JP2010028506A - Method of connecting video conference system, server for video conference system and connection program for video conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of connecting a video conference system, server for the video conference system and connection program for the video conference system which facilitate connection of terminals with each other without determining the terminals that participant use. <P>SOLUTION: When a terminal does not receive a user ID (S51:No) and does not receive selective conference information (S56:No), other processing is performed (S58) and returned to S51. When the terminal receives a user ID (S51:Yes) but does not use it for a video conference (S52:No), log-in processing is carried out (S55). When the terminal uses the user ID is (S52:Yes) but is not participated in a video conference (S53:No), log-in processing is carried out (S55). When the terminal is participated in the video conference (S53:Yes), log-out processing is carried out (S54). When the terminal receives the selective conference information (S56:Yes), selective conference information reception processing is performed (S57). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video conference system connection method, a video conference system server, and a video conference system connection program, and more particularly, a television that easily connects terminals without determining a terminal to be used by a participant. The present invention relates to a conference system connection method, a video conference system server, and a video conference system connection program.

Conventionally, a conference schedule control device is known in which conference participant terminals in remote locations are connected to a conference device via a server, and the conference is performed as if they were in the same location (for example, Patent Documents). 1). According to the conference schedule control device described in Patent Document 1, by specifying the identification information of conference participant terminals participating in the conference in advance in the conference reservation database, the conference participant terminal to be connected is specified when starting the conference. Even if it did not do, the connection of the conference participant terminals was possible.
JP 2003-324533 A

  However, in the conference schedule control device of the invention described in Patent Document 1, the information registered in the conference reservation database is information for identifying conference participant terminals connected to the conference. Thereby, when registering in the conference reservation database, it is necessary to determine in advance which conference participant terminal the conference participant uses, and the conference participant terminal that the participant uses in the conference is: There was a problem that only the designated conference participant terminals could be used.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a video conference system connection method, a video conference system server, and a video conference system server for easily connecting terminals without determining a terminal to be used by a participant. An object is to provide a connection program for a video conference system.

  To achieve the above object, a video conferencing system connection method according to claim 1 is a video conferencing system in which a server connectable to a network controls a video conference using a terminal connectable to the network. A connection method of a video conference system for determining a terminal to be used for the video conference, wherein the terminal acquires user identification information for identifying a user who participates in the video conference, and the terminal A first terminal transmission step of transmitting to the server the user identification information acquired in the user identification information acquisition step and terminal identification information that is information for identifying the terminal from which the user identification information has been acquired; The server transmits the user identification information transmitted in the first terminal transmission step and the terminal. A first server receiving step of receiving identification information; and the server of the scheduled conference identification information for identifying the scheduled video conference, and the user participating in the video conference identified by the scheduled conference identification information. The scheduled meeting identification information including the received user identification information, which is the user identification information received in the first server reception step, is extracted from schedule management information storage means for storing schedule management information associated with user identification information. A meeting identification information extracting step for extracting as meeting identification information, an implementation meeting identification information for identifying the video conference to be implemented, and the terminal identification information of the terminal used in the video conference identified by the implementation conference identification information In the conference management information storage means for storing the used terminal identification information, which is extracted in the conference identification information extraction step A conference management information storage control step for storing the extracted conference identification information as the implementation conference identification information and storing the received terminal identification information, which is the terminal identification information received in the first server reception step, as used terminal identification information; In the conference management information storage control step, when the second used terminal identification information is stored for the same video conference to be performed, the terminal identified by the used terminal identification information is used. Then, in the video conference start step for starting the video conference identified by the implementation conference identification information, and in the conference management information storage control step, the third and subsequent video conferences for the same ongoing video conference are performed. When the use terminal identification information is stored, the current video conference started in the video conference start step And a terminal addition step of adding the terminal identified by the third and subsequent use terminal identification information to the terminal to be used.

  In addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1, the video conference system connection method of the invention according to claim 2 includes the implementation of the video conference with respect to the terminal used in the video conference. In the video conference start step, information transmission processing for transmitting information used in the video conference and information reception processing for receiving information used in the video conference from the terminal used in the video conference are performed. The start of the video conference is that the information transmission process or the information reception process is performed, and the addition of the terminal in the terminal addition step refers to the terminal added to the terminal used in the video conference. The information transmission process and the information reception process in the video conference are performed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the video conference system connection method, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the server identifies the extracted conference identification information by the receiving terminal identification information. A first server transmitting step for transmitting to the receiving terminal; a first terminal receiving step for receiving the extracted conference identification information transmitted from the server; and a receiving terminal for receiving the first terminal in the first terminal receiving step. A meeting selection step for accepting selection of a meeting to be carried out from among the video conferences identified by the received extracted meeting identification information, and the receiving terminal using the meeting identification information of the selected meeting selected in the meeting selection step A second terminal transmission step of transmitting certain selected meeting identification information to the server; and the server is transmitted in the second terminal transmission step. A second server receiving step for receiving the selected conference identification information, wherein in the conference management information control step, the selected conference identification information received in the second server receiving step is the implementation conference information, The terminal identification information received in the server reception step is stored in the conference management information storage unit as the use terminal identification information.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video conference system connection method in addition to the configuration of the third aspect of the invention until the server receives the selected conference information in the second server reception step. A third server receiving step for receiving the user identification information and the terminal identification information, and the server received when the server receives the user identification information and the terminal identification information in the first server receiving step. A first login information storage control step of storing the received user identification information in the login information storage means as login information associated with the terminal identification information; and the server in the third server reception step, the user identification information and the terminal When the identification information is received, the terminal identification information is not stored in the login information storage means A second login information storage control step of storing the login information comprising the received terminal identification information and the user identification information in the login information storage means; and the server in the third server reception step, the user identification information and When the terminal identification information is stored in the login information storage means when the terminal identification information is received, the received user identification information is added to the terminal identification information already stored in the login information storage means. Login information storage control step for storing the information in association with each other, and the server stores all the information stored in association with the terminal information received in the third server reception step in the login information storage means. Extracting the scheduled meeting identification information including the receiving user identification information A second extraction step for extracting the information as a report; and a second server transmission step in which the server transmits a list of the extracted conference identification information extracted in the second extraction step to the reception terminal identified by the reception terminal identification information. In the conference selection step, the reception terminal accepts selection of a conference to be performed from the list last received from the server.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video conferencing system connection method, in addition to the configuration of the third or fourth aspect of the invention, wherein the terminal interrupts the user identification information during the video conference. An interrupt user identification information acquisition step acquired as identification information, and the terminal that has acquired the interrupt user identification information acquired in the interrupt user identification information acquisition step and the interrupt user identification information. A third terminal transmission step of transmitting interrupt terminal identification information, which is identification information, to the server, and when the server receives the interrupt user identification information and the interrupt terminal identification information from the terminal Even if the interrupt terminal identified by the received interrupt terminal identification information is in use in the video conference, the interrupt user identification information received from the interrupt terminal And characterized by comprising a fourth log information storage control step of storing in I said log information storage means in association with the interrupt terminal identification information.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video conferencing system connection method, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, a logout instruction reception step in which the server receives a user logout instruction; A logout step of deleting the user identification information of a user who is instructed to log out from the login information storage means when the server receives a logout instruction in the logout instruction accepting step; After the user identification information associated with the terminal identification information is deleted from the login information storage means in the logout step, the terminal identification without the associated user identification information in the login information storage means If there is absent terminal identification information that is information, Deletion of the login information of the identification information from the login information storage unit, deletion of the absent terminal identification information from the conference management information storage unit, and the terminal identified by the absent terminal identification information is the conference management information And a terminal termination step for terminating the participation in the video conference identified by the conference identification information associated in the storage means.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video conferencing system connection method in addition to the configuration of the sixth aspect of the invention. When there is final conference identification information that is the conference identification information in which the number of the terminal identification information associated with the identification information is one, the final conference identification information and the final conference identification information associated with the final conference identification information Deletion of terminal identification information from the conference management information storage means, the terminal identification information associated with the final meeting identification information, and the login information storage of the user identification information associated with the terminal identification information A video conference ending step for deleting from the means and ending the video conference identified by the final conference identification information. To.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video conferencing system connection method in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the terminal accepts the input of the schedule management information. A reception step, a schedule management information transmission step in which the terminal transmits the schedule management information received in the schedule management information input reception step to the server, and the server is transmitted in the schedule management information transmission step. A schedule management information receiving step for receiving the schedule management information; and a schedule management information storage control step in which the server stores the schedule management information received in the schedule management information receiving step in the schedule management information storage means. It is characterized by having.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video conferencing system connection method in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the user identification information acquisition step uses a card reader to obtain the user identification information. The user identification information is obtained from the recorded card.

The server of the video conference system of the invention according to claim 10 is a server of the video conference system for determining a terminal to be used for the video conference in the video conference system for controlling the video conference using a terminal connectable to a network. A first server that receives user identification information for identifying a user who participates in the video conference acquired by the terminal, and terminal identification information that is information for identifying the terminal for which the user identification information has been acquired. Receiving means;
Schedule management information for storing schedule management information in which scheduled meeting identification information for identifying the scheduled video conference is associated with user identification information of a user participating in the video conference identified by the scheduled meeting identification information. Meeting identification information extraction for extracting the scheduled meeting identification information including the storage means and the received user identification information that is the user identification information received by the first server receiving means as the extracted meeting identification information from the schedule management information storage means And a conference for storing use terminal identification information which is the terminal identification information of the terminal used in the video conference identified by the implementation conference identification information and the implementation conference identification information for identifying the video conference to be implemented In the management information storage means, the extracted meeting identification information extracted by the meeting identification information extracting means And the conference management information storage control means for storing the reception terminal identification information, which is the terminal identification information received by the first server reception means, as the use terminal identification information, and the conference management information storage control means. When the second use terminal identification information is stored for the video conference to be performed, the terminal identified by the use terminal identification information is used to identify the use conference identification information. When the third and subsequent use terminal identification information is stored for the same videoconference currently being executed by the videoconference start means for starting the videoconference and the conference management information storage control means, the TV The terminal used in the ongoing video conference started by the conference start means is identified by the third and subsequent use terminal identification information. Characterized in that a terminal additional means for adding the end.

In addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 10, the server of the video conference system of the invention according to claim 11 is characterized in that the implementation of the video conference refers to the television used for the terminal used in the video conference. The information transmission processing for transmitting information used in the conference and the information reception processing for receiving information used in the video conference from the terminal used in the video conference are performed. The start of the conference is that the information transmission process or the information reception process is performed, and the addition of the terminal in the terminal addition unit is for the terminal added to the terminal used in the video conference The information transmission process and the information reception process in the video conference are performed.

  A video conference system connection program according to claim 12 causes a computer to function as various processing means of the video conference system connection method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

  In the video conference system connection method according to claim 1, the schedule management information including scheduled conference identification information that is information for identifying a video conference and user identification information that identifies a user participating in the video conference is stored in the schedule of the server. It can be stored in the management information storage means. In addition, the server can receive the user identification information and the terminal identification information from the terminal in the first server reception step, and the scheduled management identification information which is the conference information that the user can participate in based on the received user identification information is the meeting management information. The conference identification information and the used terminal identification information can be associated with each other and stored in the conference management information storage unit. Then, when there are two or more used terminal identification information associated with the implementation conference identification information stored in the conference management information storage means for the same ongoing video conference, it is identified by the use terminal identification information. The terminal can be used in the video conference identified by the conference identification information, and the video conference can be performed. This eliminates the need for a user participating in a video conference to determine and register a terminal to be used in the video conference in advance. Further, it is not necessary to know information for identifying a terminal used in the conference. As a result, the user can participate in a video conference using any terminal.

  In the video conferencing system connection method according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, in-use terminal identification information associated with the implementation meeting identification information stored in the meeting management information storage means, When there are two or more video conferences for the same ongoing video conference, the video conference is conducted by using the terminal identified by the use terminal identification information in the video conference identified by the conference identification information, and information is transmitted. Processing and information reception processing can be performed. In addition, information transmission processing and information reception processing can be performed on terminals added to the held video conference.

  In the video conferencing system connection method according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the terminal receives the extracted conference information transmitted from the server, and the terminal extracts the extracted conference information in the conference selection step. Can be selected. Then, the server can receive the extracted meeting information selected by the terminal as the selected meeting information and store it in the meeting management information storage means in the meeting management information control step. Thereby, when there are a plurality of video conferences in which the user can participate, the video conference in which the user participates can be selected. In addition, since the user selects at a terminal that uses the video conference to actually participate, the user can confirm and participate in the video conference to actually participate.

  In the video conferencing system connection method according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 3, login information as login information in which the received user identification information received in the first server reception step is associated with the terminal identification information. It can memorize | store in a memory | storage means. Then, when the user identification information and the terminal identification information are received in the third server reception step, if the received terminal identification information is not stored in the login information storage means, the terminal identification information and the user identification information are received. Login information can be stored in the login information storage means. Further, when the received terminal identification information is stored in the login information storage means when the user identification information and the terminal identification information are received in the third server reception step, the terminal already stored in the login information storage means The received user identification information can be stored in association with the identification information. In the second extraction step, a list of scheduled conference information including all user identification information stored in association with the login information storage means is extracted from the terminal identification information received in the third server reception step. Can be transmitted to the receiving terminal. Thereby, the user can select the video conference he / she wants to join from the video conference identified by the extracted conference identification information including all the user identification information acquired by the terminal. As a result, the user can confirm the video conference in which all the users who have recognized the user identification information can participate by recognizing the user identification information on the terminal used in the video conference. In addition, the user does not need to grasp a video conference in which all users can participate, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

  In the video conference system connection method according to claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 3 or 4, the third terminal transmitting step includes the interrupt user identification information and the interrupt terminal identification information acquired by the terminal. Can be sent to the server. Then, in the fourth login information storage step, the interrupt user identification information can be stored in the login information storage means in association with the interrupt terminal identification information. Thereby, since the user identification information is accepted even during the video conference, the user identified by the user identification information can participate in the video conference.

  In the video conference system connection method according to claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 3 to 5, the user who is instructed to log out when receiving the logout instruction in the logout step Can be deleted from the login information storage means. Then, if there is absent terminal identification information without the associated user identification information after being deleted from the login information storage means, the absent terminal identification information is deleted from the login information storage means in the terminal termination step, and conference management is performed. Absent terminal identification information can be deleted from the information storage means. And the termination process of participation in the video conference of the terminal identified by the absent terminal identification information can be performed. Thereby, the user participating in the video conference can easily leave the video conference by causing the terminal connected to the video conference to acquire the user identification information. In addition, when there are no participants in the terminal connected to the video conference, the terminal is automatically not used in the video conference, so that the user does not have to end the video conference.

  In the video conference system connection method according to claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 6, in the terminal termination step, the terminal identification information stored in the conference management storage means is finally one. When there is conference identification information, the final conference identification information and the terminal identification information associated with the final conference identification information can be deleted from the conference management information storage unit. Further, the terminal identification information associated with the final meeting identification information and the user identification information associated with the terminal identification information can be deleted from the login information storage unit. Furthermore, the video conference identified by the final conference identification information can be terminated. As a result, when the video conference is being executed, the logout process is executed on the other terminal, and when the terminal participating in the video conference becomes the last one, the server automatically logs out to the last terminal. Execute the process. As a result, it is not necessary for the user to execute logout processing for the last terminal, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

  In the video conference system connection method according to claim 8, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the schedule of managing the scheduled video conference and the users participating in the video conference is scheduled. Management information can be entered at the terminal and sent to the server. The server can store schedule management information in the schedule management storage means. Thus, the user can freely create the video conference schedule management information on the terminal.

  In the video conference system connection method according to the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, a terminal used in the video conference can acquire user identification information by a card reader. Then, the terminal can transmit the user identification information of the user read by the card reader to the server. Thereby, the user who participates in a video conference can recognize a user identification information in a terminal easily only by putting a card which identifies an individual into a card reader, and can participate in a video conference.

  In the server of the video conference system according to claim 10, the conference management of the server includes schedule management information including scheduled conference identification information which is information for identifying a video conference and user identification information for identifying a user who participates in the video conference. It can be stored in the information storage means. In the first server reception step, user identification information and terminal identification information can be received from the terminal. Then, based on the received user identification information, the scheduled meeting identification information, which is the meeting information that the user can participate in, is extracted from the meeting management information storage means, and the meeting management information storage means associates the meeting identification information with the used terminal identification information. Can be remembered. Further, when there are two or more used terminal identification information associated with the conference identification information stored in the conference management information storage means for the same ongoing video conference, the terminal identification information is identified. The terminal can be used in the video conference identified by the conference identification information, and the video conference can be performed. This eliminates the need for a user participating in a video conference to determine and register a terminal to be used in the video conference in advance. Further, it is not necessary to know information for identifying a terminal used in the conference. As a result, the user can participate in a video conference using any terminal.

  In the server of the video conference system according to claim 11, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 10, the use terminal identification information associated with the implementation conference identification information stored in the conference management information storage means is the same. When there are two or more video conferences in progress, the video conference is performed by using the terminal identified by the used terminal identification information in the video conference identified by the conference identification information, and information transmission processing And information reception processing can be performed. In addition, information transmission processing and information reception processing can be performed on terminals added to the held video conference.

  The video conference system connection program according to claim 10 causes a computer to function as various processing means of the video conference system connection method according to any one of claims 1 to 9. Therefore, the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 9 can be achieved by causing a computer to execute a connection program for a video conference system.

  Hereinafter, a video conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an overview of the video conference system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection form of a video conference system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of user terminals 3 are connected to a server 1 via a network 2. The server 1 is connected to a plurality of user terminals 3 and can perform a video conference by transmitting and receiving images and sounds between the user terminals 3.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the user terminal 3 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the user terminal 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal 3 includes a CPU 30 that controls the user terminal 3. The CPU 30 is connected to a ROM 31, a RAM 32, an HDD 33, an inter-server communication control unit 35, a card reader control unit 36, a display control unit 37, and an input detection unit 38 via a bus 40.

  The ROM 31 stores a program such as a BIOS executed by the CPU 30. Various data are temporarily stored in the RAM 32. The HDD 33 stores various programs executed on the user terminal 3. The inter-server communication control unit 35 is connected to the network 2 and controls communication with the server 1 including the video conference system. The card reader control unit 36 is connected to a card reader 50 that reads data from a card holding information for identifying a user (hereinafter referred to as “user ID”), and controls the card reader 50.

  The display control unit 37 is connected to a monitor 60 for displaying an operation screen, and controls the display of the monitor 60. The input detection unit 38 is connected to a keyboard 70 and a mouse 80 for a user to input operations and detects these inputs.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the server 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the server 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the server 1 includes a CPU 10 that controls the server 1. The CPU 10 is connected to a ROM 11, a RAM 12, an HDD 13, an inter-user terminal communication control unit 15, a timing device 16, and a counter 17 via a bus 18.

  The ROM 11 stores a program such as BIOS executed by the CPU 10. Various data are temporarily stored in the RAM 12. The RAM 12 includes a login table storage area 1201 for temporarily storing a login table 1210 (see FIG. 4). The login table 1210 will be described later. The HDD 13 stores various programs executed by the server 1. The HDD 13 is provided with various storage areas (see FIG. 5). The various storage areas will be described later. The inter-user terminal communication control unit 15 is connected to the network 2 and controls connection and communication between the user terminals 3 participating in the video conference. In the time measuring device 16, time is measured as an internal clock. The counter 17 measures time as a timer function.

  Next, the login table 1210 stored in the RAM 12 of the server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the login table 1210. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the login table 1210 includes a user terminal ID 1211 and a user ID 1212 associated with the user terminal ID 1211. The user terminal ID 1211 stores information for identifying the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID read by the card reader 50 (hereinafter referred to as “user terminal ID”), and the user ID 1212 is identified by each user terminal ID. The user ID of the user who uses the user terminal 3 is stored.

  Next, various storage areas of the HDD 13 of the server 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the storage area of the HDD 13 of the server 1. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the user table 1350. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the scheduler table 1310. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the scheduler user table 1320. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the implementation conference table 1330. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the conference use terminal table 1340.

  First, various storage areas of the HDD 13 of the server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The HDD 13 includes a scheduler table storage area 1301, a scheduler user table storage area 1302, a conference table storage area 1303, a conference terminal table storage area 1304, a user table storage area 1305, a program storage area 1306, a program related information storage area 1307, and the like. Various storage areas are provided.

  The scheduler table storage area 1301 stores a scheduler table 1310 (see FIG. 7) indicating information on a scheduled video conference. The scheduler user table storage area 1302 stores a scheduler user table 1320 (see FIG. 8) indicating information on participants who participate in a scheduled video conference. In the implementation conference table storage area 1303, an implementation conference table 1330 (see FIG. 9) indicating information of the video conference in progress is stored. The conference use terminal table storage area 1304 stores a conference use terminal table 1340 (see FIG. 10) indicating information on the user terminals 3 used in the ongoing video conference. The user table storage area 1305 stores a user table 1350 (see FIG. 6) indicating the user ID and name of the user of the video conference system. The program storage area 1306 stores various programs executed by the server 1. The program related information storage area 1307 stores information such as settings, initial values, and data necessary for program execution.

  Next, the user table 1350 will be described with reference to FIG. The user table 1350 is a table that is stored in advance in the user table storage area 1305 of the HDD 13 of the server 1 before registering a video conference schedule. As shown in FIG. 6, the user table 1350 includes a user ID 1351 and a name 1352. The user ID 1351 stores a user ID that identifies the user. The name 1352 stores the name of the user identified by the user ID 1351. The name of the user stored in the name 1352 is the name of a unique user. If the user name is the same, a unique name is created by adding a number to the end of the user name.

  Next, the scheduler table 1310 will be described with reference to FIG. The scheduler table 1310 stores information set on the schedule registration screen 100 (see FIG. 11) of the user terminal 3. As shown in FIG. 7, the scheduler table 1310 includes a scheduler ID 1311, a conference name 1312, a start date and time 1313, an end date and time 1314, and a remark 1315. The scheduler ID 1311 stores a scheduler ID for identifying a video conference schedule. When the schedule of the video conference is stored on the schedule registration screen 100, a unique ID is stored. The conference name 1312 stores the name of the video conference. The start date and time 1313 and the end date and time 1314 store the date and time when the video conference starts and ends. In the remark 1315, an arbitrary character string is stored. Hereinafter, the record of the scheduler table 1310 is referred to as “conference information”.

  Next, the scheduler user table 1320 will be described with reference to FIG. The scheduler user table 1320 stores information set on the schedule registration screen 100 (see FIG. 11) of the user terminal 3. As shown in FIG. 8, the scheduler user table 1320 includes a scheduler ID 1321 and a user ID 1322. The scheduler ID 1321 stores a scheduler ID for identifying a video conference schedule. The scheduler ID 1321 corresponds to the scheduler ID 1311 of the scheduler table 1310. In the user ID 1322, user IDs of participants who can participate in the video conference identified by the scheduler ID 1321 are stored.

  Next, the implementation conference table 1330 will be described with reference to FIG. This implementation conference table 1330 is a table in which information on a video conference in progress is stored. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the implementation conference table 1330 includes a conference ID 1331, a scheduler ID 1332, and a conference start date 1333. In the conference ID 1331, a unique ID for identifying the video conference in progress is stored. The scheduler ID 1332 stores a scheduler ID. This corresponds to the scheduler ID 1311 of the scheduler table 1310 and indicates which scheduled video conference in the schedule table 1310 is the video conference being executed. The conference start date and time 1333 stores the date and time when the video conference was conducted.

  Next, the conference use terminal table 1340 will be described with reference to FIG. This conference use terminal table 1340 is a table in which a user terminal ID for identifying the user terminal 3 used in the video conference to be implemented is stored. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the conference use terminal table 1340 includes a conference ID 1341 and a user terminal ID 1342. The conference ID 1341 stores an ID for identifying an ongoing video conference. This conference ID 1341 corresponds to the conference ID 1331 of the implementation conference table 1330 (see FIG. 9). The user terminal ID 1342 stores a user terminal ID for identifying the user terminal 3 used in the video conference identified by the conference ID 1341.

  Next, schedule registration processing will be described with reference to FIGS. This process is a process for storing details about the scheduled video conference in the scheduler table 1310 of the server 1 before starting the video conference. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific example of the schedule registration screen 100 displayed on the monitor 60. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the schedule registration process performed at the user terminal 3. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the schedule registration process performed in the server 1.

  First, the schedule registration screen 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The schedule registration screen 100 is subjected to schedule registration processing (see FIG. 12) in the user terminal 3 and receives information for displaying the schedule registration screen 100 from the server 1 (hereinafter referred to as “registration screen information”). This is displayed on the monitor 60 of the user terminal 3 (see S13 in FIG. 12). As shown in FIG. 11, in the schedule registration screen 100, the conference name 101 used in the video conference, the start date and time 102 for starting the video conference, the end date and time 103 for ending the video conference, the remarks 104, and the participants who participate in the video conference 105 can be set. When the OK button 106 is pressed, information set on the schedule registration screen 100 is transmitted to the server 1 and stored in the scheduler table 1310 as schedule information. Further, when the cancel button 107 is pressed, the schedule registration screen 100 can be closed.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the operation of the schedule registration process performed at the user terminal 3 will be described. This process is started when a command for registering a schedule is executed on the user terminal 3. As shown in FIG. 12, when the schedule registration process is executed, a signal for requesting to display the schedule registration screen 100 (see FIG. 11) (hereinafter referred to as “registration screen request signal”) is transmitted to the server 1. (S11). When the server 1 receives the registration screen request signal, the server 1 transmits registration screen information to the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the registration screen request signal. Therefore, the user terminal 3 receives the registration screen information transmitted from the server 1 (S12), and the schedule registration screen 100 is displayed on the monitor 60 (S13). And the input from a user is received on the schedule registration screen 100 (S14). Information input on the schedule registration screen 100 (hereinafter referred to as “registration screen input information”) is transmitted to the server 1 (S15). Here, the user waits for input until the user presses the OK button 106.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 13, the operation of the schedule registration process performed by the server 1 will be described. This operation is a process on the server 1 side for storing details of the scheduled video conference in the scheduler table 1310 of the server 1 before starting the video conference. This operation is a process that is always executed by the CPU 10 of the server 1. As shown in FIG. 13, when this process is performed, it is determined whether a registration screen request signal has been received from the user terminal 3 (S21). This registration screen request signal is transmitted to the server 1 by executing the schedule registration process in the user terminal 3 as described above (FIG. 12: S11). Therefore, when the registration screen request signal is received (S21: Yes), registration screen information for displaying the schedule registration screen 100 is transmitted to the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the registration screen request signal (S22). Then, the process returns to S21.

  If the registration screen request signal has not been received (S21: No), it is determined whether registration screen input information has been received (S23). This registration screen input information is information input on the schedule registration screen 100 displayed on the monitor 60 of the user terminal 3 as described above, and is transmitted from the user terminal 3 to the server 1 (FIG. 12: S15). When registration screen input information is received from the user terminal 3 (S23: Yes), the received registration screen input information is stored in the scheduler table 1310 (see FIG. 7) and the scheduler user table 1320 (see FIG. 8) (S24). That is, a unique scheduler ID is determined for the received registration screen input information and stored in the scheduler ID 1311 of the scheduler table 1310. Then, the conference name of the registration screen input information is stored in the conference name 1312, the start date and time is stored in the start date and time 1313, the end date and time is stored in the end date and time 1314, and the remarks are stored in the remarks 1315. Next, the user ID of the participant corresponding to the name of the participant entered in the registration screen input information is acquired from the user table 1350. The scheduler user table 1320 stores a scheduler ID and a user ID acquired from the user table 1350 corresponding to the scheduler ID. Then, the process returns to S21.

  If registration screen input information has not been received from the user terminal 3 (S23: No), other processing executed by the server 1 is performed (S25), and the process returns to S21. Other processing includes processing that does nothing. Since other processes are not related to the present invention, the description thereof is omitted. Here, when the server 1 does not receive the registration screen request signal or the registration screen input information from the user terminal 3, the processes of S21: No, S23: No, S25 are repeated.

  As described above, the user can input the information of the video conference scheduled to be performed on the schedule registration screen 100 of the user terminal 3 and the name of the user participating in the video conference, and can transmit the information to the server 1. Then, the server 1 can store the conference information received from the user terminal 3 and the user ID corresponding to the name of the user participating in the video conference. Thereby, the user can store in the server 1 information about participants of the scheduled video conference using the user terminal 3 in advance.

  Next, the video conference process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a specific example of the conference selection screen 200 on which the names of the video conferences in which “Ichiro Nakayama” can participate are displayed. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a conference selection screen 210 on which conference names of video conferences in which “Ichiro Nakayama” and “Saburo Asakura” can participate are displayed. FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the video conference process performed in the user terminal 3. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the video conference process performed by the server 1. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the login process performed in the server 1. FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the selected meeting information reception process performed by the server 1. FIG. 20 is a flowchart of logout processing performed in the server 1.

  First, the conference selection screen 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The conference selection screen 200 displays the names of video conferences in which “Ichiro Nakayama” can participate. The conference selection screen 200 is a screen displayed when the user ID for identifying “Ichiro Nakayama” is read from the card reader 50 of the user terminal 3. The conference selection screen 200 includes a date and time item 204 that is the current date and time, a conference name item 201 that displays a conference name, an OK button 202, and a cancel button 203. The date and time item 204 displays the current date and time. The conference name item 201 displays a conference name of a video conference in which a user identified by the user ID acquired by the card reader 50 of the user terminal 3 can participate. When a conference name displayed in the conference name item 201 is selected and an OK button 202 is pressed, the video conference with the selected conference name is set as a video conference that participates in the user terminal 3. When the cancel button 203 is pressed, the conference selection screen 200 is closed. The conference name displayed in the conference name item 201 is the date and time when the end date and time 1314 extracted the video conference information among the video conferences in which “Ichiro Nakayama” stored in the scheduler table 1310 can participate. It is the conference name of the video conference that is later date and time.

  Next, the conference selection screen 210 will be described with reference to FIG. The conference selection screen 210 has the same screen configuration as the conference selection screen 200 of FIG. The conference selection screen 210 is a screen that is displayed when the user ID for identifying “Saburo Asakura” is read from the card reader 50 of the user terminal 3 while the conference selection screen 200 is displayed. Here, the conference name item 201 displays the conference name of the video conference in which both “Ichiro Nakayama” and “Saburo Asakura” can participate. Note that the conference name displayed in the conference name item 201 is the video conference information in which “Ichiro Nakayama” and “Saburo Asakura” that are both stored in the scheduler table 1310 can participate. Is the conference name of the video conference that is later than the date and time of extraction.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 16, the video conference process executed on the user terminal 3 will be described. This process operates when a command for conducting a video conference is selected. When this command is executed, it is determined whether or not a user ID has been acquired (S31). This user ID is acquired from the outside by the card reader 50. Unless the user causes the card reader 50 to read and recognize the card, it is determined that the user ID has not been acquired (S31: No), and the process returns to S31. If it is determined that the user ID has been acquired (S31: Yes), the acquired user ID is transmitted to the server 1 together with the user terminal ID (S32). Thereafter, the user terminal 3 remains in a standby state until it receives from the server 1 conference information (hereinafter referred to as “extracted conference information”) of a video conference in which all users whose user IDs are recognized by the user terminal 3 can participate. maintain. When the extracted meeting information is acquired and transmitted by the server 1, the user terminal 3 receives the extracted meeting information (S33). And the meeting selection screen 200 which showed the meeting name of the received extraction meeting information in the meeting name item 201 is produced, and is displayed on the monitor 60 (S34). Then, the conference name displayed in the conference name item 201 on the conference selection screen 200 is selected, and it is determined whether or not the OK button 202 is pressed (S35).

  When the conference name displayed in the conference name item 201 on the conference selection screen 200 is not selected and it is determined that the conference is not selected (S35: No), it is determined whether the user ID has been acquired. Is performed (S36). That is, it is determined whether or not the user has caused the card reader 50 to read the card and recognize the user ID while the conference selection screen 200 is displayed. When the user ID is not recognized by the card reader 50 of the user terminal 3 and it is determined that the user ID is not acquired (S36: No), the process returns to S35. Thus, if nothing is performed while the conference selection screen 200 is displayed, the processes of S35: No and S36: No are repeated.

  If it is determined that the user ID has been acquired while the conference selection screen 200 is displayed (S36: Yes), the process proceeds to S32. And the process of S32-S34 is performed. Here, the extracted conference information received from the server 1 in S33 is information on a video conference in which users identified by all user IDs transmitted from the same user terminal 3 can participate.

  Next, when a conference name is selected on the conference selection screen 200 and the OK button 202 is pressed (S35: Yes), conference information including the selected conference name (hereinafter referred to as “selected conference information”). .) Is transmitted to the server 1 (S37). Then, it is determined whether or not the video conference specified by the conference ID 1331 of the implementation conference table 1330 corresponding to the schedule ID of the selected conference information transmitted to the server 1 has been started (S38). This determination is made based on whether or not a signal (hereinafter referred to as “start notification”) transmitted from the server 1 when the video conference is started is received. This start notification is one of “information used in the video conference”. When the start notification is received, an information transmission process for transmitting audio information or image information, which is information used in a video conference, or an information reception process for receiving information can be performed. When the start notification is not received from the server 1 and it is determined that the video conference is not started (S38: No), it is determined whether or not the user ID has been acquired (S39). That is, it is determined whether or not the user has caused the card reader 50 to read the card and the card reader 50 to recognize the user ID in a state where the video conference has not yet been performed. If the user ID is not recognized by the card reader 50 and it is determined that the user ID has not been acquired (S39: No), the process returns to S38. Thus, if the user ID is not acquired by the card reader 50 in the state where the video conference is not started, the processes of S38: No, S39: No are repeated. When the user ID is acquired in a state where the video conference is not started (S39: Yes), the acquired user ID is transmitted to the server 1 together with the user terminal ID (S41).

  Next, a case where a video conference is started will be described. When a start notification for starting a video conference is received from the server 1 (S38: Yes), a video conference process is performed (S40). In this video conference process, information transmission processing for transmitting audio information or image information, which is information used in the video conference, is used among all user terminals 3 used in the video conference, and used in the video conference. Information reception processing is performed for receiving audio information or image information as information. Then, it is determined whether or not a user ID has been acquired (S42). That is, during the video conference, a determination is made as to whether or not the user has caused the card reader 50 to read the card and the card reader 50 to recognize the user ID. When the user ID is not recognized by the card reader 50 and it is determined that the user ID has not been acquired (S42: No), it is determined whether or not the video conference is ended (S44). The determination as to whether or not the video conference has been ended is made based on whether or not a signal (hereinafter referred to as “end notification”) transmitted from the server 1 is received.

  When the user ID is acquired (S42: Yes), the user terminal ID is transmitted to the server 1 together with the acquired user ID (S43). That is, when the user causes the card reader 50 to recognize the user ID while the video conference is being performed, the acquired user ID is transmitted to the server 1 together with the user terminal ID. Then, it is determined whether or not the video conference has been terminated (S44).

  If the server 1 does not receive an end notification and it is determined that the video conference has not ended (S44: No), the process returns to S40. Then, the processes of S40, S42, and S44 are repeated until an end notification is received from the server 1. That is, while the video conference is being performed, the user can cause the card reader 50 to recognize the user ID and transmit the user ID to the server 1. If an end notification is received from the server 1 (S44: Yes), the ongoing video conference process is ended.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 17, the video conference process executed by the server 1 will be described. This process is a process that is always executed by the CPU 10 of the server 1. When this process is executed, it is determined whether or not the user ID and the user terminal ID are received from the user terminal 3 (S51). This user ID is acquired by the card reader 50 in the user terminal 3 and transmitted to the server 1 (FIG. 16: S32, S41, S43).

  If it is determined that the user ID and the user terminal ID transmitted from the user terminal 3 have not been received (S51: No), it is determined whether the selected conference information has been received (S56). The selected conference information is transmitted from the user terminal 3 when a conference name is selected in the conference name item 201 of the conference selection screen 200 and the OK button 202 is pressed (FIG. 16: S37). If it is determined that the selected conference information has not been received (S56: No), other processing executed by the server 1 is performed (S58), and the process returns to S51. The other processes are not the main part of the present invention and are not described here, but are various processes necessary for conducting a video conference. In addition, the other processing includes processing that does nothing. Here, when the server 1 does not receive the user ID or the selected conference information from the user terminal 3, the processes of S51: No, S56: No, S58 are repeated.

  First, a case where the server 1 receives a user ID from the user terminal 3 will be described. When the server 1 receives the user ID and the user terminal ID from the user terminal 3 (S51: Yes), it is determined whether or not the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID is already used in the video conference (S52). This determination is based on whether or not a user terminal ID for identifying the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID (hereinafter referred to as “in-use user terminal ID”) is stored in the user terminal ID 1342 of the conference use terminal table 1340. To be judged. When it is determined that the user terminal ID in use is not stored in the user terminal ID 1342 of the conference use terminal table 1340 and the user terminal 3 that transmitted the user ID is not used in the video conference (S52: No) A login process is executed (S55). Details of this login process will be described later with reference to FIG. Here, storing the user terminal ID in use in the user ID 1212 of the login table 1210 of the server 1 is referred to as “login”.

  Next, when it is determined that the user terminal ID in use is stored in the user terminal ID 1342 of the conference use terminal table 1340 and the user terminal 3 that transmitted the user ID is being used in the video conference (S52: Yes), it is determined whether the user identified by the transmitted user ID has already logged in to the video conference (S53). This process is determined based on whether or not the user terminal ID in use is stored in the user terminal ID 1211 of the login table 1210 and the transmitted user ID is stored in the user ID 1212 corresponding to the user terminal ID in use. . If it is determined that the user identified by the transmitted user ID has not logged in to the video conference (S53: No), a login process is executed (S55). That is, if it is determined that the user terminal ID 1211 of the login table 1210 stores the user ID in use and the transmitted user ID is not stored in the user ID 1212 corresponding to the user terminal ID in use, the login is performed. Processing is executed.

  If it is determined that the user identified by the transmitted user ID is logged in to the video conference (S53: Yes), the user participating in the video conference has tricked the card reader 50 into the card. become. Therefore, this user gives an instruction to end the video conference (logout instruction). Then, a logout process is executed (S54). Details of the logout process will be described later with reference to FIG. Here, deleting a user ID from the user ID 1212 of the login table 1210 is referred to as “logout”.

  Next, a case where selected conference information is received from the user terminal 3 will be described. When the user terminal 3 receives the selected meeting information transmitted by selecting the meeting name in the meeting name item 201 on the meeting selection screen 200 and pressing the OK button 202 (S56: Yes), the user terminal 3 is set to the TV. As a user terminal 3 used in the conference, a selected conference information reception process for conducting a video conference is performed (S57). Details of the selected conference information reception process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the login process will be described with reference to FIG. This process is a process performed by the CPU 10 of the server 1, and is executed from the video conference process (FIG. 17: S55). When this login process is executed, a process of storing the user ID in the login table 1210 is performed (S61). That is, the transmitted user ID is stored in association with the user ID 1212 corresponding to the in-use user terminal ID. Here, the in-use user terminal ID and the user ID are stored in the login table 1210 in association with each other.

  Then, it is determined whether or not a video conference in which the user terminal 3 that transmitted the user ID is used has already been determined (S62). This determination process is determined based on whether or not the user terminal ID in use is stored in the user terminal ID 1342 of the conference use terminal table 1340. And when it is judged that the video conference in which the user terminal 3 which transmitted user ID is used is already determined (S62: Yes), another user has already logged in from this user terminal 3, and a meeting selection screen A video conference to be performed in 200 and 201 is selected. Therefore, the login process is terminated. That is, when the user terminal ID in use is stored in the user terminal ID 1342 of the conference use terminal table 1340, the login process is terminated.

  If it is determined that the video conference in which the user terminal 3 that transmitted the user ID is used has not been determined (S62: No), the process of extracting information on the schedule of the video conference in which all users can participate. Is performed (S63).

  Specifically, all user IDs stored in the user ID 1212 corresponding to the user terminal ID of the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID from the login table 1210 are extracted. Then, among the extracted user IDs, scheduler IDs corresponding to all user IDs are extracted from the scheduler user table 1320. Then, a record corresponding to the extracted scheduler ID is extracted from the scheduler table 1310 as extracted conference information. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, for example. If the user terminal ID of the user terminal 3 that transmitted the user ID is “T00001”, the user IDs “M0001” and “M0003” are acquired from the user ID 1212 of the login table 1210 (see FIG. 4). The scheduler IDs “0001” and “0002” corresponding to “M0001” are extracted from the scheduler user table 1320 (see FIG. 8), and the scheduler IDs “0001” and “0003” corresponding to “M0003” are extracted. Is extracted. A common scheduler ID “0001” is extracted. Then, the record with the scheduler ID “0001” is extracted as the extracted conference information from the scheduler table 1310 (see FIG. 7).

  When the extracted meeting information is extracted in this way (S63), the extracted extracted meeting information is transmitted to the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID (S64), and the login process ends. Then, the process returns to the video conference process (see FIG. 17).

  Next, the selected meeting information reception process will be described with reference to FIG. This process is a process performed by the CPU 10 of the server 1 and is executed when the selected conference information transmitted from the user terminal 3 is received (FIG. 16: S37, FIG. 17: S57). When this selected conference information reception process is executed, it is determined whether or not a scheduler ID 1311 for identifying the selected conference information is stored in 1330 in the implementation conference table (S71). That is, it is determined whether or not the scheduled conference information specified by the scheduler ID of the received selected conference information is a video conference that is already in progress.

  If it is determined that the scheduler ID 1311 for identifying the selected conference information is not stored in the implementation conference table 1330 (S71: No), the conference information is added to the implementation conference table 1330 (S72). Specifically, a record is added to the implementation meeting table 1330. Then, a unique ID is allocated and stored in the conference ID 1331 of the implementation conference table 1330. The scheduler ID 1332 stores the scheduler ID 1311 of the selected conference information. In the meeting start date 1333, the current date is stored. A record is added to the conference use terminal table 1340 (S73). The conference ID 1341 of the conference use terminal table 1340 stores a conference ID corresponding to the schedule ID of the selected conference information in the implementation conference table 1330. This conference ID is stored in S72. The user terminal ID 1342 stores a user terminal ID for identifying the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the selected conference information (hereinafter referred to as “participating user terminal ID”). That is, the conference information scheduled to be specified by the selected conference information is set as an ongoing video conference. Here, in the conference use terminal table 1340, the conference ID stored in correspondence with the user terminal ID of the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the selected conference information is referred to as an “execution conference ID”.

  If it is determined that the scheduler ID 1311 identified by the selected conference information is stored in the implementation conference table 1330 (S71: Yes), the process proceeds to S73. That is, when the conference name is previously selected on the conference selection screens 200 and 201 in the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the selected conference information and the video conference to be executed is determined, the process proceeds to S73.

  When the process of S73 is completed, it is determined whether or not two or more participating user terminal IDs corresponding to the implementation meeting ID are stored in the user terminal ID 1342 of the conference use terminal table 1340 (S74). That is, it is determined whether or not the plurality of user terminals 3 is a video conference that is being implemented as a video conference identified by the conference ID. If there are a plurality of user terminals 3, the video conference can be started.

  When it is determined that two or more participating user terminal IDs corresponding to the conference ID are stored in the user terminal ID 1342 of the conference use terminal table 1340 (S74: Yes), a start notification is transmitted to the user terminal 3. (S75). Here, when two user terminal IDs corresponding to the conference ID are stored, the start notification is transmitted to both of the user terminals 3 identified by the user terminal ID corresponding to the conference ID. When there are three or more user terminal IDs corresponding to the implementation conference ID in the conference use terminal table 1340, the start notification is transmitted only to the user terminal 3 identified by the user terminal ID that transmitted the selected conference information. . This is a case where a conference ID for identifying the video conference and a user terminal ID 1342 are newly added to the conference use terminal table 1340 while the video conference is being performed.

  When it is determined that two or more participating user terminal IDs corresponding to the conference ID are not stored in the user terminal ID 1342 of the conference use terminal table 1340 (S74: No), that is, the selected conference information is stored. If the number of transmitted user terminals 3 is one, since the video conference cannot be started yet, the selected conference information processing is terminated. Then, the process returns to the video conference process (see FIG. 17).

  Next, the logout process will be described with reference to FIG. This process is a process performed by the CPU 10 of the server 1, and is executed from the video conference process performed by the server 1 (FIG. 17: S54). That is, it is executed when the user who has already executed the login process (FIG. 18) causes the card reader 50 to read the card again and recognize the user ID. When this logout process is executed, the received user ID is deleted from the user ID 1212 of the login table 1210 (S81), and a logout state is entered. Then, it is determined whether or not there is another user logged in to the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID (S82). This determination is made based on whether or not the user ID is still stored in the user ID 1212 corresponding to the user terminal ID that identifies the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID in the login table 1210. If there is another user who has logged in to the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID (S82: Yes), the user terminal 3 is still being used, and the logout process is terminated. Then, the process returns to the video conference process (see FIG. 17).

  If it is determined that there is no other user logged in to the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID (S82: No), no user is using the user terminal 3. Therefore, the record of the user terminal ID that identifies the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID from the conference use terminal table 1340 is deleted (S83). In the login table 1210, the user terminal ID that identifies the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID from the user terminal ID 1211 is deleted (S84). Thereby, this user terminal 3 is no longer a terminal used in a video conference. Then, an end notification is transmitted to the user terminal 3 (S85). Then, it is determined whether or not the number of user terminals 3 used in the video conference is one (S86). This determination process is performed based on whether or not the conference use terminal table 1340 has one conference ID 1331 corresponding to the scheduler ID 1332 of the video conference executed by the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID in the implementation conference table 1330. . When the number of user terminals 3 used in the video conference is not one (S86: No), that is, when a plurality of user terminals 3 are used in the video conference, the logout process ends. Then, the process returns to the video conference process (see FIG. 17).

  When the number of user terminals 3 used in the video conference is one (S86: Yes), the record of the user terminal ID of the last one user terminal 3 is deleted from the conference use terminal table 1340. (S87). Then, the record of the video conference that has been performed on the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID from the conference table 1330 is deleted (S88). Then, the record corresponding to the last one participating user terminal ID is deleted from the login table 1210 (S89). Further, an end notification is transmitted to the last one user terminal 3 (S90). Thereby, the video conference ends.

  Therefore, the user participating in the video conference only needs to cause the user terminal 3 to read the card storing his / her user ID. When acquiring the user ID, the user terminal 3 transmits the user ID and its own user terminal ID to the server 1. Therefore, the server 1 can know which user terminal 3 uses which user by acquiring the user ID of the user who is going to participate and the user terminal ID of the user terminal 3 from the user terminal 3. Further, the server 1 stores in advance a scheduler table 1310 indicating conference information of a scheduled video conference and a scheduler user table 1320 indicating participants of the scheduled video conference. Therefore, it is possible to extract from these tables the video conference that the user is scheduled to participate in. Therefore, in the server 1, it is possible to identify which user is likely to participate in which video conference using which user terminal 3.

  Then, a conference selection screen 200 (see FIG. 14) for selecting which video conference to participate in the video conference extracted by the server is displayed on the user terminal 3. Therefore, the user can designate the video conference in which he / she participates only by selecting the conference name of the video conference to participate in the conference selection screen 200.

  In addition, when another user causes the card reader 50 of the same user terminal 3 to read the card on the conference selection screen 200 before specifying which video conference to participate in, the other user read Are transmitted to the server 1 together with the user terminal ID. In the server, the video conference in which two users are both participants is extracted from the table. Then, the user terminal 3 displays a conference selection screen 201 (see FIG. 15) that enables the user to select a video conference in which two newly extracted users are both participants. Therefore, when one user terminal 3 is shared by a plurality of users, a participating video conference can be designated from among the video conferences in which a plurality of shared users are common participants. Information on the designated video conference (the video conference that participates in the user terminal 3) is transmitted to the server 1.

  Therefore, the server can know which video conference is performed in which user terminal 3 and is registered in the conference use terminal table 1340 as a “terminal to be used” in the video conference in which this user terminal 3 is performed. The If there is only one user terminal 3 that is used as a terminal for this video conference, there is no other user terminal 3 that participates in this video conference, so that the video conference cannot be held. If there are two, the video conference is started together with the user terminal 3 that was previously set as the “terminal to be used” for this video conference (start notification is transmitted to both user terminals 3). If the number is three or more, since the video conference is already held at the user terminal 3 that has already been “used terminal”, the video conference is partway joined (only the last user terminal 3). Start notification is sent).

  Therefore, the manager of the video conference only needs to register in advance the schedule of which video conference is to be held and which participant. It is not necessary to know information about which participant uses which user terminal 3. In addition, since whether to use any user terminal 3 in advance also participants to participate in the television conference has not been determined, it is possible to use the user terminal 3 which can be used depending on the situation at the time of the meeting.

  In addition, when a participant in a video conference wants to leave the video conference, he / she can leave the video conference by simply holding his / her card over the card reader 50 and log out of the server 1. Furthermore, when the user who uses the user terminal 3 that has been used disappears by logging out, the user terminal 3 that has been used is no longer a “terminal to be used” in the video conference, and the user performs a special operation. There is no need to do. Further, when there is no “terminal to be used” for the ongoing video conference, the video conference itself is also terminated, and the user does not need to perform any special operation. If the video conference is already in progress, this video conference will be joined halfway. If there is no other user terminal 3 that performs the video conference, the system waits until the user terminal 3 that performs the video conference appears.

  The user terminal 3 in the above embodiment corresponds to a “terminal”. Further, the user ID corresponds to “user identification information”, and the user terminal ID corresponds to “terminal identification information”. Further, the record of the scheduler table 1310 and the record of the scheduler user table 1320 correspond to “schedule management information”. The extracted meeting information corresponds to “extracted meeting identification information”, and the login table 1210 corresponds to “login information”. The schedule ID corresponds to “scheduled meeting identification information”. Also, it corresponds to the scheduler table storage area 1301 and the scheduler user table storage area 1302 “schedule management information storage means”, and corresponds to the implementation conference table storage area 1303 and the conference use terminal table storage area 1304 “conference management information storage means”. The login table storage area 1201 corresponds to “login information storage means”.

  Further, the scheduler ID stored in the scheduler ID 1311 of the scheduler table 1310 corresponds to “scheduled meeting identification information”, and the record of the scheduler user table 1320 corresponds to “schedule management information”. Further, the schedule ID of the extracted conference information corresponds to “extracted conference identification information”, and the video conference specified by the conference ID 1341 of the conference use terminal table 1340 corresponds to “performed video conference”. Further, the scheduler ID stored in the scheduler ID 1332 of the implementation conference table 1330 corresponds to “execution conference identification information”. Further, the user terminal ID stored in the user terminal ID 1342 of the conference use terminal table 1340 corresponds to “use terminal identification information”, and the scheduler ID of the selected conference information corresponds to “selected conference identification information”. Further, the user ID acquired in S42 when the video conference is held corresponds to “interrupt user identification information”.

  Further, a step in which the CPU 30 performs a process of acquiring a user ID (S31: Yes, S36: Yes, S39: Yes) corresponds to a “user identification information acquisition step”. Further, the step of performing the process (S32, S41) of transmitting the user terminal ID together with the user ID to the server 1 corresponds to the “first terminal transmission step”. The step in which the CPU 10 receives the user terminal ID together with the user ID (S51: Yes) corresponds to the “first server reception step” or the “third server reception step”. Further, the step in which the CPU 10 performs the process (S63) of extracting the information of the video conference that all users can participate corresponds to the “conference identification information extraction step” or the “second extraction step”. The step in which the CPU 30 performs the process of storing the conference ID 1341 and the user terminal ID 1342 in the conference use terminal table 1340 (S73) corresponds to the “conference management information storage control step”. Further, the step in which the CPU 10 performs the process of transmitting the start notification (S75) corresponds to the “video conference start step”.

  Moreover, CPU10 which performs the process (S51: Yes) which receives user terminal ID with a user ID corresponds to a "1st server receiving means." In addition, the CPU 10 that performs the process (S63) of extracting the information of the video conference that all users can participate corresponds to the “conference identification information extracting unit”. Further, the CPU 30 that performs the process (S73) of storing the conference ID 1341 and the user terminal ID 1342 in the conference use terminal table 1340 corresponds to the “conference management information storage control unit”. Further, the CPU 10 that performs the process of transmitting the start notification (S75) corresponds to the “video conference start unit”.

  Further, the steps in which the CPU 10 performs the process (S64) of transmitting the extracted conference information extracted to the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID correspond to the “first server transmission step” and the “second server transmission step”. The step in which the CPU 30 performs the process (S33) of receiving the extracted conference information corresponds to the “first terminal reception step”. Further, the step in which the CPU 30 performs the process of acquiring the conference name (S35: Yes) corresponds to the “conference selection step”. Further, the step in which the CPU 30 performs the process (S37) of transmitting the selected conference information to the server 1 corresponds to the “second terminal transmission step”. The step in which the CPU 10 performs the process of receiving the selected conference information (S56: Yes) corresponds to the “second server reception step”. Further, the steps in which the CPU 10 stores the user ID in the login table 1210 (S61) are “first login information storage control step”, “second login information storage control step”, and “third login information storage control step”. ”And“ fourth login information storage control step ”.

  Further, a step in which the CPU 30 performs a process of acquiring a user ID (S42: Yes) while the video conference is being performed corresponds to an “interrupt user identification information acquisition step”. Further, the step in which the CPU 30 performs the process (S43) of transmitting the user terminal ID together with the user ID during the video conference is equivalent to the “third terminal transmission step”.

  In addition, a step in which the CPU 10 performs a process (S81) of deleting the received user ID from the user ID 1212 corresponding to the user terminal ID being used in the login table 1210 corresponds to a “logout step”. Further, the CPU 10 deletes the user terminal ID of the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID from the conference use terminal table 1340, deletes the user terminal ID in use from the login table 1210, and terminates the user terminal 3 that has transmitted the user ID. The step of performing the process of transmitting the notification (S83 to S85) corresponds to the “terminal end step”.

  In addition, the CPU 10 deletes the user terminal ID of the user terminal 3 that transmitted the last user ID from the conference use terminal table 1340, deletes the information of the video conference that is being performed from the implementation conference table 1330, and The process of deleting the scheduler ID 1332 of the video conference in progress, deleting the last user terminal ID in use from the login table 1210, and sending an end notification to the user terminal 3 that transmitted the last user ID (S87 to S90). The step to be performed corresponds to the “video conference end step”.

  Further, the step in which the CPU 30 performs the process of receiving input from the user (S14) on the schedule registration screen 100 corresponds to the “schedule management information input receiving step”. Further, the step in which the CPU 30 performs the process (S15) of transmitting the registration screen information set on the schedule registration screen 100 to the server corresponds to the “schedule management information transmission step”. The step in which the CPU 10 performs the process (S23) of receiving the transmitted registration screen information corresponds to the “schedule management information receiving step”. Further, the step in which the CPU 10 stores the received registration screen input information in the scheduler table 1310 and the scheduler user table 1320 corresponds to the “schedule management information storage control step”.

  Note that the video conference system of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the scheduler table 1310, the scheduler user table 1320, the implementation conference table 1330, and the conference use terminal table 1340 are stored in the storage area of the HDD 13 of the server 1. The present invention is not limited to the HDD 13. For example, a storage medium connected to the server 1 from the outside may be used. For example, it may be stored in a USB memory. Further, it may be stored in a storage medium provided in another device to which the server 1 can be connected via the network 2.

  The user ID, which is information for identifying the user, is acquired from the card in which the user ID is recorded via the card reader 50. However, the input of the information for identifying the user is not limited to the card reader 50. For example, input from the keyboard 70 or the mouse 80 may be used.

  Moreover, although the meeting name is displayed on the meeting name item 201 in order to identify a video conference on the meeting selection screen 200, the item displayed is not limited to this. For example, it may be a conference ID that can be identified from other video conferences, or a participant in a video conference. A plurality of items may be displayed.

  In addition, the scheduler table 1310 indicating information on the scheduled video conference and the scheduler user table 1320 indicating information on the participants participating in the scheduled video conference are configured as separate tables. The table 1310 and the scheduler user table 1320 may be configured as one table.

  In addition, the scheduler table 1310 indicating information on the scheduled video conference and the scheduler user table 1320 indicating information on the participants participating in the scheduled video conference are configured as separate tables. The table 1310 and the scheduler user table 1320 may be configured as one table.

  In the above embodiment, a plurality of video conferences are scheduled in the same time zone. However, only one video conference can be scheduled in the same time period. In this case, when conference information that the user can participate in is extracted (FIG. 18: S63), only one conference information is extracted. Therefore, a video conference can be started by setting a video conference of only one extracted conference information as an ongoing video conference without causing the user to select a conference.

  Further, in the above embodiment, a plurality of video conferences are scheduled in the same time zone, but when there are a plurality of conference information that can be extracted, the conference information having the closest start date and time is extracted from the current time. You may do it. This eliminates the need for the user to select the extracted conference information on the conference selection screen 200.

It is a figure which shows an example of the connection form of a video conference system. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a user terminal 3. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the server 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a login table 1210. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a storage area of an HDD 13 of a server 1. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the user table 1350. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a scheduler table 1310. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the scheduler user table 1320. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an implementation meeting table 1330. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the meeting use terminal table 1340. FIG. It is a figure which shows one specific example of the schedule registration screen 100 displayed on the monitor. 5 is a flowchart of a schedule registration process performed at the user terminal 3. 4 is a flowchart of a schedule registration process performed in the server 1. It is a figure which shows one specific example of the meeting selection screen 200 on which the meeting name of the video conference which "Ichiro Nakayama" can participate in was displayed. It is a figure which shows one specific example of the meeting selection screen 210 on which the meeting name of the video conference which "Ichiro Nakayama" and "Saburo Asakura" can participate in was displayed. 3 is a flowchart of a video conference process performed at a user terminal 3. 4 is a flowchart of a video conference process performed in the server 1. 4 is a flowchart of login processing performed in the server 1. It is a flowchart of the selection meeting information reception process performed with the server. 4 is a flowchart of logout processing performed in the server 1.

Explanation of symbols

1 server 2 network 3 user terminal 10, 30 CPU
15 User terminal communication control unit 12, 32 RAM
13,33 HDD
35 Inter-server communication control unit 50 Card reader 60 Monitor 100 Schedule registration screen 200 Conference selection screen 1201 Login table storage area 1210 Login table 1301 Scheduler table storage area 1302 Scheduler user table storage area 1303 Implementation conference table storage area 1304 Conference use terminal table storage Area 1310 Scheduler table 1320 Scheduler user table 1330 Conference table table 1340 Conference terminal table

Claims (12)

A video conferencing system connection method for determining a terminal to be used for the video conference in a video conference system in which a server connectable to a network controls a video conference using a terminal connectable to the network,
A user identification information acquisition step in which the terminal acquires user identification information for identifying a user participating in the video conference;
A first terminal transmission step in which the terminal transmits the user identification information acquired in the user identification information acquisition step and terminal identification information that is information for identifying the terminal from which the user identification information has been acquired to the server. When,
A first server receiving step in which the server receives the user identification information transmitted in the first terminal transmission step and the terminal identification information;
The server stores schedule management information in which the scheduled conference identification information for identifying the scheduled video conference is associated with the user identification information of a user participating in the video conference identified by the scheduled conference identification information. A meeting identification information extracting step for extracting the scheduled meeting identification information including the received user identification information, which is the user identification information received in the first server receiving step, as the extracted meeting identification information from the schedule management information storage means
Conference management information storage for storing implementation conference identification information for identifying the video conference to be implemented and use terminal identification information which is the terminal identification information of the terminal used in the video conference identified by the implementation conference identification information Means for using the extracted conference identification information extracted in the conference identification information extraction step as the implementation conference identification information, and using the reception terminal identification information which is the terminal identification information received in the first server reception step as terminal identification Conference management information storage control step to store as information,
In the conference management information storage control step, when the second used terminal identification information is stored for the same video conference to be performed, the terminal identified by the used terminal identification information is used. A video conference start step for starting the video conference identified by the implementation conference identification information;
In the conference management information storage control step, when the third and subsequent use terminal identification information is stored for the same ongoing video conference, the ongoing video conference starting step is started. A connection method for a video conference system, comprising: a terminal addition step of adding the terminal identified by the third and subsequent use terminal identification information to the terminal used in the video conference. The implementation of the video conference is information transmission processing for transmitting information used in the video conference to the terminal used in the video conference, and used in the video conference from the terminal used in the video conference. Information reception processing for receiving information to be performed,
The start of the video conference in the video conference start step is that the information transmission process or the information reception process is performed,
The addition of the terminal in the terminal addition step is to perform the information transmission process and the information reception process in the video conference for the terminal added to the terminal used in the video conference. The connection method of the video conference system according to claim 1. A first server transmitting step in which the server transmits the extracted conference identification information to a receiving terminal identified by the receiving terminal identification information;
A first terminal receiving step in which the receiving terminal receives the extracted conference identification information transmitted from the server;
A conference selection step for accepting selection of a conference to be performed from the video conference identified by the extracted conference identification information received by the reception terminal in the first terminal reception step;
A second terminal transmitting step in which the receiving terminal transmits selected conference identification information, which is conference identification information of the selected conference selected in the conference selection step, to the server;
The server comprises a second server receiving step for receiving the selected meeting identification information transmitted in the second terminal transmitting step;
In the conference management information control step, the selected conference identification information received in the second server reception step is set as the implementation conference information, and the terminal identification information received in the first server reception step is the use terminal identification information. The video conference system connection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the video data is stored in the conference management information storage means. A third server receiving step for receiving the user identification information and the terminal identification information until the server receives the selected conference information in the second server receiving step;
When the server receives the user identification information and the terminal identification information in the first server receiving step, the received user identification information is stored in login information storage means as login information associated with the terminal identification information. A first login information storage control step for storing;
When the server receives the user identification information and the terminal identification information in the third server reception step, if the terminal identification information is not stored in the login information storage means, the received terminal identification information and A second login information storage control step for storing the login information comprising the user identification information in the login information storage means;
When the server receives the user identification information and the terminal identification information in the third server receiving step, if the terminal identification information is stored in the login information storage unit, the server already stores the login information storage unit. A third login information storage control step of storing the received user identification information in association with the stored terminal identification information;
The server extracts the scheduled meeting identification information including all the received user identification information stored in association with the terminal identification information received in the third server reception step in the login information storage unit. A second extraction step for extracting as identification information;
The server includes a second server transmission step of transmitting a list of the extracted conference identification information extracted in the second extraction step to a reception terminal identified by the reception terminal identification information;
The video conference system connection method according to claim 3, wherein in the conference selection step, a selection of a conference to be performed from the list last received from the server by the receiving terminal is received. An interrupt user identification information acquisition step in which the terminal acquires the user identification information as interrupt user identification information during execution of the video conference;
The server includes the interrupt user identification information acquired in the interrupt user identification information acquisition step, and interrupt terminal identification information which is information for identifying the terminal from which the interrupt user identification information has been acquired. A third terminal transmission step for transmitting to
When the server receives the interrupt user identification information and the interrupt terminal identification information from the terminal, the interrupt terminal identified by the received interrupt terminal identification information is being used in the video conference. A fourth login information storage control step of storing the interrupt user identification information received from the interrupt terminal in the login information storage means in association with the interrupt terminal identification information. 5. The video conference system connection method according to claim 3, wherein the video conference system is connected to the video conference system. A logout instruction reception step in which the server receives a user logout instruction;
A logout step of deleting the user identification information of the user who is instructed to logout from the login information storage means when the server accepts a logout instruction in the logout instruction acceptance step;
After the server deletes the user identification information associated with the terminal identification information from the login information storage means in the logout step, there is no associated user identification information in the login information storage means. If there is absent terminal identification information that is the terminal identification information, deletion of the login information of the terminal identification information from the login information storage means, deletion of the absent terminal identification information from the conference management information storage means, and A terminal termination step for terminating termination of participation in the video conference identified by the conference identification information associated with the terminal identified by the absent terminal identification information in the conference management information storage means. 6. The video conference system connection method according to claim 3, wherein the video conference system is connected.   Final conference identification information which is the conference identification information in which the number of the terminal identification information associated with the conference identification information is one in the conference management information storage unit by the server performing the terminal termination step. If there is, the terminal identification information associated with the final meeting identification information and the deletion of the terminal identification information associated with the final meeting identification information from the meeting management information storage means, the terminal identification information associated with the final meeting identification information And a video conference ending step for executing deletion of the user identification information associated with the terminal identification information from the login information storage means and ending the video conference identified by the final conference identification information; The video conferencing system connection method according to claim 6, further comprising: A schedule management information input receiving step for receiving input of the schedule management information by the terminal;
A schedule management information transmitting step in which the terminal transmits the schedule management information received in the schedule management information input receiving step to the server;
A schedule management information receiving step in which the server receives the schedule management information transmitted in the schedule management information transmitting step;
8. The schedule management information storage control step of storing the schedule management information received in the schedule management information receiving step in the schedule management information storage means, wherein the server includes: A method for connecting the video conference system according to claim 1.   9. The video conference system connection method according to claim 1, wherein the user identification information acquisition step acquires the user identification information from a card in which the user identification information is recorded by a card reader. In a video conference system for controlling a video conference using a terminal connectable to a network, a server of the video conference system for determining a terminal to be used for the video conference,
First server receiving means for receiving user identification information for identifying a user who participates in the video conference acquired by the terminal, and terminal identification information which is information for identifying the terminal from which the user identification information has been acquired;
Schedule management information for storing schedule management information in which scheduled meeting identification information for identifying the scheduled video conference is associated with user identification information of a user participating in the video conference identified by the scheduled meeting identification information. Storage means;
Meeting identification information extracting means for extracting the scheduled meeting identification information including the received user identification information which is the user identification information received by the first server receiving means as the extracted meeting identification information from the schedule management information storage means;
Conference management information storage for storing implementation conference identification information for identifying the video conference to be implemented and use terminal identification information which is the terminal identification information of the terminal used in the video conference identified by the implementation conference identification information The extracted meeting identification information extracted by the meeting identification information extracting means is used as the meeting identification information, and the receiving terminal identification information which is the terminal identification information received by the first server receiving means is used terminal identification. Meeting management information storage control means for storing as information,
When the second used terminal identification information is stored by the conference management information storage control means for the same video conference to be performed, the terminal identified by the used terminal identification information is used. Video conference start means for starting the video conference identified by the implementation conference identification information;
When the conference management information storage control unit stores the third and subsequent use terminal identification information for the same video conference in progress, the video conference start unit that has been started is in progress. A server of a video conference system, comprising: a terminal addition unit that adds the terminal identified by the third and subsequent use terminal identification information to the terminal used in the video conference. The implementation of the video conference is information transmission processing for transmitting information used in the video conference to the terminal used in the video conference, and used in the video conference from the terminal used in the video conference. Information reception processing for receiving information to be performed,
The start of the video conference in the video conference start means is that the information transmission process or the information reception process is performed,
The addition of the terminal in the terminal adding means is to perform the information transmission process and the information reception process in the video conference for the terminal added to the terminal used in the video conference. The server of the video conference system according to claim 10.   10. A video conference system connection program which causes a computer to function as various processing means of the video conference system connection method according to claim 1.

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