JPH06261314A - Check system for attendant in communication conference among multi-spots - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the security of video conference communication among multi-spots, which is to mutually make communication with plural video terminals through an inter-multi-spot communication node. CONSTITUTION:When a call setting request is given from a host terminal 201 to an inter-multi-spot communication controller 211, a video/sound line in one direction and a data line for two directions are set between the video communication conference terminal 201, 202-205 and the inter-multi-spot communication controller 211. The data lines are used for transferring various commands and data information from the terminals to the inter-multi-spot communication controller. In such a case, they are used for giving the notice of the number of the opposite terminal participating in a conference, the start/end of checking and the start/end of the conference so as to check the attendant before the communication conference is held. When the check of the terminals participating in the conference is terminated, the line for check is once cut and the line for video/sound and the bidirectional line for data, which are required for the conference, are set again.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to security of multipoint video conference communication in which a plurality of video terminals communicate with each other via a multipoint communication node.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a conventional system of this type, there is a multipoint video conference communication service. FIG. 1 shows the configuration diagram. In the figure, 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 are video conference terminals, 110 is a digital communication network such as ISDN, 11
1 is a multipoint control device. In the figure, the video signals and audio signals of the video conference terminals 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 are transmitted by the communication network 110 to the multipoint communication control unit 111.
Are connected to each other via separate transmission lines. That is, the multipoint control unit 111 and the terminals 101-105 are connected in a star shape via a 64 kb / s transmission line of the communication network 110 (such as the INS net), and a bidirectional line is always connected to the terminals. A multi-point video conference is held while video and audio signals are exchanged between the terminals and the multi-point communication control device by being set between the multi-point communication control devices.

In the configuration of FIG. 1, the video conference terminal 101
The call setup is performed for the communication network 110 by
It is necessary to match the communication attributes of media (video and audio) used between terminals. Therefore, negotiation is performed so that all terminals have the same communication capability (for example, audio coding A-law or μ-law, video format CIF or QCIF). Furthermore, a line is set up between each video conference terminal and the multipoint communication control device, and video signals and audio signals from multiple video conference terminals are respectively subjected to video switching processing and audio addition processing by the multipoint communication control apparatus. , Video and audio are distributed to each terminal to hold a communication conference between multiple points.

As described above, after the line is set up between each video conference terminal and the multipoint communication control device, the video signal from the camera and the audio signal from the microphone of each video conference terminal are directly transmitted. Along with the start of transmission, the multipoint communication control device also starts transmitting video and audio signals to start a communication conference between terminals at multiple points.

[0005]

As described above,
When starting a communication conference between multipoints, negotiation is performed to match the communication capability between the terminal and the multipoint communication control unit, and then the necessary line is set (if 2B
If 128 kb / s is required, add B), and if the line is set, the video and audio signals are sent to the other party as they are, so there is a security problem. In particular, when there are a large number of communication partners, information from a specific terminal is distributed to a large number of terminals, which is a serious problem.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, at the time of starting a conference, the capability of the transmitting side and the capability of the receiving side of a terminal as a communication partner are matched, and the video and audio of conference participants Introduce the ability to judge whether to hold a meeting by introducing the check function by.

Therefore, according to the present method, a unidirectional video, audio transmission path and bidirectional are provided to both the video conference terminal group and the multipoint communication control device based on a command instruction from the video conference terminal for starting the conference. Means for setting the data transmission path of
Means for selecting and synthesizing one of the video signals from the video signals of the video conference terminal group, selecting the video signal or the composite video signal from the video conference terminal group, and switching and transmitting to the video conference terminal group Means, means for selectively adding the audio signals of the video conference terminal group, means for transmitting the selected video signal or the composite video signal and the audio addition signal to the video conference terminal that has activated the conference, attendees are as expected It is characterized in that a communication conference is held only in the video conference terminal group, and means for setting a bidirectional transmission path of video, voice and data between the video conference terminal group and the multipoint communication control device. .

[0008]

Function: Before the multipoint communication conference is entered, the participants are checked between each video conference terminal and the multipoint communication control device. This will check the participants on the terminal that starts the conference, set up the necessary lines for the conference only if the other party's video and audio are the intended participants, and cancel the teleconference if they are different from the intended attendees. be able to.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a multipoint video communication conference according to the present invention. Here, FIG. 2A is an example of communication line setting at the time of checking attendees at the start of the conference.
(B) is an example of line setting during a conference. In the figure, 201, 20
2, 203 and 204 are video communication conference terminals, 210 is a broadband IS
A high-speed digital communication network such as DN, 211 is a multipoint communication controller. At the start of the conference, in order to activate the conference from the video communication conference terminal (host terminal) 201, the call is set to the exchange of the digital communication network 210. This enables the video communication conference terminal 201 and the multipoint communication control device.
A one-way video / audio line and a two-way data line from the multipoint control unit to the terminal are set between the two and 211. At this time, in order to match the communication capabilities of the transmission side and the reception side for each of the video, audio, and data media, the line is negotiated and the line is set.

Next, by using this data line, the multipoint communication control device 211 sets up a call with respect to the video communication conference terminals 202, 203 and 204 which are communication partner terminals, and the terminal performs multipoint communication control device. Set up a one-way line to a direction. At this time as well, the line setting is performed after the communication capabilities are matched. When line setting is completed, this result is sent to the host terminal 20.
Notify 1. Further, based on the check start instruction from the host terminal 201, the video signals from the cameras and the audio signals from the microphones are transmitted from the terminals 202, 203, and 204 to the multipoint control unit 211, and these terminals are transmitted. The video signal from the host terminal 20
Send to 1. As a result, the user checks, on the host terminal 201 side, whether or not each of the chairpersons of the video communication conference terminals 202, 203, and 204 is a member of the conference by video and audio.

If the attendee was originally supposed by this check, an instruction to end the check is sent from the host terminal 201 to the multipoint communication control unit 211, and the once set conference terminals 201 to 204 and multipoint communication control are set. Release the unidirectional video / audio and data bidirectional line with the device 211. Next, in order to start the conference, bidirectional video / audio and data lines are set between the conference terminals 201 to 204 and the multipoint control unit 211. Also at this time, the line is set up by negotiating the communication capability in the same manner as the check line. On the other hand, if the first check is not the intended attendee or if the attendee is absent, the host terminal makes a judgment and either cancels the conference or starts the conference even if there is an absentee.

The operation for starting a conference will be described in more detail. Multipoint communication control device from the host terminal 201 side
If the communication capabilities are matched to the 211, bidirectional video / audio and data lines are set, and the information of the terminals participating in the conference is transmitted to the multipoint communication control device 211 via the data line, the multipoint communication will be performed. From the control device 211 to each terminal 202, 203
, 204, and set video / audio and data bidirectional lines between them. After these lines are set up, when the start of the conference is notified by the data line from the host terminal 201, the multipoint communication control unit 211 transmits the video / audio signals and the video signals from the cameras of each conference terminal. And start transmitting audio signals from the microphone. Here, the multipoint-to-point communication control device 211 combines the video signals from each terminal or switches to the video of one of the terminals, and adds the audio signals from each terminal,
These video signals and audio signals are transmitted to the attendee host terminal for checking.

FIG. 3 shows the above communication sequence. First, when the host terminal 201 issues a call setting request to the multipoint control unit 211, the response returns and the video / audio and data lines are set. This data line is
It is used to transfer various commands and data information from the terminal to the multipoint control device. In this case, notification of the number of the other terminal participating in the conference, check start and end, conference start and end, etc. are notified. Used to do. When the check of the terminals participating in the conference is completed, the line is disconnected and the bidirectional line for video / audio and data necessary for the conference is set again.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the multipoint control unit 211. In the figure, 306, 307, 308, 309 are line interfaces, 311, 312, 313, 314 are video coding / decoding devices, 321, 322, 323, 324 are audio coding / decoding devices.
Decoding devices, 331, 332, 333, and 334 are data transmission / reception units, 341 is a call control unit, 342 is a control unit, 351 is a video synthesis / switching distribution unit, 352 is a voice addition / distribution unit, and 353 is a data processing unit. Is.

As shown in the figure, the multipoint communication control device
The lines between 211 and each terminal are line interfaces 306 and 307.
, 308, 309. The signal from each terminal is separated by this line interface into video, audio, and data signals, and the video encoding / decoding device 311 and
312, 313, 314, speech coding / decoding device 321, 32
2,323,324, data transmitter / receiver 331,332,333,334
Forwarded to and decrypted.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the data processing unit 353. 361 receives a command from each line interface and performs contention control when a collision occurs and distributes to another line as a contention control / distribution circuit, 362 as a command analysis unit, 363 as a command / response response unit, and 364 as a control unit. It is a department interface.

Further, each video signal is thinned out by a video synthesizing / switching distribution unit 351 to perform a reduction process, and each video encoding / decoding device 311 312 313 which synthesizes the reduced video signal. , 314, or by performing only switching processing without performing reduction / combination processing and distributing to each video encoding / decoding device. On the other hand, the voice signal is also separated by the line interface and then encoded.
N-1 which is decoded by the decoding devices 321, 322, 323, 324, and added by the voice addition / distribution unit 352 to the voices other than the own terminal
Addition is performed, encoded by each encoding / decoding device, and transferred to the line interface.

Similarly, with respect to the data signal, after the protocol is terminated by the data transmitting / receiving units 331, 332, 333, and 334, the data processing unit 353 performs competition control, and the conference terminal information of the other party is called via the control unit 342. It is transmitted to the control unit 341,
Set up one-way and two-way lines for video, voice, and data on each terminal 202, 203, 204,
Command information such as a check start instruction is transmitted to the control unit 342, and the video synthesis / switching distribution unit 351 and the audio addition / distribution unit 35
Instruct 2.

The call control unit 341 sets unidirectional and bidirectional lines of each medium with each terminal. In addition, the control unit 342 notifies the loss amount to be inserted by the voice addition and distribution unit 352 from the conference information, and sends the switching information to the video synthesis / switching distribution unit 351 based on the speaker information detected by the voice addition and distribution unit 352. Notice.

Next, the operation at the time of checking will be described. When the call setting of the check line from the host terminal 201 is completed and the line is set, the host terminal issues a check start instruction (assuming that the host terminal is connected to the line interface 306). The command analysis unit 362 receives this, and the control unit 342 is notified via the command / response response unit 363 and the control unit interface 364, and the call control unit 341 sets up one-way video and audio lines for each terminal. Yes (one-way line from the multipoint control unit 211 side to the terminal 201 side for the host terminal 201, terminal 202
From the terminal side to the terminal 205, a one-way line from the terminal side to the multipoint control unit 211 is set). This allows
Video and audio signals are transmitted from the called terminals 202 to 205 to the multipoint communication control device 211, and the respective video signals are combined by the image combining / switching distribution unit 351 and transmitted to the host terminal 201.

Similarly, the voice signals of the terminals 202 to 205 are
The audio signal is added by the audio addition / distribution unit 352 and the audio signal is transmitted to the host terminal 201. As a result, the host terminal 201 side checks whether or not the participant was originally assumed, and if it is as expected, disconnects the one-way line of video and audio once,
Set up a new bidirectional video and audio line and start a teleconference. On the other hand, if the participants are different from those originally envisioned,
After disconnecting the check lines of different members, setting the check lines for the correct participants and checking again, set the bidirectional line for video and audio.

On the other hand, when a participant joins in the middle of the conference after starting the communication conference in which a bidirectional line is set up between the video conference terminal group and the multipoint control unit 211, the same procedure is performed. Based on the command instruction from the terminal 201,
A unidirectional video / audio transmission path and a bidirectional data transmission path are set to call the corresponding terminal, and a unidirectional video / audio for checking between the multipoint control controller 211 and the host terminal and the terminal wishing to participate. Set up a bidirectional line for data and data. As a result, the initially assumed participant check is performed by the host terminal 201, and the communication conference including new participants is restarted.

As described above, before the communication conference is held between a plurality of video terminals, the host terminal side that starts the conference checks the participants. Therefore, a one-way video / audio line is set and the conference is started. Set up the necessary media lines and hold a meeting only when the required members are present. In the above explanation, if the attendees could be verified, after disconnecting and releasing the check line, the lines necessary for the conference were reconfigured, but the one-way line for check was not released. This device can also add a new line (one-way line in the reverse direction).

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When conducting a teleconference using multiple conference terminals at remote locations,
Since the participants can be confirmed by the video and audio information at the start of communication, suspicious participants can be excluded in advance and the conference can be proceeded with peace of mind. Also, when checking the participants, we use a one-way video / audio line,
It is less likely that the video / audio information will be leaked to other attendees than the host terminal that starts the conference.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional multipoint video conference service.

FIG. 2 is an example of a multipoint video communication conference according to the present invention, in which (a) is an example of line setting when attendees are checked at the start of the conference, and (b) is an example of line setting during the conference. Is shown.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a communication sequence of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a multipoint-to-point communication control device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of a data processing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 video conference terminal 102 video conference terminal 103 video conference terminal 104 video conference terminal 105 video conference terminal 110 communication network 111 multipoint communication control device 201 video communication conference terminal 202 video communication conference terminal 203 video communication conference terminal 204 video communication conference terminal 205 Video communication conference terminal 210 High-speed communication network 211 Multipoint communication control device 306 Line interface 307 Line interface 308 Line interface 309 Line interface 311 Video coding / decoding device 312 Video coding / decoding device 313 Video coding / Decoding device 314 Video coding / decoding device 321 Speech coding / decoding device 322 Speech coding / decoding device 323 Speech coding / decoding device 324 Speech coding / decoding device 331 Data transceiver 332 Data transmission / reception 333 Data transmitter / receiver 334 Data transmitter / receiver 341 Call controller 342 Controller 351 Video synthesis / switching distributor 352 Voice addition Distribution unit 353 Data processing unit 361 Competitive control / distribution circuit 362 Command analysis unit 363 Command / response response unit 364 Control unit interface

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Masami Kinoshita Masami Kinoshita 1-chome, 3-1, Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo Inside the Toshiba Hino Plant, a company of formula company (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Nakaji 1-3-1, Asahigaoka, Hino, Tokyo Stock Company Toshiba Hino Factory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multipoint communication conference in which three or more remotely installed videoconference terminals including video and audio are connected to a multipoint communication control device by a communication line to hold a multipoint communication conference. In this method, a unidirectional video / audio transmission path and a bidirectional data transmission path are set in both the video conference terminal group and the multipoint communication control device based on a command instruction from the video conference terminal that activates the conference. Means for selecting and synthesizing one of the video signals from the video signals of the video conference terminal group, selecting and switching the video signal or the composite video signal from the video conference terminal group Group, means for selectively adding the audio signals of the video conference terminal group, means for transmitting the selected video signal or the composite video signal and the audio addition signal to the video conference terminal that has activated the conference, A means for performing a teleconference only with the expected videoconference terminal group, and means for setting a bidirectional transmission path of video, voice and data between the videoconference terminal group and the multipoint control unit. Characteristic participant check method.