JPS612469A - Conference telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a system having solved problems such as unpleasant feeling of a connection code or limitation of a movable range by using a receiving system almost prevented from the leakage of a voice signal to the periphery of attendants of a conference and consisting of a receiver and radio receiving device, fitting the receiving system to each attendant's body and executing radio transmission or reception between the receiving system and a device provided with a telephone function. CONSTITUTION:When a conference attendant 13a speaks, the contents are detected by a transmitter 16, sent through a device 5 provided with a telephone function and a communication circuit 4 and transmitted to a receiving system 11 through a device 6 provided with a telephone function and a radio transmitter 9 in a conference room 2 and to receiving systems 12a, 12b through a device 7 provided with a telephone function and a radio transmitter 10 in a conference room 3 to transmit the received contents to conference attendants 14, or 15a, 15b respectively. In the conference room of said speaker, the voice signal detected by the transmitter 16 can be transmitted to receiving systems 11a, 11b through the device 5 and a ratio transmitter 8 by the same method as the side tone of a telephone set and the conference attendant 13a who is the speaker and a conference attendant 13b can also listen the speaked contents of the speaker 13a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to a conference telephone system in which the content of statements from several conference rooms is communicated to each other via telephone lines, and simultaneous conferences are held between remote locations.

(Prior art) Until now, in relatively large conference halls such as international conferences and national parliaments, transmitters such as microphones have been installed at the seats of conference participants or at common seats, and on the other hand, the content of each participant's speech can be transmitted through these transmitters. to a speaker placed in the conference hall, or to a handset, such as a headset placed at each participant's seat or temporarily connected, to communicate with a large number of participants. It was designed to run smoothly. In this type of conference system, conference participants must be present at the conference venue, so the total number of participants is limited.
There were also problems such as participants in remote locations having to reach the conference hall by some means. On the other hand, there were attempts to connect conference halls in remote locations using communication lines; is known as a conference telephone system. Conference telephone systems provide simultaneous conversation among several subscribers called through push-button telephones or the like. In the well-known conference telephone system, a so-called public address telephone or similar device is used, which is a push-button telephone with a sound reinforcement function added, so that it is possible to have a smooth conference similar to that of a conventional conference system, and at the same time, it also has the above-mentioned features. problem is resolved and simultaneous multipoint conferences are possible.

However, in conventional conference telephone systems of this type, in order to prevent the howling phenomenon that occurs when the audio signal output by the amplification function propagates within the conference hall and enters the transmitter again, an audio switch is used to prevent howling. Methods such as removing these components or constructing a conference hall using a combination of directional microphones, directional speakers, and anechoic walls are being adopted. As a result, in the former method, call disconnection phenomena such as cutting off at the beginning and end of a line occur due to the operation of the audio switch, which causes discomfort to conference participants. In addition, with the latter method, microphones and speakers are expensive, directional conditions are set to prevent sound waves from intersecting, which limits the spatial arrangement in which conference participants can hear and transmit, and wall materials or There were problems such as the design being expensive.

(Objective of the Invention) In order to solve these problems, the present invention uses a receiving system consisting of a handset and a wireless receiving device, in which audio signals hardly leak to the surroundings of conference participants. By attaching it to the body of a conference participant and allowing wireless transmission or reception to take place between the receiving system and a device equipped with telephone functions,
The aim is to provide a conference telephone system that eliminates the problems of conventional connection cords between the handset and the telephone or between the telephone and the conference participants' seats, as well as the limitations on the movable range. Explain.

(Structure and operation of the invention) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment showing the structure of the present invention, in which 1, 2, and 3 are the first, second, and nth conference halls, respectively;
5゜6.7 is a communication line that connects each conference hall, 5゜6.7 is a device equipped with telephone functions such as dialing, making and receiving calls, such as a telephone, 8,
9.10 is a wireless transmission that receives received signals obtained from devices 5 and 6.7 each equipped with a telephone function, converts them into a radio frequency band, and transmits them into the respective conference halls 1 and 2.3. Apparatus, lla, llb, 11 and 12a, 1
2b is a receiving system 13a which receives receiving signals in the radio frequency band transmitted from the wireless transmitting devices 8, 9 and 10, converts them into audio frequency bands, and further converts the electrical signals into audio signals and sends them out; , 13b, 14, 15a
, 15b are receiving systems 11a, llb, 11, 12, respectively.
Conference participants 16, 17 and 18 are conference participants 13a, who listen to the audio signals sent out from a and 12b and speak.
13b, 14 and 15a, 15b, converts these into electrical signals, and sends them to devices 5, 6, and 7 equipped with telephone functions. The transmitter output is sent to the communication line 4 via devices 5, 6 and 7 with telephone functions.

Here, in the first conference hall 1, receiving systems 11a and l
lb and conference participants 13a and 13b are acoustically coupled, and conference participant 1 is connected from receiver system 11a to conference participant 1.
3a and from the receiving system 11b to the conference participant 13b;
The audio signals sent from the conference participants 13a and 13b
There is almost no leakage to other spaces in the conference hall, and even if it does leak, its power is sufficiently small that it propagates through the space and is not detected by the transmitter 16. This also applies to the relationship between the receiving system 11 and the conference participants 14 in the second conference hall 2 and the relationship between the receiving systems 12a and 12b and the conference participants 15a and 15b in the n-th conference hall 3.

In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that there are one to two conference participants in each of the three conference halls, but the number of participants is not limited in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Not even. In addition, although Figure 1 already shows three conference halls connected through communication lines, one
The process of connecting one conference hall at a time or a large number of conference halls at the same time is irrelevant to the present invention, and in that process, the receiving system 11a, llb and the transmitter 16, and the receiving system 11 and the transmitter 1 are connected.
7. Since the receiver systems 12a, 12b and the transmitter 18 are electrically and acoustically separated from each other, there is no possibility of transient howling or oscillation occurring. In the steady state shown in FIG. 1, in which the conference halls are connected to each other through communication lines, the contents of the conference participants' statements are transmitted to all conference participants including themselves, but as in the transient state, the receiving system 11a , llb and transmitter 16, receiver system 11 and transmitter 1
7. Since the receiving systems 12a, 12b and the transmitter 18 are electrically and acoustically isolated from each other, no closed loop is formed, and therefore no howling or oscillation occurs. Furthermore, since the receiving signals sent from the wireless transmitters 8, 9, 10 do not return to the respective transmitters 16, 17, 18, they are not transmitted to other conference halls and detected as echoes.

Next, an example of the operation will be explained. When a conference participant 13a speaks, the content is propagated in the conference hall 1 as an audio signal, detected by the transmitter 16, and sent to the conference hall via the device 5 equipped with a telephone function and the communication line 4. 2 to the receiving system 11 via a device 6 with a telephone function and a wireless transmitter 9, and a device 7 with a telephone function and a wireless transmitter 10 in the conference hall 3.
The signal is transmitted to the receiver systems 12a and 12b, and is transmitted to the conference participants 14, or 15a and 15b, respectively. Regarding conference participants in the venue where the speaker belongs,
The voice signal detected by the transmitter 16 can be transmitted to the receiving system 11a, llb via the device 5 with a telephone function and the wireless transmitter 8 using the same method as the side sound of the telephone, and can be transmitted to the receiving system 11a, llb by the speaker. Both a conference participant 13a and conference participant 13b can listen to the content of the conference participant 13a's statement. In addition, if the sidetone function of the device 5 equipped with a telephone function cannot be expected, all the signals received from the devices 5, 6.7 equipped with a telephone function in the communication line 4 are added together, and the telephone function is restored again. The audio signal detected by the transmitter 16 is transmitted to the wireless transmitter 8 by a method such as transmitting the audio signal detected by the transmitter 16 to a device 5゜6.7 equipped with a
It can also be transmitted to Furthermore, the speech content of the conference participant 13a who is the speaker can be sensed by the conference participant 13a through his or her own bone conduction, and the receiving system 11a, llb,
11, 12a.

12b etc., external sounds are transmitted to the conference participants 13a, 13b, 14, 15a, and 15b, respectively.However, by having a direction that prevents the sound transmitted by oneself from leaking to the outside, the conference The conference participants 13a and 13b can listen to the content of the speech made by the participant 13a.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the specific configuration of the receiving system, and includes, for example, an antenna group [119] and an antenna device for receiving receiving signals in the radio frequency band transmitted from the wireless transmitting device 8 in the first conference hall 1. A band conversion device 20 that converts the signal obtained from 19 from a radio frequency band to an audio frequency band.
and an electroacoustic conversion device 21 that converts the received signal obtained from the band conversion device 20 into an acoustic signal. This also applies to the receiving systems in the second conference hall 2 and the nth conference hall 3.

This receiving system is connected to the antenna device 19 toward the conference participants.
→Band conversion device 20→Electroacoustic conversion device 21, it has directionality and only has a reception function, so it is simple as a device. Furthermore, since the transmission sources are located in the same venue and the sound finally sent out from the electroacoustic transducer 21 is heard directly by the ears of conference participants in close contact, it is possible to obtain a high signal-to-noise ratio. It is easy, the antenna device 19 can be small, and the band conversion device 20 only needs to transmit a small power.

Therefore, it is easy to integrate the band conversion device 20 or the antenna device 19 and the band conversion device 20,
The antenna device 19 and the band conversion device 20 are made smaller;
For economy, it is also possible to adopt a structure in which the shape is attached to the electroacoustic transducer 21.

The electro-acoustic transducer 21 is assumed to be a device such as a spatula set or earphones that does not cause discomfort even if worn on the body of the conference participant because it does not burden the conference participant's hands and does not require their hands to be used. However, if the antenna device 19 and the band conversion device 20 are miniaturized to realize a functional headset or a functional earphone that integrates these and the electroacoustic transducer 21, it will be more beneficial for conference participants.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention, in which 22 is a connection point between a conference hall and a communication line, 23 is a device equipped with a telephone function, 24 is a wireless transmitter, 25a,
25b is a receiving system, 26a and 26b are conference participants, 27 is a transmitter, which corresponds to each part shown in FIG. 1, and 28 is an interpreter.

The interpreting device 28 inputs the receiving signal obtained from the device 23 having a telephone function, simultaneously interprets it into one country or several languages, and outputs a signal for one communication channel or adult communication channel. The interpretation may be performed by a single person, or may be performed by automatic interpretation equipment, which is currently being considered in various places. The wireless transmitting device 24 converts the signal of one communication path or the communication path into a radio frequency band and transmits it into the conference hall.
5a and 25b each receive a signal from the wireless transmitter 24, select any one communication path, change it to audio, and send it to the conference participant 26a.

26b. Multiplexing and selection of call paths can be done for each conference hall and for each conference participant. Therefore, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to smoothly manage a general international conference using multiple languages.

Although the configuration of FIG. 3 shows the case where the interpreter device 28 is inserted between the device 23 with telephone function and the wireless transmitter 24, it can be installed in the communication line 4 of FIG. It is also possible to share it between venues. In that case, a device equivalent to the interpreting device 28 is installed before or after addition for all signals transmitted and received from devices 5, 6, 7, etc. equipped with telephone functions, and the output is re-transmitted. The information is transmitted to a device 5, 6.7 with telephone functionality.

(Effects) As explained above, according to the present invention, the following advantages can be obtained in a conference telephone system that connects several conference halls via communication lines and holds simultaneous conferences.

■ No howling or oscillation phenomenon occurs in the conference hall.

■ No echoes occur via the conference hall.

■ By wearing the miniaturized receiver system, conference participants can free one hand and feel less burdensome.6■ Conference participants can be confined to specific positions within the conference hall, such as pre-designated seats. Since it is easy to move, it does not cause any discomfort.

■ Conference participants can listen in their desired language, allowing for smooth international conferences.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment showing the structure of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the specific structure of the receiving system, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of another embodiment of the invention. be. 1.2.3...Conference hall, 4...Communication line, 5
゜6.7,23...device with telephone function, 8゜9
, 10, 24 ... wireless transmitter, lla, llb
, 11, 12a. 12b, 25a, 25b ・”Receiving system, 13a, 13b
, 14, 15a, 15b. 26a, 26b - Conference participants, 16.17.18.27
... Transmitter, 19... Antenna device, 2o...
Band conversion device, 21... Electroacoustic conversion device, 22...
・Connection point between conference hall and communication line, 28... Interpretation device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] One or more receiving systems consisting of a handset and a radio receiving device, one or more transmitters, and transmitting the audio signal input from the transmitter as a transmitting signal to a communication line. and a device having a telephone function for transmitting a reception signal received from the communication line to the reception system via a wireless transmission device, and capable of holding a conference between remote points via the communication line. A conference phone system with special features.