JP5999126B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

  In recent years, web conferencing systems in which a plurality of client terminals (usually personal computers) and servers are connected via a network and users exchange information in real time via the network using each client device have become widespread.

  According to the web conferencing system, users in remote locations can be gathered in a virtual space (virtual conference room) on the network, and a meeting can be performed while looking at each other's faces. At this time, the user runs his / her own client terminal to share the presentation software used in normal meetings and the blackboard (whiteboard) for writing on the board. A web conference system having an application sharing function for providing applications to each other via a network is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-14658 A

  In a web conference system as shown in Patent Document 1, it is possible to share a screen by using an application sharing function. However, when sharing a screen, the network bandwidth is shared by the entire system. Therefore, it may take time to display the screen on the guest side user.

  For example, when a document on the PC screen on the host side that shares the screen is described, the document may not be displayed on the guest PC. This is related to the communication path between the host side and the guest side. If there are few communication paths, the material is displayed earlier, and if there are many communication paths, it takes time until the material is displayed.

  In the patent document, since the host side does not have a means for detecting that the shared screen is displayed (arrived) on the guest side screen, it is difficult to grasp the timing for starting the conversation, and the host side is shared with the guest computer side screen. It is inconvenient if the host side starts a conversation before the screen display is completed.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a web conferencing system that can inform the sharing side of the time until the display of the shared screen is completed when sharing the screen.

An information processing apparatus capable of participating in a web conference system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses participate, and capable of sharing a screen with other information processing apparatuses participating in the web conference system, Based on the time acquired by the display time acquisition means, the display time acquisition means for acquiring the time until the screen to be shared is displayed on the other information processing device, when receiving the sharing start instruction, Waiting time display means for controlling display of information related to a waiting time until the shared screen is displayed on another information processing apparatus, and a communication path when the shared screen is displayed on the other information processing apparatus Route number obtaining means for obtaining the number of routes, which is the number of routes for transmitting and receiving data between the computers, and the display time obtaining means includes the route Using the path number obtained by the obtaining means, and obtains a time that enables the display to the other information processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, when sharing a screen, it is possible to let the sharing side know the time until the display of the shared screen is completed.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system block diagram of the web conference system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the host PC concerning embodiment of this invention. It is an example functional block diagram of a functional structure of the web conference system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the main process of the host PC concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the transmission required time acquisition process of the host PC concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the hearing server presence confirmation process of host PC concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the shared application selection screen displayed on host PC concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the start screen of a screen sharing displayed on host PC concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen of a screen sharing displayed on the guest PC concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored temporarily of the web conference system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the participating user table of the web conference system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen sharing setting information of the web conference system concerning embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration diagram of a web conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The web conference system according to the present invention includes, for example, a web conference server 100 to which a personal computer such as an information processing apparatus can be applied, a screen sharing host computer (host PC) 101, a screen sharing guest computer (guest PC) 102, and for web conference listening. The server (hearing server) 103 and the web conference listening client (hearing client) 104 can use the network communication function to perform data communication via the LAN 500 (local area network) and connect to the web conference system. Participate in web conferences. Although a plurality of apparatuses can be installed, the screen sharing guest computer 102 shown in the figure will be described with reference numerals such as (A) and (B) for convenience.

  The web conference server 100 is a server for realizing a web conference using a web browser. The screen sharing host computer 101 and the screen sharing guest computer 102 can obtain a web conference screen (interface) and conduct a web conference by accessing the web conference server 100.

  A web browser for accessing the web conference server 100 and a dedicated module are installed on these client computers (the screen sharing host computer 101 and the screen sharing guest computer 102, the same applies hereinafter). Note that this dedicated module is an ActiveX component that is downloaded from the web conference server 100 via, for example, a web browser. Note that a web camera (not shown) is connected when transmitting a moving image of itself in a web conference, and a microphone (not shown) is connected when transmitting audio. Also, a speaker (not shown) is connected to view the other party's voice.

  The web conference system can perform screen sharing by displaying the screen of the screen sharing host computer 101 on the screen sharing guest computer 102. The screen to be shared can be designated by the screen sharing host computer 101, and can be the screen of the designated application or the entire desktop.

  The web conference system can be connected not only to the client computer but also to the web conference listening server 103 via the network.

  The web conference server 101 regards the web conference listening server 103 as one pseudo client, and transmits data to the web conference listening server 103. The web conference listening server 103 that has received the data transmits the data to the web conference listening client 104 connected to the web conference listening server 103. As a result, in addition to the configuration of only the normal web conference server and client computer, data can be transmitted to more clients.

  When screen sharing is performed, the screen of the screen sharing host computer 101 is transmitted to the web conference server 100 and then transmitted to the screen sharing client 102 and the web conference listening server 103. Further, the web conference listening server 103 transmits the web conference listening client connected to the web conference listening server 103.

  In this web conference system, a plurality of virtual conference rooms called rooms can be set, and a plurality of conferences can be performed by setting a plurality of rooms. In this embodiment, the web conference system Then, it demonstrates as what the meeting by one room is performed. When there are a plurality of rooms, the corresponding one room means the web conference system.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the host PC according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the host PC 101 (applicable to the web conference server 100, the guest PC 102, and the listening server 103). As shown in FIG. 2, in the host PC 101, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 202, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, an input controller 205, a video controller 206, a memory, and the like are connected via a system bus 204. A controller 207 and a communication I / F controller 208 are connected.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204.

  The RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program or the like necessary for execution of processing from the ROM 203 or the external memory 211 as a storage device to the RAM 202 and executing the loaded program.

  The ROM 203 or the external memory 211 that is a storage device can be read by a computer (BIOS) or OS (Operating System) that is a control program executed by the CPU 201, or can be read by a computer to realize this data destination designation method. It holds programs and various necessary data (including data tables).

  The input controller 205 controls input from the keyboard 209. The video controller 206 controls display output to a CRT 210 that is an example of a display unit. The memory controller 207 controls reading of information stored in the external memory 211 and writing of information to the external memory 211.

  The communication I / F controller 208 is connected to a communication line to control data transmission / reception. In the case of a client terminal, the communication I / F controller 208 controls transmission / reception of data via the LAN 105, while in the case of the web conference server 100, the communication I / F controller 208 similarly controls transmission / reception of data via the LAN 105. In addition, control of data transmission / reception via the public line 106 is also performed.

  It is assumed that the external memory 211 of the host PC 101 also stores in the external memory 211 a computer-readable program for executing a flowchart described in the later-described drawings. The external memory 211 of the host PC 101 can also acquire and store a user database (not shown) that uses the web conference system from the web conference server. It is also possible to add an authentication server storing a user database to the system.

  The external memory 211 is a medium for permanently storing information, and the form is not limited to a storage device such as a hard disk. For example, a medium such as SSD (Solid State Drive) may be used.

  FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the web conference system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Basically, it will be described as a configuration provided in the host PC 101, but the web conference server 100 may be provided.

  The required time acquisition unit 301 acquires the time until display of the shared screen on the connected guest PC 103 is completed when screen sharing is started (selected) by the host PC 101. At the time of acquisition, the required time is calculated according to the size of the screen to be shared and the network configuration of the web conference system. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The network configuration acquisition unit 302 acquires the configuration status of a computer (web conference server 100, host PC 101, guest PC 102, listening server 103, etc.) connected to the web conference system. In addition, a bandwidth value that can be used in the web conference system is also acquired.

  The transmission screen size acquisition unit 303 acquires the screen size to be transmitted from the host PC to the guest PC when the screen is shared. The required time is determined according to the screen size and the network configuration.

  The waiting time display unit 304 performs display control of the required time acquired by the required time acquisition unit 301 on the start screen for screen sharing. The displayed required time is counted, and when the remaining time runs out, the display is terminated. The display screen may disappear, or the display content may be changed S (updated) to display another content.

  In addition, a temporary storage area 311, participating user information 312, and screen sharing information 313 are stored as various tables.

  The temporary storage area 311 is temporarily stored in the RAM 202 of the client PC 101, and performs various processes using the contents stored therein. Also, similar information is stored in the web conference server 100 and may be directly acquired from the web conference server. Information stored in the temporary storage area 311 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information temporarily stored in the web conference system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The item 1001 is stored as a value 1002 for each piece of information such as “bandwidth used for screen sharing”, “initial screen data size after compression”, “presence / absence of listening server”, and “number of listening cascade configurations”.

  “Bandwidth used for screen sharing” stores a bandwidth value that can be used by the screen sharing function. The information stored in the screen sharing setting information 313 is temporarily saved.

  The “initial screen data size after compression” stores the data size of the screen shared by the host PC. This is information acquired in S404 in FIG.

  In the “presence / absence of listening server”, a flag indicating whether the listening server is participating as a user in the web conference system is stored. This is information acquired in S603 of FIG.

  In the “listening cascade configuration number”, the number of paths to be added is set when there is a hearing server. The information stored in the screen sharing setting information 313 is temporarily saved.

  The participating user information 312 is user information participating in the web conference system. The content is updated every time the web conference server 100 receives a login from the user, but the host PC can hold the same content. Details will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a participating user table of the web conference system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The participation table stores id (1101), value (1102), and participant group type (1103).

  A unique id is set in id (1101), and a user name participating in the web conference system is stored in the value (1102). The participant group type (1103) stores the type of the participating user, and it can be determined whether the user is a general user or a hearing user. In the present embodiment, the general user participates by using, for example, a guest PC or a host PC, and the hearing server participates in the web conference as a hearing user.

  The screen sharing setting information 313 stores items necessary for calculating the time required for realizing the screen sharing function. Details will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of screen sharing setting information of the web conference system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As the key 1201, “bandwidth used for screen sharing” and “listening cascade configuration number” are stored. These values are set in advance by the administrator.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of main processing of the host PC according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S401, a screen sharing start process is started. The processing is started when the start of screen sharing is selected from a menu screen (not shown) displayed on the host PC 101.

  In step S402, a shared application selection screen (described later in FIG. 7) is displayed, and a screen to be shared is accepted.

  In step S403, the bandwidth value used for screen sharing is acquired from the screen sharing setting information 313. Since “384 KB” is set as the bandwidth used for screen sharing in the screen sharing setting information 313, this is stored as the value of “band used for screen sharing” in the temporary storage area 311.

  In step S404, the compressed size of the initial screen to be transmitted for screen sharing is acquired. The size of the initial screen is the screen size displayed on the host PC and can be acquired from the operating system or the like. In this embodiment, a compressed size is used, but data may be transmitted without being compressed. The value acquired here is stored in “initial screen data size after compression” in the temporary storage area 311. In this embodiment, it is assumed that “1400 KB”.

  In step S405, the required transmission time is acquired. The time required for transmission is the time required for the initial screen for screen sharing to be displayed on the guest PC connected to the same conference in the web conference system (display completion time). . This value can be set in advance by the conference, and as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the transmission time required processing determines the bandwidth value used by the web conference and the number of connected network routes. It may be determined accordingly.

  In step S406, the required transmission time acquired in step S405 is displayed on the screen sharing start screen shown in FIG. 8, and the required time in the screen is counted down in step S407. After a predetermined time (display time) has elapsed, The display on the screen (FIG. 8) is erased and the process is terminated.

  Further, in parallel with the processes of steps S406 to S407, the shared data is transmitted to the web conference server 100 when the process of step S405 is completed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the required transmission time acquisition process of the host PC according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S501, the value of “bandwidth used for screen sharing” stored in the temporary storage area 311 is acquired, and it is determined whether this value is not “0”.

  If it is “0”, the required time cannot be calculated, so the required time is set to “1” in step S502 and the process is terminated. The required time is an item that can be arbitrarily set.

  On the other hand, if the band value is not “0”, the process proceeds to step S503, and the required time per route is calculated. Specifically, the required time per path is obtained by dividing the data size by the bandwidth value “(1400 + 384) / 384) ≈4.6”. In the embodiment, the band value is added to the denominator for the sake of convenience in order not to be shorter than the actual required time per path due to rounding down.

  In step S504, the number of routes is set to “2” which is a predetermined number. The number of paths indicates the number of paths for transmitting and receiving data between the computers on the communication path. For example, in this embodiment, the number of routes from the host PC 101 to the web conference server 100 is “1”, and the number of routes from the web conference server to the guest PC 102 or the web conference server 103 is “1”. It is desirable for the administrator to set “2” in advance in consideration of the network configuration.

  In step S505, it is determined whether there is a hearing server. The determination as to whether or not there is a hearing server is performed in the hearing server presence confirmation process in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the listening server existence confirmation process of the host PC according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S 601, the “participant group type” 1103 of all participating users is confirmed with reference to the participating user information 312. In this embodiment, since it can be seen that a hearing user (user3) is participating, it is determined that the user is participating as a hearing server.

  If it is determined that the hearing server is participating, in step S603, the “presence / absence of presence of listening server” in the temporary storage area 311 is set to “true”, and the processing for all users is repeated. Returning to the description of FIG.

  If it is determined in step S505 that there is a hearing server, the process proceeds to step S506, and the number of path cascade configurations is added to the number of paths. Specifically, “2” set in step S 504 is used as the number of routes, and “1” is acquired from “listening cascade configuration number” in the screen sharing setting information 313 as the route cascade configuration number. Alternatively, the “listening cascade configuration number” may be stored in advance in the temporary storage area 311 and obtained from here.

  The reason for adding the “number of cascading hearings” is that, when a listening server is connected, since there is a client for listening connected to the listening server, the route “1” between the listening server and the listening client is added. . It should be noted that the number of routes is preferably set in advance by the administrator in consideration of the network configuration.

  In step S507, the total required time is calculated. Specifically, “13.8” is calculated from the required time “4.6” (from S503), the number of routes “2” (from S504), and the added configuration number “1” (S506). The notification to the user is, for example, “14” seconds, and the process is terminated.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a shared application selection screen displayed on the host PC according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  This is an application selection screen 701 that is displayed when a press of a screen sharing button (not shown) is received from the host PC 101.

  In the application list display area 702, a list of applications currently operating on the host PC 101 ("Internet Browser X", "drawing application", "Web conference system", "text memo" document creation application ") is displayed.

  When the user selects an application that he / she wants to share the screen and accepts pressing of the “Share selected application” button 703, the application is shared. This screen indicates that the text memo 706 is selected as a shared application.

  When the “share desktop” button 704 is received, the desktop of the host PC 101 is shared with the guest PC 102 (including the listening server 103 and the listening client 104) participating in the same web conference, and the host that has executed sharing An application running on the PC is displayed on each guest PC 102 participating in the web conference. A screen image displayed on the guest PC 102 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  When the start of screen sharing is selected in step 703 or 704, the host PC 101 starts processing for obtaining a required time until the screen to be shared is displayed (arrived) on the guest PC.

  When the “update to latest information” button 705 is pressed, the display content of the application selection screen 701 is updated according to the content displayed on the screen of the host PC 101 displayed.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen sharing start screen displayed on the host PC according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  7 is a transmission screen 701 indicating that transmission is being performed, which is displayed after the “Share desktop” button 704 in FIG. 7 is received, and displays the time until the display of the screen shared with the guest PC 102 is completed. ing.

  In this screen, the required time acquired when the screen sharing is started by the user (with the start) is displayed. [Please wait for 14 more seconds] is displayed, the countdown is displayed as time elapses, and this screen is closed when time elapses.

  Further, while this screen is displayed on the host PC 101, a message screen 802 that displays the time until the screen is displayed on another guest PC 102 may be displayed on the guest PC 102 screen.

  Thereby, the user can know that the screen sharing screen is displayed on all the guest PCs 102.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen sharing screen displayed on the guest PC according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The screen image on which the text memo 706 selected on the application selection screen 701 of FIG. 7 is displayed is shown.

  On the screen of the screen sharing 901 of the guest PC 102, a screen shared by the host PC 101 is displayed in the display area 902. In the present embodiment, since the text memo 706 is selected, the text memo 903 displayed on the host PC 101 is displayed. When the text memo is edited on the host PC 101, the same screen displayed on the host PC 101 is displayed on the guest PC 102 as if it were synchronized.

  In addition, in FIG. 7, when “Share desktop” 704 is selected, the desktop of the host PC 101 is displayed in the display area 902 of the guest PC 102. Further, by pressing a function button 904, each function of the web conference system can be executed.

  Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system including a single device.

  The program according to the present invention is a program that can be executed by a computer according to the processing method of the flowchart shown in the present invention. The storage medium according to the present invention stores a program that can be executed by a computer. The program in the present invention may be a program for each processing method of each device.

  As described above, a recording medium that records a program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program stored in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the reading.

  In this case, the program itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, silicon A disk, solid state drive, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on an instruction of the program is actually It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading a program for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment mentioned above and its modification are also included in this invention.

100 Web conference server 101 Screen sharing host computer 102 Screen sharing guest computer 103 Web conference listening server 103
104 Web conference listening client 104
500 communication network

Claims (6)

An information processing apparatus capable of participating in a web conference system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses participate, and capable of sharing a screen with other information processing apparatuses participating in the web conference system,
Display time acquisition means for acquiring a time until the shared screen is displayed on the other information processing apparatus when receiving an instruction to start sharing the screen;
Based on the time acquired by the display time acquisition means, the waiting time display means for displaying and controlling information related to the waiting time until the shared screen is displayed on another information processing device;
Path number acquisition means for acquiring a path number that is the number of paths for transmitting and receiving data between the computers of the communication path when the shared screen is displayed on the other information processing apparatus; ,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the display time acquisition unit acquires a time during which display on the other information processing apparatus is possible, using the number of paths acquired by the path number acquisition unit. Band acquisition means for acquiring a band value that can be used for sharing the screen;
Data size acquisition means for acquiring a data size when transmitting the screen to be shared to the web conference system;
Further comprising
The display time acquisition unit sends to the other information processing apparatus according to the band value acquired by the band acquisition unit, the data size acquired by the data size acquisition unit , and the number of routes acquired by the route number acquisition unit . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein time until display is acquired. The waiting time display means, said displayed time counts down displayed according to the lapse of time, after time has passed displayed claim 1 or, characterized in that to erase the screen in which the time is displayed 2. The information processing apparatus according to 2 . The waiting time display means, the time acquired by the display time acquiring means any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the display control with respect to the screen of another information processing apparatus for sharing the screen The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. A control method for an information processing apparatus capable of participating in a web conference system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses participate and capable of sharing a screen with other information processing apparatuses participating in the web conference system,
A display time acquisition step of acquiring a time until the screen to be shared is displayed on the other information processing apparatus when an instruction to start sharing the screen is received;
Based on the time acquired by the display time acquisition step, a waiting time display step for displaying and controlling information related to the waiting time until the shared screen is displayed on another information processing device;
A route number acquisition step of acquiring a route number that is the number of routes for transmitting and receiving data between the computers on the communication route when the shared screen is displayed on the other information processing apparatus; ,
The display time acquisition step uses the number of routes acquired in the route number acquisition step to acquire a time during which display on the other information processing device is possible. . There is a program readable by an information processing apparatus that can participate in a web conference system in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses participate and can share a screen with other information processing apparatuses that participate in the web conference system. ,
The information processing apparatus;
Display time acquisition means for acquiring a time until the shared screen is displayed on the other information processing apparatus when receiving an instruction to start sharing the screen;
Based on the time acquired by the display time acquisition means, the waiting time display means for displaying and controlling information related to the waiting time until the shared screen is displayed on another information processing device;
Path number acquisition means for acquiring a path number that is the number of paths for transmitting and receiving data between the computers of the communication path when the shared screen is displayed on the other information processing apparatus; ,
The display time acquisition unit functions as an information processing apparatus that acquires a time during which display on the other information processing apparatus is possible using the number of paths acquired by the path number acquisition unit . Program for.

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