JP4663176B2 - Bidirectional communication system for conference facilities - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless communication facility for conference facilities including a plurality of microphone slave units, and more particularly to a technology for assigning a speech permission to a microphone slave unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Among wireless two-way communication systems, in particular, infrared two-way communication systems are suitable for transmission and reception within a limited range with few problems such as wiretapping and leakage. Adopted in the conference facility. This type of conference facility is called an IR (infrared) conference facility.
[0003]
In the IR conference facility, an infrared light receiving / emitting device as a communication means is provided in each of the microphone handsets of the chairperson's seat and the member's seat.
[0004]
As the proceeding mode, the chairperson is given the right to proceed with the proceedings, and the chairperson priority mode in which the speech can only be made after obtaining the permission of the chairperson, and free talk is allowed according to the order of speech requests Modes are available. Usually, in the free talk mode, a speaker frame is determined, and when the frame is full, a speech is awaited until a space is available.
[0005]
That is, the system control unit is provided with a speech frame management table for limiting the number of speakers and a speech waiting management table. When a speech request signal is issued from the microphone slave unit, the system control unit performs speech frame management. If the table is searched and there is a vacancy, a speech permission signal is given to the microphone handset to enable communication, and if there is no vacancy, it is registered in the speech waiting management table.
[0006]
When there is a vacancy in the speech frame management table, a microphone permission signal is given to the microphone slave devices registered in the speech waiting management table, for example, in the order of priority of registration, and the microphone slave device is registered in the speech frame management table. The
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When a speech end signal is output from the microphone slave unit, the microphone slave unit is deleted from the speech frame management table, and the microphone slave unit waiting for speech is moved up. If communication is disabled due to some cause, for example, battery exhaustion or power-off due to an erroneous operation of the speaker, it is not deleted from the message frame management table. Accordingly, it is not possible to give a speech permission to the microphone slave unit waiting to speak.
[0008]
In addition, even if a microphone permission is given to a microphone slave that is waiting for a speech, if the microphone slave in the first priority order cannot communicate for some reason, a speech permission is not given to a microphone slave in the next rank or lower. The number of simultaneous speech channels that are limited cannot be used effectively.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, when a microphone slave unit that is speaking becomes unable to communicate for some reason, the microphone slave unit is automatically deleted from the speech frame management table, and permission to speak is granted to the microphone slave units waiting to speak. Can be given.
[0010]
Therefore, the present invention includes a plurality of microphone slave units and a system control unit capable of wireless two-way communication, the system control unit is provided with a speech frame management table and a speech waiting management table, When a speech request signal is issued from the microphone slave unit to the system control unit, the system control unit grants a speech permission to the microphone slave unit when the speech frame management table is empty, and manages the speech frame management. In the interactive communication system for a conference facility, which is registered in the table and, if there is no space, the microphone slave unit is registered in the speech waiting management table and waits, the system control unit is given the speech permission and said speech The carrier of the audio signal transmitted from the microphone slave unit registered in the frame management table is monitored, and if the carrier is interrupted for a predetermined time, the microphone As well as deleted from the speak frame management table machine is characterized in that registered in the speech frame management table giving floor grant the microphone handset registered in the speech waiting management table.
[0011]
When the microphone handset enters a speech permission state, an audio signal is transmitted from the microphone handset, for example, by the FM modulation method. Even if the legislator does not actually speak, if the speech is permitted, the carrier wave of the audio signal is always transmitted. In addition to the case where the speech end command is normally completed, this carrier wave is also stopped by the power-off of the microphone slave unit or the failure of the communication circuit (communication error).
[0012]
In the present invention, the presence / absence of a carrier wave is checked at predetermined time intervals, and when the carrier wave disappears, the microphone child device is removed from the statement frame management table, and a speech permission is given to the microphone child device waiting to speak. Thereby, the limited number of simultaneous speech channels can be used effectively.
[0013]
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the speech permission given from the system control unit to the microphone slave unit registered in the speech waiting management table is in the priority order of registration, but the system control unit in the higher priority microphone slave unit When the permission to speak is not received, the system control unit gives permission to speak to the next-priority microphone slave unit while keeping the microphone slave unit in the priority order.
[0014]
According to this, even if you miss the opportunity to speak due to a communication error, if communication is possible when the next speech is permitted, you can speak to the microphone slave that had the previous communication error in preference to other microphone slaves. Permission is assigned.
[0015]
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the microphone slave unit and the system control unit are each provided with an audio signal transmission / reception unit and a data signal transmission / reception unit. That is, a speech request signal, a speech permission signal, a vote, and the like are transmitted as a binarized data signal separately from a voice signal, thereby facilitating overall control.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of a bidirectional communication system for conference facilities according to an embodiment.
[0017]
According to this, this bidirectional communication system includes a plurality of microphone slave units 10 and a system control unit 20 provided, for example, on the conference office side as a basic configuration. One of the plurality of microphone slave units 10 is a chairman slave unit, and the remaining slave units are for each member of the Diet.
[0018]
In this embodiment, a personal computer 30 operated by a secretary or the like is connected to the system control unit 20. The personal computer 30 is mainly used for the process of changing the layout of the seats and is an optional component in the present invention. However, depending on the case, the personal computer 30 can be provided with the function of the system control unit 20.
[0019]
With reference to FIG. 2, the structure of each subunit | mobile_unit 10 and the system control part 20 is demonstrated. Since each microphone subunit | mobile_unit 10 may be the same structure, the one is demonstrated. The microphone slave unit 10 includes an analog audio signal transmission / reception unit 110 and a digital data signal transmission / reception unit 130 using infrared rays, and a CPU 150 as control means.
[0020]
The transmission system of the audio signal transmission / reception unit 110 includes a microphone 111, a carrier wave oscillator 112, an FM modulator 113 that FM modulates a carrier wave with an audio signal from the microphone 111, an amplifier 114 that amplifies the FM modulation wave, and And an infrared light emitting element 101 driven by the amplified output. In this embodiment, a switch 116 that is on / off controlled by the CPU 150 is connected between the FM modulator 113 and the amplifier 114.
[0021]
The reception system of the audio signal transmission / reception unit 110 includes an infrared light receiving element 102 and a receiver 123 that demodulates the light reception signal and drives the speaker 122. The speaker 122 may be an earphone.
[0022]
In this embodiment, the infrared light emitting element 101 and the infrared light receiving element 102 are also used as the data signal transmitting / receiving unit 130, and the data signal transmitting / receiving unit 130 includes a transmission system having a drive circuit 132 for driving the infrared light emitting element 101, an infrared ray And a reception system having a receiver 142 connected to the light receiving element 102, and the received data signal is input to the CPU 150.
[0023]
The drive circuit 132 is controlled by the CPU 150, and the infrared light emitting element 101 transmits a data signal such as an ID number (identification number) assigned to each microphone slave unit 10 or a speech request signal as a digital signal. An operation unit 151 is connected to the CPU 150. Although not shown, the operation unit 151 is provided with a speech request button, a speech end button, a voting button, and the like.
[0024]
Similarly to the microphone slave unit 10, the system control unit 20 also includes an analog audio signal transmission / reception unit 210 and a digital data signal transmission / reception unit 230 using infrared rays, and a CPU 250 as control means.
[0025]
The audio signal transmission / reception unit 210 includes a receiver 212 that receives an infrared audio signal from each microphone slave unit 10 via the infrared light receiving element 202, and a received signal from the receiver 212 as infrared rays toward each microphone slave unit 10. Infrared light-emitting element 201 and its drive circuit 214 are provided.
[0026]
Also in the system control unit 20, the infrared light emitting element 201 and the infrared light receiving element 202 are also used as the data signal transmission / reception unit 230. The data signal transmission / reception unit 230 receives the infrared data signal from each microphone slave unit 10 as an infrared light reception element. A receiver 232 that receives the signal via the 202 and a drive circuit 234 that drives the infrared light emitting element 201 when transmitting a digital signal such as a speech permission signal or a vote request signal to each microphone slave unit 10 are provided. Yes.
[0027]
According to this embodiment, the infrared light emitting element 201 and the infrared light receiving element 202 of the system control unit 20 are installed on the ceiling of a conference facility, for example, as shown in FIG.
[0028]
The CPU 250 of the system control unit 20 includes a message frame management table 251 and a message waiting management table 252. The comment frame management table 251 limits the number of members who can speak at the same time from the relationship between the progress of the proceedings and the number of call channels, and the number of simultaneous speakers is limited to about four, for example.
[0029]
The speech waiting management table 252 is a table for registering a speech requester who has leaked from the speaker space when the speaker space is full. When registered in the message waiting management table 252, as soon as an empty space is generated in the message frame management table 251, a message permission is received according to, for example, the registration priority.
[0030]
The CPU 250 of the system control unit 20 obtains carrier presence / absence information from the receiver 212 at predetermined time intervals in order to check the state of the microphone slave unit 10 that is allowed to speak and registered in the speech frame management table 251.
[0031]
In other words, the microphone slave unit 10 that is allowed to speak is FM-modulated to transmit the voice signal from the microphone 111, and the speech signal carrier is always in the speech-permitted state even if the member of the Diet is not speaking. Called.
[0032]
Since this carrier wave is stopped not only when the speech end command is normally finished, but also when the microphone slave unit 10 is turned off or a communication circuit is broken (communication error), the CPU 250 communicates when the carrier wave is interrupted for a predetermined time. It is determined that it is impossible, and the microphone handset 10 is removed from the message frame management table 251. If there is a microphone slave unit 10 registered in the speech waiting management table 252, a speech permission is given to the speech standby microphone slave unit 10 and registered in the speech frame management table 251.
[0033]
FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the message frame management table 251 and the message waiting management table 252. In this example, there are four simultaneous speakers, and one of them is fixed as the chairperson. In addition, three members A to C have already been registered in the message frame management table 251, and four members D to G have been registered in the message waiting management table 252.
[0034]
That is, each of the microphones of the members A to C is in a speech state. For example, if the carrier wave from the microphone child of the member of the Diet C is lost, the member C is removed from the speech frame management table 251 and registered in the speech waiting management table 252. The microphone handset of the member of parliament D who has the highest priority is moved to the speech frame management table 251. The same processing is performed when a speech end signal is output from the councilor's microphone handset.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. When a member who wants to speak depresses a message request button on the operation unit 151, a message request signal (with an ID number) is transmitted as a digital signal from the microphone handset 10. When the system control unit 20 receives the speech request signal, the system control unit 20 returns a speech permission signal to the microphone slave unit 10. As a result, the switch 116 of the microphone slave unit 10 is turned on to enter a speech state.
[0036]
The basic operation is as described above. Next, speaker management performed by the CPU 250 of the system control unit 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, assuming that there is a microphone child device 10 in a speech state, it is first determined in step ST1 whether a speech end signal has been issued.
[0037]
When a speech end signal is output, the ID number of the microphone slave unit 10 is removed from the speech frame management table 251. While in the speech state, step ST2 for checking the presence of a carrier wave is repeated at predetermined time intervals. .
[0038]
If there is a microphone slave unit 10 without a carrier wave, the ID number of the microphone slave unit 10 is removed from the message frame management table 251 in step ST3 and registered in the message waiting management table 252 in step ST4 in the next stage. It is determined whether or not there is the microphone child device 10.
[0039]
If there is no corresponding in the message waiting management table 252, the allocation of permission to speak is terminated. If the microphone slave unit 10 is registered in the message waiting management table 252, a speech permission signal is transmitted to the microphone slave unit 10 with the highest priority in step ST 5, and it is determined whether or not the speech permission has been permitted in step ST 6. This determination is based on, for example, whether the carrier wave of the audio signal is transmitted from the microphone slave unit 10 that has transmitted the speech permission signal.
[0040]
When the speech can be permitted, the ID number of the microphone slave device 10 whose speech is permitted is deleted from the speech waiting management table 252 in step ST7, and the ID number of the subsequent microphone slave device 10 that is waiting for speech is incremented by one in step ST8. . Then, in step ST9, the ID number of the microphone child machine 10 permitted to speak is written in the comment frame management table 251 and the allocation of the permission for speaking is finished.
[0041]
If it is determined in step ST6 that the speech permission is not established, it is determined in step ST6a whether there is a next-order microphone slave unit 10 in the speech waiting management table 252. If not applicable, the assignment of the speech permission is terminated.
[0042]
If there is a next-order microphone handset 10, a speech permission signal is transmitted to the next-order microphone handset 10 in step ST6a, and it is determined in step ST6c whether speech is permitted. If the speech is permitted, step ST7 and subsequent steps are executed, and if the speech permission is not established, the process returns to step ST6a.
[0043]
In addition, in the case where the speech permission is not established in step ST6, for example, in the speech waiting management table 252 of FIG. In the present invention, the ID number of the microphone slave device 10 of the member of parliament D is left as the first priority, and the microphone child of the member of parliament D is allowed at the next permission to speak. If the machine 10 is communicable, a speech permission is preferentially given to the microphone child machine 10 of the member of parliament D.
[0044]
In the above embodiment, the carrier wave is FM-modulated with the audio signal of the microphone 111, but the modulation method is not limited to this. Further, both the microphone handset 10 and the system control unit 20 share the infrared light emitting element and the infrared light receiving element of the analog audio signal transmission / reception unit and the digital data signal transmission / reception unit. An infrared light emitting element and an infrared light receiving element can also be provided separately.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the system includes a plurality of microphone slave units and a system control unit having a message frame management table and a message waiting management table, and a speech request signal is output from the microphone slave unit. If there is an empty space in the speech frame management table, the control unit grants the speech permission to the microphone slave unit and registers it in the speech frame management table, and if there is no space, registers the microphone slave unit in the speech waiting management table. In the interactive communication system for a conference facility, the system control unit monitors the carrier wave of the audio signal transmitted from the microphone handset in the speaking state, and if the carrier wave is interrupted for a predetermined time, the microphone child The machine is deleted from the message frame management table, and speaking permission is given to the microphone slave unit registered in the message waiting management table. If the microphone slave unit becomes unable to communicate for some reason, the microphone slave unit can be automatically deleted from the speech frame management table, and the talk permission can be given to the microphone slave units waiting to speak. Effective use of the simultaneous speech channel.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a bidirectional communication system for a conference facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of a microphone slave unit and a system control unit in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a speech frame management table and a speech waiting management table in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Microphone 101 Infrared light emitting element 102 Infrared light receiving element 110 Analog audio | voice signal transmission / reception part 111 Microphone 112 Carrier wave oscillator 113 FM modulator 121 Light receiving element 122 Speaker 130 Digital data signal transmission / reception part 131 Infrared light emitting element 150 CPU
20 System control unit 201 Infrared light emitting element 202 Infrared light receiving element 210 Analog audio signal transmitting / receiving unit 212 Receiver 230 Digital data signal transmitting / receiving unit 231 Light receiving element 233 Infrared light emitting element 250 CPU
251 Speech frame management table 252 Speech waiting management table

Claims (3)

A plurality of microphone slave units capable of wireless two-way communication and a system control unit, wherein the system control unit is provided with a speech frame management table and a speech waiting management table; When a speech request signal is issued to the control unit, the system control unit, if there is a space in the speech frame management table, grants speech permission to the microphone slave unit and registers it in the speech frame management table. If there is no, in the interactive communication system for conference facilities that the microphone slave unit is registered in the above-mentioned speech waiting management table and waits,
The system control unit monitors the carrier of the audio signal transmitted from the microphone slave unit registered in the speech frame management table with the speech permission, and if the carrier is interrupted for a predetermined time, the microphone An interactive conference facility characterized in that the slave unit is deleted from the speech frame management table and the microphone slave unit registered in the speech waiting management table is allowed to speak and is registered in the speech frame management table. Communications system. The speech permission given to the microphone slave unit registered in the speech waiting management table from the system control unit is in the priority order of registration, and when the speech permission from the system control unit is not received by the higher priority microphone slave unit, The interactive communication system for a conference facility according to claim 1, wherein the system control unit gives a speech permission to the next-priority microphone slave unit while maintaining the microphone slave unit as a higher priority. The interactive communication system for a conference facility according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the microphone slave unit and the system control unit are each provided with an audio signal transmission / reception unit and a data signal transmission / reception unit.

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