JPH04280153A - Multi-point conference device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control automatically simultaneous execution of plural multi-point conferences and start and end of each conference by providing a conference table managing a conference terminal information to a conference equipment and managing the execution of a multi-point conference according to reserved conference information registered in a reservation center. CONSTITUTION:Information relating to a conference terminal equipment 3 taking part in each multi-point conference in execution is stored in a conference table 17 of a conference equipment 1. For example, the information is conference information representing whether or not a conference is held, a conference number, a master terminal of the conference terminal equipment 3, a representative terminal of the conference terminal equipment 3, the number of slave terminals representing the number of conference terminal equipments 3. A reservation center 5 controls automatically the start and end of a multi-point conference executed by the equipment 1 and is provided with a conference reservation control means, a reservation file storing the conference reservation information and a clock or the like and stores the reservation conference information for each conference and registers or deletes the conference terminal information to/from a conference table 7 at a designated time.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipoint conference device that connects a plurality of conference terminals to the conference device through switching means and conducts a conference between the conference terminals.

0002

[Prior Art] FIG. 13 shows, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-26576
7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional multipoint conference device disclosed in Publication No. 7. In the figure, 1 performs addition processing on conference information consisting of video and audio from each conference terminal 3, and A conference device 3 is a conference terminal that serves as a man-machine interface for conference participants, and inputs and outputs conference information consisting of video and audio. 4
is a ring type network that connects the conference device 1 and a plurality of conference terminals 3 and serves as an exchange means for transferring conference information.

Next, the operation will be explained. Each conference terminal 3
When meeting information is entered from each meeting participant,
The conference information is placed on the local communication channel of the ring network 4 and transmitted to the conference device 1.

On the other hand, in the conference device 1 that receives conference information from each conference terminal 3 via the ring network 4,
Combined conference information obtained by adding and superimposing the respective conference information is placed on a broadcast communication channel on the ring network 4 and transmitted to all conference terminals 3.

[0005] Then, each conference terminal 3 outputs the received composite conference information, and the conference progresses by repeating the above-described operations.

[0006] When using a switching device such as ISDN instead of the ring type network 4 as a switching means, a plurality of lines are provided between the conference device 1 and the switching device,
By connecting each conference terminal 3 and the conference device 1 on a one-to-one basis, a conference between multiple points can be similarly performed.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional multipoint conference device is configured as described above, it is necessary to use an I/O as an exchange means.
When using a switching device such as SDN, the number of lines set between the switching device and the conference device must be equal to or greater than the maximum number of terminals participating in the conference, and if a conference is held with a small number of people, the lines cannot be used effectively. Furthermore, if a ring network is used, it is limited to the use of a ring network within a company or office, and cannot be applied to multipoint conferences at remote locations such as between Tokyo and Osaka, for example. There were issues such as:

[0008] This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it makes it possible to simultaneously execute a plurality of multi-point conferences, and also to start the multi-point conference according to pre-stored reserved conference information. An object of the present invention is to obtain a multipoint conference device that automatically controls the start and end of the conference.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (1) is configured to manage the simultaneous execution of a plurality of multipoint conferences in the conference device, so that the conference terminals participating in each conference can A reservation center that has a conference table to store information and stores reserved conference information in advance for each conference automatically registers or deletes conference terminal information on the conference table at a specified time. In this system, the start and end of each multipoint conference can be controlled.

[0010] Furthermore, the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (2) allows the registration of the reserved conference information to the reservation center in the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (1). is divided into reservation judgment items necessary for reservation judgment and other reservation detailed information, and the reservation judgment items are first sent from the reservation terminal connected via a communication line, and after confirming that reservations can be accepted, the reservation is made. This is done by sending detailed information.

[0011]

[Operation] The multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (1) is configured to include a conference table for managing conference terminal information in the conference device, and to manage the execution of the multipoint conference according to the reserved conference information registered in the reservation center. , it is possible to simultaneously execute multiple multipoint conferences and automatically control the start and end of each conference.

[0012] Furthermore, the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (2), when registering the reserved conference information stored in the reservation center from a reservation terminal connected via a communication line, registers the reserved conference information. Since the reservation is divided into reservation determination items and reservation details items and the reservation determination items are transmitted prior to registration to make reservation determination, low-speed equipment can be used.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multipoint conference device according to an embodiment of the invention as claimed in claim (1).

In FIG. 1, 1 is a conference device, and FIG.
The structure is shown below. In FIG. 2, 11 is a transmitting/receiving means having a function of temporarily storing received data and a function of transmitting the once stored data, and 12 is a transmitting/receiving means having a function of temporarily storing received data and a function of transmitting the once stored data. D/A conversion means for converting into an analog signal and conference information addition means 16 perform addition processing on conference information received for each conference, and synthesize analog signals output to all conference terminals 3 participating in the conference. an A/D converting the conference information (digital signal) into the conference information (digital signal) and outputting it to the transmitting/receiving means 11;
It is a conversion means, and includes the transmitter/receiver 11 and the D/A converter 12.
, and A/D conversion means 14 are installed for each line owned by the switching device 4.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes a conference information addition means that refers to the conference terminal information stored in the conference table 17, performs an addition process on the conference information received for each conference, and outputs the result to each conference. , includes means for adding a number according to the number of meetings that can be held simultaneously. Each of these adding means mixes and transmits an analog signal from a terminal other than itself to each of the parent terminal 53 and child terminal 56 for audio information, and sends a mixture of analog signals from other terminals to the parent terminal 53 and the representative terminal for video information for each conference. The analog signal of 54 is added by transmitting the analog signal of the parent terminal 53 to the child terminal 56.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a conference table, and as shown in FIG. 5, the conference table 17 stores conference terminal information 50 regarding the conference terminals 3 participating in each multipoint conference being executed. This conference terminal information 50 includes a conference information 51 in which "1" indicates that the conference is being held, and "0" indicates that the conference has ended or there is no conference.For example, the conference number is indicated by a 4-digit number (duplicates are not allowed). 52, a parent terminal 53 indicating the conference terminal 3 of the conference organizer, a representative terminal 54 indicating a representative of all conference terminals 3 participating in the conference, a number of child terminals 55 indicating the number of conference terminals 3 other than the conference organizer; and child terminals 56 representing all conference terminals 3 other than the parent terminal participating in the conference.

Further, in FIG. 1, 3 is a conference terminal, the configuration of which is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, 31 is a conference information input means such as a microphone or a television camera that can input both audio information and image information, and 32 is audio information and image information (combined conference information subjected to addition processing in the conference device 1). 33 is a terminal transmitting/receiving means having a function of receiving data from the exchange device 4 and temporarily storing it, and a function of transmitting the data once stored. ,
34 is a terminal A/D conversion means for converting the conference information (analog signal) inputted from the conference information input means 31 into a transmittable digital signal; 35 is the terminal transmitting/receiving means 3;
This terminal D/A conversion means converts the composite conference information (digital signal) received by the terminal D/A converter 3 into an analog signal.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a switching device such as ISDN as a conversion means, which connects the conference device 1 and a plurality of conference terminals 3 to transfer data.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 indicates the conference device 1.
This is a reservation center that automatically controls the start and end of multipoint conferences carried out in the Internet, and its configuration is shown in FIG. In this FIG. 4, 41 inputs reserved conference information.
For example, an input means such as a keyboard; 42 a display means such as a CRT display for notifying the operator of the reserved conference information or the execution status of each multipoint conference on the conference device; 43 a year, month, day, and time; , minutes, and seconds, the clock 44 registers, modifies, or deletes the reserved conference information, and also displays the information of each conference when the start time or end time of the reserved conference information is reached. Conference reservation control means for instructing holding or termination; 4
Reference numeral 5 denotes a reservation file, such as a hard disk, in which the input conference reservation information is stored.

This reservation file 45 is structured as shown in FIG. 6, and is composed of a plurality of pieces of reserved conference information 60. This reserved conference information 60 includes, for example, a reserved conference status 61 that stores "0" if the conference is not yet held, "1" if the conference is being held, and "2" if the conference has ended, and the scheduled holding time of the conference. A reservation start time 62 indicating the end time of the scheduled conference, a reservation end time 63 indicating the end time of the scheduled conference, and a reservation conference number, for example, a 4-digit number (duplicates are not allowed). 64, a reservation master terminal 65 that is the organizer of the reserved conference, a reservation representative terminal 66 that is either the reservation master terminal or the reservation child terminal, the number of reservation terminals 67 indicating the number of reserved child terminals, and the reserved conference. It consists of a reserved child terminal 68, which is a terminal that participates in the.

Next, the operation will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. The conference reservation control means 44 first reads the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second information from the clock 43 (step ST1), and reads the reservation conference status 61 from the reservation file 45.
The reserved conference information 60 other than "2" is read in order from the beginning (step ST2). Then, the reserved conference status 61 is “0”.
” is compared with the reservation start time 62 in the reserved conference information 60 and the information from the clock 43 read in step ST1 (
Step ST3).

At this time, if it is found that the reservation start time of the conference has passed, the conference table 1 in the conference device 1
Conference terminal information 5 whose conference status 51 of 7 is “0”
The content of the reserved conference information 60 is added to the area of 0 (step ST4), and the reserved conference information 60 is
Set the reserved conference status 61 to “1” (step ST5)
.

[0023] Note that the above-mentioned addition is the conference number in the conference information 50. Meeting number scheduled for 50. 64, a reserved parent terminal 65 is stored in the parent terminal 53, a reserved representative terminal 66 is stored in the representative terminal 54, a reserved child terminal number 67 is stored in the number of child terminals 55, and a reserved child terminal 68 is stored in the child terminal 56. As a result, the conference information adding means 16 in the conference device 1 executes multiple conferences simultaneously according to the conference table 17.

Next, the reservation end time 63 in the reserved conference information 60 whose reserved conference status 61 is "1" and step ST1
Compare the information from the clock 43 read in (step ST
6) When it is determined that the end time of the conference has passed, the conference information 5 is retrieved from the conference table 17 in the conference device 1.
0 (the conference status is "0") (step ST7), and the reserved conference status 61 in the reserved conference information 60 is deleted.
is set to "2" (step ST8), and the above-described operation is performed for all files (step ST9).

In the above embodiment, the connection between the conference terminal 3 and the conference device 1 is explained using the switching device 4 such as ISDN as a switching means, but the same effect can be obtained even if a ring type network is used. play.

Next, an embodiment of the invention of claim (2) will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multipoint conference device according to an embodiment of the invention of claim (2), and shows the configuration of a multipoint conference device according to an embodiment of the invention of claim (1) (FIGS. 1 to 4, FIG. The same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts as in FIG.

In FIG. 8, 6 is a modem, 7 is a telephone line as a communication line, and 8 is a reservation terminal for transmitting reserved conference information to the reservation center 5 from a remote location via the communication line 7. .

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this reservation terminal 8. In FIG. Reservation terminal display means, such as a CRT display, displays a display for confirming the registration operation, and 73 is reservation terminal control means for newly registering, modifying, or deleting the input reserved conference information 60.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the reservation file 45 in the reservation center 5, and the same or corresponding parts as the reservation file 45 in the invention of claim (1) are given the same reference numerals and explained. Omitted. In FIG. 10, 641
For example, the conference name consists of a 20-character kanji code, 65
1 is the participation department of the parent terminal consisting of 6-digit alphanumeric characters, 652 is the person in charge of the parent terminal consisting of 10-character kanji code, 653
is the phone number of the parent terminal consisting of 20 digits of alphanumeric characters, 654 is the number of participants of the parent terminal consisting of 2 digits, 681 is the participating department of the child terminal consisting of 6 digits of alphanumeric characters, and 682 is the 10 character kanji code. 683 is the phone number of the child terminal consisting of 20 alphanumeric characters, and 684 is the number of participants of the child terminal consisting of 2 digits.

Next, the operation of registering the reserved conference information 60 to the reservation center 5 will be explained using the processing sequence shown in FIG. Incidentally, among the operations of the invention of claim (2), operations other than the registration operation are the same as those of the invention of claim (1), and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

First, when the reservation terminal 8 completes the one-to-one connection with the reservation center 5 via the modem 6 and telephone line 7 (201), the reservation terminal 8 inputs each item of the reserved conference information 60 using the reservation terminal input means 71. (202). At this time, the reservation center 5 is in a state of waiting for a command from the reservation terminal 8.

When the input of each item is completed, the reservation terminal 8 transmits a transmission pattern as shown in FIG. 12(a) to the reservation center 5 to register the reservation (203).
. On the other hand, the reservation center 5 determines the usage status of the conference terminal 3 and the conference device 1 from the contents of the reservation file 45 based on the reservation determination items of the transmitted transmission pattern (FIG. 12(a)), and if the reservation If it is determined that it is possible, the reserved conference No. Create a reservation key code by numbering 64 (2
04), a transmission pattern as shown in FIG. 12(b) is sent back to the reservation terminal 8 (205).

Upon receiving this transmission pattern (FIG. 12(b)), the reservation terminal 8 notifies the operator of whether or not the received reservation is possible by displaying it on the reservation terminal display means 72 (
206) If the reservation is possible, the reservation terminal input means 71 transmits the already input reservation details along with the received reservation key code to the reservation center 5 in a transmission pattern as shown in FIG. 12(c). 207). and,
After the reservation center 5 registers the transmitted reservation details information (corresponding to the reservation conference information 60) in the reservation file 45 (208), the telephone line 7 between the reservation terminal 8 and the reservation center 5 is disconnected ( 209).

In the above embodiment, the telephone line 7 is used as a communication line to connect the reservation center 5 and the reservation terminal 8, but the same effect can be obtained by using a dedicated line or a local telephone line.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where only one reservation terminal 8 was connected to the reservation center 5 was explained.
There is no particular limit to the number of reservation terminals 8.

[0036]

As described above, according to the invention of claim (1), a conference table for managing conference terminal information is provided in a conference device, and execution management of a multipoint conference can be performed according to reserved conference information registered in a reservation center. This makes it possible to simultaneously execute multiple multipoint conferences and automatically control the start and end of each conference.

Further, according to the invention of claim (2), when the reserved conference information stored in the reservation center is registered from a reservation terminal connected via a communication line, the reserved conference information is used as a reservation judgment item. Since the reservation is divided into detailed reservation items and the reservation determination items are sent prior to registration to make the reservation determination, the possibility of reservation can be determined quickly and has the effect of allowing the use of low-speed devices as the modem. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multipoint conference device according to an embodiment of the invention as claimed in claim (1).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conference device in a multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (1).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conference device in a multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (1).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a reservation center in the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (1).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conference table in the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (1).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a reservation file in a reservation center in the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (1).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the multipoint conference device according to an embodiment of the invention as claimed in claim (1).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multipoint conference device according to an embodiment of the invention as claimed in claim (2).

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a reservation terminal in the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (2).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a reservation file in a reservation center in the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (2).

FIG. 11 is a processing sequence for explaining the registration operation of reserved conference information of the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (2).

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the structure of various data transmitted and received between the reservation center and the reservation terminal in the multipoint conference device according to the invention of claim (2).

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional multipoint conference device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Conference equipment 3 Conference terminal 4 Exchange device 5 Reservation center 7　Telephone line 8 Reservation terminal 16 Meeting information addition means 17 Conference table

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A plurality of conference terminals that input and output conference information consisting of video and audio are connected to the plurality of conference terminals by an exchange means, and the conference information that has been transferred is summed. A multipoint conference device includes a conference device that executes a conference between conference terminals, wherein the conference device is provided with a conference table that stores information on conference terminals participating in the conference being executed, By simultaneously running multiple conferences while referring to the conference table, and registering or deleting conference terminal information from the conference table at the specified time according to the reserved conference information stored in advance for each conference, A multi-point conference device characterized in that it is equipped with a reservation center that controls the start and end of each conference. 2. A plurality of conference terminals that input and output conference information consisting of video and audio are connected to the plurality of conference terminals by an exchange means, and the conference information that has been transferred is subjected to addition processing. A multipoint conference device comprising a conference device that executes a conference between conference terminals, wherein information of conference terminals participating in each conference is stored in the conference device so that multiple conferences can be executed simultaneously. By setting up a table and registering or deleting conference terminal information on the conference table at a specified time according to reserved conference information stored in advance for each conference, each conference automatically starts and ends. A reservation center is provided to control the registration of the reserved conference information to the reservation center, and the reserved conference information is divided into reservation determination items necessary for reservation determination and other reservation detailed information, and is connected via a communication line. A multipoint conference device characterized in that the reservation terminal first transmits reservation determination items to confirm that reservations can be accepted, and then transmits detailed reservation information.