JPH06326703A - Inter-multi-point communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To relieve the load of a terminal equipment considerably and to simplify the operation by the user by sending a code used to identifying inter-multi- point communication to a control terminal equipment and allowing a network side to detect it when end of communication is commanded so as to interrupt all communication paths. CONSTITUTION:An exchange receiving a request of inter-multi-point communication from a control terminal equipment 105 starts an identification code transmission unit 134 to send an identification code used to identify the inter-multi-point communication from other to the terminal equipment 105. On the other hand, after a reception unit 130 receives normally the request of inter-multi-point communication, the exchange starts a path setting unit 131 to set communication paths in mesh among terminal equipments 101-103 asked for the inter-multi-point communication. When the exchange receives the request of inter-multi-point communication from the terminal equipment 105, the terminal equipment 105 once interrupts the communication path to the exchange to instruct it newly to the network when the inter-multi-point communication is terminated. Then it is detected by a termination monitor unit 132 and an interrupt unit 133 interrupts all the communication paths.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipoint communication system in a case where a groupware service such as a multipoint communication conference or a multipoint cooperative writing work is performed by a plurality of terminals via a communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when three or more terminals are connected to each other in a mesh form via a communication network to perform multipoint communication, each communication path forming a mesh is connected to one of the communication paths. A method of setting each one by booting from a terminal has been used.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional multipoint communication system by taking an example of multipoint communication using four terminals. Reference numerals 401 to 404 denote terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 405 that perform multipoint communication, a communication network including switching devices, 406 a communication line, and 407 a logical communication path that performs communication between terminals. Is. First, the terminal 1 calls each of the terminals 2, 3, and 4, and the communication path 12,
Set 13 and 14. After this, the terminal 2 calls the terminals 3 and 4, respectively, and sets communication paths 23 and 24 with them. Further, the terminal 3 calls the terminal 4 and sets the communication path 34. In this way, a total of ₄ C ₂ = 4 × 3/2 =
The terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 were connected in a mesh by six communication paths.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional method, when performing multipoint communication by a mesh connection method, a switching device that constitutes a communication network from terminals that perform the multipoint communication for each communication path. It was necessary to call the etc. to request the communication path setting. In the example of FIG. 4, a total of six calls (communication path setting request) from the terminal to the communication network are required to perform multipoint communication between four points. Moreover, since the terminals requesting the setting of the communication path are different like the terminals 1, 2, and 3, if they are not in the same place such as in a distant distributed place, in order to realize the multipoint communication. , It was necessary to establish the timing of calling (synchronization) such as contacting each other in advance. This is because the communication network side does not have a function for performing mesh-shaped multipoint communication.

An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and provide a connection / management / control function of a mesh communication path on the communication network side when performing multipoint communication between a plurality of terminals, It is an object of the present invention to provide a multipoint communication system capable of realizing a communication network capable of significantly reducing the load on the terminal side and simultaneously providing a new service related to multipoint communication.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a multipoint communication system of the present invention provides a multipoint communication from a control terminal in a communication network and a terminal which performs the multipoint communication. Receiving means for detecting this when instructed to generate an identification code for identifying the multipoint communication,
Path setting means for setting a mesh-like logical communication path between the respective terminals instructed by the control terminal in order to start the multipoint communication detected using the reception means; An identification code transmitting means for transmitting an identification code for inter-point communication to the control terminal, a multi-point communication managing means for storing and managing the multi-point communication information, and an identification code for the multi-point communication from the control terminal Termination monitoring means for detecting when an instruction to terminate the multipoint communication is given; and, if the termination monitoring means detects an termination instruction for the multipoint communication, performing the multipoint communication. It is characterized by providing a path disconnecting means for disconnecting all existing communication paths.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when a request for multipoint communication is received from a control terminal in a communication network, all logical communication paths between terminals connected to a mesh are set on the communication network side to perform multipoint communication. At the same time as starting, an identification code for identifying the multipoint communication is sent to the control terminal, and when an instruction to end the multipoint communication is given together with the identification code, this is detected on the network side, and All the communication paths forming the mesh connection for multipoint communication are disconnected to terminate the multipoint communication. As a result, the user simply instructs the communication network to perform multipoint communication from the control terminal and the terminal number for performing the multipoint communication, and the mesh connection for configuring the multipoint communication is automatically performed. The identification code sent from the network when the multipoint communication is instructed to the network is stored, and when the multipoint communication is to be terminated, the control terminal and the "end" Since it is sufficient to notify the network to that effect, the load on the terminal side when performing multipoint communication can be greatly reduced, and the user's operation can be simplified.

Since the multipoint communication is identified, one control terminal can control a plurality of multipoint communication.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a multipoint communication system showing an embodiment of the present invention, and exemplifies a case where multipoint communication between four points of terminals 1 to 4 is performed.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 is a communication network including switching devices, 105 is a control terminal for requesting multipoint communication to the communication network 100, and 101, 102, 103 and 104 are terminals 1 for performing multipoint communication, respectively. 2, 3, 4 and 1
11, 112, 113, 114, and 115 are physical communication lines connecting the respective terminals to the switching device, and 130 is a control terminal instructed to perform multipoint communication and a terminal to perform the multipoint communication. In this case, a receiving unit that detects this, 131 is a path setting unit that sets a mesh-like logical communication path between the respective terminals instructed by the control terminal, and 132 is the end of multipoint communication from the control terminal. A termination monitoring unit that detects this when an instruction to perform is issued, 133 is a path disconnecting unit that disconnects all communication paths that are performing the multipoint communication, and 134 identifies the multipoint communication to the control terminal. An identification code transmission unit that transmits an identification code. Further, the communication path set in a mesh shape between the terminals via the communication network is the same as in the case of FIG. 6, but for the sake of brevity, the terminal 1 and the terminals 2, 3, 4 respectively communicate with each other. Only the logical communication paths 122 (communication path 12), 123 (communication path 1)
3) and 124 (communication path 14), and others are omitted.

FIG. 2A shows an example of the configuration of the multipoint communication management table 150 for managing the multipoint communication in the switching device of the communication network. Reference numeral 151 denotes the control terminal which has requested the multipoint communication. Control terminal number field for setting the number, 15
Reference numeral 2 is an identifier field for identifying which multipoint communication is to be performed by the switching device, and 153 is a number of terminals field for setting the number of terminals performing multipoint communication (“4” in this embodiment). In the case of the present embodiment, the number of the control terminal 105 is set in the control terminal number field 151, and the identification ID such as "0001" is set in the identifier field.

FIG. 2B shows an example of the configuration of a terminal management table 200 for managing terminals for which multipoint communication has been requested by the control terminal, and 201 to 204 set terminal numbers for multipoint communication. In the case of the present embodiment, the number of the terminal 1 to the number of the terminal 4 are set.

FIG. 2C shows an example of the configuration of the communication path management table 300 for managing the communication paths for performing multipoint communication, and shows 312, 313, 314, 323, and 3.
24 and 334 are communication path identification fields, and in the case of this embodiment, the communication paths 12, 13, 14, and 2, respectively.
The identification numbers 3, 24 and 34 are set.

In addition, in the exchange device, as shown in FIG.
The management tables of (b) and (c) of FIG. 2 are held in association with each other so that they can be referred to each other, and when the above-mentioned units in the exchange operate, the management tables of (a) and (2) of FIG. b), if it is necessary to refer to the management table of FIG. 2C, it is possible to specify the necessary reading of the table when the unit is activated.

First, the control terminal 105 requests a specific service such as a "special number dial" for requesting a service to start a predetermined multipoint communication (herein referred to as "multipoint communication start service"). Service code (here, "1X
₁ Y ₁ ″) and the number of the terminal for multipoint communication are dialed by a predetermined method together with, for example, a delimiter code and an end code. Specifically, for example, terminal 1 to terminal 4
In the case of four point-to-point communication,
Input as X ₁ Y ₁ * Terminal 1 number * Terminal 2 number * Terminal 3 number * Terminal 4 number #. Here, * is a delimiter code and # is an end code. At this time, in the exchange device,
When there is a call from the terminal, the reception unit 130 is activated.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the acceptance unit 130 of FIG. The reception unit 130 first checks whether the number of the control terminal 105, which is the calling terminal, is in the list of numbers managed by the exchange (step 81). Then, it is checked whether or not the dial is "1X ₁ Y ₁ " indicating the multipoint communication start service (step 82). If the dial is "1X ₁ Y _1, " it is determined that the communication is a request for multipoint communication, and the terminal number for multipoint communication is extracted from the delimiter code and end code of the dial that follows. It is checked whether the numbers are listed in the numbers managed by the exchanges (step 83). Specifically, the numbers of the terminals 1 to 4 are extracted and checked. After that, the control terminal number (the number of the control terminal 105) is stored in the multipoint communication management table 150 as shown in FIG. 2A, and the identifier generated for identifying the multipoint communication by the switching device (here, "000
1 "), it sets the number of terminals for performing communication among multiple points. The set terminal number (number of the terminal 1-4) in the terminal management table 200 (step 84). The first dial 1X ₁ Y ₁ If not, the process ends.

Upon receiving a request for multipoint communication from the control terminal 105, the exchange apparatus transmits the identification code transmission unit 134.
And sends an identification code (“0001”) for distinguishing the multipoint communication from other multipoint communication to the control terminal to complete the reception.

On the other hand, when the receiving unit 130 normally receives the multipoint communication request, the switching device activates the path setting unit 131 to set a mesh communication path between the terminals requested for the multipoint communication. To do.

First, the path setting unit 131 checks the number of terminals field 153 of the multipoint communication management table 150 to confirm the number of terminals performing multipoint communication (4 in this embodiment). The contents of the terminal number field of the terminal management table 200 (in this embodiment, the numbers of the terminals 1 to 4 of the terminal number fields 201 to 204) are read out and the communication path is set between the respective terminals. For example, terminal 1
In order to set a communication path between the switching device and the terminal 2, the switching device calls the terminals 1 and 2 at the same time, and when both terminals respond by off-hook or the like, the communication path between the switching device and the terminal 1 or the switching device and the terminal 2 As shown in FIG. 1, the communication path 1 is connected between the terminals 1 and 2 by connecting the communication path 2
Set 22. At this time, the communication path management table 300
In the communication path identification field of, the identification number that can be identified and identified by the exchange device with respect to the communication path 122 is given and written. Similarly, the path setting unit 131 sets a communication path between the terminals, and consequently sets a mesh communication path between the terminals, thereby enabling multipoint communication between the terminals.

When the path setting unit 131 normally completes the setting of the mesh-like communication path between the terminals, the switching device makes a new incoming call from the terminal when the control terminal redials the termination monitoring unit 132. When it is accepted, it is activated and the control terminal 105 monitors whether or not an instruction to terminate the multipoint communication is issued.

The following two methods can be considered as a method of monitoring by the end monitoring unit 132. Which method is used depends on what is to be done with the network side when ending the multipoint communication in advance.

First, as a first method, the control terminal 1
When a request for multipoint communication is received from 05, the communication path with the control terminal 105 is reserved, and when ending the multipoint communication, when the network accepts the multipoint communication. To the network by instructing the network to terminate the multipoint communication by dialing the multipoint communication identification code sent to the control terminal 105, and detecting this by the termination monitoring unit 132. This is a method of detecting termination of communication.

The second method is the control terminal 105.
When a request for multipoint communication is received from the control terminal 105, the control terminal 105 disconnects the communication path with the switching device, and when the multipoint communication is desired to be terminated, the control terminal 105 calls again. When the network accepts the multipoint communication, the network is instructed to end the multipoint communication by dialing the multipoint communication identification code sent to the control terminal 105, and the end monitoring is performed. The unit 132 detects the termination of the multipoint communication.

In the first method, the timing of activating the end monitoring unit 132 in the exchange device is the control terminal 105.
The second method is when a new incoming call is accepted from the terminal.

The second method will be described in detail below.

First, when the control terminal 105 requests the multipoint communication service from the communication network 100 to start multipoint communication, the identification code transmission unit 134 identifies the multipoint communication code (here, "0001"). )) Is sent to the control terminal 105, and the control terminal 105 temporarily disconnects the communication path with the switching device. After that, when the user wants to end the multipoint communication, the control terminal 105 requesting the multipoint communication terminates a predetermined multipoint communication (here, "multipoint communication"). dials a "specific service code, such as (here" specials dial "requesting that a a)" 1X ₂ Y ₂ 'and) and the multipoint communication identification code ( "0001") End service . Specifically, input as 1X ₂ Y ₂ * 0001 #. Here, * is a delimiter code and # is an end code. At this time, in the exchange, when the terminal makes a call, the termination monitoring unit 132 is activated.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the end monitoring unit 132 shown in FIG. End monitoring unit 13
First, the number 2 checks whether the number of the control terminal 105, which is the calling terminal, is in the list of numbers managed by the exchange (step 90). Then, it is checked whether or not the calling terminal has previously requested the multipoint communication service (step 91). This can be done by checking whether the terminal number of the calling terminal is registered in the control terminal number field 151 of the multipoint communication management table 150 of FIG. If the calling terminal is not the terminal requesting the multipoint communication service, the processing is terminated.
If the originating terminal if the terminal that requested the multipoint communication service, dial indicates the multipoint communication end service "1X ₂ Y _2" whether examined (step 92). The dial is not the 1X ₂ Y _2, and ends the process. Dial "1X ₂ Y _2" if, a check is normality of the identification code between the end code # and delimiter * that follows (step 93). It is checked whether the identification code is normal and registered in the multipoint communication management table 150 as a pair with the transmission control terminal number (step 94). This is performed by comparing the contents of the control terminal number field 151 and the identifier field 152 of the multipoint communication management table 150 with the control terminal number and the identification code actually transmitted. If it is registered, it is judged that the request is for the termination of the multipoint communication, and the activation of the path disconnecting unit 133 is requested (step 95). If not, the process ends.

The termination monitoring unit 132 detects a request for termination of multipoint communication, and the switching device detects the path disconnection unit 133.
When the path disconnection unit 133 is activated, the path disconnection unit 133 checks all the communication paths related to the multipoint communication and disconnects the communication paths that have not been disconnected yet.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the path cutting unit 133 shown in FIG. Path cutting unit 13
3 reads out the communication path identification number registered in the communication path identification field of the communication path management table 300 (step 96), and in order for each of the communication paths identified by the read communication path identification number, the status Is checked to see if it is disconnected (step 97). If the communication path is not disconnected, disconnection processing is executed (step 98). If disconnected, the disconnection process is skipped. When all the communication paths registered in the communication path management table 300 have been checked, the process ends (step 99).

When the multipoint communication is completed, the exchange device
The management information related to the multipoint communication is deleted from the multipoint communication management table 150, the terminal management table 200, and the communication path management table 300.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, if a request for starting multipoint communication is given from a control terminal, a mesh communication path is automatically generated between terminals performing multipoint communication on the communication network side. The communication network side automatically disconnects all communication paths if the user notifies the control terminal of the identification code and end of multipoint communication to terminate multipoint communication. Thus, the multipoint communication can be terminated.
Therefore, the load on the terminal side when performing multipoint communication can be significantly reduced, and the operation of the user can be simplified.

Further, since the multipoint communication is identified between the communication network and the control terminal, one control terminal can control a plurality of multipoint communication.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a multipoint communication management table, a terminal management table, and a communication path management table according to the present invention.

3 is an operation flowchart of the reception unit of FIG.

4 is an operation flowchart of the end monitoring unit of FIG.

5 is an operation flowchart of the path cutting unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a conventional multipoint communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... communication network, 101, 102, 103, 104
... terminal, 105 ... control terminal, 111, 11
2, 113, 114, 115 ... Communication line, 122,
123, 124 ... Communication path, 130 ... Reception unit, 131 ... Path setting unit, 132 ... End monitoring unit, 133 ... Path disconnecting unit, 13
4 ... Identification code transmission unit, 150 ... Multipoint communication management table, 151 ... Control terminal number field, 152 ... Identifier field, 153 ... Terminal number field, 200 ... Terminal management table, 20
1, 202, 203, 204 ... Terminal number field, 300 ... Communication path management table, 312, 31
3, 314, 323, 324, 334 ... Communication path identification field, 401, 402, 403, 404 ...
Terminal, 405 ... Communication network, 406 ... Communication line, 4
07 ... communication path,

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multipoint communication method for multipoint communication in which a plurality of terminals are simultaneously connected to each other in a mesh shape by a logical communication path via a communication network to perform multipoint communication. A receiving means for detecting multipoint communication from the control terminal and detecting the terminal when the multipoint communication is instructed, and generating an identification code for identifying the multipoint communication; A path setting unit that sets a mesh-like logical communication path between the respective terminals instructed by the control terminal in order to start multipoint communication detected using the reception unit; An identification code transmitting means for transmitting an identification code for point-to-point communication to the control terminal, a multipoint communication management means for storing and managing the multipoint communication information, and an identification code for the multipoint communication from the control terminal With the multi-ground Termination monitoring means for detecting an instruction to terminate inter-communication, and the multi-point corresponding to the instructed identification code when the termination monitoring means detects the termination instruction for inter-multipoint communication A multipoint communication system comprising path disconnection means for disconnecting all communication paths for performing intercommunication.