JPH07264566A - Television conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To clarify a conference room to be a data transmitting source by reducing the pictures of all conference room by a picture layout means, aligning the reduced pictures on a part of a screen and arranging a picture for a conference room generating maximum voice on the whole remaining screen so that a speaker in the conference room generating the maximum voice is displayed. CONSTITUTION:In the case of executing a television(TV) conference by connecting conference rooms 3 #1 to #3 to a conference system 1 through an exchange 2, a screen layout generating means 14 in the system 1 generates a screen layout corresponding to the number of rooms 3 participating in the TV conference. The pictures of all the participating rooms 3 are reduced, the reduced pictures are aligned in a part of the screen and the picture of a room 3 generating maximum voice is arranged on the whole remaining screen. The generated layout data are sent to a picture preparing processing means 13. Image and voice data from respective rooms 3 are inputted to the system 1 together with other data and processed in parallel. Voice data inputted from respective rooms 3 are inputted to a voice identifying means 12 through a data sort identifying means 10, and when maximum voice is identified, the identified information is informed to the means 13 to switch pictures.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a service providing system in a video conference system using ISDN line and SD line.

In recent years, a video conference has been used in which transmission and reception are simultaneously performed with a plurality of conference qualities. In such a video conference system, in order to operate a more realistic video conference, priority is given to displaying the image of the conference room where the speaker producing the maximum sound is present on the screen, and the data can be displayed on a computer or projector. Is required to be displayed and displayed on the screen. In this case, the speaker or questioner,
It is required to clarify the data transmission destination and to refer to the data arbitrarily.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional video conference system, a conference participant exists in each conference room at a plurality of different places, and a device for photographing a pattern in the conference room and transmitting image data is selected or used in the video conference system. A display for receiving and displaying the combined image of the conference room is provided. When the video conferencing system receives images from a plurality of conference rooms, it identifies the conference room in which the participant producing the maximum sound exists from the screens of each conference room, selects that image, and selects the entire screen. The screen of each conference room was displayed at the same time by switching to an image or dividing the screen into a certain number of equal parts without identifying the maximum sound.

In such a video conference system, data other than video and audio may be displayed on the screen during the conference. For example, when image data such as charts and lists created in advance while talking, or text data input by a personal computer is sent to the video conference system separately from images and voice (when input from the conference room), the speaker It can be displayed on the display of each conference room together with the screen of the conference room.

Even if the speaker stops speaking and switches to the screen of the conference that produces another maximum voice, the data projected before that data is displayed as it is. You will not know who created the data. Therefore, participants in other conference rooms other than the conference room in which the creator of the data exists cannot arbitrarily retrieve the data currently displayed.

[0006]

When the screen configuration displayed on the display of each conference room in the video conference system is only one screen, the full screen is switched to the conference room with the maximum sound.
There was a problem that the images in other conference rooms could not be seen, and the screen changed rapidly every time the conference room with the maximum sound changed, and participants were tired of their eyes.

Further, in the case of a screen configuration in which a plurality of conference rooms are equally displayed on the display, there is a problem that it is difficult to know which conference room has the maximum sound. In addition,
When data other than voice is displayed, the speaker (there are multiple speakers even in the same conference room) changes, so participants in other conference rooms do not know who created and transmitted the data. Even if a participant in another conference room wants to obtain the data immediately, he / she will find out who the creator (speaker) is, and if he / she finds out, he / she will have to send the data manually. There was a problem that it took time and effort.

The present invention provides a video conferencing system that allows a speaker in a conference room that generates the maximum voice to be identified, a conference room of a data transmission source to be clarified, and data input in another conference room to be easily referred to. The purpose is to do.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the first principle of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the second principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a video conference system connected to a plurality of conference rooms and various terminals through an exchange, 10 is input voice data from each conference room, image data and image data input from the conference room. Data such as text data that serves as a reference material for the meeting (referred to as material data) and commands from the terminal in the conference room (data display request, etc.) are identified and stored separately, or instructions are generated. A data buffer 11 for storing data such as image data, materials such as images and texts input from a terminal such as a conference room at a position corresponding to the conference room, and 12 A voice identification means for identifying the maximum voice from the voice data of each conference room, 13 is an image,
The image generation processing means 14 for generating material data and the like in a specified layout generates a layout of a screen (referred to as a communication screen) to be displayed on the display of each conference room corresponding to the number of conference rooms participating in the conference. The screen layout generating means, 15 is a command processing means, 2 is a switchboard, and 3 is a plurality of conference rooms (# 1 to #N) provided at each point.

In FIG. 2, reference numerals 1, 2 and 3 have the same names as those in FIG. 1, 4 is a printer connected to the exchange 2, and 5 is a facsimile (FA) connected to the exchange 2.
Displayed by X, one to plural units are provided), 6 is a display terminal such as a conference room. In the video conference system 1, 15 is a command processing means similar to that in FIG. 1, 16 is a data conversion section, 17 is a printer output means, 18 is a FAX output means, and 19 is an image output means.

According to the present invention, data such as images input from a plurality of conference rooms and data to be input are stored in a storage unit corresponding to each conference room in a data buffer of the video conference system, and the images of the conference rooms are displayed on the screen. In the case of displaying, the data such as the material is taken out and displayed together with the image data. In addition, when creating a communication screen, the screen layout is generated to correspond to the number of conference rooms, and the images of each conference room are reduced and arranged on a part of the screen. The conference room with the maximum audio before that is displayed side by side.
Furthermore, when the participant data of each conference room wants to obtain the material data from each conference room, the command is input from the terminal of the printer or FAX to retrieve it from the data buffer and obtain a hard copy from the printer or FAX. It was done like this.

[0012]

In FIG. 1, when the video conference system 1 is connected from the conference rooms # 1, # 2, # 3, ... The means 14 generates a screen layout corresponding to the number of the conference rooms 3 participating in the video conference (obtained by identifying the number of conference rooms connected to the incoming call). In this case, the screen layout is such that the images of all participating conference rooms are reduced and arranged side by side on a part of the screen (for example, the upper part), and the image of the conference room that generates the maximum sound is displayed on the rest of the entire screen. The layout is such that the image of the conference room where the maximum sound is generated and the image of the conference room where the maximum sound is generated before may be arranged in two halves on the remaining screen.

This screen layout is changed by the screen layout generating means 14 according to the increase or decrease in the number of conference rooms connected to participate in the conference, but the reduced screen corresponding to the maximum number of conference rooms is fixed. Can be provided. The generated layout data is supplied to the image generation processing means 13.

Image and sound data from each conference room 3 is input to the video conference system 1 together with data such as materials (data from OHP, projector, personal computer, etc.) input from the conference room. Processed in parallel. Identification codes are added to the headers of the input data for voice and image, respectively, and the data type identification means 10 identifies the type of data. in this case,
The image data is stored in the data buffer 11, and the data buffer 11 is assigned a storage area corresponding to the number of the conference room 3, and the image of each conference room 3 is stored in the storage area corresponding to the number. The image data 11a is stored in the position for the image data. Further, when the data such as the material input in each conference room 3 is input, the data type identifying means 10 identifies the data as the data, and the data is stored in the data buffer 11 corresponding to the conference room 3. Data 11b such as material is stored at a position different from the image data in the area.

Voice data input from each conference room 3 (which conference room the voice input is identified) is separately mixed with voices of a plurality of conference rooms and output to each conference room together with a communication screen. However, if it is also input to the data type identification means 10 and is identified as a voice, it is output to the voice identification means 12 and the maximum voice is identified here. When the maximum voice is identified, the image generation processing unit 13 is notified of the identification information (number) of the conference room that generates the maximum voice, and the screen switching is instructed.

The image generation processing means 13 follows the layout instructed by the screen layout generation means 14 in advance.
The image data of each conference room is taken out from each area of the data buffer 11 and compressed, and a large number are arranged side by side at the corresponding positions for each conference room. When the voice identification means 12 gives an instruction of the conference room with the maximum voice, the image data of the instructed conference room is taken out from the data buffer 11 as it is (or expanded to a wide area for maximum voice in the screen layout). ) Entered. At this time, if the data such as the material is stored in the area corresponding to the conference room in the data buffer 11, the data is also extracted, combined with the image data of the conference room and input to the layout.

When the image of the conference room with the current maximum voice and the image of the conference room with the previous maximum voice are displayed side by side in a large size, the image data of the conference room with the previous maximum voice is stored in the data buffer 11. When data such as a material corresponding to the image data of the conference room is stored and taken out from the corresponding area, the data is also combined with the image data and input into the layout.

When a command for requesting the display of data such as materials (request including the conference room number) is input from the terminal (display terminal or telephone terminal) of the conference room 3, the data type identification means 10 When the command is detected, the command processing unit 15 is driven, the command processing unit 15 analyzes the command, extracts the data from the area of the corresponding conference room of the data buffer 11 storing the data such as the requested material, and displays the image. It is output to the generation processing means 13. The image generation processing means 13 uses the data such as the material,
It is displayed independently of the image data (the screen layout is partially changed and displayed).

In the second principle configuration shown in FIG. 2, as in the case of FIG. 1, the data buffer 11 in the video conference system 1 is provided with an area corresponding to the number of each conference room. Data 11b such as materials is stored. When the person who participated in the conference wants to see the data such as this material as a paper medium (hard copy) or a display (soft copy) on the display, it is realized as follows.

When the user wants to see the print output, the printer 4 is called, the video conference system 1 is called, the data such as the material is designated (by the conference room number, etc.), and the output to the printer is requested. The means 15 decodes this and performs processing. That is, when the data 11b such as the relevant material is taken out from the data buffer, the necessary data conversion (text data is converted to image data) is performed and output from the printer output means 17, printing is performed by the printer 4 that prints an image. Be seen.

In the case of a fax terminal as well, when the video conference system 1 is similarly called to request the output of the designated data to the fax, the fax output means 18 is activated and the requested data is converted into the data conversion section 16 like the printer. After being converted by, the data is output from the FAX output means 18.

When a command is sent from any one of the display terminals 6 in the conference room 3 and data is designated and an image output is requested, the image output means 19 is activated and the corresponding data buffer 11 is operated. Data such as materials 11
When b is taken out, the data (image data) is generated and output by the image output means 19 and displayed on the display terminal 6.

Further, for example, in the case of carrying out a broadcast for outputting the data 11b of the same material to a plurality of FAX 5, the data 11b of the material etc. is designated (the number of the conference room) and the FAX is set.
When the output is requested and the broadcast destination is notified, the communication destination is stored in the destination list 20, and when the next designated data is taken out, the same data is sequentially transmitted to each FAX according to the destination list 20. .

[0024]

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment for realizing a display selection function for changing the screen layout, and FIG. 4 shows a flow of the screen layout process and an example of the screen layout.

In FIG. 3, reference numerals 1 to 3 denote the same devices as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 denotes a video conference system, and 2
Is an exchange, 3 is a conference room (a plurality of other conference rooms are connected to the exchange 2 although not shown), and 100 in the video conference system 1 is activated when the video conference system 1 receives an incoming call from the conference room 3. Then, in response to a request such as participation in a conference, an incoming call process for activating other processes,
110 is a screen layout process for performing a process of changing the layout of the communication screen according to participation in a new conference from the conference room or cancellation thereof, and 120 is a call for performing a process of transmitting the communication screen to each conference room participant. Is a process.

The operation of FIG. 3 will be explained.
When an image is transmitted from the video conference system 1 to the video conference system 1, the incoming call process 100 is first activated. The incoming call process 100 activates the screen process 110, determines how many conference rooms are currently sending images (participating in the conference), selects the screen layout corresponding to the number, and is selected. According to the layout, an image to be a communication screen is combined by a screen combining process (not shown), and the calling process 120 transmits the communication screen to the conference room 3. This communication screen is sent simultaneously to each of the plurality of conference rooms 3.

A flowchart of the screen layout process and an example of the screen layout will be described with reference to FIG. A. of FIG. In step S1, when it is activated by an incoming call from the conference room (S1 in FIG. 4), it is determined whether the current number of incoming calls is three or more (the same S
2) and 2 or less, B.B of FIG. The screen 1 shown in is selected (at step S3). In this case, if the number of incoming calls (the number of conference rooms that send images) is two, As shown in, the images (moving images) of the respective conference rooms are assigned to the two screens (enlarged screen) divided into left and right. In the case of one, the left side is assigned as the priority screen (the screen of the conference room that outputs the maximum voice when the number of incoming calls is plural). When the number of incoming calls is 3 or more, the C.I. Screen 2 shown in FIG. The screen 3 shown in is selected (at step S4).

On this screen 2, images (moving images) obtained by reducing each image sent from a plurality of conference rooms are arranged side by side in the upper part of the screen structure for all the conference rooms, and the lower screens are left and right. In this configuration, a divided screen (enlarged screen) is provided. The left side is a priority screen and the right side is a screen for displaying other images, and the number of divisions of the upper reduced screen changes according to the number of incoming calls. In this case, the priority screen may alternately change between the left and right two screens. In that case, the images of the conference room with the current maximum voice are displayed on the left and right screens, and the images of the conference room with the previous maximum voice are displayed on the other screen.

Screen 3 is the same in that reduced images of each conference room are displayed side by side at the top of the screen structure, but only one priority screen (image of the conference room that produces the maximum sound) is displayed on the enlarged screen at the bottom. However, the image of the priority screen changes each time the maximum sound changes.

When the layout is determined (at step S5), the images of all the conference rooms are reduced by the image synthesis process and arranged in the upper part of the screen together with the numbers of the respective conference rooms, and the enlarged image is stored in the lower split screen to synthesize the images. Is performed (at step S6), and the image is transmitted to the conference room 3 by the calling process (at step S7).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment for realizing the function of switching the priority screen in the screen structure. In FIG.
100 and 120 correspond to the same reference numerals in FIG.
Is a command determination process, 140 is an image reading process,
Reference numeral 150 is a screen switching process, 40 is provided corresponding to a plurality of conference rooms 1 to N, an image buffer for storing image data sent from each conference room, 3a is a telephone terminal (PB).
A conference room provided with a dial key for generating a signal) and a conference room 3b provided with a terminal such as a personal computer equipped with a keyboard for generating a character code.

This operation will be described. Currently, each conference room has a C.I. As shown in Figure 3, it is assumed that three or more meeting rooms are participating in a video conference. Enlarge the image (the image that is not displayed on the lower enlargement screen) included in the reduced screen (upper screen of C. in FIG. 4) in the common screen (composite screen transmitted to each conference room). When it is desired to see it on the screen, when the conference room 3a makes a call to the video conference system, it is accepted by the incoming call process 100 of the video conference system 1.

The operator of the conference room 3a operates the dial keys to use predetermined numbers and signs (*, #),
Enter the code that specifies the conference room number you want to enlarge. In the case of the conference room 3b, the operator operates the keyboard of the personal computer or the like while connected to the video conference system 1 and inputs a command including the conference room number to be displayed on the enlarged screen.

Incoming call process 10 of the video conference system 1
When 0 receives the code input by the PB signal of the telephone, 0 starts the command determination process 130. The command judgment process 130 judges the code, and instructs the image reading process 140 to read the image of the conference room and display it on the enlarged screen even when the requested conference room does not have the maximum voice.

The image reading process 140 reads the image in the image buffer 40 corresponding to the designated conference room number,
The screen switching process 150 is instructed to switch the screen. The screen switching process 150 switches one of the enlarged screens (for example, the priority screen) in the current communication screen to the instructed image (image data read from the image buffer), performs image composition, and obtains. Call process 120
To send to each meeting room.

Even when a command is input from the conference room 3b, the command determination process 130 is activated by the incoming call process 100 of the video conference system 1, the command determination process 130 analyzes the command, and the same as above. The screen is switched so that the image of the conference room requested by the processing is enlarged and displayed, and the image is transmitted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment realizing a data backup function. In FIG. 6, reference numerals 1 to 3 represent devices similar to those in FIG. 3, and 100 in the video conference system 1 is an incoming call process and 160 is a type of data to be input (image data, audio data, materials, etc.). A data type determination process for determining data), and a data backup process 170 for storing (backing up) data corresponding to a conference room in which data such as materials is input. Again 40
Is an image buffer (same as 40 in FIG. 5) for storing image data corresponding to each conference room (1 to N), and 41 stores data such as materials corresponding to the conference room (1 to N). It is a data buffer.

When data such as conference materials is generated from the conference room 3 by a personal computer, a document, a drawing, etc., these data are input from each conference room 3 as code data (text) and image data (figure), and are transmitted to the television. When the incoming data is received by the incoming call process 100, these data are sent to the conference system 1.
The type is identified by 0. Since the identification display is added to the beginning of the data such as image data, audio data, and data input to the video conference system 1, the data type can be determined.

When it is determined from this determination that the data is data such as materials (including the display of the conference room), the data backup process 170 is activated. The data backup process 170 stores the input data in the data buffer 41 corresponding to the conference room. When the data type determination process 160 determines that the image data is image data, each image data is stored in the image buffer 40 corresponding to the conference room of the transmission source by a process (not shown).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment for realizing the function of displaying data and images in combination. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote a video conference system and 2 an exchange, respectively, as in the above-mentioned drawings, and the conference room is not shown. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 180 denotes a voice identification process for identifying a conference room that generates the maximum voice from voice data from each conference room, and 190, an image of the conference room that generates the maximum voice and data input from the conference room. Etc. data)
Screen synthesis process for synthesizing and displaying on the priority screen, 2
00 is a transmission data display process for displaying the data of the conference room corresponding to the maximum voice, and 210 is a transmission data reading process for reading the designated data from the data buffer 41. Reference numerals 40 and 41 are the same as the reference numerals in FIG. 6 and are image buffers and data buffers.

FIG. 8 is a processing flow in the configuration of FIG. When data such as image data and audio data is transmitted from each conference room (S1 in FIG. 8), the incoming call process 10
0 (FIG. 7), the data type determination process 160 (FIG.
Is started, and it is determined whether the data type is voice data (S2 in FIG. 8), and if it is not voice data, it is next identified as image data (S3). If it is image data, it is stored in the image buffer 40 (S5 in FIG. 8), and if not, it is stored in the data buffer 41 as data (material etc.) (S4).

For voice data, the voice identification process 180 of FIG. 7 is invoked. In this process, it is identified whether the input voice data is the maximum voice among the voices of the other conference rooms (S6 in FIG. 8). If it is not the maximum voice,
By combining the reduced image of the image data of the conference room with the designated screen position (the position corresponding to the conference room in the reduced screen at the upper part of the screen) by the screen synthesis process 190, the screen synthesis is performed (at step S7). , The screen is transmitted (at step S8).

If it is the maximum voice, the screen switching process 150 is started (S9 in FIG. 8). In this process, the position of the priority screen is determined (at step S14). In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. When two priority screens are alternately changed, the two left and right enlarged screens are displayed to identify which one is currently the priority screen. Also, the image buffer 40
The image data corresponding to the conference room with the maximum voice is read out and displayed (at steps S12 and S13), and at the same time, the transmission data reading process 210 and the transmission data display process 2 are performed.
00 is driven, and the data (material etc.) previously input from the conference room with the maximum voice is read from the data buffer 41 and displayed (S10, S11).

When the read-out image data of the conference room with the maximum sound and the data corresponding to the conference room are read out and displayed, they are combined as a priority screen in the screen combining process 190 (at step S15), and others. It is configured as a communication screen together with the reduced image of and is transmitted by the calling process 120.

FIG. 9 shows a specific example of switching and displaying an image and corresponding data. In this example, as the screen layout, B. The above-mentioned configuration is used, and the reduced images of the conference rooms 1 to 8 are fitted in the upper part of the screen, and the lower part is divided into left and right to arrange two enlarged screens. Hereinafter, the left side of this enlarged screen is referred to as screen 1 and the right side is referred to as screen 2.

FIG. 9A. In the state shown in, the enlarged image of the conference room 2 is displayed on the screen 1, the enlarged image of the conference room 3 is displayed on the screen 2, the conference room 3 of the screen 2 is the maximum sound, and the conference room 2 of the screen 1 is displayed.
Was the maximum voice before that. In the lower right corner of this screen 1, the pie chart data (indicated by) that is input from the meeting room 2 is displayed, and in the lower right corner of the screen 2 is the line graph data (indicated by the meeting room 3). Is shown) is displayed.

In this state, when the maximum voice is changed to the conference room 4, the B.C. of FIG. 9 is processed by the processing described in FIGS.
The image of the conference room 4 is enlarged and displayed on the screen 1 as shown in
The screen 2 is switched to the screen in which the image of the conference room 3 is enlarged and displayed as it is. After that, when the maximum voice is changed to the conference room 2, the C.C. As shown in FIG. 7, an enlarged image of the conference room 2 is displayed on the screen 2, and at this time, the data shown in is taken out from the data buffer 41 by the processing of FIG.

FIG. 9D. C. In this state, when a conference participant wants to see the data in the conference room 3 for reference, the data is displayed. The configuration operation for realizing this function will be described later with reference to FIGS. In general, when the data display request including the conference room number is requested by the PB signal from the telephone terminal or the command input from the personal computer, the corresponding data is fetched from the data buffer 41 (FIG. 7) and displayed in the center of the screen. A screen in which the requested data is embedded in one screen (called 0 screen) is output.

Next, FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an embodiment for realizing a function of outputting data such as materials on paper or a screen. In FIG. 10, reference numerals 1, 2, and 3 are the same as those in the above-mentioned drawings, 30 is a printer, and 31 is a facsimile (represented by FAX).

To explain the operation, the operator of the conference room 3
A request is made to specify the conference room number and output the data such as the materials input in the conference room. In this case, as a format to be output, a printer, a FAX, or a type of output to a display terminal in a conference room and a printer 30, for which output is desired,
The destination (telephone number, etc.) of the FAX 31 or the display terminal of the conference room 3 is added. When requesting output (broadcast) to a plurality of printers or FAX, the destination list is transmitted. These requests are made by using the PB signal from the telephone terminal or by inputting codes from the personal computer.

The video conference system 1 receives the incoming call process 10
If it receives 0, the process corresponding to the type is started. In the case of an output request to the printer, the printer output process 220
Will start. In the case of broadcast, the printer output process 220 stores the received destination in the destination list 42 and drives the text data conversion process 240. The text data conversion process 240 is the transmission data reading process 250.
Start and notify the requested conference room number.

The transmission data reading process 250 reads the stored data from the data buffer 41 corresponding to the notified conference room number, and the text data conversion process 24
At 0, the data is converted into the printer output format and sent to the printer output process 220. The printer output process 220 activates the calling process 120 at the requested destination, transmits data to the destination printer 30, and the printer 30 outputs the content of the data (graph, character string, etc.). In the case of broadcasting to a plurality of printers, the destination list 42
The broadcast is performed by notifying the calling process 120 to send to each of the destinations.

In the case of the output request to the FAX, the FAX output process 230 is activated, the processing of each process similar to the case of the printer output is performed, and the FAX is transmitted from the calling process.
Data transmission to 31 is performed. Even in the case of broadcasting to a plurality of faxes, it is executed using the destination list 42 as in the printer.

In the case of an output request to the communication screen of the conference, the screen output process 260 is activated. Screen output process 2
60 activates the transmission data reading process 250 to read the requested conference room data from the data buffer 41, and the read data is displayed on the display terminal of the conference room designated to output the screen. In this case, the image of the data can be combined with the image of the conference room by the screen output process. The screen is a display example in that case.

FIG. 11 shows an operation example of outputting data of a conference room. In this case, the video conference system 1, the conference room 3-
1 to 3-N are connected to the exchange 2 and the printer 3
0 and FAX 31 are also connected to the exchange 2. A communication screen created in the video conference system 1 is shown as a display screen of the conference room 1. This screen is displayed in A. of FIG. The same as the above, the data with the image of the conference room 2 is displayed on the enlarged screen of the screen 1, and the data with the image of the conference room 3 is displayed on the enlarged screen of the screen 2. At this time, the operator of the conference room 1 requests the FAX 31 to output the data () of the conference room 2 from the telephone terminal, the personal computer or the display terminal. When this request is received by the video conference system 1, the requested data () in the conference room 2 is read out by the process described with reference to FIG.
When converted into an output format (image data) to X31 and transmitted, a graphic of data is output on FAX paper.

Further, the data of the conference room 3 is transferred to the printer 3
When a request to output to 0 is made, the data for printer output is transmitted to the printer 30 by the processing of the video conference system 1 in the above-described FIG. 10, and the data is printed on paper.

[0057]

According to the present invention, when communication is simultaneously performed in a plurality of conference rooms, the optimum screen corresponding to the number of communication conference rooms is selected, and the patterns of all the conference rooms and the enlarged image of the conference room to be noticed are selected. Are displayed at the same time.

Further, the data used in the conference room where the person with the maximum voice (speaking) on the screen exists (data being displayed on the OHP or projector, or data input by the personal computer) is used together with the image data in the conference room. By storing
When displaying an image, the data corresponding to the conference room of the image can also be displayed at the same time, and if you want to obtain the data from the conference participants, you can immediately output it in various desired formats such as FAX, printer, display, etc. Therefore, the data can be easily confirmed.
Furthermore, since data in other conference rooms can be freely referred to, there is no need to distribute materials before the conference or to explain the output screen during the conference, so that the video conference can be efficiently operated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment that realizes a display selection function that changes a screen layout.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of a screen layout process and an example of a screen layout.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment that realizes a function of switching a priority screen in a screen configuration.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment that realizes a data backup function.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment that realizes a function of displaying a combination of data and an image.

8 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of switching and displaying an image and corresponding data.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment that realizes a function of outputting data such as materials on paper or a screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of outputting data of a conference room.

[Description of Reference Signs] 1 video conference system 10 data type identification means 11 data buffer 12 voice identification means 13 image generation processing means 14 screen layout generation means 15 command processing means 2 switch 3 conference room (# 1 to #N)

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 4, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 4]

[Figure 6]

[Figure 5]

[Figure 7]

[Figure 8]

[Figure 9]

[Figure 10]

FIG. 11

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Image communication is performed in a video conference system for connecting to a plurality of conference rooms via an exchange to transmit and receive images and sounds, and creating and transmitting a communication screen to be displayed on the displays of the plurality of conference rooms. A screen layout means for identifying the number of conference rooms and generating a screen layout in which a plurality of images corresponding to the identified number of conference rooms are divided and arranged on one screen is provided. The video conferencing system is characterized in that the layout of the communication screen is changed in accordance with the number of conference rooms where the conference is held. 2. The screen layout means according to claim 1, wherein when the number of conference rooms performing image communication is three or more, a reduced screen area in which reduced images of the conference rooms are arranged side by side on a part of the screen. If one or two screens for displaying a magnified image of the conference room with the maximum voice are provided in the remaining wide area and the voice is detected by the data type identification means from the data transmitted from each conference room, each conference is detected. A conference is provided that includes a voice identification unit that identifies the conference room with the maximum voice from the voices in the room, and switches the screen for the enlarged image of the screen created by the layout unit according to the change in the maximum voice to identify the conference. A video conference system comprising image generation processing means for displaying an image of a room. 3. The image generation processing means according to claim 2, wherein when two screens are provided for the enlarged image, one of the screens displays an image of the conference room with the current maximum sound,
If the image of the conference room with the maximum voice until immediately before is displayed on the other screen, and the conference room with the maximum voice changes after that, and if the conference room is not the one displayed on the two enlarged screens, A video conference system that switches the image on the screen to the image of the conference room with the maximum sound this time and displays it. 4. The data according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the data input from the conference room during the conference is identified by the data type identifying means, and when the data is identified as data other than image and sound, the data is identified. The data is stored in a data storage area of a storage unit provided corresponding to the conference room in the data buffer, and when it is identified as image data, the image data is stored in the storage provided corresponding to the conference room. A video conference system characterized by being stored in an image data area of a copy. 5. The command according to claim 4, wherein a command for requesting output of the data to a desired output device is issued from a terminal in the conference room which has seen an enlarged screen including the data such as materials and an image of the conference room. When input, the command processing means for analyzing the command and reading the requested data from the area corresponding to the conference room of the data buffer is provided, and the requested data is read from the data buffer. A video conference system comprising a data conversion unit for performing necessary data conversion corresponding to an output device, and data output from the data conversion unit or data not converted is transmitted to a requested output device. 6. The printer according to claim 5, wherein when a printer or a facsimile is designated as a desired output device when requesting the data, the data conversion unit performs conversion to output from the printer output means or the facsimile output means. A video conferencing system which transmits to each output device, and when the display terminal is designated as a desired output device, the read data is transmitted from the image output means to the display terminal. 7. The image output means according to claim 5, wherein when the data is output to a display terminal, the image output means displays a part of a screen displaying the enlarged image in a communication screen including an image during a meeting. A video conference system characterized by generating and transmitting an image displaying read data.