JP2010224885A - Conference support system and conference support method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conference support system and a conference support method for making a reservation for a more proper conference room. <P>SOLUTION: The conference support system is provided with an input information collection part 6 and a conference room retrieval part 7 and a reservation part 8. The input information collection part 6 collects confidentiality information to be input from an input device. A conference room retrieval part 7 determines proper conference rooms corresponding to the confidentiality information from available conference rooms by referring to a conference room database in which the presence/absence of confidentiality is associated with the plurality of conference rooms. A reservation part 8 makes a reservation for one of the proper conference rooms. In the conference support system, it is possible to make a reservation for a conference room more proper in terms of confidentiality. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a conference support system and a conference support method, and more particularly to a conference support system and a conference support method that are used when an appropriate conference room is selected and reserved from a plurality of conference rooms.

  When a conference is held, a conference room must be reserved, and several systems for automating the conference room reservation have been proposed.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-114962 discloses a schedule management system that saves as much use of space as possible in a conference room as much as possible and enables effective use of limited resources. The schedule management system includes receiving means, facility information management means, and reservation execution means. The receiving means receives reservation data including reservation and facility-related conditions. The facility information management means collates the physical facility conditions stored in the physical facility information recording means or the virtual facility conditions stored in the virtual facility information recording means with the reservation data conditions based on the reservation data. Select. The reservation execution means inputs information on the facility selected by the facility information management means and performs reservation execution processing.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-223650 determines a meeting date and time that satisfies the schedule of the meeting organizer, attendee, and meeting room, and facilitates participation in a TV conference even with different communication protocols. In addition, a video conference support system that facilitates recording and downloading of recorded data to facilitate adjustment of the video conference is disclosed. The TV conference support system is connected to a network including the Internet and supports a TV conference between a plurality of terminals having different communication protocols. In the TV conference support system, an interface unit, a user management unit, a schedule management unit, A conference reservation search unit and a protocol conversion unit are provided. The interface unit is connected to the Internet, and transmits and receives video conference video, audio, and data to and from the plurality of terminals. The user management unit registers and manages TV conference user information, user terminal information, and conference room reservation information in advance. The schedule management unit registers and manages the participation / nonparticipation of the user and the user's schedule on the date of the TV conference. The conference reservation search unit searches for the time zone of the date of the video conference based on the schedule of the user of the schedule management unit, the reservation information of the conference room of the user management unit, and the time required for the conference. When a user who is a prospective participant is included or a user who is a prospective participant at a predetermined ratio or more can be secured, the conference is decided to be held. The protocol conversion unit enables a TV conference of a user who participates by converting different communication protocols of a plurality of terminals managed by the user management unit through the interface.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-65827 discloses a conference schedule adjustment that can adjust the conference schedule after comprehensively considering the importance of the conference, the attendance level of the person, and the response status of other members' attendance. An apparatus is disclosed. The conference schedule adjustment device is a conference schedule adjustment device that supports conference schedule adjustment, and stores a personal schedule database that stores personal schedules of conference participants, candidate schedules at the time of conference schedule adjustment, and various information related to the conference A conference candidate schedule database, a means for registering a personal schedule input by a meeting person in the personal schedule database, an input means for receiving a meeting holding condition input by a meeting organizer, and the meeting holding condition , Means for searching for a candidate free time zone from the personal schedule database of the conference personnel, and means for causing the conference organizer to refer to the searched candidate free time zone and selecting an appropriate candidate schedule from the candidate free time zone And means for notifying a meeting official of an answer request for the availability of each candidate schedule, Means for allowing the parties concerned to refer to the information about each candidate schedule, and accepting an answer of whether or not to attend the candidate schedules by the parties involved in the meeting, and in the personal schedule database according to the status of whether or not to attend A means for updating or deleting the personal schedule of the person in question, a means for monitoring the response status of the attendance of the parties involved in the conference, and notifying the response status to the meeting organizer as necessary, Based on the individual schedule, the method for reviewing the candidate schedule and the meeting organizer to refer to the result of the review of the candidate schedule, and finally the meeting schedule determined by the meeting organizer in the personal schedule of the attending members And a means for registering and a means for notifying the parties concerned of the meeting of the determination of the meeting schedule.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-153260, other participants can know who is talking in secret even when the participants are conducting confidential communications (secret talk) during the electronic conference. An electronic conference system that can perform a smooth conference progress is disclosed. The electronic conference system includes a secret communication unit and a secret communication disclosure unit in an electronic conference system that realizes an electronic conference by connecting a plurality of terminals connected via a transmission path through a predetermined communication channel. It is characterized by that. The secret communication means performs secret communication between specific terminals through a communication channel different from the communication channel used in the electronic conference. The secret communication disclosing means discloses user information of the specific terminal that is performing the secret communication by the secret communication means.

  Japanese Patent No. 3042479 discloses a video conference holding method that can automatically connect to a line at a reserved date and time even when a call is made from the video conference terminal side, and can hold a video conference smoothly. . The video conference holding method reserves the date and time of a video conference from a video conference reservation terminal to a multipoint control device, and connects the multipoint control device and a plurality of video conference terminals via a circuit network at the reserved date and time. In the video conference holding method of connecting and holding a video conference, the date and time information of the reserved video conference is managed, and when the date indicated by the information is reached, the line number of the multipoint control device used for the video conference To the video conference terminal, and from the video conference terminal that has received the notification, the line number is automatically transmitted to the multipoint control device to connect the line.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-114962 JP 2005-223650 A JP 2007-65827 A JP 05-153260 A Japanese Patent No. 3042479

In such a system, for example, even if confidentiality is required for the conference to be held, there is a possibility that a conference room where sufficient confidentiality cannot be secured may be reserved.
An object of the present invention is to provide a conference support system and a conference support method for reserving a more appropriate conference room.

  The conference support system according to the present invention includes an input information collection unit, a conference room search unit, and a reservation unit. The input information collection unit collects confidential information input from the input device. The conference room search unit refers to a conference room database that associates the presence / absence of confidentiality with a plurality of conference rooms, and calculates an appropriate conference room corresponding to the confidentiality information from the holdable conference rooms of the plurality of conference rooms. The reservation unit reserves a reserved conference room among the appropriate conference rooms.

  The conference support method according to the present invention includes a step of collecting confidentiality information input from an input device, and a conference room database that associates the presence / absence of confidentiality with a plurality of conference rooms, and a conference that can be held among the plurality of conference rooms A step of calculating an appropriate conference room corresponding to the confidentiality information from the room, and a step of reserving a reserved conference room among the appropriate conference rooms.

  The conference support system and the conference support method according to the present invention can reserve a conference room that satisfies the confidentiality of a conference that requires confidentiality, and can reserve a more appropriate conference room.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a conference support system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the conference room search / reservation unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing input information. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conference room table. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the conference support system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing other input information. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another input information. FIG. 8 shows another conference room table. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the conference support system according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing still another conference room table. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a connection schedule table. FIG. 12 shows a connection notification. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a connection notification.

  An embodiment of a conference support system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The conference support system 1 includes a conference room search reservation unit 2, an interface 3, and a conference room database 5, as shown in FIG. The conference room search reservation unit 2 is a computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage device not shown. The CPU executes a computer program installed in the conference room search reservation unit 2 to control the storage device, the interface 3 and the conference room database 5. The storage device records the computer program and temporarily records information generated by the CPU.

  The interface 3 includes an input device and a display device not shown. The input device generates information by being operated by the user, and outputs the information to the conference room search reservation unit 2. The input device is exemplified by a keyboard. The display device includes a display surface, and displays a screen generated by the conference room search reservation unit 2 on the display surface. The conference room database 5 is a computer, and records a conference room table that associates a plurality of conference rooms with information indicating reservation status and confidentiality.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the computer program installed in the conference support system 1 includes an input information collection unit 6, a conference room search unit 7, and a reservation unit 8.

  The input information collection unit 6 collects input information from the interface 3 when input information is input via the input device of the interface 3.

  The conference room search unit 7 refers to the conference room table recorded in the conference room database 5 and selects an appropriate conference room from the plurality of conference rooms based on the input information collected by the input information collection unit 6. calculate. The conference room search unit 7 further generates a screen indicating a conference room name for identifying the appropriate conference room, and displays the screen on the display device of the interface 3.

  The reservation unit 8 selects one conference room from the appropriate conference rooms calculated by the conference room search unit 7 based on information input via the input device of the interface 3. The reservation unit 8 further updates the conference room table recorded by the conference room database 5 to indicate that the selected one conference room has been reserved.

  FIG. 3 shows the input information collected by the input information collection unit 6. The input information 11 indicates the date 12 and the presence / absence 14 of confidentiality. The date and time 12 indicates the date and time when the user intends to hold a conference. The presence / absence 14 of confidentiality indicates whether confidentiality is necessary for the conference, and indicates “with confidentiality” or “without confidentiality”.

  FIG. 4 shows a conference room table recorded by the conference room database 5. The conference room table 16 associates the conference room set 17 with the reservation information set 18 and the confidentiality set 19. That is, an arbitrary element in the conference room set 17 corresponds to one element in the reservation information set 18 and corresponds to one element in the confidentiality set 19. The element of the meeting room set 17 indicates one of a plurality of meeting room names assigned to a plurality of meeting rooms, and identifies one meeting room among the plurality of meeting rooms. The element of the reservation information set 18 indicates the date and time when the conference room is reserved. The element of the confidentiality set 19 indicates whether or not the confidentiality of the conference room is protected. When the confidentiality of the conference room is protected, the confidentiality of the conference room is indicated. Indicates no confidentiality when is not protected.

  At this time, when the input information 11 is collected by the input information collection unit 6, the conference room search unit 7 refers to the conference room table 16 and stores the input information 11 from a plurality of conference rooms indicated by the conference room set 17. A conference room that can be held that is not reserved on the date and time indicated by the date and time 12 is calculated. Next, the conference room search unit 7 calculates an appropriate conference room from the conference rooms that can be held based on the presence / absence 14 of the confidentiality of the input information 11. The element corresponding to the appropriate conference room in the confidentiality set 19 indicates “with confidentiality” when the confidentiality presence / absence 14 of the input information 11 indicates “confidentiality”, and the presence / absence of confidentiality 14 Indicates “no secrecy” or “no secrecy”. The conference room search unit 7 creates a screen indicating the conference room name of the appropriate conference room, and displays the screen on the display device of the interface 3.

  The reservation unit 8 selects one conference room from the appropriate conference rooms calculated by the conference room search unit 7 based on information input via the input device of the interface 3. The reservation unit 8 further updates the conference room table 16 so that the date 12 of the input information 11 corresponds to the selected conference room, thereby holding the conference in the selected conference room. make a reservation.

  The embodiment of the conference support method according to the present invention is executed by the conference support system 1. When a user intends to hold a conference, the user first determines the date and time when the conference is to be held, determines whether or not the conference requires confidentiality, and creates input information 11. The date and time 12 of the input information 11 indicates the date and time. The presence / absence 14 of confidentiality of the input information 11 indicates “with confidentiality” when confidentiality is required for the conference, and indicates “no confidentiality” when confidentiality is not required for the conference. The user further inputs input information 11 to the conference room search reservation unit 2 via the interface 3.

  The conference room search reservation unit 2 refers to the conference room table 16 when the input information 11 is collected, and the conference room name that does not correspond to the date and time indicated by the date and time 12 of the input information 11 from the conference room set 17 Is calculated. Next, the conference room search reservation unit 2 calculates an appropriate conference room name from the calculated conference room name based on the presence / absence 14 of confidentiality of the input information 11. The element corresponding to the appropriate conference room name in the confidentiality set 19 indicates “confidentiality” when the presence / absence of confidentiality 14 of the input information 11 indicates “confidentiality”. When the presence / absence 14 indicates “no secrecy”, “confidentiality” or “no secrecy” is indicated. The conference room search reservation unit 2 creates a screen showing the calculated conference room name and displays the screen on the display device of the interface 3.

  The user browses the screen and operates the input device of the interface 3 to select the conference room name of one conference room to be reserved from the plurality of conference room names. The conference room search and reservation unit 2 further updates the conference room table 16 so that the date and time 12 of the input information 11 corresponds to the selected conference room name, so that the conference is performed in the selected conference room. Book to host.

  According to such a conference support method, the user can more easily and more easily reserve a conference room that is more appropriate with respect to confidentiality based on whether the conference to be held requires confidentiality. be able to.

  The element of the confidentiality set 19 and the presence / absence 14 of the confidentiality of the input information 11 can also indicate the level of confidentiality. At this time, the conference room search reservation unit 2 calculates the appropriate conference room name so that the corresponding confidentiality level is higher than the confidentiality level indicated by the input information 11. Even with such a conference support method, the user can more easily and more easily reserve a conference room that is more appropriate in terms of confidentiality based on whether the conference to be held requires confidentiality. Can do.

  Note that the conference room search reservation unit 2 does not need to be separate from the conference room database 5, and is formed integrally and can record the conference room table 16.

  FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the conference support system according to the present invention. The conference support system 21 includes a conference room search reservation unit 22, an interface 23, a conference room database 25, a user schedule management unit 26, and a user schedule database 27. The conference room search reservation unit 22 controls the interface 23, the conference room database 25, the user schedule management unit 26, and the user schedule database 27 in the same manner as the conference room search reservation unit 2 described above.

  The interface 23 includes an input device and a display device not shown. The input device generates information by being operated by the user, and outputs the information to the conference room search reservation unit 22. The display device includes a display surface, and displays a screen generated by the conference room search reservation unit 22 on the display surface. The conference room database 25 is a computer, and records the conference room table 16 in the same manner as the conference room database 5 described above.

  The user schedule database 27 is a computer and records a user schedule table that associates a plurality of users with a plurality of schedules. The schedule corresponding to a certain user among the plurality of schedules indicates an action scheduled for the user and a date and time when the action is to be executed, and indicates a time zone in which the user can attend the meeting.

  When the input information is input via the input device of the interface 23, the user schedule management unit 26 refers to the user schedule table recorded by the user schedule database 27, and sets the date and time based on the input information. calculate. Further, the user schedule management unit 26 is configured so that when a conference is reserved by the conference room search reservation unit 22, a user of the conference corresponds to the participation of the conference and the date and time of the conference. Update the appointment table.

  When the input information is input via the input device of the interface 23, the conference room search reservation unit 22 refers to the conference room table 16 and the date and time of the event calculated by the user schedule management unit 26. Based on the above, an appropriate conference room is calculated from the plurality of conference rooms. The conference room search reservation unit 22 further generates a screen showing the conference room name for identifying the appropriate conference room, and displays the screen on the display device of the interface 23. The conference room search reservation unit 22 selects one conference room from the appropriate conference rooms based on information input via the input device of the interface 23. The conference room search reservation unit 22 further updates the conference room table 16 to indicate that the selected one conference room has been reserved.

  FIG. 6 shows the input information. The input information 31 indicates conference participant information 32 and presence / absence 33 of confidentiality. The conference participant information 32 identifies a plurality of participants who want to participate in a conference that the user intends to hold, and indicates the names, phone numbers, or mail addresses of the plurality of participants. The presence / absence 33 of confidentiality indicates whether or not confidentiality is required for the conference, and indicates “with confidentiality” or “without confidentiality”.

  At this time, when the input information 31 is input, the user schedule management unit 26 refers to the user schedule table recorded by the user schedule database 27 and calculates the date and time based on the input information 31. The date and time of the event is calculated so that the number of participants who can attend the conference held on the date and time of the plurality of participants indicated by the conference participant information 32 is maximized.

  When the input information 31 is input, the conference room search reservation unit 22 refers to the conference room table 16 and is not reserved at the date and time indicated by the date and time from the plurality of conference rooms indicated by the conference room set 17. Calculate available conference rooms. Next, the conference room search reservation unit 22 calculates an appropriate conference room from the conference rooms that can be held based on the confidentiality 33 of the input information 31. The element corresponding to the appropriate conference room in the confidentiality set 19 indicates “confidentiality” when the confidentiality presence / absence 33 of the input information 31 indicates “confidentiality”, and the presence / absence of confidentiality 33 Indicates “no secrecy” or “no secrecy”.

  The conference room search reservation unit 22 creates a screen indicating the conference room name of the appropriate conference room, and displays the screen on the display device of the interface 23. The conference room search reservation unit 22 selects one conference room from the appropriate conference rooms calculated by the conference room search reservation unit 22 based on information input via the input device of the interface 23. The conference room search / reservation unit 22 further updates the conference room table 16 so that the date and time calculated by the user schedule management unit 26 corresponds to the selected conference room. Schedule to hold the meeting.

  Another embodiment of the conference support method according to the present invention is executed by the conference support system 21. When a user intends to hold a conference, the user first determines a plurality of participants who want to participate in the conference, determines whether the conference requires confidentiality, and creates input information 31. The confidentiality 33 of the input information 31 indicates “confidentiality” when confidentiality is required for the conference, and indicates “no confidentiality” when confidentiality is not required for the conference. The user further inputs input information 31 to the conference room search reservation unit 22 via the interface 23.

  When the input information 31 is input, the user schedule management unit 26 refers to the user schedule table recorded by the user schedule database 27 and calculates the date and time based on the input information 31. The date and time of the event is calculated so that the number of participants who can attend the conference held on the date and time of the plurality of participants indicated by the conference participant information 32 is maximized.

  The conference room search reservation unit 22 refers to the conference room table 16 when the input information 31 is collected, and the conference room is not used at the date and time calculated from the conference room set 17 by the user schedule management unit 26 Calculate the meeting room name. Next, the conference room search reservation unit 22 calculates an appropriate conference room name from the calculated conference room name based on the confidentiality 33 of the input information 31. The element corresponding to the appropriate conference room name in the confidentiality set 19 indicates “with confidentiality” when the presence / absence 33 of the input information 31 indicates “with confidentiality”. When the presence / absence of the presence / absence 33 indicates “no secrecy”, “no secrecy” or “no secrecy” is indicated. The conference room search reservation unit 22 creates a screen showing the calculated conference room name and displays the screen on the display device of the interface 23.

  The user browses the screen and operates the input device of the interface 23 to select a conference room name of one conference room to be reserved from the plurality of conference room names. The conference room search reservation unit 22 further updates the conference room table 16 so that the date and time calculated by the user schedule management unit 26 corresponds to the selected conference room name, whereby the selected conference. Schedule to hold the meeting in the room. Further, the user schedule management unit 26 updates the user schedule table so that the participants who can attend the meeting will participate in the meeting and the date and time of the meeting.

  According to such a conference support method, in the same manner as the conference support method in the above-described embodiment, the user is more concerned with confidentiality based on whether confidentiality is required for the conference to be held. Meeting rooms that are appropriate can be booked more reliably and more easily. According to such a meeting support method, the user can more easily determine a more appropriate date and time without making an inquiry to the participant, and more appropriate for more people to participate. Can hold a big meeting.

  The conference room search reservation unit 22 does not need to be separate from the user schedule management unit 26 and the user schedule database 27. The conference room search reservation unit 22, the user schedule management unit 26, and the user schedule database 27 are one computer. Can also be formed.

  FIG. 7 shows other input information used in the conference support system 1 described above. The input information 35 indicates the date and time 36 of the event, the presence / absence of confidentiality 37, and the meeting location 38. The date and time 36 indicates the date and time when the user intends to hold a conference. The presence / absence of confidentiality 37 indicates whether or not the conference requires confidentiality, and indicates “with confidentiality” or “without confidentiality”. A meeting place 38 indicates a place where the meeting is to be held. The meeting holding place 38 indicates a plurality of places where the plurality of meeting rooms are arranged when the meeting is a remote meeting held in a plurality of different meeting rooms.

  FIG. 8 shows another conference room table used together with the input information 35 in the conference support system 1 described above. The conference room table 41 associates the conference room set 42 with the reservation information set 43, the confidentiality set 44, the position set 45, and the remote conference set 46. That is, an arbitrary element in the meeting room set 42 corresponds to one element in the reservation information set 43, corresponds to one element in the confidentiality set 44, and corresponds to one element in the position set 45. Corresponds to one element of the teleconference set 46. The element of the meeting room set 42 indicates one of a plurality of meeting room names assigned to a plurality of meeting rooms, and identifies one meeting room among the plurality of meeting rooms. The element of the reservation information set 43 indicates the date and time when the conference room is reserved. The element of the confidentiality set 44 indicates whether or not the confidentiality of the conference room is protected. When the confidentiality of the conference room is protected, “confidentiality” is indicated, and the confidentiality of the conference room is indicated. Indicates no confidentiality when is not protected. An element of the position set 45 indicates a position where the conference room is arranged. The elements of the teleconference set 46 indicate whether the conference room can be teleconferenced.

  In the conference support method using the input information 35 and the conference room table 41, when a user intends to hold a conference, the user first determines the date and time when the conference is to be held, and whether the conference needs to be confidential. Decide if. The user further determines one conference location when held in the one conference room, and determines a plurality of conference locations when the conference is held in a remote conference. The user creates input information 35 based on the determined items, and inputs the input information 35 to the conference room search reservation unit 2 via the input device of the interface 3.

  When the input information 35 is collected from the interface 3 and the conference holding place 38 of the input information 35 indicates one place, the conference room search reservation unit 2 uses the input information 11 described above. In the same manner, an appropriate conference room is selected, and the conference room table 41 is updated so that the selected conference room is reserved.

  The conference room search reservation unit 2 refers to the conference room table 41 when the input information 35 is collected from the interface 3 and the conference host location 38 of the input information 35 indicates a plurality of locations. A conference room capable of a remote conference is calculated from a plurality of conference rooms indicated by the room set 42. The conference room search reservation unit 2 refers to the conference room table 41 and calculates a location conference room arranged in one of the conference holding locations 38 of the input information 35 from the conference room capable of remote conference. The conference room search / reservation unit 2 further calculates a conference room that can be held that is not reserved on the date and time indicated by the date and time 36 of the input information 35 from the calculated location conference room. Next, the conference room search reservation unit 2 calculates an appropriate conference room from the conference rooms that can be held based on the confidentiality 37 of the input information 35. The element corresponding to the appropriate conference room in the confidentiality set 44 indicates “confidentiality” when the confidentiality presence / absence 37 of the input information 35 indicates “confidentiality”. Indicates “no secrecy” or “no secrecy”. The conference room search reservation unit 2 calculates an appropriate conference room for each of the plurality of conference holding locations of the input information 35.

  The conference room search reservation unit 2 creates a screen indicating the conference room name of the appropriate conference room, and displays the screen on the display device of the interface 3. The conference room search / reservation unit 2 has one conference room for each of a plurality of conference holding locations from an appropriate conference room calculated by the conference room search / reservation unit 2 based on information input through the input device of the interface 3. Select. The conference room search / reservation unit 2 further holds the conference in the selected conference room by updating the conference room table 41 so that the date 36 of the input information 35 corresponds to the selected conference room. Make a reservation.

  That is, according to such a conference support method, even when a user reserves a plurality of conference rooms in which a remote conference is held, the user can conceal the conference to be held in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. A conference room that is more appropriate in terms of confidentiality can be more reliably and more easily reserved based on whether or not it is necessary.

  FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the conference support system according to the present invention. The conference support system 51 includes a conference room search reservation unit 52, an interface 53, a conference room database 55, a conference room connection control unit 56, a connection schedule database 58, and a plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2. . The conference room search reservation unit 52 is a computer and controls the interface 53, the conference room database 55, and the conference room connection control unit 56.

  The interface 53 includes an input device and a display device not shown. The input device generates information by being operated by the user, and outputs the information to the conference room search reservation unit 52. The display device includes a display surface, and displays a screen generated by the conference room search reservation unit 52 on the display surface. The conference room database 55 is a computer, and records a conference room table that associates a plurality of conference rooms with information indicating reservation status and confidentiality.

  Each of the plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2 is a computer, and is arranged in each of a plurality of different conference rooms. The plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2 are connected to each other via the public line network 59. Each of the plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2 is connected to another conference terminal via the public line network 59 based on the connection notice transmitted from the conference room connection control unit 56, and the public line network 59 is connected to the conference terminal 57-1 to 57-2. The video and audio in the conference room are transmitted to the conference terminal via the network, and the video and audio received from the conference terminal via the public line network 59 are reproduced. Although only two conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2 are illustrated in FIG. 9, the conference support system 51 can also include two or more conference terminals.

  The connection schedule database 58 is a computer, and records a connection schedule table indicating schedules of a plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2.

  The conference room connection control unit 56 is a computer, and refers to the connection schedule table recorded by the connection schedule database 58 to distribute a connection notification to the plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2, thereby Some of the conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2 are connected to each other so that information can be transmitted in both directions.

  FIG. 10 shows a conference room table recorded in the conference room database 58. The conference room table 61 associates the conference room set 62 with the conference terminal information set 63, the reservation information set 64, the confidentiality set 65, the position set 66, and the remote conference set 67. That is, an arbitrary element in the conference room set 62 corresponds to one element in the conference terminal information set 63. An arbitrary element in the conference room set 62 further corresponds to one element in the reservation information set 64. An arbitrary element in the meeting room set 62 further corresponds to one element in the confidentiality set 65. Any element in the meeting room set 62 further corresponds to one element in the position set 66. Any element in conference room set 62 further corresponds to one element in remote conference set 67.

  The element of the meeting room set 62 indicates one of a plurality of meeting room names assigned to the plurality of meeting rooms, and identifies one meeting room among the plurality of meeting rooms. An element of the conference terminal information set 63 indicates a telephone number assigned to a conference terminal arranged in the conference room among the plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2, and the plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-57. -2 identifies a conference terminal. The element of the reservation information set 64 indicates the date and time when the conference room is reserved. The element of the confidentiality set 65 indicates whether or not the confidentiality of the conference room is protected. When the confidentiality of the conference room is protected, the confidentiality of the conference room is indicated. Indicates no confidentiality when is not protected. The element of the position set 66 indicates the position where the conference room is arranged. The elements of the teleconference set 67 indicate whether the conference room can be teleconferenced.

  FIG. 11 shows a connection schedule table recorded by the connection schedule database 58. The connection schedule table 71 associates the connection date and time set 72 with the conference terminal information set 73. That is, an arbitrary element in the connection date / time set 72 corresponds to one element in the conference terminal information set 73. The elements of the connection date and time set 72 indicate the date and time when the conference is held, that is, the date and time when a plurality of conference terminals used in the remote conference are connected when the conference is a remote conference. The element of the conference terminal information set 73 indicates information for identifying a plurality of conference terminals used in the remote conference when the conference is a remote conference, that is, telephone numbers for identifying the plurality of conference terminals to be connected. Show.

  FIG. 12 shows a connection notification transmitted from the conference room connection control unit 56 to each conference terminal 57-i (i = 1, 2,...) Of the plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2. The connection notification 75 indicates the control information 76 and the connection number 77. The control information 76 indicates either “outgoing” or “incoming”. The connection number 77 indicates information for identifying another conference terminal connected to the conference terminal 57-i, that is, indicates the telephone number of the conference terminal.

  Another embodiment of the conference support method according to the present invention is executed by the conference support system 51. When a user intends to hold a conference, the user first determines the date and time when the conference is to be held, and determines whether or not the conference requires confidentiality. The user further determines one conference location when held in the one conference room, and determines a plurality of conference locations when the conference is held in a remote conference. The user creates input information 35 based on the determined items, and inputs the input information 35 to the conference room search reservation unit 52 via the input device of the interface 53.

  When the input information 35 is collected from the interface 53 and the conference holding place 38 of the input information 35 indicates one place, the conference room search reservation unit 52 uses the input information 11 described above. In the same manner as above, an appropriate conference room is selected, and the conference room table 61 is updated so that the selected conference room is reserved.

  The conference room search reservation unit 52 refers to the conference room table 61 when the input information 35 is collected from the interface 53 and the conference host location 38 of the input information 35 indicates a plurality of locations. A conference room capable of remote conference is calculated from a plurality of conference rooms indicated by the room set 62. The conference room search reservation unit 52 refers to the conference room table 61 and calculates a location conference room arranged in one of the conference locations 38 of the input information 35 from the conference room capable of remote conference. The conference room search reservation unit 52 further calculates a conference room that can be held that is not reserved on the date and time indicated by the date and time 36 of the input information 35 from the calculated location conference room. Next, the conference room search reservation unit 52 calculates an appropriate conference room from the conference rooms that can be held based on the confidentiality 37 of the input information 35. The element corresponding to the appropriate conference room in the confidentiality set 65 of the conference room table 61 indicates “confidentiality” when the presence / absence of confidentiality 37 of the input information 35 indicates “confidentiality”, When the presence / absence of secrecy 37 indicates “no secrecy”, “confidentiality” or “no secrecy” is indicated. The conference room search reservation unit 52 calculates an appropriate conference room for each of the plurality of conference holding locations of the input information 35.

  The conference room search reservation unit 52 creates a screen indicating the conference room name of the appropriate conference room, and displays the screen on the display device of the interface 53. The conference room search / reservation unit 52 has one conference room for each of a plurality of conference locations from the appropriate conference room calculated by the conference room search / reservation unit 52 based on information input via the input device of the interface 53. Select. The conference room search reservation unit 52 further holds the conference in the selected conference room by updating the conference room table 61 so that the date 36 of the input information 35 corresponds to the selected conference room. Make a reservation.

  The conference room connection control unit 56 monitors the conference room table 61 and detects whether or not a plurality of conference rooms used for the remote conference are reserved. The conference room connection control unit 56 updates the connection schedule table 71 based on the conference room table 61 when a plurality of conference rooms used for the remote conference are reserved. That is, the conference room connection control unit 56 adds the date / time of the remote conference to the connection date / time set 72 so that the date / time of the remote conference corresponds to the plurality of conference terminals used for the remote conference. Is added to the conference terminal information set 73.

  The conference room connection control unit 56 creates a plurality of connection notifications 75 when the connection date / time indicated by the connection date / time set 72 is reached, and the plurality of connection notifications 75 correspond to the connection date / time in the conference terminal information set 73. Distributed to a plurality of conference terminals. The connection notification 75 indicates that when the remote conference uses two conference terminals, the control information 76 of the connection notification 75 distributed to one of the two conference terminals indicates “outgoing”. The control information 76 of the connection notification 75 distributed to the other conference terminals of the two conference terminals indicates “incoming call”. The connection number 77 of the connection notification 75 distributed to the one conference terminal indicates the telephone number of the other conference terminal, and the connection number 77 of the connection notification 75 distributed to the other conference terminal is the one conference terminal. Shows the phone number.

  When the conference terminal 57-i receives the connection notification 75, the conference terminal 57-i connects to another conference terminal based on the connection notification 75. That is, the conference terminal 57-i calls the conference terminal indicated by the connection number 77 when the control information 76 of the connection notification 75 indicates “call”. When the control information 76 of the connection notification 75 indicates “incoming”, the conference terminal 57-i waits for an incoming call from another conference terminal, and the connection number 77 is the connection source number of the incoming call. When the connection destination number indicated by 77 matches, the incoming line is accepted and the line is connected.

  In other words, according to such a conference support method, the user is more appropriate in terms of confidentiality based on whether confidentiality is required for the conference to be held, as in the above-described embodiment. A certain conference room can be reserved more reliably and easily. According to such a conference support method, a remote conference participant can further easily hold a remote conference without operating the conference terminal when connecting a plurality of conference terminals.

  FIG. 13 shows another connection notification transmitted from the conference room connection control unit 56 to each conference terminal 57-i of the plurality of conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2. The connection notification 81 indicates the control information 82, the connection number 83, and the confidentiality 84. The control information 82 indicates either “outgoing” or “incoming”. The connection number 83 indicates information for identifying another conference terminal connected to the conference terminal 57-i, that is, the telephone number of the conference terminal. The confidentiality 84 indicates whether or not confidentiality is necessary, and indicates either “with confidentiality” or “without confidentiality”.

  At this time, the conference room connection control unit 56 creates a plurality of connection notifications 81 when the connection date and time indicated by the connection date and time set 72 is reached, and the plurality of connection notifications 81 are connected to the connection in the conference terminal information set 73. Deliver to each of multiple conference terminals that support day and time. When the remote conference uses two conference terminals, the control information 82 of the connection notification 81 delivered to the first conference terminal of the two conference terminals indicates “call”, and the two conference terminals The control information 82 of the connection notification 81 distributed to the second conference terminal indicates “incoming call”. The connection number 83 of the connection notification 81 delivered to the first conference terminal indicates the telephone number of the second conference terminal, and the connection number 83 of the connection notification 81 delivered to the second conference terminal is the first Indicates the telephone number of the conference terminal. The secrecy 84 of the connection notification 81 indicates “confidentiality” when the confidentiality 37 of the input information 35 indicates “confidentiality”, and the confidentiality 37 of the input information 35 indicates “confidentiality”. “No secrecy” is indicated when “no sex” is indicated.

  At this time, the conference terminals 57-1 to 57-2 are connected via a dedicated line for which secrecy is ensured, and are connected via a general line for which secrecy is not ensured. When the conference terminal 57-i receives the connection notification 81, the conference terminal 57-i connects to another conference terminal based on the connection notification 81. That is, the conference terminal 57-i is configured to connect the connection number via the dedicated line when the control information 82 of the connection notification 81 indicates “outgoing” and the confidentiality 84 indicates “confidentiality”. A call is made to the conference terminal indicated by 83. That is, when the control information 82 of the connection notification 81 indicates “outgoing” and the confidentiality 84 indicates “no confidentiality”, the conference terminal 57-i is connected via a dedicated line or a general line. To the conference terminal indicated by the connection number 83. When the control information 82 of the connection notification 81 indicates “incoming call”, the conference terminal 57-i waits for an incoming call from another conference terminal, and connection number 83. When the connection destination number indicated by 83 matches, the incoming call is accepted and the line is connected.

  According to the operation using the connection notification 81, a line for connecting a plurality of conference terminals used for the remote conference is further determined based on whether the remote conference to be held requires confidentiality. Appropriate and easier to select.

1: Conference support system 2: Conference room search reservation unit 3: Interface 5: Conference room database 6: Input information collection unit 7: Conference room search unit 8: Reservation unit 11: Input information 12: Date and time 14: Existence of confidentiality 16: Conference room table 17: Conference room set 18: Reservation information set 19: Confidentiality set 22: Conference room search reservation unit 23: Interface 25: Conference room database 26: User schedule management unit 27: User schedule database 31: Input information 32: Conference participant information 33: Presence / absence of confidentiality 35: Input information 36: Holding date / time 37: Presence / absence of confidentiality 38: Meeting place 41: Conference room table 42: Meeting room set 43: Reservation information set 44: Confidentiality Set 45: Location set 46: Remote conference set 52: Conference room search reservation part 53: Interface 55: Conference room day Base 56: Conference room connection control unit 57-1 to 57-2: Conference terminal 58: Database 59: Public line network 61: Conference room table 62: Conference room set 63: Conference terminal information set 64: Reservation information set 65: Secret Sex set 66: Location set 67: Remote conference set 71: Connection schedule table 72: Connection date and time set 73: Conference terminal information set 75: Connection notification 76: Control information 77: Connection number 81: Connection notification 82: Control information 83: Connection Number 84: Confidentiality

Claims (14)

An input information collection unit that collects confidential information input from the input device;
A conference room search unit that calculates an appropriate conference room corresponding to the confidentiality information from a conference room that can be held among the multiple conference rooms with reference to a conference room database that associates the presence or absence of confidentiality with a plurality of conference rooms,
A conference support system comprising: a reservation unit that reserves a reserved conference room among the appropriate conference rooms. In claim 1,
Each of the presence or absence of confidentiality indicates either presence or absence,
The appropriate meeting room is:
When the confidentiality information indicates confidentiality,
A conference support system corresponding to presence or absence when the confidentiality information indicates no confidentiality. In either claim 1 or claim 2,
The conference room search unit displays a screen indicating the appropriate conference room on a display device,
The said reservation part is a meeting assistance system which selects the said reserved meeting room from the said appropriate meeting room based on the information input from an input device. In any one of Claims 1-3,
A user information collection unit for collecting a plurality of users input from the input device;
Referencing a user schedule database that associates a plurality of users with a plurality of attendable dates and times, further comprising a meeting date and time calculating unit that calculates the date and time of holding,
The number of users who can attend the date and time among the plurality of users is greater than the number of users who can attend at another date and time different from the date and time of the plurality of users,
The conference room database further associates the conference rooms with possible dates and times,
The said meeting room search part refers to the said meeting room database, The meeting assistance system which calculates the said meeting room which is not used at the said holding date from the said several meeting rooms. In any one of Claims 1-4,
The conference room database further associates the multiple conference rooms with multiple locations,
The conference support system, wherein the reserved conference room includes a plurality of remote conference rooms corresponding to a plurality of holding positions input from an input device. In claim 5,
A conference support system further comprising: a conference room connection control unit that connects a plurality of conference terminals respectively arranged in the plurality of remote conference rooms at the date and time so that information can be transmitted bidirectionally. In claim 6,
The conference room connection control unit is configured to connect the plurality of conference terminals to each other via a line in which confidentiality is ensured when the confidentiality information indicates confidentiality. Collecting confidential information input from an input device;
Calculating an appropriate meeting room corresponding to the confidentiality information from a meeting room that can be held among the plurality of meeting rooms with reference to a meeting room database that associates the presence or absence of confidentiality with the plurality of meeting rooms;
Reserving a reserved conference room among the appropriate conference rooms. In claim 8,
Each of the presence or absence of confidentiality indicates either presence or absence,
The appropriate meeting room is:
When the confidentiality information indicates confidentiality,
A meeting support method corresponding to presence or absence when the confidentiality information indicates no confidentiality. In either claim 8 or claim 9,
Displaying a screen indicating the appropriate conference room on a display device;
And a step of selecting the reserved conference room from the appropriate conference rooms based on information input from an input device. In any one of Claims 8-10,
Collecting a plurality of users input from an input device;
Referring to a user schedule database associating the plurality of users with a plurality of attendable dates and times, and calculating a date and time;
Further comprising the step of referring to the conference room database and calculating the storable conference room that is not used at the date and time from the plurality of conference rooms,
The number of users who can attend at the date and time among the plurality of users is greater than the number of users who can attend at another date and time different from the date and time of the plurality of users. In any one of Claims 8-11,
The conference room database further associates the multiple conference rooms with multiple locations,
The reserved conference room includes a plurality of remote conference rooms corresponding to a plurality of holding positions input from an input device. In claim 12,
A conference support method further comprising: connecting a plurality of conference terminals respectively arranged in the plurality of remote conference rooms to each other at the date and time so that information can be transmitted in both directions. In claim 13,
The conference support method, wherein the plurality of conference terminals are connected to each other via a line in which confidentiality is ensured when the confidentiality information indicates confidentiality.

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