JPH10198620A - Conference system using plural communication networks - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct a conference system capable of using plural communication networks and to provide only the conference information of a participatable conference to users. SOLUTION: A conference information management part 150 specifies the communication interface identifiers(IDs) of plural communication networks to a communication control means 100, switches communication networks, exchanges conference information with a conference information management part in another terminal, and adds a participation state ID and a communication interface ID to the conference information to distributedly manage the conference information. When there is no participation in an opened conference, all opened conference information is provided to users, and when there is participation, the conference information of a conference opened on a connected communication network is provided. An intra-conference control part 121 executes conference management and executes one operation in each conference. An application program 141 communicates with an application program in another terminal through an API processing part 140, an one-to-one communication part 130 and a conference communication part 120. A program start management part 142 executes the start of processing and the monitoring of end based on user's specification to automate the operation of each terminal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a conference system for exchanging and sharing information among a plurality of terminals using a plurality of communication networks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of conference system, video and audio are exchanged between a plurality of terminals, and one application is operated by a plurality of conference participants simultaneously from each terminal and the processing results are shared. It has been used to support the co-operation of conference participants.

For example, JP-A-6-83785 discloses that
There has been proposed a conference system that enables a plurality of terminals and one broadcast control unit, which are connected to the same communication network in advance, to share application processing results. That is, according to the publication, the event communication means of the terminal transmits the event information provided by the event providing means to the broadcast control means of another terminal in response to the input, and the broadcast control means transmits the event communication of the plurality of terminals. There has been proposed a configuration of an application sharing system in which the execution result and progress of the application program can be simultaneously shared by a plurality of terminals by transmitting the received event information to the means and inputting from the input means of each terminal.

[0004]

However, in this conventional conference system, it is assumed that a plurality of terminals and one broadcast control means are fixedly connected to the same communication network. It is not possible to obtain information on meetings held on other communication networks, to hold meetings on other communication networks, or to join meetings held on other communication networks, Has problems.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a conference system capable of constructing a conference system using a plurality of communication networks. Another object of the present invention is to provide a conference system capable of providing only conference information of a conference in which a user can participate to a user.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a plurality of terminals connected to a communication network, and each terminal has a plurality of communication interfaces for connecting to the communication network. A communication interface selecting means for selecting the communication interface, an application program, a one-to-one communication unit for one-to-one communication between terminals, and a plurality of the application programs and the one-to-one communication unit. A for exchanging information of a plurality of the application programs
A PI processing unit, a conference communication unit for distributing information sent one-to-one to a plurality of terminals, and an in-meeting control unit which is provided in each terminal for managing a conference and operates one for each conference. , A conference information management unit, wherein the conference information management unit uses each of the plurality of communication interfaces from the communication interface selection unit, connects to each of the communication networks, and is being connected to the communication network. Transmitting and receiving conference information with the conference information management unit of another terminal, and distributing and managing information of the conference held on each of the communication networks together with a communication interface identifier for identifying the communication interface. It is characterized by.

The present invention comprises a plurality of terminals, each of which has a communication interface for connecting to a communication network and an application program. Utilizing each, connecting to each communication network, requesting the conference information of the conference being held to another terminal connected to the communication network, returning the conference information to the communication interface, The conference information is stored together with the communication interface identifier to be identified, and the conference information of all stored conferences is displayed to the user. (A) The user of the terminal that does not hold the conference or does not participate in the conference, When hosting a meeting for the first time,
The terminal determines the communication interface by selecting the communication network with the smallest number of conferences held from the stored conference information as the communication network for the conference, and switches the communication network as necessary, the terminal Along with the conference information of the conference to be held, information on the terminal that holds the conference, the communication interface identifier of the determined communication interface, and a participation state identifier that indicates whether or not the user is participating in the conference, Save as, send the conference information to another terminal connected to the communication network, display only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network to the user, the terminal and The application programs of the other terminals communicate with each other and (b) do not hold a conference, There is the terminal of users who do not go to participate in the conference, in order to participate for the first time to the conference,
The terminal, according to a request from a user, determines the communication interface based on the held conference information, switches the communication network as necessary, and stores the conference together with the conference information of the conference to join. The participation status identifier is set to “participation”, only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network is displayed to the user, the application programs communicate with each other, and (c) the conference is held. When a user of a terminal participating in a conference holds a new conference, the terminal determines the connected communication network as a communication network for the conference, and together with the conference information of the conference to be held, Information of a terminal that holds a conference, the communication interface identifier corresponding to the communication network connected to the terminal, Save the participation status identifier representing `` participation '', in addition to the conference information already displayed to the user, display the conference information of the newly held conference to the user, connect to the communication network, The terminal and the application program of the other terminal communicate with each other, and (d) the user of the terminal that is holding or participating in the conference is To participate in the conference, the terminal, according to the request from the user, the participation state identifier stored together with the conference information of the conference to participate in the "participation", the application programs communicate with each other,
(E) When a user of a terminal participating in a conference held at another terminal leaves the conference, the terminal terminates all the application programs, and then, together with the conference information of the leaving conference, The stored participation state identifier is set to “not participated”, and if there is no “participation” in the participation state identifier of the conference information of another conference, all the conference information displayed to the user is deleted. (F) When the user of the terminal leaves the conference held at his / her own terminal, the terminal terminates all the application programs and notifies the terminals participating in the conference of the end of the conference, The participation state identifier stored together with the conference information of the leaving conference is set to “not participating”, and the conference of the conference information is terminated to another terminal connected to the communication network. If there is no information indicating "participation" in the participation state identifier of the conference information of another conference, all of the conference information displayed to the user is deleted, and there is something indicating the participation. If, for example, the meeting information of the leaving meeting displayed to the user is deleted, participation in the meeting,
It is characterized in that no special device other than the above terminals is required for holding and leaving control.

Further, the present invention comprises a plurality of terminals, each terminal having a plurality of communication interfaces for connecting to a communication network, a communication interface selecting means for selecting the communication interface, A control unit, a conference information management unit, a terminal control unit, and an application program, wherein the conference information management unit uses each of the plurality of communication interfaces from the communication interface selection unit during the startup process. And connecting to each of the communication networks, requesting the conference information of the conference being held to the conference information management unit of the other terminal connected to the communication network, returning the conference information, The conference information of all the conferences stored together with a communication interface identifier identifying the communication interface. Is displayed to the user. (A) When a user of a terminal that does not hold a meeting or participates in a meeting does not hold a meeting for the first time, the meeting information management unit sets the saved The communication interface is determined by selecting the communication network with the smallest number of conferences held from the conference information as the communication network for the conference, and the communication interface is transmitted to the communication interface selecting means. The interface selection means,
The communication interface is switched as necessary, the conference information management unit activates the in-conference control unit and the terminal control unit, and together with the conference information of the held conference, the information of the in-conference control unit is determined. The communication interface identifier of the communication interface, the participation state identifier indicating whether or not participating in the conference is set as an identifier indicating "participation" and saved, the other terminal connected to the communication network of the terminal Transmitting the conference information to a conference information management unit, displaying only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network to the user, the application program of the terminal and another terminal communicate with each other,
(B) When a user of a terminal that does not hold a conference or does not participate in a conference participates in the conference for the first time, the conference information management unit holds the information in accordance with a request from the user. Selecting the communication interface based on the conference information, and transmitting the communication interface identifier to the communication interface selecting means. The communication interface selecting means switches the communication interface as necessary, and The unit activates the terminal control unit and “joins” the participation state identifier stored together with the conference information of the conference to join.
And displaying only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network to the user, the application programs communicating with each other, and (c) holding the conference or participating in the conference. When a user of a terminal is holding a new conference, the conference information management unit determines the connected communication network as a communication network for the conference, and sets the in-conference control unit and the terminal control unit to Activate, together with the conference information of the conference to be held, information of the in-meeting control unit, the communication interface identifier corresponding to the connected communication network,
Storing the participation state identifier representing "participation" in the conference;
In addition to the conference information already displayed to the user, the conference information of the newly held conference is displayed to the user, and the conference information management unit of another terminal connected to the communication network is displayed. Transmitting conference information, the terminal and an application program of another terminal communicating with each other, (d)
When a user of a terminal holding a conference or participating in a conference newly joins the conference, the conference information management unit activates the terminal control unit in accordance with a request from the user. And the participation state identifier stored together with the conference information of the conference to participate is "participation",
The application programs communicate with each other,
(E) When a user of a terminal participating in a conference held at another terminal leaves the conference, the terminal control unit terminates itself after ending all the application programs. Wherein the conference information management unit sets the participation status identifier stored together with the conference information of the leaving conference to “unparticipated”, and indicates “participation” in the participation status identifier of the conference information of another conference. If there is no, the terminal control unit deletes all the conference information displayed to the user, and (f) when the terminal user leaves the conference held at his / her own terminal, the terminal control unit deletes all of the application programs. The conference control unit that has terminated and ends itself, receiving the information, notifies the terminal control unit of the terminal participating in the conference of the termination of the conference and The conference information management unit that has received the information sets the participation status identifier stored together with the conference information of the leaving conference to “unparticipated”, and sets the other terminal connected to the communication network to The conference information management unit is notified that the conference of the conference information has ended, and if there is no "participation" in the participation state identifier of the conference information of the other conference, the conference displayed to the user. Delete all the information, if there is something that indicates "participation", delete the meeting information of the leaving conference displayed to the user,
It is characterized in that no special device other than the above terminals is required for controlling participation, holding and leaving of the conference.

[Summary of the Invention] The summary of the present invention will be described below. A conference system according to the present invention includes communication control means capable of switching access to a plurality of communication networks using identification information of a communication interface, and information on a conference held on each communication network being accessed by the communication network. Means for adding and storing identification information of a communication interface for performing the operation.

[0010] In a conference system using a plurality of communication networks, when participating in a conference for the first time, it is possible to participate in a conference held in any communication network. When the conference is being held, or when participating in a conference that is being held on a certain communication network, the conference that can be newly joined is limited to the conference that is being held on the communication network.

[0011] Therefore, an identifier indicating whether or not the user is participating at that time is added to the information on each conference held in the conference system, and is used together with the identification information of the communication interface. Only the conference information of possible conferences can be provided to users of the conference system.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

The conference system includes a plurality of these terminals 1,
These terminals are connected to the same communication network 4 in advance, and are in a mutually communicable state.

Referring to FIG. 1, terminal 1 includes communication control means 100, conference communication section 120, and in-conference control section 121.
, One-to-one communication unit 130, terminal control unit 131, AP
I (Application Programming Interface)
Processing unit 140 and application program 141
, The conference information management unit 150, and the program activation management unit 1
42. Terminal 2 (and terminal 3)
Is a communication control unit 200 (300), like the terminal 1,
Conference communication unit 220 (320) and conference control unit 221
(321), the one-to-one communication unit 230 (330), the terminal control unit 231 (331), and the API processing unit 240 (34).
0) and the application program 241 (341)
And a conference information management unit 250 (350) and a program activation management unit 242 (342).

The communication control means 100 of the terminal 1 can use two communication methods.

One of them is a communication method for performing one-to-one communication between two terminals. This is a method represented by connection-type communication. For example, a telephone network or TCP / IP (tran
smission control protocol / internet protocol)
This corresponds to communication by TCP connection.

The second method is a one-to-many communication method in which information transmitted from one terminal is received by a plurality of terminals. This can be realized by connectionless communication. For example, this includes wireless communication such as broadcasting and communication using multicast IP packets in TCP / IP.

In-conference control unit 12 in terminals 1, 2, and 3
1, 221 and 321 operate only one in one conference. That is, even if a plurality of terminals participate in a conference, only one of them is operating. Therefore, the one-to-one communication units 130, 23 in the terminals 1, 2, 3
Information from 0, 330 is sent to any of the conference communication units 120, 220, 320 of the terminals participating in the conference.

As a method of selecting a terminal for operating the in-meeting control unit, there is, for example, a method of operating on the terminal of the user who held the meeting first, and the method will be described below based on this method.

Conference communication unit 12 in terminals 1, 2, and 3
0, 220 and 320 are the one-to-one communication units 130 of each terminal,
Exchange information with 230 and 330. Using this route, the in-meeting control units 121, 221, 321 and the terminal control units 131, 231, 331 exchange information.
The conference communication units 120, 220, and 320 also operate only on terminals on which the intra-conference control units 121, 221, and 321 are operating in one conference.

Terminal control unit 13 in terminals 1, 2, and 3
When 1, 231 and 331 exchange information with each other,
For example, the communication control means 100, 2
00, 300, and conference communication units 120, 220, 32
This is done via 0. At this time, according to the method of instructing the conference communication unit, information is sent to a specific terminal control unit, or the same information is sent to the terminal control units of any of a plurality of terminals participating in the conference. Can be broadcast.

The application programs 141, 241, 341 in the terminals 1, 2, 3 are started by the terminal control units 131, 231, 331, respectively. Terminal 1,
Application programs 141, 2 in 2, 3
41 and 341 are API processing units 140 and 24, respectively.
Information is exchanged with application programs of other terminals via 0 and 340.

API processing unit 14 in terminals 1, 2, and 3
0, 240, and 340 respond to requests from the application programs 141, 241, and 341, respectively, from the one-to-one communication units 130, 230, and 330 to the communication control unit 10.
0, 200, 300, the conference communication units 120, 2
Send information to 20, 320.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an API processing unit 1 in the terminal 1.
40 is a diagram for explaining an example in which information is transmitted from the one-to-one communication unit 130 according to a request of the application program 141.

Referring to FIG. 2, in terminal 1, one-to-one communication unit 130 sends information to conference communication unit 120 via communication control means 100, and receives this information.
Reference numeral 20 denotes a one-to-one communication unit 130 of the terminal 1 and a one-to-one communication unit 230, 33 of the terminals 2, 3 via the communication control unit 100 and the communication control units 200, 300 of the terminals 2, 3.
0 via the API processing unit 140 of the terminal 1 and the API processing units 240 and 340 of the terminals 2 and 3,
1 and the application programs 24 of the terminals 2 and 3
1, 341.

Information can be sent from one terminal to a plurality of terminals in any combination among the terminals participating in the conference. In order to select a destination, the one-to-one communication unit 130 of the terminal 1 on the transmission side adds information on the destination and sends the information to the conference communication unit 120.

The conference communication unit 120 of the terminal 1 selects the terminal to be transmitted with reference to the destination information, and transmits the received information to the one-to-one communication unit of the specified terminal. The designation of the destination is notified to the one-to-one communication unit 130 through the API processing unit 140 from the application program 141 of the terminal 1 that is the transmission source.

In communication between application programs by sequential broadcasting via a conference communication unit (for example, 120),
The order of arrival of information at each terminal is guaranteed. That is, even if a plurality of terminals transmit information independently, they arrive at the terminals in the order in which they arrived at the conference communication unit. Therefore,
The application program of each terminal can match the states by performing the processing in the order in which the information arrives.

The conference information management unit 150 of the terminal 1 communicates with the conference information management units 250 and 350 of the other terminals 2 and 3 using the broadcast function of the communication network, and communicates within the communication network where the terminal exists. Get meeting information for.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show a conference information management unit 15 in terminals 1, 2, and 3 as one embodiment of the present invention.
3 shows an example of the configuration of an information packet exchanged at 0, 250, and 350, respectively. 3 shows an example of the packet format of the request conference information packet, FIG. 4 shows an example of the packet format of the response conference information packet, and FIG. 5 shows an example of the packet format of the end conference information packet.

Referring to FIG. 3, the requested conference information packet is transmitted to the conference information management units 150, 250 of the terminals 1, 2, and 3.
This is an information packet for requesting the transmission of the conference information held by each of the conference information 350, which is composed of 1-byte data, and is allocated with 2 bits from the least significant bit (LSB) side. The packet type is "0
1 ".

Referring to FIG. 4, the response conference information packet is an information packet used when transmitting the conference information held at the time when the request information packet is received, and is 23 bytes or more. It consists of data. This packet is also transmitted when a new conference is held on the terminal. In the first byte, the conference information packet type of 2 bits from the least significant bit (LSB) side is “10” (= response conference information packet), the next 20 bytes are the conference name, and the next 2 bytes are the size of the option parameter. (N bytes), and further includes N bytes of optional parameters.

Referring to FIG. 5, the end conference information packet is a packet for notifying that the conference held on the terminal has ended, and is composed of 21 bytes of data. In the first byte, the conference information packet type of 2 bits from the least significant bit (LSB) side is "11" (= end conference information packet), and the next 20 bytes are the conference name.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the request conference information packet, the response conference information packet, and the end information conference packet are:
Conference information management units 150, 25 in terminals 1, 2, 3
0 and 350 are broadcast on the communication network using the communication control means 100, 200 and 300. These packets are received by the communication control means 100, 200, 300 of the terminals 1, 2, 3 connected to the communication network, and are passed to the conference information management units 150, 250, 350.

Next, in order to describe the above-mentioned embodiment with further specific examples, as an embodiment of the present invention, the internal configuration of the conference information management unit 150 in the terminal 1, the communication control unit 100 and the program start management unit 142 is shown. Since the same applies to other terminals, only terminal 1 will be described below.

Referring to FIG. 6, conference information management unit 150
Is a conference information management table 151 and a conference information processing unit 156.
, A conference information input / output processing unit 157, a holding participation processing designating unit 158, a holding conference information list 159, a participation conference information list 160, and a program starting unit 170.

The conference information management table 151 holds information on conferences currently being held on the communication network.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the contents of the conference information management table 151 as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
, One entry of the conference information management table 151 is:
It consists of a conference name (20 bytes), an optional parameter (arbitrary length), a communication interface identifier (32 bits), a participation state identifier, and a program activation manager process ID.

Referring again to FIG. 6, holding / participation processing specifying section 158 specifies holding of a conference or participation in a conference,
Specify the acquisition process of meeting information. At the time of the conference, the user inputs at least the conference name.

The held meeting information list 159 displays meeting information of the currently held meeting.

The participating conference information list 160 displays the conference information of all the participating conferences.

The meeting information input / output processing unit 157 sends a meeting to the meeting information processing unit 156 based on information input from the holding / participation processing designation unit 158 and the held meeting information list 159, Display control of the held meeting information list table 159 and the participating meeting information list table 160 based on information such as holding, joining, and leaving a meeting sent from the meeting information processing unit 156 or instructing to collect meeting information. I do.

The conference information processing unit 156 receives a conference information management table 151 according to information on the holding and participation of a conference transmitted from the conference information input / output processing unit 157 and information transmitted from the communication control unit 100 (see FIG. 1). And the processing is performed according to the conference information management table 151.

The conference information processing unit 156 of the conference information management unit 150 having received the request conference information packet refers to the conference information management table 151 and communicates the conference information of the conference held on its own terminal in a response conference information packet. The call is transmitted using the control means 100 (see FIG. 1).

The conference information processing unit 156 of the conference information management unit 150 that has received the response conference information packet does not register the conference information indicated in the received information packet in the conference information management table 151 managed by each of them. At this time, this is registered, and if already registered, it is discarded. When registered, the conference information is additionally displayed in the held conference information list 159 via the conference information input / output processing unit 157.

The conference information management unit 150 that has received the end conference information packet deletes the conference information of the conference described in the received information packet from the conference information management table 151 managed by itself, and enters the conference information. Output processing unit 157
Update the display on the terminal via.

In the terminal 1, the communication control means 100 (see FIG. 1) selects which communication network to use from a plurality of connectable communication networks. For example, in the case of wireless communication, there are differences in a modulation method, a communication method, and the like, and even if the same method is used, various communication networks can be selected depending on, for example, differences in frequency, channel, and the like.

FIG. 7 shows a terminal 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 shows the configuration of the communication control means 100. The same applies to the configuration of the communication control means of the other terminals. Referring to FIG. 7, the communication control unit 100 includes a communication path selecting unit 102
, Communication means 101, and a plurality of communication interfaces 10
6 is provided.

The communication interface 106 has a one-to-one correspondence with a communication network, and has a communication interface identifier 107 having a different value for each interface.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

<Activation Process 1 of Conference Information Management Unit> First, as one embodiment of the present invention, a user of the terminal 1 holds a conference,
Alternatively, a process for activating the conference information management unit 150 when the user wants to participate in the conference will be described below. This is referred to as “startup process 1 of the conference information management unit 150”.

The user of the terminal 1 can use the conference information management unit 150
Start The conference information management unit 150 includes the communication control unit 1
The first communication interface 106 is designated for the communication interface selection means 102 of 00. Thereafter, the conference information management unit 150 sends the requested conference information packet from the communication means 101 to the connected communication network via the communication interface 106.

The conference information processing unit 156 acquires the response conference information packet and registers the conference information in the conference information management table 151. For all of the conference information registered in the conference information management table 151, all or a part of the conference information (including at least the conference name) is transmitted to the held conference information list via the conference information input / output processing unit 157. 159. This process is performed for all available communication interfaces.

At this time, in the conference information management table 151, FIG.
As shown in (1), the communication interface identifier 107 is also recorded so that the information obtained by using which communication interface is used.

Also, a participation status identifier indicating whether or not the user has participated in the conference (including participation by holding the conference) (see FIG. 8).
Describes an identifier indicating “not participated”. Furthermore, an area for storing an identifier (here, for example, a process ID) for specifying the activated program activation management unit is also initialized.

With the above, the processing when the conference information management unit 151 is started is completed. This processing is also performed by specifying that acquisition of all conference information is to be performed by the participation / organization processing specification unit 158 when the user has exited from all the conferences being held or participating. Thus, the “startup process 1 of the conference information management unit” ends.

<Process 2 at the time of holding a conference> Next, as another embodiment of the present invention, a user of the terminal 1 holds a conference at the terminal 1 in a state where neither the conference is held nor participates in the conference. The processing when the user wants to do so will be described. This is referred to as “processing 2 at the time of holding a conference”.

In the terminal 1, the "conference information management unit 150
It is assumed that the “activation process 1” has already been completed. The user of the terminal 1 instructs the holding of the conference by the holding participation specifying unit 158 of the meeting information management unit 150. Conference information processing unit 1
56 refers to the conference information management table 151, and confirms that the participation state identifiers of all the conferences indicate “not participating”.

The conference information processing unit 156 refers to the conference information management table 151, and if there is a communication network that can communicate with another terminal and has not been used yet, a communication for using the communication network. Interface 1
06 to select the communication interface
To instruct. If not, it instructs the communication interface selecting means 102 to select an available communication network with the least number of conferences being held and to select a communication interface 106 for using the route. The communication means 101 is a communication interface selecting means 1
02, the communication interface 106 is determined.

The holding participation processing designating section 158 asks the user for information necessary for holding a conference. This information includes at least the conference name.

The conference information processing unit 156 refers to the conference information management table 151 and checks whether or not the input conference name is used in a conference held on the selected communication network, and determines whether the input conference name is used. In this case, the user is instructed to change the conference name to another conference via the holding / participation processing designation unit 158.

Further, a communication interface identifier, a holding time, a terminal serial number, and the like are added to the conference name so that the conference can be distinguished from the conference having the same conference name in another communication network. The conference name to which such information has been added is referred to as a "conference name with additional information".

The conference information processing section 156 activates the program activation management section 142 from the program activation section 170 by designating the holding of a conference.

The program activation management section 142 activates the in-meeting control section 121. The in-conference control unit 121 prepares the conference communication unit 120 and waits for a connection from each terminal. Further, information necessary for connecting to the conference communication unit 120 is sent to the program activation management unit 142. Necessary information includes, for example, a host name and a port number in TCP / IP.

The program activation management unit 142 uses these information as optional parameters,
Tell 50. The conference information processing unit 156 registers the conference information of the conference to be held in the conference information management table 151. At this time, a communication interface identifier, a participation status identifier indicating that the terminal participates in the conference, and a process ID of the program activation management unit are also described.

The program activation management unit 142 activates the terminal control unit 131 using the information obtained from the in-conference control unit 121 as a parameter.

The activated terminal control unit 131 connects to the conference communication unit 120 from the one-to-one communication unit 130 via the communication control unit 100, and registers participation in the in-conference control unit 121 therefrom.

The terminal control unit 131 is a
When the participation process for the application is completed normally, a notification of the completion of participation is sent to the program activation management unit 142, and the application program 141 is activated as necessary.

The program activation management unit 142 that has received the participation end notification sends the participation end notification to the conference information management unit 150.
Tell

Upon receiving this, the conference information processing unit 156 of the conference information management unit 150 changes the display of the held conference information list table 159 to the conference held on the communication network where the conference to be held exists (the conference to be held also). Include only) meeting information. The display contents of the conference information are all or a part of the conference information (including at least the “conference name with additional information”) for each conference. Further, all or part of the conference information of the conference to be held is displayed in the participating conference information list 160. At least the conference name is displayed as the conference information.

Then, the conference information processing section 156 puts the conference information of the held conference in a response conference information packet, and sends the information from the communication control means 100 to the communication network. When the terminals 2 and 3 are connected to the same communication network, the conference information management units 250 and 350 of the terminals 2 and 3 acquire the response conference information packet, and the acquired conference information is transmitted to the terminals 2 and 3. If it has not been registered yet in the meeting information management table, register it. If it has already been registered, the conference information is discarded. Then, all or part (including at least the conference name) of the registered conference information is additionally displayed on the held conference information list of the terminals 2 and 3. As described above, the “processing 2 at the time of holding the conference” is completed.

<Process 3 when Participating in Conference> Next, as another embodiment of the present invention, the user of terminal 1 uses terminal 2 in a state where neither a conference is held nor participates in the conference. A process performed when a user wants to participate in a conference held will be described. This is referred to as “process 3 when participating in a conference”.

It is assumed that “processing 2 at the time of holding a conference” has already been completed on terminal 2 and “processing 1 for starting the conference information management unit” has been completed on terminal 1.

The user of the terminal 1 has a meeting information list 1
At 59, the conference information to be attended (including at least the "conference name with additional information") is designated, and the participation in the conference is designated by the holding / participation processing designation unit 158.

The conference information processing unit 156 refers to the conference information management table 151 to search for the specified conference information, and confirms that the participation status identifiers of all the conference information indicate that the user has not participated. The conference information processing unit 156 transmits the communication interface identifier 107 described in the conference information of the participating conference to the communication interface selecting unit 102. The communication unit 101 receives the communication interface 10 according to the instruction of the communication interface selection unit 102.
6 is determined. Then, the program activation unit 170 activates the program activation management unit 142 by specifying the participation in the conference from the program activation unit 170 using the option parameter of the conference information of the conference to be joined as a parameter for activation.

The conference information processing unit 156 refers to the conference information management table 151 to search for the specified conference information, and stores the process ID of the program activation management unit and the identifier indicating “participation” in the participation status identifier column. Describe. The program activation management unit 142 activates the terminal control unit 131 in accordance with information given as a parameter at the time of activation. The activated terminal control unit 131 connects to the conference communication unit 220 of the terminal 2 from the one-to-one communication unit 110 via the communication control unit 100 and the communication control unit 200 of the terminal 2, and from there to the in-conference control unit 221. On the other hand, register for participation.

When the process of joining the in-conference control unit 221 of the terminal 2 normally ends, the terminal control unit 131 of the terminal 1 notifies the program activation management unit 142 of the end of participation.
The application program 141 is activated as needed.

Upon receiving the participation end notification, the program activation management unit 142 transmits the participation end notification to the conference information management unit 150.
Tell

Upon receiving this, the conference information processing unit 156 of the conference information management unit 150 changes the display of the held conference information list 159 to only the conference information of the conference held on the communication network in which the participating conference exists. I do. The display is all or part of the conference information for each conference (at least "the conference name with additional information" is displayed). Further, all or a part of the conference information of the conference to be joined is displayed in the participating conference information list 160. The conference information displays at least the conference name. Thus, “Process 3 at the time of participation in the conference” is completed.

<Process 4 at the time of holding a conference> Next, as another embodiment of the present invention, a process when the terminal 1 has already held a conference or participates in a conference, and newly holds a conference. Will be described. This is referred to as "Processing 4 when the conference is held"
Call.

In the terminal 1, if the conference has already been held, the "processing 2 at the time of holding the conference" has been completed, and if the terminal 1 has already participated in the conference, the "processing 3 at the time of participation in the conference" has been completed. Has been completed.

The user of the terminal 1 has the
At 58, an instruction is given to hold a conference. Conference information processing unit 156
Refers to the conference information management table 151 and confirms that the participation state identifier of any conference indicates participation. The holding participation processing designating unit 158 requests information necessary for holding the conference from the user. This information includes at least the conference name.

The conference information processing unit 156 refers to the conference information management table 151 and checks whether or not the input conference name is used in a conference held on the selected communication network, and determines whether the input conference name is used. In this case, the user is instructed to change the conference name to another conference via the holding / participation processing designation unit 158. Further, a communication interface identifier, a holding time, a serial number of a terminal, and the like are added to the conference name so that the conference can be distinguished from a conference having the same conference name in another communication network. The conference name to which the information has been added is called a "conference name with additional information".

The conference information processing section 156 activates the program activation management section 142 from the program activation section 170 by designating the holding of a conference. The program activation management unit 142
The in-meeting control unit 121 is started. The in-conference control unit prepares the conference communication unit 120 and waits for a connection from each terminal. Further, information necessary for connecting to the conference communication unit 120 is used as an optional parameter as the program activation management unit 142.
Send to Necessary information includes, for example, a host name and a port number in TCP / IP.

The program activation management unit 142 uses these information as optional parameters,
Tell 50.

The conference information processing unit 156 registers the conference information of the conference to be held in the conference information management table 151. that time,
A communication interface identifier, a participation status identifier indicating participation, and a process ID of the program activation management unit are also described.
The program activation management unit 142 activates the terminal control unit 131 using the information obtained from the in-conference control unit 121 as a parameter.

The activated terminal control unit 131 connects to the conference communication unit 120 from the point-to-point communication unit 130 via the communication control unit 100, and registers participation in the in-conference control unit 121 therefrom. When the process of joining the in-meeting control unit 121 ends normally, the terminal control unit 131 notifies the program activation management unit 142 of the end of participation, and activates the application program 141 as necessary.

Upon receiving the participation end notification, the program activation management unit 142 transmits the participation end notification to the conference information management unit 150.
Tell

The conference information processing unit 156 of the conference information management unit 150 receiving the information stores all or part of the conference information (including at least the “conference name with additional information”) in the held conference information list 159. Display additional. Further, all or part of the conference information of the conference to be held is additionally displayed in the participating conference information list 160. The conference information displays at least a conference name.

The conference information processing unit 156 of the conference information management unit 150 receiving the information puts the conference information of the held conference on the response conference information packet, and flows it from the communication control unit 100 to the communication network. When the terminals 2 and 3 are connected to the same communication network, the conference information management units 250 and 350 of the terminals 2 and 3 acquire the response conference information packet,
If the acquired conference information has not been registered in the conference information management table of the terminals 2 and 3, this is registered. If it has already been registered, the conference information is discarded. All or part (including at least the conference name) of the registered conference information is additionally displayed on the held public conference information list of the terminals 2 and 3. As described above, “Process 4 at the time of holding a conference” is completed.

<Process 5 for Participating in Conference> Next, as another embodiment of the present invention, if the terminal 1 has already held a conference or has participated in the conference, A process for newly joining the server will be described. This is referred to as “process 5 at the time of participation in the conference”.

In the terminal 1, if the conference has already been held, the "process 2 at the time of holding the conference" has been completed, and if the terminal 1 has already participated in the conference, the "process 3 at the time of participation in the conference" has been completed. It has been finished. It is also assumed that “processing 2 at the time of holding a conference” or “processing 4 at the time of holding a conference” has already been completed in the terminal 2.

[0093] The user of the terminal 1 has the held conference information list 1
At 59, the conference information to be attended (including at least the "conference name with additional information") is designated, and the participation in the conference is designated by the holding / participation processing designation unit 158.

The conference information processing unit 156 refers to the conference information management table 151, searches for the specified conference information, and confirms that the participation status identifier of any conference indicates participation.

Then, the program activation management unit 142 is activated by specifying the participation in the conference from the program activation unit 170 using the option parameter of the conference information to be joined as a parameter for activation. The conference information processing unit 156 refers to the conference information management table 151 to search for the specified conference information, and describes the process ID of the program activation management unit and the identifier indicating “participation” in the participation status identifier column.

The program activation management section 142 activates the terminal control section 131 in accordance with information given as a parameter at the time of activation. The activated terminal control unit 131
Is transmitted from the one-to-one communication unit 110 to the conference communication unit 22 via the communication control unit 100 and the communication control unit 200 of the terminal 2.
0, and from there, it registers in the in-conference control unit 221 for participation.

The terminal control section 131 is provided with the in-conference control section 221.
When the participation process for the application is completed normally, a notification of the completion of participation is sent to the program activation management unit 142, and the application program 141 is activated as necessary. Upon receiving the participation end notification, the program activation management unit 142 transmits the participation end notification to the conference information management unit 150. Upon receiving this, the conference information processing unit 156 of the conference information management unit 150 additionally displays, in the participating conference information list 160, all or part of the conference information of the participating conference. Display at least the meeting name. Thus, “Process 5 at the time of participation in the conference” is completed.

<Process 6 at the time of leaving the conference> Next, as another embodiment of the present invention, a process when the user of the terminal 1 participating in the conference held at the terminal 2 leaves the conference. Will be described. However, it is assumed that there are other conferences that the terminal 1 is holding or participating. This is referred to as "process 6 when leaving the conference".

The user of the terminal 1 issues an instruction to leave the terminal to the terminal control section 131. The terminal control unit 131 notifies the in-meeting control unit 221 of the terminal 2 that is holding the meeting of leaving the meeting. The terminal control unit 131 includes the application program 141
Is completed, a completion notification is sent to the program activation management unit 142, and the processing ends with the one-to-one communication unit 130.

The program activation management unit stores the notice of leaving the conference and its own process ID in the conference information processing unit 156.
And end themselves. The meeting information processing unit 156 that has received the leaving notification searches the meeting information management table 151 for the meeting information of the leaving meeting based on the process ID, and changes the participation state identifier of the leaving meeting to an identifier representing “not joined”. At the same time, it is confirmed that the participation status identifier of the conference information of any one of the conferences indicates “participation”.

The conference information processing section 156 deletes the conference information of the conference that has left from the participating conference information list 160. As described above, the “process 6 when leaving the conference” is completed.

<Process 7 at the time of leaving the conference> Next, as still another embodiment of the present invention, a process when the user of the terminal 1 participating in the conference held at the terminal 2 leaves the conference. Will be described. However, it is assumed that there is no other conference that the terminal 1 is holding or participating. This is referred to as “processing 7 when leaving the conference”.

The user of the terminal 1 issues an instruction to leave the terminal to the terminal control section 131. The terminal control unit 131 notifies the in-meeting control unit 221 of the terminal 2 that is holding the meeting of leaving the meeting. The terminal control unit 131 includes the application program 141
Is completed, a completion notification is sent to the program activation management unit 142, and the processing ends with the one-to-one communication unit 130.

The program activation management unit 142 notifies the conference information processing unit 156 of the notice of leaving the conference and its own process ID, and terminates itself. The conference information processing unit 156 that has received the notice of leaving the conference, stores the conference information management table 15
Based on the process ID from 1, the conference information of the departed conference is searched, and the participation status identifier of the departed conference is described in the identifier indicating non-participation. Make sure that it represents.

The conference information processing section 156 deletes the conference information of the conference that has left from the participating conference information list 160.

The conference information processing unit 156 deletes all the displayed contents of the held conference information list table 159 and deletes all the conference information registered in the conference information management table 151. With the above, the “process 7 when leaving the conference” is completed.

<Process 8 when Leaving Conference> Next, as still another embodiment of the present invention, a process when the terminal 1 leaves the conference being held by itself will be described. However, it is assumed that the terminal 2 has participated in the conference, there is no other conference that is being held or participated, and the terminal 1 has a conference that is being held or participated in addition to the leaving conference. This is referred to as “process 8 when leaving the conference”.

[0109] The user of the terminal 1 issues an instruction to leave the terminal to the terminal control section 131. After terminating all the application programs 141, the terminal control unit 131 notifies the program activation management unit 142 of the termination of itself, and terminates with the one-to-one communication unit 130. The program activation management unit 142 that has received the end notification issues an end instruction to the in-conference control unit 121. Upon receiving the end instruction, the in-meeting control unit 121 sends a signal from the conference communication unit 120 to the terminal control unit 231 of the terminal 2 via the communication control unit 100, the communication control unit 200 of the terminal 2, and the one-to-one communication unit 230 of the terminal 2. Notify the end of the meeting,
The program start management unit 142 is notified of the end of itself.

Thereafter, the in-conference control unit 121 stops using the conference communication unit 120 and ends the processing. The terminal control unit 231 of the terminal 2 that has received the end notification ends the application program 241.

The terminal control unit 231 of the terminal 2 notifies the program start management unit 242 of its own termination, and terminates with the one-to-one communication unit 230. Program start management unit 24
2 transmits the notice of leaving the conference and the process ID of itself to the conference information management unit 250 and terminates itself.

The conference information processing unit of the terminal 2 which has received the leaving notification uses the process ID from the conference information management table of the terminal 2 based on the process ID.
The conference information of the departed conference is searched, and the participation status identifier of the departed conference is described as an identifier indicating non-participation, and it is confirmed that the participation status identifiers of all conferences indicate non-participation.

The conference information processing section of the terminal 2 deletes the conference information of the conference that has left from the list of participating conference information of the terminal 2. The conference information processing unit of the terminal 2 deletes all the conference information registered in the conference information management table of the terminal 2,
Also, all the displayed contents of the held conference information list are deleted.

After receiving the end notification of the in-meeting control unit 121 at the terminal 1, the program activation management unit 142 notifies the meeting information processing unit 156 of its own process ID and the notice of the end of the meeting, and then ends itself. .

Conference information processing unit 1 that has received the conference end notification
Reference numeral 56 refers to the conference information management table 151 for retrieving the conference information of the conference to be ended based on the process ID, and describes the participation status identifier of the conference to be ended in the identifier indicating that the conference has not yet been performed, and the participation status of any conference. Check that the identifier indicates participation.

At this time, the conference information processing section 156 creates an end conference information packet of the conference to be ended, and sends it through the communication control means 100 to the connected communication network.

The conference information processing unit 156 deletes the conference information of the completed conference from the participating conference information list 160, the held conference information list 159, and the conference information management table 151. When the terminal 3 exists on the same communication network as the conference held by the terminal 1, the conference information processing unit of the terminal 3
The closed conference information packet is acquired, the conference information of the closed conference indicated in the packet is deleted from the conference information management table of the terminal 3, and the conference information of the closed conference is also deleted from the held conference information list of the terminal 3. I do. As described above, the “process 8 when leaving the conference” is completed.

<Process 9 when Leaving Conference> Next, as still another embodiment of the present invention, a process when the terminal 1 leaves the conference being held by itself will be described. However, the terminal 2
It is assumed that the terminal 1 has participated in the conference, there is no other conference that is being held or participated, and the terminal 1 has no conference that is being held or participated other than the leaving conference. This is referred to as “process 9 when leaving the conference”.

The user of the terminal 1 issues an instruction to leave the terminal to the terminal control section 131. After terminating all the application programs 141, the terminal control unit 131 notifies the program activation management unit 142 of the termination of itself, and terminates with the one-to-one communication unit 130.

Program activation management unit 1 that has received the end notification
42 instructs the in-meeting control unit 121 to end.

Upon receiving the end instruction, the in-meeting control unit 121
The conference communication unit 120 notifies the terminal control unit 231 of the terminal 2 of the end of the conference via the communication control means 100 and 200 and the one-to-one communication unit 230 of the terminal 2, and notifies the program start management unit 142 of the end of the conference. I do. Thereafter, the in-meeting control unit 121 stops using the meeting communication unit 120 and ends the process.

The terminal control unit 2 of the terminal 2 that has received the end notification
31 terminates the application program 241. The terminal control unit 231 notifies the program activation management unit 242 of its own termination, and terminates with the one-to-one communication unit 230.

The program activation management unit 242 transmits the notice of leaving the conference and the own process ID to the conference information management unit 250 and terminates itself. The conference information processing unit of the terminal 2 that has received the leaving notification searches the conference information management table of the terminal 2 for the conference information of the leaving conference based on the process ID, and indicates the participation state identifier of the leaving conference as not participating. In addition to the description in the identifier, confirm that the participation state identifiers of all the conferences indicate “not participating”.

The conference information processing unit of the terminal 2 deletes the conference information of the conference that has left from the list of participating conference information of the terminal 2. The conference information processing unit of the terminal 2 deletes all the conference information registered in the conference information management table of the terminal 2 and also deletes all display contents of the held conference information list of the terminal 2.

In the terminal 1, upon receiving the end notification of the in-meeting control unit 121, the program activation management unit 142 transmits its own process ID and the notice of the end of the meeting to the meeting information processing unit 156, and then ends itself. I do.

Conference information processing unit 1 that has received the conference end notification
Reference numeral 56 refers to the conference information management table 151 for retrieving the conference information of the conference to be terminated based on the process ID, and describes the participation status identifier of the conference to be terminated in the identifier indicating the non-participation. Make sure that represents no participation.

At this time, the conference information processing unit 156 creates an end conference information packet of the conference to be ended, and
00 and flow it over the communication network to which it was connected.

The conference information processing section 156 deletes the conference information of the conference that has left from the participating conference information list 160. The conference information processing unit 156 deletes the conference information of all conferences from the held conference information list table 159 and the conference information management table 151. When the terminal 3 exists on the same communication network as the conference held by the terminal 1, the conference information processing unit of the terminal 3 acquires the end conference information packet, and converts the conference information management table of the terminal 3 into a packet. In addition to deleting the conference information of the indicated ended conference, the conference information of the ended conference is also deleted from the held conference information list of the terminal 3. As described above, the “process 9 when leaving the conference” is completed.

The functions of the terminals 1, 2, and 3 described in each of the above-described embodiments include a program (stored in a predetermined recording medium) for realizing control of each processing unit (see FIG. 1). And executed by loading the file.

[0129]

As described above, the conference system according to the present invention uses the identification information of the communication interface to
Provision of communication control means capable of switching access to a plurality of communication networks, and means for storing identification information of a communication interface for accessing the communication network in information on a conference held on each communication network With this, it is possible to obtain information on meetings held on other communication networks, hold meetings on other communication networks, and participate in meetings held on other communication networks. Play.

Further, according to the present invention, when a terminal that holds a conference or does not participate in the conference holds the conference, it uses the identification information of the communication interface to communicate on the communication network with the least number of conferences. Since the conference can be held, it is possible to prevent the load from being concentrated on a specific communication network among the available communication networks as much as possible.

Further, according to the present invention, an identifier indicating whether or not the user is participating at that time is added to the information on each conference held in the conference system, and is used together with the identification information of the communication interface. It is possible to provide the user of the conference system with only the conference information of the conference that can participate at that time. This eliminates the need for the user of the conference system to judge whether or not it is possible to participate in the conference of the provided conference information at that time, and has the effect of improving convenience in particular. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where each terminal is connected to the same communication network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data flow when application programs communicate with each other from an one-to-one communication unit via an API processing unit via a conference communication unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a requested conference information packet among information packets exchanged by the conference information management unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a response conference information packet among information packets exchanged by the conference information management unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an end conference information packet among information packets exchanged by the conference information management unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between an internal configuration of a conference information management unit, a communication control unit, and a program activation management unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication control unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a conference information management table in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 3 terminals 100, 200, 300 Communication control means 101 Communication means 102 Communication interface selection means 106 Communication interface 107 Communication interface identifier 120, 220, 320 Conference communication unit 121, 221, 321 Conference control unit 130, 230, 330 One-to-one communication unit 131, 231, 331 Terminal control unit 140, 240, 340 API processing unit 141, 241, 341 Application program 142, 242, 342 Program start management unit 150, 250, 350 Conference information management unit 151 Conference information management Table 156 Conference information processing unit 157 Conference information input / output processing unit 158 Held participation processing designation unit 159 Held conference information list 160 160 Participated conference information list 170 Program start unit

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A communication system comprising a plurality of terminals, wherein each of the terminals
A communication interface and an application program for connecting to a communication network; and in the start-up process, the terminal uses each of the plurality of communication interfaces, connects to each of the communication networks, and connects to the communication network. Requesting the conference information of the conference being held to another terminal in the server, storing the returned conference information together with a communication interface identifier for identifying the communication interface, and storing the conference information of all the stored conferences. Displayed to the user, (a) When a user of a terminal that does not hold a conference or participates in a conference does not hold a conference for the first time, the terminal is held based on the stored conference information. To select the communication network with the least number of conferences Therefore, the communication interface is determined and the communication network is switched as necessary.The terminal, together with the conference information of the conference to be held, information on the terminal that holds the conference, and the communication interface identifier of the determined communication interface, A participation status identifier indicating whether or not the user is participating in the conference is stored as an identifier indicating “participation”, the conference information is transmitted to another terminal connected to the communication network, and Displaying only the conference information of the conference being held to the user,
When the terminal and the application program of another terminal communicate with each other, (b) When a user of a terminal that does not hold a conference or participates in a conference does not participate in the conference for the first time, Determining the communication interface based on the held conference information in accordance with a request from a user, switching a communication network if necessary, and storing the participation state stored together with the conference information of the conference to be joined. The identifier is “participation”, and only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network is displayed to the user, the application programs communicate with each other, (c) the conference is being held, or When a user of a terminal participating in a conference holds a new conference, the terminal must be connected to the connected communication network. Is determined as the communication network for the conference, together with the conference information of the conference to be held, information on the terminal that holds the conference, the communication interface identifier corresponding to the connected communication network, and "participation" in the conference. Storing the participation state identifier representing the conference information, displaying the conference information of the newly held conference to the user in addition to the conference information already displayed to the user, and connecting to the communication network. The terminal transmits the conference information to the terminal, and the terminal and an application program of another terminal communicate with each other. (D) A user of a terminal that is holding a conference or participates in the conference newly receives a conference. When joining the terminal, the terminal sets the participation status identifier stored together with the conference information of the conference to be joined to “participation” in accordance with a request from the user, The application programs communicate with each other, and (e) when a user of a terminal participating in a conference held at another terminal leaves the conference, the terminal terminates all of the application programs. The participation status identifier stored together with the conference information of the leaving conference is set to “not participated”, and if there is no entry indicating “participation” in the participation status identifier of the conference information of another conference, it is displayed to the user. (F) when the user of the terminal leaves the conference held at his / her own terminal, the terminal terminates all the application programs and the terminal participating in the conference Notify the end of the conference, and the participation state identifier stored with the conference information of the conference to leave the "not participated",
Informs other terminals connected to the communication network that the conference of the conference information has ended, and displays to the user if there is no "participation" in the participation state identifier of the conference information of the other conference. Deletes all of the meeting information that is present, and if there is something that indicates participation, deletes the meeting information of the leaving meeting that is displayed to the user, and controls the participation, holding, and leaving of the meeting. The conference system does not require any special device other than the terminals. 2. A communication system comprising: a plurality of terminals; each terminal having a plurality of communication interfaces for connecting to a communication network; a communication interface selecting means for selecting the communication interface; A conference information management unit, a terminal control unit, and an application program. In the start-up process, the conference information management unit uses each of the plurality of communication interfaces from the communication interface selection unit. Connecting to the communication network, requesting the conference information of the conference being held to the conference information management unit of the other terminal connected to the communication network, and transmitting the returned conference information to the communication interface. Stored with the identifying communication interface identifier,
The conference information of all saved conferences is displayed to the user. (A) When a user of a terminal that is not holding a conference or has not participated in the conference holds the conference for the first time, The conference information management unit determines the communication interface by selecting a communication network with the smallest number of conferences held from the stored conference information as a communication network for the conference, and sends the communication interface to the communication interface selecting unit. By transmitting an interface identifier, the communication interface selecting means switches the communication interface as necessary, the conference information management unit activates the in-meeting control unit and the terminal control unit, and executes a conference of the held conference. Along with the information, the information of the in-meeting control unit and the determined communication interface The communication interface identifier and the participation status identifier indicating whether or not the user is participating in the conference are set and stored in the identifier indicating “participation”, and are stored in the conference information management unit of another terminal connected to the communication network. Transmitting the conference information, displaying only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network to the user, the application program of the terminal and another terminal communicating with each other, When a user of a terminal that has not been held or has not participated in a conference participates in the conference for the first time, the conference information management unit, according to a request from the user, holds the conference information Selecting the communication interface based on the communication interface, transmitting the communication interface identifier to the communication interface selecting means, Source selection means switches the communication interface as necessary, the conference information management unit activates the terminal control unit, and "participates" in the participation state identifier stored together with the conference information of the conference to participate. And displaying only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network to the user, the application programs communicating with each other, and (c) holding the conference or participating in the conference. When a user of a terminal that is present holds a new conference, the conference information management unit determines the connected communication network as a communication network for the conference, and sets the in-conference control unit and the terminal control unit to The information of the in-meeting control unit, together with the conference information of the conference to be started and held, and the communication interface corresponding to the connected communication network. And stores the participation status identifier indicating "participation" in the conference, and displays the conference information of the newly held conference to the user in addition to the conference information already displayed to the user. Transmitting the conference information to the conference information management unit of another terminal connected to the communication network, the application program of the terminal and another terminal communicating with each other, (d) holding a conference, Alternatively, when the user of the terminal participating in the conference newly joins the conference, the conference information management unit activates the terminal control unit according to a request from the user, and the conference information management unit The participation status identifier stored together with the conference information is referred to as "participation".
And (e) when a user of a terminal participating in a conference held at another terminal leaves the conference, the terminal control unit executes the application program. After completing all, the conference itself is terminated, the conference information management unit sets the participation state identifier stored together with the conference information of the leaving conference to “not participated”, and the conference information of the other conference is displayed. If the participation state identifier does not indicate “participation”, all the conference information displayed to the user is deleted. (F) When the terminal user leaves the conference held at his / her own terminal, The terminal control unit terminates the application program and terminates itself, and upon receiving the information, the in-conference control unit participates in the conference and Notifying the terminal control unit of the terminal that the conference has ended and ending the conference, and receiving the information, the conference information management unit sets the participation status identifier stored together with the conference information of the leaving conference to “not participating”. And, tell the conference information management unit of the other terminal connected to the same communication network that the conference of the conference information is finished, and "participation" in the participation state identifier of the conference information of the other conference If there is no representation, delete all the meeting information displayed to the user and click "Join"
If there is a message indicating that the conference information of the leaving conference displayed to the user is deleted, no special device other than the terminals is required for controlling participation, holding, and leaving the conference. A unique conference system. 3. The conference information management unit exchanges and holds conference information between terminals connected to the same communication network, and starts a procedure for holding / participating a conference in accordance with an instruction from a user. 3. The conference system according to claim 2, wherein only the conference information held in the connected communication network is provided to the user. 4. The conference system according to claim 2, wherein said communication interface selection means receives an instruction from said conference information management unit and selects a communication interface to be used. 5. The in-meeting control unit manages a meeting,
3. The conference system according to claim 2, wherein start / end control from another processing unit is received, and conference management information is sent to the other processing unit. 6. The terminal control unit performs a process of joining / leaving a conference, starts an application program as needed, and receives start / end control from another processing unit. The conference system according to claim 2. 7. A communication system comprising: a plurality of terminals connected to a communication network; each terminal comprising: an application program; a one-to-one communication unit for performing one-to-one communication between terminals; An API (application programming interface) processing unit for exchanging information of a plurality of the application programs with one communication unit; a conference communication unit for distributing information sent one-to-one to a plurality of terminals; The application program of one terminal further comprises:
By transmitting information from the one-to-one communication unit to the plurality of application programs via the API processing unit from the one-to-one communication unit of the plurality of terminals via the conference communication unit, a plurality of users share an application. 3. The conference system according to claim 2, wherein the conference system is enabled. 8. An API processing unit comprising means for sending information from a plurality of said application programs to said one-to-one communication unit, and sending information from said one-to-one communication unit to a target said application program. The conference system according to claim 7, wherein: 9. The one-to-one communication unit sends information from the application program to the conference communication unit operating in a conference, sends information from the conference communication unit to the application program, and 8. The conference system according to claim 7, further comprising means for receiving start / end control from said processing unit. 10. The conference communication unit receives information from the one-to-one processing unit, duplicates and sends the received information to the one-to-one processing units of a plurality of terminals according to an instruction thereof, and 8. The conference system according to claim 7, further comprising means for receiving start / end control from another processing unit. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the application programs transmit information via the one-to-one communication unit, receive information from the one-to-one communication unit, and perform processing to operate in cooperation with each other. The conference system according to claim 7, wherein: 12. A communication interface comprising a plurality of terminals connected to a communication network, each terminal having a plurality of communication interfaces for connecting to a communication network, and a communication interface selecting means for selecting the communication interface; An application program; a one-to-one communication unit for one-to-one communication between terminals; an API (application programming interface) processing unit for exchanging information between the application program and the one-to-one communication unit; A conference communication unit for distributing the information sent to a plurality of terminals, a conference control unit provided in each terminal and operating one for each conference, a conference information management unit, The conference information management unit, the communication interface selection means, the plurality of communication interfaces Of the other terminals connected to the communication network, exchanges conference information with the conference information management unit of the other terminal connected to the communication network, and performs a conference held on each of the communication networks. A conference system, wherein information is distributed and managed together with a communication interface identifier for identifying the communication interface. 13. A program executed on a terminal for controlling participation and holding of a conference on a communication network between a plurality of terminals, the communication interface controlling selection of a plurality of communication interfaces of the terminal. Selecting means; one-to-one communication means for one-to-one communication between a plurality of terminals; API (application programming interface) processing means for exchanging information between an application program and said one-to-one communication means; A conference communication means for distributing the information sent by a plurality of terminals, a conference control means provided in each terminal and operating one for each conference, and a conference information management means; Has a program for realizing the function of each of the above means, the conference information management means, by the communication interface selection means, Connected to a communication network selected from the number of communication interfaces, exchanges conference information with the conference information management means of another terminal connected to the communication network, and is held on each of the communication networks. A recording medium recording a program for controlling distributed conference information together with a communication interface identifier for identifying the communication interface and controlling the presentation of the conference information to a user. 14. A program executed on a terminal for controlling participation, holding, and leaving of a conference on a communication network between a plurality of terminals, wherein each terminal is connected to a communication network. A communication interface and an application program, and in the start-up process, the terminal uses each of the plurality of communication interfaces, connects to each of the communication networks, to another terminal connected to the communication network, Requesting the conference information of the conference being held, storing the returned conference information together with the communication interface identifier identifying the communication interface, displaying the conference information of all the stored conferences to the user; a) A user of a terminal that does not hold a meeting or participates in a meeting holds the meeting for the first time. In doing so, the terminal determines the communication interface by selecting the communication network with the least number of conferences held from the stored conference information as the communication network for the conference, and switches the communication network as necessary, The terminal, together with the conference information of the conference to be held, the information of the terminal that holds the conference, the communication interface identifier of the determined communication interface, and the participation status identifier that indicates whether or not the user participates in the conference, And storing the conference information to another terminal connected to the communication network, displaying only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network to the user,
When the terminal and the application program of another terminal communicate with each other, (b) When a user of a terminal that does not hold a conference or participates in a conference does not participate in the conference for the first time, Determining the communication interface based on the held conference information in accordance with a request from a user, switching a communication network if necessary, and storing the participation state stored together with the conference information of the conference to be joined. The identifier is “participation”, and only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network is displayed to the user, the application programs communicate with each other, (c) the conference is being held, or When a user of a terminal participating in a conference holds a new conference, the terminal must be connected to the connected communication network. Is determined as the communication network for the conference, together with the conference information of the conference to be held, information on the terminal that holds the conference, the communication interface identifier corresponding to the connected communication network, and "participation" in the conference. Storing the participation state identifier representing the conference information, displaying the conference information of the newly held conference to the user in addition to the conference information already displayed to the user, and connecting to the communication network. The terminal transmits the conference information to the terminal, and the terminal and an application program of another terminal communicate with each other. (D) A user of a terminal that is holding a conference or participates in the conference newly receives a conference. When joining the terminal, the terminal sets the participation status identifier stored together with the conference information of the conference to be joined to “participation” in accordance with a request from the user, The application programs communicate with each other, and (e) when a user of a terminal participating in a conference held at another terminal leaves the conference, the terminal terminates all of the application programs. The participation status identifier stored together with the conference information of the leaving conference is set to “not participated”, and if there is no entry indicating “participation” in the participation status identifier of the conference information of another conference, it is displayed to the user. (F) when the user of the terminal leaves the conference held at his / her own terminal, the terminal terminates all the application programs and the terminal participating in the conference Notify the end of the conference, and the participation state identifier stored with the conference information of the conference to leave the "not participated",
Informs other terminals connected to the communication network that the conference of the conference information has ended, and displays to the user if there is no "participation" in the participation state identifier of the conference information of the other conference. Deletes all of the meeting information that is present, and if there is something that indicates participation, deletes the meeting information of the leaving meeting that is displayed to the user, and controls the participation, holding, and leaving of the meeting. A recording medium on which a program for controlling such that no special device other than the terminals is required is recorded. 15. A program executed on a terminal for controlling participation, holding, and leaving of a conference on a communication network between a plurality of terminals, the program comprising a plurality of communication interfaces for connecting to the communication network. A communication interface selecting means for selecting, an in-meeting control means, a meeting information managing means, a terminal controlling means, and a program for realizing each function of the above means; and an application program. In the start-up process, the conference information management means uses each of the plurality of communication interfaces from the communication interface selection means, connects to each of the communication networks, and executes the communication of the other terminals connected to the communication network. Requests the conference information of the conference being held to the conference information management means, and sends the returned conference information to the Stored together with a communication interface identifier for identifying the communication interface,
The conference information of all saved conferences is displayed to the user. (A) When a user of a terminal that is not holding a conference or has not participated in the conference holds the conference for the first time, The conference information management means selects the communication network with the smallest number of conferences held from the stored conference information as the communication network for the conference,
By determining the communication interface and transmitting the communication interface identifier to the communication interface selection means, the communication interface selection means switches the communication interface as necessary, the conference information management means, the conference control Means and the terminal control means, and together with the conference information of the held conference, information on the in-meeting control means, the determined communication interface identifier of the communication interface, and participation indicating whether or not the user is participating in the conference. "Join" status identifier
And saves the conference information to the conference information management means of another terminal connected to the communication network, and stores the conference in a conference held in the connected communication network. Only the information is displayed to the user, and the terminal and the application program of the other terminal communicate with each other. (B) The user of the terminal not holding the meeting or participating in the meeting enters the meeting When joining for the first time, the conference information management means selects the communication interface based on the held conference information according to a request from a user, and provides the communication interface identifier to the communication interface selection means. And the communication interface selecting means switches the communication interface as needed, Stage, activating the terminal controller,
The participation state identifier stored together with the conference information of the conference to be joined is referred to as “participation”, and only the conference information of the conference held in the connected communication network is displayed to the user. (C) When a user of a terminal that is holding a conference or participates in a conference holds a new conference, the conference information management means uses a communication network connected to the terminal. Determined as a communication network for the conference, activate the in-conference control means and the terminal control means, together with the conference information of the conference to be held, information on the in-conference control means,
The communication interface identifier corresponding to the connected communication network and the participation status identifier indicating "participation" in the conference are stored, and newly held in addition to the conference information already displayed to the user. Displaying the conference information of the conference to the user, transmitting the conference information to the conference information management means of the other terminal connected to the communication network, and the terminal and the application program of the other terminal communicating with each other. (D) When a user of a terminal holding or participating in a conference newly participates in the conference, the conference information management means operates according to a request from the user. Activating the control means and setting the participation status identifier stored together with the conference information of the conference to be joined to “participation”, and the application programs (E) When a user of a terminal participating in a conference held at another terminal leaves the conference, the terminal control means, after terminating all the application programs, returns to its own And the conference information management means sets the participation state identifier stored together with the conference information of the leaving conference to “not participated” and sets “participation” to the participation state identifier of the conference information of another conference. If there is no such information, all the meeting information displayed to the user is deleted. (F) When the user of the terminal leaves the meeting held at his / her own terminal, the terminal control means sets the application The program ends and terminates itself. Upon receiving the information, the in-meeting control unit sends the end of the meeting to the terminal control unit of a terminal participating in the meeting. And the conference information management means receiving the information sets the participation status identifier stored together with the conference information of the leaving conference to "not participated" and is connected to the communication network. Notify the conference information management means of the other terminal that the conference of the conference information has ended, and if there is no entry indicating "participation" in the participation state identifier of the conference information of the other conference, display to the user. Deletes all of the conference information that has been entered, and if there is something that indicates "participation", deletes the conference information of the leaving conference that is displayed to the user and controls the participation, holding, and leaving of the conference. A recording medium for recording a control program so that no special device other than the terminal is required.