JPH04140990A - Video telephone conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To comprise a system with a low cost by performing conference by a still picture without providing various devices for video conference and terminal equipment arranged in the NTT station. CONSTITUTION:It is assumed that conference attendees are comprised of one host and five members (member side terminal equipment M1-M5). A telephone call is placed from the video telephone set 20 of a host side terminal H to the member side terminal M1. After the final member M5 is called, central office switches SW1-SW5 are connected to telephone sides, and the conference and image transfer are performed. When the image transmission of the member is remote-operated from the host side terminal H, an ID number attached on each member in advance is transmitted by depressing the push-button of the telephone set 20 of the host side terminal H. Adversely, when either the member terminals controls the transmission of the image of the host side terminal H, the above mentioned procedure is executed. Also, each member receives a division picture stored in a picture division device 30 arranged at the host side terminal H, and recognizes all the members attending the conference.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a video conference system.

[Prior Art] When holding a video conference using a communication network, NTT's rTV conference service has conventionally been used as the first method. This is 6.3Mb/S as a relay transmission line.
ITV-4M as a subscriber transmission line between NTT and terminals
It consists of transmission lines such as FV-4M and FV-4M systems, and other terminals include video conference equipment N (VCE) and video conference line termination equipment (VSU)! A control device t is installed on the NTT side.
This service is provided by installing (CONT), Automatic Signal Distribution Flux (ADF: DDF), and High Efficiency Coding Device (TRIDEC).

This service connects via two-way video and audio lines, allowing all conference participants on both sides to view the other conference room's plans, documents, and drawings on the TV screen, as if they were all in the same conference room. This service allows you to hold meetings with a sense of realism.

When using this service, the user must reserve a date and time to hold a meeting, and the reservation registration work is centrally carried out by NTT's network center according to orders.

A second conventional method of holding a video conference using a communication network is a video conference service using NTT's INS Net (or Super Digital line). This equipment configuration consists of 64 encoders (VC-64KCODE)
C), a terminal device (CNS, DT: transmitting/receiving device), a system control device (M-CONT), etc.

This system is a device that transmits and receives moving images with a low bit rate transmission capacity, and has the advantage that line usage charges can be made comparable to ordinary telephone lines.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] The above-mentioned first conventional method (NTT's rTV conference service)
) requires a broadband transmission path for the relay line and terminal line, and the terminal equipment is expensive, so there is a problem that the line cost and terminal cost are high. In addition, since the relay transmission line is shared, reservations for the line are required.
There are problems in that it is not always possible to hold a meeting at a desired date and time, and that only point-to-point services can be provided.

On the other hand, the second conventional method (video conferencing service using INS Net, etc.) described above has the problem that it is configured with multi-functional equipment in order to meet diversifying needs, making the terminal expensive. .

To provide a video teleconference system that can reduce line costs and terminal costs, and also allows a host to convene conference members and hold a video teleconference when necessary without making reservations. The purpose is to

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a conference connection device, a video telephone, a screen splitting device that allocates images of attendees to each area in which one screen is divided into a plurality of areas, and A monitor television that displays images allocated to the area and a remote image transmission circuit that determines the timing of sending the member's image to the host terminal are installed on the host terminal, and a videophone and a remote image transmission circuit are installed on the member terminal. It was established in

[Operation] The present invention divides one screen into a plurality of parts using a screen splitting device, allocates images of attendees to each of the divided areas, and displays images of attendees allocated to each area on a host side terminal. The remote image transmission circuit determines the timing for displaying the member's image on the monitor TV and sending it to the host side terminal, and the member side terminal is equipped with a video phone and remote image transmission circuit, so line costs and terminal costs are reduced. In addition, the host can convene conference members and hold a video conference when necessary without registering a reservation.

[Example] FIG. 1 is a conceptual connection diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, one host-side terminal H is used by the host, and member-side terminals M are used by a plurality of members.
1, M2, . . . , M5 are mutually connected by a telephone network 60.

The host side terminal H includes a conference connection device 1O equipped with a branch connection unit 11 (shown in FIG. 4) that brings together a plurality of telephone lines, a videophone 20, and a videophone 20.
a screen splitting device 30 that is connected to the screen, divides one screen into a plurality of areas, and allocates images of attendees of a video conference to each of the divided areas; A monitor television 40 for displaying images of members, and a remote image transmitting circuit 50 for determining the timing to send images of members to the host terminal H are provided.

Further, the member side terminal M1 is provided with a videophone a201, which is the same as the videophone 20, and a remote image transmission circuit 501, which is the same as the remote image transmission circuit 50. Furthermore, the member side terminal M2 is provided with a video phone 202 that is the same as the video phone 4120, and a remote image transmission circuit 502 that is the same as the remote image transmission circuit 50. Other member terminal M
3 to M5 also have the same configuration as member terminal M1.

Note that the video telephones 201 and 202 are connected to the monitor television 4.
The same image as the image displayed in 0 is sent from the host terminal H and is displayed.

FIGS. 2(1) and (2) are perspective views of the conference connection device 10 in the above embodiment, viewed from the front and back, respectively, and FIGS. 3(1) and (2) are perspective views of the conference connection device 10 in the above embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a remote image transmitting circuit 50 in an example, respectively, viewed mainly from the front and the back. Further, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the conference connection device 10 in the above embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the remote image transmission circuit 50 in the above embodiment.

The conference connection device 10 has a branch connection section 11 that transforms a plurality of telephone lines connected to a telephone network 60, and the video phone 20 is connected by a modular jack MJ. As shown in FIG. 2 (2), the modular jack MJ of the video telephone 20 is inserted into the part labeled "Place" on the back of the conference connection device 10. In addition, branch connection section 11 and telephone line 1 to telephone line 5
are connected to each other by modular jack MJ,
That is, as shown in FIG. 2 (2), the modular jacks MJ of the telephone lines 1 to 5 are inserted into the part labeled rLINE1-LINE terminal on the back of the conference connection device 10. Further, the conference connection device IO has office line switches SWI to SW5 on the front thereof, and allows selection of connection to the telephone side, hold, and line "disconnection" for each telephone line. Note that the office line switches 5WI-5W5 correspond to the member side terminals M1 to M5. Similarly, LINEI-LINE5 also has member terminal M.
It corresponds to 1 to M5.

The remote image transmission circuit 50 is a circuit that determines the timing of sending images from the member terminals M1 to M5 to the host terminal H, and includes a DTMF receiver 51, a 4t016 line recorder 52, a relay drive 53, 55, and a delay circuit 54.
, relay 54.57, and C0NT1. It has a C0NT2 terminal and a LINE terminal. C0NT1. C0NT2
The terminal and the video telephone 20 are connected by a C0NT line.

It is assumed that the DP number of the host side terminal H is set to rOJ, and therefore the remote image transmission circuit 5 shown in FIG.
0 is the DP of the output of the 4to16 line recorder 52
Number "0" is connected to relay drive 53.55. If the DP number of the member side terminal Ml is set to "1", in the remote image transmission circuit 501 for the member side end bundle Ml, the DP number "1" of the output of the 4 to 16 line recorder is the relay drive. It is connected to the. The same applies to the other member terminals M2 to M5.

Further, in the member side terminal Ml, the remote image transmission circuit 5
01's C0NT1 and C0NT2 terminals and video phone 20
1 is connected to C0NT line of each remote image transmitting circuit in other member side terminals M2 to M5.
1. The C0NT2 terminal and each video phone are connected.

Then, when an ID number corresponding to one of the member terminals Ml-M5 is pressed by the button of the video telephone 20 of the host terminal H, the remote image transmission circuit 50 transmits the pressed ID number to the button of the video telephone 20 of the host terminal H. The corresponding member terminal operates and sends an image of the member's face to the host terminal H. Also, C0NTl is the host side terminal H
C0NT2 is a terminal that outputs a trigger signal to switch the image from the member terminal to the face of the member of the member terminal to the host terminal H.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

First, the operation in which the host calls each member to hold a conference using the above embodiment will be described. The conference attendees are one host and five members (member terminal Ml).
-M5).

First, the host switches to the office line switch SW of the conference connection device 10.
Turn I to the telephone side, and connect the video phone 20 of the host side terminal H.
After confirming the dial tone by
Call l. After the member terminal Ml responds, the central office line switch SWl is turned to the hold side to put the line on hold. Procedures similar to these procedures are executed for each of the member terminals M2 to M5.

Next, to actually start the conference, after calling the final member M5, turn the office line switches SWI to SW5 to the telephone side, perform the conference and image transfer, and send the images of the members remotely from the host terminal H. When operating, the button on the telephone 20 of the host side terminal H is used to transmit the ID number assigned in advance to each member. That is, for example, when the ID number corresponding to the member terminal Ml is pressed, the remote image transmission circuit 501 of the member terminal Ml
outputs the C0NT1 signal (trigger signal for switching the image from the host terminal H to the member's face on the member terminal M1), shorts its C0NTl terminal, and after a predetermined time C0
The NT2 signal (trigger signal that sends the face image of the member of member terminal M1 to host terminal H) is output, and its C0N
The T2 terminal is short-circuited, and the image of the member's face on the member side terminal Ml is sent to the host side terminal H.

Conversely, when any of the member terminals M1-M5 controls the transmission of images from the host terminal H, the same procedure as above is executed. Note that each member can complete the conference by receiving the split screen (the same image as the image displayed on the monitor TV 40 of the host terminal H) stored in the screen splitting device 30 installed on the host terminal H. You can see the faces of all members.

To end the conference, the host sets the office line switches SW1 to SW5 provided in front of the conference connection device 10 to neutral and disconnects the line, thereby ending the conference.

According to the above embodiment, when the host at the host side terminal H conducts a video conference etc. with a plurality of members, NTT
A system can be configured at low cost by holding meetings using still images without installing the various video conferencing devices and terminal devices installed in the station. Additionally, meetings can be held at any time without having to go through any procedures such as reservations. Furthermore, for video conferencing using still images, there is no need for a broadband transmission path between terminals, and the system can be configured using general telephone lines, so the cost of terminal equipment is low.

In addition, as the monitor television 40 in the above embodiment, a monitor television normally installed in the video telephone 20 may be used, and external cameras may be used as the cameras of the host terminal H and member terminals M1 to M5. may use a camera, videophone 20.201,...
・You may use the cameras installed in the
In the above embodiment, the number of member side terminals is 5, but
The number of member terminals may be set to a number other than five.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, line costs and terminal costs can be reduced, and a host can convene conference members and hold a video conference when necessary without registering a reservation. be effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual connection diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2(1) and 2(2) are perspective views of the conference connection device io in the above embodiment, respectively, viewed from the front and back. FIGS. 3(1) and 3(2) are perspective views of the remote image transmitting circuit 50 in the above embodiment, respectively, viewed from the front and the back. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the conference connection device 10 in the above embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the remote image transmission circuit 50 in the above embodiment. H...Host side terminal. M1 to M5...Member side terminals. lO... Venus connection device, 11... Branch connection unit, 20.201.202... Video phone, 30...
Screen splitting device, 40...Monitor television, 50.501.502 Remote image transmission circuit. Patent Applicant Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Co., Ltd. Arata Kubo for Agent Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a video conference system in which one host side terminal and a plurality of member side terminals are connected to each other by a telephone line, the host side terminal has a branch connection unit that brings together the plurality of telephone lines. a conference connection device, a videophone, and a screen splitting device connected to the videophone, which divides one screen into a plurality of areas and allocates images of participants in a videoconference to each of the divided areas. and a monitor television displaying an image in which the image of the attendee is allocated to the area;
a remote image transmission circuit that determines the timing of transmitting the image of the member to the host terminal, and the member terminal includes the video telephone and the remote image transmission circuit. conference system.