JP2023125483A - Communication control system and communication control program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a communication control system that allows participants in an electronic conference to easily sense an incoming notification of the electronic conference.SOLUTION: A communication control system 10 according to the present invention includes: an information processing terminal 12 that conducts an electronic conference; and a communication control device 11 to which the information processing terminal 12 and a telephone terminal 13 associated with the information processing terminal 12 are connected. When the information processing terminal 12 detects an incoming call signal for the electronic conference, the information processing terminal transmits a call control signal to the communication control device 11 for causing the telephone terminal 13 to output a ring tone, and the communication control device 11 transmits the call control signal received from the information processing terminal 12 to the telephone terminal 13 corresponding to the information processing terminal 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a communication control device used in an electronic conference system.

BACKGROUND ART A system has been commercialized that allows an information processing terminal such as a personal computer (PC) to function in cooperation with a telephone terminal such as a business phone (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). In the system of Non-Patent Document 1, when a telephone terminal receives a call, the information processing terminal is notified of the incoming call at the same time as the telephone terminal rings, and the information processing terminal can know that the telephone terminal has received a call.

Furthermore, electronic conference systems that conduct video conferences and the like via communication networks such as the Internet have become widespread. The video conference system is equipped with a function of displaying an incoming call notification on the PC display to notify the start of a conference, and outputting a ringtone to the PC speaker to notify the incoming call.

“DESKPORT Instruction Manual”, [Searched on February 14, 2020], Internet <URL: https://www.ntt-west.co.jp/kiki/support/pdf/PAC2_DESK.PDF>

In an electronic conference system, even if an incoming call notification is sent to notify the start of a conference, participants in the video conference may not notice the incoming call notification. In particular, if a headset is connected to a PC and the headset is not worn on the participant's body, the notification message will only be displayed on the edge of the PC screen and the ringtone will not be detected, so participants in the electronic conference will may not notice the incoming call notification.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a communication control system according to the present invention includes: an information processing terminal equipped with a conference control unit that conducts an electronic conference; and a telephone associated with the information processing terminal and the information processing terminal. The information processing terminal includes a communication control device to which the terminal is connected, and the information processing terminal sends a call control signal for causing the telephone terminal to output a ring tone when the conference control unit detects an incoming call signal for an electronic conference. The communication control apparatus includes a device driver section that transmits the call control signal received from the information processing terminal to the telephone terminal corresponding to the information processing terminal.

Further, a communication control program according to the present invention includes an information processing terminal including a conference control unit that performs an electronic conference, and a communication control device to which the information processing terminal and a telephone terminal associated with the information processing terminal are connected. A program executed in a communication control system comprising: a program for causing the telephone terminal to output a ringtone when the information processing terminal detects an incoming call signal for an electronic conference received by the conference control unit; A step of transmitting a call control signal to the communication control device; and a step of causing the communication control device to transmit the call control signal received from the information processing terminal to the telephone terminal corresponding to the information processing terminal. This is for causing the computer to function as the communication control system.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication control system that allows participants in an electronic conference to easily sense an incoming notification of an electronic conference.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the communication control system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the information processing terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the communication control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

<Embodiments of the present invention>
A communication control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The present invention can be implemented in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described below.

<Communication control system configuration>
As shown in FIG. 1, a communication control system 10 according to the present embodiment includes an information processing terminal 12 such as a personal computer (PC) that conducts an electronic conference such as a TV conference, and a telephone terminal such as the information processing terminal 12 and a business phone. 13 is connected to the communication control device 11.

The communication control device 11 is connected to the communication network 1, has a router function, and provides an electronic conference function such as a TV conference to the information processing terminal 12 by connecting to an electronic conference system on the communication network side. However, it is possible to provide the telephone terminal 13 with a telephone communication function. The information processing terminal 12 is associated with a telephone terminal 13, and a user of the information processing terminal 12 is associated with a telephone terminal 13 located near the information processing terminal 12. The information processing terminal 12 may be connected to an electronic conference system on the communication network side via another device (such as a router). In that case, the information processing terminal 12 receives the notification signal for the TV conference from the communication network 1 without going through the communication control device 11.

When the information processing terminal 12 that conducts a video conference etc. receives a signal notifying an incoming call from another participant in the video conference (hereinafter referred to as the "incoming signal"), the information processing terminal 12 displays the reception of the incoming signal on the display of the information processing terminal 12. A function is implemented to output a ringtone to the speaker of the information processing terminal 12 to notify the user of an incoming call. Thereby, the participants in the TV conference can recognize the incoming signal from the image on the display of the information processing terminal 12 and the sound from the speaker.

In this case, an incoming signal notified to the information processing terminal 12 that conducts the TV conference is input to the information processing terminal 12 via the communication control device 11. If a conference participant is participating in the TV conference using a headset connected to the information processing terminal 12, the ringtone of the incoming call signal is output to the earphones or headphones of the headset.

If the headset is not attached to the body of the conference participant, the notification message notifying the incoming call will pop up at the edge of the display and the ring tone on the headphones will not be detected, so the video conference The user may not be able to recognize the reception of the incoming signal.

In the present invention, by linking the electronic conference function provided by the information processing terminal 12 that executes the TV conference with the telephone communication function provided by the telephone terminal 13, the incoming signal of the TV conference is detected and the call is received at the telephone terminal 13. By transmitting the signal, the user of the TV conference is configured to recognize the reception of the incoming signal.

Specifically, in a system including a communication control device 11 connected to an information processing terminal 12 that conducts an electronic conference and a telephone terminal 13 installed in association with the information processing terminal 12, the information processing terminal 12 When an incoming call signal for an electronic conference received via the control device 11 is detected, a call control signal for causing the telephone terminal 13 to output a ring tone is generated and transmitted to the communication control device 11, and the communication control device 11 , is configured to transmit a call control signal received from the information processing terminal 12 to a telephone terminal 13 installed in association with the information processing terminal 12 from which the call control signal is transmitted.

With such a configuration, participants in a video conference can receive an incoming video conference signal by ringing the telephone terminal 13 installed in correspondence with the information processing terminal 12 even when they are not wearing a headset. It becomes possible to recognize the

<Configuration of communication control device>
As shown in FIG. 2, the communication control device 11 includes a control unit 111, a call processing interface (I/F) 114, a communication interface (I/F) 115, and a storage unit 116. The control unit 111 includes an IP communication control unit 112 for providing the information processing terminal 12 with an electronic conference function, and a call control unit 113 for providing the telephone terminal 13 with a telephone communication function.

The storage unit 116 stores a communication control program for providing an electronic conference function and a telephone communication function, and a correspondence table between the information processing terminal 12 and the telephone terminal 13. This correspondence table is a correspondence table showing the correspondence relationship between the information processing terminals 12 and the telephone terminals 13 installed in association with the information processing terminals 12. Telephone terminals 13 are installed near the information processing terminals 12 of the participants in the video conference.

Here, the program for providing the electronic conference function and the telephone communication function may be supplied to the communication control device 11 via a communication line such as the Internet. The storage unit includes various magnetic recording media, magneto-optical recording media, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and various memories.

The communication control device 11 can be realized by a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, and I/F. The communication control device 11 can be realized by a program that controls these hardware resources.

<Configuration of information processing terminal>
The information processing terminal 12 includes a communication interface (I/F) 121, a control section 122, a display section (screen) 125, an audio input/output section (for example, a microphone and a speaker) 126, and a storage section 127. The display section (screen) 125 displays an incoming call signal of the TV conference, and the audio input/output section 126 can be connected to a headset equipped with a microphone and headphones.

The control unit 122 includes, in addition to a conference control unit 123 as a processing unit for providing an electronic conference function, a device driver unit 124 for cooperating with a telephone communication function. The device driver section 124 is a processing section for making the electronic conference function provided by the information processing terminal 12 and the telephone communication function provided by the communication control device 11 and the telephone terminal 13 cooperate.

The storage unit 127 stores an audio control program for operating the device driver unit 124 and an electronic conference program for operating the conference control unit 123. The audio control program and the electronic conference program may be supplied to the information processing terminal 12 via a communication line such as the Internet. The storage unit includes various magnetic recording media, magneto-optical recording media, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and various memories.

The information processing terminal 12 can be realized by a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, and I/F. The information processing terminal 12 can be realized by a communication control program that controls these hardware resources.

<Telephone terminal configuration>
The telephone terminal 13 includes a call processing interface (I/F) 131, a call control section 132, and an audio input/output section 133, and is configured to provide a telephone communication function together with the communication control device 11.

When conducting an electronic conference, the electronic conference program is read from the storage unit 127 in the information processing terminal 12 and executed by the conference control unit 123. At this time, an image shared by the participants in the electronic conference is output to the display unit 125 of the information processing terminal 12, and audio is input and output by the audio input/output unit 126. Participants in the electronic conference can input and output audio using headsets connected to the audio input/output unit 126.

The audio signal input from the communication network 1 passes through the communication control device 11 and is input to the information processing terminal 12 via the communication interface 121, and is then controlled by the conference control unit 123 and sent from the audio input/output unit 126. Output. Furthermore, the audio signal input from the audio input/output unit 126 is output to the communication network 1 via the communication interface 121 and the communication control device 11 .

Note that participants in the electronic conference can also participate in the conference using only audio from the telephone terminal 13 without using the information processing terminal 12. At this time, the audio signal input from the communication network 1 is outputted by the audio input/output unit 133 of the telephone terminal 13 via the communication control device 11, and the audio signal inputted by the audio input/output unit 133 of the telephone terminal 13 is The signal is output to the communication network 1 via the communication control device 11.

<Operation sequence of communication control system>
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the communication control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The IP communication control unit of the communication control device 11 transmits the electronic conference notification signal received from the communication network to the information processing terminal during the TV conference. The conference control unit of the information processing terminal 12 controls the electronic conference in response to the electronic conference notification signal. For example, if the notification signal for an electronic conference is an incoming call signal from a participant in the conference, the incoming call signal is displayed on the display of the information processing terminal 12, and a ringtone to notify the information processing terminal 12 of the incoming call is displayed on the information processing terminal 12. Controls the output to the speakers. When the information processing terminal 12 is connected to an electronic conference system on the communication network side via another device (such as a router), the information processing terminal 12 can receive electronic information from the communication network 1 without going through the communication control device 11. Receive notification signals in meetings.

The device driver unit of the information processing terminal 12 refers to the notification signal received by the conference control unit and detects an incoming call signal for the electronic conference from the received notification signal. For example, an incoming signal for an electronic conference can be detected by identifying the audio signal of the incoming signal for an electronic conference.

When the device driver section of the information processing terminal 12 detects an incoming call signal for an electronic conference, the device driver section generates a call control signal for causing the telephone terminal 13 to output a ring tone, and transmits the call control signal to the IP communication control section of the communication control device 11. Send to.

In this way, the device driver section of the information processing terminal 12 has the function of converting the detected incoming call signal for the electronic conference into a call control signal of the telephone communication function provided by the communication control device 11, so that the electronic conference Functions can be linked with telephone communication functions.

The IP communication control unit of the communication control device 11 refers to the correspondence table between the information processing terminal 12 and the telephone terminal 13 stored in the storage unit, determines the telephone terminal to which the call control signal is to be transmitted, and transmits the call control signal to the information processing terminal 12. The call control signal received from the communication control device 11 is transmitted to the call control unit of the communication control device 11.

The call control unit of the communication control device 11 transmits the received call control signal to the telephone terminal 13 installed in association with the information processing terminal 12 . The telephone terminal 13 sounds a ringtone based on the received call control signal in the same manner as when receiving a normal telephone call. Participants in the TV conference can recognize the reception of an incoming signal by the ringing of the telephone terminal 13 even if they are not wearing headsets. Here, by changing the ringtone, the incoming call may be distinguished from a normal incoming call.

Here, by going off-hook at the telephone terminal 13, the telephone terminal 13 may be used as an audio input/output terminal for a TV conference. In this case, audio signals between the information processing terminal 12 and the telephone terminal 13 are transmitted and received via the communication control device 11 using a media stream such as RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol).

<Operation of communication control device and information processing terminal>
Operations of the communication control device and information processing terminal according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the information processing terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The conference control unit of the information processing terminal 12 receives an electronic conference notification signal received from the communication network during the TV conference (step S1). The conference control unit of the information processing terminal 12 controls the electronic conference in response to the electronic conference notification signal.

The device driver section of the information processing terminal 12 detects an incoming call signal for the electronic conference from the received notification signal (step S2). For example, an incoming signal for an electronic conference can be detected by identifying the audio signal of the incoming signal for an electronic conference.

When the device driver section of the information processing terminal 12 detects an incoming call signal for an electronic conference, it generates a call control signal for causing the telephone terminal 13 to output a ring tone (step S3), and the communication control device 11 (Step S4).

In this way, the device driver section of the information processing terminal 12 has the function of converting the detected incoming call signal for the electronic conference into a call control signal of the telephone communication function provided by the communication control device 11, so that the electronic conference Functions can be linked with telephone communication functions.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the communication control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

When the IP communication control unit of the communication control device 11 receives the call control signal from the device driver unit (step S5), the IP communication control unit of the communication control device 11 performs call control with reference to the correspondence table between the information processing terminal 12 and the telephone terminal 13 stored in the storage unit. The telephone terminal to which the signal is to be transmitted is determined (step S6). The IP communication control unit of the communication control device 11 transmits the call control signal received from the information processing terminal 12 to the call control unit of the communication control device 11 (step S7).

The call control unit of the communication control device 11 transmits the received call control signal to the telephone terminal 13 installed in association with the information processing terminal 12 according to the determination by the IP communication control unit (step S8). The telephone terminal 13 sounds a ring tone based on the received call control signal in the same manner as when receiving a normal telephone call (step S9).

<Other embodiments>
In the above embodiment, the device driver section generates a call control signal in response to detecting an incoming call signal for an electronic conference. However, the device driver section detects an input notification signal. After that, if it is determined that there is no response to the notification signal in the information processing terminal 12 under a predetermined determination condition, the device driver section may generate the call control signal.

The predetermined condition is, for example, when the participant does not react to the notification signal after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since receiving the notification signal. If there is a response to the notification signal in the information processing terminal 12 before the predetermined time has elapsed, the process of generating the call control signal ends. The call control signal may be generated if the participant does not respond to the notification signal after receiving the notification signal a predetermined number of times.

<Effects of this embodiment>
According to the communication control system according to the present embodiment, when an incoming call notification is sent to an information processing terminal such as a PC that conducts an electronic conference, the incoming call cannot be detected on the screen of the information processing terminal. If you do not notice the display (pop-up display, etc.), a ring tone will be output from the telephone terminal installed in association with the information processing terminal, so participants in the electronic conference can easily receive notifications of incoming calls. can be sensed.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an example of the configuration and operation of a communication control system that achieves the above effects has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Any configuration may be used as long as it exhibits the functions of the communication control system and achieves the above-mentioned effects.

The present invention can be applied to an electronic conference system connected to a communication network.

1 Communication network 10 Communication control system 11 Communication control device 12 Information processing terminal 13 Telephone terminal

Claims (4)

an information processing terminal equipped with a conference control unit for conducting an electronic conference;
comprising a communication control device to which the information processing terminal and a telephone terminal associated with the information processing terminal are connected;
The information processing terminal includes a device driver unit that transmits a call control signal to the communication control device to cause the telephone terminal to output a ring tone when the conference control unit detects an incoming call signal for an electronic conference. Prepare,
The communication control system transmits the call control signal received from the information processing terminal to the telephone terminal corresponding to the information processing terminal. The communication control device includes:
a storage unit that stores correspondence between the information processing terminal and the telephone terminal;
an IP communication control unit that determines the telephone terminal corresponding to the information processing terminal that is the transmission source of the call control signal based on the correspondence;
The communication control system according to claim 1, further comprising: a call control unit that transmits the call control signal to the telephone terminal determined by the IP communication control unit. The device driver section includes:
Claim 1, wherein the information processing terminal transmits the call control signal to the communication control device when it is determined that there is no response to the incoming call signal for electronic conference based on a predetermined determination condition. Or the communication control system according to 2. A program executed in a communication control system comprising an information processing terminal equipped with a conference control unit that conducts an electronic conference, and a communication control device to which the information processing terminal and a telephone terminal associated with the information processing terminal are connected. And,
When the information processing terminal detects an incoming call signal for an electronic conference received by the conference control unit, transmitting a call control signal to the communication control device for causing the telephone terminal to output a ring tone;
Communication for causing a computer to function as the communication control system by causing the communication control device to execute the step of transmitting the call control signal received from the information processing terminal to the telephone terminal corresponding to the information processing terminal. control program.

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