JPH0685937A - Multi-point controller for video conference - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the scale of controller in which a video signal stored in one storage section is sent simultaneously to conference equipments at multi- points. CONSTITUTION:Multiplexer/demultiplexer sections 11a, 11b, 11c are used to send/receive a video signal among conference equipments at three (multi) points by means of multiplexing and demultiplexing. The video signal is stored in an FIFO memory 13. A video signal changeover section 12 selects the video signal and outputs it to the FIFO memory 13 or plural video signals stored in the FIFO memory 13 are selected and outputted to the multiplexer/ demultiplexer sections 11a, 11b, 11c. In this case, in order to take the synchronization of the multiplexer/demultiplexer sections 11a, 11b, 11c and to match the timing to read simultaneously the video signal stored in the FIFO memory 13, a synchronizing signal changeover section 14 selects the synchronizing signal and applies the selected synchronizing signal to the multiplexer/demultiplexer sections 11a, 11b, 11c.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipoint control device for videoconference, which is used in a videoconference system and transmits / receives an image to / from multipoint conference room devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A multipoint video conference system includes a conference room device including a microphone, a speaker, a TV camera, and a monitor provided in each conference room at multiple points, and a multipoint device connected to the plurality of conference room devices. Has a multipoint conference control device for controlling the conference. This multipoint conference control device is provided with a detection unit that detects the voice from the microphone of each conference room device as well as the voice and image codec processing.

Further, in the multipoint conference controller, the speech detected by the detector is synthesized, and the origin point, that is, in which conference room device the speech is made is determined by the speech point determiner.

Then, the zoom-up control of the television camera in the conference room apparatus in which the speech is judged is performed. In this case, switching is performed to perform zoom-up control of the television camera in the conference room device whose utterance is determined by the image switching control unit based on the determination by the utterance point determination unit. Further, there is provided a signal separation unit for separating a video signal from a television camera in the conference room device and a video signal to the monitor, and a video processing unit having a switching unit for switching the video signal to each conference room device. .

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a video processing unit of a conventional multipoint control device for a video conference. In FIG. 2, the video processing unit is a demultiplexing unit 1a, 1b, 1c that separates signals.
A video signal switching unit 2 for switching the video signal to the conference room device at each point, and a FIFO memory 3a for temporarily storing the video signal selected by the video signal switching unit 2,
3b and 3c.

Next, the operation of this conventional configuration will be described. The video signals separated by the demultiplexing units 1a to 1c are switched by the video signal switching unit 2 to the video signals to be transmitted to the conference room devices at the respective points, and the FIFO memories 3a to 3c receive the clock signals from the demultiplexing units 1a to 1c. It is written at the timing of the signal. After that, the video signals are read from the FIFO memories 3a to 3c at the timing of the clock signals from the demultiplexing units 1a to 1c, and the video signals are sent to the selected conference room device.

As described above, the conventional image processing unit uses the same number of FIFO memories 3a to 3c as a plurality of points,
Video signals are transmitted and received to and from the selected conference room device.

[0008]

Therefore, in the conventional multipoint control device for video conference, when the number of conference room devices at a spot increases, FIFO memories are required for the number of conference room devices, and the device scale increases.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem and is excellent in that the video signals stored in one storage unit can be simultaneously sent to the conference room apparatus at multiple points, and the apparatus scale can be reduced. An object is to provide a multipoint control device for video conference.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a multipoint control device for a video conference according to the present invention is provided between a plurality of conference room devices having an audio input / output device and a video shooting / casting device. A plurality of demultiplexing means for performing demultiplexing for transmitting and receiving video signals, one storage means for storing the video signals from the plurality of demultiplexing means, and a plurality of video signals from the demultiplexing means are selectively stored Means for selecting a plurality of video signals stored in the storage means or output to the demultiplexing means, and a video signal stored in the storage means in synchronization with the plurality of demultiplexing means In order to match the timings of simultaneously reading the signals, the synchronizing signal is switched and the synchronizing signal switching means is supplied to the demultiplexing means.

When synchronizing a plurality of demultiplexing means, the synchronizing signal from one demultiplexing means is switched by the synchronizing signal switching means and supplied to the plurality of demultiplexing means.

[0012]

With such a structure, the multipoint control apparatus for video conference according to the present invention switches the synchronizing signals in order to synchronize the plurality of demultiplexing means and to simultaneously read the video signals stored in the storage means. Since it is supplied to the demultiplexing means, the video signals stored in one storage means can be simultaneously sent to the conference room devices at multiple points, and the device scale can be reduced.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a multipoint control device for video conference according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a video processing unit in a video conference multipoint control device provided in the video conference system. In FIG. 1, the video processing unit includes a demultiplexing unit 11a, 11b, 11c for demultiplexing signals, a video signal switching unit 12 for switching the video signals demultiplexed by the demultiplexing units 11a to 11c, and a video signal switching. Part 12
A FIFO memory 13 (corresponding to one storage means in the claims) for temporarily storing the video signal selected by
And a synchronization signal switching unit 14 for switching the synchronization signal input from the demultiplexing unit 11a and sending it to the demultiplexing units 11a to 11c for synchronization.

Next, the operation of the configuration of this embodiment will be described. The video signals demultiplexed by the demultiplexing units 11a to 11c are input to the video signal switching unit 12 and a necessary video signal, for example, a signal from the demultiplexing unit 11a connected to the conference room device that has made a statement is written. The data is written in the FIFO memory 13 at the timing of the clock signal (WCLK).

In this case, the sync signal from the demultiplexing unit 11a is distributed by the sync signal switching unit 14, and the demultiplexing unit 11 is distributed.
a to 11c to supply the demultiplexing units 11a to 11c.
Of the FIFO memory 13 is synchronized with the read clock signal (RCLK).

In synchronization with this, a plurality of demultiplexing units 11a to 11c simultaneously read out a video signal from one FIFO memory 13 through the video signal switching unit 12.

The video signal read from the one FIFO memory 13 is sent to the conference room devices at the three points through the demultiplexing units 11a to 11c.

As described above, according to this embodiment, one FI
It is possible to simultaneously read out video signals from a plurality of points from the FO memory, and as described above, the number of FIFO memories required for the number of points can be reduced to one.

[0020]

As is apparent from the above description, the multipoint control apparatus for video conference according to the present invention synchronizes a plurality of demultiplexing means and synchronizes the timing of simultaneously reading the video signals stored in the storage means. Since the signals are switched and supplied to the demultiplexing means, the video signals stored in one storage means can be simultaneously sent to the conference room devices at multiple points, and the device scale can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a multipoint control device for video conference according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional multipoint control device for video conference.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11a, 11b, 11c demultiplexing unit 12 video signal switching unit 13 FIFO memory 14 synchronization signal switching unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of demultiplexing means for performing demultiplexing for transmitting and receiving a video signal between a plurality of conference room devices having an audio input / output device and a video shooting and broadcasting device, and the plurality of demultiplexing devices. And a plurality of video signals from the demultiplexing means are selected and output to the storage means, or a plurality of video signals stored in the storage means are selected. The video signal switching means for outputting to the demultiplexing means and the plurality of demultiplexing means are synchronized with each other so that the timings at which the video signals stored in the storage means are simultaneously read out are synchronized and the synchronizing signals are switched to the demultiplexing means. A multipoint control device for a video conference, comprising: a synchronizing signal switching means for supplying. 2. When synchronizing a plurality of demultiplexing means, a synchronizing signal from one demultiplexing means is switched by a synchronizing signal switching means and supplied to the plurality of demultiplexing means. 1. The multipoint control device for video conferencing according to 1.