JP2006229416A - Multi-point conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To flexibly and efficiently operate diverse multi-point conferences. <P>SOLUTION: A multi-point conference system has a plurality of conference terminals being connected to an IP network and enabling the multimedia communication of a main signal by a voice and/or a image, an SIP server controlling the connections of calls regarding the multimedia communication. The system further has a multi-point conference administrative server administering the carrying-out of the multi-point conferences by a plurality of the conference terminals and a multi-point-conference connecting control server conducting the mixing control of the main signal exchanged by the conferences. The multi-point conference administrative server holds the mixing-control information of the main signal exchanged by the conferences, while distributing the mixing-control information to one or two or more of multi-point-conference connecting control servers taking charge of the connecting control of the main signal by the conferences. The multi-point conference connecting control server conducts the mixing control of the main signal according to the distributed mixing-control information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multipoint conference system and is suitable for application to a multipoint conference service and a multipoint TV conference service in an IP network.

  In recent years, with the introduction of communication infrastructure IP, voice conference services and video conference services have also been accelerated and provided. In the case of multipoint conference service and multipoint video conference service, there is a method that can be realized only with dedicated client software that operates on a PC in the user's home, but the place that depends on the performance of the PC is large and relatively small. It is for users.

  On the other hand, in a multipoint conference service and a multipoint TV conference service provided by a service provider installing a multipoint conference management server and a multipoint conference connection control server (MCU) in a network, It is possible to have a conference room.

  In such a multipoint conference service and a multipoint video conference service for large-scale users, it is possible to effectively use network facilities, increase the number of users to be provided, and change the service grade for each user. Etc. are desired by service providers.

Conventionally, a multipoint conference system is known in which only the current speaker transmits packets related to voice and images to reduce the number of packets transferred to the network (Patent Document 1). Conventionally, when an image is selected from the video conference terminal by designating the image arrangement position, the master MCU 1 creates an image in which the image arranged at this position is displayed relatively large and passes through the slave MCU. A video conference system is known in which images of video conference participants (speakers) in a conference in which a large number of participants participate can be easily selected by distributing to each of the video conference terminals 5 to 10 (Patent Document 2). ). Conventionally, there has been known a TV conference system in which a slave MCU obtains an image that is not unsightly by combining these images into a single image without further synthesizing the synthesized image input from the master MCU with the image from the connected terminal. (Patent Document 3).
JP-A-9-270791 (summary, figure) JP 2000-253374 A JP 2000-115737 A

  Although the above conventional technology is a technology for more smoothly operating a conference that accommodates a large number of participants, a conventional multipoint conference system efficiently connects a plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers (MCUs) ( There was nothing that could flexibly cope with various conference opening requests.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multipoint conference system capable of operating various multipoint conferences flexibly and efficiently.

The above problem is solved by the configuration of FIG. That is, the multipoint conference system of the present invention (1) is connected to an IP network, and controls connection of a plurality of conference terminals capable of multimedia communication of main signals by voice and / or video and calls related to the multimedia communication. A multipoint conference management server that manages execution of a multipoint conference by a plurality of conference terminals, and a multipoint conference connection control server that performs mixing control of main signals exchanged in the conference. The point conference management server holds mixing control information of the main signal exchanged in the conference, and mixes control information to one or more multi-point conference connection control servers responsible for connection control of the main signal by the conference And the multipoint conference connection control server performs mixing control of the main signal in accordance with the distributed mixing control information.

  According to the present invention (1), the operation information relating to the mixing and distribution of the main signal is managed and distributed collectively by the multipoint conference management server, so that the conference can be flexibly adapted to various conference forms and network conditions. Can be operated efficiently and efficiently.

  In the present invention (2), in the present invention (1), the multipoint conference management server accommodates a plurality of conference terminals having the same conference room ID in a plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers, and the same multipoint Performs main signal mixing between conference terminals accommodated in the conference connection control server, and does not perform main signal mixing between conference terminals accommodated in different multipoint conference connection control servers. It holds mixing control information that is transparently transferred to the server.

  According to the present invention (2), by accommodating conference terminals (users) having the same conference room ID in a plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers, load distribution relating to replication / distribution of main signal packets can be achieved, Effective use of conference resources. Further, since the main signal between the multipoint conference connection control servers is transferred without mixing, the network load can be greatly reduced.

  In the present invention (3), in the present invention (2), the multipoint conference management server averages main signal traffic in a plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers for a plurality of conference terminals having the same conference room ID. Such load distribution holds mixing control information accommodated in each multipoint conference connection control server. Therefore, the processing load on each multipoint conference connection control server can be reduced and made uniform.

  In the present invention (4), in the above-mentioned present invention (2), the multipoint conference management server is configured to connect the multipoint conference so that a conference terminal having a higher priority can accommodate a fixed number of conference terminals according to the priority of the conference terminal. The conference terminal accommodated in the control server and having a low priority holds the mixing control information accommodated in the multipoint conference connection control server capable of accommodating an arbitrary number of conference terminals. Accordingly, a large number of conferences can be accommodated, and a service environment with high voice and video quality can be provided to the main participating members, and high quality conferences can be smoothly operated.

  In the present invention (5), in the above-mentioned present invention (2), the multipoint conference management server is configured such that a conference terminal of a group having a higher priority can accommodate a fixed number of conference ends according to the priority of the conference terminal group. The conference terminals in the point conference connection control server and having a low priority hold the mixing control information accommodated in the multipoint conference connection control server capable of accommodating an arbitrary number of conference terminals. By applying the priority processing of the present invention to the terminal group, various inter-group conferences can be efficiently operated.

  As described above, according to the present invention, various multipoint conferences can be operated flexibly and efficiently, which greatly contributes to the spread and expansion of multipoint conference services.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts throughout the drawings. In the following description, the multipoint conference by voice will be mainly described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a multipoint TV conference in which video is added to the audio.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint conference system according to the first embodiment, and shows a case where all main signals are mixed on the multipoint conference connection control server 30B side and distributed to users 10A to 10D. ing. In the figure, 100 is an IP network, 10A to 10D are user terminals used by a user (client) in a multipoint conference, 20 is a SIP connection server that accommodates the terminal 10 in the IP network and controls call connection, and 21 is 1 SIP connection control unit that controls connection and connection of calls related to one-to-one communication, 22 is a multipoint conference connection control unit that performs connection control of calls related to multipoint conferences, and 30 is a main signal (voice and / or Multipoint conference connection control server 31 that controls mixing and distribution of video signals), 31 holds and manages information (mixing control information) related to the multipoint conference connection policy sent from multipoint conference management server 40 described later A policy management unit 32 for managing connection of multipoint conference calls according to the mixing control information, and 33 for a main signal (RT for audio and / or video). A mixing control unit that performs mixing (replication and distribution) control packet).

  Furthermore, 40 is a multipoint conference management server, 41 is a multipoint conference management database (DB) that holds multipoint conference management information (mixing policy information), and 42 is a multipoint conference room that manages conference rooms for multipoint conferences. The management unit 43 is a multipoint conference WEB reception unit that accepts reservations and entry of multipoint conferences by users on the WEB, 44 is a maintenance order reception unit that receives setting information of maintenance personnel, and 45 is registered / participates in the multipoint conference A multipoint conference user management unit that manages users, 46 is a multipoint conference connection control unit that manages call connection control in the multipoint conference connection control server 30, and 47 is a multipoint conference connection that manages connection policies for multipoint conferences. A policy management unit 50 is a maintenance terminal used by a maintenance person.

  Each user terminal 10 has a function (VoIP function) for analog mixing of a voice signal generated at its own station and a voice signal from a conference partner obtained by voice-converting the RTP packet received at its own station, and outputting it to a speaker. Throughout this specification, the term “mixing” for RTP packets means copying (copying) voice packets.

  The multipoint conference connection control server 30 is provided for each district. For example, 30A mainly accommodates user terminals 10A and 10B in the Osaka district, and 30B mainly accommodates user terminals 10C and 10D in the Tokyo district. It is arranged at a suitable position.

  2 and 3 are sequence diagrams (1) and (2) of the multipoint conference service processing according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the multipoint conference service will be described with reference to FIGS. . In advance, the maintenance person registers subscriber information from the maintenance terminal 50 via the maintenance order receiving unit 44. That is, the ID information of the subscriber who can receive this service is registered in the subscriber user management unit 45, and the policy (operation policy) information regarding the mixing point and mixing method of voice and video is stored in the multipoint conference connection policy management unit 47. Register with.

The registered subscribers in this example are users (terminals) 10A to 10D. In addition, the mixing policy of this example accommodates the user 10A in the server 30A, and the packets for the other users 10B, 10C, and 10D are sent to the server 30B transparently without being mixed (copied) by the server 30A. Mix at 30B and distribute to each. In addition, the user 10B is accommodated in the server 30A, and the packets for the other users 10A, 10C, and 10D are not mixed by the server 30A but are transmitted transparently to the server 30B, mixed by the server 30B, and distributed to each. On the other hand, the user 10C is accommodated in the server 30B, and each packet for the other users 10D, 10A and 10B is transmitted to the server 3B.
After mixing (copying) to each user at 0B, it is distributed to each user. Further, the user 10D is accommodated in the server 30B, and each packet for the other users 10C, 10A and 10B is mixed to each user by the server 30B and then distributed to each user.

  Thereafter, the conference organizer 10A logs in to the multipoint conference management server 40 via the WEB reception unit 43 and calls the menu screen. Then, the conference room is registered and members who participate in the conference are registered. The participating members in this example are users 10A to 10D.

  Upon receiving this registration, the multipoint conference management server 40 generates mixing control information for each participating member registered in the conference room based on the subscriber information registered in advance, and immediately thereafter (or at the conference opening time). At that time, the remote multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B are notified of the mixing control information for each participating member scheduled to enter the registered conference room. The multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B that have received this hold and manage mixing control information for each user.

  Thus, when the conference opening time is reached, the user 10A logs in to the multipoint conference management server 40 via the WEB reception unit 43 and calls the menu screen. When a conference room that can be entered is selected, the conference room management unit 42 notifies the user A of the conference room ID.

  In FIG. 3, the user 10A who has received the conference room ID logs in to the conference room by assigning the conference room ID to the SIP protocol. The SIP connection server 20A that has received the request transmits a notification request of the connection destination server to the multipoint conference management server 40 using the conference room ID. The multipoint conference management server 40 that has received this information returns information on the connection destination multipoint conference connection control server 30A to the user 10A.

  Receiving this, the SIP connection server 20A issues a connection request to the multipoint conference connection control server 30A using the SIP protocol. Receiving this, the multipoint conference connection control server 30A performs SIP connection control, and sets the mixing control information registered corresponding to the user 10A in the mixing control unit 33A of the own apparatus. On the other hand, the SIP connection server 20A notifies the multipoint conference management server 40 of the SIP status (INVITE transmission notification, 2000K reception notification, etc.) at the appropriate time of the series of SIP protocol control. Other users B to D enter the conference room in the same manner as described above.

  Thereafter, the RTP voice packet uttered by the user 10A is routed to the multipoint conference connection control server 30A, and is delivered to the multipoint conference connection control server 30B as it is according to the policy information set in the mixing control unit 33A. The same applies to RTP voice packets remarked by other users B to D.

  FIG. 2 shows an image of mixing RTP packets. The packet A generated by the user 10A is transferred to the server 30B via the server 30A, and then mixed (copied) to the users B to D by the server 30B and distributed. The same applies to the packet B generated by the user 10B. On the other hand, the packet D generated by the user 10D is mixed (copied) to the users A to C by the server 30B and distributed. The same applies to the packet C generated by the user 10C.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint conference system according to the second embodiment, and shows a case where all main signals are mixed on the multipoint conference connection control server 30A side and distributed to users 10A to 10D. ing. 4 and 5 show sequence diagrams (1) and (2) of the multipoint conference service processing according to the second embodiment.

  In the mixing policy of this example, the user 10A is accommodated in the server 30A, and each packet for the other users 10B, 10C and 10D is mixed to each user by the server 30A and then distributed to each user. Further, the user 10B is accommodated in the server 30A, and each packet for the other users 10A, 10C and 10D is mixed to each user by the server 30A and then distributed to each user. On the other hand, the user 10C is accommodated in the server 30B, and the packets for the other users 10A, 10B, and 10D are not mixed by the server 30B but are transmitted transparently to the server 30A, mixed by the server 30A, and distributed to each. Also, the user 10D is accommodated in the server 30B, and the packets for the other users 10A, 10B, and 10C are not mixed in the server 30B, but are sent transparently to the server 30A, mixed in the server 30A, and distributed to each of them. It is.

  Therefore, in the conference of this example, as shown in FIG. 4, all main signals are mixed on the multipoint conference connection control server 30A side and distributed to the users 10A to 10D. Other configurations may be the same as those described in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a multipoint conference system according to the third embodiment. Each user having the same conference room ID is accommodated in a plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B, and this multipoint conference is performed. The connection policy management unit 47 performs main signal mixing between users accommodated in the same multipoint conference connection control server 30 and main signal mixing between users accommodated in different multipoint conference connection control servers 30. Without the above, a mixing policy is transferred in advance to the multipoint conference connection control server 30 on the other side.

  FIGS. 8 and 9 are sequence diagrams (1) and (2) of the multipoint conference service processing according to the third embodiment. When the conference room and the participating members are registered, the members according to the mixing policy of the management server 40 are shown. A case is shown in which the mixing control information for each is generated and set in the corresponding multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B immediately or at the time when the conference opening time is reached. In the figure, the maintenance person registers in advance a “user name (ID)” and a “multipoint conference connection control server name” that accommodates the user.

  Thereafter, the user,-(may be another user 10B, 10C, or 10D) logs into the conference room management unit 42 via the conference web reception unit 43 and calls the menu screen. Then, conference room registration and registration of members participating in the conference are performed. The participating members in this example are users 10A to 10D. The multipoint conference connection control unit 46 generates mixing control information for each participating member according to the participating user name, the name of the connection control server that accommodates the user, and the mixing policy provided in the multipoint conference connection policy management unit 47. .

The mixing control information generated by this means that the user 10A is accommodated in the server 30A, the packets for the user 10B are mixed and distributed by the server 30A, and the packets for the other users 10C and 10D are not mixed by the server 30A. In addition to being sent to the server 30B in a transparent manner, the server 30B performs mixing and distribution to each. Also, the user 10B is accommodated in the server 30A, the packet for the user 10A is mixed and distributed by the server 30A, and the packets for the other users 10C and 10D are not mixed by the server 30A and are sent to the server 30B transparently. The server 30B mixes and distributes each of them. On the other hand, the user 10C is accommodated in the server 30B, the packet for the user 10D is mixed and distributed by the server 30B, and the packets for the other users 10A and 10B are not mixed by the server 30B and sent to the server 30A transparently. The server 30A mixes and distributes each of them. In addition, the user 10D is accommodated in the server 30B, the packet for the user 10C is mixed and distributed by the server 30B, and the packets for the other users 10A and 10B are not mixed by the server 30B and are sent to the server 30A transparently. The server 30A mixes and distributes each of them.

  Then, the generated mixing control information is immediately transmitted (or at the time when the conference opening time is reached) to each corresponding remote multipoint conference connection control server 30A, 30B. The multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B that have received this hold and manage mixing control information for each user. Subsequent operations are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

  FIGS. 10 and 11 are sequence diagrams (3) and (4) of the multipoint conference service processing according to the third embodiment, in which the participating member uses the mixing control information generated by registering the conference room and the participating member. The case where it sets to the multipoint conference connection control server 30A or 30B corresponding at the time of entering a room is shown.

  In FIG. 10, it may be the same as that described in FIG. 8 until the mixing control information for each user is generated. Thereafter, when it is time to establish a conference, for example, the user 10A logs in to the multipoint conference management server 40 via the WEB reception unit 43 and calls a menu screen. When a conference room that can be entered is selected, the conference room management unit 42 notifies the user A of the conference room ID.

  In FIG. 12, it may be the same as that described in FIG. 9 until the call from the user A is connected to the multipoint conference connection control server 30A by the SIP connection server 20A. When the notification of the completion of the call connection of the user A is sent to the multipoint conference management server 40 by the SIP connection server 20A, the multipoint conference management server 40 that has received the notification sends the multipoint conference corresponding to the mixing control information of the user A. It is sent to the connection control server 30A. Hereinafter, the corresponding mixing control information is also sent to the corresponding multipoint conference connection control server 30A or 30B for the users B to D who enter the room sequentially.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of the multipoint conference system according to the fourth embodiment, in which the multipoint conference connection policy management unit 47 assigns a plurality of users having the same conference room ID to a plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers 30. This shows a case where a connection policy for determining the accommodation destination connection server 30 is determined by load distribution such that the number of accommodation users (or the number of accommodation conferences) is averaged. In the figure, reference numeral 48 denotes a multipoint conference connection control server traffic state management unit which counts and manages the traffic volume in the multipoint conference connection control server 30. In addition, although the traffic amount may actually count the number of packets per unit time in the multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B, here, the number of accommodated users (or accommodations) in the multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B. A case where management is performed so that the number of conferences may be averaged will be described. Other configurations may be the same as those described in FIG.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 show sequence diagrams (1) and (2) of the multipoint conference service processing according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 13, the maintenance person registers in advance “user name (ID)” and a plurality of “multipoint conference connection control server names” capable of accommodating the user via the maintenance terminal 60. In this example, a plurality of connection control servers 30A and 30B are registered for users 10A to 10D, respectively.

  Thereafter, when the conference user 10A, 10B, 10C or 10D logs into the conference room management unit 42 and registers the conference room and the room member, the multipoint conference connection control unit 46 has a connection policy that the connection policy management unit 47 has. In accordance with the above, for the plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B registered to the participating users 10A to 10D, the load sharing is performed on the servers 30A and 30B so that the number of accommodated users is averaged. I do.

  In this example, when the user 10B is assigned to the server 30A and the users 10C and 10D are assigned to the server 30B in advance, the user 10A is newly registered, so that the user 10A is accommodated in the server 30A. Thus, mixing control information for each user is generated and sent to the multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B. The subsequent sequence may be the same as that described in FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint conference system according to the fifth embodiment. Each user is given a priority, and the multipoint conference connection policy management unit 47 determines that a user with a high priority has a fixed number of users. Shows a case where there is an accommodation server decision policy that accommodates a multipoint conference connection control server that can be accommodated and accommodates a low priority user in a multipoint conference connection control server that can accommodate an arbitrary number of users. Yes. In the figure, 49 is a multipoint conference connection control server priority management unit for setting and managing priorities for each user.

  16 and 17 show sequence diagrams (1) and (2) of the multipoint conference service processing according to the fifth embodiment. In FIG. 16, the maintenance person registers in advance “user name (ID)” and information on the “priority” of the user by the maintenance terminal 50. In this example, it is assumed that both the users 10A and 10B have priority and the users 10C and 10D both have priority.

  Thereafter, when the conference user 10A, 10B, 10C or 10D logs into the conference room management unit 42 and registers the conference room and the room member, the multipoint conference connection control unit 46 has a connection policy that the connection policy management unit 47 has. Accordingly, the conference users are accommodated in the server 30A or 30B in accordance with the priorities of the plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B under their management. In this example, the high-priority users 10A and 10B are accommodated in the server 30A that can accommodate a fixed number of users, thereby reducing the traffic and providing the required quality. On the other hand, for the users 10C and 10D having a low priority, the service by the best effort is provided by accommodating these in the server 30B capable of accommodating an arbitrary number of users.

  The mixing control information in this example is generated when the user enters the room, and is set in the corresponding connection control server 30A or 30B. This example also shows a case where the user 10A enters the room last and related mixing control information is added.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the configuration of the multipoint conference system according to the sixth embodiment. Priorities are assigned to user groups to which a plurality of users belong, and the multipoint conference connection policy management unit 47 has a high priority user group. Is accommodated in a multipoint conference connection control server that can accommodate the number of fixed user groups (or the number of fixed users), and a multipoint conference that can accommodate the number of arbitrary user groups (or the number of arbitrary users) for user groups with low priority. A case is shown in which a storage destination server determination policy is stored in the connection control server. In the figure, 51 is a multipoint conference user management unit that manages the user group and its constituent members, and 52 is a multipoint conference connection control server priority management unit that sets and manages priorities for each user group.

  An example of user groups A and B is separate companies A and B. Another example of user groups A and B is departments A and B in the same company. Departments A and B may or may not have a vertical relationship. In either case, there are a case where a separate conference is operated for each group and a case where a single conference is operated between groups. Here, the case where a separate meeting is operated for each group will be described.

19 and 20 show sequence diagrams (1) and (2) of the multipoint conference service processing according to the sixth embodiment. In FIG. 19, the maintenance person registers “user name (ID)”, “user group name” to which the user belongs, and information on “priority” of the user group in advance by the maintenance terminal 50. In this example, the users 10A and 10B belong to the user group A, and the group priority is priority. On the other hand, the users 10C and 10D belong to the user group B, and the group priority is non-priority.

  Thereafter, for example, when the conference user 10A logs in to the conference room management unit 42 and registers the conference room and the entrance member, the multipoint conference connection control unit 46 manages itself according to the connection policy of the connection policy management unit 47. The conference users (user groups) are accommodated in the server 30A or 30B according to their priorities for the plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers 30A and 30B below. In this example, the users 10A and 10B of the user group A having a high priority are accommodated in the server 30A capable of accommodating a fixed number of users, thereby providing the required quality while suppressing traffic. On the other hand, for the users 10C and 10D of the user group B with low priority, a service by best effort is provided by accommodating these in the server 30B that can accommodate any number of users. The mixing control information in this example is generated when the user enters the room, and is set in the corresponding connection control server 30A or 30B.

  In FIG. 20, the RTP packet of the user 10A is mixed by the server 30A and distributed to the user 10B. The RTP packet of the user 10C is mixed by the server 30B and delivered to the user 10B.

  Although not shown, the accommodation control based on the priority may be combined with the accommodation control for averaging traffic.

  In each of the above embodiments, the description has been made mainly on the audio conference, but the present invention can also be applied to a conference in which video is added to audio.

  Moreover, although several embodiment suitable for the said invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that the structure of each part, control, a process, and these combination can be variously changed within the range which does not deviate from this invention. .

    (Supplementary Note 1) By a plurality of conference terminals connected to an IP network and capable of multimedia communication of main signals by voice and / or video, a SIP server for controlling connection of calls related to the multimedia communication, and a plurality of conference terminals A multipoint conference management server that manages the execution of the multipoint conference, and a multipoint conference connection control server that performs mixing control of the main signal exchanged in the conference, wherein the multipoint conference management server is exchanged in the conference Holding the main signal mixing control information and distributing the mixing control information to one or more multipoint conference connection control servers in charge of the main signal connection control by the conference, and the multipoint conference connection control. The multipoint conference system, wherein the server performs mixing control of the main signal according to the distributed mixing control information.

    (Appendix 2) The multipoint conference management server accommodates a plurality of conference terminals having the same conference room ID in a plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers and between conference terminals accommodated in the same multipoint conference connection control server The main signal mixing is performed, and the mixing control information to be transferred transparently to the partner multipoint conference connection control server without holding the main signal mixing between the conference terminals accommodated in different multipoint conference connection control servers is held. The multipoint conference system according to Appendix 1, wherein

    (Supplementary note 3) The multipoint conference management server connects multiple conference terminals having the same conference room ID with load distribution such that main signal traffic in the multiple multipoint conference connection control servers is averaged. The multipoint conference system according to appendix 2, wherein mixing control information stored in the control server is held.

(Additional remark 4) A multipoint conference management server accommodates a conference terminal with a high priority according to the priority of a conference terminal in the multipoint conference connection control server which can accommodate a fixed number of conference terminals, and a meeting with a low priority. The multipoint conference system according to appendix 2, wherein the terminal holds mixing control information accommodated in a multipoint conference connection control server capable of accommodating an arbitrary number of conference terminals.

    (Supplementary note 5) The multipoint conference management server accommodates a conference terminal of a group having a high priority according to the priority of the conference terminal group in a multipoint conference connection control server that can accommodate a fixed number of conference ends. The multipoint conference system according to appendix 2, wherein the conference terminals in a low group hold mixing control information accommodated in a multipoint conference connection control server capable of accommodating an arbitrary number of conference terminals.

    (Supplementary Note 6) By a plurality of conference terminals connected to an IP network and capable of multimedia communication of main signals by voice and / or video, a SIP server for performing call connection control related to the multimedia communication, and a plurality of conference terminals A multipoint conference system control method comprising: a multipoint conference management server that manages execution of a multipoint conference; and a multipoint conference connection control server that performs mixing control of a main signal exchanged in the conference. Collecting or generating the main signal mixing control information exchanged in the conference at the conference management server, and setting or starting the conference 1 or 2 in charge of the conference from the multipoint conference management server Delivering the main signal mixing control information to the multipoint conference connection control server, and the multipoint conference connection control server Multi-point control method of the conference system, characterized in that it comprises a step of mixing control of the main signal in accordance with signal has been mixing control information.

    (Supplementary note 7) By a plurality of conference terminals connected to an IP network and capable of multimedia communication of main signals by voice and / or video, a SIP server for controlling connection of calls related to the multimedia communication, and a plurality of conference terminals A multipoint conference management server of a multipoint conference system, comprising: a multipoint conference management server that manages execution of a multipoint conference; and a multipoint conference connection control server that performs mixing control of a main signal exchanged in the conference. Holds and manages the mixing control information of the main signal exchanged in the conference, and distributes the mixing control information to one or more multipoint conference connection control servers responsible for connection control of the main signal by the conference And multipoint conference management means for performing mixing control of the main signal according to the mixing control information. Server.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the multipoint conference system by 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (1) of the multipoint conference service process by 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (2) of the multipoint conference service process by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the multipoint conference system by 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (1) of the multipoint conference service process by 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (2) of the multipoint conference service process by 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the multipoint conference system by 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (1) of the multipoint conference service process by 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (2) of the multipoint conference service process by 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (3) of the multipoint conference service process by 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (4) of the multipoint conference service process by 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the multipoint conference system by 4th Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (1) of the multipoint conference service process by 4th Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (2) of the multipoint conference service process by 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the multipoint conference system by 5th Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (1) of the multipoint conference service process by 5th Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (2) of the multipoint conference service process by 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the multipoint conference system by 6th Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (1) of the multipoint conference service process by 6th Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram (2) of the multipoint conference service process by 6th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 IP network 10 User terminal 20 SIP connection server 21 SIP connection control part 22 Multipoint meeting connection control part 30 Multipoint meeting connection control server 31 Policy management part 32 Multipoint meeting connection management part 33 Mixing control part 40 Multipoint meeting management server 41 Multipoint Conference Management Database (DB)
42 Multipoint Conference Room Management Unit 43 Multipoint Conference Web Reception Unit 44 Maintenance Order Reception Unit 45 Multipoint Conference User Management Unit 46 Multipoint Conference Connection Control Unit 47 Multipoint Conference Connection Policy Management Unit 48 Multipoint Conference Connection Control Server Traffic State Management unit 49 Multipoint conference connection control server priority management unit 50 Maintenance terminal 51 Multipoint conference user group management unit 52 Multipoint conference connection control server priority management unit

Claims (5)

A plurality of conference terminals connected to an IP network and capable of multimedia communication of main signals by voice and / or video;
An SIP server for controlling connection of the call related to the multimedia communication;
A multipoint conference management server that manages the execution of a multipoint conference by a plurality of conference terminals;
A multipoint conference connection control server that performs mixing control of the main signal exchanged in the conference,
The multipoint conference management server holds mixing control information of main signals exchanged in a conference and mixes with one or more multipoint conference connection control servers in charge of connection control of main signals by the conference Deliver control information,
The multipoint conference connection control server performs mixing control of a main signal according to the distributed mixing control information. The multipoint conference management server accommodates a plurality of conference terminals having the same conference room ID in a plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers and a main signal between conference terminals accommodated in the same multipoint conference connection control server. It is characterized by holding mixing control information to be transparently transferred to the other multipoint conference connection control server without mixing the main signal between conference terminals accommodated in different multipoint conference connection control servers. The multipoint conference system according to claim 1. The multipoint conference management server accommodates a plurality of conference terminals having the same conference room ID in each multipoint conference connection control server with load distribution such that main signal traffic in the plurality of multipoint conference connection control servers is averaged. 3. The multipoint conference system according to claim 2, wherein mixing control information is held. The multipoint conference management server accommodates a high-priority conference terminal in a multipoint conference connection control server that can accommodate a fixed number of conference terminals according to the priority of the conference terminal, and an arbitrary number of low-priority conference terminals. The multipoint conference system according to claim 2, wherein mixing control information stored in a multipoint conference connection control server capable of storing the conference terminal is held. According to the priority of the conference terminal group, the multipoint conference management server accommodates a conference terminal of a group with a high priority in a multipoint conference connection control server that can accommodate a fixed number of conference ends. The multipoint conference system according to claim 2, wherein the conference terminal holds mixing control information accommodated in a multipoint conference connection control server capable of accommodating an arbitrary number of conference terminals.

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