JPH04107956U - Multipoint video conferencing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] This invention relates to a multipoint video conference system that realizes a simultaneous multipoint video conference between video conference terminals at three or more arbitrary locations.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of a conventional example of a multipoint video conference system. In Figure 2, (1) is a video conference terminal that is installed at each location and encodes and decodes image data, audio data, and other data, and (2) is a video conference terminal that is installed at each location to encode and restore image data, audio data, and other data. (3) A multipoint video conferencing device for realizing conferences.
is the system control unit that manages the entire operation of (2), and (4) separates the audio, images, and other data multiplexed from each video conference terminal in (1) and passes it to each video conference terminal. A transmission control unit that multiplexes audio, images, and other data, (5) synthesizes the audio data sent from (4), subtracts the audio signal of its own station, and creates audio data that is returned to the original terminal. control unit, (6)
is a video switching unit that selects image data from one terminal according to instructions in (3) from among the image data sent from (4) and returns it to all terminals, and (7) is a video switching unit that receives instructions from (3). This is a still image control unit that holds and ends a conference using still image data and manages other still image conferences.

Next, a method for holding a conference using a conventional multipoint video conference system will be explained. First, one of the video conference terminals (1) connected to the multipoint video conference device (2) in Figure 2 becomes the chairperson of the conference to be held (2).
Request the multipoint video conference device to hold a conference.

Then, in (2), it is checked whether a meeting exceeding the capacity is being held at the same time, and a notification is sent to the chairperson's terminal that the meeting can be held. When the chairperson's terminal learns that a conference can be held, it specifies (2) the members participating in the conference. In (2), the system control unit (9), which is in charge of overall management, checks whether the terminal specified as a participating member has already participated in another conference and participates in the conference that is about to be held. If possible, notify them of the call to participate. In this way, each member participating in the conference is sequentially called and made to participate in the conference.

[The problem that the idea attempts to solve]

As mentioned above, in the conventional multipoint video conferencing system, one of the conference participants has to act as the chairperson and call each member to participate in the conference, which has the problem of requiring time just before the conference is held. Ta.

This idea was devised to solve the problems mentioned above, and the purpose is to obtain a multipoint video conference system that can hold a meeting smoothly without requiring time just before the meeting starts. shall be.

[Means to solve the problem]

The multi-point video conference system according to this invention has a reservation requesting device connected to each location via each video conference terminal, and a reservation management section is provided in the point-to-point video conference device.

[Effect]

The reservation requesting device in this invention allows one of the scheduled conference participants at each location to send information such as the date and time of the conference, participating members, etc. from this device to the multipoint video conferencing device before the conference is held. Based on the information sent, the conference device determines whether the conference can be held, and if possible, stores it in the reservation management department.When the conference time arrives, the reservation management department will schedule each meeting according to the information stored in advance. Call participants and hold a meeting.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In Figure 1, (1) video conference terminal device, (3)
The system control section, (4) transmission control section, (5) audio control section, (6) video switching section, and (7) still image control section are the same as those of the prior art. (8) is a reservation management section which stores reservation information and calls each participating member when a conference is held.

(9) is a reservation requesting device, which is used to make a reservation for a scheduled conference.

Next, a method for holding a conference using the multipoint video conference system according to the present invention will be explained. First, one of the prospective conference participants uses the reservation requesting device (9) to inform the multipoint video conference device (2) that he/she wishes to make a reservation for the conference. Then, in (2), the system control unit (3) makes an inquiry to the reservation management department (8) based on the information sent from (9), such as the date and time of the meeting, participating members, etc., and determines whether the conference can be held. If possible, make a reservation based on the information from (9). For information on whether reservations are possible or not, see (3)
The information is then sent to (9), allowing prospective conference participants to know that the reservation has been made or that it is not possible to make a reservation. The reservation information is stored in (8), and when the date and time of the reservation information comes, each scheduled conference participant is automatically called from (8) and the conference is held.

Note that when a personal computer or the like is connected as the reservation device in the above embodiment, it is used not only as a reservation requesting device but also for exchanging general-purpose data during a conference.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, this invention has a configuration that allows meetings to be reserved and to automatically call members when the meeting is held, eliminating the need for humans to call members immediately before the meeting, allowing the meeting to be held smoothly. becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a multipoint video conference system according to an embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a conventional multipoint video conference system. 1 is a video conference terminal device, 2 is a multipoint video conference device, 3 is a system control unit, 4 is a transmission control unit, 5 is an audio control unit, 6 is a video switching unit, 7 is a still image control unit, and 8 is a reservation unit. The management section 9 is a reservation requesting device. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Correction: 5/20/2019
The name of the invention is amended as follows. Name of invention: Multipoint video conferencing device

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A multipoint video conference device that realizes a simultaneous multipoint video conference between video conference terminals at three or more arbitrary locations includes a reservation requesting device that is connected to the video conference terminal at each location and requests a reservation, and each video conference. A multipoint video conference device that includes a reservation management section that receives reservation requests from terminals and makes reservations.