JPS63246960A - Video conference controller among multi-point - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control plural conferences by one equipment simultaneously by providing a function grouping a video processing means and an audio processing means based on a control signal from a terminal equipment and executing a video conference among multi-point for each group to a conference control means. CONSTITUTION:When a pattern request signal No1 is sent from a video conference terminal equipment 1a connected to a port (p) during a video conference, the signal is given to a reception control signal P/S converting circuit and an input interface 73 via a reception control signal port 22p. The CPU 70 makes the pattern request signal No1 inputted from the port (p) correspondent to a port (q) depending on the correspondence between the pattern request signal stored in a RAM 72 and ports and sends a signal to select the port (q) from 10 video inputs to a video image multiple switch section 14p by using video image multiple switching control information 18p from a video multiple switching section control information S/P converting circuit and an output interface 75. The pattern request signal from other video conference terminal equipments 1b, 1c is processed by the similar method. Moreover, the signal is processed by the similar way in 2nd and 3rd conferences.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a multipoint video conference control device that connects a plurality of video conference terminals and makes it possible to conduct a multipoint video conference.

(Prior art) As an example of a conventional multipoint video conference control device,
There was a method that could process up to five points per device. The configuration of this device is shown in FIG. The figure shows the case where a three-point meeting is conducted, 7a, Jb, and Jc are video conference terminals, and 2m is a multipoint video conference control device * 3 pz 3q * 3r
and 4p, 4q, and 4r are power and output terminals of a multipoint video conference control device connected to the video conference terminal, respectively.

Terminals 7a, 7b, and 7c that participate in the conference are connected to ports F' of input terminal 3 and output terminal 4 of the multipoint video conference control device.
* Connected to qrr respectively. In addition, 1 terminal and 2m
There are exchanges, transmission lines, etc. between the control devices for the multipoint television conference t1υ1, but they are omitted here. Furthermore, it is assumed that the video conference terminal and the multipoint television trial control device are physically connected to their input/output terminals, but logically connected to ports.

FIG. 5 is a detailed diagram of the multipoint video conference control device shown in FIG. 4, where 3 is an input terminal of the multipoint video conference control device, 4 is an output terminal of the multipoint video conference control device, 1
0 is an interface receiving section, 11 is an interface transmitting section, 12 is a video processing receiving section, 13 is a video processing transmitting section, 1
4 is a video multiplex switching section, 15 is an audio processing receiving section, 16 is an audio processing transmitting section, 17 is an audio adding section, 18 is video multiplexing section control information, 19 is audio processing receiving section control information, and 20 is an audio processing section. Transmitter control information, 21 is audio adder side # information, 2
2 is a reception control signal, 23 is a transmission control signal, 24 is a conference control section, each video processing reception section 12, audio processing reception section 1
The output of 5 is wired to be input to each of the five video multiplex switching units and the audio adder. However, the numbers in FIG. 5 are suffixed with suffixes (pt) to correspond to the lines, and in this configuration example, the ports used are three ports p, q, and r out of five ports.

The operation at this time is shown below. Signals from the connected video conference terminals J (a, b, c) are separated into a video signal, an audio signal, and a reception control signal in the interface receiving section 10. Regarding the video signal, the video processing receiving section 1
After decoding the encoded video signal in step 2 and matching the phase of the video frames from each point, the video multiplex switching section 14 decodes the encoded video signal from the conference control section 24 based on the reception control signal 22 for screen request from the terminal. The corresponding video is switched based on the information (video multiplex spinal incision control information 18). The video signal from the video multiplexing switching section 14 is sent to the video processing transmitting section 13.
The signal is encoded by the interface transmitting section 11 together with the output of the audio processing transmitting section 16 and the transmission control signal 23, and is converted into a transmission path signal and sent to each terminal. −
Regarding the audio signal, the audio level is detected in the audio processing receiving section 15, and the number of Kanabe points information (audio processing section control information 19, 20) given from the conference control section 24 is used.
To prevent howling from the IC, a loss corresponding to the number of points is inserted by the audio signal processing/receiving section 15 or the transmitting section 16. Further, the audio addition unit 17 selects the audio to be added based on the audio processing unit control information 2 given from the conference control unit 24, and then performs the addition.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed diagram of the conference control section 24 shown in FIG. The explanation of each control signal from 18 to 23 is the same as that in FIG. 5, and 30 is a reception control signal separation section.

3 is a transmission control signal multiplexing unit, 32 is a control information creation unit for each part, 33 is a reception conference connection signal, 34 is a screen request signal, 35
is the conference connection processing unit output, 36 is the transmission conference connection signal, 37
is the conference connection processing section. Here again, a subscript (p=t) is added to the numbers in FIG. 6 to correspond to the line. Now, when terminal 1a makes a connection request for a conference between key points of terminal 1b and IC before the start of the conference, the conference connection signal is multiplexed together with the video signal and the audio signal as a control signal together with the screen request signal and sent out from the terminal. be done. The received control signal 22p is divided into a screen request signal 34p and a conference connection signal 3 in a control signal separation unit 30p.
Separated into 3p. The conference connection signal 33p is input to the conference connection processing section 37, and in the fourth part, the video conference terminal 1h,
After performing connection processing between lb and Ic and ports P+q*r, and confirming that the corresponding 4-port is normal and unused, the transmission control signal multiplexing unit 31p transmits a message using the transmission conference connection signal 36.
In addition to returning a response signal to the terminal, the connection information that the conference is composed of p, q, and r is sent to each control information creation unit +□-bP%
Yamako 7 h Nyoba 1 Chi 1 The island report creation section creates information for controlling the video multiplex switching section, audio processing section, and audio addition section based on the conference connection information. When a screen switching request signal is input from a video conference terminal, the control information creation section of each section for the video multiplexing switching section identifies this request signal and assigns a lower number to other conference participating ports so that the screen switching request signal can be switched to the corresponding video signal. Numbers are assigned in order and associated with screen request signals. The Tanibe control information creation unit 32p sets port q to screen request signal No. 1, port r to screen request signal No. 2,
Each part control information creation part 32q sets port p to screen request signal No. 1, port r to screen request signal No. 2, and each part control information creation part 32r sets port p to screen request signal No. 1, and port q to screen request signal No. 1. Correlation is made between the two request signals. Therefore, when screen request signal No. 1 is sent from the video conference terminal 1a connected to port p during a conference, the reception control signal separation section 30p separates the screen request signal 34p and controls each section n. The information is input to the information creation section 32p. In the same group, screen request signal No. 1 is made to correspond to port q, and information for selecting port q from the 5 video inputs is sent to the video multiplex switching unit 14pK as control information for the video multiplex switching unit 1j. Other video conference terminal 1
Screen request signals from b, 1c' are processed in a similar manner. Further, each unit control information creation section passes information on the number of meeting points to the audio processing section. In this case, the number of conference points is 3 (69), and the audio processing receiving units 15p, 15q, 15r
Then, the information on the number of points in the execution is sent to the voice execution transmitting sections 16p, 16q, and 16r, and each voice processing transmitting section or receiving section inserts a loss corresponding to the number of points into each voice. Furthermore, each part control information creation unit should add JP to the audio addition unit.
- Port numbers are accepted. In this configuration, each part control information creation unit 3
2 is q, r&-) for the audio adder 17p, and p for the audio adder 17q.

The r port and the audio addition unit 17r are notified of the information for selecting the p and q ports from among the five inputs, and the audio addition unit adds only the selected audio. As explained above, the troughs of conventional devices are configured in a wiring logic format, ranging from a small number to a maximum of 5.
Only one request to the point can be processed. Therefore, in order to hold two multipoint video conferences at the same time, two multipoint video conference devices are required, as shown in FIG.

In Fig. 7, compared to Fig. 4, the number of terminals is 6 (a-f) and the number of multipoint video conference control devices is 2 (2m, 2n).
is increasing. Because of this configuration, conventional multi-point video conference control devices can only control multi-point conferences for each conference, and if there is a lot of traffic in a 3-point conference, a video conference control device exists for each point. There is a drawback that the device portion (portions corresponding to ports 8 and 7) is unused for a large amount of time, resulting in poor device utilization efficiency.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In order to solve the drawbacks of the conventional system, the present invention allows a single multipoint video conference control device to simultaneously process multiple conferences, so that when the number of points is small, the conference It is an object of the present invention to provide a multipoint video conference control means that can increase the number of devices and efficiently utilize the devices.

(Means and effects for solving the problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention performs multiplexing and demultiplexing of video signals, audio signals, and control signals, and converts the signal format between the transmission path and the signals inside the device. A signal conversion means for matching signals, a video processing means for performing processing such as screen switching necessary for multipoint video conferencing, and an audio processing means for performing processing such as adding audio necessary for multipoint video conferencing. A transmission line is provided that connects each of the terminals for performing an inter-point video conference with a multi-point video conference control device, and each of the video processing means and the audio processing are performed based on control signals sent from the respective terminals. Control each of the means.

In a multipoint video conference control device having a conference control means for smoothly executing a multipoint video conference, each of a video signal and an audio signal from each terminal outputted by the signal conversion means is subjected to the video processing. The signal converting means corresponding to the transmission path corresponding to the video signal and the audio signal output from the respective video processing means and audio processing means are wired so as to be input to each of the video processing means and the audio processing means. All the control signals from each terminal outputted from the signal conversion means are inputted to the conference control means, and the control signals outputted from the conference control means to each terminal are connected to the corresponding signals. The conference control means divides the video processing means and audio processing means corresponding to the transmission path into groups based on the control signals from the respective terminals, and outputs the data to the conversion means. This system is characterized by having the function of executing a multipoint television conference, and allows one multipoint television conference control device d'''C to simultaneously process multiple conferences, thereby controlling the number of points. When the number of conferences is small, the number of conferences is increased to efficiently utilize the device, and the difference from the conventional method is that multiple conferences can all be controlled simultaneously by one multipoint video conference control device.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which 10 video conference terminals are connected to 102. '% Connect to a multipoint video conference control device that can connect up to the end, and use the device to perform two
This figure shows the configuration when controlling 1M1 conference between 4 points.

1, 3.4 are the same as in FIG. However, the number of terminals has increased from nine to y and the number of ports has increased from p to y. , 5
0 is a multipoint video conference jfflJ control device. Video conference terminals 1a, lb, participating in a multipoint video conference
lc, terminal 1d.

le, 11 and terminals 1g, lh, I+, 1j are PoFp
*Composed of the first meeting of qmrC], Boat S.

t, u (constituting the second conference) and ports v, W, X
.

y (constituting the third conference).

Figure 2 shows the multi-point telemetry shown in Figure 1. Conference control device Ji
The explanations of the numerals in the detailed view of 50 are all the same as in FIG. 5, except for 60. However, the number of ports increases from p to y, and 60 is a conference control section. Further, a wiring configuration is adopted in which all of the outputs of the video processing receiving section 12 and the audio processing receiving section 15 are input to the video multiplexing switching section 14 and the audio adding section 17, respectively.

The explanation regarding the individual processing of video and audio is the same as the explanation of FIG. 5.

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the conference control section 6θ shown in FIG. The explanations for 18 to 23 are the same as in FIG. 70 is CP
U, 71 is a ROM, 72 is a RAM, 73 is a reception control signal P/S conversion circuit and input interface, 74 is a transmission control signal S/P conversion circuit and output interface, 75 is a video multiplexing switching section control information S/P conversion circuit and output ink interface, 76 is an audio processing receiving section S/P conversion circuit and output interface, 77 is an audio processing transmitting section S/P conversion circuit and output interface, 78 is an audio addition section S/P conversion circuit and output interface, 79 is a pass line. Now, terminal 1a has an inter-point conference with terminals 1b and la,
Terminal 1d has an inter-point conference with terminals 1e, 1f, terminal 1g has terminals 1h, 14. Assume that connection requests for inter-point conferences with Ij are made at the same time.

These multiple conference connection signals are reception control signals 22p.

22y+ and 22v are input to the reception control signal P/S conversion circuit and input interface 73. The CPU 70 receives these multiple conference connection signals, confirms that the corresponding port is normal and unused, and transmits a response signal to each terminal via the transmission control signal S/P conversion circuit and output interface 74 via the transmission control signal 23. As well as sending it back, s T'
tQt'port, B.

Conference group information that each of the t, u-boat, v, w, x, and y ports constitute one conference is stored in the RAM 72. When a screen request signal is input from a video conference terminal, the CPU 70 for the video multiplexing switching unit identifies this signal and assigns a number to the other boards in descending order so that the signal can be switched to the corresponding video signal. is attached and associated with the screen request signal. In this case, in the first meeting, p-to-p sets port q to screen request signal No. 1, port r to screen request signal No. 2,
Port q is t? -) p is the number 1 of the screen request signal, baud)
r is the second screen request signal, port r is the first screen request signal, port p is the second screen request signal, and port q is the second screen request signal.

Port s of the second conference uses port 1 as screen request signal number 1,
Port u is the screen request signal number 2, port t is the screen request signal number 1, port s is the screen request signal number 2, port u is the screen request signal number 2, port s is the screen request signal number 1, port 1
is set to number 2 of the screen request signal, port of the third meeting) v sets port w to number 1 of the screen request signal, g - x is set to number 2 of the screen request signal, and port y is set to number 3 of the screen request signal. , port w
/d, boat v as screen request signal number 1, port x
to screen request signal No. 2, and port y to screen request signal No. 3.
Port x sets port v as screen request signal No. 1, port W as screen request signal No. 2, port y as screen request signal No. , baud) w is the second screen request signal.

Correlate port x with screen request signal number 3 and store it in RAM.
Store in 72. Therefore, when screen request signal No. 1 is sent from the video conference terminal 1a connected to port p during a conference, that signal is sent to the reception control signal P/S conversion circuit and input interface via the reception control signal 22p. 73
Enter. The CPU 70 associates the screen request signal stored in the RAM 72 with the /- port.The CPU 70 associates the double-sided request signal No. 1 inputted from the port p with the port q, and converts the video multiplexing/cutting unit control information S/P conversion circuit. And by the video multiplexing switching unit control information isp from the output interface 75,
A signal 1g for selecting port q is sent from the 1O video input to the video multiplex switching section 14p. Other video conference terminals lb, l
The screen request signal from c is processed in a similar manner. The second and third meetings are also processed in a similar manner. Further, the CPU 70 performs audio processing reception/transmission from the audio processing reception/transmission unit S/P conversion circuit and output interface 76.77 to the audio processing reception/transmission unit 15.16 based on the conference group information stored in the RAM 72. Transmitter control information 19.
20 is used for information on the number of meeting points. In this case the first
Since the number of locations for the conference and the second conference is 3, the audio processing receiving units 15 p, 15 (1# 15 r, 15 g
, 15t, 15u and audio processing transmitter 16p
, 16q, 16r.

The point number information is sent to 16S, 16L, and 16r, respectively. Also, since the number of locations for the third conference is 4, information on the number of locations is sent to the audio processing receiving units 15v, 15w, 15x, 15y and the audio processing transmitting units 16v, 16w, 16x*16y. Each audio processing transmitter/receiver receives point number information and inserts a loss in each voice according to the number of points. Furthermore, CPU
70 is the audio adder control information 2) from the audio adder S/P conversion circuit and output interface 78 to the audio adder.
The audio port number that should be added is used.

In this configuration, for the audio adder 17p of the first conference, q
, r port, and p and r for the audio adder 17q.
p and qIi! for the audio adder 17r. −
), and t, u for the audio adder 17tr of the second conference.
ports, ports a and u for the audio adder 17t, and port 1.U for the audio adder 17u. t port, W%x, y port for the audio adder 17v of the third conference, vr X * )' port for the audio adder 17w,
Notify the audio adder 17x of the information to select the audio signal of the Vi, v, w, y port, and the audio adder 17y of the audio signal of the v, w, x port from among the 10 audio inputs. Now add only the selected audio signals. In this way, the conference control section of the multipoint video conference control device is configured with a microprocessor, and the wiring configuration connects each output of the video processing receiving section and the audio processing receiving section to all the video multiplexing switching sections and audio adding sections. By doing so, it becomes possible to hold multiple conferences simultaneously. As a result, the conventional technology has an effect of 14j per 1 device! Whereas the device can only process conferences, it is now possible to process multiple conferences at the same time.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, a multipoint video conference control device capable of connecting up to 10 video conference terminals can be connected to exactly 10 video conference terminals, for example, for a three-point conference. A multi-point video conference control device f that efficiently uses the device parts that exist at each point, such as being able to control multiple multi-point conferences simultaneously with one device, such as a combination of two groups and one group of four-point conversations. It has the advantage of being able to provide

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an example of the multipoint video conference control device 50 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an example of the conference control device 50 in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a conventional multipoint video conference control device, and FIG. 5 is a configuration explanatory diagram of the multipoint video conference control device 2m shown in FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the conference control unit 24 in FIG. 5, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a multipoint video conference control device when controlling a conference. 1a to 1j...TV conference terminal, 3p to 3y...Input terminal of multipoint video conference control device, 4p to 4y...
・Output terminal of multipoint video conference control device, 10p to 1
0y...Interface receiving section, 11p~lly...
・Interface transmitting unit, 12p to 127... Video processing receiving unit, 13p to 13y... Video processing transmitting unit, 14
p~14y...Video multiplex switching unit, 15p~15y...
- Audio processing receiving unit, 16p to 16y... Audio processing transmitting unit, 17p to ivy... Audio adding unit, lap to 113
y...Video multiplexing switching unit control information, 19p to 19y...
- Audio processing receiving unit control information, 20p to 20y... Audio processing transmitting unit control information, 21p to 21y... Audio addition unit control information, 22p to 22y... Reception control signal, 23p
~23y... Transmission control signal, 50... Multipoint video conference control device, 6o... Conference control unit. 70...CPU, 71...ROM, 72...RA
M, 73... Reception control signal P/S conversion circuit and input interface, 74... Transmission control signal S/P conversion circuit and output interface, 75... Video 1-image multiplexing switching unit control information S/P conversion circuits and output interfaces, 76
... Audio processing receiving section S/P conversion circuit and output interface, 77 ... Audio processing transmitting section S/P conversion circuit and output interface, 78 ... Audio addition section S/P conversion circuit and output interface, 79 ···Path line. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 4 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] Signal conversion means that multiplexes and demultiplexes video signals, audio signals, and control signals, and converts and matches the signal format between the transmission path and the signals inside the device, and video that performs processing such as screen switching necessary for multipoint video conferences. Supports transmission paths that individually connect the processing means and the audio processing means that performs processing such as addition of audio necessary for multipoint videoconferencing to each terminal that performs multipoint videoconferencing and the multipoint videoconference control device. and a conference control means for controlling each of the video processing means and each of the audio processing means based on control signals sent from the respective terminals to smoothly execute a multipoint video conference. In a multipoint video conference control device having
The video signals and audio signals from each terminal outputted from the signal converting means are wired so as to be input to each of the video processing means and the audio processing means, and from the respective video processing means and audio processing means. The output video signals and audio signals are wired so as to be input to each of the signal conversion means corresponding to the transmission path, and all control signals from each terminal outputted from the signal conversion means are input to the conference control means. and the control signals output from the conference control means to each terminal are output to the corresponding signal conversion means, and the conference control means converts the control signals from the respective terminals based on the control signals from the respective terminals. A multipoint video conference control device having a function of dividing video processing means and audio processing means corresponding to the transmission path into groups, and executing a multipoint video conference for each group.