JPH11313295A - Inter-multi-point video conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hold an inter-multi-point video conference according to the meet-me conference method even when a plurality of MCUA(multi-point video conference communication control units) are star-connected. SOLUTION: A conference operation section 2 is connected to MCUs 30, 31 and each of the MCUs 30, 31 is provided with an inter-MCU connection instruction section 13 to attain the meet-me conference method where a video conference terminal is connected to the MCU side to hold a conference. Thus, a load imposed on a master MCU acting like a center of the MCU in star connection is relieved and a fault hardly occurs.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipoint video conference system comprising a plurality of video conference terminals and a multipoint video conference communication control device for controlling the plurality of video conference terminals. The present invention relates to a multipoint video conference system in which point video conference communication control devices are connected in a star configuration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional multipoint video conference system composed of one multipoint video conference communication control device (hereinafter abbreviated as MCU (Multipoint Control Unit)). In the figure, 1 is an MCU that controls a plurality of video conference terminals to realize a multipoint videoconference, 2 is a conference operation unit that is operated by, for example, an operator (not shown), and sets a multipoint videoconference. 3 is ISDN
4 is a demultiplexing unit, 5 is an audio-video bus, 6 is a conference control processing unit, 7 is a video processing unit, 8 is an audio processing unit, 9
Is a control bus and 10 is a line bus. Also, 20 to 2n
Is a video conference terminal.

Next, the operation will be described. Conference operation unit 2
Notifies the MCU 1 (specifically, the conference control processing unit 6) of the information about the holding time of the multipoint video conference specified by the operator and the participating video conference terminals. Also, ISDN
The line corresponding unit 3 includes the MCU 1 and the video conference terminals 20 to 2n.
And a digital line such as an ISDN line to connect
Exchanges multiplexed data such as voice. Also,
The demultiplexing unit 4 outputs images from the video conference terminals 20 to 2n,
Separate and multiplex data such as voice. The audio / video bus 5 exchanges data separated into video, audio, and the like between the demultiplexing unit 4, the video processing unit 7, and the audio processing unit 8.

A conference control processing unit 6 communicates with a plurality of video conference terminals 20 to 2n via the ISDN line corresponding unit 3 or the demultiplexing unit 4, and performs conference control such as video control and audio addition processing. . The video processing unit 7 performs video switching according to an instruction from the conference control processing unit 6, and the audio processing unit 8 performs audio decoding / coding processing and audio addition according to the instruction from the conference control processing unit 6. The control bus 9 is provided for the conference control processing unit 6.
The control signal is exchanged between the control unit 3 and the ISDN line corresponding unit 3, the demultiplexing unit 4, the audio processing unit 8, and the video processing unit 7.
The line bus 10 exchanges data such as video and audio multiplexed between the ISDN line corresponding unit 3 and the demultiplexing unit 4.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a multipoint video conference system in which a plurality of MCUs 1a, 1b, and 1c having the same configuration as the MCU 1 shown in FIG. 6 are connected in a star configuration. FIG. FIG. 7 is an operation sequence diagram when a multipoint video conference is held by a method of calling a video conference terminal from a side (hereinafter, referred to as a host conference method). In the host conference system, a video conference terminal 20 that hosts a conference is used.
(Host terminal) and MCU 1a connected to conference operation unit 2
Is called a master MCU, and MCU1 connected to MCU1a.
b, MCU1c is called a slave MCU. In FIG. 7, a video conference terminal 2 serving as a host terminal is provided to the MCU 1a.
0 and the video conference terminal 21 are connected.

[0006] Video conference terminals 22 and 23 are connected to the MCU 1b serving as the slave MCU, and video conference terminals 24 and 25 are connected to the MCU 1c also serving as the slave MCU.
Connect. 8 shows only operations of the conference operation unit 2, the MCU 1a, the MCU 1b, the video conference terminal 20, and the video conference terminal 22 for simplicity.
c and the video conference terminals 21, 23 to 25 also operate according to the operation sequence of FIG.

Next, the operation of connecting a plurality of MCUs in a star and holding a multipoint video conference by the host conference will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, the operator specifies a conference holding time of a multipoint video conference to be held, a master MCU, a slave MCU, a video conference terminal to be a host terminal, a video conference terminal to participate in the conference, and the like from the conference operation unit 2. The conference operation unit 2 sets up a multipoint video conference based on the designated conditions and outputs a conference holding request to the MCU 1a.

[0008] The MCU 1a that has input the conference holding request outputs a conference holding response to the conference operating unit 2. MCU1
a starts a connection operation five minutes before the conference holding time, and outputs a call setting request to the video conference terminal 20 serving as a host.
On the other hand, when the video conference terminal 20 determines that it can be connected to the MCU 1a, it outputs the connection. Thereby, MC
The call connection between U1a and the video conference terminal 20 is completed.

[0009] Next, between the MCU 1a (specifically, the demultiplexing unit 4 shown in FIG. 6) and the video conference terminal 20, for example, the international standard ITU-T recommendation H.264. Synchronization establishment / capability exchange operation is performed to achieve frame synchronization as specified by H.221 and match the multiplex format of data such as video, audio, and control data. The MCU 1a outputs an MCU connection notification to the video conference terminal 20 when the synchronization establishment / capability confirmation operation is completed. The video conference terminal 20 that has received the MCU connection notification outputs an MCU connection confirmation to the MCU 1a. Also, the MCU 1a that has input the MCU connection confirmation
Outputs a conference holding instruction to the video conference terminal 20.

[0010] Further, the video conference terminal 20 that has input the conference holding instruction outputs a conference holding response to the MCU 1a, and waits for the start of the conference. The MCU 1a also performs a similar sequence on the video conference terminal 21 to put it into a conference waiting state. Also, the MCU 1a is an M
The sequence from call setting to MCU connection confirmation is performed for the MCU 1b, and the MCU 1a that has input the MCU connection confirmation from the MCU 1b sends the MCU 1b the video conference terminals 22, 23 to the MCU 1b.
Outputs a meeting request to connect to

[0011] The MCU 1b that has input the request to hold a conference.
Outputs the meeting acceptance to the MCU 1a. Also, MC
U1b is the video conference terminal 2 according to the content of the conference holding request.
A sequence from the call setting to the conference holding response is performed for the terminals 2 and 23, the connection is established, and a conference waiting state is set. Also, M
The CU 1a requests the MCU 1c to hold a conference in a similar sequence, whereby the MCU 1c performs a sequence operation from the call setting to the conference holding response to the video conference terminals 24 and 25, establishes a connection, and enters a conference waiting state. Let it.

While performing the above-mentioned sequence, the MCU 1a outputs a terminal status instruction to the MCUs 1b and 1c as needed to inquire about the status of the terminals connected to the MCUs 1b and 1c. The MCUs 1b and 1c that have input the terminal status instruction output a terminal status response describing the status of the video conference terminal to be connected to the MCU 1a. Further, the MCU 1a outputs a terminal status notification to the video conference terminal 20 serving as a host as needed to notify the connection status of the video conference terminals participating in the conference.

[0013] Also, when the meeting time comes, the MCU
1a is video conference terminals 20, 21 and MCUs 1b, 1c
Output a meeting start instruction to the The MCU 1b that has input the conference start instruction outputs a conference start instruction to the video conference terminals 22 and 23. Similarly, M who has input the meeting start instruction
The CU 1c outputs a conference start instruction to the video conference terminals 24 and 25. With the above operation, the MCUs 1a, 1b, 1
c is connected in a star shape, and a multipoint video conference is held using the video conference terminal 20 as a host.

Next, the synchronization establishment / capability exchange sequence operation shown in FIG. 8 will be described. A procedure for matching multiple formats such as video and audio by a synchronization establishment / capability exchange sequence is described in, for example, International Standard ITU-T Recommendation H.264. 221
A control path called a BAS command as specified in International Standard ITU-T Recommendation H. 242 is performed according to the capability exchange procedure. What is the ability exchange procedure?
This refers to a procedure for indicating to a partner station (for example, the video conference terminal 20) the receivable communication capability (receivable audio coding scheme, receivable video frame rate, etc.) of the own station (for example, MCU1a). Thereafter, when the communication capability of the partner station is recognized, communication is started with an arbitrary capability (communication mode) among the capability of the partner station. During communication, both sides repeatedly transmit the current communication mode to make the other station always recognize the current multiplex format.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration of FIG. 6 (a configuration in which a multipoint video conference is performed by one MCU), in which a video conference terminal calls the MCU (hereinafter referred to as a MeetMe conference system). FIG. 7 is an operation sequence diagram when the event is held. The MeetMe conference system is different from the host conference system in the following points. (1) The MCU 1 waits for a connection from a video conference terminal that participates in the conference only by securing resources such as the ISDN line corresponding unit 3 and the demultiplexing unit 4 according to the set contents of the multipoint video conference. The operation load until the multipoint video conference of the MCU 1 is held is reduced.

(2) For example, in the host conference mode, the connection operation to the video conference terminal that participates in the conference is started 5 minutes before the conference is held. In this case, the MCU 1 retries the video conference terminal that cannot be connected. Operation must be performed, and the load on MCU1 increases. On the other hand, in the MeetMe conference system, the MCU 1 only needs to respond to the connection from the video conference terminal side.
The content to be actively operated from the first side decreases, and the MCU
The load on 1 is reduced.

Next, the operation of holding a multipoint video conference using the MeetMe conference system will be described. In FIG. 9, for example, the operator designates a conference holding time, a video conference terminal to participate in the conference, and the like from the conference operation unit 2. The conference operation unit 2 sets a multipoint video conference based on the designated conditions and outputs a conference holding request to the MCU 1. The MCU 1 outputs a conference holding response to the conference operating unit 2 in response to the input meeting holding request. Also, at the conference holding time, the MCU 1 internally secures necessary resources such as the ISDN line corresponding unit 3 and the demultiplexing unit 4 and waits for a connection from a participating video conference terminal.

The video conference terminal 20 that should participate in the multipoint video conference outputs a call setting to the MCU 1 when the conference is held. The MCU 1 that has input the call setting from the video conference terminal 20 outputs a connection when it is determined that the connection can be established with the video conference terminal 20. Thereby, the call connection between the MCU 1 and the video conference terminal 20 is completed. next,
Synchronization is established between the MCU 1 and the video conference terminal 20.
A sequence from the capability exchange to the meeting holding response is performed.
The MCU 1 that has received the conference holding response from the video conference terminal 20 outputs a conference start instruction to the video conference terminal 20. In addition, the video conference terminal 2 that has input the conference start instruction
0 outputs a conference start response to the MCU 1.

As a result, the video conference terminal 20 communicates with the MCU.
1 is in a state of participating in the multipoint video conference held. The video conference terminal 2n also connects to the MCU 1 in the same sequence as the video conference terminal 20, and participates in a multipoint video conference. By the above operation, M of 1 MCU
A multipoint video conference is held by the eeMe conference method.

[0020]

The conventional multipoint video conference system is configured as described above, and has the following problems. (1) In a conventional multipoint video conference system, a plurality of M
When a multipoint video conference is held by connecting CUs in a star configuration, the host conference must be used. However, in the host conference system, the master MCU must manage the video conference terminals to be connected to the slave MCUs using dedicated commands (for example, conference conference request / acceptance, terminal status instruction / response / notification, etc.). Must.
In other words, as the number of slave MCUs increases, the master MCU
However, there is a problem that the load on the device increases and a failure easily occurs.

(2) In addition, even if an attempt is made to hold a multipoint video conference in which a plurality of MCUs are connected in a star by the MeetMe conference method, there is a problem that cannot be realized because there is no sequence for connecting a plurality of MCUs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a multipoint video conference using the MeetMe conference system even when a plurality of MCUs are connected in a star configuration. A multipoint video conference system that can be held is provided.

[0023]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A multipoint video conference system according to the present invention connects a video conference terminal to a multipoint video conference communication controller to hold a multipoint video conference. In the conference system, a main multipoint video conference communication control device disposed at the center when a plurality of the multipoint video conference communication control devices are connected in a star shape, and a slave connected to the main multipoint video conference communication control device. A multipoint videoconference communication control device, a conference operation unit that outputs an instruction to hold a multipoint videoconference by connecting to each of the master multipoint videoconference communication control device and the slave multipoint videoconference communication control device, It is provided at least between the conference operation unit and the master multipoint communication control device, and specifies connection to the slave multipoint communication control device when a holding command is input from the conference operation unit. It is obtained by a connection instruction section for.

Further, the multipoint video conference system according to the present invention is a multipoint video conference system for holding a multipoint video conference by connecting a video conference terminal to a multipoint video conference communication control device. A main multipoint video conference communication control device disposed at the center when a plurality of the multipoint video conference communication control devices are connected in a star shape,
A multi-point video conference communication control device connected to the master multi-point video conference communication control device; and a multi-point video communication device connected to each of the master multi-point video conference communication control device and the slave multi-point video conference communication control device. A conference operation unit that outputs a video conference holding instruction, and is provided at least between the conference operation unit and the slave multipoint communication control device, and is used when the host multipoint communication instruction is input from the conference operation unit. And a connection instructing unit for instructing connection to the communication control device.

Further, the multipoint video conference system according to the next invention is provided with a remote connection unit between the conference operation unit and the connection instructing unit, which enables remote operation from the conference operation unit. is there.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multipoint video conference system according to the present invention.
The same reference numerals denote the same or equivalent functions, and a description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, MCUs 30 and 31 are different from the MCU 1a shown in FIG. 1 in that an MCU connection instruction unit 13 is provided between the conference operation unit 2 and the conference control unit 6.
The MCU 31 has the same configuration as the MCU 30. FIG. 2 is an operation sequence diagram when a multipoint video conference of the MeetMe conference system is held in the configuration of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the inter-MCU connection instruction unit 13. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the content of a command for a conference holding request.

Next, the operation of the multipoint video conference system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the configuration of, the MCU 30 is replaced with the master MCU, the MCU 3
1 is a slave MCU. It is also assumed that the video conference terminal 20 is connected to the MCU 30 and the video conference terminal 21 is connected to the MCU 31. Conference operation unit 2
Are directly connected to the MCUs 30 and 31. For example, the operator (not shown) may use the conference operation unit 2 to hold the conference holding time of the multipoint video conference, the master MC,
U, a slave MCU, and a video conference terminal to participate in the conference are specified.

The conference operation unit 2 sets up a multipoint video conference based on the above designated conditions, and
And output a meeting request. The MCUs 30 and 31 that have received the conference holding request output a conference holding response to the conference operating unit 2. Also, when the meeting time comes, the MCU
Each of 30 and 31 internally secures necessary resources such as the ISDN line corresponding unit 3 and the demultiplexing unit 4, and waits for a connection from a participating video conference terminal. The MCU 30 operates the MCU connection instructing unit 13 to be described later to operate the MCU 30.
The sequence from call setting to meeting start response is performed to 31.

When the conference time has come, the video conference terminal 20 performs a sequence from the call setting to the conference start response to the MCU 30 and connects to the MCU 30. Similarly, the video conference terminal 21 performs a sequence from the call setting to the conference start response to the MCU 31 and connects to the MCU 31. As a result, a multipoint video conference using the MeetMe conference method of a plurality of MCUs is held.

Next, the MC by the MCU connection instruction unit 13
The connection operation between U will be described with reference to FIG. The inter-MCU connection instructing unit 13 that has input the conference holding request from the conference operating unit 2 in ST1 shifts to ST2. In ST2, it is determined whether or not there is a connection MCU in the command of the conference holding request shown in FIG. 4, and if there is, the operation is ended, and if not, the operation is ended. In ST3, M of the conference holding request command shown in FIG.
Based on the CU type, it is determined whether or not the own MCU is a master MCU. If the own MCU is the master MCU, the process proceeds to ST4; otherwise, the operation is terminated.

Further, in ST4, referring to the contents of the conference holding request command shown in FIG. 4, a connection operation is made to the slave MCU by a midway call request, and the operation ends. still,
The midway call request is one of the commands existing from the conventional multipoint video conference, and when a midway call request is made to the slave MCU, a sequence of a call setting to a conference start response as shown in FIG. To connect to the slave MCU.

With the above operation, a multipoint video conference in which a plurality of MCUs in the MeetMe conference mode are connected in a star configuration can be held. The connection operation of the multipoint video conference between a plurality of MCUs by the MeetMe conference method has the following features. (1) By inserting the inter-MCU connection instruction unit 13 into the conventional MCU 1 shown in FIG. 6 (the configuration of the MCU 30 shown in FIG. 1),
The connection can be easily performed by causing the U-to-U connection instruction unit 13 to perform the operation shown in FIG. (2) When connecting from the MCU 30 to the MCU 31, it is only necessary to use a conventional mid-call request which is an operation instruction, and a new command is not added to the connection between the MCUs. it can.

The MCU connection instructing unit 13 shown in FIG.
In the operation of the above, the operation of connecting from the master MCU to the slave MCU is performed by the midway call request, but the operation of connecting from the slave MCU to the master MCU may be performed on the contrary. That is, at the time of judging whether or not the master MCU is the master MCU in ST3 of FIG. 3, the operation is ended in the case of the master MCU, and the operation is shifted to ST4 in the case of the slave MCU.
In ST4, a change is made so that a midway call request is made to the master MCU. Thereby, the connection source of the connection between MCUs can be changed from the master MCU to the slave MCU. Thus, the master MCU only needs to operate in accordance with the connection processing from the slave MCU, and the load on the master MCU can be further reduced.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a multipoint video conference system using a remote connection unit and an ISDN line to connect the conference operation unit 2 to the MCU 31. In the figure, 14a and 14b are remote connection units. In FIG. 5, the sequence of the conference holding request and the conference holding response with the MCU 31 shown in FIG.
14b and via the ISDN line. Thus, a multipoint video conference can be held without directly connecting the conference operation unit 2 and the MCU 31. For example, a multipoint video conference using a remotely located MCU can be performed.

[0035]

According to the present invention, in the multipoint video conference system, the conference operation unit is connected to each of the master multipoint video conference communication control device and the slave multipoint video conference communication control device to perform the multipoint video conference. Outputs an instruction to hold a video conference, and at least when the connection instruction unit provided between the conference operation unit and the master multipoint communication control device inputs the instruction to execute the conference from the conference operation unit, the submultipoint is output. Since the connection to the communication control device is instructed, when a plurality of multipoint video conference communication control devices are connected in a star configuration, a multipoint video conference connected from the video conference terminal side to the multipoint video conference communication control device side is performed. There is an effect that can be held.

According to the next invention, in the multipoint video conference system, the conference operation unit is connected to each of the master multipoint video conference communication control device and the slave multipoint video conference communication control device, and And a connection instruction unit provided at least between the conference operation unit and the slave multipoint communication control device inputs the instruction to hold the video conference from the conference operation unit. Since the connection to the multipoint video conference communication control device is instructed, the multipoint video conference connected from the video conference terminal to the multipoint video conference communication control device when a plurality of multipoint video conference communication control devices are connected in a star shape. And the load on the main multipoint video conference communication control device can be reduced.

Further, according to the next invention, the multipoint video conference system has a remote connection unit between the conference operation unit and the connection instructing unit, the remote connection unit enabling remote operation from the conference operation unit. Therefore, for example, there is an effect that a multipoint video conference using a remote multipoint video conference communication control device can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multipoint video conference system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation sequence diagram when a multipoint videoconference of a MeetMe conference method is held in the configuration of the multipoint video conference system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of an inter-MCU connection instruction unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a command content of a conference holding request.

5 is a configuration diagram of a multipoint video conference system in which a remote connection unit that connects to an ISDN line is added to the configuration of the multipoint video conference system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional multipoint video conference system configured with one MCU.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a conventional multipoint video conference system in which a plurality of MCUs are connected in a star configuration.

8 is an operation sequence diagram when a multipoint video conference is held by the host holding conference method in the configuration of FIG. 7;

9 is an operation sequence diagram when a multipoint video conference is held by the MeetMe conference system in the configuration of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Conference operation unit 3 ISDN line corresponding unit 4 Demultiplexing unit 5 Audio / video bus 6 Conference control processing unit 7 Video processing unit 8 Audio processing unit 9 Control bus 10 Line bus 13 MCU connection instruction unit 14a, 14b Remote connection unit 20 , 21 ... 2n Video conference terminal 30,31 Multipoint video conference communication controller (MC
U)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A multipoint video conference system for holding a multipoint video conference by connecting a multipoint video conference communication control device from a video conference terminal to a multipoint video conference communication control device. A main multipoint video conference communication control device arranged at the center when a plurality of connections are made; a multipoint video conference communication control device connected to the main multipoint video conference communication control device; and the main multipoint video conference communication A conference operation unit connected to each of the control device and the slave multipoint video conference communication control device to output a command to hold a multipoint video conference, and at least the conference operation unit and the master multipoint communication control device And a connection instruction unit for instructing connection to the slave multipoint communication control device when a holding instruction is input from the conference operation unit. Discussions system. 2. A multipoint videoconference system in which a multipoint videoconference is held by connecting a multipoint videoconference communication control device from a videoconference terminal side to a multipoint videoconference communication control device. A main multipoint video conference communication control device arranged at the center when a plurality of connections are made; a multipoint video conference communication control device connected to the main multipoint video conference communication control device; and the main multipoint video conference communication A conference operation unit connected to each of the control device and the multipoint videoconference communication control device to output an instruction to hold a multipoint videoconference, and at least the conference operation unit and the multipoint communication control device A multi-point television, comprising: a connection instruction unit provided between the conference operation unit and instructing connection to the main multipoint communication control device when a holding instruction is input from the conference operation unit. Discussions system. 3. A remote connection unit according to claim 1, further comprising a remote connection unit provided between said conference operation unit and said connection instruction unit, said remote connection unit being capable of remote operation from said conference operation unit. The multipoint video conference system according to any one of the above.