JP3289509B2 - TV conference system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipoint TV conference system for performing a TV conference at at least two points via a multipoint TV conference communication control device for controlling a plurality of TV conference terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional multipoint TV conference system. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a multipoint TV conference system, which comprises, for example, a monitor, a camera, and a microphone. This is a multipoint TV conference communication control device that realizes a multipoint TV conference by controlling a plurality of TV conference terminals 2. Here, the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1 is connected to each TV conference terminal 2 using a digital line such as ISDN, and exchanges data such as video and audio via a line correspondence unit 3 and a line response unit 3. Multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 4 for separating / multiplexing data such as video and audio of each TV conference terminal 2 input / output, and a plurality of multiplexing / demultiplexing units 4 provided in each TV conference terminal 2 in a one-to-one correspondence.
, The terminal management unit 5 that converges the plurality of TV conference terminals 2 and connects to the multipoint communication control device 1, and communicates with each of the plurality of TV conference terminals 2 convened and connected by the terminal management unit 5. A conference control unit 6 that controls conference control such as video control, audio MIX, and mid-call,
The multi-point TV conference communication control device 1 includes a device storage unit 7 that stores a record of the conference terminal 2 and a state of a conference that is currently being performed by the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the conventional multipoint TV conference system.

FIG. 14 is a view showing the contents of a TV conference terminal registration table stored in advance in the device storage unit 7, and is connected to the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1 constituting the multipoint TV conference system. N possible TV conference terminals 2
(In this embodiment, the number of connectable TV conference terminals 2 is assumed to be N.) Based on a predetermined registration number, registration of the address number or dial number of each TV conference terminal 2 and each TV conference terminal 2 Record whether or not has a conference control function capable of hosting a multipoint TV conference. In addition,
Here, for example, a TV of registration No. 2 having no conference control function
Since the conference terminal 2 cannot be a multipoint TV conference host terminal, it is set so that the TV conference terminal 2 of registration No. 2 having no conference control function cannot connect to the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the contents of a conference status table stored in the apparatus recording section 7 when a multipoint TV conference is performed by, for example, seven (n = 7) TV conference terminals 2. It is. In this conference status table, the number of points n indicates that a multipoint TV conference is being held by n places, and the TV that calls when the multipoint TV conference is held, including the multipoint TV conference host itself. The number of conference terminals 2 is shown. The type is a TV having a conference control function such that a multipoint TV conference can be hosted among the TV conference terminals 2.
A distinction is made between a conference host terminal that holds a conference at the conference terminal 2 and another TV conference terminal 2 (hereinafter, referred to as a member terminal) that is connected to a multipoint TV conference in response to a participation request from the conference host terminal. Is shown. The state indicates whether or not each TV conference terminal 2 is connected (hereinafter, referred to as participation) while the multipoint TV conference is being held. The reason for the disconnection is that information from the line being used indicates that the user is not participating in the multipoint TV conference.
The reason for the V conference terminal 2 is shown.

In FIG. 15, the conference host terminal is registration No. 1, and the member terminals that should participate in the conference are registration no.
The TV conference terminals 2 are 4, 6, 7, 12, 14, and 15. In addition, the TV conference terminal 2 participating in this multipoint TV conference has a registration number of a multipoint TV conference host.
1 indicates that the TV conference terminal 2 is a member terminal, and the TV conference terminals 2 of registration Nos. 4 and 14 are non-participants. Of the non-participating TV conference terminals 2, “other party terminal failure” of the disconnection reason indicated by registration No. 6 indicates that the TV conference terminal 2 of registration No. 6 cannot be connected due to a failure, and the TV conference terminal 2 of registration No. 7 The "normal disconnection", which is the reason for disconnection, indicates that the conference host terminal or the member terminal side has actively disconnected (hereinafter, referred to as leaving). Further, “line failure”, which is the reason for disconnecting the TV conference terminal 2 of registration No. 12, indicates that a failure has occurred in the connection line and connection is impossible, and “other party busy” of the TV conference terminal 2 of registration No. 15 is This indicates that the TV conference terminal 2 with registration No. 15 is currently in use for another conference or the like and cannot be connected. Actually, there are many other reasons for disconnection. Among them, the only reason for disconnection indicating that the conference host terminal or the member terminal has actively disconnected is “normal disconnection” of the TV conference terminal 2 of registration No. 4, Is the disconnection reason at the time of abnormality.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. At the time of holding a multipoint TV conference, in step ST31, a certain TV conference terminal 2 sends a request signal S1 for connection with the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1 to the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1. The transmission to the line response unit 3 of the TV conference communication control device 1
The process moves to T32.

[0007] In step ST32, the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1 sends the line response unit 3 to the terminal management unit 5
The terminal management unit 5 transmits a connection inquiry signal S2 to the device storage unit 7 based on the connection inquiry signal S2.
The TV conference terminal registration table shown in FIG. 14 stored therein is searched to check whether the TV conference terminal 2 that has transmitted the request signal S1 is registered or has a conference control function. As a result of the check in step ST32, when the TV conference terminal 2 that transmitted the request signal S1 is not registered, or is registered but has no conference control function, the TV conference terminal 2 Since the terminal cannot be a terminal, the process shifts to step ST33 and rejects connection with the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1 by the request signal S1.

At step ST32, the TV conference terminal registration table shown in FIG. 14 stored in the device storage unit 7 is searched, and as a result, the request signal S1 is transmitted.
When the V conference terminal 2 has a registration and a conference control function,
The process proceeds to step ST34, in which the TV conference terminal 2 having transmitted the request signal S1 is regarded as a conference host terminal, and a request permission signal S3 is transmitted to the line corresponding unit 3, and
Move to 35.

In step ST35, a request permission signal S3
Is received, the line response unit 3 establishes a call connection with the TV conference terminal 2 that has transmitted the request signal S1 regarded as the conference host terminal in step ST34, and when the connection is completed, the terminal response unit 3 A call connection completion signal S5 is transmitted. Thereafter, the terminal management unit 5 having received the call connection completion signal S5 transmits a connection request signal S6 to the demultiplexing unit 4, and the demultiplexing unit 4 is regarded as a conference host terminal in which the call connection is completed. For the channel of the TV conference terminal 2, for example, the international standard ITU-TS Recommendation H. 221 and frame multiplexing of data such as video data, audio data, control data, etc. are made to match, for example, according to the International Standard ITU-TS Recommendation H.221. MBE command or the like defined by the H.221 (hereinafter, in this embodiment, the conference host terminal and the multipoint TV)
The data exchange with the conference communication control device 1
This is performed by the E command. ) Allows data to be exchanged. When the frame synchronization is established, the demultiplexing unit 4 transmits a connection completion signal S7 to the terminal management unit 5 to notify that the data can be exchanged, and proceeds to step ST36. .

In a state in which frame synchronization is achieved and data can be exchanged, in step ST36, the conference host terminal designates a member terminal or the like to participate in the multipoint TV conference to the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1. Then, a conference holding request signal S8 is transmitted to the conference control section 6 through the terminal management section 5 to request the holding of a multipoint TV conference, and the process proceeds to step ST37.

In step ST37, when the conference control unit 6 receives the conference holding request signal S8 from the line corresponding unit 3,
The device storage unit 7 records the member terminals participating in the multipoint TV conference, etc., and specifies the member terminal to the terminal management unit 5 and transmits a call request signal S9. A second call connection request signal S10 to the line corresponding unit 3 is transmitted to notify the dial number and the transmission information of the member terminal that has been set.
Thus, the call connection between the line corresponding unit 3 and the designated member terminal is executed. By transmitting the second call connection completion signal S11 to the terminal management unit 5 when the call connection of the member terminal is completed, the terminal management unit 5 sends the second connection request signal to the demultiplexing unit 4. S12 is transmitted. Then, upon receiving the second connection request signal S12, the demultiplexing unit 4 performs frame synchronization on each channel of each of the member terminals to which the call connection with the member terminals has been completed in the same manner as the above-mentioned conference host terminal. Aim. And the demultiplexing unit 4
At the time when the frame synchronization is established, a second connection completion signal S13 is transmitted to the terminal management unit 5 to notify that the data can be exchanged. Then, the terminal management unit 5 that has received the second connection completion signal S13 from the demultiplexing unit 4 notifies each member terminal of the connection to the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1 through the control data, A call completion signal S14 for the designated member terminal is transmitted to the control unit 6.

If a call connection fails in the line handling unit 3 or a frame synchronization fails in the demultiplexing unit 4 during connection processing with the member terminal, the line handling unit 3 or the multiplex The connection failure signal S15 is transmitted from the separation unit 4 to the terminal management unit 5. The terminal management unit 5 that has received the connection failure signal S15 transmits a call failure signal S16 notifying the conference control unit 6 of the member terminal that failed in the call.

Upon receiving the call completion signal S14 or the call failure signal S16 from the terminal management unit 5, the conference control unit 6, having recognized the connection result of the calling member terminal,
In the conference state table, the participation (the member terminal whose call is completed) or the non-participation (the member terminal whose call fails) of the member terminal is recorded, and the reason why the non-participant terminal could not be connected is recorded in the disconnection reason item. ,further,
It is determined whether calling of all member terminals has been completed and step ST
Move to 38. Here, if the calling of all the member terminals participating in the conference is not completed, it waits for the joining of the calling member terminals.

In step ST38, when the calling process of all the member terminals is completed (when the participation / non-participation of all called member terminals is determined), the conference control unit 6 sets the multipoint TV conference in the device storage unit 7 to Is set to the start of the multipoint TV conference, the conference is started by transmitting the conference start signal S17 to the member terminals participating in the multipoint TV conference, and the screen switching operation and the like accompanying the conference operation are performed. Perform conference control.

If a member terminal participating in the multipoint TV conference no longer needs to participate during the conference, the conference host terminal instructs the terminal management unit 5 to leave the member terminal. Is transmitted, the terminal leaving request signal S18 is transmitted. Upon receiving the terminal leaving request signal S18, the terminal management unit 5 transmits a line disconnection request signal S19 to the line corresponding unit 3 to disconnect the line to which the member terminal is connected. Upon receiving the line disconnection request signal S19, the line corresponding unit 3 transmits a line disconnection notification signal S20 to the terminal management unit 5 when disconnection of the line used by the leaving member terminal is completed. The terminal management unit 5 that has received the line disconnection notification signal S20 transmits a disconnection notification signal S21 to the demultiplexing unit 4 and transmits a terminal leaving notification signal S22 to the conference control unit 6. When the conference control unit 6 receives the terminal leaving notification signal S22 from the terminal management unit 5,
The exit completion signal S is sent to the conference host terminal through the terminal management unit 5.
23, the completion of leaving the member terminal is notified, and the status item in the conference status table is recorded as non-participation, and the disconnection reason item is recorded as normal disconnection.

If a member terminal participating in the multipoint TV conference is disconnected during the multipoint TV conference due to, for example, a poor line connection, the line handling unit 3 sends a line disconnection signal to the terminal management unit 5. S24 is transmitted. The terminal management unit 5 having received the line disconnection signal S24 transmits a disconnection notification signal S21 to the demultiplexing unit 4 and transmits a terminal leaving notification signal S22 to the conference control unit 6. The conference control unit 6 receives a terminal leaving notification signal S22 from the terminal management unit 5.
Is received, a terminal disconnection signal S25 is transmitted to the conference host terminal through the terminal management unit 5 to notify the disconnection of the member terminal, and the status item of the conference status table is not joined, and the disconnection reason item is Record a line failure.

If the conference host terminal is disconnected during the conference due to, for example, a poor line connection, the line handling unit 3 is disconnected in the same manner as when the conference participating member terminal is disconnected.
Then, the line disconnection signal S24 is transmitted to the conference control unit 6.
When the conference control unit 6 receives the line disconnection signal S24 of the conference host terminal, it is impossible to continue the conference only with the member terminals without the conference control right. A disconnection request signal S26 is transmitted.

Upon receiving the disconnection request signal S26 for the member terminal, the terminal management unit 5 transmits a line disconnection request signal S19 requesting disconnection of the line of the currently connected member terminal to the line response unit 3. When receiving the line disconnection request signal S19, the line corresponding unit 3 transmits a line disconnection notification signal S20 to the terminal management unit 5 when the line disconnection process for the member terminal is completed. Upon receiving this line disconnection notification signal S20, the terminal management unit 5 transmits a disconnection notification signal S21 to the demultiplexing unit 4 and transmits a terminal leaving notification signal S22 to the conference control unit 6. When the conference control unit 6 receives the terminal leaving notification signals S22 of all the member terminals from the terminal management unit 5, the conference ends and releases all resources used for the conference. A similar product is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-259.
No. 652 is also described.

[0019]

The conventional multipoint TV conference communication control apparatus as described above, for whatever reason, once the line is disconnected, the disconnected TV
Could not automatically reconnect with the conference terminal. Therefore, it is necessary to newly call the TV conference terminal whose line has been disconnected, which requires much labor and time. In addition, when calling of the TV conference terminal is troublesome, the same member terminal is selected again and the conference is held after the multipoint TV conference is once finished. Since it is necessary to call the terminal again, it takes time and wasteful time. In addition, multipoint TV until the calling member terminal joins
In addition to the interruption of the conference, a line connection fee is added to the other member terminals until the member terminal returns, causing unnecessary costs. Furthermore, when a dedicated line or the like is used as a connection line and a line whose reason for disconnection does not come up from the line is used, it is not known why a terminal that is not participating in the current multipoint TV conference is not participating. There was also a case where a call was made again to a member terminal that normally exited.
In addition, when there are a number of member terminals that cannot be called for reasons other than normal disconnection at the time of holding a conference, each member terminal must be called one by one according to an instruction from the conference host terminal. When this operation is manually performed by the host conference terminal, the call connection is completed by one line at the line corresponding unit 3 and the frame synchronization is completed by the demultiplexing unit 4 to complete the connection to one member terminal.
It took about 30 seconds, at most about 1 minute, to reach the communicable state, which required a lot of wasted time. In addition, if the conference host terminal leaves by mistake, the conference host terminal disappears, so that it is impossible to continue the multipoint TV conference, and all the multipoint TV conference participating member terminals are disconnected.
The multipoint TV conference ends. In such a case, a meeting holding request must be issued again from the meeting host terminal, and there is a problem that it takes time and effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a first object is to reconnect a TV conference terminal disconnected during a multipoint TV conference as necessary. The goal is to have a TV conference system that can be called automatically. Further, the second object is that, in addition to the first object, even when a dedicated line or the like having no reason for disconnecting from the line is used for the line, it is possible to surely recognize the conference host terminal to be recalled. To get a TV conference system that can do it. Further, the third object is that even when there are a plurality of TV conference terminals to be called, each T
An object of the present invention is to obtain a TV conference system that enables simultaneous calling to a V conference terminal. A fourth object is that even when the conference host terminal is disconnected from the multipoint TV conference system, there is a TV conference terminal capable of acting as the conference host terminal among the member terminal terminals. For example, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a TV conference system in which the conference is continued using the member terminal as a new conference host terminal and the multipoint TV conference is not terminated.

[0021]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A TV conference system according to the present invention includes a TV conference system provided separately at a plurality of points.
A V conference terminal, a terminal management unit that calls the plurality of TV conference terminals in an arbitrary combination and connects to a line, and a conference that controls each of the plurality of TV conference terminals connected by the terminal management unit in the TV conference. A control unit, a device storage unit that stores a disconnection reason when the line of the TV conference controlled by the conference control unit is disconnected, and a disconnection from the device storage unit when the line of the TV conference is disconnected. A recall unit for automatically recalling a line determined to need to be reconnected based on the reason; Things.

[0022] Further, a TV conference terminal separately provided at each of a plurality of locations, a terminal management unit for calling the plurality of TV conference terminals in an arbitrary combination and connecting to a line,
A conference control unit for controlling a TV conference of each of the plurality of TV conference terminals connected by the terminal management unit; a device storage unit for storing recall necessity information predetermined for each of the TV conference terminals; When the line of the TV conference is disconnected, the necessity of reconnection of the disconnected line is determined based on the recall necessity information from the device storage unit, and it is determined that the reconnection is necessary. A recall unit for automatically recalling a line is provided.

When a recall is performed, a recall is collectively performed by the collective calling unit for each TV conference terminal requiring the recall.

Further, when the line of the first TV conference terminal set in advance as the conference host terminal is disconnected,
A second TV conference terminal that can be a conference host terminal is searched for from other member terminals that are present in the TV conference other than the TV conference terminal of the above, and the second TV conference terminal is set as a new conference host terminal. A host terminal management unit for resetting the first TV conference terminal as a member terminal and a recall unit for recalling the first TV conference terminal whose line has been disconnected. is there.

[0025]

In the multipoint video conference system configured as described above, when the line of the video conference terminal is disconnected,
The recall unit determines whether or not to perform a recall based on the connection state at the time of connection of the TV conference terminal in the device storage unit and the reason for disconnection of the line. It works to automatically connect to the multipoint TV conference system again without reconnecting the TV conference terminal from the beginning.

When the line of the TV conference terminal is disconnected, a recall is performed based on the connection state at the time of connection of the TV conference terminal in the device storage unit and the recall necessity information predetermined for each TV conference terminal. Since the unit determines whether or not to recall, there is no need to have the disconnection reason transmitted via the line, and the degree of freedom in selecting the line increases.

Further, the collective calling section operates so as to collectively recall the TV conference terminals requiring recall without reconnecting one by one.

Further, when the line of the conference host terminal is disconnected, the multipoint TV conference is normally terminated. However, when it is necessary to continue the multipoint TV conference, the multipoint TV conference is attended. A TV conference terminal that can be a conference host terminal is searched for from among the other member terminals that are in operation, the conference host terminal is substituted for the TV conference terminal, the multipoint TV conference is continued without ending, and the line is connected. Call the disconnected old conference host terminal again as a member terminal.

[0029]

【Example】

Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint TV conference system as a first embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numerals 2 to 7 are the same as or equivalent to the above-mentioned conventional device, and the description thereof is omitted. 1a is a multipoint TV
In a conference system, a multipoint TV that realizes a multipoint TV conference by controlling a plurality of TV conference terminals 2
It is a conference communication control device. Here, the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1a includes a line disconnecting unit 3, a demultiplexing unit 4, a terminal management unit 5, a conference control unit 6, a device storage unit 7, and a terminal disconnection notification signal received from the terminal management unit 5. In response to S27, the TV conference terminal 2 whose line has been disconnected due to an arbitrary / command from the device storage unit or an accident has been disconnected based on the connection state information at the time of connection and the reason for disconnection when the line was disconnected. A disconnection information management unit 8 is provided as a recall unit for automatically determining the necessity of reconnection of the line and automatically recalling the line for which the reconnection is determined to be necessary. FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents at the time of automatic recall in the disconnection information management unit 8.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 15, an operation in the case where a member terminal participating in the multipoint TV conference withdraws during a multipoint TV conference, for example, will be described.
Note that the operation of holding a multipoint TV conference and requesting / disconnecting a member terminal to leave is the same as in the conventional example, and a description thereof will be omitted. First, in step ST1, a member terminal participating in the conference is normally disconnected from the terminal (since it is no longer necessary to participate in the multipoint TV conference, a command from the conference host terminal or voluntary disconnection of the member terminal). Then "normal disconnection"
A line disconnection notification signal S20 containing the disconnection reason is transmitted from the line corresponding unit 3 to the terminal management unit 5. In addition, it is necessary to still participate in the multipoint TV conference. However, if a member terminal participating in the multipoint TV conference is disconnected due to a poor connection of a line or an accident, a "line failure" A line disconnection signal S24 containing a disconnection reason of "" is transmitted from the line handling unit 3 to the terminal management unit 5, and step ST
Move to 2.

In step ST2, the terminal management section 5 having received the "normal disconnection" and the line disconnection notification signal S20 containing the reason for disconnection transmits the disconnection notification signal S21 to the demultiplexing section 4 and performs the disconnection information management. A terminal leaving notification signal S22 is transmitted to the unit 8. On the other hand, the terminal management unit 5 that has received the line disconnection signal S24 including the “line failure” and the disconnection reason similarly transmits the disconnection notification signal S21 to the demultiplexing unit 4 and sends the disconnection information management unit 8 A terminal leaving notification signal S22 is transmitted. Terminal leaving notification signal S22
Is received from the terminal management unit 5, the disconnection information management unit 8 transmits to the conference control unit 6 a terminal leaving notification signal S22 including "normal disconnection" or "line failure" and a reason for disconnecting the line, and Move to ST3.

Here, as described in the section of the prior art, when the reason for disconnecting the line is normal disconnection, the conference control unit 6 transmits the exit completion signal S23 to the conference host terminal through the terminal management unit 5. In addition, the completion of the leaving of the member terminal is notified, and the status item in the conference status table shown in FIG. If the reason for disconnecting the line is a line failure, a terminal disconnection signal S25 is similarly transmitted to the conference host terminal through the terminal management unit 5 to notify the disconnection of the member terminal, and is also shown in FIG. The status item of the conference status table is recorded as “not participating”, and the disconnection reason item is recorded as “line failure”.

In step ST3, the cutting information management unit 8
Accesses the conference status table in the device storage unit 7 shown in FIG. 15, determines whether the disconnection reason of the member terminal is normal disconnection, and when the disconnection reason is “normal disconnection”, The member terminal can determine that there is no need to participate in the multipoint TV conference any more. In other words, there is no need to recall, and the process ends. However, when the disconnection reason is other than the normal disconnection such as “line failure”, the disconnection of the member terminal can be determined to be an erroneous disconnection. By the same steps as in the above-described conventional example, the recalling of the member terminal that has automatically left is described in FIG.
The process automatically starts from the position of step ST37 in the flowchart of FIG.

With the above operation, even if a member terminal is disconnected or erroneously disconnected during a multipoint TV conference, the member terminal automatically disconnected is reconnected. The operability is improved because it is not necessary for the multipoint TV conference participant to reconnect from the beginning. In addition, since reconnection is automatically performed from an intermediate step in the connection process, the time required for reconnection is reduced, and wasteful cost due to interruption of the conference can be reduced. Further, by shortening the time from disconnection to reconnection, it is possible to substantially occupy the member terminal and prevent the member terminal from being taken for another multipoint TV conference. Can be.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint TV conference system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numerals 2 to 6 denote the same or corresponding elements as those of the conventional apparatus, and a description thereof will be omitted. I do. Reference numeral 1b denotes a plurality of TV conference terminals 2 in the multipoint TV conference system.
Is a multipoint TV conference communication control device that realizes a multipoint TV conference. Here, multipoint TV
The conference communication control device 1b includes a line corresponding unit 3, a demultiplexing unit 4, a terminal management unit 5, a conference control unit 6, a device storage unit 7a, and a recall management unit 9. Here, the device storage unit 7a stores the connection state of each of the plurality of TV conference terminals 2 connected to the line of the TV conference controlled by the conference control unit 6 and a recall predetermined for each TV conference terminal 2. Necessity information is stored. The recall management unit 9 receives the terminal disconnection notification signal S27 received from the terminal management unit 5, and receives the connection state of the TV conference terminal 2 whose line has been disconnected due to an arbitrary / command from the device storage unit 7a or an accident. Recall unit that determines the necessity of reconnection of the disconnected line based on the information and the recall necessity information, and automatically recalls the line determined to need reconnection. As a function. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents at the time of automatic recall in the recall management unit 9. FIG. 5 is a conference status table stored in the device storage unit 7a. In addition to the disconnection reason item of the conference status table of FIG. 15 described in the conventional example, a recall necessity item is additionally stored. are doing.

Next, an operation when a member terminal participating in the multipoint TV conference leaves the conference, for example, while the multipoint TV conference is being held, will be described with reference to FIGS. In the above-described first embodiment, the disconnection information management unit 8 accesses the conference status table in the device storage unit 7a, and determines whether the disconnection of the member terminal is "normal disconnection" or "line failure" other than "normal disconnection". Although it was determined whether to end the processing or recall based on this, in the present embodiment,
For example, in order to cope with a case where the reason for disconnection is not output when the line is disconnected such as a dedicated line, automatic recall is enabled.

First, in step ST1a, it is necessary to participate in the multipoint TV conference. However, if the member terminal leaves due to a disconnection of the line due to a poor connection of the line or an accidental accident, etc. In the case of using a line such as a line that does not output a reason for disconnection at the time of disconnection, the line corresponding unit 3 transmits a line disconnection notification signal S20 having no reason for disconnection to the terminal management unit 5, Move to step ST2a.

In step ST2a, the terminal management unit 5 having received the line disconnection notification signal S20 transmits a disconnection notification signal S21 to the demultiplexing unit 4, and transmits a terminal disconnection notification signal S27 to the recall management unit 9. I do. Receiving the terminal disconnection notification signal S27, the recall management unit 10 transmits the terminal disconnection notification signal S27 to the conference control unit 6, and proceeds to step ST5. Here, since the conference control unit 6 cannot know the reason for disconnecting the line, the conference storage unit 7a
In the conference status table shown in FIG. 5, there is no item of the reason for disconnection, and only "status" is recorded as "non-participation".
Send

In step ST5, the user accesses the item of recall necessity in the conference status table in the device storage unit 7a shown in FIG. If the call is set to "necessary", the process proceeds to step ST6, where a call request signal S9 of the member terminal which has left is transmitted to the terminal management unit 5 as in the above-described first embodiment. In the same way as above, the member terminal is automatically recalled. On the other hand, if the member terminal that answers is set to “No” for the recall in the item of recall in the conference status table in the device storage unit 7a, the member terminal is no longer in the multipoint TV conference. No need to participate,
Since it can be determined that the connection has been disconnected for a legitimate reason, the processing is terminated.

Here, the item of necessity of recall in the conference status table in the device storage unit 7a will be described in detail. The initial setting of the call necessity item in the conference status table shown in FIG. 5 is set to “No” in the state at the time of calling the terminal for holding the conference, for example. And all T
When the conference control unit 6 receives the call completion signal S14 from the terminal management unit 5 notifying that the connection with the V conference terminal 2 has been completed, the conference control unit 6 resets the conference state table in the device storage unit 7. It is preferable to set the item of the call to be rewritten as “necessary”.

The member terminal does not need to participate in the multipoint TV conference terminal. As a result, in the case of a line connection in accordance with an instruction from the conference host terminal, the reason for disconnection in the conference state table in the above-described conventional example is described. Instead of recording the reason for disconnection in the item, the recall necessity item in the conference status table in the device storage unit 7a shown in FIG. When the member terminal voluntarily leaves, the conference leaving notification signal S30 from the member terminal is sent to the demultiplexing unit 4 via the line corresponding unit 3.
Is received, a conference exit notification signal S30 is transmitted to the conference control unit 6, and a recall of the member terminal that has exited is displayed in the item of recall necessity in the conference status table in the device storage unit 7a shown in FIG. Set to No.

According to the above-described operation, the member terminal is suddenly disconnected during the holding of the TV conference using the leased line or the like, and a recall is performed according to the conference state table shown in FIG. 5 even if there is no reason for disconnection. This can be determined, for example, when the line is disconnected, such as a dedicated line, and is effective when the reason for disconnection is not output.

In the first and second embodiments, the automatic recall is set based on the line disconnection of the member terminal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is limited to the member terminal. If the processing when the line of the conference host terminal is disconnected is performed in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multipoint TV conference system as a third embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numerals 2 to 7 denote the same or corresponding components as those of the above-described conventional device. Omitted. Reference numeral 1c denotes a multipoint TV conference communication control device that realizes a multipoint TV conference by controlling a plurality of TV conference terminals 2 in the multipoint TV conference system. Here, the multipoint TV conference communication control device 1c sets the conference state according to instructions from the line corresponding unit 3, the demultiplexing unit 4, the terminal management unit 5, the conference control unit 6, the device storage unit 7, and the conference control unit 6. By referring to the table, the batch calling unit 1 can request the terminal management unit 5 to call all the non-meeting terminals.
It consists of 0. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the batch calling unit 8.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, an operation in the case where, for example, a multipoint TV conference is being held and a plurality of member terminals participating in the conference have left will be described. Since the operation of holding a multipoint conference and requesting / disconnecting members from the terminal are the same as in the conventional example, the operation of the collective calling unit 10 will be mainly described in this embodiment. When the conference host terminal makes a batch call for recalling a plurality of conference non-participating terminals, the conference host terminal transmits a batch call request signal S28 to the conference control unit 6 through the demultiplexing unit 4. Upon receiving the collective call request signal S28, the conference control unit 6 transmits a collective call request signal S28 to the collective call unit 10. In the collective calling unit 10, the collective calling request signal S28 is sent from the conference control unit 6.
Is received in step ST7, a pointer for searching the conference state table is initialized, and step S7 is executed.
The process moves to T8.

In step ST8, it is determined whether or not the state of the referred member terminal is non-participation by referring to the state item of the conference state table in the device storage unit 7 as shown in FIG. 5, for example. If the result of this determination is that the state of the referenced member terminal is “not participating”, the process proceeds to step ST3, where a call request signal S9 is transmitted to the terminal management unit 5,
Move to step ST10. However, step ST8
If the state of the member terminal referred to in the above is "participation", there is no need to make a new general call, and the process proceeds to step ST10.

In step ST10, the pointer is updated to determine the state of the new member terminal to be referred to, and the process proceeds to step ST11. In step ST11, it is determined whether there is a member terminal that has not been referred to yet. If there is a member terminal to be referred to, the above-described processing needs to be performed by the new member terminal.
8 again, and the process is repeated. Here, if there is no longer a new member terminal to be referred to, the process is terminated.

With the above operation, the member terminals disconnected during the multipoint TV conference can be simultaneously called at once, so that the operation is simplified. Further, since the connection can be established earlier than before, the time for interrupting the conference between calls is reduced, and wasteful costs can be reduced. Furthermore, referring to the disconnection reason item in the conference status table, it is also possible to make a collective call to terminals other than the normal disconnection. In this case, only terminals that should participate in the conference can be collectively called, so that an efficient call can be made. Batch calling becomes possible. Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the member terminals disconnected during the multipoint TV conference are simultaneously called at the same time, but the present invention is not limited to this. By simultaneously calling a plurality of TV conference terminals 2 at the same time in response to a request from the conference host terminal, it is possible to simultaneously open the lines with the plurality of TV conference terminals 2 which had previously been opened one by one. it can. As a result, the time required for preparation for holding the multipoint TV conference can be reduced, and the cost for the preparation can also be reduced.

Embodiment 4 FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multipoint TV conference system as a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numerals 2 to 8 denote the same or corresponding components as those of the conventional device and the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the description is omitted. Reference numeral 1d denotes a multipoint TV conference communication control device that realizes a multipoint TV conference by controlling a plurality of TV conference terminals 2 in the multipoint TV conference system. It comprises a terminal management unit 5, a conference control unit 6, a device storage unit 7, a disconnection information management unit 8, and a host terminal management unit 11. Here, the host terminal management unit 11 uses the device storage unit 7 based on the terminal leaving notification signal S22 of the conference host terminal notified from the disconnection information management unit 8.
Refer to the TV conference terminal registration table in the device storage unit 7 shown in FIG.
When there is a member terminal capable of acting as the conference host terminal among the participating member terminals of the conference, the conference state table is updated with the member terminal as a new conference host terminal, and the conference control unit 6 hosts the conference terminal. The terminal change notification signal S is transmitted, and the terminal leaving notification signal S22 of the old conference host terminal is transmitted to the disconnection information management unit 8. FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of recalling a conference host terminal as needed in the host terminal management unit 11.

Next, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, during a multipoint TV conference, the conference host terminal, which is the first TV conference terminal 2 hosting the conference, has left. The operation in this case will be described in detail. First, in step ST12, if the conference host terminal is erroneously disconnected from the line of the multipoint TV conference due to an erroneous operation on the side of the conference host terminal or the like, there is no abnormality in the line itself. The line disconnection notification signal S20 is transmitted from the line corresponding unit 3 to the terminal management unit 5. In addition, multipoint T
It is still necessary to participate in the V conference, but if the conference host terminal participating in the multipoint TV conference is disconnected due to poor line connection or accidental accident, the reason for the disconnection is "line failure". Is transmitted from the line handling unit 3 to the terminal management unit 5, and the process proceeds to step ST13.

In step ST13, the terminal management unit 5 which has received the line disconnection notification signal S20 including the "normal disconnection" and the reason for disconnection transmits the disconnection notification signal S21 to the demultiplexing unit 4, and performs the disconnection information management. A terminal leaving notification signal S22 is transmitted to the unit 8. On the other hand, the terminal management unit 5 that has received the line disconnection signal S24 including the “line failure” and the disconnection reason similarly transmits the disconnection notification signal S21 to the demultiplexing unit 4 and sends the disconnection information management unit 8 A terminal leaving notification signal S22 is transmitted. Terminal leaving notification signal S22
Is received from the terminal management unit 5, the disconnection information management unit 8 sends “normal disconnection” to the conference control unit 6 and the host terminal management unit 11.
Alternatively, a terminal leaving notification signal S22 containing "line failure" and the reason for disconnecting the line is transmitted, and the process proceeds to step ST14. Here, the conference control unit 6 records the line disconnection reason in the conference state table in the device storage unit 7 as in the second embodiment described above.

In step ST14, the cutting information management unit 8
Accesses the conference status table in the device storage unit 7,
It is determined whether or not the reason for disconnecting the conference host is a normal disconnection. If the disconnection is “normal disconnection”, the multipoint TV conference ends when the conference host disconnects the line. finish. However, the disconnection reason is “line failure”
Otherwise, the disconnection of the conference host terminal can be determined to be an erroneous disconnection, so the process proceeds to step ST15, and the host terminal management unit 11 sets the TV conference terminal in the device storage unit 7 shown in FIG. Referring to the registration table, a member terminal that is the second TV conference terminal 2 capable of acting as the conference host terminal is searched for among the member terminals participating in the multipoint TV conference. After searching for a member terminal capable of acting as a meeting host terminal in step ST15,
In step ST16, a member terminal capable of acting for the function of the conference host terminal is set as a new conference host terminal, the type item of the conference status table shown in FIG. The host terminal change signal S29 is transmitted. Further, it notifies the disconnection information management unit 8 of a terminal leaving notification signal S22 for the old host terminal that has left and requests a recall to the old host terminal.

With the above operation, even if the conference host terminal is erroneously disconnected during the holding of the conference, the member terminal which is the second TV conference terminal capable of acting as the conference host terminal is set as a new conference host terminal. Then, since the conference is continued, it is not necessary to hold the conference from the conference host terminal to all the member terminals again, so that the labor required for holding the conference again can be omitted. Further, in this case, since the TV conference terminal 2 to be called again is only the old conference host terminal that has been erroneously disconnected, the connection time is shortened, and unnecessary costs are reduced.

Embodiment 5 FIG. FIG. 10 shows Embodiment 5 of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multipoint TV conference system as an example. I do. Reference numeral 1e denotes a multipoint TV conference communication control device that realizes a multipoint TV conference by controlling a plurality of TV conference terminals 2 in the multipoint TV conference system. It comprises a terminal management unit 5, a conference control unit 6, a device storage unit 7a, a recall management unit 9, and a host terminal management unit 11. FIG.
1 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of recalling the conference host terminal as necessary in the host terminal management unit 11.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, for example, when a multi-point TV conference is being held and the conference host terminal that is hosting the conference leaves, for example, In order to cope with a case in which the reason for disconnection is not output at the time of disconnection such as a dedicated line, an operation for enabling automatic recall will be described in detail.

First, in step ST17, when the conference host terminal disconnects from the line of the multipoint TV conference due to an erroneous operation on the side of the host terminal or the necessity of holding the multipoint TV conference, etc. In the case of using a line such as a line that does not output a reason for disconnection at the time of disconnection, the line corresponding unit 3 transmits a line disconnection notification signal S20 having no reason for disconnection to the terminal management unit 5, The process moves to step ST18.

In step ST18, the terminal management unit 5 having received the line disconnection notification signal S20 transmits a disconnection notification signal S21 to the demultiplexing unit 4, and transmits a terminal leaving notification signal S22 to the recall management unit 9. I do. Receiving the terminal leaving notification signal S22 from the terminal managing unit 5, the recall managing unit 10 transmits the terminal leaving notification signal S22 to the conference control unit 6 and the host terminal managing unit 11, and proceeds to step ST19.
Move to Here, since the conference control unit 6 cannot know the reason for disconnection of the line, the conference state table shown in FIG. No participation ".

In step ST19, access is made to the item of necessity of recall in the conference status table in the device storage unit 7a shown in FIG. If the item of necessity is set to “necessary” for recall, the process proceeds to step ST20, and the host terminal management unit 11 refers to the TV conference terminal registration table in the device storage unit 7a shown in FIG. Then, a member terminal that is a second TV conference terminal capable of acting as a conference host terminal is searched for among the member terminals participating in the multipoint TV conference. On the other hand, if the item of call necessity of the corresponding conference host terminal is set to “no recall” in the item of recall of the conference status table in the device storage unit 7a, the conference host terminal is Since there is no need to participate in the multipoint TV conference any more and it can be determined that the call has been disconnected for a legitimate reason, the hosting terminal management unit 9 transmits a terminal leaving signal S30 to the conference control unit 6. The conference control unit 6, which has received the terminal leaving signal S30 from the host terminal managing unit 9, determines that the multipoint TV conference cannot be continued due to the leaving of the conference host terminal, and By transmitting the disconnection request signal S26 of all the member terminals, the multipoint TV conference end processing is performed.

After searching for a member terminal which is a second TV conference terminal capable of acting as a conference host terminal in step ST20, in step ST21 a member terminal capable of acting as the conference host terminal is performed. Is set as a new conference host terminal, the item of the type in the conference status table shown in FIG. 15 is updated, and the host terminal change signal S29 is transmitted to the conference control unit 6. Further, it notifies the disconnection information management unit 8 of a terminal leaving notification signal S22 for the old host terminal that has left and requests a recall to the old host terminal.

According to the above-mentioned operation, even if the conference host terminal is erroneously disconnected during the holding of the conference and the reason for the disconnection is not output when the line is disconnected such as a dedicated line, the member capable of acting as the conference host terminal by the conference status table. Since the terminal is set as a new conference host terminal and the conference is continued, it is not necessary to hold the conference from the conference host terminal to all the member terminals again, so that the time required for holding the conference again can be omitted. Further, in this case, since the TV conference terminal 2 to be called again is only the old conference host terminal that has been erroneously disconnected, the connection time is shortened, and unnecessary costs are reduced.

[0061]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. Based on the connection state of each of the plurality of TV conference terminals and the reason for disconnection when the line is disconnected, the necessity of connection when the line is disconnected is determined based on the connection state of each of the plurality of TV conference terminals,
Recalling is automatically performed for a line determined to require reconnection, so only the TV conference terminal that needs reconnection is selected, and reconnection with the disconnected TV conference terminal is performed. It can be easily and automatically performed in a short time. for that reason,
It is possible to reduce wasteful costs associated with interruption of a conference for reconnection.

Also, the TV conference terminal whose line has been disconnected is
Based on the connection state of each of the plurality of TV conference terminals and the recall necessity item predetermined for each of the TV conference terminals, the necessity of connection at the time of the disconnected line is determined, and there is a need for reconnection. Is automatically performed for the line determined to be, so that in addition to the above-described effects, the reason for disconnecting from the line is not required, so that the line selectivity is expanded and the TV conference system can be used. Easy to build.

Further, at the time of recalling, it is possible to collectively recall each of the TV conference terminals that require recalling, so that recalling of the TV conference terminal whose line has been disconnected can be performed. Can be shortened, and costs such as line usage fees can be reduced.

Further, a second TV conference terminal that can be a new conference host terminal is searched from other member terminals that are present in the multipoint TV conference other than the conference host terminal whose line has been disconnected, and the conference host terminal is searched. Since the second TV conference terminal that can be a terminal is set as a new conference host terminal and the first TV conference terminal whose line has been disconnected is recalled as a member terminal, the multipoint TV conference itself is terminated. This eliminates the necessity of holding a new multipoint TV conference again, thereby reducing the cost and time required for holding a new multipoint TV conference again, and improving operability.
In addition, since the line that requires reconnection is only the old conference host terminal, the waiting time for connection is short, and the time, labor, and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint TV conference system as Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing contents at the time of automatic recall according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint TV conference system as Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing contents at the time of automatic recall according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a table diagram showing a conference status table according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint TV conference system as Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing details at the time of automatic recall according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint TV conference system as Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing contents at the time of automatic recall according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multipoint TV conference system as Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing at the time of automatic recall according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional multipoint TV conference system.

FIG. 13 is a table diagram showing a TV conference terminal registration table.

FIG. 14 is a table diagram showing a conference status table.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a conventional TV conference system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e Multipoint TV conference communication control device 2 TV conference terminal 3 Line correspondence unit 4 Demultiplexing unit 5 Terminal management unit 6 Conference control unit 7, 7a Device storage unit 8 Disconnection information management unit 9 Recall Management unit 10 Batch calling unit 11 Host terminal management unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 3/42-3/58 H04M 11/00-11/10 H04M 1/26-1/57 H04N 7 / 10 H04N 7/14-7/22

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. T is provided separately at a plurality of points.
A V conference terminal, a terminal management unit that calls the plurality of TV conference terminals in any combination and connects to the line, and a conference that controls the TV conference of each of the plurality of TV conference terminals connected by the terminal management unit. A control unit; a device storage unit that stores a disconnection reason when the line of the TV conference controlled by the conference control unit is disconnected; and a disconnection from the device storage unit when the line of the TV conference is disconnected. A recall unit for automatically determining the necessity of reconnection of the disconnected line based on the reason, and automatically recalling the line determined to require reconnection. A TV conference system, comprising: 2. T is provided separately at a plurality of points.
A V conference terminal, a terminal management unit that calls the plurality of TV conference terminals in any combination and connects to the line, and a conference that controls the TV conference of each of the plurality of TV conference terminals connected by the terminal management unit. A control unit; a device storage unit for storing recall necessity information predetermined for each TV conference terminal; and a recall necessity information from the device storage unit when the line of the TV conference is disconnected. A recall unit for automatically recalling a line determined to need to be reconnected, based on the necessity of reconnection of the disconnected line,
A TV conference system comprising: 3. The recalling method according to claim 1, wherein the recalling is performed by a collective calling unit for each of the TV conference terminals requiring the recalling. 3. The TV conference system according to item 2. 4. A first T set in advance as a conference host terminal
When the line of the V conference terminal is disconnected, a second TV conference terminal that can be a conference host terminal is searched from other member terminals that are present in the TV conference other than the first TV conference terminal of the line. And a host terminal management unit for setting the second TV conference terminal as a new conference host terminal and resetting the first TV conference terminal as a member terminal. 3. The TV conference system according to claim 1, wherein recalling is performed to the first TV conference terminal.