JP3332531B2 - Teleconference 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 multimedia communication conference system including video and audio.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional communication conference system, a person who mainly connects a conference room between two points via a wide area network is mainly used.
This system configuration is, for example, as shown in FIG.
A communication terminal device having a video system composed of a camera 903 and a television 902 capable of imaging and displaying images of a plurality of participants, and an audio system composed of a microphone 906 and a speaker 904 for capturing and reproducing the comments of the plurality of participants. 90
Are basically connected by a wide area network 960. Camera 9
03, a participant is captured, the other party's participant is projected on the television 902, and opinions can be exchanged and discussed using the microphone 906 and the speaker 904. This makes it possible to hold a meeting with a sense of reality even when you are far away, saving you money and time to join the meeting. Here, the connection control device 901 is a device that controls these elements. Such a system is connected via a communication network (wide area network) 960 such as an INS network, so that a conference can be held even if they are away from each other.

One of the problems of such a conventional remote conference system is that it is necessary to gather in a conference room at the time of a conference. Usually, there is only one such meeting room in one business office. The living room and the meeting room are separated, the management of the meeting room and the exchange of keys are troublesome, and you can talk from your seat to a distant place using the telephone. It is inconvenient when compared with that. It is also difficult for participants from three or more establishments to participate in the conference at the same time.
The number of people who can participate in the conference room is at most 10 people. FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of a conference room of a conventional remote conference system.

In order to solve this inconvenience, a distributed conference system as shown in FIG. 16 has been devised in which one conference terminal is allocated to each conference participant. In this system, multimedia conference terminals 910-1 to 910-3 handling audio, video, text data, and the like are connected to a connection control device 920-.
1 to 920-3 and connected to a communication network 960.
The multipoint communication control device 930 includes a connection control device 920-1.
To 920-3 in a star configuration using a communication network such as an optical fiber cable. Transmission of multimedia data such as voice, video, text data, etc. is performed by ATM (Asy
B-ISDN (Broadband Int) using nchronous Transfer Mode (NCH) technology
Egrated Services Digital
Network) technology for efficient transmission. FIG.
FIG. 17 shows an example of display on the display 911 of the conference terminal in the distributed conference system shown in FIG.

[0005] At the meeting, there are members who speak frequently and members who speak only occasionally and are listening without permission. Therefore, the transmission path can be used efficiently if the allocation and processing of the transmission path are used in groups so that the transmission path can be provided to members who speak frequently as much as possible. However, in the distributed conference system shown in FIG. 16, the multimedia conference terminals 910-1 to 910-3 are connected one-to-one to the connection control devices 920-1 to 920-3. Therefore, if it is desired to increase the number of conference participants, it is necessary to increase the number of connection control devices. Therefore, the number of conference participants is naturally limited, and only one terminal can be connected.
The conference service can be provided only to 0 terminals and 10 conference participants. Since an optical fiber cable is also required to be connected between each of the connection control devices 920-1 to 920-3 and the multipoint communication control device 930, the number of optical fiber cables increases as the number of conference participants increases. Thus, even if the conference participants are not too far apart, for example, in the same room or the same floor, in order to provide a service to the terminal, the connection control devices 920-1 to 920-3 send the multipoint communication control device 930 to the connection control devices 920-1 to 920-3. You have to pull the fiber optic cable. For this reason, in order to hold a communication conference with a large number of people, it is necessary to add an optical fiber cable and a connection control device, and the cost required for the equipment increases.

[0006]

As described above, in a conventional conference room type remote conference system, conference participants need to gather in a conference room, and in a distributed conference system using conference terminals, Equipment and costs were involved in laying optical fiber cables, etc., and the number of conference participants was both limited, resulting in poor line use efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to solve these problems and to realize a distributed conference system with a small number of lines, a relatively short line, and a large number of users who can participate, and with high line use efficiency.

[0008] The communication conference system of the present invention comprises a video signal,
A plurality of conference terminals that handle multimedia information including voice signals and data signals are connected to a communication network via a plurality of connection control devices, and a plurality of video signals from the plurality of connection control devices are combined with the communication network. A communication conference system in which a multipoint communication control device for controlling a communication conference by performing at least processing and addition processing of a plurality of audio signals is connected, wherein the multimedia information is provided in each of the conference terminals and transmits the multimedia information by radio waves or light. Via the connection control device and the communication network by performing at least a process of synthesizing a video signal of the multimedia information and a process of adding an audio signal received from the spatial propagation device, To the multipoint communication control device, and from the multipoint communication control device to the communication network and the connection device. Characterized by comprising a concentrator for transmitting the video signal is synthesized processed received via and additively synthesizing the processed speech signals dispersed in the space propagation devices. Here, the video signal synthesizing process includes a process of reducing a plurality of image signals, a process of synthesizing reduced images, a process of selecting a desired image signal, and the like. Further, the addition processing of the audio signal includes an addition note excluding only the own voice, and a loss insertion processing corresponding to the number to be added.

[0009] Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, the connection device has a first connection device and a second connection device, and the first connection device is connected to a plurality of conferences via the concentrator. A terminal is connected, and the second connection device is directly connected to the conference terminal.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned configuration, the plurality of connection devices are divided into a plurality of groups, and a required number of communication lines are divided for each of the divided groups via the communication network. The video signal and the audio signal are processed for each of the divided groups by being connected to a communication control device.

[0011]

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a distributed conference system with a relatively small number of lines and a relatively short line, in which a large number of users can participate, and with high transmission line use efficiency. Costs can be reduced. Further, by grouping the conference participants, the transmission path can be used more efficiently.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a distributed conference system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

This system comprises a multipoint communication control device 3
0, the connection control devices 20-2 and 20-3 that can directly accommodate the conference terminals 10-1 and 10-2, and the terminals 10-3 to 10
-5 or from the connection control device 20-1 to the terminal 10-
Video / audio text data transceivers 50-1 to 50-5, which are space propagation devices for converting signals such as audio / video / text data to 3-10-5 into radio signals over radio waves and transmitting / receiving them.
-4, a number of spatial propagation devices, a line concentrator 40 for selectively synthesizing media such as video, audio, and text data sent from the shell, and a video, audio, A connection control device 20-1 for outputting a signal such as text data to the communication network 60;
Is configured as an element. As the communication network 60 to which the multipoint communication control device 30 and the connection control devices 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3 are connected, an ATM wide area network such as B-ISDN, or an ATM-LAN (private network) is used. ATM-Loc
alArea Network) or STM (Synch)
(rouble Transfer Mode) A multimedia LAN can be used.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the installation state of the conference terminal in this embodiment. The conference terminal 10 includes a video system including a camera 103 and a terminal body 101, a microphone and a speaker 10.
4 or a sound propagation system composed of headphones and a space propagation device (a video / audio text data transceiver 50 in the figure).

The video from the camera 103 and the sound from the microphone are once collected by the concentrator 40 via the space propagation device 50, and then transmitted to the remote control via the communication control device 20-1 and the communication network 60. It is sent to the control device 30.
Video and audio are selectively synthesized, and the conference terminals 10-1 to 10-1 connected to the connection control devices 20-1 to 20-3, respectively.
10-5, so that each conference participant can hear the voice of another participant and see the video. The conference terminal 10 includes a connection device and a workstation or a personal computer connected to the connection device. The workstation or personal computer has a built-in video board, and the connection control devices 20-1 to 20-3.
Can be displayed in the window of the screen, which is transmitted directly to the terminals 10-1 and 10-2 or from the space propagation device 50 to the terminals 10-3 to 10-5.

Thus, the terminals 10-1 and 10-2 can conduct a communication conference via the connection control devices 20-2 and 20-3 and the multipoint communication control device 30, and the terminals 10-3 below the concentrator 40. 10 to 10-5 can also receive the conference service.

Further, in the case of the terminals 10-1 and 10-2, the multipoint communication control device 30 divides the conference participants into two groups according to the degree of participation in the conference and the like, and the conference terminals 10-1 and 10-2.
10-2 is divided into a panel terminal and a floor terminal. And, as a device for setting communication lines for each group according to the attribute of the group to which it belongs and for processing video and audio for each group, it has a function to support requests from the panel group and the floor group. ing. For the processing of the panel group, the multipoint communication control apparatus 30 includes the call control unit 303 by the connection control apparatuses 20-2 and 20-2.
For communication with 0-3, a bidirectional line is connected to each terminal 10-
Set for each of 1, 10-2. On the other hand, for processing of a floor group, a one-way distribution downlink is set between the connection control devices 20-2 and 20-3, and a broadcast distribution line having a plurality of destinations is set to the floor terminal. If the floor terminal makes a comment such as a question, an uplink is set from any terminal.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the multipoint communication control device 30.

The line I / F unit 304 connects the device to the communication network 60
The main function is to interface with the media, and it has a function to convert each medium to ATM. The video processing unit 301 performs reduction processing by pixel thinning, synthesis processing of a plurality of video signals, video selection processing, and the like. The audio processing unit 302 performs an N-1 addition process of adding only the own voice from the audio signal from each terminal 10, a loss insertion process corresponding to the number of added signals, a speaker detection process, and an overload process. Then, the signal after the addition is distributed to the terminals 10 connected to the respective connection control devices 20. Further, the data processing unit 310
Has a data transmission / reception function, and performs a control communication by performing a comment process in response to a comment request from each terminal 10.
The control unit 311 performs conference management.

At the start of the conference, the call control unit 303 sets a one-way video / audio down line toward the floor group,
The multipoint communication control device 30 and each terminal 10 are connected to a communication network 60.
A tree-shaped distribution line is set using the copy function in the box. On the other hand, if the floor group terminal wants to ask a question during the conference, the terminal sets a data line from the data processing unit 310 and makes a speech request. An utterance control for selecting an utterance from any one of them is performed. Then, an upward video / audio line is set between the terminal and the multipoint communication control device 30, and a video signal from the selected terminal is transmitted to the video processing unit 301, and an audio signal is transmitted to the audio processing unit 302, In each case, processing of video synthesis, switching, or sound addition is performed. Thereafter, these signals are transmitted from the video processing unit 301 and the audio processing unit 302 to each terminal and distributed. Between the multipoint communication control device 30 and the connection control device 20 of the floor group, only a one-way line down to the terminal 10 is normally set, but if necessary, the terminal 10 can be inquired or To participate in the debate, go up from the terminal 10 to the multipoint communication control device 30 via the connection control device 20 to individually set the line, or to collect all the opinions from the terminals 10, Thus, it is possible to collect information by simultaneously setting a one-way simultaneous line going up to the multipoint communication control device 30 side. As a result, the floor group terminal participants usually only listen to and listen to the situation where the conference terminal is having a meeting, and only communicate with each other between the floor group terminals. To ask questions, or all terminal participants can participate in the vote.

In this description, the conference terminal 10 is divided into two groups in advance. However, the group to which the terminal belongs can be changed while the conference is in progress. Also, during a conference, the multipoint communication control device 30
By changing the group affiliation of each terminal under the control of the terminal, the members can be replaced.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the connection control device 20.

The line I / F unit 206 includes a video transmission / reception unit 201
, A video signal from the audio transmission / reception unit 202,
Call control data from call control section 203, data transmission / reception section 2
The data from the communication unit 04 is multiplexed into ATM cells and transmitted to the multipoint communication control device 30 via the communication network 60. Conversely, a signal from the multipoint communication control device 30 is received via the communication network 60, and the signals are separated to separate the video transmission / reception unit 201, the audio transmission / reception unit 202, and the call control unit 2.
03, transmitting to the data transmitting / receiving unit 204.

The connection control device 20 is connected to the group B in FIG.
Is connected like the terminal 10-1 of the terminal 10 or the terminal 10-2 of the group C, the video transmitting / receiving unit 201 is connected to the video board built in the terminal 10 and the camera 103. The signal is digitized and sent to the line I / F unit 206. The signal from the line I / F unit 206 is converted into an analog signal and sent to a video board built in the terminal 10. The audio transmission / reception unit 202 performs encoding / decomposition processing of the audio signal connected to the microphone and the speaker 104, and performs transmission / reception processing with the line I / F unit 206. The data transmission / reception unit 204 is connected to the terminal 10, and transmits data from the terminal 10 to the multipoint communication control device 30.
Or the data stored in the multipoint communication control device 30 can be sent to the terminal 10.

On the other hand, in the connection control device 20-1 connected to the line concentrator 40 belonging to the group A,
1, a voice transmitting / receiving unit 202 and a data transmitting / receiving unit 203 are connected to a line concentrator 40, and video, voice and data signals are distributed to each terminal 10-3 to 10-5 via a video / voice / text data transceiver 50. Is done. Also, the terminal 10-
The video, audio and data signals from 3 to 10-5 are transmitted to the concentrator 4 by the video / audio / text data transceiver 50.
After being subjected to selective synthesis processing on the audio and video collected at 0, they are sent to the multipoint communication control device 30.

The call control unit 203 supports control / monitoring of the line I / F unit 206 and control of connection to lines such as video, audio and data. The control unit 205 controls the control highway 2
08, the video transmitting / receiving unit 201, the audio transmitting / receiving unit 2
02, and is connected to the call control unit 203 and the data transmission / reception unit 204, and manages each of them.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show the functions of the video / audio / text data transceiver 50 shown in FIG. 1 separately for a transmitter and a receiver.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a video / audio / text data transmitter used in the terminals 10-3 to 10-5. The video / audio / text data transmitter is camera 103
Video signal (video signal of conference participants themselves) input from
Is amplified by the video amplifier 501, and then, according to the frequencies f4, f5, and f6 used in each device, the video carrier generator 50
4 and AM modulator 503. Microphone 10
6 is amplified by an audio amplifier 506 and modulated by an audio carrier generator 508 and an FM modulator 507. The text data from the terminal body 101 is modulated by the data carrier generator 510 and the FM modulator 509. The video signal subjected to the AM modulation, the audio signal subjected to the FM modulation, and the text data are mixed and synthesized by the mixing / synthesizing unit 505, and the video / audio / Send to text data receiver.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a video / audio / text data receiver used in the terminals 10-3 to 10-5. The video / audio / text data receiver is a concentrator 40
To receive video, audio, and text data from a video / audio / text data transmitter connected to. The received video, audio and text data are transmitted to the multipoint communication control device 3
This is for the downlink processed at 0. That is, the video signal synthesized from the video signal sent from the other terminal and the video signal from the terminals 10-3 to 10-5 connected to the concentrator 40 or lower is converted into a multipoint communication control device 3 again.
0, the audio signal is obtained by adding the audio signal sent from another terminal and the audio-video signal from the terminals 10-3 to 10-5 connected to the concentrator and below, The multipoint communication control device 30 performs the selective addition process again. In the receiver, a video intermediate frequency amplifier 513, an audio intermediate frequency amplifier 515, and a text data intermediate frequency amplifier 5 are used to extract video, audio, and text data after high-frequency amplification and frequency conversion by the tuner 512.
After performing step 18, the detection circuit 514, 516, or 519 performs AM detection on the video signal, and performs FM detection on the audio and text data to extract the video signal, the audio signal, and the text data. After the video signal is extracted, the video signal is input to a video controller board built in the terminal main body 101 and displayed on a display. The audio signal is output from the speaker 104 or headphones. Further, the text data is converted to a level corresponding to a terminal interface such as RS-232C and output to the terminal main body 101.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a video / audio / text data receiver installed on the line concentrator 40 side. This video / audio / text data receiver is connected to terminals 10-3 to 10-3.
The video / audio / text data transmitted from the video / audio / text data transmitter from -5 is received.

The received video, audio and text data are subjected to synthesizing processing and adding processing by the concentrator 40, and then transmitted to the communication network 60 by the connection control device 20-1 to be transmitted as a line. The processing is performed by the inter-communication control device 30. In other words, in the case of a video, the video signal transmitted from another terminal and the terminal 10 connected to the concentrator 40 or lower.
If the video signal from -3 to 10-5 is audio, the audio signal transmitted from another terminal and the audio signal from the terminal 10-3 to 10-5 connected to the concentrator 40 or less are used. To receive. These signals are subjected to high-frequency amplification and frequency conversion by the tuner 512, and then subjected to video intermediate frequency amplification 513, audio intermediate frequency amplification 515, and text data intermediate frequency amplification 518 to extract video, audio, and text data. After that, the video signal is AM detection, audio,
The text data is subjected to FM detection to extract a video signal, an audio signal, and text data.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a video / audio / text data transmitter installed on the line concentrator 40 side. Terminals 10-3 to 10-1 via the communication network from the multipoint communication control device 30.
Video, audio, and text data are transmitted to 0-5. The transmitter converts the video signal representing the conference participant itself output from the connection control device 20-1 to the concentrator 40 into the video amplifier 501.
After that, modulation is performed by the video carrier generator 504 and the AM modulator 503 according to the frequency used in each device.
The audio output from the connection control device 20-1 to the concentrator 40 is amplified by the audio amplifier 506, and is modulated by the audio carrier generator 508 and the FM modulator 507. The text data from the terminal body 101 is transmitted to the data carrier generator 5.
10 and modulated by the FM modulator 509. And AM
The modulated video signal, the FM-modulated audio signal and the text data are mixed and synthesized by the mixing / synthesizer 505, and transmitted to the video / audio / text data receiver connected to the terminal via an antenna 511 as a radio wave radiator. Send.

FIG. 9 shows the structure of the video section 401 of the line concentrator 40. The video unit 401 includes an AD conversion unit 4011, a video selection / synthesis unit 4012, a frame synchronization unit 4013, and a DA conversion unit 4014. The video unit 401 is transmitted on radio waves or light from the terminals 10-3 to 10-5, and is transmitted spatially. The video signal output from the video / audio / text data transceiver 50-1 as a device is input, synchronized as an NTSC or RBG video signal, and the video signal is synthesized. At the time of synthesis, a video is selected and a terminal from which a video signal is to be displayed on one synthesized screen is determined. For example, the terminal 10-3
To display only the video from the terminal 10-3 to 10-
For example, control is performed such that the images from the image No. 5 are synthesized and displayed on one screen.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the video selection / combination unit 4012 in the video unit 401 of the line concentrator 40.

The video signal digitized by the AD conversion unit 4011 and output from the frame synchronization unit 4013 is determined by the video selection control signal to determine which video is to be synthesized by the video selection unit 40121. After being subjected to size conversion via a size conversion filter (consisting of both vertical and horizontal filters) 40122 for changing the size of the image data and temporarily stored in a size conversion memory 40123,
It is output as a synthesized video signal. The synthesized video signal is converted from a DA to an NTSC signal and then input from the concentrator 40 to the connection control device 20-1, further interfaced with the communication network 60, and transmitted to the multipoint communication control device 30. Is done.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the frame synchronization section 4013 in the video section 401 of the concentrator 40.

Video / audio / text data transceiver 50
Due to -1, the video signals received from the terminals 10-3 to 10-5 need to be processed after synchronizing once because the phases of the horizontal synchronization signal and the frame synchronization signal are independent. Therefore, when writing to the size conversion memory 40123, the received clock and the frame pulse F
Address control is performed by using 2V to perform writing. Further, at the time of reading, reading is performed using an internal clock synchronized with the communication network 60 in the concentrator 40 and the internal F2V. At this time, the synchronous memories 4013-1-1
It is necessary that the received F2V pulse and the internal F2V pulse have the same value for the address control of 40132-3 so as not to collide. Therefore, when a collision occurs, jump control of the memory address is performed so as to avoid the collision.

FIG. 12 shows a voice adding unit 402 of the concentrator 40.
Is shown.

The audio adding unit 402 is an A / D converting unit 402
1, the receiving buffer 4022, and the audio signal from each terminal 10-3 to 10-5 is AD
After the conversion, the delay is adjusted and transmitted as an STM-multiplexed voice signal to the connection control device 20-1.

The multimedia conference terminal 10 realized by the present invention displays conference screens and text data on a number of windows. On this screen, moving image display and still image display are possible.

FIG. 13 shows a display example on a display of a terminal of the multimedia conference system realized by the present invention.

In FIG. 13, terminals 1 and 2 (10-1, 10
The video from -2) is a video that has been selectively synthesized by the multipoint communication control device 30.
The images of group A from 0-3 to 10-5) are those which have been previously selected and combined by the concentrator 40 and again subjected to the selective combination by the multipoint communication control device 30. In the video synthesizing process, if the cutout position and the display position are fixed, the process can be easily executed only by the size changing process.

As described above, when a service is provided to the conference participant terminal 10 which is in the same room or on the same floor and is only a few meters or tens of meters away from each other, the video and audio are converted into radio waves or optical signals. A space propagation device for transmitting and receiving the signals is provided, and signals from the space propagation device are collected by the concentrator 40. At this time, each terminal 1
Signals from 0 use radio waves of different frequencies, and use the radio waves by selecting the radio wave intensity according to the distance. Also,
If the concentrator 40 reproduces, selects, and combines signals and sends them to the connection controller 20, the multipoint communication controller 30 can process them as one group.

[0045]

As described above, a communication conference in which a plurality of conference participants conduct a multi-point communication conference by connecting conference terminals handling multimedia information composed of video signals, audio signals and data via a communication network. The system includes a space propagation device that converts a video signal and an audio signal into a radio wave or an optical signal for transmission and reception, a line concentrator that selectively combines and processes a video signal from the space propagation device, and selectively adds and processes an audio signal. Control device that sends out video and audio signals to the communication network, and multipoint communication control that selectively synthesizes video signals from a large number of connection control devices, selectively adds and processes audio signals, and controls a teleconference. Device, and transmits the video signal selectively synthesized and processed by the multipoint communication control device and the audio signal subjected to the selective addition process to the connection control device via a communication network. Distributes the signal into a number of space propagation devices. Thus provide teleconference services to many of the conference terminal, using a relatively small, relatively short lines,
It is possible to realize a distributed conference system in which a large number of users can participate in a transmission line with good use efficiency, and reduce the equipment cost.

Further, by dividing the conference participants into several groups and connecting the communication lines required for each group to the multipoint communication control device, the transmission lines can be used more efficiently. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration of a communication conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of installation of a terminal of the communication conference system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a configuration of a multipoint communication control device of the communication conference system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a configuration of a connection control device of the communication conference system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows video / audio / video of the communication conference system shown in FIG.
Configuration of the terminal-side transmission unit of the text data transceiver.

FIG. 6 shows video / audio / video of the communication conference system shown in FIG.
Configuration of the terminal-side receiving unit of the text data transceiver.

FIG. 7 shows video / audio / video of the communication conference system shown in FIG.
Constitution of the concentrator side receiver of the text data transceiver.

FIG. 8 shows video / audio / video of the communication conference system shown in FIG.
Configuration of the concentrator-side transmission unit of the text data transceiver.

9 is a configuration of a video unit of the line concentrator of the communication conference system shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a video selection / synthesis unit of the video unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a frame synchronization unit of the video unit shown in FIG.

12 is a configuration of a voice adding unit of the line concentrator of the communication conference system shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a display example on a display of a terminal of the communication conference system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a basic configuration of a conventional remote conference system.

FIG. 15 shows a configuration of a conference room of a conventional remote conference system.

FIG. 16 shows a basic configuration of a conventional distributed conference system.

FIG. 17 is a display example on a display of a terminal of the conventional distributed conference system.

[Description of Signs] 10,910 Conference terminal 20,920 Connection control device 30,930 Multipoint communication control device 40 Concentrator 50 Video / audio text data transceiver 60,960 Communication network 101 Terminal body 102 Keyboard 103,903 Camera 104 , 904 Speaker 106, 906 Microphone 201 Connection control device video transmission / reception unit 202 Connection control device audio transmission / reception unit 203 Connection control device call control unit 204 Connection control device data transmission / reception unit 205 Connection control device control unit 206 Connection control device line I / F unit 208 Connection control device control highway 301 Multipoint communication control device video processing unit 302 Multipoint communication control device audio processing unit 303 Multipoint communication control device call control unit 304 Multipoint communication control device line I / F unit 310 Multi Point-to-point communication control device data processing unit 3 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multipoint communication control apparatus control part 401 Concentrator video part 402 Concentrator audio addition part 501 Video audio text data transceiver video amplifier 502 Video audio text data transceiver synchronization signal generator 503 Video audio text data transceiver AM modulator 504 video / audio text data transceiver video carrier generator 505 video / audio text data transceiver hybrid synthesizer 506 video / audio text data transceiver audio amplifier 507 video / audio text data transceiver audio FM modulator 508 video / audio text data transceiver audio carrier Generator 509 Video / audio text data transceiver Text data FM modulator 510 Video / audio text data transceiver Text data carrier generator 511 Video / audio text data transceiver antenna 512 Video / audio text Data Transceiver Tuner 513 Video / Audio Text Data Transceiver Video Intermediate Frequency Amplifier 514 Video / Audio Text Data Transceiver Video Intermediate Amplifier 515 Video / Audio Text Data Transceiver Audio Intermediate Frequency Amplifier 516 Video / Audio Text Data Transceiver Voice FM Detector 517 Video / Audio Text data transceiver low frequency amplifier 518 video / audio text data transceiver text data intermediate frequency amplifier 519 video / audio text data transceiver text data FM detector 520 RS232C level converter 901 connection controller 902 television 905 facsimile 907 electronic blackboard

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page Examiner Tatsuya Yamazaki (56) References JP-A-61-41288 (JP, A) JP-A-5-199328 (JP, A) JP-A-5-183654 (JP, A) JP-A-5-153585 (JP, A) JP-A-5-30506 (JP, A) JP-A-4-369153 (JP, A) JP-A-4-322520 (JP, A) JP-A-4-237287 ( JP, A) JP-A-4-100436 (JP, A) JP-A-3-53785 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 7/10 H04N 7/14 -7/173 H04N 7/20-7/22

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of conference terminals that handle multimedia information including video signals, audio signals, and data signals are connected to a communication network via a plurality of connection control devices, and the plurality of connection control devices are connected to the communication network. A communication conference system connected with a multipoint communication control device that controls a communication conference by performing at least a synthesis process of a plurality of video signals and an addition process of a plurality of audio signals from the conference terminal, A spatial propagation device that converts the multimedia information into a radio wave or an optical signal for transmission and reception; and performs the connection control by performing at least a process of synthesizing a video signal and a process of adding an audio signal of the multimedia information received from the space propagation device. Device and the multipoint communication control device via the communication network. A communication conference comprising: a communication network; and a concentrator for dispersing and transmitting the combined video signal and the added and combined audio signal received via the connection device to the spatial propagation device. system. 2. The connection device has a first connection device and a second connection device, wherein the first connection device is connected to a plurality of conference terminals via the concentrator, and The communication conference system according to claim 1, wherein the connection device is directly connected to the conference terminal. 3. The plurality of connection devices are divided into a plurality of groups, and a required number of communication lines for each of the divided groups are connected to the multipoint communication control device via the communication network. 2. The communication conference system according to claim 1, wherein the video signal and the audio signal are processed for each of the divided groups.