JPH04184528A - Electronic order system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently perform group work for preparing a document by several persons by defining the owner of the document as the attribute of the window displayed by the display device of a document processor. CONSTITUTION:Several personal windows 203 approved by a chairman are displayed on the screen 201 of a large-sized display device 100 and the screens of a workstation (WS) for chairman 101 and WSs 102-109 for ordinary participants in addition to a group window 202 for displaying a direct order object (materials, etc., to be studied). In addition, 'owners' are defined as the attributes of the personal windows 203 so that the contents of the windows can be changed only by the owners of the windows. When the proposal of a speaker is approved as a result of an examination, the chairman copies the proposal from one of the personal windows 203 to the group window 203. Therefore, document preparation can be performed efficiently by arrangement for preparing a document by group work.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronic meeting system, and more particularly to an electronic meeting system suitable for use by a plurality of users to create documents or the like through collaborative work.

[Prior art] As a conventional technology related to a system that electronically supports meetings, for example, "Research Trends in Loopware Technology, Information Processing, Vol. 30. No. 12゜pp,"
1502-1508 (Dec, 1989) J, "Communications of Communications Vol. 30, No. 1 (1987), pp. 32-47.
the ACM, Vol. 30. No, 1. pp, 32
-47 (Jan, 1987) and the like are known.

This prior art relates to an implementation example of an electronic conference room system, and provides applications to support each stage of a conference based on hardware such as workstations and large display devices, and a decision-making model. are doing.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Considering that the above-mentioned prior art is applied to collaborative document creation work by multiple people, it is difficult to manage the authority to modify the original document, manage the display of proposals, and use a pointing device. The problem is that more specific consideration is not given to support for proposal explanations, combined use of audio/image communication, etc., and it is difficult to use it for joint document creation work.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the shortcomings of the prior art, share information, express opinions, consider proposals, control meetings, and complete the work of jointly creating documents by multiple people. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electronic meeting system that is an electronic auxiliary means that can be used to communicate.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, the above object is to provide each participant with a document processing device, and to share an arbitrary window of each document processing device with another person through communication means, in order to realize information sharing. This is achieved by displaying the information on the document processing devices of the participants.

Furthermore, in order to clarify who is speaking when participants express their views and to protect the content of their comments, "owner" is defined as a window attribute, and the contents of a window can only be shared by the owner of the window. Because it allows modification and requires a preliminary step that is not visible to other participants, it provides a private window into which information can be copied from any other window. This is achieved by doing this.

Further, the above object is achieved by displaying the pointer of the pointing device of the speaker's word processing device on the word processing devices of other participants in order to make it easier and easier to understand the opinion expression. Ru.

Furthermore, the purpose is to define one of the participants as a "moderator" and give various control authority to control the meeting.
In order to further facilitate meetings, this can be achieved by considering the exchange of information not only through text, but also through voice and video.

[Operation] "Owner J" as a window attribute acts to prohibit participants other than the owner from writing to the window.

"Public/Private" as a window attribute serves to prohibit the display of a private window on other participants' document processing devices.

"Moderator" as an attribute of a participant indicates whether the participant has various authority as a moderator.

[Example 1] Hereinafter, an example of the electronic meeting system according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, Figures 2, 3, and 4 are diagrams explaining examples of display screens, and Figures 5 to 9 explain the operation. This is a flowchart. In FIG. 1, 100 is a large display device;
1 is the moderator's workstation (WS), 102-1
09 is a WS for general participants, 110 is a communication line, and 111 is a line connection device.

The system according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
8 are connected via a communication line 110 such as a LAN. The display of WS I Ol for the moderator is displayed not only on the moderator's personal display but also on the large display device 100 that can be seen by all participants. These rooms together constitute one conference room.

Each WS is equipped with a document processing function, and users of that WS can create documents using their own WS, and transmit the documents via communication lines as necessary. be able to.

You can participate in meetings using the illustrated system from a remote location,
Therefore, the communication line 110 and the WS 109 are connected via a line connection device 111 and a communication line 112. The WS 109 is equipped with a microphone 114 and a speaker 113 for transmitting audio information.

Although not clearly shown in Figure 1, microphones and speakers are also installed in the conference room (in the conference room, one set of these is installed for the entire conference room, not for each participant). (You may decide to do so.) It is also possible to configure the system so that image information can be transmitted and received between the conference room and participants at remote locations. This allows participants at remote locations to participate in the conference as if they were in the conference room.

Although FIG. 1 shows only one WS for remote participants, there may be many more remote participants, in which case there are many remote participants, One conference room may be configured.

A meeting using the system according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is conducted by a moderator, and the progress of the meeting can be kept as a record in the moderator's WS.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the large display device 100.

It is possible to display multiple windows on the screen 201, and the direct object of the meeting (materials to be considered, etc.)
is called a group window, and window 2
02 corresponds to this. In addition to this window 202, the screen 201 also displays a number of personal windows 203 that the participants have specified to be made public and that the moderator has approved for publication.

A pointer 205 is further displayed on the screen 201, and this pointer 205 points to the group window 20.
2, and can be used by any one of the participants (speaker) with permission from the moderator. The speaker uses this pointer to express his/her intention.

In FIG. 2, character string 2 is indicated using pointer 205.
06 is shown. Furthermore, a window 204 for specifying the speaker is also displayed on the screen 201.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a general participant's WS screen.

This general participant's WS screen 301 and large display device 20
The difference from the screen 202 of No. 1 is that there is a private personal window 303 that is displayed only on each participant's own WS. The screen 301 also includes a pointer 302 that is displayed only on this WS and that moves freely depending on the pointing device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the screen of the moderator's WS 101.

The screen 401 of the moderator's WS 101 shows the WS of general participants.
In addition to the functions of S, a window 40 for selecting a speaker
2 is displayed, and for example, a seating arrangement map of the top attendees is displayed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a meeting using an embodiment of the present invention, which will be explained below.

(1) When the meeting starts, the moderator selects a speaker using the speaker selection window 402 of his/her WS (step 501).

This operation is performed by using the mouse to click on the icon of the participant to whom speaking permission is desired in the meeting layout (including remote participants) shown in the window 402. Through this operation, the color of the highlighted icon on the window 402 changes, and the name of the designated speaker is displayed on the speaker display window 204 displayed on the large display device 100 and the WS for general participants. Ru. Also, pointer 2 in the group window
05 will now move in conjunction with the speaker's mouse movements.

(2) Next, the speaker sets the attribute of the window displaying the material he or she wants to introduce to "public" and requests permission from the moderator to make it public (step 502).

This application may be made orally. If the moderator allows this, the speaker's public window will be displayed on all display devices.

(3) Meeting participants look at the presented window (
(It may be your own WS or a large display device), and its contents are examined (step 503).

Questions and statements of intent may be made orally, just as in regular meetings.

(4) If the speaker's proposal is approved as a result of consideration, the moderator copies the proposal from the speaker's public personal window to the group window 202, and if there is no other matter to discuss, the moderator will proceed to the meeting. End (step 504
．． 508.509).

(5) In step 504, if the speaker's proposal is not approved, the participant who did not approve creates an alternative proposal in his/her private window. This alternative proposal may be a partial modification of the original proposal or a complete replacement proposal (step 505).

(6) Participant n who has finished creating an alternative plan changes the attribute of the alternative plan window to "public" and requests permission to speak from the moderator (step 506).

(7) Using the speaker selection window 402 on his own WS, the moderator selects one person from attendance # for whom permission to speak is requested and grants permission to speak. Through this operation, a window with the "public" attribute of the participant who requested to speak is displayed on the large display device 100 and on the WS of all attendees, and the control right of the pointer 205 in the group window is also changed. (Step 507).

At this time, participants who previously had permission to speak will lose their permission to speak and will no longer be able to control the pointer 205 in the group window 202, but the published window may be closed (or created) by the moderator or creator. Attributes by
Large display device and
It will continue to be displayed on the WS of all attendees.

Thereafter, the process of steps 503 to 507 described above is performed again to examine the presented alternative plan in the same manner as the original plan, and this process is repeated until the desired result is obtained.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the pointing device (mouse, etc.) and the processing within each WS that controls the movement of the pointer, which will be described below.

(1) When the movement of the pointing device is detected, the pointer on the own WS screen is first moved in accordance with the movement of the pointing device (step 601.6o).
2).

(2) If the participant has permission to speak from the moderator, the participant reports this movement to the moderator WS by opening a communication line such as a LAN (steps 603 and 604).

Although not shown here, the moderator's WS receives this report and moves the pointer 20 in the group window 202.
Move 5.

Note that if the pointing device is not moved in step 601 or if speaking is not permitted in step 603, this process ends.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing for a request to change the contents of a window, and this will be explained below.

(1) Request to change the contents of the window (character input, copying,
movement, etc.), if the requester is the owner of the window, the requested process is executed (steps 701 to 701).
703).

(2) In step 702, if the requester is not the owner of the window, it is checked whether the request is a read process for copying, and if it is a read process for copying, the process is executed. (Steps 704, 703
).

(3) In step 704, if the request is not read processing for copying, the request is rejected, a warning sound is generated, and this processing is terminated (step 705).

Note that if it is determined in step 701 that there is no request to change the window contents, this process ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of reporting changes in the contents of public wins F, and this will be explained below.

(1) Check whether there is a change in the contents of the window, and if there is a change, check whether it is a public window (steps 801, 802).

(2) In step 802, if it is a public window,
The new window contents are reported to the moderator WS, and the process ends (step 8o3).

If it is determined in step 802 that the window is not a public window, and if there is no change in the window content in step 801, the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process for changing non-content information of a public window, and this will be explained below.

(1) Check whether there is a request to change the window's non-content information (window display/hide, display position, size, vertical relationship with other windows, etc.), and if there is no request, end the process. (Step 901).

(2) If there is a request in step 901, it is checked whether the window is a private window, and if the result is a private window, the requested process is executed and the process ends (steps 902, 903). ).

(3) If the result of step 902 is a public window, check whether the requester is a moderator, and if the result is a moderator, execute the requested process and send it to other WSs. The change is notified and the process ends (steps 904 and 905).

(4) In step 904, if the requester is not the moderator,
Reject the request, emit a warning sound, and terminate the process (
Step 906).

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.

Since an "owner" is defined as an attribute of each window displayed on the display device, it is possible to distinguish the views of each meeting participant and display them on a single display device.

Multiple document processing devices can be connected via communication means and any window of each document processing device can be displayed on the other document processing devices, so input can be performed in parallel and input information can be viewed immediately. communicated to other participants,
It is possible to improve the efficiency of meetings.

Since the user of each document processing device is restricted to being able to modify only the contents of the window that he/she owns, it is possible to guarantee that the contents displayed in the window are the views of the owner.

"Public/Private" can be defined as an attribute for each window displayed on a display device, and "A window with an attribute value of Private J can only be displayed on the document processing device of its owner." Therefore, even if it is just personal reference information or information that is being prepared to be disclosed to others, you can upload it to your own WS without worrying about other participants.
can be displayed.

For private windows, you can copy the contents of any other public window, so you can use any part of the displayed views of other participants to create your own view. can be used.

One of the participants is defined as the "moderator", and the moderator manages the window that displays the subject of the meeting in addition to the window that the moderator owns, so it is possible to express not only individual opinions but also the consensus of the entire meeting. It can be clearly stated.

The moderator can display windows owned by other meeting participants.
By monopolizing the authority to control attributes other than content information (window display/hide, display position, size, vertical relationship with other windows, etc.), meetings can be effectively controlled.

Since the moderator has the authority to copy content information in windows owned by other meeting participants to any other window, it is possible to create agreements from a neutral standpoint.

Additionally, with the moderator's approval, the pointer operated by the pointing device on the workstation of a specific meeting participant (hereinafter referred to as the "speaker") will be displayed on the workstation screens of all meeting participants. , the speaker can move and point out any content displayed by the speaker's operation, so the speaker can easily explain the content of the statement.

In addition, since each document processing device is equipped with a voice communication function between users, participants in remote locations can also discuss matters in the middle of a meeting, matters that do not need to be documented, etc., in the same way as in a normal meeting. Oral discussions can be held.

It is possible to provide an image communication (video conference) function between users of each document processing device or a group of users, and this allows a greater sense of presence to be provided to participants in remote locations. .

Furthermore, since it is possible to record the actions taken during the meeting, it is possible to easily create minutes of the meeting, which facilitates reexamination at a later date.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, documents can be created quickly and efficiently in a meeting for jointly creating documents, and participants in remote locations can also , it is possible to obtain the effect of being able to participate in a meeting similar to that of attending a meeting in person.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, Figures 2, 3, and 4 are diagrams explaining examples of display screens, and Figures 5 to 9 explain the operation. This is a flowchart. 100...Large display device, 101...Moderator's work station (WS), 102-109...
... WS for general participants, 110 ... communication line, 111 ... line connection device. Figure 1 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A document processing device comprising display means and input means, characterized in that an "owner" is defined as an attribute of each of a plurality of windows displayed by the display device. . 2. An electronic meeting system characterized in that a plurality of document processing apparatuses according to claim 1 are connected by communication means. 3. A document processing apparatus according to claim 1 is configured by connecting a plurality of document processing apparatuses through communication means, and any window of each document processing apparatus can be displayed on other document processing apparatuses. electronic meeting system. 4. The electronic meeting system according to claim 3, wherein each user of the plurality of document processing devices can only modify the contents of the window that he/she owns. 5. Claims 3 or 4, characterized in that each window displayed by the display device of the document processing device has an attribute defined as "public" or "private". The electronic meeting system described. 6. The electronic meeting system according to claim 5, wherein the window having the attribute value of "private" is displayed only on the document processing device of its owner. 7. The electronic meeting system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the contents of any other window can be copied to the "private" window. 8. One of the users of the plurality of document processing devices is defined as a "moderator," and the document processing device used by the moderator is:
The electronic meeting system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that, in addition to the windows owned by the electronic meeting system, a window for displaying a subject to be considered in the meeting is managed. 9. Claim 8, characterized in that the document processing device used by the moderator has exclusive authority to control attributes other than content information of windows owned by other meeting participants. Electronic meeting system. 10. Claim 8, characterized in that the document processing device used by the moderator is given the authority to copy content information of windows owned by other meeting participants to any other window. Or the electronic meeting system described in paragraph 9. 11. A pointer operated by a pointing device on a document processing device owned by a specific speaker who is a meeting participant is displayed on the screen of the document processing devices of all meeting participants, and is moved by the speaker's operation. An electronic meeting system according to claim 8, 9, or 10, characterized in that: 12. The electronic meeting system according to claim 1, wherein a voice communication function is provided between the document processing devices. 13. The electronic meeting system according to any one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that it has a function of image communication between the document processing apparatuses or between a set of document processing apparatuses. 14. The electronic meeting system according to any one of claims 2 to 13, which stores a record of actions. 15. An electronic conference table incorporating the electronic meeting system according to one of claims 2 to 14. 16. An electronic conference room characterized by incorporating the electronic meeting system according to one of claims 2 to 14.