JP3586390B2 - Video conference system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a plurality of video conference terminals, a communication control device for multipoint communication connecting the plurality of video conference terminals via a communication line, and a video conference terminal connected via the communication line, and And a reception terminal for receiving a conference.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An example of a conventional video conference system includes a plurality of video conference terminals and a communication control device for multipoint communication connecting the plurality of video conference terminals via a communication line.
[0003]
As an example of the video conference terminal, a television used as a video information display section and an audio information output section, a television camera as a video information capture section, a microphone as an audio information capture section, and a text information input section as a text information input section A keyboard and a signal control unit such as a multiplexing device that is connected between each unit of the video conference terminal and the communication line and controls input / output of signals between each unit and the communication line. is there. As another example of the video conference terminal, there is a personal computer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "PC") including a display unit, a speaker, a camera, a microphone, and a keyboard, and having a built-in modem.
[0004]
Examples of the communication line include an integrated service digital network (ISDN) line, a local area network (LAN) line, and a dedicated high-speed digital line.
[0005]
As an example of a communication control device for multipoint communication, there is an MCU (Multipoint Control Unit), and conference conditions are set in advance by a control terminal (for example, a personal computer) at the time of installation.
[0006]
In order to hold a video conference using this video conference system, first, a conference application is made. At this time, a person who participates in the conference using one of the plurality of video conference terminals (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “conference participant”) accepts the conference using a telephone. Apply for a meeting with the operator. Next, the operator replies to the conference participant that the application for the conference will be accepted, and informs the conference participant of a connection destination number such as a telephone number used when the conference is held. Then, the conference participant memorizes the connection destination number by taking a note or the like until the conference is performed, and transmits the connection destination number to other conference participants by the time the conference is performed.
[0007]
Then, at the time of the conference, all the conference participants establish a connection between the video conference terminal and the communication control device via the communication line by the connection destination number, and hold the video conference in a state where the connection is established. carry out.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional video conferencing system, when a conference application is made, the operator informs one conference participant of the connection destination number to be used at the time of conducting the conference. There were problems such as miscommunication of a number, misunderstanding of a meeting participant (misunderstanding) or mistaking of a note of a meeting participant, and miscommunication, misunderstanding, and mistaking of a note between meeting participants. In addition, there is a problem that a conference participant uses an incorrect connection destination number at the time of conducting a conference, so that a connection with the communication control device cannot be established.
[0009]
Furthermore, the connection destination number used for connecting to the MCU at the time of the conference is determined as a result of allocating the conference to the MCU, which MCU is used to perform the conference for which the application has been made. In other words, the system configuration is such that it is impossible to change the allocation of the conference to the MCU after the connection destination number is transmitted from the operator to the conference participants. As a result, there is a problem that the use of the MCU cannot be optimized so that the number of available lines of the MCU is as small as possible. For example, if one MCU can control communication for, for example, 100 lines, that is, if one MCU can be connected to 100 video conference terminals, a conference using 50 video conference terminals can be performed. , A conference using 45 video conference terminals, a conference using 30 video conference terminals, a conference using 20 video conference terminals, and a conference application using 55 video conference terminals. And the conference using the 50 video conference terminals and the conference using the 45 video conference terminals are allocated to the first MCU, and the conference using the 30 video conference terminals and the 20 video conference terminals Is allocated to the second MCU, and the conference using 55 video conference terminals is allocated to the third MCU. In other words, the first MCU has 5 lines, the second MCU has 50 lines, and the third MCU has 45 empty lines, so that the MCU cannot be used efficiently.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and it is possible to prevent a connection error between a video conference terminal and a communication control device due to use of an incorrect connection destination number, and to reduce the communication control device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video conference system that can optimize use and can easily set and change conference conditions using a video conference terminal.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present inventionTeThe Levi conference system is connected to a plurality of video conference terminals, a communication control device for multipoint communication connecting the plurality of video conference terminals via a communication line, and a video conference terminal via a communication line, A video conference system including a reception terminal that receives a conference, wherein each video conference terminal is provided with information about a first connection destination number used when establishing a connection with the reception terminal. Each conference participant who participates in a video conference using this video conference terminal is given an ID number and a password.At the end, When booking a meeting,About the conference execution date / time, the conference end date, and the number of video conference terminals participating in the conference, which are input / transmitted from one of the multiple video conference terminals.Meeting applicationInformation about, And the ID numbers and passwords of multiple conference participants participating in the conference.RecordAt the time of accepting a conference, each video conference terminal establishes a connection with the accepting terminal using the first connection destination number, transmits information on the ID number and password of the conference participant input by the conference participant, and The terminal collates the transmitted ID number and password with the ID number and password recorded at the time of the conference reservation, and according to the collation result,Used at the time of the meeting and allocated for each meetingSecond connection destination numberDecideAnd transmits the information on the second connection destination number to each video conference terminal,Each of the video conference terminals records information on the transmitted second connection destination number in a memory,At the time of the conference, each video conference terminal is determined and transmitted when the conference is accepted.The above recorded in the memoryThe conference is performed by establishing a connection with the communication control device using the second connection destination number.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the video conference system of the present invention will be described.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a video conference system of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the video conference system includes a plurality of video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n and the communication lines 2a, 2b. . . 2n, the plurality of video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n, a communication control device 3 for multipoint communication, and communication lines 5a, 5b. . . 5n via the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n and a reception terminal 4 for receiving a conference.
[0018]
Each of the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n, information about a first connection destination number (for example, a telephone number) used when establishing a connection with the reception terminal 4 is given. Is given an ID number and a password. This information, ID number and password are stored in the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n may be stored in the memory of the video conference terminal 1a, 1b. . . The conference participant using 1n may memorize it by a memo or the like.
[0019]
In addition, the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n is the same as that of the conventional video conference system except that the communication line 2a, 2b. . . 2n, 5a, 5b. . . 5n, the communication control device 3 for multipoint communication is the same as that constituting the conventional video conference system, and therefore detailed description is omitted.
[0020]
As the reception terminal 4, for example, a personal computer equipped with a modem is used, and information on the application for a conference and each ID number and password of a conference participant is recorded in advance in the conference reservation.
[0021]
Next, a procedure for holding a video conference using the video conference system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for performing a video conference using the video conference system illustrated in FIG.
[0023]
First, a conference is reserved using the video conference terminal. When a conference is reserved, a plurality of video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n, the conference participant establishes a connection with the reception terminal 4 via the communication line 5a using the first connection destination number, registers for the conference, and participates in the conference participant. The input and transmission of information on the ID number and the password are performed (S1). Examples of the content of the information on the application for the conference include the date and time of the conference, the date and time of the end of the conference, and the number of video conference terminals participating in the conference.
[0024]
Then, the reception terminal 4 determines whether or not the application for the conference can be accepted by the reception terminal 4 with respect to the reservation of the conference (S2). This determination is made based on, for example, whether or not there are free lines for the number of video conference terminals participating in the conference in the communication control device. If the application for the conference cannot be accepted (if the result of the determination in step S2 is NO), information indicating that the application for the conference cannot be accepted and information relating thereto are transmitted from the reception terminal 4, and the television receiving the information receives the information. The conference participant of the conference terminal 1a changes the conference implementation date and time, and then again applies for the conference, and inputs and transmits information regarding the conference participant's ID number and password (S1). On the other hand, when the application for the conference can be accepted (when the determination result in step S2 is YES), the reception terminal 4 transmits the information regarding the acceptance of the application for the conference, the application for the conference, and the ID of the conference participant. Recording of information on the number and the password is performed (S3).
[0025]
Note that this conference reservation may be made by transmitting and receiving information between the conference participant and the operator using a telephone or facsimile, similarly to the conventional video conference system. In this case, the determination as to whether or not the application for the conference can be accepted, the application for the conference, and the recording of the information on the ID numbers and the passwords of the conference participants are performed in response to the input processing by the operator to the reception terminal.
[0026]
Then, at the time of accepting the conference, all the conference participants receive the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n, the communication lines 5a, 5b. . . The connection with the reception terminal 4 via the terminal 5n is established, and the input and transmission of information on the ID number and the password are performed (S4).
[0027]
The reception terminal 4 collates the transmitted ID number and password with the ID number and password recorded at the time of the conference reservation, determines a second connection destination number to be used at the time of the conference according to the collation result, and 1a, 1b. . . 1n, information about the second connection number used at the time of the conference is transmitted (S5), and the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n records the transmitted information on the second connection destination number in the memory. As the second connection destination number, for example, at least one number is assigned to each conference.
[0028]
Then, at the time of the conference, the conference participant selects each of the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n, the communication lines 2a, 2b. . . A connection with the communication control device 3 via 2n is established, and a conference is held (S6).
[0029]
Note that the establishment of the connection with the communication control device 3 by the second connection number is performed by the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . If 1n receives the second connection number at the time of accepting the conference, it may be automatically performed. In this case, when the second connection number is transmitted from the reception terminal 4, the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n may be set in advance.
[0030]
According to the video conference system of the present embodiment, since the second connection destination number transmitted from the reception terminal to each video conference terminal is stored in the memory of the video conference terminal, the conference participant can use the second connection destination. When establishing a connection with the communication control device using the number, the conference participant does not need to input the second connection destination number using a keyboard or the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a connection error between the video conference terminal and the communication control device due to the use of the wrong second connection destination number.
[0031]
Further, since the second connection destination number is assigned to each conference at the time of accepting the conference, the allocation of the conference to the communication control device can be changed each time a new conference is reserved until the time of accepting the conference. The utilization of the device can be optimized. For example, when one communication control device can control, for example, communication for 100 lines, that is, if it can be connected to 100 video conference terminals, 50 communication terminals can be used. Conferences using 45 video conference terminals, conferences using 30 video conference terminals, conferences using 20 video conference terminals, and conferences using 55 video conference terminals. It is assumed that they have occurred sequentially. In response to these applications, the reception terminal allocates a conference to the communication control device so as to reduce available lines as much as possible each time a new conference is reserved until the reception of the conference. For example, a conference using 50 video conference terminals, a conference using 30 video conference terminals, and a conference using 20 video conference terminals are allocated to the first communication control device, and 45 television conference terminals are allocated. The conference using the conference terminal and the conference using the 55 video conference terminals are allocated to the second communication control device. That is, the first communication control device and the second communication control device have no free lines, and the third communication control device can accept a new conference, and efficiently use the communication control devices. Can be.
[Application Example 1]
Next, the video conference system of the present inventionApplication example 1Will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0032]
BookApplication example 1Video conferencing system and the aforementionedEmbodiment ofThis is different from the video conference system in that the conference conditions of the communication control device can be set using the reception terminal, and the other points are the same.
FIG. 3 shows the video conference system of the present invention.Application example 1FIG.
BookApplication example 1, The video conference system includes a plurality of video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . 11n and communication lines 12a, 12b. . . 12n via the video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . 11n, and a communication control device 13 for multipoint communication connecting between the communication lines 15a, 15b. . . 15n via the video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . 11n and a reception terminal 14 for receiving a conference and setting conference conditions.
[0033]
Each of the video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . 11n is provided with information on a first connection destination number (for example, a telephone number) used when establishing a connection with the reception terminal 14. A conference participation using the video conference terminal to participate in a video conference Is given an ID number and a password. This information, ID number and password are stored in the video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . 11n may be stored in the memory of the video conference terminal 11a, 11b. . . The meeting participant using 11n may memorize it by a memo or the like.
[0034]
In addition, the video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . 11n is the same as that of the conventional video conference system except that it always includes a memory, and the communication lines 12a, 12b. . . 12n, 15a, 15b. . . 15n, the communication control device 13 for multipoint communication is the same as that constituting the conventional video conference system, and therefore detailed description is omitted.
[0035]
As the reception terminal 14, for example, a personal computer equipped with a modem is used, and information on the application for the conference, the conference conditions, and the ID numbers and passwords of the conference participants are recorded in advance in the conference reservation.
[0036]
Next, a procedure for holding a video conference using the video conference system shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0037]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for performing a video conference using the video conference system illustrated in FIG.
[0038]
First, a conference is reserved using the video conference terminal. At the time of application for a conference, a plurality of video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . Using one of the teleconference terminals 11a, the conference participant establishes a connection with the reception terminal 14 via the communication line 15a using the first connection destination number, registers for a conference, conference conditions, and Input and transmission of information on the ID number and password of the conference participant of the conference participant are performed (S11).
[0039]
Then, the reception terminal 14 determines whether the application for the conference can be accepted by the reception terminal 14 with respect to the reservation of the conference (S12). This determination is made based on, for example, whether or not there are free lines for the number of video conference terminals participating in the conference in the communication control device. If the application for the meeting cannot be accepted (if the result of the determination in step S12 is NO), information indicating that the application for the meeting cannot be accepted and information relating thereto are transmitted from the reception terminal 14, and the television receiving this information The conference participant of the conference terminal 11a changes the conference implementation date and time, and then again inputs and transmits a conference application, conference conditions, and information on the conference participant's ID number and password (S11). On the other hand, when the application for the conference can be accepted (when the determination result in step S12 is YES), the reception terminal 14 transmits the information on the acceptance of the application for the conference, and applies for the conference, the conference conditions, and the participation in the conference. The recording of information on the user's ID number and password is performed (S13).
[0040]
Note that this conference reservation may be made by transmitting and receiving information between the conference participant and the operator using a telephone or facsimile, similarly to the conventional video conference system. In this case, the determination of whether or not the application for the conference can be accepted, the application for the conference, the recording of the conference conditions, and the recording of the information on the ID numbers and passwords of the conference participants, etc., are triggered by the input processing by the operator to the reception terminal. Done.
[0041]
Then, at the time of accepting the conference, all the conference participants have their own video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . Using 11n, establishment of connection with the reception terminal 14 via the communication line by the first connection destination number and transmission of information on the ID numbers and passwords of the conference participants are respectively performed (S14).
[0042]
The reception terminal 14 compares the transmitted ID number and password with the ID number and password recorded at the time of the conference reservation, determines the second connection number to be used at the time of the conference according to the result of the comparison, 11a, 11b. . . 11n, information on the second connection destination number used at the time of conducting the conference and the conference conditions recorded at the time of the conference reservation is transmitted to one of the video conference terminals 11a. . . The information about the second connection destination number used at the time of the conference is transmitted to 11n (S15). Then, the video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . 11n records the transmitted information on the second connection destination number and the conference condition in the memory, and stores the transmitted information in the other video conference terminal 11b. . . 11n records the transmitted information on the second connection destination number in the memory.
[0043]
At the time of the conference, one of the conference participants has a plurality of video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . 11n (this video conference terminal may be a video conference terminal different from the video conference terminal used when applying for the conference), and the video conference terminal is used. Based on the second connection destination number stored in the memory of the memory 11a, the connection with the communication control device 13 is established via the communication line 12a and the transmission of information on the conference conditions stored in the memory is performed (S16) ). The information on the conference conditions may be automatically transmitted during the establishment of the connection with the communication control device 13, or may be automatically transmitted after the establishment of the connection with the communication control device 13.
[0044]
Then, in response to the transmission of the information on the conference conditions, the communication control device 13 sets the conference conditions based on the information on the conference conditions (S17). Note that the connection between the video conference terminal 11a and the communication control device 13 is still established during the setting of the conference conditions, and this state is maintained until the conference ends. Examples of the information on the conference conditions include selection of an audio / video mode (audio OFF (video only), standard, audio priority 1, audio priority 2 or video priority), and image quality mode (image quality priority or video motion priority). Selection, conference mode (single video and audio only switching, presentation, broadcast, screen division into four), network type (communication speed: 64 kbit / s, 2 × 64 bit / s, 384 bit / s, 56 bit / s, 2 × 56 bit / s, 336 bit / s), setting of the time to give a meeting start signal (chime), selection of the type of start signal (tone), setting of the time to give the meeting end signal (chime), and setting of the end signal Selection of type (tone) and video conference terminal11a, 11b. . . 11nSetting of the time for disconnecting the communication line between the communication control device and the communication control device (the time from when the end signal is issued until the communication line is disconnected).
[0045]
Further, the other conference participants are assigned to each of the video conference terminals 11b. . . 11n according to the second connection destination number stored in the memory of the communication line 12b. . . 12n, the connection with the communication control device 13 is established, and all the video conference terminals 11a, 11b. . . A conference between 11n is carried out (S18).
[0046]
Note that the communication control device using the second connection numberThirteenFor information on establishing a connection with11a, 11b. . . 11nMay be automatically implemented when the user receives the second connection number at the time of accepting the conference. In this case, the reception terminal14Communication control device using the second connection number immediately when the second connection number is transmitted fromThirteenVideo conference terminal to establish a connection with the11a, 11b. . . 11nMay be set in advance.
[0047]
Further, the above described description with reference to FIGS.Application example 1In, the video conference terminal11aCommunication line from12aAlthough the conference conditions are transmitted to the communication control device 13 via the communication control device 13 and the conference conditions of the communication control device 13 are set, the procedure for transmitting the conference conditions to the communication control device 13 is not limited to this.. Application example 1According to this, the same effect as the above-described effect of the video conference system can be obtained, and the conference conditions can be set by one video conference terminal when the conference is performed.
[0048]
For example, at the time of receiving a conference, when one video conference terminal establishes a connection with the reception terminal and transmits information on the ID numbers and passwords of the conference participants, the reception terminal responds to this transmission. In addition to collating the ID number and the password, establishment of a connection with the communication control device and transmission of information about the recorded conference condition to the communication control device may be performed. In this case, the communication control device sets the conference conditions for the transmission of the information regarding the conference conditions, and after the setting is completed, transmits the information regarding the completion of the setting to the reception terminal. After receiving the information about the completion of the setting, the reception terminal transmits information about the second connection destination number to the video conference terminal.
[0049]
In this manner, when the reception conditions are transmitted directly from the reception terminal to the communication control device, a communication line for connecting the reception terminal and the communication control device (reference numeral 6 in FIG. 3 is used). Need to be added).
[0050]
According to the above-described video conference system, the same effect as that of the above-described video conference system can be obtained, and further, the conference conditions can be set by the reception terminal when the conference is received.
[Application Example 2]
Next, the video conference system of the present inventionApplication example 2Will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0051]
BookApplication examplesThe video conference system according to the second aspect is characterized in that the conference conditions of the communication control device are set and changed using a video conference terminal at the time of conducting the conference.
[0052]
The configuration of this video conference system is the same as that of the video conference system shown in FIG. 1, and a detailed description is omitted here.
[0053]
Further, the procedure regarding the reservation of the conference and the reception of the conference until the conference is performed may be the same procedure as the conventional video conference system,the aboveImplementation formStateAndApplication example 1The procedure may be the same as that of the video conference system.
[0054]
When the conference is held, each of the video conference terminals 1a, 1b. . . 1n establishes a connection via a communication line with the communication control device 3 to carry out a video conference between a plurality of video conference terminals and, if necessary, transmits information on conference conditions to the communication control device. Is carried out. For example, when the setting of the conference condition of the communication control device is not performed, the communication control device sets the conference condition based on the transmitted information on the conference condition. If the communication control device has already set the conference conditions, the communication control device changes the conference conditions based on the transmitted information on the conference conditions. When setting and changing the conference conditions of the communication control device can be performed in such a procedure, the communication control device is controlled based on the information regarding the new conference conditions transmitted during the conference. Must always be set in advance so that it can be set or changed.
[0055]
BookApplication example 2According to this video conference system, the same effect as the above-described video conference system can be obtained, and further, since the conference conditions are set and changed at the time of the conference, the conference conditions can be constantly changed. Can be
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a connection error between a video conference terminal and a communication control device due to use of an incorrect connection destination number.. In addition, since the second connection number is assigned to each conference at the time of accepting the conference, the allocation of the conference to the communication control device can be changed every time a new conference is reserved until the conference is accepted. The utilization of the device can be optimized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a video conference system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for performing a video conference using the video conference system illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the video conference system of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for performing a video conference using the video conference system shown in FIG. 3;
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b. . . 1n video conference terminal
2a, 2b. . . 2n, 5a, 5b. . . 5n communication line
3 Communication control device
4 reception terminal

Claims (1)

A plurality of video conference terminals; a communication control device for multipoint communication connecting the plurality of video conference terminals via the communication line; and a reception of a conference connected to the video conference terminal via the communication line. A video conference system comprising a reception terminal for performing
Each video conference terminal is provided with information about a first connection number used when establishing a connection with the reception terminal, and conference participants who participate in a video conference using this video conference terminal are , are each ID number and the password is given, accepted end weekend, at the time of the conference reservation, is input and transmission from one of the video conference terminal of the plurality of video conference terminal, meeting implementation date and time, the end of the conference date and meeting Record information about the application for the conference about the number of video conference terminals participating in the conference, and each ID number and password of a plurality of conference participants participating in the conference ,
At the time of meeting reception,
Each video conference terminal establishes a connection with the reception terminal using the first connection destination number, and transmits information on the conference participant ID number and password input by the conference participant,
Reception terminal collates the transmitted ID number and the password have been conference reservation ID number and the password recorded during, in accordance with the comparison result, determines the second connection destination number assigned by the conference is available at the conference embodiment Then, the information about the second connection destination number is transmitted to each video conference terminal, and each of the video conference terminals records the transmitted information about the second connection destination number in a memory,
At the time of the meeting,
A television, wherein each video conference terminal performs a conference by establishing a connection with a communication control device using the second connection destination number determined and transmitted at the time of accepting the conference and recorded in a memory. Conference system.

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