JPH11275544A - Office connection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To have a moderate tense atmosphere and the sense of unity and also to perform close communication by picking up of the images of the insides of main and side offices respectively as a whole and displaying the contents of the picked up main/side offices in the side/main offices. SOLUTION: When the power supply of this office connection system is inputted and an operation is shown, the situations of a side office and the situations of a main office are respectively shown on each display screen of display units 7a and 7b of the main and side offices and also sounds of the side and main offices flow from speakers of sound units 6a and 6b of the main and side offices. Then, especially an employee in the side office (at home or satellite office) can work, having presence and a sense of unity as if he works in the main office (headquarters) and further having a tense atmosphere.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a workplace connection system in which a head office and a branch office of the head office are connected using a communication line so that they can be integrated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to reduce the burden of long-distance commuting, a so-called SOHO that works at home or establishes a satellite office or small office near the home as a branch office of the head office and works in the satellite office or the like. Work is starting to take place.

In the case of working at home or in a satellite office as described above, a communication line is provided between the main office of the head office and a home office or a sub-office such as a satellite office, and telephone, facsimile, e-mail, or They are configured to communicate with each other by a videophone or a video conference system.

[0004]

However, in the method of using telephone, facsimile, or e-mail for communication between the main office and the sub-office, the persons in charge cannot see each other's faces, There was a drawback that communication was not possible.

[0005] In particular, the sub-office is separated from the main office and lacks a sense of realism or tension, resulting in reduced work efficiency and quality, or due to lack of daily communication. There is a concern that people may feel lonely or alienated.

In a method using a videophone or a video conference system so that the main office and the sub-office can see each other's faces, only the face images of each other are displayed, so that the atmosphere of the entire workplace is grasped. Can't do it, and because each other's face images are always taken,
There is a drawback that, as if being monitored at all times, the nervousness and unpleasant sensation become stress, and the working efficiency is rather reduced.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and has a modest tension and unity between the main office and the sub-office at all times so that stress is not felt. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a workplace combination system that recognizes workplaces and enables close communication as needed.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, a workplace combination system according to the present invention has a main office and a suboffice having a predetermined relationship with the main office. Means and display means for displaying the imaged content of the main office in the sub-office and displaying the imaged content of the sub-office in the main office. In addition, sound collecting means for collecting the sounds in the main office and the sub-office are provided, and the sound collected in the main office is generated in the sub-office, and the sound collected in the sub-office is recorded in the main office. It is characterized by providing a sound generating means for generating sounds in the office. And providing communication line generating means for designating a person or a seat displayed in the display means and generating a communication line with the person or the person relating to the seat. Features. Further, an enlarged display means for enlarging and displaying the person who has generated the communication line is provided.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a workplace combination system according to one embodiment.

Main office side device a and sub office side device b
Since the configuration is the same, the description will be focused on the main office apparatus a. Note that the constituent elements of the sub-office-side device b are indicated by adding a suffix “b” to the reference numerals.

The main office-side device a has a central processing unit (CPU) 3a for performing predetermined arithmetic processing using a system program stored in the ROM 1a and working data stored in the RAM 2a.

The CPU 3a is connected to an imaging unit 5a, an audio unit 6a, a display unit 7a, an input unit 8a, a communication control unit 9a, and a telephone line communication control unit 10a via an I / O unit 4a.

The image pickup unit 5a is provided with a sub-office-side device b.
Wall-mounted display screen of the display unit 7b shown in FIG.
An image for displaying the inside of the main office is taken into (a) (a) and (b) (b), and is constituted by a camera (not shown) such as a CCD camera.

FIG. 2A shows the inside of the main office imaged by the imaging unit 5a, and the contents are displayed on the display screen of the display unit 7b of the sub-office-side device b (see FIG. b) b)). FIG. 2 (b)
This shows the inside of the sub-office imaged by the imaging unit 5b of the sub-office-side device b, and this content is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 7a of the main office-side device a (FIG. 2).
(A) of (a)).

The camera of the image pickup unit 5a is configured so that the image pickup range can be moved by remote control or a predetermined position can be enlarged and displayed.

3 (a) and 3 (b), FIG. 3 (a) shows a display screen 7b 'of the display unit 7b of the sub-office-side apparatus b. A mark for controlling the imaging direction of the camera of the imaging unit 5a of the office apparatus a is displayed.

The display screen 7b 'is composed of a touch panel, and also forms a part of the input unit 8b. Therefore, when the arrow direction of this mark is touched, the camera of the main office-side device a can be moved, and the desired position of the main office can be displayed on the display screen 7b 'of the sub-office.

The image pickup range of the camera of the main office device a is moved by the mouse m of the personal computer 20 of the sub-office employee (“Sato” in the illustrated example) connected to the sub-office device b. Can be performed by the cursor moved by the user or by the point of the laser pointer 21 possessed by the employee.

The contents displayed on the display screen 7b 'can be read by touching a predetermined position on the display screen 7b'.
Alternatively, by designating with the mouse m or with the laser pointer 21, the portion can be enlarged and displayed. FIG.
(B) shows the state where the employee of the sub-office (Mr. Sato) has enlarged the employee of the main office (Mr. Tanaka) by designating it with the laser pointer 21.

Incidentally, such a call of the specific person is made by using a keyboard (not shown) of the personal computer 20.
It can also be performed by inputting the person (in the above example, Mr. Tanaka).

The operation and input of the display screen described above can be performed in both directions of the main office and the sub-office.

The sound unit 6a is composed of a microphone and a speaker (not shown). The sound in the main office is collected by the microphone, and the sound in the main office is sounded through the speaker of the sound unit 6b of the sub-office apparatus b. Can be flushed into the office. Similarly, the sound in the sub-office can be played in the main office.

The communication control units 9a and 9b provide a communication network (LA) between the main office device a and the sub office device b.
N), which is omitted in FIG. 1, when there are a plurality of sub-office-side devices b, the other sub-office-side devices are also connected to the main office-side device a. Of course, when it is necessary to connect the secondary office device b to another secondary office device, it is connected to the secondary office device.

The telephone line communication control units 10a and 10b are used when the employee of the main office or the employee of the sub office is out of office.
It is used when you want to contact the employee on the go, and includes an automatic calling function.

Next, the overall control operation of the workplace combination system having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Now, when the power supply of the workplace combination system is turned on and the operation is disclosed (Yes at Step 100; hereinafter, the step is referred to as "S"), each of the display units 7a and 7b of the main office and the sub-offices. The display screen displays the status of the sub-office and the status of the main office (see FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b)), and the speakers of the audio units 6a and 6b of the main and sub-offices. Sound and the sound in the main office flow (S
102).

Therefore, in particular, the employees of the sub-office (home or satellite office) can work as if they were working in the main office (headquarters), with a sense of unity and a sense of tension.

In the above state, for example, when an employee of the sub-office (hereinafter described by Mr. Sato) wants to meet with an employee of the main office (hereinafter described by Mr. Tanaka), as described above. Mr. Tanaka is called by an input means such as a simple mouse m, and the Mr. Tanaka is enlarged and displayed. In this state, a conversation between Mr. Sato and Mr. Tanaka is made via the voice units 6a and 6b. (S104
Affirmative, S106 affirmative, S108, S110). Of course, this conversation can also be conducted with each other by telephone.

When Mr. Tanaka is not present (No at S106), Mr. Tanaka is designated by Mr. Sato,
A mobile communication device such as a mobile phone, a PHS, or a pager owned by Mr. Tanaka is automatically called via the telephone line communication control unit 10a (S112). Therefore,
Mr. Sato can hold a predetermined discussion with Mr. Tanaka who is out of the main office.

[0030]

According to the present invention, there is provided a workplace combination system, comprising: an image pickup means for taking a picture of the inside of a main office and a sub-office having a predetermined relationship with the main office; In addition to the display means for displaying in the sub-office and displaying the imaged contents of the sub-office in the main office, in particular, the employees of the sub-office are working in the main office. You can work while having the same sense of presence, unity, and tension. In addition to providing sound collecting means for collecting sounds in the main office and the sub-office, the sound collected in the main office is generated in the sub-office, and the sound collected in the sub-office is collected in the main office. When the sound generating means for generating the sound is provided, the sense of realism can be further enhanced. Further, when the communication line generating means for generating a communication line with the person or the person related to the seat by designating the person or the displayed seat shown in the display means, You can easily talk with the other party. When an enlargement display unit for enlarging and displaying a person who has generated a communication line is provided, it is possible to have a conversation while looking closely at a conversation partner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a workplace engagement system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a display example of a display screen.

FIG. 3 is a display example of a display screen.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 a Main office-side device b Sub-office-side device 1a, 1b ROM 2a, 2b RAM 3a, 3b CPU 4a, 4b I / O unit 5a, 5b Imaging unit 6a, 6b Audio unit 7a, 7b Display unit 8a, 8b Input unit 9a , 9b Communication control unit 10a, 10b Telephone line communication control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] An imaging unit for entirely imaging the inside of a main office and a sub-office having a predetermined relationship with the main office; displaying the imaged contents of the main office in the sub-office; Display means for displaying the imaged content of the sub-office in the main office; and a work combination system. 2. A sound collecting means for collecting sounds in the main office and the sub-office, respectively, a sound collected in the main office is generated in the sub-office, and a sound collected in the sub-office is provided. 2. The workplace combination system according to claim 1, further comprising a sound generating means for generating the sound in the main office. 3. A communication line generating means for designating a person or a seat shown in the display means and generating a communication line with the person or a person related to the seat is provided. The workplace combination system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The workplace combination system according to claim 3, further comprising an enlarged display unit for enlarging and displaying the person who has generated the communication line.