JP2007096838A - Group voice communication controller, voice communication apparatus, and group voice communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a group voice communication controller capable of performing smooth group voice communication, a voice communication apparatus, and a group voice communication system. <P>SOLUTION: The group voice communication controller is connected with the plurality of voice communication apparatuses through a network, controls the group voice communication, and is provided with a small group setting and controlling part for setting a plurality of small groups to which the plurality of voice communication apparatuses participating in the group voice communication belong and controlling the voice communication apparatuses respectively belonging to the plurality of set small groups, and a voice communication control part for controlling the group voice communication so as not to transmit voice signals to the other voice communication apparatuses belonging to the same small group as the voice communication apparatus which has originated the voice signals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a group call control device, a voice call device, and a group communication system for performing a group call between a plurality of voice call devices.

Conventionally, as a technique for performing a group call between a plurality of voice communication devices, there has been a wireless communication system using wireless communication as disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a wireless communication system described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, the server 110 manages simultaneous communication by a plurality of users. The plurality of communication terminals 120 are wirelessly connected to the server 110. All communication terminals 120 participating in the group call are managed without distinction in the participation terminal management unit 112 of the server 110, and the call data from each communication terminal 120 is based on the information of the participation terminal management unit 112. And distributed to all other communication terminals 120 participating in the group call.
JP 2001-197562 A

  The group call system described in Patent Document 1 transmits voice to all users participating in a group call. Here, for example, consider a case where several people get on a plurality of cars and make a group call between users using their mobile phones. In such a case, users who are in the same car can directly hear the voices spoken to each other and can also listen through the mobile phone. That is, since a receiver located near the voice sender hears two voices, a voice directly delivered from the sender and a voice delivered through the mobile phone, there is a problem that the conversation does not proceed smoothly. In particular, in a group call system having a large delay in transmitting voice as in the case of transmitting a voice message by VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), the voice directly heard by the receiver located near the caller There is a problem that the smoothness of the conversation is remarkably impaired because both the voice and the voice via the network are transmitted to the receiver with a time difference.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a group call control device, a voice call device, and a group call system that can perform a smooth group call.

  The object of the present invention is achieved by a group call control device having the following configuration. A group call control device that is connected to a plurality of voice call devices via a network and controls group calls, and sets a plurality of small groups to which a plurality of voice call devices participating in a group call belong, and sets a plurality of set A small group setting management unit that manages voice call devices belonging to each small group, and a group call so that voice signals are not transmitted to other voice call devices that belong to the same small group as the voice call device that sent the voice signal A call control unit for controlling.

  With this configuration, the group call control device manages the voice call devices participating in the group call by dividing them into a plurality of small groups, and other voice call devices belonging to the same small group as the voice call device that sent the voice signal On the other hand, since an unnecessary audio signal that hinders the conversation of the group call is not transmitted, a smooth group call can be realized.

  The object of the present invention is achieved by a voice communication device having the following configuration. A group call control device for controlling a group call and a voice call device connected to another voice call device via a network, a communication unit for transmitting and receiving voice signals to and from the other voice call device, and a group A communication control unit for controlling the communication unit so as not to transmit a voice signal to another voice communication device belonging to the same small group as the own device according to the control by the call control device.

  With this configuration, the voice call device does not transmit an unnecessary voice signal that hinders the conversation of the group call to the voice call device belonging to the same small group as the own device, so that a smooth group call can be realized.

  The object of the present invention is achieved by a group call system having the following configuration. A group call system including a group call control device for controlling a group call and a plurality of voice call devices connected to the group call control device via a network, wherein the group call control device A plurality of small groups to which the voice call device belongs, and a small group setting management unit for managing the voice call devices belonging to the plurality of set small groups respectively, and the same small group as the voice call device that has transmitted the voice signal A call control unit that controls a group call so as not to transmit a voice signal to another voice call device, and the voice call device includes a communication unit that transmits and receives a voice signal to and from another voice call device; The voice signal is not transmitted to other voice call devices belonging to the same small group as the own device according to the control by the call control unit. And a communication control unit for controlling the communication unit to.

  With this configuration, the group call control device manages the voice call devices participating in the group call by dividing them into a plurality of small groups, and other voice call devices belonging to the same small group as the voice call device that sent the voice signal No audio signal is transmitted. In addition, the voice call device does not transmit unnecessary voice signals that hinder the conversation of the group call to other voice call devices belonging to the same small group as the own device according to the control by the call control unit. Can be realized.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the group call control device and the voice that can perform a smooth group call by controlling the transmission destination of the voice in the group call to be transmitted only to a predetermined voice call device. A call device and a group call system can be provided.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the group call system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The group call system includes a plurality of voice call devices A and a group call control device 4. The plurality of voice call devices A and the group call control device 4 are connected by a network 5 such as the Internet or a cellular network. In FIG. 1, a user U11, a user U12, and a user U13 who have a voice call device A11, a voice call device A12, and a voice call device A13, respectively, get in a car C1, and a voice call is made in the car C2. A user U21, a user U22, and a user U23 who respectively own the device A21, the voice call device A22, and the voice call device A23 get on, and the voice call device A31, the voice call device A32, and the voice call are placed in the car C3. A user U31, a user U32, and a user U33 each carrying the device A33 get on. Thus, in an example of the group call system, the same number of small groups as the number of cars C on which a plurality of users U ride are formed, and each small group includes a plurality of voice call devices A. It should be noted that users who are in the same car C are in an environment where they can sufficiently hear the content they talked about (for example, they are seated in the same vehicle compartment).

  In the present embodiment, the voice call device A is preferably a mobile phone having a PoC (push-to-talk over cellular) function capable of making a half-duplex voice call with one or more parties by simply pressing a conversation button. It is. The group call control device 4 is a server for performing call control or a packet switch in a cellular network, and is a device for realizing a one-to-many voice call (group call) between a plurality of voice call devices.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the voice call device A and the group call control device 4 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, a case where a group call by PoC is performed between the voice call devices A will be described as an example. The voice data will be described using an example of transmission / reception by VoIP.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the voice communication device A shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the voice call device A includes a communication unit 11, a user operation acquisition unit 12, a microphone 13, a speaker 14, a CODEC (CODEr DECoder) 15, a display unit 16, an information storage unit 17, and a control unit 18. Composed.

  The communication unit 11 is connected to the network 5, and transmits and receives control information necessary for connecting to voice and other terminals. The user operation acquisition unit 12 is typically a keyboard or operation buttons and accepts user operations. The user operation acquisition unit 12 has an utterance button used when performing a voice call by PoC, and the user makes a call by speaking to the microphone 13 while pressing the utterance button. The speaker 14 outputs call voice and may be provided in a mobile phone, or when connected to an in-vehicle terminal such as a car navigation by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), It may be a speaker provided in an automobile.

  The CODEC 15 performs analog / digital conversion on the sound from the microphone 13 and digital / analog converts the sound digital signal received by the communication unit 11 and outputs the converted signal to the speaker 14. The display unit 16 is a display for displaying various information related to the voice call to the user. The information storage unit 17 is, for example, a RAM that stores an address of a transmission destination when performing a voice call and identification information of the own device. The control unit 18 is, for example, a CPU that controls the functions of the entire voice communication device.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the group call control device 4 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the group call control device 4 includes a communication unit 41, a call control unit 42, and a group setting management unit 43.

  The communication unit 41 is connected to the network 5 and transmits / receives control information necessary for making a call between voice call apparatuses and information for setting a small group. The call control unit 42 manages the start, change, and end of a session in a voice call and specifies the call partner and the call partner position. As a protocol for managing a session, for example, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is used.

  The group setting management unit 43 sets a small group to which the voice call device A participating in the group call belongs, and manages the voice call device A belonging to each small group. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a small group management state performed in the group setting management unit 43. In FIG. 4, a call group is a single group in which a group call is made, and a group call is performed between each voice call device within each call group. The group setting management unit 43 manages a plurality of call groups, and further manages the voice call device A participating in each call group by dividing it into a plurality of small groups. Here, the setting of the small group is performed based on information (hereinafter referred to as group information) for setting the small group transmitted from the voice call device A. The group information includes, for example, information that the user U designates the voice call device A that should belong to the small group, location information of each voice call device A, and the like. Information for managing a plurality of voice communication devices A belonging to each small group is hereinafter referred to as group management information.

  Next, the operation of the group call system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the group call system. Here, a case where a group call is started among the user U11, the user U12, and the user U21 in FIG. 1 will be described.

  First, the user U11 designates a user who wants to participate in the group call using the voice call device A11 owned by the user U11 (step S1). FIG. 6 is an example of a group call user designation screen displayed on the display unit 16 when designating the participating user U of the group call. As shown in FIG. 6, the group call user designation screen is mainly configured by displaying a plurality of small groups (groups 1, 2, 3) and a group addition button. Furthermore, each small group includes a participating user display button for displaying the designated user U (users U11, U12, and U13 are displayed in group 1 in FIG. 6) and a user addition button. Yes. The user addition button is a selection button for adding a new user U to the small group. The group addition button is a selection button for adding a new small group. The user U can select each selection button by inputting to an input device (not shown).

  In the present embodiment, the same small group is designated such that a user who is close in distance, such as a user who is riding in the same car, belongs to the same small group. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the users U11 to U13 are on the car C1, the users U21 to U23 are on the car C2, and the users U31 to U33 are on the car C3. The voice communication devices A possessed by the user U are classified into the same small group (in FIG. 6, the small group 1 has the voice communication devices A11 to A13, the small group 2 has the voice communication devices A21 to A23, and the small group has 3 is classified into voice communication devices A31 to A33). The user U selects the user addition button from the group call user designation screen displayed on the display unit 16 of the voice call device A, and designates the user U belonging to each small group. Through the above operation, information (hereinafter referred to as group information) for setting a small group to which each voice call device A should belong is generated.

  Returning to the sequence diagram of FIG. In FIG. 5, the voice call device A11 transmits a call request signal to the group call control device 4 to make a call with the user set in step S1 (step S2). The call request signal includes identification information (for example, a PoC user ID) and group information of the voice call device A specified in step S1. Also, the voice call device A11 notifies the group call control device 4 of its own IP address. In FIG. 5, as an example, consider a case where the user U11 urges the users U12 and U21 to participate in the group call.

  The group call control device 4 that has received the call request signal specifies the IP address of the voice call device A designated as the call partner by the voice call device A11 and the position of the call partner (step S3), and participates in the group call. A prompt participation request message is transmitted to the designated voice communication device A (step S4). In FIG. 5, the participation request message is transmitted to each of the voice call devices A12 and A21. At this time, the group call control device 4 adds the voice call device A11 to the small group 1.

  When the user A21 who has received the participation request message selects to participate in the group call, the voice call device A21 transmits a participation acceptance message to the group call control device 4 (step S5). The group call control device 4 that has received the participation consent message from the voice call device A21 adds the voice call device A21 to the small group 2 and updates the group management information (step S6).

  Furthermore, the group call control device 4 establishes a communication path between the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A21 and establishes a session for the voice call (step S7). In order to establish the communication path, the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A21 respectively transmit the IP address of the voice call device A21 or the voice call device A11 as the call partner as information for specifying the call partner. Alternatively, the voice signal transmitted from one voice call device may be relayed through the group call control device 4 and received by the other voice call device. As described above, a voice call based on VoIP can be performed between the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A21.

  Similarly, when the user U12 who has received the participation request message selects to participate in the group call, the voice call device A12 transmits a participation acceptance message to the group call control device 4 (step S8). The group call control device 4 that has received the participation consent message from the voice call device A12 adds the voice call device A12 to the small group 1 and updates the group management information (step S9). Next, a communication path is established between the voice call device A21 and the voice call device A12, and a session for voice call is established (step S10). On the other hand, the group call control device 4 performs control so that voice transmission / reception is not performed between the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A12 belonging to the same small group. For example, the group call control device 4 does not notify the IP address between the voice call devices A11 and A12. Thereby, a session for a voice call is not established between the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A12.

  As described above, the group call can be performed among the voice call device A11, the voice call device A12, and the voice call device A21. Since a session is not established between the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A12 that belong to the same small group, there is no possibility of listening to two voices, a voice that arrives directly from the caller and a voice that arrives through the mobile phone.

  In FIG. 5, the users who participate in the group call are the user U11, the user U12, and the user U21. However, the same procedure is performed when other users (users U13, U22, U23, U31, U32, U33) participate. Thus, the participation process for the group call is performed. Thereby, a group call can be made between the voice call devices included in the automobiles C1, C2, and C3 shown in FIG.

  Thus, the group call system according to the present embodiment establishes a session for a voice call only between voice call apparatuses belonging to different small groups. That is, a voice call session is not established between voice call devices belonging to the same small group. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the voice call device A11 establishes a voice call session with the voice call devices A21, A22, A23, A31, A32, A33, and belongs to the same small group. A session for a voice call is not established with the devices A12 and A13. Therefore, the voice transmitted from the voice call terminal A11 is transmitted only to the voice call devices A21, A22, A23, A31, A32, A33, and is not transmitted to the voice call devices A12, A13. Thereby, since unnecessary voice is not transmitted to the voice call device in the range where the voice can reach directly, a smooth group call can be realized.

  In addition, in steps S5 and S8 in FIG. 5, the users U21 and U12 that have received the participation request message transmitted the participation approval message to the group call control device 4, respectively, but are not limited thereto, and transmit a participation rejection message. May be. In FIG. 5, when the user who has received the participation request message (for example, user A21) does not select to participate in the group call (when the user has previously set the voice call device A not to participate in the group call). The corresponding voice call device A (user U21) transmits a participation rejection message to the group call control device 4. The group call control device 4 that has received the participation refusal message notifies the user (user U11) who invited the user (user U21) who refused participation that the user A21 cannot participate in the group call. For example, when the voice call device A is out of the calling area where radio waves do not reach and cannot receive the participation request message, or because the user does not notice that the participation request message has been received, the group call control device 4 requests the participation. Similarly, even if the participation consent message does not return even after a certain time has passed since the message was sent, the group call control device 4 invites the user that the corresponding user cannot participate in the group call. Send to the user who did.

  In FIG. 5, in step S7 and step S10, the group call control device 4 has established a session for a voice call between the voice call devices belonging to different small groups. May be transmitted to all voice communication devices participating in the group call. As a result, users participating in the group call can know who is participating in the group call and which small group each user belongs to, and a highly convenient group communication system can be realized. Typically, the group information transmitted to each voice call device A uses a nickname set by each user as information for identifying the user. By using a nickname, a user participating in a group call can easily grasp the participating users, and the group call can be made without notifying other parties who do not need personal information such as a user ID for PoC. Can enjoy.

  In FIG. 5, the addition of the user who wants to participate in the group call and the addition of the small group are specified only from the voice call device A11, but are not limited thereto. It may be specified from all the voice call devices A participating in the group call. In such a case, each user can add a user while confirming the group information displayed on the display unit 16 of the voice call device A possessed by the user. The identification information (for example, PoC user ID) and group information added here and the group information are transmitted to the group call control device 4, and thereafter, the same processing (steps S3 to S7) as when the group call is started. ) Is completed, participation of the designated voice call device A in the group call is completed. Therefore, in the above example, all users who want to participate in the group call are specified by the user (user A11) who starts the group call, but only some of the users who want to participate may be specified. For example, the user A11 may first designate the user A21 in the small group 2 and the user A31 in the small group 3 as a user who wants to participate in the group call. Thereafter, the user A21 or the user A31 who has received the group call participation request message may add another user who is in the same car to the group call user. This is useful when the user who first initiates a group call does not know the user ID for some users' PoCs or does not clearly know which user is in which car It is.

  Furthermore, the change of the small group to which each voice call device A belongs may be specified from all the voice call devices A participating in the group call. For example, in the above example, when the user (user A11) who starts the group call mistakenly classifies the user A23 to be classified into the small group 2 into the small group 3, the user A23 himself Is designated to change the small group to which the own apparatus belongs from the small group 3 to the small group 2. The changed information is transmitted from the voice call device A23 to the group call control device 4 that manages the small group. The group call control device 4 updates the group management information based on the received information.

  Note that the voice call device A may present information for identifying the user who is sending voice to the user. As an example, the voice communication device A displays information for identifying the speaker on the display unit 16 or generates a sound for identifying the speaker from the speaker 14. This can solve the problem of “I don't know who is speaking”, which is often a problem when making a group call.

  If the user wants to leave the group call, the call is terminated by the following procedure in the sequence diagram shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a case where the voice call device A12 leaves the group call after the group call is started will be described. First, the voice call device A12 transmits an end request message to the group call control device 4 (step S11). Receiving the termination request message from the voice call device A12, the group call control device 4 deletes the voice call device A12 from the small group 1 and updates the group management information (step S12). Next, the other voice call device A21 is notified that the voice call device A12 has left the group call (step S13). Thus, the call termination process of the voice call device A12 is completed. Here, although the number of participating users is three, a similar call termination process is also performed when three or more users are participating. Here, the group call control device 4 continues the group call until the number of users participating in the call is less than two or until the number of participating users in the call is only the participating users belonging to the same small group.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the participating users belonging to each small group are set by the user one by one on the screen shown in FIG. 6, but the voice included in the group call system according to the second embodiment. The call device A includes short-range wireless communication means, and can search for participating users belonging to each small group by the short-range wireless communication means.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the voice communication device A in the second embodiment. The voice call device A in the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the voice call device A (FIG. 2) in the first embodiment, but differs in that it further includes a short-range wireless communication unit 19. The short-range wireless communication unit 19 is means for performing short-range wireless communication with another voice communication device, and is controlled by the control unit 18. The short-range wireless communication unit 19 performs short-range communication according to a communication method such as Bluetooth, for example. In FIG. 7, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here. The group call control device 4 and the network 5 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Next, the operation of the group call system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the group call system according to the present invention. Here, as an example, a case where the user U11 requests the user U21 and the user U12 to participate in the group call as in the first embodiment will be described.

  In FIG. 8, the user U11 first designates a user who wants to participate in the group call using the voice call device A11 owned by the user U11 (step S21). Next, the voice call device A11 performs communication by short-range wireless communication, and searches for a voice call device within the communication range of the short-range wireless communication unit 19. Specifically, the voice call device A acquires the PoC user ID of the voice call device existing in the vicinity thereof (step S22). In the case of the present embodiment, the voice call device A11 acquires the user ID for PoC of the voice call device A12 existing in the same automobile as itself. Note that voice communication devices belonging to other groups do not exist within the communication range of short-range wireless communication, and short-range wireless communication is not performed. Here, in order to prevent a user who is not acquainted with the user U11 (within the communication range of the short-range wireless communication of the voice call device A11) from being invited to the group call, and from a security viewpoint, the short-range wireless It is useful that the voice call device A that is requested to transmit the PoC user ID by communication authenticates the voice call device A11 before transmitting the PoC user ID. The authentication is performed, for example, by determining whether or not the PoC user ID of the voice call device A11 has been registered (known) in its own voice call device.

  Next, the voice call device A11 transmits a call request signal to the group call control device 4 to start a group call (step S23). The call request signal includes the PoC user ID of the voice call device designated in step S21, the PoC user ID of voice call device A acquired in step S22, and the group information. Further, the voice call device A11 notifies the group call control device 4 of the IP address of the own device.

  The group call control device 4 that has received the call request signal specifies the IP addresses of the voice call devices A12 and A21 designated as the call partner from the voice call device A11 and the position of the call partner (step S24), and makes a call to the group call. A participation request message for encouraging participation is transmitted (step S25). Here, the participation request message is transmitted to the voice call devices A12 and A21 designated as the other party. Note that the participation request message to the voice call device A12 and the voice call device A21 includes a message instructing to acquire the PoC user ID of the voice call device A that participates in the group call by short-range wireless communication. . At this point, the group call control device 4 adds the voice call device A11 to the small group 1.

  Receiving the participation request message, the voice call device A21 communicates by short-range wireless communication, and acquires the PoC user ID of the voice call device existing in the vicinity of the own device (step S26). The voice call device A21 obtains the PoC user ID of the voice call device (for example, the voice call device A22 and the voice call device A23 in the same car in FIG. 1) existing within the communication range of the short-range wireless communication. To do. When the user U21 selects to participate in the group call, the voice call device A21 transmits a participation acceptance message to the group call control device 4 (step S27). Here, the participation consent message includes the PoC user ID of the voice call device A acquired in step S26. The group call control device 4 that has received the participation consent message from the voice call device A21 adds the voice call device A21 to the small group 2 (step S28). Furthermore, the group call control device 4 establishes a session for a voice call between the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A21 that belong to different small groups (step S29). Further, the group call control device 4 transmits a participation request message to the voice call device that has acquired the user ID in step S27.

  When the user U12 who has received the participation request message selects to participate in the group call, the voice call device A12 transmits a participation acceptance message to the group call control device 4 (step S30). The group call control device 4 that has received the participation consent message from the voice call device A12 adds the voice call device A12 to the small group 1 (step S31). Here, the group call control device 4 classifies the voice call device A12 into the small group 1 based on the information that the voice call device A11 has notified the PoC user ID of the voice call device A12 in step S23. To do. Next, a session for voice call is established between the voice call device A12 and the voice call device A21 belonging to different small groups (step S32).

  In addition, although FIG. 8 demonstrated the case where user U11, U12, and U21 participate in a group call, the same process is performed also when another user participates. That is, the group call control device 4 classifies the voice call devices A participating in the group call so that the voice call devices within the communication range of the short-range wireless communication unit 19 belong to the same small group, and are different from each other. A session for a voice call is established only between voice call devices belonging to a small group.

  As described above, the group call system according to the present embodiment searches for another voice call device within the communication range using short-range wireless communication and sets a small group. It is possible to save the trouble of designating and classifying participating users into small groups, and to provide a highly convenient group call system.

  In the present embodiment, user U11 who wishes to start a group call designates one user belonging to a small group different from the user in step S21 for each small group. It doesn't matter. When two or more people are designated, the group call control device 4 designates, for example, only one user ID for PoC of another voice call device acquired by short-range wireless communication for each small group. Thus, control is performed so that a group call participation request message is not transmitted a plurality of times to the same voice call device.

  In the group call system according to the present embodiment, the voice call device searched by short-range wireless communication is set to belong to the same small group, but the PoC user ID acquired by short-range wireless communication is set as the voice call. It may be displayed on the display unit of the device A, and the user may select a user who wants to participate in the group call. Thereby, it is possible to invite only a user who wants to participate in the group call to the group call. Even in this case, the user can specify the participating user of the group call and classify the participating user into a small group with less effort compared to the first embodiment described above.

  The voice control device according to the present embodiment allows a user in the vicinity of the own device to participate in the group call, but is not limited to this, and a user newly added within the communication range of short-range wireless communication of a small group May participate in a group call. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the group call system when a user newly joins. In FIG. 9, small group 1 (voice call devices A11, A12, A13), small group 2 (voice call devices A21, A22, A23), and small group 3 (voice call devices A31, A32, A33) A case in which a group call has already been established and a voice call device A24 is newly added to the small group 2 will be described.

  First, when the user U24 moves within the short range wireless communication range of the small group 2 (step S51), the voice call device A21 acquires the PoC user ID of the voice call device A24 possessed by the user U24 ( Step S52). Here, the voice call device has a function of periodically confirming the change of the voice call device belonging to the small group by short-range wireless communication, and confirms that the voice call device A24 newly belongs to the communication range. Recognize automatically.

  Next, the voice call device A21 transmits a call request signal to cause the voice call device A24 to newly participate in the group call (step S53). The call request signal includes the PoC user ID and group information of the voice call device A24 as described above.

  The group call control device 4 that has received the call request signal specifies the voice call device A24 as a call partner to be newly added to the group call from the IP address of the voice call device A24 and the position of the call partner (step S54). A participation request message for prompting participation in the group call is transmitted to the voice call device A24 (step S55). When the user U24 who has received the participation request message selects to participate in the group call, the voice call device A24 transmits a participation acceptance message to the group call control device 4 (step S56). The group call control device 4 that has received the participation consent message from the voice call device A24 adds the voice call device A24 to the small group 2 and updates the group management information (step S57). Next, the group call control device 4 classifies the voice call device A24 into the small group 2 based on the information that the voice call device A21 has notified the PoC user ID of the voice call device A24, and A session for a voice call is established between the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A31 belonging to a different small group from the call device A24. As described above, the group call control device 4 updates the group management information and establishes a group call in which the voice call device A24 is newly added.

  Voice call device A in the present embodiment may cause a user who has moved out of the communication range of short-range wireless communication of the small group to which the small group belongs (hereinafter referred to as “out of area”) to leave the small group after the group call is established. . FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the group call system when the user A23 leaves the small group 2. In FIG. 10, small group 1 (voice call devices A11, A12, A13), small group 2 (voice call devices A21, A22, A23), and small group 3 (voice call devices A31, A32, A33) A case will be described in which a group call has already been established and the voice call device A23 moves out of the area of the small group 2.

  First, when the user U23 moves out of the area of the small group 2 (step S61), the voice call device A21 belonging to the small group 2 detects that the voice call device A23 possessed by the user U23 has left the small group 2. . Here, as described above, the voice call device A has a function of periodically confirming the change of the voice call device A belonging to the small group by short-range wireless communication. It is automatically detected by the communication device A21.

  The voice control device A21 that detects the withdrawal of the voice call device A23 in step S62 transmits user leave information including the PoC user ID and group information of the voice call device A23 to the group call control device 4 (step S63). . The group call control device 4 specifies the voice call device A23 to be withdrawn from the small group 2 based on the received user leave information (step S64). The group call control device 4 that has identified the voice call device A23 to be removed deletes the voice call device A23 from the small group 2 and updates the group management information. At the same time, the group call control device 4 adds the voice call device A23 to the new small group 4 and updates the group management information (step S65). Subsequently, since the session between the voice control device A23, the voice control device A21, and the voice control device A22 is not established, the group call control device 4 has the voice control device A23, the voice control device A21, and the voice control device. A session for voice call is established with A22 (step S66). Thus, the voice call device A that has moved out of the communication range of the short-range wireless communication unit of the small group to which it belongs is automatically classified into a new small group. Therefore, since it is possible to cope with a change in the environment accompanying the movement of the user, a more convenient group call system can be provided.

(Third embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, all the voice call devices A receive voice (except for voice calls from voice call devices belonging to the same small group). However, the group call system according to the present embodiment is It is possible to set whether or not to receive voice in each voice call device A, and no voice is transmitted to the voice call device A that is set not to receive voice. That is, the group call control device sets the attribute of the voice call device A participating in the group call as a device that transmits / receives voice (hereinafter referred to as a master device) or a device that transmits only voice and does not receive ( The management is divided into any one of the slave devices below.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of the voice call device A in the present embodiment. The voice call device A according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the voice call device A (FIG. 2) included in the first embodiment, but further includes a short-range wireless communication unit 19 and a voice reception mode setting management unit. The difference is that 20 is added. In FIG. 11, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here. The group call control device 4 and the network 5 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The short-range wireless communication unit 19 is connected to a device (for example, a car navigation device or a hands-free call device) with a built-in speaker or connected to the speaker according to a communication method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). Audio is transmitted by distance wireless communication. The device to which the voice is transmitted from the voice communication device A by the short-range wireless communication causes the transmitted voice to be output from the speaker. The voice reception mode setting management unit 20 sets the attribute of the own device to either the master device or the slave device, and manages the attribute of the own device. As a setting method of the master and slave, for example, the attribute of the voice communication device A connected to the device including the speaker by the short-range wireless communication is set as the master device, and the voice communication device A not connected to the device including the speaker is used. The attribute is a slave device. Note that the user may input master and slave settings from the user operation acquisition unit 12.

  Next, the operation of the group call system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the group call system according to the present invention. Here, as in the first embodiment, a case where the user U11 starts a group call by requesting the user U12 and the user U21 to participate in the group call will be described as an example.

  First, the user U11 designates a user who wants to participate in the group call with the voice call device A11 owned by the user U11 (step S41). Next, the voice call device A11 transmits a call request signal to the group call control device 4 to make a call with the users U12 and U21 designated in step S41 (step S42). In the call request signal, the PoC user ID and group information of the voice call device A specified in step S41 and the attribute of the source voice call device A (in this case, the voice call device A11) are either the master device or the slave device. Is included (hereinafter referred to as a reception setting notification flag). Further, the voice call device A11 notifies the group call control device 4 of the IP address of the own device.

  The group call control device 4 that has received the call request signal specifies the IP address of the voice call device A designated as the call partner from the voice call device A11 and the position of the call partner (step S43), and participates in the group call. A participation request message for prompting is transmitted (step S44). In the present embodiment, the participation request message is transmitted to the voice call device A12 and the voice call device A21. At this time, the group call control device 4 adds the voice call device A11 to the small group 1, and further manages the attribute of the voice call device A11 as a master device based on the reception setting notification flag.

  When the user U21 who has received the participation request message selects to participate in the group call, the voice call device A21 transmits a participation consent message to the group call control device 4 (step S45). Here, the participation consent message includes a reception setting notification flag. The group call control device 4 that has received the participation consent message from the voice call device A21 adds the voice call device A21 to the small group 2, and further sets the attribute of the voice call device A21 as a master device based on the reception setting notification flag. Manage (step S46).

  Next, the group call control device 4 establishes a session for a voice call between the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A21, which belong to small groups different from each other and whose attributes are both master devices ( Step S47). As described above, in order to establish a communication path, the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A21 are respectively provided with the IP addresses of the voice call device A21 and the voice call device A11 as information for specifying the other party. The voice data transmitted from one voice call device may be relayed by the group call control device and received by the other voice call device.

  Similarly, when the user U12 who has received the participation request message selects to participate in the group call, the voice call device A12 transmits a participation acceptance message to the group call control device (step S48). Here, the participation consent message includes a reception setting notification flag. The group call control device 4 that has received the participation consent message from the voice call device A12 adds the voice call device A12 to the small group 1, and further manages the attribute of the voice call device A12 as a slave device based on the reception setting notification flag. (Step S49). Here, since voice communication is not performed between the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A12 belonging to the same small group, a session for voice call is not established. On the other hand, between the voice call device A21 and the voice call device A12 belonging to different small groups, the master device that receives the voice as the attribute of the voice call device A21 and the slave device that does not receive the voice as the attribute of the voice call device A12 Therefore, only a one-way communication path from the voice call device A12 to the voice call device A21 is established (step S50). As a result, voice can be transmitted from the voice call device A12 to the voice call device A21. To establish a one-way communication path from the slave device to the master device, do not send the slave device's IP address to the master device, but send the master device's IP address only to the slave device. Alternatively, the voice signal transmitted from the slave device may be relayed by the group call control device 4 and transmitted only to the master device. As described above, the group call control device 4 controls the group call so that only the master device belonging to a small group different from the voice call device that has transmitted the voice is transmitted.

  In FIG. 12, the user U11, the user U12, and the user U21 participate in the group call, but the participation process is performed according to the same procedure when other users participate. Here, when a group call is performed between the voice call devices A11 to A13, the voice call devices A21 to A23, and the voice call devices A31 to A33 shown in FIG. 1, the group call control device 4 receives the voice from the master. Control is performed so that voice transmission is not performed for voice communication devices that are only devices (voice call device A11, voice call device A21, voice call device A31) and belong to the same small group. Therefore, for example, the voice of the user U32 transmitted from the voice call device A32 is transmitted only to the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A21. At this time, the users who are in the car C1 and the car C2 can participate in the conversation by listening to the voices output from the in-vehicle speakers connected to the voice call device A11 and the voice call device A21, respectively.

  As described above, the group call system according to the present embodiment can set whether or not voice can be received in each voice call device. Therefore, since the group call control device controls the voice to be transmitted only to the voice call device that is set to receive the voice, for example, a plurality of users can simultaneously output the output voice such as an in-vehicle speaker. A group call can be performed using a speaker that can be heard. This is particularly effective when a car driver participates in a group call by hands-free call.

  In the above-described first to third embodiments, as one of the purposes of classifying the voice call device A participating in the group call into a plurality of small groups, the voice call devices belonging to the same small group can be voiced. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The user may be able to select a small group that he / she wants to receive audio when transmitting audio. The group call control device 4 establishes a session for a voice call based on the selected information. As a method for selecting a small group of voice transmission destinations, the group information may be displayed on the display unit 16 to allow the user to select the position. For example, the position of a small group such as “a car running in front of the host vehicle” You may make it possible to select it in consideration of the relationship. In the latter case, the voice call device A includes a position detection unit for detecting the position of the own device and a route setting unit for setting a route to the destination, and each voice call device A periodically sends to the group call control device 4. Notify location information and route information. At this time, it is sufficient that at least one voice communication device A for notifying position information is provided for each small group, and the position detection unit and the route setting unit are provided in the car navigation device. The position information and the route information may be transmitted to the group call control device 4 from the mobile phone. Here, the group call control device 4 manages the notified position information by the group setting management unit 43. The group call control device 4 collates the positional information and route information described above to grasp the positional relationship of each small group on the route, and controls the voice transmission destination accordingly.

  In the second and third embodiments described above, the voice call device A searches for a user in the vicinity of its own device by short-range wireless communication. However, the search is not limited to this. May be. In such a case, the voice call device A transmits to the group call control device information that makes the small group to which the other voice call device near the own device belongs the same as the own device based on the position information. Further, the voice call device A may transmit only the position information to the group call control device 4, and in such a case, the group call control device sets a small group based on the position information. As a result, the voice call device transmits only the position information to the group call control device 4, so that a simple configuration can be achieved.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, a half-duplex voice call using PoC is performed. However, a full-duplex voice call (for example, full-duplex VoIP) is also performed. The present invention can be similarly applied.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the setting and management of the small group are performed by the group call control device 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. The voice call device A participating in the group call may be provided with a group setting management unit and managed by the voice call device.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the transmission / reception of the voice signal between the voice call devices is performed via the network 5, but may be performed directly between the voice call devices without passing the network 5. Good.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the setting of the small group by the group call control device 4 is performed based on the group information for setting the small group transmitted from the voice call device A. It is not limited to this. For example, the group call system may further include an operation unit for setting a small group.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the above description is merely illustrative of the present invention in all respects and is not intended to limit the scope thereof. It goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  The group call control device, the voice call device, and the group call system according to the present invention are useful for a group call or the like in which a user uses a mobile phone having a PoC function, and particularly for a group call made between automobiles. Is preferred.

Schematic which shows the structure of the group call system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the voice call apparatus contained in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the group call control apparatus contained in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the management of the small group performed in the group setting management part contained in 1st Embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the group call system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the group call user designation | designated screen displayed on the display part of the voice call apparatus contained in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the voice call apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the group call system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the group call system when a user newly joins in 2nd Embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the group call system when a user detaches | leaves from a small group in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the voice call apparatus contained in 3rd Embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the group call system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the conventional group call system

Explanation of symbols

A Voice call device C Car U User 4 Group call control device 5 Network 11 Communication unit 12 User operation acquisition unit 13 Microphone 14 Speaker 15 CODEC
16 Display unit 17 Information storage unit 18 Control unit 19 Short-range wireless communication unit 20 Voice reception mode setting management unit 41 Communication unit 42 Call control unit 43 Group setting management unit

Claims (12)

A group call control device that is connected to a plurality of voice call devices via a network and controls group calls,
A small group setting management unit configured to set a plurality of small groups to which a plurality of voice call devices participating in the group call belong, and to manage the voice call devices respectively belonging to the plurality of set small groups;
A group call control device comprising: a call control unit that controls a group call so as not to transmit the voice signal to another voice call device belonging to the same small group as the voice call device that has transmitted the voice signal.   The group call control according to claim 1, wherein the call control unit controls the group call so that the voice signal is transmitted only to a voice call device belonging to a small group different from the voice call device that has transmitted the voice signal. apparatus.   The group call control device according to claim 1, wherein the small group setting management unit sets at least one small group based on information for setting a small group received from at least one voice call device.   The group call control device according to claim 3, wherein the small group setting management unit sets a small group to which the voice call device belongs based on position information of the voice call device received from at least one voice call device. . The small group setting management unit sets the attribute of the voice communication device belonging to the small group to either at least one master device that transmits / receives a voice signal or a slave device that only transmits a voice signal. ,
The group call control device according to claim 1, wherein the call control unit controls the group call so as to transmit the voice signal only to a master device belonging to a small group different from the voice call device that has transmitted the voice signal. .   The small group setting management unit sets the attribute of one voice call device to the master device among the plurality of voice call devices belonging to the small group, and sets the attributes of the remaining voice call devices to the slave device. The group call control device according to claim 5, wherein the group call control device is set. A voice call device connected via a network to a group call control device for controlling group calls and other voice call devices,
A communication unit that transmits and receives audio signals to and from other voice communication devices;
A voice call device comprising: a communication control unit that controls the communication unit so as not to transmit the voice signal to another voice call device belonging to the same small group as the own device according to control by the group call control device .   The said communication control part transmits the information produced | generated in order to set the small group to which each of the some voice communication apparatus which participates in a group call should belong to the said group call control apparatus via the said communication part. The voice communication device described in 1. The communication unit includes a short-range wireless communication unit that performs communication with another voice communication device in a communicable range,
The communication control unit searches for another voice communication device with which the short-range wireless communication unit can communicate, and sets the same information as the small group to which the other voice communication device thus searched belongs to the own device. The voice call device according to claim 8, wherein the voice call device is transmitted to the call control device via the communication unit. The voice communication device further includes a voice reception mode setting unit that sets the attribute of the own device to either a master device that transmits and receives a voice signal or a slave device that only transmits a voice signal,
The voice communication device according to claim 8, wherein the communication control unit transmits information indicating the set attribute of the own device to the group call control device via the communication unit. The communication control unit transmits a signal to the group call control device via the communication unit to inquire whether the master device is in a small group to which the device belongs.
The communication unit receives the inquiry result from the group call control device,
The voice reception mode setting unit sets the attribute of the own device to the master device when there is no master device in the small group based on the inquiry result, and the master device exists in the small group The voice communication device according to claim 10, wherein an attribute of the own device is set to a slave device. A group call system including a group call control device for controlling a group call and a plurality of voice call devices connected to the group call control device via a network,
The group call control device includes:
A small group setting management unit configured to set a plurality of small groups to which a plurality of voice call devices participating in the group call belong, and to manage the voice call devices respectively belonging to the plurality of set small groups;
A call control unit that controls the group call so that the voice signal is not transmitted to another voice call device that belongs to the same small group as the voice call device that has sent the voice signal;
The voice call device is
A communication unit that transmits and receives audio signals to and from other voice communication devices;
A group call system comprising: a communication control unit that controls the communication unit so as not to transmit the voice signal to another voice call device belonging to the same small group as the own device according to the control by the call control unit.

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