JP3706660B2 - Multipoint communication system and communication terminal device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multipoint communication system and a communication terminal device used therefor, and more particularly, to a video / audio communication tool used when video and audio are communicated between a plurality of terminals existing at remote locations on a network. And suitable.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, research and development of a system called an awareness system has progressed as a tool for grasping the situation of a plurality of remote locations in one place. In this system, a video camera capable of computer control and a computer for controlling the video camera and transmitting input video and audio to a network are usually placed at a plurality of points.
[0003]
In a computer that receives video and audio from the network, a plurality of video and audio transmitted from the plurality of points are displayed on a display device or output to a speaker so that the video camera is installed. The situation can be grasped.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional awareness system, when there is a voice transmission request from the transmission side, the communication connection is always performed and the voice is transmitted to the reception side. For this reason, there has been a problem that the receiving side may suddenly be interrupted by unintentional voices without any ambiguity, which may cause discomfort to the receiving side user.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and by enabling the voice receiving side to determine whether or not to allow communication connection, the voice receiving can be performed based on the intention of the receiving side. The purpose is to eliminate the inconvenience of being suddenly interrupted by the voice from an unintended partner.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The multipoint communication system of the present invention includes a video / audio input means, a means for delivering video and audio captured from the video / audio input means over a network, and a video and audio from a plurality of points delivered by the delivery means. In a multi-point communication system in which a plurality of terminal devices each having an output means for outputting are present on the network and transmitting and receiving video and audio to each other, the terminal device has a mode for receiving the audio, The first connection mode that connects immediately without confirmation of connection permission or not, and informs the voice receiver that the voice will be transmitted from now on, connects when the receiver's permission is obtained, and permits the receiver The second connection mode to prevent the connection when it cannot be obtained, and the third connection mode to reject the connection and transmit the memo to the voice transmission side as necessary. Has the door, characterized by comprising a mode setting means for switching the setting of the connection mode.
[0008]
Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the mode setting means can change the mode setting at the time of communication connection for each partner on the voice transmission side.
[0009]
Another feature of the present invention is characterized by further comprising means for presenting a communication connection status to the voice transmitting side.
[0010]
Another feature of the present invention is that, in the second connection mode, permission of communication connection on the audio receiving side is obtained by displaying a symbol representing the audio transmitting side displayed on the display device and a video from the audio transmitting side. It is characterized in that it is carried out by placing it on top of the other.
[0011]
Another feature of the present invention is that, in a multipoint communication system configured to transmit and receive at least sound between terminals connected to a plurality of points on a network, a terminal device that receives the sound includes: As a mode for receiving the voice, the first connection mode in which the connection is made immediately without confirming whether or not the connection is permitted, and the voice receiving side is notified that the voice is about to be transmitted, and the receiving side permission is obtained. A second connection mode that connects to the voice transmission side and refuses the connection when the receiver's permission cannot be obtained, and a third connection mode that rejects the connection and transmits a memo to the voice transmission side as necessary. And a mode setting means for switching the setting of the connection mode.
[0012]
The communication terminal device according to the present invention is a communication terminal device for transmitting and receiving at least sound via a network, and the first connection mode for immediately connecting without confirmation of connection permission or not as a mode for receiving the sound. A second connection mode for notifying the voice receiving side that the voice is about to be transmitted and connecting when the permission of the receiving side is obtained and not connecting when the permission of the receiving side is not obtained; And a third connection mode for rejecting the connection and transmitting the memo to the voice transmitting side as necessary, and further comprising mode setting means for switching the setting of the connection mode.
[0013]
[Action]
Since the present invention comprises the above technical means, the mode at the time of communication connection can be freely set on the voice receiving side, and the voice can be received only when the user on the receiving side permits the communication connection. It becomes possible.
[0014]
According to another feature of the present invention, on the voice receiving side, a connection mode for determining whether or not to permit communication connection can be freely set for each partner on the voice transmitting side. Thus, it is possible to receive audio only from the other party permitted to communicate.
[0015]
According to the other feature of the present invention, it is possible to confirm in advance the communication connection status of the entire system on the voice transmission side.
[0016]
According to another feature of the present invention, an operation for permitting communication connection on the voice receiving side can be performed very easily.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the elemental features of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of terminal devices 1, 2, 3,... Are connected via a network 4 to form a multipoint communication system.
[0018]
Although not shown, each terminal device 1, 2, 3,... Is provided by a video / audio input means, a means for delivering video and audio captured from the video / audio input means onto the network 4, and a delivery means. And a means for displaying and outputting video and audio from a plurality of points sent.
[0019]
These terminal devices 1, 2, 3,... Can all be a voice transmitting side and a voice receiving side, but here, for convenience of explanation, the terminal device 1 is a voice receiving side and the other terminal devices 2, 3,. Is assumed to be the voice transmitting side.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device 1 on the voice receiving side includes a communication unit 11, a mode setting unit 12, a connection management unit 13, and a connection state presentation unit 14.
The communication means 11 transmits and receives video, audio and other data via the network 4 and includes the delivery means described above.
[0021]
The mode setting means 12 is for switching a setting mode at the time of communication connection on the voice receiving side. There are the following three modes as the connection mode. The mode setting means 12 can set these three connection modes for each terminal on the voice transmission side.
[0022]
(1) A first connection mode in which connection is immediately established without confirmation of communication connection permission / rejection.
(2) Second connection that informs the voice receiving side that voice is about to be transmitted, and connects when the receiving side permission is obtained and does not connect when the receiving side permission is not obtained mode.
(3) A third connection mode in which connection is rejected and a memo is transmitted to the voice transmission side as necessary.
[0023]
The connection management unit 13 manages and controls video and audio communication by the communication unit 11 based on the connection mode set by the mode setting unit 12. The connection status presenting means 14 is for presenting the status of communication connection to the terminal devices 2, 3,.
[0024]
The operation of the multipoint communication system configured as described above will be briefly described below.
First, when the first connection mode is set by the mode setting means 12, a communication connection request (sends voice) from the voice transmission side terminal devices 2, 3, ... to the voice reception side terminal device 1. If there is a request), a communication connection is immediately made without confirming in the receiving terminal 1 whether the connection is permitted or rejected.
[0025]
Further, when the third connection mode is set by the mode setting means 12, the communication connection is always rejected, and the voice transmission side terminal devices 2, 3,... Cannot be sent. In this case, in the third connection mode, when a communication connection is requested, a predetermined memo can be transmitted from the voice receiving side to the voice transmitting side.
[0026]
Therefore, for example, if the reason for refusing the communication connection is written as a memo, the voice transmission side can know why the user on the voice reception side rejects the communication connection. As a result, the user on the voice transmitting side will not be uncomfortable because the connection is refused unnecessarily.
[0027]
Further, when the second connection mode is set by the mode setting means 12, a communication connection is made in response to a communication connection request sent from the terminal device 2, 3, ... on the voice transmitting side to the terminal device 1 on the voice receiving side. It is possible for the user on the receiving side to determine whether to allow or reject the request. Then, communication connection is performed when the receiving user permits, and communication connection is not performed when the receiving user does not permit.
[0028]
The communication connection status based on each connection mode as described above is presented to each terminal device 2, 3,... For example, the status indicating which terminal device has issued the connection request and to which terminal device the communication connection is permitted or denied is presented to all the transmitting terminals 2, 3,. . Thereby, it is possible to make it easier for the voice sender to grasp the communication connection status in each terminal device.
[0029]
Thus, according to this embodiment, the mode at the time of communication connection can be freely set on the voice reception side, and when the second connection mode is set, the user on the reception side permits communication connection. It is possible to receive the voice only when it is done. Therefore, there is no possibility that the voice from another user is suddenly interrupted against his intention.
[0030]
In this case, in this embodiment, whether or not to permit communication connection can be freely set for each partner on the voice transmission side, so that voice is received only from the partner who has permitted communication connection among a plurality of communication partners. To be able to.
[0031]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of the multipoint communication system according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200a denotes a video / audio communication apparatus which performs various processes such as video / audio input, transmission on a network, display, and output.
[0032]
In this configuration of the video / audio communication device 200a, 201 is a video camera, 202 is a camera control device, and pan, tilt, zoom, focus, etc. of the video camera 201 can be controlled from a computer using control signal lines (not shown). It is configured as follows.
[0033]
The video input from the video camera 201 is captured by A / D conversion and compression by the video capture device 203, and is transmitted onto the network 215 through the network I / F 204. At that time, multicast communication or broadcast communication is used in order to simultaneously transmit video to a plurality of points.
[0034]
Next, reference numeral 205 denotes a microphone, and 206 denotes an audio input control device. The input level of the microphone 205 is controlled from a computer. Audio input from the microphone 205 is A / D converted and compressed in the same manner as the above-described video, and then transmitted to the network 215 through the network I / F 204. At this time, multicast communication or broadcast communication is also used to enable audio to be simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of points as in the case of video.
[0035]
Reference numeral 207 denotes a speaker, and reference numeral 208 denotes an audio output control device. The output level of the speaker 207 can be controlled from a computer. The audio output control device 208 expands the transmitted data, performs D / A conversion, and outputs audio from the speaker 207.
[0036]
Reference numeral 209 denotes a CPU that controls the entire apparatus, and reference numeral 210 denotes a main storage device. A program executed by the CPU 209 is loaded from the secondary storage device 211 and stored therein. The secondary storage device 211 is for storing various data in addition to the execution program of the CPU 209, and is composed of, for example, a hard disk.
[0037]
Reference numeral 212 denotes a mouse, which is an operation unit used when mode switching described later is performed. Reference numeral 213 denotes a bitmap display, and reference numeral 214 denotes a system bus. The above-described units are connected to exchange data with each other. The mode setting unit 12, connection management unit 13, and connection state presentation unit 14 shown in FIG. 1 are composed of the CPU 209, main storage device 210, mouse 212, and bitmap display 213.
[0038]
Further, although the detailed configuration of the video / audio communication devices 200b, 200c, 200d,... Is omitted, they have the same configuration as the video / audio communication device 200a. These are connected to each other via a network 215 capable of transmitting video and audio at high speed via the network I / F 204.
[0039]
It is assumed that the above-described camera control device 202, audio input control device 206, and audio output control device 208 can be controlled from remote video / audio communication devices 200b, 200c, 200d,.
The video and audio data formats and compression formats are not particularly limited in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a general-purpose workstation is used as the video / audio communication device 200a.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the present embodiment displayed on the bitmap display 213.
It is assumed that a window system capable of displaying a plurality of windows is operating on the bitmap display 213.
[0041]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a symbol indicating that voice transmission is being performed. While this voice transmission symbol 301 is displayed on the screen, voice transmission is being performed. Reference numeral 302 denotes a symbol indicating that voice reception is being performed. While this voice reception symbol 302 is displayed on the screen, voice is being received.
[0042]
A multipoint video display window 303 is captured by another video / audio communication device (in the case of the bit map display 213 of the video / audio communication device 200a, the video / audio communication devices 200b, 200c, 200d,. Some selected from the images transmitted through the network (up to six in the example of FIG. 3) are displayed.
[0043]
The selection of the display image can be realized using, for example, a menu (not shown), but the selection method is not particular here.
As for the transmission and display of video, an image updated at a rate according to the application such as a moving image or a still image updated about once every 10 seconds is transmitted and displayed.
[0044]
A Talk selection button 304 and a Hear selection button 305 are provided at the bottom of each video window of the multipoint video display window 303. When the Talk selection button 304 is clicked with the mouse, it is possible to talk to the other party who is sending the corresponding video. Further, when the Hear selection button 305 is clicked with the mouse, it is possible to listen to the story of the other party who is sending the corresponding video.
[0045]
Reference numeral 306 denotes an operation window for changing the voice input / output level, and the voice input / output level can be adjusted. Also, by inputting and setting the device name in the input window 307, it is possible to control the audio input / output of the video / audio communication device at a remote point via the network 215.
[0046]
308 and 309 are icons for displaying whether or not there is a transmission request from the voice transmission side. Reference numerals 310 to 312 denote changes in the display state of the Talk selection button 304. That is, the communication connection status with respect to each site (each communication device) whose video is displayed in the multipoint video display window 303 is expressed by changing the display status of the Talk selection button 304.
[0047]
FIG. 4 is a process configuration diagram of this embodiment.
In FIG. 4, 401 is a video transmission process, which captures and transmits a video. Reference numeral 402 denotes a multi-point video display process, and videos of arbitrary six points among a plurality of videos transmitted from the multi-points via the network 215 by the video transmission process 401 are displayed in the multi-point video display window 303. Display in format.
[0048]
A camera control server 403 receives a camera control command via the network 215 and issues the camera control command to the camera control device 202 to actually control the video camera 201. Reference numeral 404 denotes a camera control client. When a camera operation is performed on an operation screen (not shown), a corresponding camera control command is issued via the network 215 to the camera control server 403 of the video / audio communication apparatus to be controlled. To do.
[0049]
Reference numeral 405 denotes an audio transmission process that captures and transmits audio and displays the audio transmission symbol 301. Reference numeral 406 denotes a voice reception process, which simultaneously mixes and outputs a plurality of voices transmitted from multiple points via the network 215 by the voice transmission symbol 301 and displays the voice reception symbol 302.
[0050]
Each process 401 to 406 described above is assumed to be operating on each of the video / audio communication apparatuses 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d,.
Next, reference numeral 407 denotes an access management process, which manages access of all camera video, audio, and operations of all the devices connected to the network 215 (video / audio communication devices 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d,...). Yes. Accordingly, only one access management process 407 is operating on the network 215.
[0051]
Next, in the multipoint communication system configured as described above, first, a Hear function, that is, a function of listening to remote multipoint audio will be described.
Here, it is assumed that the sound of a site where the selected video is present among a plurality of videos displayed in the multipoint video display window 303 is heard.
[0052]
The video is selected by clicking the Hear selection button 305 provided at the bottom of each video window of the multipoint video display window 303 with a mouse. It should be noted that a plurality of Hear selection buttons 305 can be selected at the same time, and sounds from a plurality of points can be heard simultaneously.
[0053]
First, when the Hear selection button 305 is pressed, the voice reception process 406 issues a voice reception request to the access management process 407. Upon receiving this request, the access management process 407 notifies the voice reception process 406 of the addresses of all the voice transmission hosts selected on the multipoint video display window 303.
[0054]
As communication means here, there are RPC, TCP, UDP (Remote Procedure Call, Transmission Control Protocol, User Diagram Protocol: all are communication protocols based on UNIX), etc., but there is no particular concern.
[0055]
As a result, the voice reception process 406 and the voice transmission process 405 of each selected site are connected, and the voice of the transmission host can be received by the reception host. However, in this voice transmission / reception, multicast communication or broadcast communication is used as in the Talk function described below.
[0056]
Next, the Talk function, that is, a function for simultaneously speaking to a remote multipoint will be described.
In this example, it is assumed that a site having a selected video among a plurality of videos displayed in the multipoint video display window 303 is spoken.
[0057]
The video is selected by clicking a Talk selection button 304 provided at the bottom of each video window of the multipoint video display window 303. It should be noted that a plurality of Talk selection buttons 304 can be selected at the same time as the Hear selection button 305 and can talk to a plurality of points simultaneously.
[0058]
First, when the Talk selection button 304 is pressed, the voice transmission process 405 issues a voice transmission request to the access management process 407. Upon receiving this request, the access management process 407 notifies the voice reception host 406 of the voice reception process 406 of all the voice reception hosts selected on the multipoint video display window 303.
[0059]
In addition, a transmission pause command is sent to the voice transmission process 405 on the voice receiving host to temporarily interrupt voice transmission. In this way, echo can be prevented without an echo canceller.
The communication means here includes RPC, TCP, UDP, etc., but is not particularly limited.
[0060]
As a result, the voice transmission process 405 is connected to the voice reception process 406 of each selected site, and the voice of the transmission host can be sent to the reception host. At this time, multicast communication or broadcast communication is used in order to enable simultaneous transmission of audio to all sites (a plurality of points) that transmit audio.
[0061]
Next, a communication connection method on the side that is talked when executing the Talk function, that is, the voice receiving side will be described.
In the present embodiment, the three connection modes (1) to (3) described above are provided as communication connection methods on the receiving side. On the voice receiving side, the setting can be changed at any time to any one of these three connection modes.
[0062]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the voice communication process (voice sending process 405 and voice receiving process 406).
In the second connection mode described above, when the voice transmission process 405 transmits voice to the voice reception process 406, the voice transmission process 405 first issues a transmission request to the access management process 407 (step S501).
[0063]
Upon receiving this transmission request, the access management process 407 notifies the voice reception process 406 that voice is transmitted from the voice transmission process 405 by inter-process communication. Upon receiving this notification, the voice receiving process 406 uses a method such as ringing or changing the icon display shown in FIG. 3 from 308 to 309 to send the voice to the voice receiver. Inform it that it will be sent.
[0064]
Correspondingly, the voice receiver determines whether to permit the communication connection. At this time, as means for permitting the voice receiver to establish a communication connection (allowing reception of voice), the icon 309 is selected (double-clicked), or the icon is displayed in any one of the multi-point video display windows 303. A method such as dragging and dropping 309 is used.
[0065]
When the voice receiver gives permission for communication connection by the above-described method (step S502), in order to notify the voice sender that the communication connection is permitted, a ring sound is generated on the voice transmitting side as follows (step S502). Step S503). First, after confirming the permission of the voice receiver, the access management process 407 notifies the voice transmission process 405 that the permission has been issued on the voice receiving side by inter-process communication.
[0066]
Upon receiving this notification, the audio transmission process 405 drives the audio output control device 208 on the audio transmission side and sounds a ring sound from the speaker 207.
Here, instead of sounding a ring sound, a method of popping up a dialog panel indicating that access is permitted may be used.
[0067]
Next, the audio transmission side determines whether or not the video of the audio reception side has been deleted from the multipoint video display window 303 (step S504). If it has been deleted, the video transmission process 401 causes the multipoint video display process 402 to display the video again in the multipoint video display window 303 (step S507).
[0068]
In this video display method, the video transmission process 401 may automatically display the multipoint video display process 402 so that the video transmission process 401 displays an icon (not shown). Then, the audio sender may click the icon to transmit the video and display it.
[0069]
When the voice receiver grants access permission, the access management process 407 confirms the permission, and then notifies the voice reception process 406 of the address of the voice transmission process 405 (step S505). Thereby, the voice transmission process 405 and the voice reception process 406 are connected (step S506), and voice transmission / reception is enabled.
[0070]
At this time, the access management process 407 notifies the multipoint video display process 402 of the address of the video transmission process 401, thereby connecting the video transmission process 401 and the multipoint video display process 402. As a result, at the same time as the communication connection by audio, it is possible to display the video on the audio transmission side in any one of the multipoint video display windows 303 on the audio reception side.
[0071]
Since the system assumed in this embodiment is not limited to voice two-way communication like a telephone, the reception of voice is accepted only when permitted on the receiving side by adopting the method described above. Audio communication can be performed more smoothly.
Note that the above processing is performed for all sites selected in the multipoint video display window 303.
[0072]
In the second and third connection modes described above, when the communication connection is rejected (step S502), the access management process 407 confirms that the connection is rejected and then confirms that the connection is rejected to the voice transmission process 405. By notifying, the voice sender is notified of the connection refusal (step S508).
[0073]
At this time, the memo data written by the voice receiver may be displayed on the screen of the voice sender so that some memo can be transmitted to the voice sender. Such a function can be easily realized by using a remote display function in a network transparent X-Window System or the like.
[0074]
In the present embodiment, the communication connection status for each site where video is displayed in the multipoint video display window 303 is
▲ 1 ▼ No voice transmission
(2) Communication connection is allowed and voice is being transmitted
(3) Communication connection refused
In order to make it clear to the voice sender on the voice transmission side, the Talk selection button 304 of each window is set in accordance with the above-mentioned situations (1), (2), and (3). 3 are changed as indicated by 310, 311 and 312 in FIG.
[0075]
On the other hand, the voice reception process 406 notifies the access management process 407 that the connection has been refused. In addition, the voice receiving process 406 leaves an icon (not shown) representing the voice sender on the screen of the voice receiving side (step S509). Then, an event wait state is entered (step S510).
[0076]
When the voice receiver later selects (double-clicks) the icon displayed in step S509 to permit the connection, the voice reception process 406 notifies the access management process 407 of this. Receiving this notification, the access management process 407 notifies the voice transmission process 405 by inter-process communication that the voice receiver once again permitted the communication connection.
[0077]
Upon receiving this notification, the voice transmission process 405 drives the voice output control device 208 and sounds a ring sound from the speaker 207 to notify the voice sender that the communication connection is permitted (step S503).
Here, instead of sounding a ring sound, a method of popping up a dialog panel indicating that access is permitted may be used.
[0078]
At this time, if the audio transmission side has deleted the video of the audio reception side from the multipoint video display window 303 (step S504), the video is displayed again as described above (step S507). .
As a result, even after the voice receiver refuses the communication connection once, the communication connection can be reestablished by an easy operation.
[0079]
The above mode setting and communication connection state change are performed through the access management process 407. That is, the access management process 407 manages the communication connection status of all hosts.
[0080]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management table managed by the access management process 407.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 601 denotes a voice transmission process list, which has a first field 611 and a second field 612.
[0081]
In the first field 611, the names of all devices in which the voice transmission process 405 is operating on the network, that is, the names of devices that are performing voice transmission are registered. That is, when the voice transmission process 405 is activated, the activation device name is registered in the first field 611.
[0082]
In this embodiment, since the workstation is used, the host name of the workstation is used as the device name.
In the second field 612, a pointer to a voice reception process list 602 provided corresponding to each voice transmission process 405 described below is registered.
[0083]
The voice reception process list 602 has one set corresponding to each entry of the voice transmission process list 601. In this voice reception process list 602, the login names of all users who have started the voice reception process 406 receiving the voice of the corresponding voice transmission process 405 and the host names on which the voice reception process 406 is operating are displayed. be registered.
[0084]
In FIG. 6, for example, the host name / user login name that receives (listens to) the voice of the voice transmission process 405 operating on host 3 is hostA / person1, hostB / person2, hostC / person3,. is there. Note that the login name is the name used when logging into the workstation.
[0085]
The update of the voice reception process list 602 occurs when the voice reception process 406 is activated and when the voice output in the voice reception process 406 is switched using a menu or the like. At this time, the combination data of the list composed of the host name / user login name of the workstation that started the voice receiving process 406 and the new microphone host name that is going to output voice is sent from the voice receiving process 406 to the access management process 407. Is sent in the form of an update request.
[0086]
Next, reference numeral 603 denotes a mode setting list in which all user login names of hosts on which the voice reception process 406 is operating and the types of communication connection modes set in those hosts are registered.
[0087]
As described above, according to this embodiment, since the mode at the time of communication connection can be set on the voice receiving side, it is possible to receive the voice only when the communication connection is permitted. Therefore, there is no possibility that the voice from another user is suddenly interrupted against his intention. Moreover, since the connection state of the voice communication for each user is presented to the voice transmission side, the voice sender can easily grasp the communication connection status of each user.
[0088]
Further, as means for permitting the voice receiver to establish a communication connection, the icon 309 shown in FIG. 3 is selected (double-clicked), or the icon 309 is dragged and dragged into any one of the multipoint video display windows 303. Since the drop method is used, the operation is very simple and the usability is improved.
[0089]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. This second embodiment shows an example in which the setting of the communication connection mode in the first embodiment described above can be changed by a partner on the voice transmission side. In the second embodiment, the management table shown in FIG. 6 shown in the first embodiment is replaced with a management table as shown in FIG. Only the differences from the first embodiment will be described below.
[0090]
In FIG. 7, the voice transmission process list 701 has a third field 713 in addition to the first field 611 and the second field 612 described in FIG. In the third field 713, a pointer to a mode setting list 703 provided corresponding to each voice transmission process 405 described below is registered.
[0091]
The mode setting list 703 has one set corresponding to each entry of the voice transmission process list 701. In this mode setting list 703, the communication connection mode set by each voice reception process 406 for the corresponding voice transmission process 405 is registered.
[0092]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a window for setting a communication connection mode for each voice sender.
In FIG. 8, reference numeral 801 denotes a window that displays a list of voice senders, that is, partners who may send voices to themselves.
[0093]
Reference numeral 802 denotes a window for displaying a communication connection mode, and the connection mode setting can be changed for each voice sender. That is, by inputting the voice sender name and connection mode in the input window 803 (for example, by an operation unit such as a keyboard (not shown)), the table of the mode setting list 703 is updated, and the connection mode is set for each voice sender. Can be changed.
[0094]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, on the voice receiving side, the mode at the time of communication connection can be individually changed according to the partner on the voice transmitting side. The voice can be received only from the desired party even when the communication connection is permitted. Thereby, a more desirable communication connection can be realized.
[0095]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention provides the mode setting means for setting the mode at the time of communication connection on the voice receiving side, so that only when the user on the receiving side permits the communication connection according to the set mode, Thus, it is possible to eliminate a situation in which a voice from another user is suddenly interrupted against his / her intention.
[0096]
According to another feature of the present invention, since the setting mode at the time of communication connection can be changed for each partner on the voice transmission side, the connection mode on whether to permit communication connection on the voice reception side is set to voice. It becomes possible to freely set for each partner on the transmission side, so that it is possible to receive voice from only a desired partner among a plurality of communication partners, and a more desirable communication connection can be realized. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing elemental features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a multipoint communication system according to the first and second embodiments.
3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on the bitmap display shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a process configuration diagram of the first and second embodiments.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a voice communication process (voice sending process and voice receiving process) in the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a management table in the first embodiment managed by an access management process.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a management table in the second embodiment managed by an access management process.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a window for setting a communication connection mode for each voice sender in the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Terminal equipment on the voice receiving side
2, 3 Voice transmission terminal equipment
4 network
11 Communication means
12 Mode setting means
13 Connection management means
14 Connection state presentation means
204 Network I / F
209 CPU
210 Main memory
212 mouse
213 Bitmap display

Claims (6)

A terminal device having video / audio input means, means for delivering video and audio captured from the video / audio input means to a network, and output means for outputting video and audio from a plurality of points delivered by the delivery means In a multipoint communication system in which a plurality of each exist on the network and transmit and receive video and audio to and from each other,
The terminal device as a mode for receiving the voice,
A first connection mode for immediate connection without confirmation of connection permission;
A second connection mode that informs the voice receiving side that the voice is about to be transmitted, connects when the permission of the receiving side is obtained, and does not connect when the permission of the receiving side is not obtained;
A third connection mode for rejecting the connection and transmitting a memo to the voice transmission side as necessary;
A multipoint communication system comprising mode setting means for switching the connection mode setting.   2. The multipoint communication system according to claim 1, wherein the mode setting means can change the mode setting at the time of the communication connection for each partner on the voice transmission side.   The multipoint communication system according to claim 1, further comprising means for presenting a communication connection state to the voice transmitting side.   In the second connection mode, permission of communication connection on the audio receiving side is performed by placing a symbol representing the audio transmitting side displayed on the display device over the video from the audio transmitting side. The multipoint communication system according to claim 1. In a multipoint communication system adapted to transmit and receive at least audio between terminals connected to a plurality of points on a network,
The terminal device that receives the sound has a mode for receiving the sound,
A first connection mode for immediate connection without confirmation of connection permission;
A second connection mode that informs the voice receiving side that the voice is about to be transmitted, connects when the permission of the receiving side is obtained, and does not connect when the permission of the receiving side is not obtained;
A third connection mode for rejecting the connection and transmitting a memo to the voice transmission side as necessary;
A multipoint communication system comprising mode setting means for switching the connection mode setting. In a communication terminal device for transmitting and receiving at least voice over a network,
As a mode when receiving the above voice,
A first connection mode for immediate connection without confirmation of connection permission;
A second connection mode that informs the voice receiving side that the voice is about to be transmitted, connects when the permission of the receiving side is obtained, and does not connect when the permission of the receiving side is not obtained;
A third connection mode for rejecting the connection and transmitting a memo to the voice transmission side as necessary;
A communication terminal device comprising mode setting means for switching the setting of the connection mode.

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