JPH0537933A - Inter-multiplace video conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to switch a total conference and a local confer ence and to improve the progress efficiency of a conference by allowing a conference attendant to select and specify a local conference number. CONSTITUTION:During the period of a total conference, signals outputted from signal transmitting means 11 in respective conference terminals A to N are monitored by respective signal receiving means 12 through a changeover switch device 1. Then a voice synthesizer 2 and a multi-screen synthesizer 3 respectively synthesize signals inputted from respective terminals. When a preliminary arrangement is required in each relational group, a control means 4a is switched and set up to a group conference mode based on request signals from consoles 13 in terminals belonging to the group. Thereby the terminals are set up and divided into the group inputted to the consoles 13 and a TV conference can be executed in each of plural groups. When a total conference mode is set up from the console 13 of a chairman terminal, the group conference mode is released and returned to the total conference.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is used for a video conference system between multiple points. The present invention relates to a multipoint video conference system capable of improving convenience in a conference using multipoint TV.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional multipoint video conference system,
A conference is held by using a plurality of monitor screens corresponding to each point or by dividing one monitor screen into a plurality of screens and assigning a screen of each point to each divided screen.

[0003]

In the conventional multipoint video conference system, the voice from each video conference terminal can hear all the other voice synthesized sounds except the voice of its own terminal, and in the video. Is configured so that all screens or freely selected screens can be viewed, everyone who attends the video conference can participate fairly, and the speech is made known to all conference participants. The principle is that

However, in an actual conference, when the conference participants conflict with each other due to disagreements, it may be better to divide the groups into groups and temporarily hold a local meeting with the parties concerned. . In the case of a regular meeting where participants are gathered together, it is possible to easily hold a local meeting by moving their seats, etc., but it is not possible to hold such a meeting in a conventional TV meeting, and a local meeting is held. There was a problem that we had to newly set up multiple multipoint video conferences.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and when a meeting by a person concerned is necessary during a video conference, a local conference can be held separately from the general conference. The purpose is to provide a system.

[0006]

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 changeover switch device that outputs the input signals of the monitor screens and speakers of the many video conference terminals, and this changeover switch device that is connected to the changeover switch device and combines the outputs of the microphones of the plurality of video conference terminals. Connected to the changeover switch device and a plurality of audio synthesizing devices for inputting to the input, and outputs of the video cameras of the plurality of video conference terminals are combined to generate a multiscreen signal, and the multiscreen signal is input to the changeover switch device. And a control circuit for controlling the changeover switch device. In a multipoint videoconferencing system including a multipoint videoconferencing device including a multipoint videoconference device, the control circuit is operated by a signal from a terminal which is a chairman among the videoconference terminals, and the changeover switch device and the voice synthesizer are operated. A first mode in which a general conference is held by a signal from the terminal serving as the chairman, and a part of the video conference terminals individually provides a plurality of conferences. In the second mode, a part of the specified video conference terminals form a plurality of different groups, and a screen signal and a screen signal are mutually provided in each group. The present invention is characterized by including means for controlling the changeover switch device so that the audio signals are isolated and a plurality of conferences are held in parallel at the same time.

It is preferable that each of the video conference terminals is provided with an operation panel, and in the second mode, the video conference terminal is automatically set and classified into a group input to the operation panel.

[0008]

[Function] When a moderation in which a plurality of conferences are concurrently performed individually from the terminal that is the chairperson is set from the operation panel when a meeting with the parties concerned is necessary during the conference, members of the individual conference The video conference terminals designated in 1 are set as one group, and the screen signal and the audio signal are isolated from each other in each group so that a plurality of conferences can be performed in parallel at the same time.

As a result, the local meeting seen in the ordinary meeting held by the meeting participants gathered together can be displayed as an image and sound.
Alternatively, it can be easily performed only by voice, and the efficiency of meeting progress can be improved.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now 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 switching 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 that are connected to the switching switch device 1. A plurality of audio synthesizing devices 2 that are synthesized and given to the input of the changeover switch device 1 are connected to the changeover switch device 1, and the outputs of the video cameras of the video conference terminals A to N are combined to generate a multi-screen signal, The multi-point video conference apparatus 10 includes a plurality of multi-screen synthesizing apparatuses 3 for applying the multi-screen signals to the input of the changeover switch apparatus 1 and a control circuit 4 for controlling the changeover switch apparatus 1, and further, the present invention. In the control circuit 4, the video conference terminals A to
A control means 4a for controlling the changeover switch device 1, the voice synthesizing device 2 and the multi-screen synthesizing device 3 which is operated by a signal from the terminal serving as the chair of N is included in the control means 4a. According to the second mode, the first mode of performing the general conference and the second mode in which some of the video conference terminals individually perform a plurality of conferences in parallel are set and switched. A part of the video conference terminals forms a plurality of different groups, and each group includes a means for controlling the changeover switch device 1 so that screen signals and audio signals are isolated from each other and a plurality of conferences are held in parallel at the same time. .

Further, each of the video conference terminals A to N is provided with an operation panel 13, and in the second mode, the video conference terminal is automatically set and classified into a group input to the operation panel 13. .

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

While the conference is in progress, the changeover 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 under 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.

When the general conference is being held in this manner, it is necessary to make a meeting for each related group, and a group conference setting request is input from the operation panel 13 of the video conference terminal belonging to the related group to the chairman terminal. When the chairman accepts the request and inputs the setting instruction, the control circuit 4
Switches the control means 4a from the first mode in which a general conference is held to a second mode in which some video conference terminals individually hold a plurality of conferences in parallel.

As a result, the video conference terminals are set and classified in the groups input to the operation panel 13, and the video conferences can be simultaneously held in parallel for each of a plurality of different groups.
When the first mode is set from the operation panel 13 of the video conference terminal serving as the chairperson, the conference in the second mode for each group is canceled and the group is returned to the general conference.

That is, according to the present invention, when a one-to-one video conference is held, two video conference terminals are connected to each other on the network 20 through a line. Is performed by connecting one or more corresponding video conference terminals to each line termination unit 22 of the multipoint video conference apparatus 10 via the network 20 on a one-to-one basis. The basic functions of the multipoint videoconferencing device include receiving, synthesizing signals from the videoconferencing terminals A to N,
Sending and control are included, screen selection and multi-screen synthesis are performed for video signals, and voice synthesis is performed for all terminals except the own terminal for voice. These functions are operated by accessing the control circuit 4 of the multipoint video conference apparatus 10 by key operation from the operation panel 13 installed in the video conference terminals A to N.

A feature of the present invention is that in order to hold a local conference during a general conference, a multi-point video conference apparatus 10 is provided with a local conference number in addition to the above-mentioned basic functions, and each conference participant Has a means for selecting which conference to join and switching from the general conference to the local conference.

To set a local conference, if the number of local conferences, for example, 3 local groups is set from the operation panel 13 of the chairman terminal, if the conference number "3" of the local conference is input, the voice synthesizer 2 and the multi-composite device are input. Identification numbers “L1”, “L2”, and “L3” are assigned to the screen compositing device 3. Further, to select which local conference each conference participant participates in, if the number of local conference numbers, for example, the local conference 2, is selected from the operation panel 13 of each video conference terminal A to N, “2” is selected. When input, the identification number "L2" is assigned to the corresponding line termination unit 22.
To switch between the general conference and the local conference, give the local conference ON / OFF instruction from the operation panel 13 of the chairman's terminal,
The change-over switch device 1 is operated to cause all the conference participants to synthesize video and audio by the set of the voice synthesizing device 2 and the multi-screen synthesizing device 3 at the time of the general conference, and at the end of each line at the time of the local conference. "L" set in the unit 22, each voice synthesizer 2, and the multi-screen synthesizer 3
Connection switching is performed so that terminals having local conference numbers (identification numbers) of "1", "L2", and "L3" match each other.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, a local conference number is introduced in a video conference between multiple points, conference participants select a local conference number, and the conference number is designated to make the entire conference. By making it possible to switch between the conference and the local conference, even in the video conference, it is possible to easily perform the local meeting that is seen in a normal conference where the conference participants gather in one place, with images and voice, or only voice, This has the effect of improving the efficiency of meeting progress.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Changeover switch device 2 voice synthesizer 3 Multi-screen synthesizer 4 control circuit 4a Control means 10 Multipoint video conference equipment 11 Signal transmission means 12 Signal receiving means 13 Operation panel 20 networks 22 Line termination unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 5/265 7337-5C

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A large number of video conference terminals in which a video camera, a monitor screen, a microphone and a speaker 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. Changeover switch device that outputs the monitor screen and the input signal of the speaker, and a plurality of voice synthesizers that are connected to this changeover switch device and combine the outputs of the microphones of a plurality of video conference terminals to give to the input of this changeover switch device. Device and a plurality of multi-screen combining devices connected to the change-over switch device and combining outputs of video cameras of a plurality of video conference terminals to generate a multi-screen signal and giving the multi-screen signal to an input of the change-over switch device. And a control circuit for controlling the changeover switch device. In a multipoint video conference system including a conference device, the control circuit is operated by a signal from a terminal that is a chair among the video conference terminals, and the changeover switch device, the voice synthesis device, and the multi-screen synthesis device. Including a control means for controlling, by a signal from the terminal serving as the chairman,
A means for switching and setting a first mode in which a general conference is performed and a second mode in which some of the video conference terminals individually perform a plurality of conferences in parallel at the same time is included. Video conferencing terminals form a plurality of different groups, and each group includes a means for controlling the changeover switch device so that screen signals and audio signals are isolated from each other and a plurality of conferences are held in parallel at the same time. A featured multipoint video conference system. 2. The video conference terminal is provided with an operation panel, respectively, and in the second mode, the video conference terminal is automatically set and classified into a group input to the operation panel. Multipoint video conferencing system.