JP3340497B2 - Teleconference equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication conference apparatus for talking with a communication partner while displaying a document image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been known a communication conference apparatus for holding a communication conference between users of each apparatus via a communication line while displaying the same document image on each apparatus at a plurality of points.

When such a communication conference is performed, a document image to be displayed in advance is transmitted from one communication conference apparatus to each of the other apparatuses.

[0004]

By the way, for example, there is a case where one page of a document image collected for a conference contains a secret matter that one does not want to disclose to another person. In this case, conventionally, it was necessary to delete a secret matter from the collected document images and newly create a document image for a conference.

In one page of the collected document image,
In some cases, important items that you want to disclose only to specific people among the meeting participants may be described. In this case, a document image containing important items and a document image from which important items have been deleted have to be created and transmitted separately for each transmission destination.

[0006] For this reason, conventionally, there has been a problem that, when a communication conference is performed, it takes time and effort to transmit a document image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a communication conference apparatus capable of easily executing a document image transmission operation.

[0008]

For this purpose, according to the present invention, the user arbitrarily designates an area to be hidden in the document image, sets a password for the designated area, and the communication conference apparatus designates the designated area. While a password is added to the image in the area and transmitted to another communication conference device, if a password is added to the received image, the corresponding image is displayed on the screen when the password is input,
After transmitting the image to which the password has been added, command information is transmitted at an arbitrary time to delete the corresponding received image of the destination apparatus.

[0009]

[0010]

According to the above invention, by notifying the password only to a specific partner, it is not necessary to create or transmit a document image having different contents for each partner. Becomes easier.

[0011]

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a communication conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of communication conference devices 1 and one multi-value point control device 2 are connected to an ISDN 3. I have. The multi-value point control device 2 forms a communication link necessary for three or more communication conference devices 1 to communicate with each other.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the communication conference apparatus 1. In the figure, a display 101 displays a document image on a screen in page units. The touch panel 102 is used to input character information, a handwritten image, or coordinates on a screen by touching or tracing a panel surface with a touch pen (not shown). The touch panel 102 is fixed on the screen of the display 101. The image processing unit 103 displays an image on the display unit 101 and inputs information input by the touch panel 102.

The scanner 104 reads a document image.
Is used to input image information. The printer 106
The image is recorded and output on a recording sheet, and the interface unit 107 outputs image information to the printer 106.

The ISDN communication unit 108 transmits and receives image information and call voice to and from another communication conference device via ISDN by a known communication method. Handset 1
Reference numeral 09 includes a built-in microphone and speaker, which the user uses for conversation with the other party. Codec 110 is
The conversion of the voice signal into a digital signal and the reverse conversion are performed.

The memory 111 stores image information and other various information as needed. System control unit 11
Reference numeral 2 denotes a microcomputer that monitors and controls the above-described units. The system bus 113 includes the touch panel 102,
Interface units 105 and 107, ISDN communication unit 10
8, a code line for exchanging various data and control signals among the codec 110, the memory 111, and the system control unit 112.

Next, a description will be given of a communication process when a communication conference is performed between two parties with the above configuration.

In this case, the document image used for the communication conference is prepared by one user and transmitted to the other. At the transmission source of the document image, the user scans the document image by the scanner 104 and stores the read image information in the memory 111 as shown in FIG.
1). The image information stored here is assumed to be black and white binary image information.

Now, assume that one page of the read document image contains a secret matter that the user does not want to disclose to participants in the communication conference. In this case, the user on the transmission side designates a range to be hidden within the one page as a secret area.
As a designation method, a document image is displayed on the display device 101, and a coordinate position is designated on the touch panel 102. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a desired secret area S is designated (process 1002).

When the confidential area is designated, the communication conference apparatus generates, as shown in FIG. 5A, image information of the same size as that of the original document in which only the image information of the designated confidential area is extracted. Then, an exclusive OR operation is executed for each pixel between the generated image information and the original image information shown in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10C, image information of one page in which the secret area has been deleted is created (step 100).
3).

Thereafter, the user sets a communication partner and starts a communication operation. Thus, the communication conference apparatus makes a call to the other party, and when the other party answers, performs a call connection in a predetermined procedure (process 1004). Then, the created image information is transmitted to the destination (process 1005).

Thereafter, the user instructs to start a communication conference by a predetermined operation. Thereby, the communication conference apparatus displays the transmitted image information on the display device 101 (processing 100).
6). On the other hand, the receiving-side communication conference device also displays the received image in the same manner. Here, each user on the transmission side and the user on the reception side have a conversation with the handset 109 while viewing the document image displayed on the display 101. That is, a communication conference is executed (process 1007).

When the communication conference ends, each user instructs to end the communication conference. Thereby, the communication conference device disconnects the call and ends the communication operation (process 1008).

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the user designates an area to be hidden in the input document image, the communication conference apparatus extracts and transmits an image other than the designated area. Therefore, the user does not need to create a new document image for the communication conference as in the related art. This simplifies the task of transmitting a document image for a teleconference.

Next, another embodiment of the communication processing of the conference communication system will be described.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that a communication conference is performed among a plurality of users of three or more. In this case, the document image used for the communication conference is prepared by a specific user and transmitted to each of the other communication conference devices.

At the source of the document image, as shown in FIG. 6, a document image to be used for the conference is input as in the above-described embodiment (process 2001).

Now, in one page of the input document image,
It is assumed that important matters that should be disclosed only to a specific one of the participants in the conference call are described.

In this case, the user designates one area in which the important matter is described as a secret area (process 2002). Then, a password is input to the designated secret area (process 2003). It is assumed that the password has been notified to the specific person in advance. If another area is to be designated (Y in step 2004), the same operation is repeated (to step 2002).

When the user specifies the secret area (processing 2
In N of 004, the communication conference device creates image information to be transmitted. Now, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that two confidential areas S1 and S2 are designated in a one-page document image. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the image information of the secret areas S1 and S2 is respectively extracted. And
An exclusive OR operation between pixels is performed between the original image information shown in FIG. 11C and each extracted image information. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11D, image information in which the secret areas S1 and S2 have been deleted is created.

In the above example, each piece of image information shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7D is the image information to be transmitted. Each piece of image information to be transmitted is created (process 2005).

Next, the user performs a predetermined call operation to each of the other parties who hold the communication conference. As a result, the communication conference device of the transmission source calls the multi-value point control device 2 and forms a communication link with each designated destination (step 20).
06). Then, first, image information other than the secret areas S1 and S2 is transmitted to each of the other parties (step 2007). Next, the input password is added to each information of the confidential areas S1 and S2, and the information is transmitted to each destination (process 2008). When transmitting the image information in the G4 facsimile communication procedure, the password can be transmitted by, for example, a session start document start command CDS.

Thereafter, the user instructs to start a communication conference by a predetermined operation. Thereby, the communication conference device displays the transmitted image information on the display device 101 (process 200).
9). In addition, the communication conference device of each destination also displays the received image in the same manner. Here, a communication conference is performed between the users (process 2010).

When the communication conference is over, the user of the source of the document image instructs to delete the secret image by a predetermined operation. As a result, the communication conference device of the transmission source transmits a secret image deletion command to each of the other devices (process 2011).

Then, a response from each destination device is received. This response indicates whether each device has displayed the confidential image information and whether or not the erasing operation has been correctly performed. The response information is received and the reception result is displayed (process 2012). Note that a procedure signal such as a session layer document start command CDS may be used for exchanging the erasure command and the response as described above.

The user confirms the display and instructs the end of the communication conference. As a result, the communication conference apparatus disconnects the call and ends the communication operation (process 2013).

FIG. 9 shows a communication process on the receiving side with respect to the transmitting side. That is, the communication conference apparatus on the receiving side forms a communication link with each destination in response to the incoming call (process 3001). Next, image information other than the secret area is received from the transmission source (step 3002), and further, the image information and the password of the secret area are received (step 3003). Then, the received image information other than the secret area is immediately displayed (step 3004).

Here, the user who has been notified of the password from the transmission source in advance inputs the password. The communication conference device checks the input operation of the password (step 3005), and when the password is input (step 3005).
Y), the image information of the corresponding secret area is displayed (Process 3)
006). If no password is entered (process 300
5) N), the image information of the secret area is not displayed.

Thereafter, a communication conference is performed between the devices (step 3007). Then, upon receiving a secret image information erasing command (step 3008), the control unit 300 deletes all the received confidential area image information (step 3009). Next, an operation result indicating whether or not the image of the secret area is displayed and an operation result indicating that the secret instruction has been received and the secret image information has been deleted are responded to the transmission source. (Process 3010). Then, in response to the user's communication end instruction, the call is disconnected to end the communication (process 3011).

As described above, in this embodiment, the password is set in the secret area of the document image, the image information and the password in the secret area are transmitted to each device, and the receiving side receives the password. The corresponding image is displayed.

Therefore, if there is information to be disclosed only to a specific partner in one page of the document image, the same image in which that part is set in the confidential area is transmitted to each partner, and the password is transmitted only to the specific partner. Should be notified. This eliminates the need to create or transmit a document image for each destination as in the related art, thereby simplifying the transmission operation of the document image.

In each of the embodiments described above, the portion of the document image that is desired to be hidden is designated as the confidential area. However, it is obvious that the portion desired to be disclosed may be designated. Although a part of one document image page is set as a secret area, a secret area may be specified for each page of a plurality of document images.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a user designates an area to be hidden in a document image, the communication conference apparatus automatically extracts an image other than the designated area, and performs another communication conference. Since it is sent to the device, there is no need to create a new document image for the conference, the work of sending the document image is simplified, and if you specify the area you want to hide the document image and set a password, The teleconferencing device transmits the image information in the specified area with the password added, and the receiving side displays the corresponding image when the password is input, so the same image is transmitted to each destination. On the other hand, since a document image corresponding to each destination can be provided, the transmission operation of the document image is simplified.

[0045]

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication conference device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of communication processing of a transmission source of a document image.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of designating a confidential area in a document image.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing processing of input image information.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating communication processing of a document image transmission source according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of specifying a confidential area in a document image in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing processing of image information input in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing communication processing on the receiving side of the document image in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication conference apparatus 2 Multi-value point control apparatus 3 ISDN 101 Display 102 Touch panel 103 Image processing part 104 Scanner 105, 107 Interface part 106 Printer 108 ISDN communication part 109 Handset 110 Codec 111 Memory 112 System control part

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-24683 (JP, A) JP-A-60-128869 (JP, A) JP-A-2-246487 (JP, A) JP-A-5-22612 (JP) JP-A-2-228172 (JP, A) JP-A-4-200192 (JP, A) JP-A-5-122702 (JP, A) JP-A-5-37931 (JP, A) 63-1557591 (JP, A) JP-A-62-200888 (JP, A) JP-A-4-129467 (JP, A) JP-A-63-260287 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl ^7, DB name) H04N 1/00 -. 1/00 108 H04N 1/32 - 1/36 H04N 1/42 - 1/44 H04N 7/15

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A means for inputting a document image, a means for transmitting the input document image to another communication conference apparatus, a means for displaying an input or received document image on a screen, and a communication partner while displaying the document image In a communication conference apparatus provided with a conversation means for talking with a destination, a confidential area designation means for arbitrarily designating an area to be hidden of an input document image; a password setting means for setting a password for the designated area; A confidential image transmitting means for adding the password set to the image in the specified area of the document image and transmitting the password to another communication conference device; and inputting the password if a password is added to the received image. Confidential image display means for displaying the image received on the screen at the point in time, and transmitting the command information at an arbitrary point after transmitting the image with the password added thereto. Teleconference apparatus characterized by and a means for erasing the corresponding received image of the destination device.