JPH04246956A - Communication mode deciding system for plural communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To unnecessitate preliminarily deciding a communication mode between each communication terminal equipment, and to flexibly connect each kind of communication terminal equipment with each other. CONSTITUTION:When a system operation is started, and a connecting request is supplied from each terminal A-C to a multi-point site connector 4 ((1)), the control part of the multi-point site connector 4 checks the terminal ability of each communication terminal ((2)). As for this check, when the ability is inquired by the multi-point site connector 4 of each terminal, information indicating the ability is answered from each terminal A-C. The information indicating the ability of each terminal is collected by the control part of the multi-point site connector 4, the communication mode which is common and optimal to each terminal A-C is decided by judging the content ((3)), the decided communication mode is communicated to each terminal A-C as communication mode designating information ((4)), and the real communication is started ((5)).

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a mechanism for communicating one or more types of information to each communication terminal device installed at a plurality of points, and the plurality of communication terminal devices are interconnected via a multipoint connection device. This invention relates to a communication mode determination method for multiple communication terminal devices in a system. In recent years, various communication terminal devices have become more sophisticated and multifunctional, and communication terminal devices having various communication modes have been realized. Furthermore, the connection form of communication terminals is also evolving from the conventional one-to-one connection to multipoint connection of multiple terminals. When a plurality of communication terminals are connected using such a connection form, it is natural that each communication terminal has a different range of capabilities. Therefore, there is a need for a method that efficiently determines the optimal communication mode within the capabilities of each communication terminal.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 26 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional example. In the figure, 10 is a communication terminal device (sending side), 20 is a communication terminal device (receiving side), and 30 is a multipoint connection device. Here, the communication terminal device 10 on the sending side and the communication terminal device 20 on the receiving side may have both the sending and receiving functions at the same location, or only one, but usually they have both functions. Be prepared.

A communication terminal device (transmission side) 10 includes data, audio, video (image) transmission units 12 to 14 and any other information transmission unit 15, and is connected to a personal computer (
Each signal inputted from an input section 17 such as data), microphone (audio), video camera (video), etc. is inputted to each transmission section 12 to 15 controlled by a control section 11. Each transmitter 12
~15 encodes audio and video using various compression encoding methods, converts data into formats for data transmission (transmission frame generation and adds error detection codes), and transmission control (transmission confirmation, retransmission in case of error, etc.) )I do. Each transmitter 12 to 15
The information output from the multiplexer 16 is multiplexed and transmitted to the transmission path.

[0004] A unidirectional signal format on a transmission path (on various networks) between a communication terminal device and a multipoint connection device is shown in FIG. It is used to send and receive control information, and then audio,
Digital information such as video and data is allocated, and this allocation is determined according to the communication mode (transmission rate of each information). The format shown in FIG. 27 is used on the transmission path in each direction on the transmitting side and the receiving side.

[0005] Various networks such as dedicated lines and ISDN lines can be used as the transmission path, and the multipoint connection device 30 is provided as one terminal connected to the network through a plurality of transmission paths, and the multipoint connection device 30 services. In the multipoint connection device 30, the information transmitted from each terminal is separated according to type in the separation section 33, and inputted to the image/audio/data processing section 32 including a switch. The control unit 31 knows in advance the other party to connect to (the other party's communication terminal device to which information should be received) based on a request from each communication terminal device, and sends images/audio/ Each communication terminal device (receiving side) 20 performs switching of each information in the data processing unit 32.
Each piece of information is output to a multiplexing unit 34 provided correspondingly. The multiplexing unit 34 multiplexes various types of information in a format similar to that shown in FIG. 27 and transmits the multiplexed information to the transmission path.

The communication terminal device (receiving side) 20 also has data, audio, and video receiving units 22 to 24 corresponding to the transmitting side.
and other information, and the information received from the transmission path is separated according to the type by a separating section 26 under the control of the control section 21, and is input to each receiving section 22-25. Each of the receiving units 22 to 25 performs various types of decoding of video and audio, restores data from transmission frames, and performs transmission control (confirmation of delivery, request for retransmission in case of error, etc.). The various types of information received and restored are output to the display/output unit 27 (monitor, speaker, personal computer, etc.).

In addition to the data communication described above, control communication is performed between the communication terminal and the control unit of the multipoint connection device via a control communication path (using time slot 1 in FIG. 27). This can be done by the control unit of the communication terminal requesting the control unit of the multipoint connection device to connect/release at the start/end of communication, or by changing the video, audio, data, etc. received during communication (switching the transmission point). etc.). Alternatively, control of various input/output devices (camera switching, movement, display of images, figures, characters on a monitor, etc.) can be realized using a route that follows the order of communication terminal equipment, multipoint connection equipment, and communication terminal equipment.

[0008] In the multipoint connection system as described above, various levels of terminal capabilities are defined for each communication terminal, such as the following items. ■Total transmission speed and individual transmission speeds for video, audio, and data ■Compression encoding method for video and audio ■Data transmission control procedure ■Capacity of input/output equipment (camera control function, image/graphic/character display function, etc.) , etc. Examples of the capabilities of these communication terminal devices (referred to as terminal capabilities) are shown in FIG. Figure 28 shows four terminals, terminal A to terminal D.
(1) indicates the total transmission speed capability, (2) indicates the audio encoding capability, and (3) indicates the graphic display capability, and each terminal has capabilities for the items marked with a circle. Actual communication is performed using the capabilities that communication terminals have in common, and is performed in the same communication mode.

[0009] In the conventional technology, when performing multi-point communication, each communication terminal device mutually checks in advance each of the capabilities listed in the above items ① to ② possessed by various communication terminals, and It was necessary to determine the mode in advance and to set the determined communication mode in each control unit of each communication terminal device and multipoint connection device in advance. In this case, the control unit of each communication terminal device is controlled to operate in one of the functions that allow selection of a plurality of modes for the above-mentioned items in the determined communication mode. Note that conventionally, multipoint connection devices have separate devices for receiving information between each communication terminal device and transmitting it to the communication terminal device of the connection partner.
Although it has functions to perform switching and multiplexing processing, it does not have a communication mode determination function.

0010

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the conventional system, before starting communication, the communication mode is determined each time by mutual communication between each communication terminal device participating in the communication based on the common part of the terminal capability. This required setting on each communication terminal, making the process complicated. In addition, during actual communication (communication of various data actually sent and received between terminals, not including communication of control signals), it is possible to realize midway participation of a new terminal by changing the communication mode, or to lower the communication mode. There is a problem of lack of flexibility in changing the communication mode, such as when a low-capacity terminal that has been limited to a functional level leaves the terminal midway through, and it is impossible to dynamically change the communication mode to a high-functionality level. Ta.

[0011] The present invention eliminates the need to decide the communication mode between each communication terminal device in advance, and can automatically determine the communication mode according to the capabilities of the communication terminal devices participating in the communication. The purpose is to provide a communication mode determination method. In addition, it is possible to automatically optimize and change the communication mode in response to a new terminal joining or leaving a multipoint connection, and it is also possible to quickly optimize and change the communication mode when a terminal newly joins or leaves a multipoint connection without having to investigate terminal capabilities. Optimization of communication mode/
The purpose is to enable changes. Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to automatically determine a communication mode when communication is performed between communication terminal devices via a plurality of multipoint connection devices.

0012

[Means for Solving the Problems] Each principle structure according to the present invention will be explained with reference to sequence operations shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. Figure 1
is a first principle explanatory diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a second principle explanatory diagram of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a third principle explanatory diagram of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a fourth principle explanatory diagram of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the fifth principle of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the sixth principle of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the seventh principle of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 9, a diagram showing an example of the relationship between communication modes, is a system configuration to which the seventh principle is applied. In FIG. 1, 1 to 3 are communication terminal devices (indicated as "terminals", hereinafter simply referred to as terminals) A to C, 4 is a multipoint connection device, and 5 is another specific communication terminal device X (indicated as terminal ) represents.

[0013] The present invention investigates the ability of each communication terminal device to communicate from a multipoint connection device before starting communication, determines the optimum communication mode, and specifies the determined communication mode to each communication terminal device. The basic technology is a configuration in which the communication mode is determined by a separate terminal device in addition to the multipoint connection device, or a configuration in which the multipoint connection device notifies each terminal of the communication mode options based on the survey results. The present invention discloses a configuration for receiving a request from a person and making a decision based on a majority vote, and a configuration for determining a communication mode when another terminal joins or opens a multipoint connection midway.

[0014]

[Operation] In the system configuration shown in (1) of Figure 1,
The operation sequence according to the first principle configuration of the present invention when terminals A to C perform multipoint connection via multipoint connection device 4 is shown in (2) of FIG. In this case, various communications such as transmission from terminal A to terminal B and terminal C, transmission from terminal B to terminal A and terminal C, etc. can be performed in response to requests. When system operation starts and connection requests are supplied from each terminal A to terminal C to the multipoint connection device 4 (Fig.
(2) (■), the control unit (not shown) of the multipoint connection device 4 investigates the terminal capability of each communication terminal. This study
When the multipoint connection device 4 inquires about the capabilities of each terminal, each terminal sends information representing its capabilities to each terminal A~
Respond from terminal C (same ■). Information representing the capabilities of each terminal is collected by the control unit of the multipoint connection device 4, and the content is judged to determine the optimal communication mode common to each terminal (same as
), the determined communication mode is notified to each of the terminals A to C as communication mode designation information (2), and actual communication is started (2).

FIG. 8 shows an example of the capabilities of each terminal obtained through investigation by the multipoint connection device 4. The capabilities of each terminal correspond to communication modes, and the multipoint connection device 4 Among the modes, when terminals A to C are interconnected, one of the common communication modes (communication modes b and c in the example in Fig. 8) that is highly functional (in the example in Fig. 8) is possible. In this case, the communication mode is determined by selecting communication mode c). The determined communication mode is notified to each terminal, the equipment is set so that each terminal operates in the communication mode, and actual communication via the multipoint connection device 4 is then started.

Next, the second principle configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be explained. In this example, in (1) of FIG. 1, a specific terminal X is connected to the multipoint connection device 4, and this terminal X changes the communication mode. It has the ability to decide. In the case of Fig. 2, when the system starts operating, when a connection request is generated from each terminal A to C as in Fig. 1 (■ in Fig. 2), the control unit of the multipoint connection device 4 sends a request to each terminal A to C. A survey of terminal capabilities will be conducted (ibid.). The control unit of the multipoint connection device 4 selects the terminal capability of each communication terminal device or a communication mode option (selectable plural communication modes) that can be commonly realized by each terminal A to C, and to be notified by control communication (same ■).

[0017] When the control unit (not shown) of the specific terminal X receives this notification, it determines the optimal communication mode ((ii)). In this case, the terminal X displays the content of the notification on the output device, and the operator can look at the displayed content and input to designate one communication mode. Determined by terminal X (specified)
The selected communication mode is notified to the multipoint connection device 4 through control communication (see ①), and the multipoint connection device 4 transmits the communication mode to each terminal A to C.
Communication mode designation information is sent to (■). After this, the actual communication starts as in Figure 1 above (■)
.

Next, the third principle configuration shown in FIG. 3 will be explained. This is an example in which the terminals A to C and the multipoint connection device 4 are configured. First, the terminal capability of each terminal A to C is investigated from the multipoint connection device 4 (■ in FIG. 3). The multipoint connection device 4 determines communication mode options that can be commonly implemented for each terminal based on the capabilities of each terminal obtained from this investigation (see
). Next, each of the terminals A to C is notified of this communication mode/option ((2) in the same example). When each terminal A to C receives this notification, a control unit (not shown) within the terminal determines a desired communication mode from the notified communication mode options and notifies the multipoint connection device 4 ( Same ■). Multipoint connection device 4
Now, when we receive the desired communication mode from each terminal A to C,
The communication mode is determined by taking a majority vote (
(2), transmits it to each terminal A to C as communication mode designation information (2), and starts actual communication (2).

Next, the fourth principle configuration shown in FIG. 4 will be explained. When the terminals A to C are connected via the multipoint connection device 4 and are communicating in a certain communication mode (■ in FIG. 4) ，
When a new connection request (when newly joining) is generated from another terminal D (same ■) and when a release request (when leaving midway) is received from one terminal that was participating in communication (same ■) The communication mode determination method is shown. When a connection request is generated from terminal D requesting mid-term participation (Part 2), the multipoint connection device 4 connects all terminals A to A with which they have already communicated.
The terminal capability of D is investigated (2), the communication mode is determined, the communication mode is specified, and actual communication is started (2) to (2).

[0020] While communication is being executed by terminals A to D, terminal D
sends a release request to the multipoint connection device 4 in order to leave the multipoint connection midway (see ①), the multipoint connection device 4 releases the corresponding terminal D and also connects other terminals A to D to the multipoint connection device 4.
The terminal capability of C is investigated (2), and the communication mode is determined based on the result of the investigation (2), and the communication mode is specified in the same manner as above and actual communication is resumed.

Next, the fifth principle configuration shown in FIG. 5 will be explained. In this case, the multipoint connection device 4 is equipped with a communicating terminal capability storage means 41 that stores the capability of each terminal currently communicating. The storage means stores each capability obtained when checking the capabilities of the terminal at the time of starting each communication connection. As shown in Figure 5, when a connection request (when new joins) occurs from terminal D during actual communication (see ■), the terminal capacity of terminals A to C that are already communicating is set to the current communication terminal capacity. Since the information is stored in the storage means 41, a new terminal capability investigation is performed only on the terminal D (see ■), and based on the result and the terminal capabilities of the terminals A to C stored in the storage means 41. A new communication mode is determined (2), and the communication mode (change) is designated to each terminal, including the newly participating terminal D, to start actual communication (2), 2).

[0022] While terminals A to D are communicating, if one of them leaves, in the example of Fig. 5, if terminal D leaves, an open request is sent to the multipoint connection device 4 (see ), in response to this, the multipoint connection device 4 determines the communication mode (
Same ■). At this time, the control unit of the multipoint connection device 4 stores the terminal capabilities of the terminals A to D in advance in the storage means 41, so if terminal D among them is released, the remaining terminal A
The communication mode can be determined based on the terminal capabilities of ~C. The determined communication mode is sent to each of the terminals A to C as communication mode designation information (2), and actual communication is resumed.

The sixth principle configuration of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 6. In this case, the control unit of the multipoint connection device 4 stores the capabilities of all terminals that have a history of making multipoint connections in the past. It is equipped with ability storage means 42. In the configuration shown in Figure 5 above, the capabilities of the terminal that is communicating are stored, whereas in this configuration, the capabilities of the terminal that was connected in the past are retained even after the communication ends. different. In Figure 6, connection requests are made by four terminals A, B, C, and E.
, the multipoint connection device 4 receives this (
(■ in Figure 6). The control unit of the multipoint connection device 4 refers to the terminal capability storage means 42 and determines whether the terminal capability of each terminal that has issued a connection request is stored. If not, the control unit of the multipoint connection device 4 refers to the terminal capability storage means 42 and determines whether the terminal capability of each terminal that has issued a connection request is stored. The terminal capability is investigated for terminal E) (same ■), and the optimal communication mode is determined by combining the capabilities of the other stored terminals (terminals A to C in this example) (same ■). , specify the determined communication mode to each terminal (see ①), and start actual communication.

Next, the seventh principle configuration of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 will be explained. This principle is applied to a system configuration in which a plurality of multipoint connection devices are connected as shown in FIG. Figure 9
, 4-1 and 4-2 are multipoint connection devices, one of which is a multipoint connection device 4-2 as a parent device, and the other multipoint connection device 4-1 as a child device. Interconnection is achieved through control communication, and terminals A to C and terminals D to F are connected under the control of each multipoint connection device. Terminals A to C configured as shown in FIG. 9 request connection with other terminals D to F, and transmit the connection request to the multipoint connection device 4-1 (■ in FIG. 7). The other multipoint connection device 4-2 connects terminals D to F under management to terminal A.
A request for connection with ~C has been received. The multipoint connection device 4-1, which is a child device, sends a connection request to the multipoint connection device 4-2, which is a parent device, by control communication (see ①), and at the same time, each terminal A under management - Investigate the terminal capabilities of C (same ■).

Similarly, the multipoint connection device 4-2 also investigates the terminal capabilities of the terminals D to F under its management (I). The multipoint connection device 4-1 notifies the multipoint connection device 4-2 of the results of investigating the terminal capabilities of the terminals A to C (see 2). As a result, the multipoint connection device 4-2 can obtain the terminal capabilities of all the terminals A to F, and therefore determines the optimum communication mode ((ii)). The determined communication mode is specified to the multipoint connection device 4-1 (same ■), and from there to each terminal A to C, and from the multipoint connection device 4-2 to the managed terminals D to F.
will be notified. After that, actual communication begins.

[0026]

[Embodiment] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a multi-point connection device in which the present invention is implemented, FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control section of a communication terminal device, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control section of a multi-point connection device. be. Symbols 31, 33, and 34 of each part of the multipoint connection device 30 shown in FIG. 10 correspond to each device shown in the system configuration of FIG. 26, where 31 is a control unit, and 32-1 processes images from each communication terminal device. An image processing unit 32-2 processes audio from each communication terminal (including switching) and outputs it to each communication terminal, and an audio processing unit 32-2 processes audio from each communication terminal (including switching) and outputs it to each communication terminal. -3 is a data processing unit 33-1 to 33 that processes data from each communication terminal device (including switching) and outputs the data to each communication terminal device;
-3 is a separation unit that separates images, audio, data and control communication paths input from each communication terminal device, 34-1 to 34-
3 is a multiplexing unit that multiplexes images, audio, data, and control communication paths to be output to each communication terminal device, 35-1 to 35
-3 is a line corresponding unit that connects to a communication terminal device via a network (dedicated line or public network) and controls communication.

The overall configuration of the communication terminal device is shown in FIG. 26, and a block diagram of its control section is shown in FIG. 11. 110 of the control section 11 is . This is a controller that controls each part of the communication terminal device, and although the inside thereof is not shown, it includes a central processing unit CPU, a program for controlling the communication terminal device including a program executed to determine a communication mode, and a storage device that stores data. It consists of a data input/output interface, etc. Reference numeral 111 indicates a terminal capability storage unit that stores image, audio, and data capabilities of the terminal (transmission speed, compression encoding method, data transmission control procedure, capabilities of each device, etc.); 112 indicates a multipoint connection device; The communication mode storage unit 113 stores the communication mode commanded by the communication mode storage unit, and the communication mode storage unit 113 is a communication port that forms a control communication path with the multipoint connection device via the demultiplexing/multiplexing unit (16, 26 in FIG. 26). .

Control unit 31 of the multipoint connection device shown in FIG.
A block diagram of this is shown in FIG. 310 of the control unit 31
is a controller that controls each part of the multipoint connection device, and the inside thereof is the controller 110 of the communication terminal device.
Similarly, it is composed of a central processing unit CPU, various programs including a program for controlling communication mode determination, a storage device for storing data, an interface for data input/output, and the like. 311 is each terminal capability storage unit (used in each embodiment described later), 312-1 to 312-3 are each demultiplexing/multiplexing unit of the multipoint connection device (33-1, 34 in FIG. 10).
-1 to 33 to 3, 34-3), which form a control communication path with each communication terminal device.

An embodiment of the communication mode determination system according to the first to seventh principles of the present invention using the above hardware configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 25. FIG. 13 is a processing flow of the first embodiment. B. is the processing flow of the multipoint connection device controller (FIG. 12). is a processing flow of the controller (FIG. 11) of the communication terminal device. This first embodiment corresponds to the first principle configuration of the present invention shown in (2) of FIG. 1 above, and first, A. The controller of the multipoint connection device shown in Figure 13 determines whether there is a connection request from a communication terminal (1 in Figure 13), and if there is, inquires about the terminal capability of the corresponding communication terminal and receives the terminal capability notification (2 in Figure 13). 3) Determine whether a certain amount of time has elapsed since the start of operation, and if not, accept connection requests from other communication terminals, and if a certain amount of time has elapsed (4), accept connection requests from multiple terminals with connection requests. The terminal capability is identified and the common communication mode is determined (same 5). The determined communication mode is notified to each terminal and actual communication begins (6 and 7).

On the other hand, B. When the controller of the communication terminal device shown in FIG. 13 starts a multipoint connection, it notifies the multipoint connection device of a connection request (8 in FIG. ), when received, it searches the terminal capability storage unit (111 in FIG. 11) and notifies it (10, 11 in FIG. 11). After this, it is determined whether the communication mode designation has been received from the multipoint connection device, and if it is received, the common communication mode is stored in the storage unit (112 in FIG. 11),
Each part (image,
Settings such as speed, encoding, transmission control procedure, etc. (voice, data) are made, and actual communication is started (13th to 15th).

Next, a processing flow of a second embodiment corresponding to the second principle configuration of the present invention (see FIG. 2) shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 will be described. FIG. 14 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 15 is a processing flow of the controller of each communication terminal device according to the second embodiment. B. is a processing flow of the controller of a specific communication terminal device X (see FIG. 2). is a processing flow of the controller of another communication terminal device. First, the controller of the multipoint connection device is
After starting the operation, A. After performing the same processing (1 to 4 in FIG. 14) and completing the investigation of the terminal capability of the communication terminal device that has received a plurality of connection requests, a common communication mode is selected (step 5 in FIG. 14). Next, the capability of each communication terminal device and the selected common communication mode are notified to the communication terminal device X (same 6). Thereafter, it waits for reception of the determined communication mode from the specific communication terminal device X, and when received, notifies each terminal of the determined communication mode and starts actual communication (7 to 9).

[0032] The controller of the specific communication terminal device X is
A in FIG. Perform the processing shown in That is, when the connection request is notified to the multipoint connection device and a terminal capability inquiry is received, the terminal capability storage unit is searched and the multipoint connection device is notified (1 to 4 in FIG. 15). After this, wait for each communication terminal capability and selected common communication mode to be sent from the multipoint connection device, and when these are received, the contents can be displayed on the display device (the display device attached to the operator console). Display and notify the operator (6). The operator determines the optimal communication mode from among these and inputs it using a keyboard or the like (not shown).

[0033] This judgment can be made, for example, if there is a communication terminal device whose terminal ability is extremely low compared to the average ability, that terminal is excluded and other communication terminal devices are It becomes possible to select a communication mode that corresponds to a common capability. It is determined whether this selection input has been made (see 7), and if so, the multipoint connection device is notified of the communication mode (see 8). Thereafter, the communication mode designation is received from the multipoint connection device in the same way as other communication terminal devices, and the communication mode designation in B of FIG. Processing similar to steps 13 to 15 is performed (steps 10 to 12). Also, B in FIG. The processing flow (steps 13 to 20) of the controller of each communication terminal device (excluding X) shown in 13 B. above. The content is similar to that.

Next, the processing flow of the third embodiment corresponding to the third principle configuration of the present invention shown in FIG. 16 (see FIG. 3) will be explained. A in FIG. B. is the processing flow of the controller of each communication terminal device. is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device. A. In B. of Embodiment 1, the communication terminal device notifies the multipoint connection device of a connection request, and the subsequent steps up to notification of the terminal capability are performed. Processing similar to (1 to 4 in Figure 16)
After that, it waits for each communication terminal capability and communication mode candidate to be received from the multipoint connection device (see step 5). Once received, each communication terminal capability and communication mode candidate is displayed, and the participants (communication terminals) (6). Watch this display and wait for the participant to input the desired communication mode (7). At this time, each communication terminal device selects a communication mode in which it wishes to participate (or is able to participate) among a plurality of terminal devices (image, audio, data) and inputs the selected communication mode using input means such as a keyboard. When there is an input, the multipoint connection device is notified of the desired communication mode (8
). After this, the multipoint connection device decides and waits for the specified communication mode to be sent, and when the specified communication mode is received (same 9), the following processing is the same as 1 B of the above embodiment. (10-12) will be performed.

B. of FIG. After the start of operation, the controller of the multipoint connection device shown in FIG. Upon completion, a communication mode candidate is selected (17 in FIG. 16). Next, it notifies each communication terminal capability and communication mode candidates (Same 18), waits for the desired communication mode to be transmitted from all terminals, and when each terminal receives the selected communication mode (Same 19), The communication mode is determined by majority logic (20), and the determined communication mode is notified to each communication terminal device to start actual communication (
21, 22). In the case of this third embodiment, depending on the capability of the communication terminal device, it may not be possible to operate in the determined communication mode. In that case, the multipoint connection device performs release processing to the communication terminal device by control communication.

Next, a processing flow of a fourth embodiment corresponding to the fourth principle configuration of the present invention (see FIG. 4) shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 will be described. FIG. 17 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device, and FIG. 18 is a processing flow of the controller of each communication terminal device. In the case of this embodiment 4, as shown in FIG. 4, this is a communication mode determination method when another communication terminal device requests participation while a plurality of terminals are communicating, or a communication terminal device currently communicating requests release. . In Fig. 17, when the multipoint connection device receives a connection request from a communication terminal while in the communication state, the requesting terminal is connected to the multipoint connection device (1, 2 in Fig. 17), and the communication When there is a release request from a terminal device, the requesting terminal is released from the multipoint connection device (3 and 4).

After this, the terminal capabilities of all connected communication terminals are inquired (step 5). At this time, terminals newly connected by the connection request become the targets of the inquiry, and terminals released by the release request are excluded from the targets. As a result, when terminal capability notifications from all communication terminal devices are received, a common mode is determined, the communication mode is notified to each terminal, and actual communication is resumed (6-9).

Next, the process flow of the controller of the communication terminal device when a new communication terminal device requests a multipoint connection when a multipoint connection has already been performed by another communication terminal device is shown in A of FIG. ．． Shown below. This process is shown in Figure 17 above.
This is executed in response to the control communication of the multipoint connection device.
The processing contents are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the explanation will be omitted. Also, FIG. 18B. is the processing flow for releasing a communication terminal device that is in a communication state by a multipoint connection device,
By notifying the release request from the communication terminal device to the multipoint connection device through control communication, the release is performed in the multipoint connection device according to the processing flow shown in FIG. 17, and
The connection is terminated. Also, C. is the above A. This is the processing flow in a communication terminal device that was connected to another multipoint connection device when there is a new connection to a multipoint connection device or a communication terminal device that was already connected is released. In this case, when the communication terminal device that is in the communication state receives an inquiry about the terminal capability from the multipoint connection device, the terminal capability storage unit notifies the terminal capability. The subsequent processing is the same as the processing during normal connection.

The processing flow of the fifth embodiment corresponding to the fifth principle configuration (see FIG. 5) of the present invention shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 will be described. FIG. 19 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device, and FIG. 20 is a processing flow of the controller of each communication terminal device. In this embodiment, a terminal capability storage section for storing each terminal capability is provided in the controller of the multipoint connection device. FIG. 21 shows an example of the contents stored in this terminal capability storage section. In FIG. 19, when a connection request is received from another communication terminal while the multipoint connection device is currently in a communication state by multipoint connection, the requesting terminal is connected and the capabilities of the corresponding terminal are inquired (1 to 3 in FIG. 19). When the capability notification is received from the terminal, the terminal capability is stored in the terminal capability storage section (4 and 5 in FIG. 19).

In the example of FIG. 21, a new communication terminal device D is added to the communication terminal devices A to C that have been connected and in communication state.
represents a state in which mode d is obtained as the terminal capability when a connection request is made. Additionally, when a release request is received from a communication terminal device that was in a communication state, the requesting terminal is released and the terminal capability of this terminal is deleted from the terminal capability storage unit (
6-8). After this, the terminal capabilities are retrieved from the terminal capability storage section for all other currently connected terminals (same as 9).
, determines a common communication mode from among them (10), notifies each terminal of the determined communication mode, and restarts the actual communication mode (11, 12). The example shown in FIG. 21 shows an example where no common communication mode exists when the communication terminal device D is newly connected. In this case, the communication terminal device D is instructed by control communication to open the connection.

Next, the process flow of the controller of the communication terminal device when a new communication terminal device requests a multipoint connection when a multipoint connection has already been performed by another communication terminal device is shown in A of FIG. ．． Shown below. This process is shown in Figure 19 above.
This is executed in response to the control communication of the multipoint connection device.
The processing contents are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the explanation will be omitted. Also, B in FIG. is a processing flow for releasing a communication terminal device that is in a communication state by a multipoint connection device, and the process ends when the communication terminal device notifies the multipoint connection device of a release request through control communication, and the release is completed. do.

[0042] Also, C. in FIG. is the above A. This is the processing flow in a communication terminal device that was connected to another multipoint connection device when there is a new connection to a multipoint connection device or a communication terminal device that was already connected is released. In this case, the processing flow of 4 in the above embodiment (Figure 1
8 C. The processing is simplified compared to (see). In other words, the communication terminal device that was in the communication state receives a terminal capability inquiry from the multipoint connection device when another communication terminal device is newly connected to or disconnected from the multipoint connection device. It is possible to receive new communication modes without having to

Next, a processing flow of a sixth embodiment corresponding to the sixth principle configuration (see FIG. 6) of the present invention shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 will be described. FIG. 22 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device, and FIG. 23 is a processing flow of the controller of the communication terminal device. Although this embodiment also includes a terminal capability storage section for storing each terminal capability within the controller of the multipoint connection device, the terminal capability storage section of the fifth embodiment is connected only while communication is being executed. In contrast, the terminal capability storage section of this embodiment retains the memory even after the connection is terminated once the terminal capability is checked after being connected to a multipoint connection device. This is the point.

In FIG. 22, when a connection request is made from a communication terminal to the multipoint connection device, the corresponding terminal capability is retrieved from the terminal capability storage section for the communication terminal (FIG. 22).
1, 2). If the terminal capability is not stored in this search, A. In the same way, various processes such as inquiring the terminal capability and receiving terminal capability notification for the corresponding communication terminal (
After executing steps 5 to 7), the common mode is determined.
If it is stored in the terminal capability storage section, the common mode is determined using the stored terminal capability without executing a terminal inquiry (4, 8, 9). This makes it possible to speed up the determination of the communication mode for communication terminal devices that have a history of connecting to multipoint connection devices in the past.

A. of FIG. 1 is a processing flow of a controller of a communication terminal device that connects to a multipoint connection device for the first time, and is similar to B. of Embodiment 1. The same processing is performed. B in FIG. is the processing flow from the second time onward. In this case, when a connection request is notified, a communication mode designation can be received from the multipoint connection device, and from then on, A. Processing similar to is executed.

Next, a processing flow of a seventh embodiment corresponding to the seventh principle configuration (see FIG. 7) of the present invention shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 will be described. FIG. 24 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device on the base device side, and FIG. 25 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device on the slave device side. In this Example 7,
As shown in FIG. 9, a system can be configured in which the number of terminals participating in communication is increased by interconnecting a plurality of multipoint connection devices. In that case, one multipoint connection device is used as the base unit,
Configure other multipoint connection devices as slave devices.

[0047] In the multipoint connection device on the base unit side shown in FIG. 24, when a connection request is received from a communication terminal device under the control of this multipoint connection device, the terminal capability of the communication terminal device is inquired and a terminal capability notification is sent. (1 to 3 in FIG. 24). It also determines whether the multipoint connection device of the handset has requested communication with the communication terminal device under the control of the multipoint connection device of the base device, and has sent the terminal capability of the multipoint connection device on the handset side. and accepts the terminal capability (4, 5),
After a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of operation, the common mode is determined (including the terminal capabilities notified from the handset side, if any) (7). The determined communication mode is notified to each communication terminal device under management (same 8), and further notified to the multipoint connection device on the handset side (same 9), and actual communication is started (same 10).
).

The multipoint connection device on the handset side shown in FIG.
Determine whether there is a request for connection to the communication terminal device of the multipoint connection device on the base unit side from the communication terminal device under management (1 in Figure 25).
, When there is a request, the terminal capacity is inquired and the terminal capacity is accepted (see 2 and 3). After a certain period of time has elapsed, the capability of each terminal is notified to the multipoint connection device of the base unit (4 and 5), and when the determined communication mode is received from the multipoint connection device of the base unit (6), each terminal under management Notify the terminal of the communication mode and start actual communication (7 and 8).

[0049]

Effects of the Invention According to the first configuration of the present invention, there is no need to agree on the communication mode between each communication terminal device in advance, and the multipoint connection device can use the communication mode within the common capability of each communication terminal device. , it is possible to flexibly interconnect various communication terminal devices. According to the second configuration of the present invention,
It is possible to check the capabilities of each communication terminal device and determine the communication mode using a specific communication terminal device, and communication mode management can be realized using a specific communication terminal device, increasing the degree of freedom in system construction and allowing communication modes to be changed automatically. It is possible to prevent problems (such as selecting an inefficient communication mode due to the presence of only one terminal with low-level terminal capability).

According to the third configuration of the present invention, each communication terminal device selects a desired communication mode from a selection of communication terminals to which it can connect, and the communication mode is determined by majority vote. , when a plurality of communication modes can be implemented within the common capabilities of each communication terminal device, it becomes possible to determine a communication mode that suits the user's requirements. According to the fourth configuration of the present invention, when a terminal leaves or newly joins, it is possible to change the communication mode to the optimal one in response to each case and restart actual communication. According to the fifth configuration of the present invention, since the multipoint connection device stores the capabilities of terminals currently communicating, there is no need to investigate the terminal capabilities of all terminals, and when a terminal leaves or newly joins, Optimization/change of communication mode and resumption of actual communication can be performed quickly.

According to the sixth configuration of the present invention, the multipoint connection device stores the capabilities of terminals that have a history of connection in the past, and thereby investigates the terminal capabilities of the corresponding terminals. This makes it possible to quickly determine the communication mode and start actual communication. According to the seventh configuration of the present invention, the multipoint connection devices are layered, and the communication mode is determined and the communication mode is specified in a specific multipoint connection device, so even when the system becomes large-scale and the number of terminals increases. Communication terminal devices can be interconnected flexibly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a first principle explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second principle explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a third principle explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fourth principle explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the fifth principle of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sixth principle explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a seventh principle explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between each function possessed by a plurality of terminals and communication modes.

FIG. 9 is a system configuration to which the seventh principle is applied.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a multipoint connection device in which the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 11 is a block configuration diagram of a control unit of the communication terminal device.

FIG. 12 is a block configuration diagram of a control unit of the multipoint connection device.

FIG. 13 is a processing flow of Example 1; B. is the processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device. is a processing flow of the controller of the communication terminal device.

FIG. 14 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a processing flow of the controller of each communication terminal device in Embodiment 2; B. is a processing flow of the controller of a specific communication terminal device X; is a processing flow of the controller of another communication terminal device.

FIG. 16 is a processing flow of Example 3; B. is the processing flow of the controller of each communication terminal device. is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device.

FIG. 17 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a processing flow of the controller of each communication terminal device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a processing flow of the controller of each communication terminal device according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of storage contents of a terminal capability storage unit.

FIG. 22 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a processing flow of the controller of the communication terminal device according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device on the base device side according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a processing flow of the controller of the multipoint connection device on the slave device side according to the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 27 shows a unidirectional signal format on a transmission path between a communication terminal device and a multipoint connection device.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of capabilities of a communication terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Communication terminal device A 2 Communication terminal device B 3 Communication terminal device C 4 Multipoint connection device 5. Specific communication terminal equipment X

Claims (7)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A multipoint connection system in which each communication terminal device installed at a plurality of points is provided with a mechanism for communicating one or more types of information, and a plurality of communication terminal devices are interconnected via a multipoint connection device. In the communication mode determination method for multiple communication terminal devices in , before starting actual communication, the multipoint connection device investigates the capabilities of each communication terminal device that interconnects with each communication terminal device through control communication, and determines the capabilities of each communication terminal device. A communication mode determination method for multiple communication terminal devices, characterized in that the optimum communication mode is determined within the capacity limit, and each communication terminal device is notified to start actual communication. [Claim 2] A multipoint connection system in which each communication terminal device installed at a plurality of points is provided with a mechanism for communicating one or more types of information, and a plurality of communication terminal devices are interconnected via a multipoint connection device. In the communication mode determination method for multiple communication terminal devices, a function for determining the communication mode is provided in a specific communication terminal device, and the multipoint connection device interconnects each communication terminal device through control communication before starting actual communication. The capability of each communication terminal device is investigated and the investigation result is notified to the specific communication terminal device, and when the specific communication terminal device inputs the notification, it outputs it to the output means, and receives the input for determining the communication mode. If so, the multipoint connection device is notified of the determined content, and the multipoint connection device notifies each communication terminal device of the determined communication mode to start actual communication. Communication mode determination method. [Claim 3] A multipoint connection system in which each communication terminal device installed at a plurality of points is provided with a mechanism for communicating one or more types of information, and a plurality of communication terminal devices are interconnected via a multipoint connection device. In the communication mode determination method for multiple communication terminal devices in , the multipoint connection device investigates the capabilities of each communication terminal device and notifies each communication terminal device of all communication modes that can be realized by at least two or more communication terminal devices. ，
Each communication terminal device retransmits its desired communication mode to the multipoint connection device, and upon receiving the desired communication mode, the multipoint connection device determines the communication mode by majority vote and starts actual communication. Communication mode determination method for multiple communication terminal devices. 4. In claim 1 or 3, while a plurality of communication terminal devices are in actual communication via the multipoint connection device, a communication terminal device newly joins the multipoint connection or terminates communication of the multipoint connection. Then, the multipoint connection device investigates the capabilities of each communication terminal device through control communication with communication terminal devices excluding newly joined communication terminal devices, existing connected communication terminal devices, or communication terminal devices with which communication has ended, and determines the optimum capability within the framework of each terminal capability. 1. A communication mode determination method for multiple communication terminal devices, characterized in that a communication mode is determined, and each communication terminal device is notified to resume actual communication. 5. In claim 1 or 3, the multipoint connection device is provided with a storage means for storing the terminal capability of each communication terminal device currently in communication, and when a specific communication terminal device terminates communication during actual communication. , a new communication mode is determined by obtaining the capability of each remaining communication terminal device after excluding the communication terminal device whose communication has ended from the storage means, and when a request for participation of a new communication terminal device occurs during actual communication; A communication mode for a plurality of communication terminal devices, characterized in that a new communication mode is determined by only investigating the capabilities of the new communication terminal device and obtaining the capabilities of the communication terminal device currently in communication from the storage means. Decision method. 6. In claim 1, the multipoint connection device includes a storage means for checking the terminal capabilities of each communication terminal device to be interconnected and retaining the results of the check as historical information even after the end of the communication. When a communication connection via a connection device occurs, the terminal capability of the communication terminal device to be connected is first investigated from the storage means, and only those communication terminal devices that are not stored in the storage means are investigated by control communication. A communication mode determination method for multiple communication terminal devices, characterized by: Claim 7: In a multipoint connection system in which a plurality of multipoint connection devices for connecting a plurality of communication terminal devices are provided and the multipoint connection devices can be interconnected, a specific multipoint connection device among the plurality of multipoint connection devices is provided. A communication mode determination function is provided to the connection device, and immediately before the start of actual communication, the multipoint connection device performs control communication with each communication terminal device it accommodates, investigates the capabilities of each communication terminal device, and determines the communication mode. Notify the multipoint connection device having the function of the terminal capability obtained through the investigation or the communication mode information that can be commonly realized by the communication terminal devices to be mutually connected in the own multipoint connection device, and perform the communication mode determination function. The multipoint connection device that has the multipoint connection device determines the optimal communication mode within the framework of each terminal capability from the terminal capability or common communication mode obtained from each multipoint connection device, and then again sends the communication mode to each multipoint connection device. A communication mode determination method for multiple communication terminal devices characterized by giving instructions.