JPH06334651A - Inter-multi-spots communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically set a meshy communication path between terminals on the side of a communication network and to automatically disconnect the communication path on the side of the communication network after designated time passes, by performing the requests of an inter-multi-spots communication and communication time from a control terminal. CONSTITUTION:When a communication path is set between terminals 1 and 2, the terminals 1 and 2 are simultaneously called, and when the both of the terminals become offhooks and respond to the calling, the terminals 1 and 2 and the communication path of an exchanging device are connected and a communication path 122 is set. In the same way, a path setting unit 131 sets the communication path between each terminal, makes it a meshy communication path and enables an inter-multi-spots communication. The exchanging device monitors the passing of the communication time designated by a control terminal 105 by starting a timer 132 and notifies the passing to the exchanging device when the time passes. The exchanging device receives this, investigates all the communication paths regarding the inter-multi-spots communication by starting a path disconnection unit 133 and disconnects a unconnected communication path. Thus, the load on the side of the terminal is reduced and the operation of a user can be simplified.

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 the mesh is connected to one of the communication paths. The method of setting each one by booting from the terminal was used.

FIG. 5 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. 5, 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 is a multipoint communication system in which a control terminal performs multipoint communication in a communication network, and a terminal which performs the multipoint communication. A receiving means for detecting the communication time when instructed, and a mesh-like mesh between the respective terminals instructed by the control terminal to start the multipoint communication detected using the receiving means. A path setting means for setting a logical communication path, a multipoint communication management means for storing and managing the multipoint communication information, and a time for the multipoint communication are monitored and instructed by the control terminal. A timer that detects when the communication time has elapsed, and the multipoint communication is performed when it is detected that the time for the multipoint communication instructed by the control terminal has elapsed All communication paths It is characterized in the provision of a path cutting means for cutting.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when a request for multipoint communication and communication time is received from the control terminal in the communication network, all the logical communication paths between the terminals connected to the mesh are set on the communication network side and the multipoint is set. When the inter-communication is started, the communication time is monitored on the communication network side from the start of the multi-point communication, and when the time specified by the control terminal has elapsed, this is detected, and the multi-point communication All the communication paths constituting the mesh connection are cut off to end the multipoint communication. As a result, the user only needs to instruct the communication network that multipoint communication is to be performed from the control terminal, the terminal number for performing the multipoint communication, and the communication time, and the mesh connection for configuring the multipoint communication can be performed. This is done automatically, and since the multipoint communication is automatically terminated when the specified time elapses, the burden on the terminal side when performing multipoint communication can be greatly reduced and the user's operation is simplified. Can be realized.

[0008]

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

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a multipoint communication system showing an embodiment of the present invention, and an example is shown in the case of performing multipoint communication between four points of terminals 1 to 4. .

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 multipoint communication, respectively. 2, 3, 4 and 1
11, 112, 113, 114, 115 are physical communication lines that connect the respective terminals to the switching device, 130 is multipoint communication from the control terminal 105, and communication time with the terminals that perform the multipoint communication. Is received, 131 is the control terminal 105.
A path setting unit for setting a mesh-like logical communication path between the respective terminals instructed by the above, 132 is a process after the multipoint communication is started based on the communication time notified from the control terminal 105. A timer 133 for monitoring time is a path disconnecting unit for disconnecting all communication paths performing the multipoint communication. Further, the communication path set in a mesh shape between the terminals via the communication network 100 is the same as that in the case of FIG. 5, but for the sake of simplicity of description, the terminal 1 and the terminals 2, 3, 4 respectively communicate with each other. 122 (communication path 12), 123
(Communication path 13) 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. A control terminal number field for setting a number (in this embodiment, the number of the control terminal 105), 152 is a communication time field for setting a time for performing multipoint communication, 153
Is a terminal field for setting the number of terminals (“4” in this embodiment) for performing multipoint communication.

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. Reference numerals 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 structure 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 (here, "multipoint communication start service"). Service code (here, "1
X 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, four points from terminal 1 to terminal 4 are dialed. when performing between communication 100 minutes from the control terminal 105 1X ₁ Y ₁ * 100 * as in the number # number * terminal 4 of the number * terminal 3 number * terminal 2 terminal 1 inputs. here , * Is a delimiter code, and # is an end code.At this time, the exchange apparatus activates the acceptance unit 130 when a call is made from the terminal.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the receiving unit 130 of FIG. The reception unit 130 is
First, it is checked 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 time and point of multipoint communication are further determined from the delimiter code and end code of the dial. The terminal number to be performed is extracted, and the contents of the communication time are checked and whether the terminal number is in the list of numbers managed by the switching device, etc. are checked (step 83). Specifically, communication time (100 minutes)
And 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 added to the multipoint communication management table 150 as shown in FIG.
The communication time (100 minutes), the number of terminals performing multipoint communication, etc. are set. Further, the terminal numbers (numbers of terminals 1 to 4) are set in the terminal management table 200 (step 84). The first dial is not the 1X ₁ Y _1, and ends the process.

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 (4 in this embodiment) that perform multipoint communication, and then only this number of terminals. 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-shaped communication path between the terminals, the switching device activates the timer 132 to make the communication time of the multipoint communication designated by the control terminal 105. Start monitoring if has not passed. The timer 132 notifies the exchange when the communication time has elapsed.

In the exchange, when the timer 132 notifies the elapse of the predetermined communication time of the multipoint communication, the path disconnecting unit 133 is activated. Path cutting unit 13
3 examines all communication paths related to the multipoint communication,
Disconnect the communication path that has not been disconnected.

FIG. 4 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.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, if a multipoint communication and a communication time are requested from a control terminal, a mesh communication path is established between terminals performing multipoint communication on the communication network side. Can be automatically set, and if a designated time has elapsed, all communication paths can be automatically disconnected on the communication network side to end the multipoint communication. 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 can be automatically terminated at the time designated in advance by the control of the communication network side, it is possible to carry out the planned multipoint communication with less waste.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory view 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.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the path cutting unit of FIG.

FIG. 5 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, 112, 113, 114, 115 ... Communication line, 122, 123, 124 ... Communication path, 130 ... Reception unit, 131 ... Path Setting unit, 132 ... Timer, 133 ... Path disconnecting unit, 150 ... Multipoint communication management table, 151 ... Control terminal number field, 152 ... Communication time field, 153 ... Terminal number field, 200 ... Terminal management table, 201, 202 , 203, 204 ... Terminal number field, 300 ... Communication path management table, 312, 313, 314, 323, 324, 334 ... Communication path identification field, 401, 402, 403, 404 ... Terminal, 405 ... Communication network, 406 ... Communication line, 407 ... Communication path.

Claims (2)

[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. In addition, the multipoint communication between the control terminal and the terminal for performing the multipoint communication, the reception means for detecting the communication time when the communication time is instructed, and the multipoint communication detected by the reception means. Path setting means for setting a mesh-like logical communication path between the respective terminals instructed by the control terminal to start communication, and multipoint communication for storing and managing the multipoint communication information Management means, a timer for monitoring the time of the multipoint communication, and detecting this when the communication time instructed by the control terminal has elapsed, and the multipoint communication instructed by the control terminal by the timer time of When the elapsed is detected, multipoint communication scheme characterized by having a path cutting means for cutting all communication paths is performed between the multi point communication. 2. The multipoint communication system according to claim 1, wherein the control terminal is a terminal that performs multipoint communication.