JP3894120B2 - COMMUNICATION CLIENT DEVICE, MULTIPOINT COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING THE SAME, MULTIPOINT COMMUNICATION METHOD AND ITS PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention uses a communication client device that realizes a video / audio / data conference by multipoint bi-directional communication via a network using a video / audio / data communication device installed between remote locations, and the same. The present invention relates to a multipoint communication system, a multipoint communication method and a program thereof, and a medium on which the program is recorded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in order to perform bidirectional communication between multiple points that handle video, audio, and data (hereinafter collectively referred to as media), in addition to terminal devices at each point, call control signals and media A centralized device that aggregates and processes the signals was required. In this case, the centralized device controls connection between terminals by transferring call control signals or transmitting call control signals to a plurality of terminal devices.
[0003]
Also, a technique for providing bidirectional communication between multiple points by combining a plurality of media signals transmitted from a plurality of terminal devices into a single media signal by a centralized device and transmitting the synthesized media signals to the plurality of terminal devices. Is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
However, in these methods, the processing load associated with the transmission / reception of control signals and the synthesis of media signals in the centralized device is large. There was a problem of causing a call loss (details will be described later).
[0005]
In addition, there is a method of reducing the processing load by a centralized device that transmits and receives only control signals without synthesizing media signals. For example, ITU-TH.323 (Decentralized Multipoint Conference) is known, There was no change in the location / cost for installing the centralized device and the need to set the centralized device.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-252843 A
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to solve a problem in the prior art, a communication client device, a multipoint bidirectional communication system using the same, and both multipoints. It is to provide a communication method and a program therefor.
[0008]
More specifically, the structure of a multipoint communication system that requires a centralized device is improved, and call control signals and media signals from the terminal device are directly transmitted to the paired terminal device without being transmitted to the centralized device. By transmitting, by eliminating the need for a centralized device, it enables multipoint communication without call loss using large-scale (tens of thousands of terminal devices) and high-quality (several tens of times higher) media signals. There are also provided a communication client device capable of simplifying system construction and cost reduction, a multipoint bidirectional communication system using the same, a multipoint bidirectional communication method and program, and a recording medium storing the program. There is.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, a first communication client device according to the present invention is a communication client device for constructing a multipoint communication system that performs multipoint bidirectional media communication with each other via a network. A means for notifying all communication client devices in the network of its own address, a means for requesting the other communication client device to notify its address, and the address of the notified other communication client device. A means for storing in the apparatus, a means for requesting the start of communication using the address of the stored other communication client apparatus, and a response to the communication start request are returned to start communication between the two communication client apparatuses. Means for transmitting media in accordance with the started communication path, and from another communication client device. Means for receiving a signal media, to view their media, and having a means for communicating to the user.
[0010]
A second communication client device according to the present invention is a communication client device for constructing a multipoint communication system that performs multipoint bidirectional media communication with each other via a network, and the self-address is the above-described client device. Means for notifying all communication client devices in the network, means for requesting address notification to other communication client devices, and means for storing the address of the notified other communication client device in the own communication client device And a means for requesting the start of multipoint communication using the addresses of the plurality of other communication client devices stored therein, and a response to the start request for multipoint communication. Means for starting, means for transmitting media according to the started communication path, and a plurality of other communication client devices. Means for receiving the transmitted media from, and view their media, and having a means for communicating to the user.
[0011]
In addition, the third communication client device according to the present invention is configured in addition to the configuration of the second communication client device according to the present invention described above before or during communication between the communication client devices. A means for performing event notification such as requesting to participate in multipoint communication or requesting speech, a means for receiving event notification from another communication client device, and controlling multipoint communication; And a means for displaying that the notification and control have been made and for telling the user.
[0012]
Further, a fourth communication client device according to the present invention includes a means for confirming whether or not the communication server device exists in the network in addition to the configuration of each communication client device according to the present invention described above. The multipoint communication using the communication server device is performed when the communication server device is present, and the multipoint communication is directly performed between the communication client devices according to any one of claims 1 to 3 when the communication server device is not present. And control means for performing bidirectional media communication.
[0013]
Further, the multipoint communication system according to the present invention is a multipoint bidirectional communication system that includes a plurality of communication client devices and performs multipoint bidirectional media communication between communication client devices via a network, Any one of the above-described communication client devices is used as the communication client device.
[0014]
In addition, a first multipoint communication method according to the present invention includes a plurality of communication client devices connected via a network, and performs multipoint bidirectional media communication between the communication client devices. Each communication client device notifies its own address to all communication client devices in the network, requests other communication client devices for address notification, and is notified of the other communication client devices. Is stored in the client device for own communication, the start of communication is requested using the address of the stored other communication client device, a response to the request for starting communication is returned, and the two client devices for communication are Start communication, send media according to the started communication route, and send from other client devices for communication Receiving the media, to view their media, characterized in that conveyed to the user.
[0015]
In addition, a second multipoint communication method according to the present invention includes a plurality of communication client devices connected via a network, and performs multipoint bidirectional media communication between the communication client devices. Each communication client device notifies its own address to all communication client devices in the network, requests other communication client devices for address notification, and is notified of the other communication client devices. Is stored in the self-communication client device, the start of multipoint communication is requested using the stored addresses of a plurality of other communication client devices, a response to the multipoint communication start request is returned, and a plurality of communication Start communication between client devices, send media according to the started communication path, and send multiple other communication classes. Receiving a media transmitted from Ant device, to view their media, characterized in that conveyed to the user.
[0016]
In addition to the configuration of the second multipoint communication method according to the present invention described above, the third multipoint communication method according to the present invention may further include a communication before starting communication between the communication client devices or During communication, event notifications such as requesting to participate in multipoint communication or requesting speech are received, event notifications from other communication client devices are received, multipoint communication is controlled, and those It is characterized in that notification and control are displayed and notified to the user.
[0017]
In addition to the configuration of each multipoint communication method according to the present invention described above, the fourth multipoint communication method according to the present invention further confirms whether the communication server device exists in the network, When there is a communication server device, multipoint communication using the communication server device is performed, and when there is no communication server device, multipoint bidirectional media communication is directly performed between the communication client devices using the above means. Features.
[0018]
The above-mentioned multipoint communication method is preferably realized by computer control, and the present invention is embodied as a program for realizing each means in the above-described communication client device by a computer, that is, commercialization. Is possible.
Furthermore, the present invention can also be embodied as a computer-readable recording medium that records the above-described computer control program.
[0019]
Since the present invention is not limited to the type of media, it can be applied not only to a multipoint bidirectional communication system using voice and video, but also to a voice-only multipoint bidirectional communication system, data such as still images, documents, and manually entered texts. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a multipoint bidirectional communication system using the above or a multipoint bidirectional communication system combining them.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred examples shown in the drawings.
[0021]
[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a network 10 is a communication network capable of transmitting digital data packets such as an IP network, ATM network, ISDN network, or PHS public network. Communication client devices (hereinafter also simply referred to as clients) 20, 20 ′,... Are communication terminals having video / audio / data (media) transmission / reception display functions.
[0022]
The own address calling means 21 of the client 20 (same for 20 ′) is means for notifying all clients connected to the network 10 of the own address when the client is activated or when the user inputs a user. It is. The other address search means 22 is a means for requesting an address notification 21 from another client.
[0023]
The other address storage means 23 is a means for storing the address of the other client notified by the request from the other address search means 22 in a storage medium such as a memory in the client and making the address available later. The communication calling unit 24 is a unit that requests connection to the address of another client stored in the other address storage unit 23 by a call control procedure.
[0024]
The communication response means 25 is a means for establishing a connection with the other client in response to the connection call procedure requested from the other client by the communication calling means 24 described above. The media transmission unit 26 is a unit that transmits a media signal to the destination client based on the connection information established by the other address storage unit 23 and the communication calling unit 24.
[0025]
The media reception means 27 is a means for receiving a media signal from the transmission source client based on the connection information established by the other address storage means 23 and the communication call means 24. Both the media transmission means 26 and the media reception means 27 The transmission destination or transmission source is composed of a plurality of clients. The GUI display means 28 is a means for displaying the procedure result of each of the means (21 to 27), displaying the media, etc., and transmitting the details of the procedure to the user.
[0026]
FIG. 7 is a diagram for supplementarily explaining the configuration of a conventional multipoint bidirectional communication system.
7, the communication server device 40 has means for transferring the call control procedures (21 to 25) from the clients 20, 20 ′,... And synthesizing the media signals (26, 27). The notification from the self-address calling unit 21 is stored in a storage medium such as a memory in the communication server device 40 by the storage unit 41 of the communication server.
[0027]
The notification request from the other address search means 22 is sent to the communication server device 40, and the address notification means 42 notifies the client address stored by the address storage means 41. The notification calling procedure 24 is sent to the communication server device 40, and the call control transfer means 42 transfers the call control signal to the client using the client address of the address storage means 41.
[0028]
The communication control procedure 25 receives a call control signal from the call control transfer means 42 and establishes a connection between clients. The media synthesizing unit 43 is a unit for synthesizing the media signal from the media transmitting unit 26 from the client 20 and the media signal from the media transmitting unit 26 from the client 20 ′.
[0029]
The combined media transmitting unit 44 is a unit for transmitting the media combined by the media combining unit 43 to the clients 20 and 20 ′, and is received by the media receiving unit 27 of the client. The synthesized media signal is displayed on the screen by the GUI display means 28 in the client.
[0030]
Thus, in the conventional multipoint bidirectional communication, the call control procedure and the media signal always pass through the communication server device 40, and the communication server device 40 cannot be omitted. This suggests that the processing load on the media composing means 43 becomes enormous and causes a call loss as the network becomes broadband and the media becomes high quality and large capacity.
[0031]
FIG. 2 shows an operation example according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is an operation explanatory diagram in the case of performing bidirectional media communication between the clients 20 and 20 ′. The client 20 notifies its own address when the client is activated or in response to an instruction from the user (2a). This notification is delivered to all clients existing in the network 10. For this reason, it is common to use a technique such as multicast in the IP network, but the present invention can be implemented using other techniques.
[0032]
The client 20 ′ stores the notified address of the client 20 in the memory (2b). As a result, the presence of the client 20 can be found. Thereafter, the client 20 transmits an address notification request (2c) in order to find another client (in this example, the client 20 ′) existing in the network. Receiving this request, the client 20 ′ notifies its own address only to the client 20 (2d).
[0033]
The following is an example when the self-address notification (2a) is described in SIP.
REGISTER sip: 224.0.1.75: 5060 SIP / 2.0
From: "Client 20"<sip:cl20@aka.hikari>
Contact: “Client 20” <sip: cl20@192.168.0.1: 5060>
Expires: XXXX
[0034]
In the example, the client 20 has sent its own address notification message to the multicast address of 224.0.1.75, and other clients that have received this store the address described in Contact: (in the example, 192.168.0.1:5060) (2b). It is also possible to notify that the address is no longer used by sending a similar message in which Expires: is set to 0.
[0035]
The following is an example when the address notification request (2c) is described in SIP.
REGISTER sip: 224.0.1.75: 5060 SIP / 2.0
From: sip: cbox@aka.hikari
Contact: sip: cbox@192.168.0.1: 5060
Call-Info: <sip: cbox@aka.hikari>; CBOX
Expires: XXXX
[0036]
In the example, an address notification request message is sent to the multicast address 224.0.1.75, and the other client that received it sends the address described in Contact: (192.168.0.1:5060 in the example) A self address notification (2a) message is transmitted. Call-Info: CBOX is defined as a request message to the client.
[0037]
The client 20 stores the notified address in the memory (2e). Thereby, it is possible to confirm that each other exists in the network 10. Thereafter, the client 20 transmits a call control signal for requesting the start of communication to the client 20 ′ (2f). In response to this, the client 20 ′ returns a call control signal that acknowledges the start of communication to the client 20 (2g).
[0038]
This makes it possible to establish a connection between clients. After the connection is established, the media signal is directly transmitted from the client 20 to the client 20 ′ (2h). The client 20 ′ receives the media signal from the client 20 and displays it on the screen. Similarly, by performing the reverse operation (transmission from the client 20 ′) (2i), it is possible to transmit and display the media signal from the client 20 ′ to the client 20.
[0039]
According to the above operation example, bidirectional transmission / reception and display of media signals between the client 20 and the client 20 ′ can be performed.
[0040]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
3, the network 10 and clients 20, 20 ′, 20 ″,... Are the same as those in FIG. 1 showing the configuration of the first embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is between the clients. Instead of means for one-to-one communication (communication calling means 24), it has means for n-to-n multipoint communication, and various event notification means necessary for multipoint communication. It is.
[0041]
The multipoint calling means 29 is a means for transmitting a call control signal for requesting the start of multipoint communication from the client 20 to a plurality of other clients. The communication response means 25 is a means for returning a response to the 29 call control signal. The multipoint control means 30 is a means for controlling whether or not each client of the started multipoint communication is replaced, and whether or not each client can transmit and receive media signals.
[0042]
The event notification unit 31 is a unit for notifying other clients of the status of each client, and the event acquisition unit 32 receives an event notification from the event notification unit 31 of the other client and transmits the event data to multiple points. It is a means for transmitting to the control means 30.
[0043]
FIG. 4 shows an operation example in the second embodiment of the present invention, and is an operation explanatory diagram in the case of performing multipoint bidirectional media communication between clients 20, 20 ′, 20 ″. Although the number of clients is not limited, in this example, a description will be given by taking as an example a procedure for starting multipoint communication with three clients from the client 20.
[0044]
The procedure in which the clients notify each other's addresses (4a to 4d) and discover their existence is the same as that in the first embodiment. Thereafter, the client 20 transmits a call control signal for requesting the start of multipoint communication to a specific client (20 ′, 20 ″ in this example) (4f). "" Returns a response to the response (4g), thereby establishing a connection with the client 20.
[0045]
The following is an example in which the communication start request (4f) is described in SIP SDP.
v = 0
o = conf_C 18623401321053 18623401321054 IN IP4 127.0.0.1
s = Session Conference C
t = 0 0
m = video 10000 RTP / AVP 33
i = “Client 20” <sip: cl20d@aka.hikari>
[0046]
c = IN IP4 224.0.20.1
b = CT: 6000
a = rtpmap: 33 MP2T / 90000
a = sendonly
m = video 10000 RTP / AVP 33
i = “Client 20” <sip: cl20@aka.hikari>
c = IN IP4 224.0.20.2
b = CT: 6000
a = rtpmap: 33 MP2T / 90000
a = recvonly
[0047]
m = video 10000 RTP / AVP 33
i = “Client 20” <sip: cl20dd@aka.hikari>
c = IN IP4 224.0.20.3
b = CT: 6000
a = rtpmap: 33 MP2T / 90000
a = recvonly
[0048]
In the example, the client 20 'is designated to transmit a media signal to the multicast address of 224.0.20. In order to receive the media signal from the client 20 and the client 20 ", 224.0.0.20.2 And 224.0.20.3 multicast address is specified to be received.
[0049]
Here, in the call control signal, not only the connection information with the client 20 but also the connection information with other clients is described. Therefore, when a connection with the client 20 is established, to which address A connection path with another client is established to determine whether a media signal needs to be transmitted and received.
[0050]
For example, when the SIP protocol is used for call control, this can be realized by describing the connection information in the SDP in the SIP protocol, but it can also be realized by using other means. Next, based on the established connection, the client 20 transmits a media signal to the clients 20 ′ and 20 ″ (4h). Since there are a plurality of destinations for transmission of the media signal, multicast or the like is used in the IP network. This can be realized by using this method.
[0051]
The client 20 ′, 20 ″ receives the media signal from the client 20 and displays it on the screen (4i). Similarly, the client 20 ′, 20 ″ performs the same operation to perform the client 20 ′. Transmission of media signals from the client 20 to the clients 20 and 20 ″ (4j) and transmission of media signals from the clients 20 ″ to the clients 20 and 20 ′ (4k) are possible. Display is possible.
[0052]
According to the above operation example, bidirectional transmission / reception and display of media signals between the clients 20, 20 ′, 20 ″ can be performed.
[0053]
FIG. 5 shows another operation example in the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows an operation example in which event notification is performed in multipoint interactive media communication. In multipoint bidirectional communication, the number of media that can be received by one client is often limited. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the clients that can transmit. In order to transmit again, the client that has been disabled from transmission needs to make a transmission request.
[0054]
For example, the procedure for the client 20 ″ to shift from the transmission disabled state to the transmission enabled state is as follows. The client 20 ″ directly notifies the client 20 of an event (5a). At this time, no server or aggregation device is required. The client 20 that has received the event notification displays on the screen that the notification has been received, and gives the user an opportunity to perform multipoint communication control (or automatically performs a control operation).
[0055]
When the user or automatic transmission is selected, the client 20 requests the client 20 ″ to establish a multipoint communication connection indicating that transmission is possible using the multipoint calling means 29 (5b). Another example of operation is the use of event notification to discover which client wants multipoint communication before making a multipoint call.
[0056]
In this case, the client 20 first transmits an event indicating that multipoint communication is started by event notification to all the communication clients in the network 10 (5c). Among the other clients that have received this event, the client that actually wants to participate in the multipoint communication similarly uses the event notification and transmits an event indicating that the client 20 is participating (5d). .
[0057]
In this example, only the client 20 ″ performs event notification. The client 20 transmits call control for connection of multipoint communication with only the client that has transmitted the event indicating participation as a participant (5e). Upon receiving this, the client 20 ″ returns a response to the client 20 ″ (5f), so that it is possible to easily realize multipoint bidirectional media communication constituted only by a specific client.
[0058]
FIG. 6 shows another operation example in the communication client device according to the present invention, and is an operation flowchart of means for grasping whether or not the communication server device exists in the network. The client 20 transmits a signal indicating whether the communication server device 40 exists in the network 10 (step 51). This is a signal that depends on the network. For example, in the case of an IP network, ping or the like is applicable. If there is no response to the signal (N in step 52), a signal is transmitted using the other address search means 22 in order to confirm the existence of another communication server device (step 53).
[0059]
The following is an example when the other address search means (step 53) is described in SIP.
REGISTER sip: 224.0.1.75: 5060 SIP / 2.0
From: sip: cbox@aka.hikari
Contact: sip: cbox@192.168.0.1: 5060
Call-Info: <sip: cbox@aka.hikari>; SGW
Expires: XXXX
[0060]
In the example, another address search message is sent to the multicast address of 224.0.1.75, and the server device for communication that received it sends the address described in Contact: (in the example, 192.168.0.1:5060) , A response is returned (Y in step 54). By describing SGW in Call-Info :, it is defined that this is a request message for the communication server device.
[0061]
If a communication server device exists in the network 10, the communication server device that has received the signal from the other address search means 22 returns a response to the client 20 using the own address call means 21 ( Y in step 54). When the client can confirm the presence of the communication server device by the two means (Y in step 52 or step 54), the client establishes the connection for multipoint communication using the communication server device to the communication server device. Start (step 56).
[0062]
On the other hand, when the presence of the communication server device cannot be confirmed (both N in step 52 and step 54), the client according to the procedure according to each embodiment described above directly between the clients. It is assumed that multipoint communication connection is started (step 55).
[0063]
According to the above operation example, when the existence of the communication server device can be confirmed in the network, it is used, and only when the existence of the communication server device cannot be confirmed, each embodiment of the present invention is applied. A versatile operation of connecting direct multipoint communication between clients in accordance with such a procedure becomes possible.
[0064]
Each of the above-described embodiments shows an example of the present invention. The present invention should not be limited to these, and appropriate modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Needless to say, it is good.
[0065]
For example, the above-mentioned multipoint communication method is preferably realized by computer control, and the present invention is embodied as a program for realizing each means in the above-described communication client device by a computer, that is, commercialization. Is possible.
[0066]
Furthermore, the multipoint communication method according to the present invention can be embodied as a computer-readable recording medium that records the above-described computer control program.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to discover the presence of a communication client device in a network directly between communication client devices without requiring a centralized device such as a communication server device. It is possible to perform multipoint bidirectional media communication capable of transmitting / receiving control signals, transmitting / receiving media signals, and displaying a plurality of media on the screen of each communication client. As a result, even when large-scale, high-quality media signals are used, multipoint bi-directional media communication without call loss is possible, system construction can be simplified, and costs can be reduced. It is what you play.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of event notification according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an operational flowchart of server existence confirmation.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional communication system.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 network
20, 20 ', 20 "client
21 Self-address calling means
22 Other address search means
23 Other address storage means
24 Communication calling means
25 Communication response means
26 Media transmission means
27 Media receiving means
28 GUI display means
29 Multipoint calling means
30 Multipoint control means
31 Event notification means
32 Event acquisition means
40 Communication server device
41 Address storage means
42 Call control transfer means
43 Media composition means
44 Composite media transmission means
50-56 processing steps

Claims (11)

A communication client device for constructing a multipoint communication system that performs multipoint bidirectional media communication with each other via a network,
Means for confirming whether the communication server device exists in the network;
Perform multipoint communication using a communication server apparatus when a communication server apparatus is present, that a control means for performing multipoint bidirectional media communication directly between passing credit client device in the absence of A communication client device. The communication client device according to claim 1 ,
In order to perform multipoint interactive media communication directly between the communication client devices,
Means for notifying its own address to all communication client devices in the network;
Means for requesting the address notification to the other communication client device;
Means for storing the address of the notified client device for other communication in the client device for own communication;
Means for requesting the start of communication using the stored address of the client device for other communication;
A means for returning a response to the communication start request and starting communication between the two communication client devices;
Means for transmitting media according to the initiated communication path;
Means for receiving media transmitted from a client device for other communication;
A communication client device comprising means for displaying these media and transmitting them to a user. The communication client device according to claim 1 ,
In order to perform multipoint interactive media communication directly between the communication client devices,
Means for notifying its own address to all communication client devices in the network;
Means for requesting the address notification to the other communication client device;
Means for storing the address of the notified client device for other communication in the client device for own communication;
Means for requesting the start of multipoint communication using addresses of a plurality of other communication client devices stored;
A means for returning a response to the start request for multipoint communication and starting communication between a plurality of communication client devices;
Means for transmitting media according to the initiated communication path;
Means for receiving media transmitted from a plurality of other communication client devices;
A communication client device comprising means for displaying these media and transmitting them to a user. In addition to the above means,
Means for notifying the event such as requesting to participate in multipoint communication or requesting speech before starting communication between the communication client devices or during communication;
Means for receiving an event notification from a client device for other communication and controlling multipoint communication;
4. The communication client device according to claim 3 , further comprising means for displaying that the notification and control have been performed and transmitting the notification to the user. A multipoint communication system that is composed of a plurality of communication client devices and performs multipoint bidirectional media communication between communication client devices via a network,
5. A multipoint communication system using the communication client device according to claim 1 as the communication client device. A multi-point communication method comprising a plurality of communication client devices connected via a network and performing multi-point bidirectional media communication between communication client devices,
Check if the communication server device exists in the network,
If there is a communication server device, perform multipoint communication using the communication server device,
Multipoint way to and performing multipoint bidirectional media communication directly between passing credit client device in the absence. The multipoint communication method according to claim 6, wherein:
In order to perform multipoint interactive media communication directly between the communication client devices,
Each of the communication client devices is
Notify all communication client devices in the network of its own address,
Request address notification to other communication client device,
Store the address of the client device for other communication notified to the client device for own communication,
Request the start of communication using the stored address of the client device for other communication,
Returns a response to the communication start request, starts communication between the two communication client devices,
Send media according to the initiated communication path,
It also receives media sent from other communication client devices,
A multipoint communication method characterized by displaying those media and transmitting them to the user. The multipoint communication method according to claim 6, wherein:
In order to perform multipoint interactive media communication directly between the communication client devices,
Each of the communication client devices is
Notify all communication client devices in the network of its own address,
Request address notification to other communication client device,
Store the address of the client device for other communication notified to the client device for own communication,
Request the start of multipoint communication using the stored addresses of multiple other client devices for communication,
Returns a response to the start request for multipoint communication, starts communication between multiple communication client devices,
Send media according to the initiated communication path,
Also, it receives media sent from multiple other communication client devices,
A multipoint communication method characterized by displaying those media and transmitting them to the user. In addition to the above operations,
Before or during communication between the communication client devices,
Notification of events such as requesting to participate in multipoint communication or requesting remarks,
Receives event notifications from other communication client devices, controls multipoint communication,
The multipoint communication method according to claim 8 , wherein the notification and control are displayed and notified to the user.   A computer control program of a call control sequence for realizing the multipoint communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 9 by computer control.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the computer control program according to claim 10 is recorded.

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