JP2009246886A - Conference communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conveniently pair an audio communication terminal with a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) playing a role of an image communication terminal, even when a communication address is assigned to the PC or the audio communication terminal. <P>SOLUTION: A communication session is established between the plurality of PCs each playing an image communication terminal and the plurality of audio communication terminals, and a multi-point connection device for relaying communication of audio data and image data executes processing so that when receiving a request of pairing with any one of the plurality of audio communication terminals from any one of the PCs, the audio communication terminal is informed that the PC requests pairing and if a response for permitting pairing is given, both the PC and the audio communication terminal are paired. Meanwhile, the audio communication terminals are each informed that pairing is requested in accordance with the pairing request from the multi-point connection device, and executes processing for transmitting a permission response when an input operation for permitting pairing is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for associating one of a plurality of voice communication terminals with a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) connected to a multi-point connection unit (hereinafter referred to as MCU).

In recent years, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital
High-speed data communication technologies such as Subscriber Line) and optical communication are generally used. An example of a communication system that uses this type of high-speed data communication technology is a conference communication system. The conference communication system is a communication system for causing each user in a geographically distant place to hold a conference. The conference communication system is configured by connecting a voice communication terminal used by each user to an MCU. The voice communication terminal collects the voice of the user and transmits voice data indicating the voice to the MCU, and outputs a voice corresponding to the voice data transmitted from the MCU. On the other hand, the MCU receives audio data transmitted from each of the plurality of audio communication terminals, and transmits audio data obtained by mixing each audio data received from another audio communication terminal to each of the audio data. . As a result, the voices of other conference participants (that is, voices representing speech in the conference) are transmitted to each of the plurality of conference participants. In addition, a PC having an imaging means such as a web camera is connected to the conference communication system as an image communication terminal, and image data obtained by imaging a conference participant is transmitted to another PC, while depending on the received image data. It has also been proposed to implement a video conference by executing a process of displaying a captured image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-260384 A

  In this type of video conference, for example, in order to reproduce the audio of each conference participant and its image on the audio communication terminal or image communication terminal of other conference participants in synchronization, for example, the same conference participation The image communication terminal and the voice communication terminal used by the user are paired and managed by the MCU, and communication control is performed on the MCU so that the data communication about the image communication terminal and the voice communication terminal paired with each other is synchronized. It is necessary to make it. Conventionally, such pairing has been performed by associating a voice communication terminal and an image communication terminal managed as a pair with each other with a fixed address and storing them in the MCU.

On the other hand, LAN (Local
As a mode of allocating a communication address to a communication device such as a PC or a voice communication terminal connected to a communication line such as an area network), a mode in which a communication address unique to each communication device is allocated in advance, for example, DHCP (Dynamic Host) There is a mode in which a communication address is dynamically allocated each time the communication device is powered on by Configuration Protocol). In the former mode, since it is necessary for the network administrator to manage the communication addresses for all communication devices connected to the LAN, if the number of communication devices connected to the LAN is large, the burden on the network administrator There is a problem that becomes very large. For this reason, when the number of communication devices connected to the LAN is large, the latter mode is generally used. However, in the latter mode, the communication addresses of the voice communication terminal and the PC to be paired and managed cannot be stored in the MCU in advance, and it is not known what communication address is assigned to each communication terminal. There is a problem that it is unsuitable for a conference communication system using.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even when a communication address is dynamically assigned to a PC or a voice communication terminal that plays the role of an image communication terminal, the voice communication terminal and the PC can be easily paired. An object is to provide a technology that enables ringing.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention collects each user's voice and transmits voice data representing the voice to the connection destination of the communication session, while responding to the voice data received from the connection destination of the communication session. A plurality of voice communication terminals that output the sound, and a plurality of image communication terminals that transmit image data to each connection destination of the communication session, and display an image represented by the image data received from the connection destination of the communication session; A multipoint connection device that establishes a communication session between each of the plurality of voice communication terminals and each of the plurality of image communication terminals and mediates communication of voice data and image data, and the plurality of voice communication terminals And a communication address is dynamically allocated to each of the plurality of image communication terminals, and the plurality of voice communication is performed by a user among the plurality of image communication terminals. Those instructed to pair with any of the end, write the communication address of the image communication terminal to the pairing request to request the pairing with the voice communication terminal, and transmit to the multipoint connection device, When the multipoint connection apparatus receives the pairing request from any of the plurality of image communication terminals, the multipoint connection apparatus transmits the image communication terminal to the voice communication terminal requested for pairing by the pairing request. The pairing request source and the permission are received when a permission response indicating that pairing is permitted is received from the voice communication terminal. Audio data communication with the paired voice communication terminal and image data with the paired image communication terminal Control is performed to synchronize communication, and each of the plurality of voice communication terminals is notified when the multipoint connection apparatus is notified that pairing is requested from any of the plurality of image communication terminals. Provided is a conference communication system characterized by notifying a user and returning the permission response to the multipoint audio connection device when an input operation for permitting pairing is performed.

  In a more preferred aspect, each of the plurality of audio communication terminals of the conference communication system starts notification that the pairing is requested from any of the plurality of image communication terminals until a predetermined time elapses. When the input operation for permitting the pairing is not performed, a rejection response for rejecting the pairing with the transmission source of the pairing request is returned to the multipoint connection device, and the conference communication system When the multipoint connection apparatus receives the rejection response, the multipoint connection apparatus returns a message that the pairing is rejected to the transmission source of the pairing request.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(A: Configuration)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conference communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The conference communication system 1 is for allowing each user at a plurality of geographically separated bases (bases 01 to 03 in FIG. 1), such as each branch of a company, to perform a video conference via the communication network 10. It is a communication system. The communication network 10 is the Internet, for example, and mediates data communication between communication devices connected to the own network. As shown in FIG. 1, an MCU 60 is connected to the communication network 10, and an intra-site LAN 30 is connected via a relay device 20 such as a router. In FIG. 1, only the intra-site LAN 30 installed in the base 01 is shown, but the intra-site LAN connected to the communication network 10 via the relay device is also installed in the base 02 and the base 03. . In addition, although this embodiment demonstrates the case where MCU60 is connected to the communication network 10 separately from each local LAN, the aspect connected to the communication network 10 via either of the said local LANs is demonstrated. But of course.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, voice communication terminals 40X to 40Z and PCs 50A to 50C are connected to the local area LAN 30. In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the three voice communication terminals, it is referred to as “voice communication terminal 40”. Similarly, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the three PCs. , Labeled “PC50”. The voice communication terminal 40 and the PC 50 are connected to the intra-site LAN 30 via a hub arranged in a conference room at each base. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of laying the local area LAN 30 in the local area 01. In the example shown in FIG. 2, one voice communication terminal 40 is arranged per conference room. For example, the voice communication terminal 40X is arranged in the first conference room in the base 01, and the voice communication terminal 40Y is arranged in the second conference room. FIG. 2 illustrates the case where the PCs 50A and 50B are arranged in the first conference room and the PC 50C is arranged in the second conference room.

  In this embodiment, a unique communication address is allocated to the MCU 60 in advance, and this communication address is stored in advance in the voice communication terminal 40 or the PC 50. On the other hand, the voice communication terminal 40 and the PC 50 are dynamically assigned communication addresses (IP addresses in this embodiment) by a DHCP server (not shown) connected to the local LAN 30. More specifically, the voice communication terminal 40 and the PC 50 are connected to any of the hubs installed in each conference room and access to the DHCP server when the power is turned on, and the communication address Receive an assignment. As described above, in the present embodiment, communication addresses are dynamically assigned to the voice communication terminals 40 and PCs 50 connected to the in-site LAN 30, but each of the voice communication terminals 40, PCs 50, and MCUs 60 is configured in this embodiment. Thus, the voice communication terminal 40 and the PC 50 can be paired by executing the characteristic processing.

  The voice communication terminal 40 establishes a communication session with the MCU 60 according to a procedure based on SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), and transmits and receives voice data with the MCU 60 according to a procedure based on RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol). I do. The voice communication terminal 40 is used to transmit a user's remarks to other conference participants in other bases, and to transmit the remarks of the other conference participants to the user of the own device. As shown in FIG. 3, the voice communication terminal 40 includes a communication interface (hereinafter “I / F”) unit 42, an incoming call processing unit 44, and a voice input / output unit 46.

  The communication I / F unit 42 is a NIC (Network Interface Card), for example, and is connected to the local LAN 30. The communication I / F unit 42 receives data transmitted from the local LAN 30 and delivers it to either the incoming call processing unit 44 or the voice input / output unit 46 according to the type of the data. More specifically, when the communication I / F unit 42 receives the voice data, the communication I / F unit 42 delivers it to the voice input / output unit 46, and when it receives a control message (for example, a SIP message) regarding establishment of the communication session. And handed over to the incoming call processing unit 44. The communication I / F unit 42 also executes processing for sending data delivered from the incoming call processing unit 44 and the voice input / output unit 46 to the local LAN 30.

  When receiving a control message for requesting establishment of a communication session from another communication device, the incoming call processing unit 44 executes an incoming call notification process for notifying the user of the incoming call by outputting a predetermined ringtone. To do. When an instruction for permitting the incoming call is input via the operation unit (not shown), a response for permitting establishment of a communication session (hereinafter referred to as a “permission response”) is sent from the source of the control message. If, on the contrary, an instruction to reject the incoming call is input, a response to reject the establishment of the communication session (specifically, “487 Request Terminated”: hereinafter, a rejection response) Reply. The audio input / output unit 46 includes a microphone, a speaker, and an audio codec (all not shown). The voice input / output unit 46 picks up ambient sounds by the microphone, generates voice data corresponding to the sounds by the voice codec, and delivers it to the communication I / F unit 42, while receiving it by the communication I / F unit 42. The audio data is converted into an audio signal by the audio codec and applied to the speaker, and a sound corresponding to the audio data is output.

  The PC 50 is, for example, a notebook personal computer, and plays a role of an image communication terminal in charge of transmission / reception of image data in a video conference. More specifically, the PC 50 has an identifier for uniquely identifying the user (user ID, password, etc., hereinafter referred to as a user identifier) and an application program for realizing the function as the image communication terminal (hereinafter referred to as an image communication terminal). , Conference communication application) is stored in advance. The PC 50 establishes a communication session with the MCU 60 by executing this conference communication application, and the image data obtained by the imaging means such as the web camera and the image data representing the conference material are processed in accordance with the RTP procedure. Transmit to MCU 60. Further, the PC 50 receives the image data transmitted from the MCU 60 and displays an image corresponding to the image data on a display unit (not shown) such as a liquid crystal display. Further, the PC 50 operating in accordance with the conference communication application has a user interface (for example, a push phone type) for allowing the user to input the SIP number of the voice communication terminal 40 to be paired with the PC 50 and a pairing execution instruction. A process of providing a user interface including virtual buttons simulating various operators of the telephone is also executed. Here, the SIP number corresponds to, for example, a telephone number in telephone communication, and when establishing a communication session for communicating voice data or image data according to a predetermined data communication protocol such as RTP. It serves as an identifier that uniquely identifies the connection destination.

  The MCU 60 is an electronic device that establishes a communication session with the voice communication terminal 40 or the PC 50 and performs data communication to realize a video conference. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the MCU 60. As shown in FIG. 4, the MCU 60 includes a communication I / F unit 62, a communication control unit 64, an audio data processing unit 66, and an image data processing unit 68.

  The communication I / F unit 62 is a NIC like the communication I / F unit 42 described above, and is connected to the communication network 10. The communication I / F unit 62 receives data transmitted from the communication network 10, and the received data is one of the communication control unit 64, the audio data processing unit 66, and the image data processing unit 68 according to the type. Delivered to. More specifically, the communication I / F unit 62 delivers the audio data to the audio data processing unit 66 when receiving the audio data, and delivers the image data to the image data processing unit 68 when receiving the image data. When the control message related to the establishment of is received, it is delivered to the communication control unit 64. The communication I / F unit 62 also executes processing for sending data delivered from the communication control unit 64, the audio data processing unit 66, and the image data processing unit 68 to the communication network 10.

  The communication control unit 64 is a registrar function that performs registration of a transmission source in response to a registration request transmitted from the voice communication terminal 40 or the PC 50, and a SIP server function that performs connection control of a communication session using the registration contents. have. Here, registration refers to associating the SIP numbers previously assigned to the voice communication terminal 40 or the PC 50 with the communication addresses of these communication devices and storing them in a registration table (not shown). This is a control message for requesting execution of the registration. Further, when the communication control unit 64 receives a control message (hereinafter referred to as a pairing request) requesting to pair the PC 50 with any of the three voice communication terminals 40 from the PC 50, The voice communication terminal 40 that is requested to be paired in the pairing request is inquired about whether or not the voice communication terminal 40 is allowed to be paired. The process of storing in (not shown) is also executed.

The audio data processing unit 66 executes a process for mediating transmission / reception of audio data between one or a plurality of audio communication terminals 40 that have established a communication session with the MCU 60, and the image data processing unit 68 communicates with the MCU 60. Processing for mediating transmission / reception of image data with one or a plurality of PCs 50 having established a session is executed. In addition, the audio data processing unit 66 includes a so-called network mixer (not shown), and when three or more audio communication terminals 40 establish a communication session with the MCU 60 and transmit / receive audio data. Performs the following processing. That is, a process of transmitting audio data obtained by mixing audio data received from other audio communication terminals 40 to each audio communication terminal 40 having established a communication session with the MCU 60 is executed. . For example, when the voice communication terminals 40X and 40Y and the voice communication terminal 40Z have established a communication session with the MCU 60, the MCU 60 receives the voice communication terminal 40X from the voice communication terminal 40Y and the voice communication terminal 40Z. The voice data obtained by mixing the voice data obtained by mixing the voice data received from the voice communication terminal 40X and the voice communication terminal 40Z to the voice communication terminal 40Z is sent to the voice communication terminal 40Z. On the other hand, audio data obtained by mixing the audio data received from the audio communication terminal 40X and the audio communication terminal 40Y is transmitted.
The above is the configuration of the conference communication system 1 according to the present embodiment.

(B: Operation)
Next, the operation of each device in the conference communication system 1 will be described taking as an example the case where the PC 50A and the voice communication terminal 40X are paired.

  When a user of the PC 50A wants to pair the PC 50A and the voice communication terminal 40X, first, the user starts the conference communication application installed in the PC 50A, and uses the above-described user interface imitating the push phone type telephone. The SIP number of the voice communication terminal 40X is dialed, and an operator (for example, a call button: not shown) for instructing execution of the pairing process is pressed. Then, the CPU (Central Processing Unit: not shown) of the PC 50A generates a pairing request M001 in which the user identifier stored in advance, the above SIP number, and the communication address allocated by the DHCP server are written, to the MCU 60. Transmit (see FIG. 5).

  When receiving the control message via the communication I / F unit 62, the communication control unit 64 of the MCU 60 executes a request content determination process SA01 as shown in FIG. This request content determination process SA01 is a process of analyzing the received control message to determine what kind of processing is required to be performed as a SIP server, and executing a process according to the request content. . For example, if it is a control message requesting registration, it is determined that the request content of the transmission source of the control message is execution of registration, and processing corresponding to the request content (that is, registration) is executed. When the received message is a pairing request, the communication control unit 64 performs SIP transmission using the SIP number written in the pairing request as a call destination and performs pairing to the call destination. A process for inquiring whether it is possible is executed.

Details of processing executed by the communication control unit 64 when a pairing request is received are as follows. That is, the communication control unit 64 first reads out the communication address corresponding to the SIP number written in the received pairing request from the registration table (not shown), so that the communication device that is the call destination of the SIP call is selected. Identify. If the SIP number written in the received pairing request is not registered in the registration table, the communication control unit 64 ignores (or rejects) the registration request. In the present embodiment, since the SIP number of the voice communication terminal 40X is written in the pairing request M001 transmitted from the PC 50A, the communication control unit 64 uses the voice communication terminal 40X as a call destination for SIP transmission. Identify. Next, the communication control unit 64 notifies that there is a pairing request and the request source to the call destination and inquires whether pairing is possible (for example, INVITE message, hereinafter, pairing availability inquiry) M002. Is transmitted to the call destination (see FIG. 5). However, a dedicated header is added to the pairing availability inquiry M002 so that the destination can be distinguished from the INVITE message related to normal SIP transmission. In this dedicated header, the user identifier included in the pairing request M001 and the communication address of the transmission source (in this operation example, the communication address of the PC 50A) are written.
In this way, the pairing availability inquiry M002 transmitted from the MCU 60 reaches the voice communication terminal 40X via the communication network 10 and the local area LAN 30.

  When the incoming call processing unit 44 of the voice communication terminal 40X receives the control message and detects the SIP incoming call, the header part indicates whether the control message relates to the pairing process or the normal SIP transmission. The incoming call notification process SB01 corresponding to the determination result is executed (see FIG. 5). In this incoming call notification process SB01, the SIP incoming call is notified by the ringing sound being emitted, but different ringing sounds are emitted when the control message related to the pairing process is received and when the normal SIP incoming call is received. The In addition, when the received control message relates to the pairing process, the incoming call processing unit 44 displays the user identifier and the communication address of the pairing request source written in the header part (not shown). ).

An operator of the voice communication terminal 40X (for example, a conference participant who is closest to the voice communication terminal 40X in the first conference room shown in FIG. 2) can receive a SIP call to the voice communication terminal 40X by a normal call. It can be determined from the ring tone whether it is related to the pairing process. When the incoming call is related to the pairing process, the user of the voice communication terminal 40X determines the call source and the voice communication terminal from the user identifier and communication address displayed on the display unit of the voice communication terminal 40X. It is possible to determine whether or not to pair with 40X and to give an instruction according to the determination result to voice communication terminal 40X. Specifically, when pairing is permitted, an off-hook button (not shown) of the voice communication terminal 40X is pressed to give a permission instruction. Conversely, when pairing is not permitted, the voice communication terminal 40X A refusal instruction is given by pressing an on-hook button (not shown).
Hereinafter, the operations performed by each device will be described separately for the case where the operator of the voice communication terminal 40X gives a permission instruction and the case where a rejection instruction is given.

(B-1: Operation when an input operation is performed to allow pairing)
In response to an incoming call from the MCU 60, the incoming call processing unit 44 of the voice communication terminal 40X transmits “100 Trying” and “180 Ringing” SIP messages as shown in FIG. Notify the sender. When the incoming call processing unit 44 detects an input of a permission instruction (for example, pressing of an off-hook button) (FIG. 5: SB02), as shown in FIG. 5, a permission response (in this embodiment, “200 OK”). Reply M003. Thereby, a communication session is established between the voice communication terminal 40X and the MCU 60.

  When the communication control unit 64 of the MCU 60 receives the permission response M003 transmitted from the voice communication terminal 40 and establishes a communication session with the voice communication terminal 40X, as shown in FIG. “Send a message and disconnect the communication session. SIP transmission by transmission of the pairing availability inquiry M002 is for inquiring whether pairing is possible, and a communication session for transmission / reception of audio data with the audio communication terminal 40X is performed at the start of a video conference. This is because it is established separately.

  When the disconnection of the communication session is completed, the communication control unit 64 executes a registration process SA02 as shown in FIG. 5, and transmits a pairing completion notification M004 for notifying that the pairing is completed to the PC 50A. This registration process SA02 associates the communication address of the transmission source of the pairing request M001 (that is, the communication address of the PC 50A) with the communication address of the transmission source of the permission response M003 (that is, the communication address of the voice communication terminal 40X). This is a process of writing to the correspondence management table. When receiving the pairing completion notification M004, the CPU of the PC 50A notifies the user that the pairing process is completed (for example, outputting a message indicating the completion of the process to the display unit). Thereby, the pairing between the PC 50A and the voice communication terminal 40X is completed.

  When the video conference is started in the state where the pairing between the PC 50A and the voice communication terminal 40X is completed as described above, the communication control unit 64 of the MCU 60 stores the communication address in the correspondence management table in association with each other. Operation control of the audio data processing unit 66 and the image data processing unit 68 is performed so that data communication between the audio communication terminal 40 and the PC 50 (in this operation example, the audio communication terminal 40X and the PC 50A) is performed in synchronization. In addition, when the PC to be paired with the voice communication terminal 40X is changed from the PC 50A to the PC 50B with the PC 50A and the voice communication terminal 40X paired as described above, the conference communication application is started on the PC 50B. Then, dial the SIP number of the voice communication terminal 40X and press the call button. Then, communication according to the sequence flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is executed by each of the PC 50B, the MCU 60, and the voice communication terminal 40X, and an input operation for permitting pairing in the voice communication terminal 40X (that is, pressing the off-hook button). If this is done, the same operation as described above is executed by these devices, and the PC paired with the voice communication terminal 40X is switched to the PC 50B.

(B-2: Operation when an input operation is performed to refuse pairing)
On the other hand, when the incoming call processing unit 44 detects an input of a rejection instruction (for example, pressing of an on-hook button) (FIG. 6: SB03), it returns a rejection response M005 to the MCU 60 as shown in FIG. Note that the MCU 60 may be notified that the pairing is rejected by disconnecting the communication session from the voice communication terminal 40X without returning a rejection response. When the communication control unit 64 of the MCU 60 receives the rejection response M005 (or when the disconnection of the communication session from the voice communication terminal 40X is detected), the pairing request M001 is executed without executing the registration process SA02 described above. A pairing refusal notice M006 is sent back to the sender of. The CPU of the PC 50 that has received the pairing rejection notification M006 notifies that the pairing has been rejected, and ends the pairing process.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, even when the communication addresses of the voice communication terminal 40 and the PC 50 are dynamically allocated by DHCP, the voice communication terminal 40 and the PC 50 are paired and managed. It becomes possible. Further, the PC 50 managed as a pair with the voice communication terminal 40 can be easily changed without changing the communication address assigned to the PC 50.

  According to the present embodiment, the operator of the voice communication terminal 40 permits pairing with reference to the user identifier and the communication address displayed on the display unit of the voice communication terminal 40 in the incoming call notification process SB01. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a pairing by mistake or a pairing with a malicious person's PC. For example, in a situation where the base 01 in FIG. 1 is in Tokyo and the base 02 is in Osaka, if a pairing request is made from a PC placed at the base 02 to the voice communication terminal 40X due to some mistake, The operator of the voice communication terminal 40X can reject the pairing request by pressing the on-hook button and inputting a rejection instruction.

(C: Modification)
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, of course, you may add the deformation | transformation described below to this Embodiment.
(1) In the case described above, after notifying that the pairing request has been made by emitting a ringtone different from the normal one, the permission response M003 or rejection is made according to the instruction content input via the operation unit The incoming call processing unit 44 is caused to execute a process of returning the response M005. However, if a permission instruction is not input within a predetermined time (for example, one call) after starting the notification, the rejection response M005 may be returned unconditionally. By providing such a restriction, it becomes difficult to perform pairing without prior consent between the operator of the voice communication terminal 40 and the operator of the PC 50, and the target pairing can be performed more reliably. It becomes possible.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, when the pairing permission / inquiry inquiry M002 is received, a ringing tone different from a normal SIP incoming call is emitted, and the communication address of the PC 50 that is a pairing request source and the PC 50 The incoming call processing unit SB01 for displaying the user identifier of the user on the display unit is executed by the incoming call processing unit 44 of the voice communication terminal 40, and the permission response M003 or the rejection response M005 depending on the content of the instruction input via the operation unit. Is sent to the incoming call processing unit 44. However, for each of the voice communication terminals 40X, 40Y, and 40Z, a user who is permitted to use the voice communication terminals 40X, 40Y, and 40Z is determined in advance, and when a pairing availability inquiry M002 containing the user identifier of the user is received, The incoming call processing unit 44 may be caused to execute processing for unconditionally returning the permission response M003.

  Specifically, a list of user identifiers of one or a plurality of users who are permitted to use the voice communication terminal 40 is stored in the incoming call processing unit 44 of each voice communication terminal 40. Then, it is determined whether or not the user identifier included in the pairing availability inquiry M002 received from the MCU 60 is included in the list, and if included, the process of returning the permission response M003 is reversed. If not included, the incoming call processing unit 44 may be caused to execute a process of returning a rejection response M005. According to such an aspect, it is realized that only the PC 50 used by a predetermined user is automatically paired with the PC 50 without bothering the user of the voice communication terminal 40. .

  However, in such an aspect, a pairing availability inquiry M002 in which the communication address and user identifier of another PC 50 is written has been transmitted in a situation where pairing with any PC 50 is being performed. In this case, there is a problem that the pairing target is unconditionally switched to the other PC 50. Therefore, when pairing with any of the PCs 50 is performed, the incoming call processing unit 44 is set so that a rejection response M005 is returned unconditionally even if a pairing availability inquiry M002 is received. When it is no longer necessary to maintain the setting, the setting may be canceled. Further, only when a pairing permission / inquiry M002 is received in a situation where pairing with any of the PCs 50 is performed, the reception is notified, and the permission response M003 or rejection is made depending on the operation content of the operator. The incoming call processing unit 44 may be caused to execute processing for transmitting any of the responses M005.

(3) In the embodiment described above, the voice communication terminal 40 and the PC 50 are connected to the in-site LAN 30 via a hub. However, instead of the hub, a wireless access point device is used, and the voice access terminal 40 or The PC 50 may be accommodated and connected to the local LAN 30.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conference communication system 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of installation of local LAN30 which comprises the conference communication system 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the voice communication terminal 40 contained in LAN 30 in the same base. It is a figure which shows the structural example of MCU60 contained in the conference communication system. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication sequence between each apparatus in the conference communication system. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication sequence between each apparatus in the conference communication system.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conference communication system, 10 ... Communication network, 20 ... Relay device, 30 ... Local LAN, 40, 40X, 40Y, 40Z ... Voice communication terminal, 42 ... Communication I / F part, 44 ... Incoming call processing part, 46 ... Audio input / output unit, 50, 50A, 50B, 50C ... PC, 60 ... MCU, 62 ... Communication I / F unit, 64 ... Communication control unit, 66 ... Audio data processing unit, 68 ... Image data processing unit.

Claims (2)

A plurality of voice communication terminals for collecting voice of each user and transmitting voice data representing the voice to a connection destination of the communication session, and outputting sound corresponding to the voice data received from the connection destination of the communication session; ,
A plurality of image communication terminals that transmit image data to each connection destination of the communication session, and display an image represented by the image data received from the connection destination of the communication session;
A multi-point connection device that establishes a communication session between each of the plurality of voice communication terminals and each of the plurality of image communication terminals, and mediates communication of voice data and image data;
With
A communication address is dynamically allocated to each of the plurality of voice communication terminals and the plurality of image communication terminals,
Among the plurality of image communication terminals, the user instructed to pair with any of the plurality of voice communication terminals, the pairing request for requesting pairing with the voice communication terminal Write the communication address of the communication terminal and send it to the multipoint connection device,
The multipoint connection device is:
When the pairing request is received from any of the plurality of image communication terminals, the voice communication terminal requested for pairing in the pairing request is requested to perform pairing from the image communication terminal. A pair of the pairing request source and the permission response source upon receiving a permission response indicating that pairing is permitted from the voice communication terminal. And control to synchronize the communication of the audio data with the paired audio communication terminal and the communication of the image data with the paired image communication terminal,
Each of the plurality of voice communication terminals is
When the multipoint connection device is notified that pairing is requested from any of the plurality of image communication terminals, the user is informed of this and an input operation is performed to allow pairing. The conference communication system is characterized in that the permission response is returned to the multipoint voice connection device in the event of failure. Each of the plurality of voice communication terminals is
When an input operation for permitting pairing is not performed before a predetermined time elapses after the notification that pairing is requested from any of the plurality of image communication terminals, A rejection response to reject the pairing with the source of the pairing request is returned to the multipoint connection device;
The multipoint connection device is:
2. The conference communication system according to claim 1, wherein, when the rejection response is received, a reply that the pairing is rejected is returned to a transmission source of the pairing request.

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