JP2005167903A - Conference system, and conference room request accepting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conference system and a conference room request accepting method which are capable of solving problems that conference resources are wasted when holding a bipartite conference in the conference system, and the conference system cannot make transit to a conference service while keeping the connection state of the bipartite conference (one-to-one communication). <P>SOLUTION: If a conference room holding request from a user is accepted, an application server 100 confirms the number of conference room participants and in the case of holding a bipartite conference by two parties, line connection is established between the two parties. If participant addition is requested from either of the users in the case of holding the bipartite conference, conference holding is instructed to a conference server 200, a multipartite conference is held by users of the bipartite conference and participants, and line connection between said two parties is opened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network, and more particularly, to a conference system and a conference room request reception method that effectively use the resources of a conference server.

  In recent years, the use of IP-based conferencing systems that can hold conferences and meetings while exchanging voice, video, and materials using a PC terminal at a plurality of points is becoming popular.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a conventional conference system. In the conference system (conference server) 300, a virtual virtual room (hereinafter referred to as a conference room) virtually installed is a conference room #. 1 to #y are provided. In conference room # 1, participants #A to #D participate and hold a conference. In conference room # 2, participants #AA to participant #DD hold a conference. It shows the state of holding. The maximum number of conference rooms varies depending on the product depending on the system processing capacity and performance, and the number of participants in the conference room varies depending on the number of people summoned to the conference room. .

  FIG. 10 is also a diagram for explaining a conventional conference system. Software that enables audio / video transmission / reception is installed in the user terminal 310, and the conference system (conference server) 300 is installed in the conference system 300. In addition, a function for enabling audio mixing and received video distribution is provided.

  As described above, the user accesses the conference system (conference server) 300 using the HTTP protocol using a personal computer (PC) in which software capable of audio / video communication is installed, and accesses the displayed browser. Remote conference is possible by displaying the video.

  Such a conventional conference system is premised on being used for a conference composed of a plurality of people existing on the network. In other words, the conference is assumed to be conducted by a plurality of people. However, the conference rooms that can be held by the system are limited resources, and there are restrictions on the number of people and terminals that can participate in the conference room.

  For this reason, in the conference system, restrictions such as “system maximum XX conference room, 1 conference room XX person” occur due to the system processing capability and performance. However, since there is no restriction on the minimum number of people in the conference system, use of the conference room by two people is also provided using the conference system.

  However, the conventional conference system has the following problems.

   First, participants need to enter the same conference room virtually installed in the conference system, and this system is effective only when it is assumed that multiple people will communicate from the beginning of communication. Yes, there are harmful effects due to usage. That is, when a conference is held by only two people, conference resources are wasted.

  Secondly, when one-to-one communication is performed, the connection form is different from a multi-party conference, and thus it is not possible to shift to a conference service while maintaining the connection state of one-to-one communication.

  Thirdly, the conventional conference system requires the host authority to make additional calls for participants, and there is a problem that all the participants cannot call any third party.

  A related invention about such a conference system is disclosed. This invention has a simple configuration of a conference device, and when a user uses alone, conference information such as documents is locally edited on a terminal. Yes, when two or more people hold a meeting, the same meeting environment is realized and the effective use of the remote meeting is provided, and the previous editing after joining the meeting in response to a request to join the meeting from another user. It is possible to return to the state, to hold any selected meeting and invite other users, and after receiving the invitation from other users and having a meeting, again among the multiple meeting information on the terminal For example, it is possible to return to the previous editing state by selecting any of the above (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, the present invention is not intended to solve problems such as wasteful consumption of conference resources when a conference is held by only two people, and has different problems and purposes from the present invention.
JP-A-7-135530

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is the problem of wasteful consumption of conference resources when holding a two-party conference and the two-party conference (one-to-one communication). The problem of not being able to move to the conference service while maintaining the connection status, and the problem that all the participants cannot call any third party because the host authority is required to call additional participants It is an object of the present invention to provide a conference system and a conference room request reception method that can solve the above problem.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the conference system of the present invention is a conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and enables information exchange between participants. In the conference system configured by a user terminal registered in advance using a conference room, an application server that receives a conference room request from the user terminal, and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal, the application The server confirms the number of meeting room participants from the meeting room request receiving means for receiving the meeting room request from the user terminal and the user's meeting room request received by the meeting room request receiving means. In the case of a one-communication two-party conference, communication connection means for connecting the two-party terminals on a one-to-one basis and any user at the time of the two-party conference are held. When there is a participant addition request from the terminal, the conference server is instructed to provide a conference room, and a line is newly set between the conference server side and the user terminal of the two-party conference, and the addition is added to the line. Conference server control means for connecting participants' terminals to hold a multi-person conference, and communication for opening a conventional one-to-one line connection between the two parties together with holding a multi-person conference by the conference server Connection release means.
Thereby, the resource of the conference server which becomes a finite resource can be effectively utilized. In addition, regarding the transition from a two-party conference (one-to-one communication) to a multi-person conference, the user can call into the conference room while continuing the one-to-one communication already established by the user. It is possible to make a transition that does not feel stressed, without voice interruptions.

In the conference system of the present invention, when the application server shifts from the two-party conference to the multi-person conference, the conference server ID of the conference server is notified in advance to each corresponding user terminal, and the multi-person conference Line reservation means for reserving a line used for the user terminal, and the user terminal performs line connection only when the signal of the conference server ID is received from the conference server for the line used for the multi-person conference. And a line connection means.
As a result, in the prior art method, there is no mechanism for identifying the caller and for the receiving terminal to automatically answer, so the caller does not know whether the call is from the conference system, and the call from the conference system can be called at the specified time. However, according to the present invention, a plurality of people are automatically added without being aware of the user's physical solution, such as placing a dedicated terminal for calling from the conference system. Can participate in meetings.

The conference system of the present invention is a conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and enables information exchange between participants, and is a pre-registered user who uses the conference room. In a conference system including a terminal, an application server that receives a conference room request from a user terminal, and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal, the application server includes a registered user terminal Meeting room request accepting means for collectively accepting meeting room requests, meeting server control means for instructing the meeting server to hold a meeting based on information on the meeting room request from the user, and meeting all of the users Host authority granting means for granting a room use host authority is provided.
As a result, each participant in the conference system makes a request to the application server, thereby making it possible to equally have various authorities relating to the operation of the conference that the organizer can have.

The conference room request receiving method of the present invention is a conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, and is registered in advance using the conference room. A conference room request receiving method in a conference system comprising: a user terminal that has been configured; an application server that receives a conference room request from the user terminal; and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal, wherein the application server From the conference room request reception procedure for receiving a conference room request from the user terminal and the user's conference room request received in the conference room request reception procedure, the number of conference room participants is confirmed, and one-to-one communication is performed. In the case of holding a two-party conference, a communication connection procedure for connecting the terminals of the two parties on a one-to-one basis, When there is a request for adding a participant, the conference server is instructed to provide a conference room, and a new line is set between the conference server and the user terminal of the two-party conference, and the additional participation is added to the line. Server connection procedure for connecting a person's terminal to hold a multi-person conference, and communication connection for opening a conventional one-to-one line connection between the two parties together with holding a multi-person conference by the conference server An opening procedure is performed.
Thereby, the resource of the conference server which becomes a finite resource can be effectively utilized. In addition, regarding the transition from a two-party conference (one-to-one communication) to a multi-person conference, the user can call into the conference room while continuing the one-to-one communication already established by the user. It is possible to make a transition that does not feel stressed, without voice interruptions.

The conference room request receiving method of the present invention is a conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, and is registered in advance using the conference room. A conference room request receiving method in a conference system comprising: a user terminal that has been configured; an application server that receives a conference room request from the user terminal; and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal, wherein the application server The conference server instructs the conference server to hold a conference based on the conference room request reception procedure for collectively receiving the conference room request from the registered user terminal and the information on the conference room request from the user. A control procedure and a host authority granting procedure for granting a host authority to use a conference room to all of the users are performed.
As a result, each participant in the conference system makes a request to the application server, thereby making it possible to equally have various authorities relating to the operation of the conference that the organizer can have.

  The computer program according to the present invention is a conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, and is a registered user who uses the conference room. A conference room from the user terminal is connected to a computer in the application server in a conference system that includes a terminal, an application server that accepts a conference room request from the user terminal, and a conference server that provides the conference room to the user terminal. When the conference room request reception procedure for receiving the request and the user's conference room request received in the conference room request reception procedure, the number of conference room participants is confirmed. A communication connection procedure for connecting the terminals of the two parties on a one-to-one basis, and a participant from any user terminal at the time of the two-party conference When there is a request for addition, the conference server is instructed to provide a conference room, and a line between the conference server side and the user terminal of the two-party conference is newly set, and the terminal of the additional participant is connected to the line. Server control procedure for connecting multiple lines to hold a multi-person conference, and a communication connection release procedure for opening a conventional one-to-one line connection between the two parties together with holding a multi-person conference by the conference server; Is a program for executing

  The computer program according to the present invention is a conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, and is a registered user who uses the conference room. From a registered user terminal to a computer in the application server in a conference system that includes a terminal, an application server that receives a conference room request from the user terminal, and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal A meeting room request acceptance procedure for collectively accepting meeting room requests, a conference server control procedure for instructing the conference server to hold a meeting based on information on a meeting room request from the user, and all of the users A program for executing a host authority granting procedure for granting a host authority to use a conference room.

In the conference system and conference room request reception method of the present invention, when the application server receives a conference room opening request from a user, the number of conference room participants is confirmed, and in the case of holding a two-party conference with two people A one-to-one line connection is made between the two terminals. In addition, if there is a request to add a participant from any user terminal during a two-party conference, the conference server is instructed to hold the conference, and a two-party conference user and additional participants hold a multi-person conference The previous one-to-one line connection is released.
Thereby, the resource of the conference server which becomes a finite resource can be effectively utilized. In addition, regarding the transition from a two-party conference (one-to-one communication) to a multi-person conference, the user can call into the conference room while continuing the one-to-one communication already established by the user. It is possible to make a transition that does not feel stressed, without voice interruptions.

Further, in the conference system of the present invention, when a transition is made from a two-party conference to a multi-person conference, the conference server ID of the conference server is notified in advance to each corresponding user terminal, and a line used for the multi-person conference is reserved. .
As a result, in the prior art method, there is no mechanism for identifying the caller and for the receiving terminal to automatically answer, so the caller does not know whether the call is from the conference system, and the call from the conference system can be called at the specified time. However, according to the present invention, a plurality of people are automatically added without being aware of the user's physical solution, such as placing a dedicated terminal for calling from the conference system. Can participate in meetings.

In the conference system and conference room request reception method of the present invention, the application server collectively receives the conference room requests of the users who use the conference room, the application server controls the conference server, and all the users Give the host authority to use the conference room.
As a result, each participant in the conference system makes a request to the application server, thereby making it possible to equally have various authorities relating to the operation of the conference that the organizer can have.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Description of the basic concept of the conference system of the present invention]
In the present invention, an application server (also simply referred to as “AP server”) is provided in the front stage of the conference server, and the user does not register the conference in the conference system (conference server), but registers the participant in the application server. If the number of participants in the conference is checked and the conference is held by two people or less, a two-party conference that does not use the conference system is held.

  For this reason, in the present invention, the following measures are taken against the problems of the prior art.

  First, in the conventional conference server, a plurality of voice input paths are internally mixed and transmitted to each participating user as a single voice path, which is used for one-to-one communication. If this happens, unnecessary system resources will be used.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, when the communication mode is two, the user bandwidth is not different from the case where the conference server is used. Therefore, the communication in the one-to-one communication mode can be performed without using the conference server. Establish effective use of conferencing system resources corresponding to the number of conferences

  Second, in the prior art, the communication path used for one-to-one communication is different from the communication path route used for calling from the conference system and the partner path to be set. It is necessary to control the communication paths at the same time, and there is a problem in that switching of each path (one-side hold or the like) cannot be performed unless there is a user's terminal operation as a trigger for switching.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, a function that enables a conference transition (participant addition) request from one-to-one communication is incorporated in the conference control unit (described later) of the application server, and at the same time, one-to-one communication is performed in the terminal application. Multi-line support for calling from the conference server separately from the conference path enables smooth transition from the one-to-one communication mode to the conference while continuing the one-to-one communication path that is already in communication. did. For example, by using an automatic answering function for a call from the conference server, it is possible to eliminate the consciousness of using the conference system by not sending a ring tone. In addition, after establishing communication with the conference server, the communication path used in the one-to-one communication is automatically released when the communication establishment signal is received.

  Thirdly, in the prior art method, since there is no mechanism for specifying the caller and the receiving terminal to automatically answer, the caller does not know whether the call is from the conference system, and the incoming call from the conference system is not known. They could only have a physical solution, such as deciding and answering a call, or placing a dedicated terminal for a call from the conference system.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, a VoIP between the AP server and the terminal application is used so as to respond only to a call from the conference server using a method of distinguishing by the calling party number notified to the receiving terminal as a mechanism for identifying the caller. A line reservation using COM API communication other than the protocol is performed, and a system that does not respond to a call from a party other than the already reserved party (conference system) is adopted.

  Fourth, in the conventional conference system, an organizer is set for each conference room, and only the organizer can have special authority such as adding a participant or extending the conference time. In the conference system, only one organizer is managed on the server to reduce the number of authority managers, and the server load is minimized. However, in the present invention, the AP authority itself has the host authority to manage the number of authority managers. By giving virtual host authority to all users, any third party can call or add from any participant.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic concept of the conference system of the present invention. In the present invention, a participant who wants to participate in a conference does not register a conference in the conference server 200. Participant registration is performed in the application server (AP server) 100. In the AP server 100, the number of participants in the conference is checked, and when a conference is held with two or less people, a two-party conference without using the conference server 200 is held.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when a user A registers a conference with the AP server 100 (step a1) and the number of participants is two or less, a two-party conference is held (step a2), and the conference server 200 is involved. do not do.

  Next, when the user A transmits a request for adding a participant to the AP server 100 (step a3), the AP server 100 performs a process of shifting from one-to-one communication to a multi-person conference.

  The AP server 100 performs “conference registration” with the conference server 200 (step a4). The conference server 200 performs “conference call” with the users C, D, and E, and when the users C, D, and E participate, A human conference is performed (step a5), and the two-party conference between the users A and B ends (step a6).

  As a matter of course, when a conference room with multiple participants (participation of three or more people) is held from the beginning, a multiple-person conference using the conference server 200 is held.

  As an example of such a transition from a two-party conference to a multi-person conference (three or more), for example, a conference for discussion derived from a two-party conference (one-to-one communication) instead of a predetermined theme If you want to develop discussions by adding collaborators from other departments to use the room or deal with the case, create a proposal and add a supervisor to check it when it is completed, This is used when a skill person is allowed to participate as a user.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the server-to-server cooperation interface, and a terminal application 10 for participating in the conference and transmitting and receiving voice and image signals is installed in the user terminal. When a call is made from the AP server 100 to the user, as a mechanism for identifying the caller, a method of distinguishing by the calling number notified to the receiving terminal is used, so that only the call from the conference system is answered. Line reservation is made between terminal applications using COM API communication other than the VoIP protocol, and a system that does not respond to calls from parties other than those already reserved (conference system) is adopted. A call is made from the conference server 200 to the user by the VoIP protocol. Communication between the AP server 100 and the conference server 200 is performed by the HTTP protocol.

[Description of a specific example of the conference system of the present invention]
Next, the conference system of the present invention will be described using a specific example. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence of inter-server cooperation interface signals. The processing procedure will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, a “one-to-one conference request (participant B is specified)” is transmitted from the user A to the AP server by the HTTP protocol (step S101). The AP server returns a “call transfer request (notification of participant B information)” to user A (step S102). An incoming call is made from user A to user B (step S103). Thereafter, voice communication is performed between the user A and the user B (step S104).

  Next, the user A transmits a “participant addition request (participant C is specified)” to the AP server (step S105). The AP server transmits a “conference start request (users A, B, and C are specified)” to the conference server 200 (step S106). Further, the AP server 100 performs “line reservation (notification of conference ID)” to the users A, B, and C by the COM API protocol (steps S107, S108, and S109).

  Thereafter, the conference server 200 transmits a “conference call (conference ID notification)” to the user A (step S110), and the user A returns a response to the “conference call (conference ID)” to the conference server (step S110). S111). Thereby, voice communication can be performed between the user A and the conference server 200 (step S112).

  Also. The conference server transmits “conference call (conference ID)” to user B (step S113), and user B returns a response (step S114). Thereby, voice communication can be performed between the conference server and the user B (step S115). Similarly, the conference server transmits a “conference call (conference ID)” to the user C (step S116), the user C responds to this (step S117), and performs voice communication between the conference server and the user C. Can be performed (step S118).

  Thus, when a conference is started among user A, user B, and user C, a one-to-one path (line) between user A and user B is released (step S119).

  In this example, when the number of participants in the conference room is reduced from three to two, communication is continuously performed using the conference server 100. Note that the conference server 100 may return to the two-party conference (one-to-one communication). When returning to the two-party conference, the line by the conference server 100 is released.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the AP server. The AP server 100 includes an input operation unit 101, a connection control unit 102, a conference control unit 103, a communication control unit 104, and a conference information DB 110. The

  The input operation unit 101 provides a GUI for accepting a conference request from a user, and issues a connection request to the connection control unit 102 using registered conference participants as output information. The connection control unit 102 is activated by confirming the number of conference participants received from the input operation unit 101 and issuing a conference request instruction to the communication control unit 104 when a conference is held with two persons. In the case of a multi-person conference of three or more people, a holding instruction is issued to the conference server 200. In addition, a line reservation for communication starting from now is made for the terminal application.

  When the conference control unit 103 receives a conference opening instruction from the connection control unit 102, the conference control unit 103 notifies the conference server 200 of the conference participants passed as input information, and the conference is held on the conference server 200 side. The communication control unit 104 receives a conference request instruction from the connection control unit 102 and makes a participant connection to a participant handed over as input information, thereby establishing a one-to-one communication.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of data setting in the conference information DB 110. In the conference information DB 110, a user name, a display during a conference, and conference ID information are recorded. A user account is set in the user name. The in-conference display indicates whether there is an ongoing conference in which the user is currently participating. “REG” is a display indicating that the conference is being executed, and “CL” means that the conference is not being performed (the conference room is not used). The conference ID is a conference ID (virtual conference number) that is currently being executed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing sequence between functions in the AP server when one-to-one communication is performed. Hereinafter, the processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the “conference request” is transmitted from the user A to the input operation unit 101 of the AP server 100 together with the information of the participant B (step S201). The input operation unit 101 of the AP server 100 transmits a “connection request signal” to the connection control unit 102 together with information about the participant B (step S202).

  The connection control unit 102 acquires participant information from the conference information DB 110 (step S203). Next, the connection control unit 102 transmits a “conference request instruction” to the communication control unit 104 together with the information on the participants A and B (step S204), and the information on the participants (users A and B) is conferenced. It records in information DB110 (step S205).

  Further, the connection control unit 102 makes a line reservation to the user A (step S206), and makes a line reservation to the user B (step S207). In addition, the communication control unit 104 transmits an incoming call transfer instruction to the user A (steps S208 and S209). Thereby, the one-to-one communication between the users A and B is started.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing sequence between functions in the AP server when adding a participant from one-to-one communication. Hereinafter, the processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, a “conference request” is transmitted from the user A to the input operation unit 101 of the AP server 100 together with information on the additional participant (user C) (step S301). The input operation unit 101 of the AP server 100 transmits a “connection request signal” to the connection control unit 102 together with information on the additional participant (user C) (step S302). The connection control unit 102 transmits information about the user C. Is acquired from the conference information DB 110 (step S303).

  Then, the connection control unit 102 transmits a “hold instruction” to the conference control unit 103 together with information on the participants (users A, B, and C) (step S304). The conference control unit 103 transmits a “holding instruction” to the conference server 200 together with information on the participants (users A, B, and C) (step S305). In addition, a line reservation is made with the user A and the conference server number is notified (step S306). Similarly, the connection control unit 102 makes a line reservation to the user B, notifies the conference server number (step S307), and registers participant information (users A, B, and C) in the conference information DB 110 (step S307). S308).

  Thereby, the conference server 200 and the user A are connected (step S309), the conference server 200 and the user B are connected (step S310), and the user C is also connected. Thereafter, the connection control unit 102 issues a “conference release instruction” to the communication control unit 104 (step S311), and opens the previous one-to-one communication line between the users A and B.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the connection control unit 102 in the AP server. Hereinafter, the processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

  When information on a request for participation in a conference is input as input information to the connection control unit 102, the content of the input information is checked (step S401). If there is an error in the content of the input information, an error is displayed (step S401). S402). If there is no error in the input information, the current conference state is collected from the conference information DB 110 (step S403).

  Next, the total number of participants (the total number of participants) to the conference requested to participate is checked based on the current conference state information collected from the conference information DB 110 (step S404). If the total number of participants is two, the communication control unit 104 is activated (step S405). If the total number of participants is three or more, the conference control unit 103 is activated (step S406). In addition, the conference information is registered in the conference information DB 110 (step S407).

  Next, it is checked whether or not the conference controller 103 is activated this time because it is a transition from two-person (one-to-one) communication (step S408), and the transition is from two (one-to-one). In this case, the communication control unit 104 is activated to issue a conference opening instruction for one-to-one communication (step S409).

  As described above, in the conference system of the present invention, in order to effectively utilize the number of conference rooms that are limited resources, one-to-one communication is performed without using a conference server when a conference request is made in a communication form of two persons. It was decided to hold a meeting. In addition, when a participant is added from two people, the conference was held for the first time by mixing using the conference server by shifting to a communication mode using the conference server.

  In addition, with regard to the transition from two-person communication to multi-person conference, in order to enable calling to the conference room while continuing the one-to-one communication already established by the user, it supports multi-line by terminal application With the line reservation function and conference transition control that controls these functions, it is possible to perform transition without voice interruptions and stress without making the participant switching operation unnecessary.

  In addition, the application server will take over the various authority, such as setting the conference room and adding / deleting participants, that the conventional conference system has given to the conference organizer, and allow each conference participant to participate in the conference from the same standpoint. By making a request to the application server, each participant can equally have various authorities regarding the operation of the conference that the organizer can have.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the input operation unit 101, the connection control unit 102, the conference control unit 103, and the communication control unit 104 in the AP server 100 illustrated in FIG. 4 are realized by dedicated hardware. It is also possible to be configured by a memory and a CPU (central processing unit), and by loading a program (not shown) for realizing the function of this processing unit into the memory and executing it, its function May be realized. Further, it is assumed that an input device, a display device, and the like (none of them are displayed) are connected to the AP server 100 as peripheral devices. Here, the input device refers to an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display device refers to a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display device, or the like.

  Also, a program for realizing the functions of the input operation unit 101, the connection control unit 102, the conference control unit 103, and the communication control unit 104 in the AP server 100 shown in FIG. 4 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The program recorded on the recording medium is read into the computer system and executed, whereby the input operation unit 101, the connection control unit 102, the conference control unit 103, and the communication control unit 104 in the AP server 100 shown in FIG. You may perform a process required for. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. It also includes a device (transmission medium or transmission wave) and a device that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system serving as a server or client in that case.
The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above, and further, a program that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, a so-called difference file (difference). Program).

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the conference room system of the present invention is not limited to the above-described illustrated examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

  In the present invention, it is possible to effectively utilize the resources of the conference server, which is a finite resource, and therefore the present invention can be applied to a conference system, a conference room request receiving method, and the like.

The figure for demonstrating the basic concept of the conference system of this invention Diagram for explaining the inter-server interface The figure which shows the signal sequence of the cooperation interface between servers The figure which shows the function structural example of AP server The figure which shows the data setting example of meeting information DB The figure which shows the process sequence between each function in AP server at the time of one-to-one communication implementation The figure which shows the process sequence between each function in AP server at the time of participant addition from one-to-one communication The flowchart which shows the process sequence in the connection control part in AP server. Figure 1 for explaining a conventional conference system Figure 2 for explaining a conventional conference system

Explanation of symbols

10 Terminal application 100 Application server (AP server)
101 Input Operation Unit 102 Connection Control Unit 103 Conference Control Unit 104 Communication Control Unit 110 Conference Information DB
200 Conference server

Claims (7)

A conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, a user terminal registered in advance using the conference room, and a conference room from the user terminal In a conference system composed of an application server that accepts a request and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal,
In the application server,
A meeting room request receiving means for receiving a meeting room request from the user terminal;
From the user's meeting room request received by the meeting room request receiving means, the number of meeting room participants is confirmed, and in the case of holding a two-party meeting for one-to-one communication, the terminals of the two parties are connected one-to-one Communication connection means for connecting;
When there is a participant addition request from any user terminal at the time of the two-party conference, the conference server is instructed to provide a conference room, and the line between the conference server side and the user terminal of the two-party conference is established. A conference server control means for newly setting, and connecting the terminal of the additional participant to the line and holding a multi-person conference;
And a communication connection releasing means for releasing a conventional one-to-one line connection between the two parties together with holding a multi-person conference by the conference server. In the application server,
When shifting from the two-party conference to the multi-person conference, the conference server ID of the conference server is notified to each corresponding user's terminal in advance, and line reservation means for reserving a line used for the multi-person conference is provided.
In the user terminal,
2. The conference system according to claim 1, further comprising: a line connection unit that performs line connection only when a signal of the conference server ID is received from the conference server for the line used for the multi-person conference. A conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, a user terminal registered in advance using the conference room, and a conference room from the user terminal In a conference system composed of an application server that accepts a request and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal,
In the application server,
Meeting room request accepting means for collectively accepting meeting room requests from registered user terminals,
A conference server control means for instructing the conference server to hold a conference based on information on a conference room request from the user;
Host authority granting means for granting host authority for use of a conference room to all of the users. A conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, a user terminal registered in advance using the conference room, and a conference room from the user terminal A conference room request reception method in a conference system configured by an application server that receives a request and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal,
By the application server,
A meeting room request receiving procedure for receiving a meeting room request from the user terminal;
From the user's meeting room request received in the meeting room request acceptance procedure, the number of meeting room participants is confirmed, and in the case of holding a two-party meeting for one-to-one communication, the terminals of the two parties are connected one-to-one Communication connection procedure to connect,
When there is a participant addition request from any user terminal at the time of the two-party conference, the conference server is instructed to provide a conference room, and the line between the conference server side and the user terminal of the two-party conference is established. A conference server control procedure for setting a new one, and connecting the terminal of the additional participant to the line to hold a multi-person conference;
A method for accepting a conference room request, comprising: holding a multi-person conference by the conference server, and performing a communication connection release procedure for releasing a conventional one-to-one line connection between the two parties. A conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, a user terminal registered in advance using the conference room, and a conference room from the user terminal A conference room request reception method in a conference system configured by an application server that receives a request and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal,
By the application server,
Meeting room request acceptance procedure to collectively accept meeting room requests from registered user terminals,
A conference server control procedure for instructing the conference server to hold a conference based on information on a conference room request from the user;
And a host authority granting procedure for granting a host authority to use the conference room to all of the users. A conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, a user terminal registered in advance using the conference room, and a conference room from the user terminal In a computer in the application server in a conference system composed of an application server that accepts a request and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal,
A meeting room request receiving procedure for receiving a meeting room request from the user terminal;
From the user's meeting room request received in the meeting room request acceptance procedure, the number of meeting room participants is confirmed, and in the case of holding a two-party meeting for one-to-one communication, the terminals of the two parties are connected one-to-one Communication connection procedure to connect,
When there is a participant addition request from any user terminal at the time of the two-party conference, the conference server is instructed to provide a conference room, and the line between the conference server side and the user terminal of the two-party conference is established. A conference server control procedure for setting a new one, and connecting the terminal of the additional participant to the line to hold a multi-person conference;
A program for executing a communication connection release procedure for releasing a conventional one-to-one line connection between the two parties together with holding a multi-person conference by the conference server. A conference system that provides a virtual conference room on a network and allows information to be exchanged between participants, a user terminal registered in advance using the conference room, and a conference room from the user terminal In a computer in the application server in a conference system composed of an application server that accepts a request and a conference server that provides a conference room to the user terminal,
Meeting room request acceptance procedure to collectively accept meeting room requests from registered user terminals,
A conference server control procedure for instructing the conference server to hold a conference based on information on a conference room request from the user;
A program for executing a host authority granting procedure for granting a host authority to use a conference room to all of the users.

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