JPH02264552A - Video conference equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the communication between groups, to decrease the wiring quantity in the equipment and to reduce the cost by constituting the equipment such that a communication data in a video conference between a multi-point is transferred on a same bus. CONSTITUTION:Line interface means 11-16 apply speed conversion to a video and audio signal separated from a reception data from each conference terminal equipment and outputs the resulting signal to a time slot assigned from a conference control means 4 on a data bus 6. Moreover, a data in existence on a time slot informed to be received from the conference control means 4 is received and converted to be mated to the line and sent to a video conference terminal equipment. Communication data processing means 21-23 receive the video and audio signal or the like from the line interface means 11-16 in existence in the time slot noticed from the conference control means 4, apply required processing and output the result to the time slot assigned by the conference means 4 on the data bus 6.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a television conference device, and particularly relates to a television conference device suitable for connecting terminals at three or more points to conduct a multipoint video conference. .

[Prior Art] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a general multipoint-to-point television conference device for connecting multiple points to conduct a television conference. In the figure, (51) to (56) are television conference terminals placed at each of a plurality of locations, (9) is to control the exchange of communication data between each television conference terminal (51) to (56), Each television conference terminal (51)
- (56) are divided into a plurality of groups, and the television conference apparatus controls the television conference within each group.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional television conference apparatus disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-246960, and illustrates the configuration of the apparatus applied to the configuration shown in FIG. 2. In the figure, (IIA) to (16A) are line interface means receiving units to which the television conference terminals (51) to (56) are connected and which receive signals from the respective television conference terminals (51) to (56); (IIB)
- (16B) are respectively television conference terminals (51)
~ (56) are connected, each video conference terminal (51
) to (56), and (21) to (26) are communication data processing means to process communication data transmitted and received between the respective television conference terminals (51) to (56). , (31) to (36) are each line interface means receiving section (IIA) to (16A).
and line interface means transmission section (IIB) ~ (16
B) a switching device for switching channels between the
A), each line interface means transmission unit (IIB) ~
(16B) is a conference control means that controls the switching machines (31) to (36).

The operation of this configuration will be explained next.

Now, the line interface means receiving units (IIA) to (16A) and the line interface means transmitting units (11B) to (16B) included in the television conference device (9) are connected to the television conference terminals (51) to (56), respectively. are connected, each video conference terminal (5]) to (5
The data sent from 6) is processed as a control signal,
The video signal and the audio signal are separated, and the signal format is converted and matched. The control signal is sent to the conference control means (4), the video signal is sent to the switching devices (31) to (36), and the audio signal is sent to the communication data processing means ( 21) to (26), respectively. The conference control means (4) analyzes the control signal and switches the switch (
31) to (36) and communication data processing means (21) to (2
6) and instructs each line interface means receiving section (IIA) to (16A) and line interface means transmitting section (IIB) to (16B).
A control signal to be transmitted to each video conference terminal (51) to (56) is transferred to the terminal.

For example, control signals from each of the television conference terminals (51) to (56) are transmitted to the television conference terminals (51) and (52).
), (53) and video conference terminals (54), (55), (56), the conference The control means (4) controls the communication data processing means (21) to process audio signals from the television conference terminals (52) and (53), and controls the communication data processing means (22) to process the audio signals from the television conference terminals (52) and (53). Terminal (51) and (
53), the communication data processing means (
23), the video conference terminal (51) and (5
The communication data processing means (2) processes the audio signal from the communication data processing means (2).
For 4), there are video conference terminals (55) and (56).
) processing of the audio signal from the communication data processing means (25
) for video conference terminals (54) and (56)
Communication data processing means (26)
to process the audio signals from the television conference terminals (54) and (55), respectively.

On the other hand, the conference control means (4) is controlled by the switching machines (31) to (3).
6) is instructed to selectively output the video signals requested by the television conference terminals (51) to (56) connected to the corresponding line interface means transmission units (IIB) to (16B), respectively. Each communication data processing means (
21) to (26), upon receiving the above-mentioned instruction from the conference control means (4), control the corresponding television conference terminal (51).
Processes the audio signals from ~(56) and transmits the results to the corresponding line interface means transmitter (IIB) ~(16)
B). Line interface means transmitter (I
IB) to (16B) are control signals to be transmitted from the conference control means (4) and communication data processing means (21) to (26).
outputs the processing results from the switching devices (31) to (36), multiplexes the selected video signals from the switching devices (31) to (36), converts and matches the signal format, and connects the respective video conference terminals (51).
~(56).

Through the above operations, the video conference terminal (5
1), (51), and (53), and video conference terminals (54), (55), and (5).
6) Inter-group video conference A video conference between two groups can be set up.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional television conference device is configured as described above, there are problems as described below.

In other words, in the conventional configuration, when the video conference device (9) divides the video conference terminals (51) to (56) into a plurality of set groups, the video conference device (9) switches the video conference terminals (31) to (56) into a plurality of set groups.
36), each video conference terminal (51) to (56)
) connected to the line interface means receiving section (II
A) Since it is configured to allocate groups for a video conference by controlling the connections of the line interface means transmission units (IIB) to (16A) to (16A), the wiring becomes complicated and the equipment cost increases. There was a problem. Also, the group settings are changed to the switch (31
) to (36), so
Each of the television conference terminals (51) to (56) can exchange information with each other within the corresponding group, but each set group is independent and each group can communicate with the same television conference device (9). ), there was a problem that information could not be exchanged even though it was incorporated into the system.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and when grouping a plurality of video conference terminals, wiring By simplifying the process and controlling the video conference groups by assigning time slots, it is possible to easily allocate video conference terminals to each group, and furthermore, it is possible to easily allocate video conference terminals to each group. The purpose of this invention is to obtain a video conferencing device that makes it possible.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a relatively low speed first
a line interface means for communicating with each video conference terminal at a second communication speed, and a data bus connected to the line interface means and having a plurality of time slots at a second relatively high communication speed for exchanging data. a control bus connected to the line interface means at a second communication speed for exchanging control signals; and a control bus connected to the data bus and the control bus to process communication data exchanged between the respective video conference terminals. a plurality of communication data processing means connected to a control bus, and controlling time slots to be assigned to the line interface means and the communication data processing means, thereby grouping and grouping the video conference terminals and the communication data processing means; It is characterized by having a conference control means for controlling inter-communication.

[Function] In the above means, the television conference device of the present invention provides a time and a time signal corresponding to the group of the television conference from the conference control means to the line interface means corresponding to the plurality of television conference terminals and the plurality of communication data processing means.
By allocating slots, the time allocated to each line interface means and communication data processing means can be
The data bus and the control bus are accessed to the slots, thereby allowing a video conference to be held within a preset group, and the conference control means controls the time slots to be assigned to the line interface means and the communication data processing means. This allows you to control communication with other groups.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the television conference apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a television conference device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, (11) to (16) are line interface means connected to a television conference terminal (not shown), and (6) is a data bus for transferring data between each line interface means (11) to (16). , (7) is between the conference control means (4) and the line interface means (11) to (16), and the conference control means (4)
This is a control bus for transferring control signals between the communication data processing means (21) to (23). Such first
The configuration shown in the figure is incorporated into the television conference apparatus (9) of FIG. 2 to implement a multipoint television conference between the television conference terminals (51) to (56).

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained based on the timing chart of FIG. 3 and the operational conceptual diagram of FIG. 4. By the way, in Figure 3, (801) to (
824) are each video conference terminal (51) to (56)
The communication speed between the and the video conferencing device (9) is 134K.
bit/sec, the communication data is speed-converted and the data transfer speed on the data bus (6) is 1.536M.
By setting bit/sec, the data bus (6)
This shows the time slots when using time division.

The data sent from each video conference terminal (51) to (56) is transmitted to the line interface means (11) to (56).
16), the signal is separated into a control signal, a video signal, and an audio signal. In this, control signals are transferred on a control bus (7) to the conference control means (4). Conference control means (4)
The receiver analyzes the received control signal, and for example, the control signal is used for a three-party group conference between the video conference terminals (51), (52), and (53) and for the video conference terminal (
54), (55), and (56), the conference control means (4) controls each line interface means (11) to (1).
6) and one time slot to be outputted to each of the communication data processing means (21) to (23) through the control bus (7). However, the line interface means (11) to (16) have time slots (801) to (806), respectively, and the communication data processing means (21) to (23) have time slots (80
7) to (809) are respectively assigned. Then, each line interface means (11) to (16) and communication data processing means (21) to (23) are notified of the time slot in which the data to be received exists through the control bus (7). .

Here, as shown in Figure 4, a television conference terminal (
51) to (56) are television conference terminals (51), (
52), (53) and video conference terminals (54), (
The line interface means (11) to (1) are divided into two groups, 55) and (56).
3) and the group of line interface means (14) to (16) are data processed by communication data processing means (21) and communication data processing means (22), respectively.

In this case, the line interface means (11) has a time slot C assigned to the communication data processing means (21).
807) and one or more line interface means (11) requested by the video conference terminal (51).
Time slot (801) assigned to (16) ~
(806) is notified. In this case, the line interface means (
12) or/and (13), the time slot (802) or/and (803) assigned to the time slot is notified. Similarly, the line interface means (12) receives the time slot (807) assigned to the communication data processing means (21) and one or more line interface means (11) requested by the television conference terminal (52). The time slot assigned to ~(16) (
801) to (80B) are notified. The line interface means (13) also includes a time slot (807) assigned to the communication data processing means (2) and one or more line interface means (13) requested by the television conference terminal (53). Time slots h (801) to (806) assigned to time slots h (801) to (16) are notified. On the other hand, the communication data processing means (21) is notified of the time slots (801) to (803) assigned to the line interface means (11) to (13).

On the other hand, the line interface means (14) has a time slot (80
8) and 1 requested by the video conference terminal (54).
or multiple line interface means (11) to (1)
6) time slots (801) to (8
06) will be notified. In this case, the line interface means (15) corresponding to one or both of the television conference terminals (55) and (56) that are terminals in the same group
) or/and (16), the time slot (805) or/and (806) assigned to the time slot (805) or/and (806) is notified.

Similarly, the line interface means (15) uses the time slot (808) assigned to the communication data processing means (22) and one or more line interface means (15) requested by the television conference terminal (55).
Time slots (80
1) to (806) are notified. The line interface means (16) also includes the time slot (808) assigned to the communication data processing means (22) and one or more line interface means (11) to (1) requested by the television conference terminal (53). 16), the time slots (801) to (806) assigned to the time slots (801) to (806) are notified.

On the other hand, the communication data processing means (22) is notified of the time slots (804) to (806) assigned to the line interface means (14) to (16).

Each line interface means (11) to (16) separates the video and audio signals from the received data from each television conference terminal (51) to (56) at 1.536 Mbit/
After converting the speed to sec, the data is output to the time slot assigned by the conference control means (4) on the data bus (6). It also receives data present in the time slots that are notified to be received by the conference control means (4), converts it to suit the line, and transmits it to the television conference terminals (51) to (56). .

The communication data processing means (21) to (23) communicate with the line interface means (11) to (1) present in the time slot notified by the conference control means (4) that the communication data should be received.
6) receives video and audio signals, performs necessary processing, and transmits the results to the conference control means (4) on the data bus (6).
output to the assigned time slot.

Through the above operations, the video conference terminal (5
1), (52), (53) and video conference terminals (54), (55), (
Two group conferences of the inter-group video conference according to 56) are set up.

On the other hand, a video conference terminal (5
1) When there is a request to send a message to another group's conference from one of the conference controllers (56), the conference control means (4) receives the control signal through the line interface means (11) to (16) and sends the request to the other group. The line interface means (11) to (16) corresponding to the video conference terminals (51) to (56) that have issued the control signals are notified that the time slots assigned to them should be received by other groups belonging to other groups. Communication between two groups of video conferences can be realized by notifying the line interface means (11) to (16).

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since communication data in a multipoint video conference is transferred on the same bus, multiple groups of television When a conference is set, communication between groups becomes possible, and the number of wiring within the device is reduced, which has the effect of simplifying the device configuration.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a television conference device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a general multipoint television conference device, and FIG. 3 is the configuration of FIG. 1. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the system connection of two groups of television conferences in the configuration of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional television conference device. It is. (IIA) to (16A) are line interface means receiving sections, (IIB) to (16B) are line interface means transmitting sections, and (11) to (16) are line interface means (21) to (26) are communication data processing units. Means, (4
) is a conference control means, (6) is a data bus, (7) is a control bus, and (51) to (56) are television conference r&terminals. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] line interface means provided corresponding to the plurality of television conference terminals and communicating with each television conference terminal at a first communication speed; and a line interface means connected to the line interface means at a second communication speed having a plurality of time slots. a data bus connected to the line interface means at a second communication speed;
A plurality of communication data processing means connected to the bus and the control bus and processing communication data exchanged between the respective video conference terminals, and time to be allocated to the line interface means and the communication data processing means connected to the control bus. - A television conference device characterized by comprising conference control means that groups television conference terminals and communication data processing means by controlling slots and controls inter-group communication.