JPH05145915A - System for video conference among multiple points - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the quality of a conference by grasping the decision of all the conference participants on one screen by transmitting sum-up data based on output signals from the manipulating button devices of respective video conference terminals to a multi-picture synthesizer as image signals. CONSTITUTION:When a chairman inputs the instructing signal of decision, a control means 4a of a control circuit 4 is set in a decision mode, and the display pictures of the respective terminals are switched to decision display pictures. Afterwards, when manipulating buttons 13a displaying the will of agree or manipulating buttons 13b displaying the will of objection provided at manipulating button devices 13 of respective video conference terminals A-N are pushed down, a transmitter 14 superimposes those will indicating signals to the output of a video camera or a microphone and outputs them to signal detectors 4a1-4an of the means 4a corresponding to the respective terminals A-N. The means 4a transmits the detected signals to a calling device 20, and the sum-up data of the device 20 are transmitted to a multi-picture synthesizer 3, synthesized into divided pictures by the device 3 and transmitted through a switching device 1 to the respective terminals A-N.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is used for a video conference between multiple points. The present invention relates to a multi-point video conference system capable of improving convenience in a multi-point television conference.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional multipoint video conference system, a plurality of monitor screens corresponding to respective points are used, or one monitor screen is divided into a plurality of screens and a screen of each point is assigned to each divided screen. The meeting was held by the multi-screen method.

[0003]

In such a conventional multipoint video conference system, in order for the chairperson to take the opinions of the conference participants and make a resolution on the agenda items, the screen switching becomes complicated as the number of points increases. Had to be done, and for that purpose it was necessary to access all points.

The present invention solves such a problem, and enables the chairperson to grasp the intention of approval or disapproval of the meeting participants on one screen, thereby speeding up and improving the quality of the meeting. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a large number of video conference terminals each having a video camera, a monitor screen, a microphone and a speaker are provided, and the output signals of the video cameras and microphones of the many video conference terminals are input. And a change-over switch device that outputs the input signals of the monitor screens and speakers of the many video conference terminals, and this change-over switch device that is connected to the changeover switch device and combines the outputs of the microphones of a plurality of video conference terminals. Connected to the changeover switch device and the output of the video cameras of a plurality of video conference terminals are combined to generate a multi-screen signal, and the multi-screen signal is given to the input of the changeover switch device. A multi-screen combining device and a control circuit for controlling the changeover switch device are included. In a multipoint videoconference system including a point-to-point videoconference device, the videoconference terminal is provided with an operation button device for indicating approval and disagreement which is operated by a participant, and an output signal of the operation button device. A transmitting device that multiplexes and transmits to the output of the video camera or microphone of the video conference terminal is provided, and the output signal of the operation button device of each video conference terminal is input to the multipoint video conference device, and this signal is input to this signal. A calling device for providing the multi-screen synthesizing device based on aggregate data as an image signal, the control circuit is operated by a signal from a terminal which is a chairman among the video conference terminals,
The control device includes control means for controlling the changeover switch device, the calling device, and the multi-screen synthesizing device. The control means includes means for setting a voting mode in response to a signal from the terminal serving as the chairman, and in the voting mode, the counting is performed. An image signal indicating data is controlled so as to be transmitted to each video conference terminal.

It is desirable that the image signal indicating the aggregated data has a configuration in which the display screen is divided according to the participants of the conference, and whether the division is in favor of, in opposition to, or not voted is displayed in color.

[0007]

When the chairman sends a voting mode setting signal when trying to obtain a vote from a conference participant, all terminals on the conference participant side are set to the voting mode. When each conference participant presses the corresponding operation button provided on the operation button device in order to indicate the intention or the opposite of the agenda, the signal detection of the control means provided in the control circuit of the multipoint video conference device is detected. The detector detects the signal and sends it to the multi-screen synthesizer. The multi-screen synthesizing device synthesizes the screens on the basis of the signals sent, and the screens synthesized by the switching operation of the changeover switch device are sent to each video conference terminal and displayed on one screen.

[0008] This allows the chairperson to grasp the votes of all the meeting participants on one screen without having to individually switch the screens with the terminals each time the agenda vote is made. Can speed up and improve the quality of meetings.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of video conference terminals A to N provided with a signal transmitting means 11 including a video camera and a microphone, and a signal receiving means 12 including a monitor screen and a speaker. Terminal A ~
A changeover switch device 1 that receives the output signals of the N video camera and the microphone and outputs the input signals of the monitor screen and the speaker, and the output of the microphones of the video conference terminals A to N connected to the changeover switch device 1. A voice synthesizer 2 which synthesizes and gives the input to the changeover switch device 1 and a changeover switch device 1 are combined, and outputs of video cameras of the video conference terminals A to N are combined to generate a multi-screen signal. A multi-point video conference apparatus 10 including a multi-screen combining apparatus 3 for applying a screen signal to the input of the changeover switch apparatus 1 and a control circuit 4 for controlling the changeover switch apparatus 1 is further provided. The video conferencing terminals A to N have operation buttons 13a and 13b for approval and disagreement, which are operated by the participants. A button unit 13, and a transmission device 14 for transmitting multiplexed with the output signal of the operation button unit 13 to the output of a video camera or a microphone that television conference terminal A~N provided, multipoint teleconference device 10
In addition, the calling device 20 which receives the output signal of the operation button device 13 of each of the video conference terminals A to N and gives the aggregated data based on this signal to the multi-screen synthesizing device 3 as an image signal
Equipped with.

Further, the control circuit 4 has a changeover switch device 1, a calling device 20, and signal detectors 4a _{1 to} 4a _n, which are operated by a signal from a terminal which is the chair of the video conference terminals A to N. A control means 4a for controlling the multi-screen synthesizing device 3 is included, and this control means 4a includes means for setting a voting mode in response to a signal from a terminal serving as a chairperson. In this voting mode, an image signal indicating the aggregated data is transmitted to each television. It is controlled to be transmitted to the conference terminals A to N. In addition, the image signal indicating the aggregated data is configured such that the display screen is divided according to the participants of the conference, and whether the division is in agreement with, against, or unvoted is displayed in color.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display at the time of voting when there are 16 conference participants in the embodiment of the present invention. In this display example, the screen is vertically and horizontally divided into four, and 16 frames are assigned to each conference participant.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention thus constructed will be described.

While the conference is in progress, the change-over switch device 1 receives the output signals of the video camera and the microphone of the signal transmitting means 11 provided in each of the video conference terminals A to N by the control of the control circuit 4 and receives the signal receiving means 12. The monitor screen and the input signal of the speaker are switched to output.
Upon receiving the output of the microphone from the changeover switch device 1, the voice synthesizer 2 synthesizes the output and gives it to the input of the changeover switch device 1, and the multi-screen synthesizer 3 outputs the output of the video camera from the changeover switch device 1. When received, the outputs are combined into a multi-screen signal and given to the input of the changeover switch device 1.

In this way, when the video conference is held, the chairperson judges that the vote is necessary and inputs the vote instruction signal from his own terminal, the control means 4a of the control circuit 4 sets the vote mode. Then, the screen displayed on each terminal is switched to the vote display screen as shown in FIG. After setting the voting mode, the operation button 13 provided on the operation button device 13 of each of the video conference terminals A to N for indicating the intention of approval.
When a, or the operation button 13b for performing the opposite intention display is pressed, the transmission device 14 multiplexes the intention display signal to the output of the video camera or the microphone and is provided corresponding to each of the video conference terminals A to N. Then, the signal is sent to the signal detectors 4a _{1 to} 4a _n of the control means 4a.

The control means 4a includes signal detectors 4a _{1 to} 4a _n.
Sends the signal received by the calling device 20 to the calling device 20, and sends the data aggregated by the calling device 20 to the multi-screen synthesizing device 3 as an image signal. The multi-screen combining device 3 combines the divided screens and sends them to each of the video conference terminals A to N via the changeover switch device 1. Each of the video conference terminals A to N displays the split screen on the monitor screen in different colors as shown in FIG.

Each terminal is provided with an operation panel (not shown), and only one terminal can be set as the chairperson from this operation panel. The terminal acting as the chairman can instruct to switch to the above voting mode.

That is, if one of the video conference terminals A to N is a chairperson terminal and the other terminals are participant terminals, the screens of the speaker selected by the chairperson are usually displayed on the four monitor screens. At the time of voting, the chairperson switches the screen to the screen shown in FIG. 2, and the conference participants press the affirmative or negative operation button shown in FIG. 1 to display their will for the subject. As a result, for example, if the display screen shown in FIG. 2 is displayed, there are 13 white frames 21 indicating an affirmative display,
There are two shaded pieces 22 indicating negative display, and one mesh piece indicating that no selection has been made. Therefore, there are 13 supporters, 2 opponents, and 1 unselected person. You can grasp things at a glance.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the chairperson can vote all the conference participants on one screen without complicated screen switching. Therefore, the progress of the conference can be sped up, and the conference participants who have positive or negative opinions can be grasped at a glance, and the quality of the conference can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a monitor screen display example at the time of voting according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Change-over switch device 2 Voice synthesizing device 3 Multi-screen synthesizing device 4 Control circuit 4a Control means 4a _{1 to} 4a _n signal detector 10 Multipoint video conference device 11 Signal transmitting means 12 Signal receiving means 13 Operation button devices 13a, 13b Operation Button 14 Transmitter A to N Video conference terminal

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A large number of video conference terminals in which a video camera, a monitor screen, microphones, and speakers are respectively arranged, and the output signals of the video cameras and microphones of the large number of video conference terminals are used as input, and the large number of video conference terminals are provided. A changeover switch device that outputs the monitor screen and the input signal of the speaker, and a voice synthesizing device that is connected to the changeover switch device and combines the outputs of the microphones of a plurality of video conference terminals to the input of the changeover switch device. A multi-screen synthesizing device which is connected to the change-over switch device, synthesizes outputs of video cameras of a plurality of video conference terminals to generate a multi-screen signal, and gives the multi-screen signal to an input of the change-over switch device; A multipoint video conference device including a control circuit for controlling the switch device. In the multipoint video conference system, an operation button device for indicating approval and disagreement which is operated by a participant, and an output signal of the operation button device are provided to the video conference terminal of the video camera of the video conference terminal. Provided with a transmitting device that multiplexes the output of the microphone and transmits, to the multipoint video conference device, the output signal of the operation button device of each video conference terminal is input, and the aggregated data based on this signal is used as an image signal. A multi-screen synthesizing device with a calling device, and the control circuit controls the changeover switch device, the calling device and the multi-screen synthesizing device, which is operated by a signal from a terminal which is a chairman among the video conference terminals. Control means for setting the voting mode by a signal from the terminal serving as the chairperson. It includes means, multipoint video conference system, characterized in that the image signal indicative of the aggregate data is controlled so as to be transmitted to each video conference terminal in this vote mode. 2. The display screen of the image signal indicating the aggregated data is divided for each participant of the conference, and the display screen is divided,
The multipoint video conference system according to claim 1, wherein the opposite or non-voted one is displayed in color.