs to various communication terminals.
[0028]
[Table 2]

[0029]
Table 2 shows, as the format of the delivered voice, "self-voice delivery format (format of voice emitted from own communication terminal)", "teacher (chairperson) high-priority voice receiving system (chairperson voice format)". ", And" low importance voice receiving system for other participants (format of voice of other participants) ". In Table 2, "Linear PCM (Linear)", "Twin VQ (Transform domain Weighted Interleaved Vector Quantization; Transformation area weighted interleave vector quantization)", "MPEG4 (MovingEpistory and Rendering)""(Code Excited Linear Prediction)" is a voice coding system, and "G723.1" is a voice coding standard for videophones and Internet phones according to ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector) recommendations. . These are all known speech coding techniques. In Table 2, the sampling frequency is set such that the lower the processing capability of the communication terminal, the smaller the processing load can be to reproduce the distributed audio.
[0030]
Table 3 below illustrates types of shared materials and their resolutions in the television communication system.
[0031]
[Table 3]

[0032]
As shown in Table 3, as the “type of material display”, a web page (Web Page), a still image, a moving image, or a sound described in a page description language such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) or XML (Extensible Markup Language) is used. Is selected according to the operating environment of the communication terminal and its communication environment. At the same time, the reception resolution of the material as the "material display resolution" can be selected according to the operating environment of the communication terminal and the communication environment.
[0033]
It should be noted that the base station Bs can execute a process of not distributing a moving image or a process of extracting and distributing a still image from a moving image to a communication terminal having a large load of the moving image reproducing process.
[0034]
Next, a process of allocating a video to be distributed from the base station Bs to the communication terminals T1 to Tn will be described. Data relayed between the base station Bs and the communication terminals T1 to Tn is transmitted after being divided into packets having a predetermined data length or less. The base station Bs sorts video data aggregated from communication terminals participating in the television communication system in packet units, and executes packet distribution processing of individually composing (packing) packets according to each communication terminal. Has functions.
[0035]
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the distribution process. As shown in FIG. 3, the packet of the video data in this example is composed of “V0: instructor image” transmitted from the terminal used by the instructor holding the TV communication, and the terminals used by the students 1 to 3 participating in the TV communication. "V1: student 1 image", "V2: student 2 image", and "V3: student 3 image" transmitted from the computer. The packet IP: T0 delivered to the instructor terminal is a packing of packets V1, V2, and V3 transmitted from the communication terminals of the students 1 to 3 other than the instructor terminal, and the packet IP: S1 delivered to the student 1 terminal is Packets V0, V2, and V3 transmitted from communication terminals other than the student 1 terminal are packed, and packets IP: S2 delivered to the student 2 terminal are packets V0 and V1 transmitted from communication terminals other than the student 2 terminal. , V3, and the packet IP: S3 to be delivered to the student 3 terminal is a packet obtained by packing packets V0, V1, and V2 transmitted from communication terminals other than the student 3 terminal.
[0036]
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the video data of the participants other than the student is distributed to the communication terminal of each student. Instead, the communication terminal having a low-resolution display device is transmitted to the communication terminal having a low resolution. It is also possible to perform a sorting process of selecting packets so as to distribute only the video of the lecturer.
[0037]
Through the above-described packet distribution processing, it is possible to flexibly and efficiently perform data distribution suitable for the operating environment of the communication terminal and the communication environment in packet units.
[0038]
Second embodiment.
Next, an embodiment will be described in which the difference in user interface between the communication terminals T1 to Tn is eliminated. The user interface provided in each of the communication terminals T1 to Tn includes operators such as a keyboard, a mouse, a remote controller, a soft keyboard, a stylus pen, and a numeric keypad. Input methods for these controls include one-click, double-click, drag and drop, key typing, touch, drawing, push, and dial. The input data of these operators is expressed by different protocols depending on the type of the operators.
[0039]
The base station Bs includes means for sending and executing a program execution type file for converting the protocol of the operator to a standard protocol to the communication terminals T1 to Tn that have been authenticated. The program execution type file may be either an applet or a script file.
[0040]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation example of the present embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 4, an applet is adopted as the program execution type file. The base station Bs will know the type of the protocol of the operator provided in the communication terminal Tk based on the terminal attribute information obtained from the communication terminal Tk (k = 1 to n). Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the base station Bs sends an applet for converting the protocol of the operator to a standard protocol to the communication terminal Tk. In the communication terminal Tk, the applet executes a protocol conversion for converting a protocol of input data of the operators A to C into a standard protocol. Then, the input data (command, parameter) converted into the standard protocol is transmitted to the base station Bs, and data communication is performed with another communication terminal or the like.
[0041]
As described above, the communication terminal Tk is provided with the protocol conversion program from the base station Bs, does not need to implement the program, and absorbs the difference in the operation systems of the plurality of operators A to C, It is possible to transmit input data of a typical protocol. Therefore, the communication terminal Tk can easily participate in the television communication regardless of the type of the operation element. In addition, when an operator corresponding to a new protocol is put on the market, the communication terminal Tk can operate the base station Bs even if the communication terminal Tk does not have a protocol conversion program corresponding to the operator. It is sufficient to prepare a program for protocol conversion corresponding to the child, so that it can quickly follow changes in the market.
[0042]
Third embodiment.
As described above, in the first embodiment (FIG. 2), in steps S5 and S6, the base station Bs sends the applet to the communication terminal T2 to execute the applet, and acquires the terminal attribute information of the communication terminal T2. However, the third embodiment of the present invention eliminates the processing of steps S5 and S6 in the first embodiment.
[0043]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, when the computer program for participating in the television communication is installed in the communication terminal Tk (k = 1 to n), the identification data of the communication terminal Tk is included in the communication terminal Tk together with the computer program. Installed in Specifically, the identification data is registered in a database that manages system configuration information of the operating system, or registered in a text file that stores a file type created by an application and various parameter information. Further, the identification data only needs to be information for identifying the communication terminal Tk, and may be a code roughly indicating a model of a PC or PDA.
[0044]
Further, the base station Bs includes an identification database (identification DB) storing terminal attribute information corresponding to the identification data installed in the communication terminal Tk.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 5, the communication terminal Tk specifies the URL, accesses the web server (authentication server) of the base station Bs to establish a connection, and establishes a connection to the web server together with the authentication information necessary for the authentication. Send. The web server executes the authentication process of the communication terminal Tk, and acquires and identifies the terminal attribute information of the communication terminal Tk with reference to the identification database. After the base station Bs acquires the terminal attribute information, the processing of steps S7 and S8 in the first embodiment is executed, and the computer program for participating in television communication incorporated in the communication terminal Tk is started.
[0046]
In the embodiment using the identification data, a process as shown in FIG. 6 is also possible. That is, the identification data is installed in the communication terminal Tk together with a computer program for participating in television communication. When the communication terminal Tk accesses the web server of the base station Bs to receive the authentication, the web server executes the authentication process and sends the applet to the communication terminal Tk only when the authentication is successful. In the communication terminal Tk, the applet is executed, acquires identification data, and sends it to the base station Bs. Then, the web server of the base station Bs can acquire and identify the terminal attribute information of the communication terminal Tk by referring to the identification database.
[0047]
Fourth embodiment.
In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, when the communication terminals T1 to Tn receive the message including the connection information for participating in the television communication, the communication terminals T1 to Tn further include means for automatically transferring the message to another communication terminal. Prepare. Thereby, even when it is difficult to participate in the television communication from the communication terminal that has received the message first, it is possible to participate in the television communication from the communication terminal to which the message is transferred. In addition, it becomes possible for a plurality of communication terminals sharing the same message to simultaneously participate in television communication.
[0048]
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation example of the present embodiment. In FIG. 7, the communication terminal Tk (k = 1 to n) is called a PC terminal, and the other communication terminals Ts (s = 1 to n) are called dedicated terminals. The PC terminal Tk has terminal attribute information 1 and owner information B, and the dedicated terminal Ts has terminal attribute information 2 and owner information B. The owner of the PC terminal Tk and the owner (user) of the dedicated terminal Ts are the same.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 7, when the PC terminal Tk receives a message including connection information for participating in a video conference from the video conference organizer A, the PC terminal Tk transfers the message to the dedicated terminal Ts by proxy transfer processing. The message includes, in addition to the connection information, “organizer information” of the video conference organizer A and “connection authentication information” that is authenticated by the base station Bs and enables participation in the video conference. As a result, the owner of the PC terminal Tk can access the base station Bs from the dedicated terminal Ts and participate in the video conference.
[0050]
Next, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining another operation example of the present embodiment. In FIG. 8, a communication terminal Tk (k = 1 to n) is called a PC terminal, another communication terminal Ts (s = 1 to n) is called a dedicated terminal, and another communication terminal Tm is called a PDA terminal. And
[0051]
The video conference organizer A transmits the above message by allocating a possible participant who has been permitted to participate in the video conference. Here, the possible participants are the participant B who is the owner of the PC terminal Tk, the participant C which is the owner of the dedicated terminal Ts, and the participant D which is the owner of the PDA terminal. The message sent from the communication terminal of the video conference organizer A includes “organizer information” of the video conference organizer A, “participant information”, “connection information” for accessing the base station Bs, "Connection authentication information" that enables the user to participate in the video conference by being authenticated by the station Bs. The PC terminal Tk, the dedicated terminal Ts, and the PDA terminal Tm are a PC, a set-top box, and a PDA, respectively.
[0052]
The message sent from the video conference organizer A is sequentially transferred to the PC terminal Tk, the dedicated terminal Ts, and the PDA terminal Tm. When the message is transferred by the communication terminal, the participant information included in the message is rewritten, and the other organizer information, connection information, and connection authentication information are maintained. Therefore, the participant C can participate in the video conference on behalf of the participant B and the participant D can participate in the video conference on behalf of the participant C.
[0053]
As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the message issued by the video conference organizer A can be transferred to a plurality of communication terminals. The user can easily participate in a video conference from any communication terminal such as a set-top box or a PDA terminal on the go. In addition, since the message includes the connection authentication information and cannot be authenticated from the base station Bs unless the connection authentication information is used, confidentiality of the video conference can be ensured.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the television communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the communication terminal that intends to participate in the television communication operates according to the connection information included in the message received from another communication terminal such as the television communication organizer. You can access the base station and request authentication for participation in television communication. If the communication terminal is authenticated by the base station, the base station obtains terminal attribute information of the communication terminal, determines an operating environment or an activation condition suitable for the communication environment of the communication terminal, and determines the activation condition. The start information including the start condition can be provided to the communication terminal. Then, in the communication terminal, the computer program for participating in television communication operates according to the activation condition, and the base station can perform the relay environment of the television communication suitable for the operating environment of the communication terminal and the communication environment.
[0055]
According to the second aspect, the base station can acquire accurate terminal attribute information by sending and executing the program execution type file to the communication terminal, and can accurately determine the activation condition.
[0056]
According to the third aspect, the communication terminal can convert the input information of the operator included in the communication terminal into information of a standard protocol and transmit the information to the base station. In addition, since the communication terminal does not need to install a protocol conversion program, it is possible to easily participate in television communication regardless of the type of the operator.
[0057]
According to the fourth aspect, the base station can flexibly and efficiently perform the operation environment of the communication terminal participating in the television communication and the data distribution adapted to the communication environment in packet units.
[0058]
According to the fifth aspect, the communication terminal can request authentication by a general-purpose method based on HTTP, and can notify its own terminal attribute information to the base station, so that the user of the communication terminal can easily participate in television communication.
[0059]
According to the sixth aspect, the plurality of communication terminals can share the message including the connection information for participating in the television communication, so that any of the communication terminals sharing the message can participate in the television communication. It becomes. Therefore, even if the message is sent to the PC of the company, it is possible to transfer the message to the portable PC on the go and to participate in the television communication from the portable PC. Further, the user of the communication terminal that has received the message can also participate in the television communication as a proxy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a television communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the television communication system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a video distribution process.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation example of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation example of the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining another operation example of the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining another operation example of the fourth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
NW network
Bs base station
T1, T2, T3, Tn Communication terminal

Claims (6)

A television communication system including a plurality of communication terminals arranged at a plurality of points in a communication network and a base station that performs a relay process of television communication between the plurality of communication terminals,
The base station comprises:
Authentication means for performing authentication of the communication terminal trying to participate in television communication,
Obtain terminal attribute information of the communication terminal with respect to the communication terminal that has been authenticated by the authentication unit, and set a start condition of a computer program for television communication participation mounted on each communication terminal to the terminal attribute information. Means to determine together;
To the authenticated communication terminal, means for sending the start condition including the start condition to start the computer program for television communication participation mounted on the communication terminal, comprising:
The communication terminal,
A computer program for participating in the television communication;
Message receiving means for receiving a message including connection information for participation in television communication from another communication terminal,
Means for accessing the base station using the connection information and requesting authentication of the communication terminal,
The computer program for participation in television communication starts up in response to the start-up information sent from the base station and operates according to the start-up conditions, and the base station is adapted to the start-up conditions for each of the communication terminals. Performing a relay process of the television communication. The television communication system according to claim 1, wherein the base station comprises:
To the communication terminal authenticated by the authentication means, a program execution type file for acquiring terminal attribute information of the communication terminal is sent and executed to acquire the terminal attribute information from the communication terminal, A television communication system, further comprising: means for determining the activation condition to match information. The television communication system according to claim 1, wherein the base station comprises:
A television communication system, further comprising: means for sending and executing a program execution type file for converting a protocol of an operator in the communication terminal to a standard protocol to the communication terminal authenticated by the authentication means. The television communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The data relayed between the communication terminals is divided into packets having a predetermined data length or less and transmitted.
A television communication system, comprising: a base station for selecting data transmitted from each of the communication terminals participating in the television communication in packet units, and configuring a packet individually according to each of the communication terminals. The television communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The communication terminal includes means for transmitting its own identification data to the base station together with authentication information necessary for the authentication using the connection information according to HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol),
The base station comprises means for identifying the terminal attribute information of the communication terminal corresponding to the identification data received from the communication terminal,
Television communication system. The television communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal further includes a unit configured to transfer a message including connection information for participating in the television communication to another communication terminal. Television communication system.

Images