JP2017059925A - Management device, management system and management method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management device, a management system and a management method, capable of suppressing the deterioration of a service level.SOLUTION: The management device includes: a relay device management DB 5001 which manages priority type information, which indicates that a terminal 10 having a type, according to the availability of a relay device 30, in which the relay device 30 is to be preferentially used, for each relay device ID which identifies each relay device 30 in an associative manner; a transmission and reception unit 51 which receives start request information to start the transmission/reception of content data between terminals; and a selection unit which preferentially selects the relay device 30 which is indicated by a relay device ID associated with the priority type information indicative of the type of the terminal 10 to be used for the transmission/reception of the content data related to the received start request information, as the relay device 30 for relaying the transmission/reception of the content data between the terminals related to the start request information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a management apparatus, a management system, and a management method.

  In recent years, transmission systems that realize communication with remote locations as if they were actually facing each other, such as a conference system that performs a remote conference via a network such as the Internet, have become widespread.

  For example, in a conference system, a terminal used by one participant of a remote conference captures an image of the participant and collects voice such as the participant's remarks, and the other device of the remote conference via a relay device. Sent to the terminal used by the participant. The terminal used by the other participant receives the image and sound via the relay device, displays the image and outputs the sound, thereby realizing the remote conference.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a conference is performed by allocating an optimal distributed video conference server from among a plurality of distributed video conference servers that relay video and audio based on the address of a video conference terminal used for the conference. A technology for improving the quality of video and audio of a video conference is disclosed.

  In the transmission system as described above, if the operation of the relay device that relays communication is stopped, the relay communication is disconnected and the service level is lowered. The occurrence of such a situation cannot be suppressed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a management device, a management system, and a management method that can suppress a decrease in service level.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the management apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention relates to a terminal of a type corresponding to the availability of the relay apparatus for each relay apparatus identification information that identifies the relay apparatus. A relay device management unit that associates and manages priority type information indicating that a relay device is used preferentially, a reception unit that receives start request information for starting transmission / reception of content data between terminals, and the reception The relay device indicated by the relay device identification information associated with the priority type information indicating the type of the terminal used for transmitting / receiving the content data related to the start request information is transmitted / received between the terminals related to the start request information. And a selection unit that preferentially selects the relay device as a relay device that relays.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in service level.

1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a hardware block diagram of the transmission terminal which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a transmission management system, a relay device, a program providing system, or a maintenance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of each terminal, apparatus, and system which comprise the transmission system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a state management unit in FIG. 4 in detail. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a relay device selection unit in FIG. 4 in detail. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a change quality management table. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the image quality of image data. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a relay apparatus management table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a terminal authentication management table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a terminal management table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a destination list management table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a session management table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a quality management table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a relay apparatus specific management table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a state change management table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a state change management table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a state change management table. It is the sequence figure which showed the process which manages the status information which shows the operating state of each relay apparatus. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the transmission / reception state of the image data in the transmission system, audio | voice data, and various management information. It is the sequence diagram which showed the process of the preparation stage which starts a telephone call between transmission terminals. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the destination list of this embodiment. It is the sequence diagram which showed the process which requests | requires the start of communication. It is a processing flowchart which showed the process which changes the state of communication. It is the sequence diagram which showed the process which permits the request | requirement of a communication start. It is the sequence diagram which showed the process which refuses the request | requirement of a communication start. It is a processing flowchart which showed the process which changes the state of communication. It is the sequence diagram which showed the process which cancels the request | requirement of a communication start. It is the sequence diagram which showed the process which requests | requires relay of call data. It is a processing flowchart which showed the process which changes the state of communication. It is the sequence diagram which showed the process which transmits / receives image data and audio | voice data between transmission terminals. It is the sequence diagram which showed the process which requests | requires participation in the session for telephone call data. It is a processing flowchart which showed the process which changes the state of communication. It is the sequence diagram which showed the process which requests | requires withdrawal from the session for telephone call data. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the destination list of other embodiment. It is a state transition diagram which shows the transition of the state of communication. It is an external view of the transmission terminal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a schedule management table. FIG. 10 is a process flow diagram illustrating a relay device selection process. It is the sequence diagram which showed the power-off process. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relay apparatus management table of a modification. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the terminal management table of a modification. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relay apparatus management table of a modification. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the terminal management table of a modification. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relay apparatus management table of a modification. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the terminal management table of a modification. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relay apparatus management table of a modification. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the terminal management table of a modification.

<< Overall Configuration of Embodiment >>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the outline of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The transmission system includes a data providing system for transmitting content data in one direction from one transmission terminal to the other transmission terminal via the transmission management system, information and emotions between a plurality of transmission terminals via the transmission management system, etc. A communication system that communicates with each other is included. This communication system is a system for mutually transmitting information, emotions, etc. between a plurality of communication terminals (corresponding to “transmission terminal”) via a communication management system (corresponding to “transmission management system”). Examples thereof include a conference system, a videophone system, a voice conference system, a voice phone system, and a PC (Personal Computer) screen sharing system.

  In the present embodiment, assuming a video conference system as an example of a communication system, a video conference management system as an example of a communication management system, and a video conference terminal as an example of a communication terminal, a transmission system, a transmission management system, The transmission terminal will be described. That is, the transmission terminal and the transmission management system of the present invention are not only applied to a video conference system, but also applied to a communication system or a transmission system.

  1 includes a plurality of transmission terminals (10aa, 10ab,...), A display (120aa, 120ab,...) For each transmission terminal (10aa, 10ab,...), And a plurality of relay devices (30a-1). , 30a-2, 30b-1, 30b-2, 30c-1, 30c-2, 30d-1, 30d-2, 30e-1, 30e-2), a transmission management system 50, a program providing system 90, and It is constructed by the maintenance system 100.

  In the present embodiment, “transmission terminal 10” is used to indicate any transmission terminal among the transmission terminals (10aa, 10ab,...), And any display among the displays (120aa, 120ab,...) Is illustrated. In this case, the “display 120” is used and the relay devices (30a-1, 30a-2, 30b-1, 30b-2, 30c-1, 30c-2, 30d-1, 30d-2, 30e-1, 30e are used. -2), the “relay device 30” is used to indicate any relay device.

  The transmission terminal 10 transmits and receives image data and audio data as an example of content data. In the following, “transmission terminal” is simply represented as “terminal”, and “transmission management system” is simply represented as “management system”. That is, the call in the present embodiment includes not only audio data transmission / reception but also image data transmission / reception. That is, the terminal 10 in the present embodiment transmits and receives image data and audio data. However, the terminal 10 may transmit and receive audio data without transmitting and receiving image data.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the image of the image data is a moving image will be described, but it may be a still image as well as a moving image. The image of the image data may include both a moving image and a still image. The relay device 30 relays image data and audio data between the plurality of terminals 10. The management system 50 manages the terminal 10 and the relay device 30 in an integrated manner.

  Further, the plurality of routers (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70ab, 70cd) shown in FIG. 1 perform selection of optimal paths for image data and audio data. In the present embodiment, “router 70” is used to indicate an arbitrary router among the routers (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70ab, 70cd).

  The program providing system 90 includes an HD (Hard Disk) (not shown) that stores a terminal program for realizing various functions or various means in the terminal 10, and transmits the terminal program to the terminal 10. be able to. The HD of the program providing system 90 also stores a relay device program for causing the relay device 30 to realize various functions or various means, and can transmit the relay device program to the relay device 30. . Further, the HD of the program providing system 90 also stores a transmission management program for causing the management system 50 to realize various functions or various means, and can transmit the transmission management program to the management system 50. .

  The maintenance system 100 is a computer for performing maintenance, management, or maintenance of at least one of the terminal 10, the relay device 30, the management system 50, and the program providing system 90. For example, when the maintenance system 100 is installed in the country and the terminal 10, the relay device 30, the management system 50, or the program providing system 90 is installed outside the country, the maintenance system 100 is remotely connected via the communication network 2. Maintenance such as maintenance, management, and maintenance of at least one of the terminal 10, the relay device 30, the management system 50, and the program providing system 90 is performed. In addition, the maintenance system 100 does not go through the communication network 2, but includes a model number, a manufacturing number, a sales destination, a maintenance check, at least one of the terminal 10, the relay device 30, the management system 50, and the program providing system 90 Or, maintenance such as failure history management is performed.

  Further, the terminals (10aa, 10ab, 10ac, 10a...), The relay devices (30a-1, 30a-2), and the router 70a are communicably connected via the LAN 2a. The terminals (10ba, 10bb, 10bc, 10b...), The relay devices (30b-1, 30b-2), and the router 70b are communicably connected via the LAN 2b. The LAN 2a and the LAN 2b are communicably connected by a dedicated line 2ab including a router 70ab, and are constructed in a predetermined area A. For example, the region A is Japan, the LAN 2a is constructed in a Tokyo office, and the LAN 2b is constructed in an Osaka office.

  On the other hand, the terminals (10ca, 10cb, 10cc, 10c...), The relay devices (30c-1, 30c-2), and the router 70c are communicably connected via the LAN 2c. The terminals (10da, 10db, 10dc, 10d...), The relay devices (30d-1, 30d-2), and the router 70d are communicably connected via a LAN 2d. The LAN 2c and the LAN 2d are communicably connected via a dedicated line 2cd including the router 70cd, and are constructed in a predetermined area B. For example, region B is the United States, LAN 2c is built in a New York office, and LAN 2d is Washington D.C. C. Is built in the office. Area A and area B are connected to each other via routers (70ab, 70cd) via the Internet 2i.

  In addition, the management system 50 and the program providing system 90 are communicably connected to the terminal 10 and the relay device 30 via the Internet 2i. The management system 50 and the program providing system 90 may be installed in the region A or the region B, or may be installed in a region other than these.

  The relay devices (30e-1, 30e-2) are communicably connected to the terminal 10 via the communication network 2. At least one of the relay devices (30e-1, 30e-2) is always in operation, and in order to make it less susceptible to the amount of traffic in the local area of region A or region B, is set up. Thus, when the terminal 10 makes a call with a terminal installed in another local area, at least one of the relay devices (30e-1, 30e-2) is used as a relay device for relaying the call data. Further, when a call is made between terminals in the same local area, even if the relay device installed in the local area is not in operation, the relay devices (30e-1, 30e-2) are used as emergency relay devices. ) Is used.

  In the present embodiment, the communication network 2 of the present embodiment is constructed by the LAN 2a, the LAN 2b, the dedicated line 2ab, the Internet 2i, the dedicated line 2cd, the LAN 2c, and the LAN 2d. This communication network 2 may have a place where not only wired communication but also wireless communication is performed.

  In FIG. 1, the four sets of numbers shown under each terminal 10, each relay device 30, management system 50, each router 70, program providing system 90, and maintenance system 100 are in general IPv4. An IP address is simply shown. For example, the IP address of the terminal 10aa is “1.2.1.3”. In addition, IPv6 may be used instead of IPv4, but IPv4 will be used for the sake of simplicity.

  Further, in the present embodiment, each relay device 30 is mirrored so that a conference can be started even if one of them is stopped by maintenance work or the like. However, there may be a configuration in which the configuration in which each relay device 30 is mirrored is a paid option, and the relay device or the like of a specific customer is not made redundant.

<< Hardware Configuration of Embodiment >>
Next, the hardware configuration of this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, when there is a delay in the reception of image data at the terminal 10 as the relay destination (destination), the image resolution of the image data is changed by the relay device 30 before the terminal 10 as the relay destination. A case where image data is transmitted will be described.

  FIG. 37 is an external view of the terminal 10 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the terminal 10 will be described as the X-axis direction, the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction in the horizontal plane as the Y-axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction (vertical direction) will be described as the Z-axis direction.

  As illustrated in FIG. 37, the terminal 10 includes a housing 1100, an arm 1200, and a camera housing 1300. Among them, the front side wall surface 1110 of the housing 1100 is provided with an air intake surface (not shown) formed by a plurality of air intake holes, and the rear side wall surface 1120 of the housing 1100 is formed with a plurality of exhaust holes. An exhaust surface 1121 is provided. As a result, by driving a cooling fan built in the housing 1100, the outside air behind the terminal 10 can be taken in via an intake surface (not shown) and exhausted to the rear of the terminal 10 via an exhaust surface 1121. A sound collecting hole 1131 is formed in the right wall surface 1130 of the housing 1100, and sounds such as voice, sound, noise can be collected by a built-in microphone 114 described later.

  An operation panel 1150 is formed on the right wall surface 1130 side of the housing 1100. The operation panel 1150 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons (108a to 108e) to be described later, a power switch 109 to be described later, and an alarm lamp 119 to be described later, and outputs sound from a built-in speaker 115 to be described later. A sound output surface 1151 formed by a plurality of sound output holes for passing through is formed. Further, a housing 1160 as a recess for housing the arm 1200 and the camera housing 1300 is formed on the left wall surface 1140 side of the housing 1100. The right side wall surface 1130 of the housing 1100 is provided with a plurality of connection ports (1132a to 1132c) for electrically connecting cables to an external device connection I / F 118 described later. On the other hand, the left wall surface 1140 of the housing 1100 is provided with a connection port (not shown) for electrically connecting the cable 120c for the display 120 to an external device connection I / F 118 described later.

  In the following description, “operation button 108” is used when an arbitrary operation button is indicated among the operation buttons (108a to 108e), and “an arbitrary connection port is indicated among the connection ports (1132a to 1132c)”. This will be described using the connection port 1132 ”.

  Next, the arm 1200 is attached to the housing 1100 via a torque hinge 1210, and the arm 1200 is configured to be able to rotate in the vertical direction with respect to the housing 1100 within a tilt angle θ1 of 135 degrees. ing. FIG. 37 shows a state where the tilt angle θ1 is 90 degrees.

  The camera housing 1300 is provided with a built-in camera 112 described later, and can capture images of users, documents, rooms, and the like. A torque hinge 1310 is formed in the camera housing 1300. The camera housing 1300 is attached to the arm 1200 via a torque hinge 1310. The camera housing 1300 is attached to the arm 1200 via the torque hinge 1310. The pan angle θ2 of ± 180 degrees is assumed with respect to the arm 1200, with the state shown in FIG. And a tilt angle θ3 of ± 45 degrees can be rotated in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  Note that the relay device 30, the management system 50, the program providing system 90, and the maintenance system 100 have the same external appearance as a general server computer, and thus the description of the external appearance is omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal 10 of this embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 that controls the operation of the entire terminal 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 that stores a terminal program, and a CPU 101. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 used as a work area, a flash memory 104 that stores various data such as image data and audio data, and an SSD (SSD) that controls reading or writing of various data to the flash memory 104 under the control of the CPU 101 Solid State Drive) 105, a media drive 107 that controls reading or writing (storage) of data to a recording medium 106 such as a flash memory, an operation button 108 that is operated when a destination of the terminal 10 is selected, and a power source of the terminal 10 To switch ON / OFF The power switch 109, and a network I / F (Interface) 111 for transmitting data using the communication network 2 described below.

  The terminal 10 also includes a built-in camera 112 that captures an image of a subject under the control of the CPU 101 to obtain an image, an image sensor I / F 113 that controls driving of the camera 112, a built-in speaker 115 that outputs sound, and the CPU 101. An audio input / output I / F 116 that processes input / output of audio signals between the microphone 114 and the speaker 115 according to the control, a display I / F 117 that transmits image data to the external display 120 according to the control of the CPU 101, and FIG. FIG. 2 shows an external device connection I / F 118 for connecting various external devices attached to the connection port 1132, an alarm lamp 119 for notifying abnormality of various functions of the terminal 10, and each of the above components. Bus lines 11 such as an address bus and a data bus for electrical connection It is equipped with a. The camera, microphone, and speaker do not need to be built in, and may be externally attached.

  The display 120 is a display unit configured by a liquid crystal or an organic EL that displays an image of a subject, an operation icon, and the like. The display 120 is connected to the display I / F 117 by a cable 120c. The cable 120c may be an analog RGB (VGA) signal cable, a component video cable, HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) or DVI (Digital Video). Interactive) signal cable may be used.

  The camera 112 includes a lens and a solid-state image sensor that converts an image (video) of a subject by converting light into electric charges. As the solid-state image sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used. Etc. are used.

  External devices such as an external camera, an external microphone, and an external speaker can be connected to the external device connection I / F 118 by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like. When an external camera is connected, the external camera is driven in preference to the built-in camera 112 under the control of the CPU 101. Similarly, when an external microphone is connected or when an external speaker is connected, each of the external microphones and the built-in speaker 115 is given priority over the internal microphone 114 and the internal speaker 115 according to the control of the CPU 101. An external speaker is driven.

  The recording medium 106 is detachable from the terminal 10. Further, as long as it is a non-volatile memory that reads or writes data according to the control of the CPU 101, not only the flash memory 104 but also an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) or the like may be used.

  Further, the terminal program may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 106 and distributed as a file in an installable or executable format.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the management system 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The management system 50 includes a CPU 201 that controls the overall operation of the management system 50, a ROM 202 that stores a transmission management program, a RAM 203 that is used as a work area for the CPU 201, an HD (Hard Disk) 204 that stores various data, and a control of the CPU 201. , A HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 205 that controls reading or writing of various data with respect to the HD 204, a media drive 207 that controls reading or writing (storage) of data with respect to a recording medium 206 such as a flash memory, a cursor, a menu, a window, A display 208 for displaying various information such as characters or images, a network I / F 209 for transmitting data using the communication network 2 described later, and a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, and the like. A keyboard 211 equipped with a computer, a mouse 212 for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like, and a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) 213 as an example of a removable recording medium. A CD-ROM drive 214 for controlling reading or writing, and a bus line 210 such as an address bus and a data bus for electrically connecting the above-described components as shown in FIG.

  The transmission management program is a file in an installable or executable format, and may be recorded and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 206 or CD-ROM 213. .

  Further, since the relay device 30 has the same hardware configuration as that of the management system 50, the description thereof is omitted. However, the ROM 202 stores a relay device program for controlling the relay device 30. Also in this case, the relay device program is a file in an installable or executable format, and is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 206 or CD-ROM 213 for distribution. Good.

  Furthermore, since the program providing system 90 has the same hardware configuration as that of the management system 50, the description thereof is omitted. However, a program providing program for controlling the program providing system 90 is recorded in the ROM 202. Also in this case, the program providing program is a file in an installable or executable format, and may be recorded and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 206 or the CD-ROM 213. Good.

  Further, since the maintenance system 100 has the same hardware configuration as that of the management system 50, the description thereof is omitted. However, a maintenance program for controlling the maintenance system 100 is recorded in the ROM 202. Also in this case, the maintenance program is a file in an installable or executable format, and may be recorded and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 206 or the CD-ROM 213. .

  As another example of the detachable recording medium, the recording medium is provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or a Blu-ray Disc. May be.

<< Functional Configuration of Embodiment >>
Next, the functional configuration of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of each terminal, device, and system constituting the transmission system 1 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the terminal 10, the relay device 30, the management system 50, and the maintenance system 100 are connected so that data communication can be performed via the communication network 2. Further, the program providing system 90 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted in FIG.

<Functional configuration of terminal>
The terminal 10 includes a transmission / reception unit 11, an operation input reception unit 12, a login request unit 13, an imaging unit 14, an audio input unit 15a, an audio output unit 15b, a display control unit 16, a delay detection unit 18, a storage / read processing unit 19, And a destination list creation unit 20. Each of these units is a function or means realized by any one of the constituent elements shown in FIG. 2 operating according to a command from the CPU 101 according to a program stored in the ROM 102. Further, the terminal 10 includes a volatile storage unit 1000 constructed by the RAM 103 shown in FIG. 2 and a volatile storage unit 1100 constructed by the flash memory 104 shown in FIG.

<Functional parts of terminal>
Next, each part of the terminal will be described in detail. The transmission / reception unit 11 of the terminal 10 is realized by the network I / F 111 illustrated in FIG. 2, and transmits / receives various data (information) to / from other terminals, devices, or systems via the communication network 2. The transmission / reception unit 11 starts receiving state information indicating the state of each terminal as a destination candidate from the management system 50 before starting a call with a desired destination terminal. This status information includes not only the operating status of each terminal 10 (the status of ON line or OFF line) but also the detailed status such as whether a call is in progress or waiting even if it is an ON line. Indicates. In addition, the status information is not limited to the operating status of each terminal 10, but the cable is disconnected from the terminal 10 at the terminal 10, audio is output but no image is output, or audio is not output ( Various states such as MUTE) are shown. Below, the case where status information shows an operation state is demonstrated as an example.

  The operation input receiving unit 12 is realized by the operation button 108 and the power switch 109 shown in FIG. 2 and receives various inputs by the user. For example, when the user turns on the power switch 109 shown in FIG. 2, the operation input receiving unit 12 shown in FIG. 4 receives the power ON and turns on the power.

  The login request unit 13 is realized by a command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 2, and requests that the login is made from the transmission / reception unit 11 to the management system 50 via the communication network 2 when the power-on is accepted. And the current IP address of the terminal 10 as the request source are automatically transmitted. When the user turns the power switch 109 from the ON state to the OFF state, the transmission / reception unit 11 transmits state information indicating that the power supply is turned off to the management system 50, and then the operation input reception unit 12 completely turns the power supply. Set to OFF. As a result, the management system 50 side can grasp that the terminal 10 has been turned off from being turned on. However, the timing of the login request does not need to be triggered by the power ON, and for example, the login request may be made in response to an operation input by the user.

  The imaging unit 14 is realized by the instruction from the CPU 101 illustrated in FIG. 2 and the camera 112 and the image sensor I / F 113 illustrated in FIG. 2. Output image data. The voice input unit 15a is realized by the voice input / output I / F 116 shown in FIG. 2, and after the user's voice is converted into a voice signal by the microphone 114, voice data related to the voice signal is input. The audio output unit 15b is realized by the instruction from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 2 and the audio input / output I / F 116 shown in FIG. 2, and outputs an audio signal related to the audio data to the speaker. To output sound.

  The display control unit 16 is realized by the display I / F 117 illustrated in FIG. 2, and performs control for transmitting image data to the external display 120. The display control unit 16 reflects the state information received after the start of reception by the transmission / reception unit 11 before the terminal 10 as the request source starts a video conference call with the terminal 10 as the desired destination. The destination list including the name is displayed on the display 120.

  For example, a destination list frame 1100-1 as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed on the display 120 by the display execution unit 16a. Each destination name such as a destination name “Japan Tokyo Office AB terminal” 1100-2 is displayed in the destination list frame 1100-1, and an icon (1100-) indicating a state relating to the state information for each destination name. 3a, 1100-3b, 1100-3c, 1100-3d) are displayed. Among these, the icon 1100-3a indicates that one terminal as a destination candidate is in an on-line state and can communicate with this terminal. The icon 1100-3b indicates that one terminal as a destination candidate is in an OFF line state and cannot communicate with this terminal. The icon 1100-3c indicates a state in which three-party communication or the like is possible in addition to this call while one of the destination candidates is in a call with another terminal. The icon 1100-3d indicates that one terminal as a destination candidate is requesting a call with another terminal or a call is requested from another terminal. Show. In addition to the above state, the icon 1100-3d permits a request for a call with another terminal or a request for a call with another terminal. Indicates an impossible state. Further, in the destination list frame 1100-1, a scroll bar 1100-4 is displayed on the right side, and when an upward or downward triangle icon is selected, destination names and states of destination candidates not displayed in FIG. Will be displayed.

  The delay detection unit 18 is realized by a command from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 2, and detects a delay time (ms) of image data or audio data sent from another terminal 10 via the relay device 30. .

  Further, the storage / read processing unit 19 is executed by the instruction from the CPU 101 shown in FIG. 2 and the SSD 105 shown in FIG. 2 as an example, and stores various data in the nonvolatile storage unit 1000 or nonvolatile storage. Processing for reading various data stored in the unit 1000 is performed. The nonvolatile storage unit 1000 stores a terminal ID (Identification) for identifying the terminal 10, a password, and the like. Further, the storage / reading processing unit 19 stores various data in the volatile storage unit 1100 and also performs processing for reading out various data stored in the volatile storage unit 1100. The volatile storage unit 1100 overwrites and stores image data and audio data received when a call is made with the destination terminal. Among these, an image is displayed on the display 120 by the image data before being overwritten, and sound is output from the speaker 115 by the audio data before being overwritten.

  Based on destination list information described later and the status information of the terminal 10 as each destination candidate received from the management system 50, the destination list creation unit 20 uses icons to indicate the status of destination candidates as shown in FIG. Create and update the indicated destination list.

  Note that the terminal ID of this embodiment and the relay device ID described later indicate identification information such as a language, characters, symbols, or various signs used to uniquely identify the terminal 10 and the relay device 30, respectively. . That is, the terminal ID is an example of terminal identification information, and the relay device ID is an example of relay device identification information. Further, the terminal ID and the relay device ID may be identification information in which at least two of the language, characters, symbols, and various signs are combined. The terminal ID may be a personal account ID such as the IP address of the terminal 10 or the user's mail address.

(Functional configuration of relay device)
Next, functions or means of the relay device 30 will be described. The relay device 30 includes a transmission / reception unit 31, a state detection unit 32, a data quality confirmation unit 33, a change quality management unit 34, a data quality change unit 35, a power cutoff unit 36, and a storage / read processing unit 39. Each of these units is a function or means realized by any one of the components shown in FIG. 3 operating according to a command from the CPU 201 according to a program stored in the ROM 202. Further, the relay device 30 is constructed by the HD 204 shown in FIG. 3, and has a non-volatile storage unit 3000 in which storage of various data and information is maintained even when the power of the relay device 30 is turned off.

(Change quality control table)
In the nonvolatile storage unit 3000, a change quality management DB (Data Base) 3001 configured by a change quality management table as shown in FIG. In the change quality management table, the IP address of the terminal 10 as the relay destination of the image data and the image quality of the image data relayed by the relay device 30 are managed in association with the relay destination.

  Here, the resolution of the image data handled in the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the horizontal image is composed of 160 pixels and the vertical image is 120 pixels, and the low resolution image as the base image and the horizontal image as shown in FIG. 8 (b). There are a medium resolution image composed of 320 pixels and 240 pixels vertically, and a high resolution image composed of 640 pixels horizontally and 480 pixels vertically as shown in FIG. 8C. Among these, when passing through a narrow band route, low-quality image data consisting only of low-resolution image data serving as a base image is relayed. When the band is relatively wide, low-resolution image data serving as a base image and medium-quality image data composed of medium-resolution image data are relayed. When the bandwidth is very wide, high-quality image data composed of low-resolution image data, medium-resolution image data, and high-resolution image data serving as base image quality is relayed. For example, in the modified quality management table shown in FIG. 7, when the relay device 30 relays image data to the destination terminal having the IP address “1.3.2.4”, the relay is performed. The image quality (image quality) of the image data is “high quality”.

<Each functional unit of the relay device>
Next, each functional configuration of the relay device 30 will be described in detail. In the following description, each component of the relay device 30 will be described in relation to main components for realizing each component of the relay device 30 among the components illustrated in FIG. 3.

  4 is realized by the network I / F 209 shown in FIG. 3, and other terminals, devices, or systems and various data (or the data (or Information). For example, the transmission / reception unit 31 receives a power-off request for requesting power-off from the maintenance system 100. The state detection unit 32 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 illustrated in FIG. 3, and detects the operating state of the relay device 30 having the state detection unit 32. The operating state includes “ON line”, “OFF line”, and “failing” state.

  The data quality confirmation unit 33 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 3, searches the change quality management table (see FIG. 7) using the IP address of the destination terminal as a search key, and relays correspondingly. The image quality of the relayed image data is confirmed by extracting the image quality of the image data. The change quality management unit 34 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 3, and the contents of the change quality management table of the change quality management DB 3001 based on quality information to be described later sent from the management system 50. To change. For example, a video conference is performed by transmitting and receiving high-quality image data between a request source terminal (terminal 10aa) whose terminal ID is “01aa” and a destination terminal (terminal 10db) whose terminal ID is “01db”. While the request is being made, the requesting terminal (terminal 10bb) and the destination terminal (terminal 10ca) that conduct another videoconference start the videoconference via the communication network 2, etc., so that the destination terminal (terminal 10db) When a delay in the reception of image data occurs, the relay device 30 needs to reduce the image quality of the image data that has been relayed from the high image quality to the medium image quality. In such a case, the content of the change quality management table of the change quality management DB 3001 is changed so as to lower the image quality of the image data relayed by the relay device 30 from high image quality to medium image quality based on the quality information indicating the medium image quality. Is done.

  The data quality changing unit 35 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 3, and changes the image quality of the image data sent from the transmission source terminal 10 to the change quality management of the changed change quality management DB 3001. Change based on table contents. The storage / reading processing unit 39 is realized by the HDD 205 shown in FIG. 3, and stores various data in the nonvolatile storage unit 3000 and reads various data stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 3000. The power shut-off unit 36 is realized by a command from the CPU 201 illustrated in FIG. 3, and shuts off the power of the relay device 30 based on the power shut-off request received by the transmission / reception unit 31.

<Functional configuration of management system>
Next, functions or means of the management system 50 will be described. The management system 50 includes a transmission / reception unit 51, a terminal authentication unit 52, a state management unit 53, a terminal extraction unit 54, a terminal state acquisition unit 55, a relay device selection unit 56, a session management unit 57, a quality determination unit 58, and storage / read processing. Section 59, delay time management section 60, determination section 61, determination section 62, change request information determination section 63, and update section 64. Each of these units is a function or means realized by any one of the components shown in FIG. 3 operating according to a command from the CPU 201 according to a program stored in the ROM 202. In addition, the management system 50 includes a non-volatile storage unit 5000 that is constructed by the HD 204 shown in FIG. 3 and maintains various data and information even when the management system 50 is turned off. The nonvolatile storage unit 5000 stores a destination list frame 1100-1 shown in FIG. Furthermore, the management system 50 has a volatile storage unit 5100 constructed by the RAM 203 shown in FIG.

(Relay device management table)
In the nonvolatile storage unit 5000, a relay device management DB 5001 configured by a relay device management table as shown in FIG. 9 is constructed. In this relay device management table, for each relay device ID of the relay device 30, acceptability information indicating whether or not a new session can be accepted by the relay device 30, operating status of the relay device 30, and status information indicating the operating status are managed system. 50, the IP address of the relay device 30, the maximum data transmission rate (Mbps) in the relay device 30, the region information indicating the region where the relay device 30 is located, and the type according to the availability of the relay device 30 Priority type information indicating that the terminal 10 preferentially uses the relay device 30 is associated (corresponding) and managed. Examples of the area indicated by the area information include area A and area B in FIG.

  In this embodiment, the acceptance / rejection information indicates whether or not the relay device 30 can accept a new conference, but is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, when the acceptability information is “acceptable”, this indicates that the relay apparatus can accept a new conference start request. When the acceptability information is “acceptance rejected”, the relay apparatus Indicates that a new meeting start request cannot be accepted. Therefore, if the acceptance / rejection information is “acceptance / rejection”, a new conference cannot be started, and only halfway participation in the existing conference or end of the conference can be performed.

In the present embodiment, the type indicated by the priority type information represents whether the usage mode of the terminal 10 assumes an individual or a large number of people. As an example of a personal terminal, there is a personal terminal such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, or a mobile PC described in FIG. A large number of people is in a usage mode in which the terminal 10 is shared by two or more people. As an example of a multi-person (shared) terminal, for example, there is a shared terminal such as the conference dedicated terminal described in FIG.
In general, the meeting time tends to increase as the number of participants increases. For this reason, the terminal 10 whose type is an individual represents that the meeting time tends to be short, and the terminal 10 whose type is a large number of persons represents that the meeting time tends to be long. From the viewpoint of preventing the ongoing conference from being disconnected due to the suspension of the operation of the relay device 30, it is considered preferable to use the relay device 30 with higher availability as the conference time is longer. . Therefore, in the present embodiment, priority type information representing an individual is associated with the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is less than the threshold value, and a large number of people are assigned to the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is the threshold value or more. Assume that the priority type information to be displayed is associated. The threshold value may be determined in consideration of the availability of the entire relay device 30 (for example, the average value or median value of the availability of the relay device 30).

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the relay device 30 whose availability is less than the threshold is preferentially used for the terminal 10 that tends to have a short conference time, and the relay device 30 whose availability is greater than or equal to the threshold is preferentially used. Since the terminal 10 that tends to be used preferentially, the terminal 10 that is preferentially used in the relay device 30 becomes the terminal 10 of the conference time according to the availability of the relay device 30, and the ongoing conference is disconnected. This can prevent the service level from being lowered. Specifically, since it becomes easy to prevent a conference with a long conference time from being held by the relay device 30 with low availability, it is possible to suppress a decrease in service level that a conference being held is disconnected. .

  For example, in the relay device management table shown in FIG. 9, the relay device 30a with the relay device ID “111a1” has “acceptable” information on acceptability, “ON line” in the operating state, and the management system 50 The date and time when the status information was received is “November 10, 2009, 13:00” and the IP address of the relay device 30a is “1.2.1.2”. It is indicated that the speed is 100 Mbps and the area where the relay device 30a is located is A. Furthermore, since the relay device 30a with the relay device ID “111a1” has high availability, the priority type information tends to be used for the terminal 10 (the usage time of the relay device 30 is assumed to be long). This indicates that the terminal 10) is made to use this relay device 30a preferentially.

(Terminal authentication management table)
Furthermore, a terminal authentication management DB 5002 configured by a terminal authentication management table as shown in FIG. 10 is constructed in the nonvolatile storage unit 5000. In this terminal authentication management table, each password is associated with each terminal ID of all terminals 10 managed by the management system 50 and managed. For example, the terminal authentication management table shown in FIG. 10 indicates that the terminal ID of the terminal 10aa is “01aa” and the password is “aaaa”.

(Terminal management table)
Further, in the nonvolatile storage unit 5000, a terminal management DB 5003 configured by a terminal management table as shown in FIG. 11 is constructed. In this terminal management table, for each terminal ID of the terminal 10, the management system 50 receives the destination name when the terminal 10 is the destination, the operating status of the terminal 10, the communication status with other terminals, and the login request information described later. The received date and time, the IP address of the terminal 10, and the type information indicating the type of the terminal 10 are associated (corresponding) and managed. The type indicated by the type information is, like the type indicated by the above-described priority type information, whether the usage mode of the terminal is assumed to be an individual or a large number of people, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. For example, in the terminal management table shown in FIG. 11, the terminal 10aa with the terminal ID “01aa” has the terminal name “Japan Tokyo Office AA terminal”, the operation state “ON line”, and the communication state “None” indicating a standby state without communicating with other terminals, and the date and time when the login request information is received by the management system 50 is “13:40 on November 10, 2009”. It is indicated that the IP address of 10aa is “1.2.1.3”. Furthermore, the type information of the terminal 10aa with the terminal ID “01aa” indicates that the usage mode is assumed to be large (the usage time of the relay device 30 tends to be long). The communication status includes “Calling” indicating that the other terminal is being called, “Ringing” indicating the status being called from the other terminal, whether the request for a call with the other terminal is permitted, “Accepted” indicating that a request for a call with the other terminal is permitted, “Busy” indicating a state during a call with another terminal, and the like are included.

(Destination list management table)
Further, in the nonvolatile storage unit 5000, a destination list management DB 5004 configured by a destination list management table as shown in FIG. 12 is constructed. In this destination list management table, all terminal IDs of destination terminals registered as destination terminal candidates are managed in association with terminal IDs of request source terminals that request the start of a call in a video conference. For example, in the destination list management table shown in FIG. 12, a destination terminal candidate that can request the start of a call in a video conference from a request source terminal (terminal 10aa) whose terminal ID is “01aa” is a terminal The terminal 10ab having an ID “01ab”, the terminal 10ba having a terminal ID “01ba”, the terminal 10bb having a terminal ID “01bb”, and the like are illustrated. This destination terminal candidate is updated by being added or deleted in response to a request for addition or deletion from the request source terminal to the management system 50.

(Session management table)
In the nonvolatile storage unit 5000, a session management DB 5005 configured by a session management table as shown in FIG. 13 is constructed. In this session management table, for each session ID for identifying a session in which call data is communicated between terminals, the relay device ID of the relay device 30 used for relaying image data and audio data, the terminal of the request source terminal The management system 50 receives the ID, the terminal ID of the destination terminal, the reception delay time (ms) when image data is received at the destination terminal, and the delay information indicated by this delay time from the destination terminal. The reception date and time received at is associated and managed. For example, in the session management table shown in FIG. 13, the relay device 30a (relay device ID “111a1”) selected in the session executed using the session ID “se1” has the terminal ID “01aa”. Request source terminal (terminal 10aa), destination terminal (terminal 10bb) with terminal ID "01bb", destination terminal with terminal ID "01cb" (terminal 10cb), destination terminal with terminal ID "01db" (terminal 10db), the image data and the audio data are relayed, and the delay time of the image data at the time of “14:00 on November 10, 2009” at the destination terminal (terminal 10db) is 200 (ms). It is shown that. When a video conference is performed between the two terminals 10, the reception date and time of the delay information may be managed based on the delay information transmitted from the request source terminal instead of the destination terminal. However, when a video conference is performed between three or more terminals 10, the reception date and time of delay information is managed based on the delay information transmitted from the terminal 10 on the image data and audio data receiving side.

(Quality control table)
Furthermore, a quality management DB 5007 configured by a quality management table as shown in FIG. 14 is constructed in the nonvolatile storage unit 5000. In this quality management table, the image quality (image quality) of image data relayed by the relay device 30 is associated and managed according to the delay time (ms) of the image data at the request source terminal or the destination terminal.

(Relay device specific management table)
Further, in the nonvolatile storage unit 5000, a relay device identification management DB 5008 configured by a relay device identification management table as shown in FIG. 15 is constructed. In this relay device identification management table, for each terminal ID of all terminals 10 managed by the management system 50, the relay device ID of the relay device 30 used (usable) for relaying image data and audio data. Are related (corresponding) and managed. In the present embodiment, each relay device 30 is mirrored, and there are a plurality of relay devices 30 that can be used by the terminal 10. Therefore, in the relay device identification management table, a plurality of relay device IDs are assigned to one terminal ID. Associated.

(Status change management table)
In the nonvolatile storage unit 5000, a state change management DB 5009 configured by a state change management table as shown in FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 is constructed. In the state change management table of FIG. 16, change request information (an example of change information) indicating a request for changing the state of communication between terminals, and a pre-change state indicating a communication state before being changed by the state change unit 53c Information and change information indicating the state changed by the state change unit 53c are managed in association with each other. In the state change management table of FIG. 17, change request information, terminal information for identifying a request source terminal and a destination terminal, state information before change, and change information are associated and managed. In the status change management table of FIG. 18, the change request information, the terminal information, and the change request information “Invite” for requesting the start of communication are rejected from any of the plurality of terminals. When the change request information “Reject” is received, determination information indicating a result of determining whether or not the change request information “Reject” has been received from all of the plurality of terminals, state information before change, and change information are Associated and managed. The change request information includes, in addition to the above “Invite” and “Reject”, change request information “Accept” to permit the start of communication, and change request information “Cancel” to cancel the request to start communication. , Change request information “Join” requesting the start of call data relay, change request information “Call” requesting participation in this session when a session between terminals has already been established, Change request information “Leave” and the like for requesting termination are included.

(Each functional part of the management system)
Next, each functional unit of the management system 50 will be described in detail. In the following, in describing each part of the management system 50, a relationship with main constituent elements for realizing each part of the management system 50 among the constituent elements illustrated in FIG. 3 will also be described.

  The transmission / reception unit 51 is executed by the network I / F 209 illustrated in FIG. 3, and transmits / receives various data (or information) to / from other terminals, devices, or systems via the communication network 2. For example, the transmission / reception unit 51 receives the terminal IDs of the plurality of terminals from at least one of the plurality of terminals 10 used for transmission / reception of content data, or receives an update request for acceptability information from the maintenance system 100. To do. The terminal authentication unit 52 searches the terminal authentication management table (see FIG. 10) of the nonvolatile storage unit 5000 using the terminal ID and password included in the login request information received via the transmission / reception unit 51 as search keys. The terminal authentication is performed by determining whether the same terminal ID and password are managed in the terminal authentication management table.

  In order to manage the operating state of the request source terminal that has requested login, the status management unit 53 stores the terminal ID of the request source terminal, the operating status of the request source terminal, and the management system 50 in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). The reception date and time when the login request information is received and the IP address of the request source terminal are stored and managed in association with each other. Therefore, the state management unit 53 realizes the state setting unit 53a, the state acquisition unit 53b, and the state change unit 53c shown in FIG. 5 by an instruction from the CPU 201 shown in FIG.

  Among these, the state setting unit 53a is based on the state information that the user of the terminal 10 turns on the power supplied from the terminal by turning on the power switch 109 of the terminal 10 from the OFF state. The operation state indicating the OFF line of the operation state of the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) is set to the ON line. Further, when the user turns off the power switch 109 of the terminal 10 from the ON state, the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) is based on the state information indicating that the power sent from the terminal is turned OFF. The operation state indicating the ON line is set to the OFF line.

  When the change request information transmitted by the request source terminal or the destination terminal is received by the transmission / reception unit 51, the status acquisition unit 53b displays the status information of at least one of the request source terminal and the destination terminal in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). Get from.

  Based on the change request information received by the transmission / reception unit 51, the state change unit 53c displays either or both of the request source terminal state information and the destination terminal state information managed in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). change.

  The terminal extraction unit 54 searches the destination list management table (see FIG. 12) using the terminal ID of the request source terminal that requested the login as a key, and reads out the terminal IDs of candidate destination terminals that can talk to the request source terminal. Thus, the terminal ID is extracted. Also, the terminal extraction unit 54 searches the destination list management table using the terminal ID of the request source terminal that has requested login as a key, and requests other requests that register the terminal ID of the request source terminal as candidates for the destination terminal. The terminal ID of the original terminal is also extracted.

  The terminal status acquisition unit 55 searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the terminal ID of the destination terminal candidate extracted by the terminal extraction unit 54 as a search key, and the terminal extracted by the terminal extraction unit 54 Read the operating status for each ID. Thereby, the terminal state acquisition unit 55 can acquire the operating state of the candidate destination terminal that can make a call with the request source terminal that has requested the login. In addition, the terminal state acquisition unit 55 searches the terminal management table using the terminal ID extracted by the terminal extraction unit 54 as a search key, and also acquires the operating state of the request source terminal that requested the login.

  The relay device selection unit 56 performs a process for finally narrowing down the plurality of relay devices 30 to one relay device 30. Therefore, the relay device selection unit 56 implements a session ID generation unit 56a, a relay device specification unit 56b, and a selection unit 56c in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201 shown in FIG.

  Among these, the session ID generation unit 56a generates a session ID for identifying a session in which call data is communicated between terminals. The relay device specifying unit 56b is used for transmission / reception of content data that is the terminal ID of the request source terminal and the terminal ID of the destination terminal included in the start request information transmitted from the request source terminal and received by the transmission / reception unit 51. Among the relay device identification information managed in the relay device identification management table (see FIG. 15) based on the terminal IDs of the plurality of terminals 10 that can be commonly used by the terminals 10 indicated by these terminal IDs. The relay device ID of the device 30 is specified (extracted). Specifically, the relay device specifying unit 56b specifies relay device IDs associated with these terminal IDs.

  In the relay device management table (see FIG. 9), the selection unit 56c sets the relay device 30 indicated by the relay device ID associated with the priority type information indicating the type of the terminal 10 used for content data transmission / reception to the content. The relay device 30 that preferentially relays data transmission / reception is preferentially selected. Specifically, the selection unit 56c transmits the terminal ID and the destination of the request source terminal included in the start request information transmitted from the request source terminal and received by the transmission / reception unit 51 in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). The type with the highest availability required for the relay device 30 is selected from the types indicated by the type information associated with the terminal IDs of the plurality of terminals 10 used for transmission / reception of the content data that is the terminal ID of the terminal. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the availability required for the relay device 30 is the lowest for individuals and the highest for many people. The selection unit 56c is associated with priority type information indicating the type indicated by the selected type information from the relay device ID specified by the relay device specifying unit 56b in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11), and The relay device 30 indicated by the relay device ID associated with the acceptability information indicating “acceptability” is preferentially selected as the relay device 30 that relays transmission / reception of the content data. The selection unit 56c is associated with priority type information indicating the type indicated by the selected type information in the relay device ID specified by the relay device specifying unit 56b in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11), and If there is no relay device ID associated with the acceptability information indicating “acceptable”, it is associated with the acceptability information indicating “acceptable” from among the relay device IDs identified by the relay device identifying unit 56b. The relay device 30 indicated by the relay device ID is selected as the relay device 30 that relays transmission / reception of the content data.

  The session management unit 57 associates the session ID generated by the session ID generation unit 56a, the terminal ID of the request source terminal, and the terminal ID of the destination terminal with the session management table (see FIG. 13) of the nonvolatile storage unit 5000. Remember and manage. The session management unit 57 stores and manages the relay device ID of the relay device 30 that is finally selected for each session ID in the session management table.

  The quality determining unit 58 searches the quality management table (see FIG. 14) using the delay time as a search key, and extracts the image quality of the corresponding image data, thereby determining the image quality of the image data to be relayed to the relay device 30. To do. The storage / reading processing unit 59 is executed by the HDD 205 illustrated in FIG. 3, and stores various data in the nonvolatile storage unit 5000 or reads various data stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 5000. The delay time management unit 60 extracts a corresponding terminal ID by searching the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the IP address of the destination terminal as a search key, and further acquires a session management table (see FIG. 13). The delay time indicated by the delay information is stored and managed in the delay time field portion of the record including the extracted terminal ID.

  Based on the change request information received by the transmission / reception unit 51, the determination unit 61 determines a response for changing the state of communication between terminals. When the determination unit 62 receives the change request information “Reject” for refusing the start of communication from any of the plurality of terminals that have received the change request information “Invite” for requesting the start of communication, It is determined whether or not change request information “Reject” indicating that the start of communication is rejected is received from all of the terminals. The change request information determination unit 63 includes not only the communication status of the terminal (one of the request source terminal and the destination terminal) that transmitted the change request information as the change request information received by the transmission / reception unit 51, but also the other terminal It is determined whether the change request information is specific change request information indicating a request to change the communication state of the other of the request source terminal and the destination terminal. For example, the change request information “Invite” for requesting the start of communication not only changes the communication state of the requesting terminal to the calling state “Calling” but also calls the communication state of the destination terminal. Since it is changed to the state “Ringing”, it is determined that the information is specific change request information. Similarly, in this embodiment, in addition to the above “Invite”, “Accept” for permitting the start of communication, “Reject” for rejecting the start of communication, and “Reject” for canceling the request for starting communication. “Cancel” is determined as specific change request information. The update unit 64 updates acceptability information in the relay device management table (see FIG. 9) based on the update request received by the transmission / reception unit 51. For example, if the update request is an update request that includes a relay device ID and requests that the acceptability information associated with the relay device ID be updated to accept / deny, the update unit 64 includes the relay device management table ( In FIG. 9, the acceptability information associated with the relay device ID included in the update request is updated to accept / deny.

(Functional configuration of the maintenance system)
Next, functions or means of the maintenance system 100 will be described. The maintenance system 100 includes a transmission / reception unit 91, a display control unit 92, and an operation input reception unit 93. Each of these units is a function or means realized by any one of the components shown in FIG. 3 operating according to a command from the CPU 201 according to a program stored in the ROM 202. In addition, the maintenance system 100 includes a non-volatile storage unit 10000 that is constructed by the HD 204 shown in FIG. 3 and maintains various data and information even when the power of the maintenance system 100 is turned off.

(Schedule management table)
In the nonvolatile storage unit 10000, a schedule management DB (Data Base) 10001 configured by a schedule management table as shown in FIG. 38 is constructed. In the schedule management table, the transmission date / time information indicating the transmission date / time of the update request for updating the acceptability information of the relay device 30 to “acceptance denied” for each relay device ID of the relay device 30 to be powered off, and the relay device 30 The power-off date / time information indicating the power-off date / time when the power is shut off is associated and managed. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the relay device 30 to be powered off is a relay device 30 with low availability. The power-off date / time is the date and time after the transmission date / time, and the time from the transmission date / time to the power-off date / time is, for example, the time required to continue the meeting defined in the service level agreement or the time from the start to the end of the meeting. Then, it may be the longest time assumed.

<Each functional part of the maintenance system>
Next, each functional configuration of the maintenance system 100 will be described in detail. In the following, in describing each part of the maintenance system 100, a relationship with main constituent elements for realizing each part of the maintenance system 100 among the constituent elements illustrated in FIG. 3 will also be described.

  The transmission / reception unit 91 of the maintenance system 100 illustrated in FIG. 4 is realized by the network I / F 209 illustrated in FIG. 3, and other terminals, devices, or systems and various data (or the data (or Information). For example, the transmission / reception unit 91 transmits an update request for acceptability information to the management system 50 or transmits a power-off request for requesting power-off to the relay device 30. Specifically, the transmission / reception unit 91 includes the relay device ID associated with the transmission date / time information in the transmission date / time indicated by the transmission date / time information in the schedule management table (see FIG. 38), and associates it with the relay device ID. An update request requesting to update the received acceptance / rejection information to acceptance / rejection is transmitted to the management system 50. Also, the transmission / reception unit 91 requests the power-off request to the relay device 30 indicated by the relay device ID associated with the power-off date / time information at the power-off date / time indicated by the power-off date / time information in the schedule management table. Send. Examples of the power-off request include a command for instructing shutdown, but are not limited thereto.

  The display control unit 92 is realized by the display 208 shown in FIG. For example, the display control unit 92 displays an edit screen of the schedule management table (see FIG. 38).

  The operation input receiving unit 93 is realized by the keyboard 211 and the mouse 212 shown in FIG. 3 and receives various inputs by the user. The operation input receiving unit 93 receives, for example, an input for editing a schedule management table (see FIG. 38).

<< Processing or Operation of Embodiment >>
The above is the description of the configuration and function (or means) of the transmission system 1 according to the present embodiment. Subsequently, the transmission system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 36, 39, and 40. 1 will be described. FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing for managing state information indicating the operating state of each relay device. FIG. 20 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of transmission / reception of image data, audio data, and various management information in the transmission system. FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showing processing in a preparation stage for starting a call between terminals. FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram showing a destination list of the present embodiment. FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing for requesting the start of communication. FIG. 24 is a process flowchart showing a process for changing the communication state. FIG. 25 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing for permitting a request to start communication. FIG. 26 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing for rejecting a request to start communication. FIG. 27 is a process flowchart showing a process for changing the communication state. FIG. 28 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing for canceling a request to start communication. FIG. 29 is a sequence diagram showing a process for requesting relay of call data. FIG. 30 is a process flowchart showing a process for changing the communication state. FIG. 31 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing for transmitting and receiving image data and audio data between terminals. FIG. 32 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing for requesting participation in a call data session. FIG. 33 is a process flowchart showing a process for changing the communication state. FIG. 34 is a sequence diagram showing processing for requesting exit from the call data session. FIG. 35 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a destination list according to another embodiment. FIG. 36 is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the communication state. FIG. 39 is a process flow diagram illustrating a relay device selection process. FIG. 40 is a sequence diagram showing the power shutdown process.

  First, a process for managing state information indicating the state of each relay device 30 transmitted from each relay device 30 to the management system 50 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in each relay device 30, the state detection unit 32 shown in FIG. 4 periodically detects the operating state of the relay device 30 as its own device (steps S1-1 to S1-4). Then, the transmission / reception unit 31 of each relay device 30 periodically transmits each state information to the management system 50 via the communication network 2 so that the operation state of each relay device 30 is managed in real time on the management system 50 side. (Steps S2-1 to S2-4). Each state information includes the relay device ID for each relay device 30 and the operating state detected by the state detection unit 32 of the relay device 30 related to each relay device ID. In the present embodiment, the relay devices (30a, 30b, 30d) operate normally and are “ON line”, while the relay device 30c is in operation, but the relay operation of the relay device 30c. The case where some trouble has occurred in the program for executing the “OFF line” is shown.

  Next, in the management system 50, the transmission / reception unit 51 receives each status information sent from each relay device 30, and the relay device management table (FIG. 5) of the nonvolatile storage unit 5000 via the storage / read processing unit 59. 9), state information is stored and managed for each relay device ID (steps S3-1 to S3-4). As a result, the operation status of “ON line”, “OFF line”, or “failing” is stored and managed for each relay device ID in the relay device management table as shown in FIG. The At this time, the reception date and time when the status information is received by the management system 50 is also stored and managed for each relay device ID. If the status information is not sent from the relay device 30, the field portion of the operation state and the field portion of the reception date and time in each record of the relay device management table shown in FIG. The operation status and the reception date and time at the previous reception are shown.

  Next, the concept showing the transmission / reception state of image data, audio data, and various management information in the transmission system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 20, in the transmission system 1, a management information session sei for transmitting and receiving various types of management information is established between the terminal 10A, the terminal 10B, and the terminal 10C via the management system 50. Is done. In addition, the terminal 10A, the terminal 10B, and the terminal 10C transmit and receive four types of data, that is, high-resolution image data, medium-resolution image data, low-resolution image data, and audio data, via the relay device 30. Four sessions for are established. Here, these four sessions are collectively shown as an image / audio data session sed.

  Next, the transmission / reception process of each management information in the preparation stage before the terminal 10aa starts a call will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 21 illustrates a process in which various types of management information are transmitted and received through the management information session sei.

  First, when the user of the terminal 10aa turns on the power switch 109 shown in FIG. 2, the operation input receiving unit 12 shown in FIG. 4 receives the power ON and turns on the power (step) S21). The login request unit 13 automatically transmits login request information indicating a login request from the transmission / reception unit 11 to the management system 50 via the communication network 2 in response to the reception of the power ON (step S22). This login request information includes a terminal ID and a password for identifying the terminal 10aa which is the own terminal as a request source. These terminal ID and password are data read from the non-volatile storage unit 1000 via the storage / read processing unit 19 and sent to the transmission / reception unit 11. When the login request information is transmitted from the terminal 10aa to the management system 50, the management system 50 that is the receiving side can grasp the IP address of the terminal 10aa that is the transmitting side. However, the terminal ID may be read from an IC card such as an SD card or a SIM card connected to the terminal 10. Moreover, terminal ID may be sent to the transmission / reception part 11 according to the operation input by a user, for example.

  Next, the terminal authentication unit 52 of the management system 50 uses the terminal ID and password included in the login request information received via the transmission / reception unit 51 as a search key, and the terminal authentication management table (see FIG. 10) and terminal authentication is performed by determining whether the same terminal ID and password are managed in the terminal authentication management DB 5002 (step S23).

  Since the same terminal ID and password are managed by the terminal authentication unit 52, if it is determined that the login request is from the terminal 10 having a valid usage right, the state management unit 53 The table (see FIG. 11) stores the reception date and time when the login request information is received and the IP address of the terminal 10aa in association with each record indicated by the terminal ID and destination name of the terminal 10aa (step S24-1). ). Accordingly, the terminal management table shown in FIG. 11 includes the terminal ID “01aa”, the reception date and time “2009.11.10.13:40” and the terminal IP address “1.2.1.3”. It will be managed in association.

  Subsequently, the state setting unit 53a of the state management unit 53 sets the operation state “ON line” and the communication state “None” of the terminal 10aa, and the terminal ID and destination of the terminal 10aa are set in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). For each record indicated by the name, the operating state and the communication state are associated and stored (step S24-2). Accordingly, in the terminal management table illustrated in FIG. 11, the operation state “ON line” and the communication state “None” are associated with the terminal ID “01aa” and managed.

  Then, the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 sends the authentication result information indicating the authentication result obtained by the terminal authentication unit 52 via the communication network 2 to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) that made the login request. (Step S25). In the present embodiment, the case where the terminal authentication unit 52 determines that the terminal has a valid usage right will be described below.

  When the terminal 10aa receives the authentication result information indicating the result determined to be a terminal having a valid use authority, the transmission / reception unit 11 requests the management system 50 via the communication network 2 for a destination list. Is sent to the destination list request information (step S26). Thereby, the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives the destination list request information.

  Next, the terminal extraction unit 54 searches the destination list management table (see FIG. 12) using the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) that requested the login as a search key, and requests the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). It extracts by reading the terminal IDs of candidate destination terminals that can make a call (step S27). The terminal extraction unit 54 searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the extracted terminal ID as a search key, and extracts the destination name corresponding to the terminal ID by reading it. Here, the terminal IDs (“01ab”, “01ba”,..., “01db”) of the destination terminals (10ab, 10ba,..., 10db,...) Corresponding to the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). ,..., And terminal names (“Japan Tokyo Office AB Terminal”, “Japan Osaka Office BA Terminal”,... “America Washington Office DB Terminal”,...) Are extracted.

  Next, the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 reads the data of the destination list frame (data of the destination list frame 1100-1 part shown in FIG. 22) from the storage unit 6000 via the storage / read processing unit 59. (Step S28), the “destination list information (destination list frame, terminal ID, destination name)” including the destination list frame and the terminal ID and destination name extracted by the terminal extraction unit 54 is sent to the request source terminal ( It transmits to the terminal 10aa) (step S29). Thereby, in the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the transmission / reception unit 11 receives the destination list information, and the storage / reading processing unit 19 stores the destination list information in the volatile storage unit 1100 (step S30).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the destination list information is not managed by each terminal 10, but the management system 50 centrally manages the destination list information of all terminals. Therefore, a new terminal 10 is included in the transmission system 1, a new model terminal 10 is included instead of the already included terminal 10, or the appearance of the destination list frame is changed. In this case, since the management system 50 copes collectively, it is possible to save the trouble of changing the destination list information on each terminal 10 side.

  In addition, the terminal state acquisition unit 55 of the management system 50 uses the terminal IDs of the destination terminal candidates (“01ab”, “01ba”,... “01db”,...) Extracted by the terminal extraction unit 54 as search keys. By searching the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) and reading the corresponding operating state for each terminal ID extracted by the terminal extraction unit 54, terminals (10ab, 10ba,..., 10db,. ) Is acquired (step S31).

  Next, the transmission / reception unit 51 includes “terminal state” including the terminal ID “01ab” as the search key used in step S27 and the operating state “OFF line” of the corresponding destination terminal (terminal 10ab). Information "is transmitted to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) via the communication network 2 (step S32). Similarly, as part of step S32, the transmitting / receiving unit 51 includes “terminal state information” including the terminal ID “01ba” and the operating state “ON line (Calling)” of the corresponding destination terminal (terminal 10ba). The remaining “terminal status information” is also individually transmitted to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa).

  Next, the storage / read processing unit 19 of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) sequentially stores the terminal status information received from the management system 50 in the volatile storage unit 1100 (step S33). Therefore, the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) receives the status information of each of the terminals, so that each of the current times of the terminal 10ab and the like that are candidates for the destination terminal that can talk to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) is obtained. The operating state can be acquired.

  Next, the destination list creation unit 20 of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) determines the status of the terminal 10 as a destination candidate based on the destination list information stored in the volatile storage unit 1100 and the status information of the terminal. While creating the reflected destination list, the display control unit 16 controls the timing for displaying the destination list on the display 120 shown in FIG. 2 (step S34).

  As described above, as shown in FIG. 22, a destination list in a state where each destination name 1100-2 etc. and icons 1100-3a reflecting each state information are displayed in the destination list frame 1100-1 is displayed. 120aa will be displayed.

  On the other hand, returning to FIG. 21, the terminal extraction unit 54 of the management system 50 uses the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) that requested the login as a search key, and uses the destination list management table (see FIG. 12). The terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) is searched and the terminal IDs of other request source terminals registered as destination terminal candidates are extracted (step S35). In the destination list management table shown in FIG. 12, the terminal IDs of the other request source terminals to be extracted are “01ab”, “01ba”, and “01db”.

  Next, the terminal status acquisition unit 55 of the management system 50 searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) that has made the login request as a search key. Then, the operating state of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) that has requested the login is acquired (step S36).

  Then, the transmission / reception unit 51 includes the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) among the terminals (10ab, 10ba, 10db) related to the terminal IDs (“01ab”, “01ba”, and “01db”) extracted in step S35. ) Includes the terminal ID “01aa” and the operation state “ON line” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) acquired in step S36 in the terminals (10ba, 10db) whose operation state is “ON line”. "Terminal status information" is transmitted (steps S37-1, S37-2). When the transmission / reception unit 51 transmits the terminal status information to the terminals (10ba, 10db), the terminal management table shown in FIG. 11 is used based on each terminal ID (“01ba”, “01db”). Refers to the IP address of the managed terminal. Thus, the terminal of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) that requested the login is sent to each of the other destination terminals (10db, 10ba) that can make a call with the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) that requested the login as a destination. The ID “01aa” and the operation state “ON line” can be transmitted.

  On the other hand, in the other terminals 10 as well, when the user turns on the power switch 109 shown in FIG. 3, the operation input accepting unit 12 shown in FIG. Since the same processes as those in steps S22 to S38-1 and S38-2 are performed, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, processing when a terminal requests the start of communication with another terminal will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 23 illustrates a process in which various types of management information are transmitted and received through the management information session sei. Further, in the present embodiment, the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) determines that the operating state is ON line and the communication state is None based on the terminal state information received in step S32 among the terminals 10 as destination candidates. It is possible to make a call with at least one of the terminals (10aa, 10bb, 10cb, 10db). Therefore, hereinafter, a case where the user of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) has selected to start a call with the destination terminal (terminals 10bb, 10cb, 10db) will be described.

  First, the user of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) presses the operation button 108 shown in FIG. 2 to select the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), and the destination terminal (terminal 10db). Then, the operation input reception part 12 shown by FIG. 4 receives the request | requirement which starts the telephone call with the terminal 10bb, the terminal 10cb, and the terminal 10db (step S41). The transmission / reception unit 11 of the terminal 10aa includes the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the terminal ID “01bb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), the terminal ID “01cb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), The start request information including the terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) and the change request information “Invite” indicating that a call start is requested is transmitted to the management system 50 (step S42). Thereby, the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives the start request information and grasps the IP address “1.2.1.3” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) that is the transmission source. .

  The state management unit 53 includes the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the terminal ID “01bb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), and the terminal ID “01” of the destination terminal (10cb) included in the start request information. 01cb ”and the terminal ID“ 01db ”of the destination terminal (terminal 10db), the terminal ID“ 01aa ”, the terminal ID“ 01bb ”, the terminal ID“ 01cb ”, and the terminal in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) The field portion of the communication state of the record including the ID “01db” is changed (step S43).

  Here, the processing in step S43 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the state management unit 53 changes the communication state of the terminal 10 in accordance with the communication state change rule shown by the state transition diagram of FIG. For example, when the change request information “Cancel” is received, if the communication state of the terminal 10 is “Ringing” or “Calling”, the communication state is changed to “None”, and the communication state of the terminal 10 is “Accepted”. If so, the communication state remains “Accepted”. In the present embodiment, an example is described in which a state change management table (see FIGS. 16, 17, and 18) is used to realize a state change by the state management unit 53. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. . In this case, it is only necessary to be defined by the management system program so that the state management unit 53 can change the communication state in accordance with the communication state transition rule shown in the state transition diagram of FIG.

  First, the state acquisition unit 53b of the state management unit 53 shown in FIG. 5 acquires the communication state of the terminal managed by the terminal management DB (step S43-1). In this case, the change request information “Invite” received by the transmission / reception unit 51 is determined in advance by the change request information determination unit 63 as specific change request information. Based on this, the status acquisition unit 53 acquires not only the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) but also the communication status of the destination terminals (terminals 10bb, 10cb, 10db). In this case, the state acquisition unit 53b searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) as a search key, and makes a request to start a call. The communication state “None” of (terminal 10aa) is acquired. Similarly, the communication state “None” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), the communication state “None” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), and the communication state “None” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) are acquired.

  Next, the state change unit 53c of the state management unit 53 acquires the pre-change state information of the request source terminal and the destination terminal corresponding to the change request information “Invite” (step S43-2). In this case, the state changing unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 17) using the change request information “Invite” and the terminal information “request source” as search keys, and the state information “None before change” of the request source terminal. Is obtained. Similarly, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 17) using the change request information “Invite” and the terminal information “destination” as search keys, and state information “None” before the change of the destination terminal. To get.

  Next, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information acquired by the state change unit 53c, and determines whether or not they are the same ( Step S43-3). In this case, the state change unit 53c includes the communication state “None” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b and the pre-change state information “None” of the request source end acquired by the state change unit 53c. To determine whether or not they are the same. Similarly, the state change unit 53c includes the communication state of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), the communication state of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), and the communication state of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b. And the state information before change of the destination terminal acquired by the state change unit 53c are compared, and it is determined whether or not they are the same.

  If it is determined in step S43-3 that the communication state of the request source terminal is the same as the state information before change, and the communication state of the destination terminal is the same as the state information before change (step S43). -3), the state change unit 53c acquires the change information of the request source terminal and the destination terminal corresponding to the change request information “Invite” (step S43-4). In this case, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 17) using the change request information “Invite” and the terminal information “request source” as search keys, and stores the change information “Calling” of the request source terminal. get. Similarly, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 17) using the request information “Invite” and the terminal information “destination” as search keys, and acquires the destination terminal change information “Ringing”. .

  Next, the state changing unit 53c includes the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the terminal ID “01bb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), the terminal ID “01cb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), and Based on the terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db), in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11), the terminal ID “01aa”, the terminal ID “01bb”, the terminal ID “01cb”, and the terminal ID “01db” Are changed in the communication state field portion of the record (step S43-5). In this case, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” of the terminal management table is changed to “Calling” based on the acquired change information of the request source terminal. Similarly, the communication status field portion of the record including the terminal ID “01bb” in the terminal management table, the communication status field portion of the record including the terminal ID “01cb”, and the record including the terminal ID “01db”. Is changed to “Ringing” based on the acquired change information of the destination terminal. Further, the determination unit 61 responds to transmitting start request information to each destination terminal in order to perform call control for communication between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminals (terminals 10bb, 10cb, 10db) (step S48). −1, S48-2 and S48-3).

  If it is determined in step S43-3 that the communication status of the request source terminal is not the same as the status information before change, or the communication status of any destination terminal is not the same as the status information before change. (NO in step S43-3), the state changing unit 53c has the terminal ID “01aa”, the terminal ID “01bb”, the terminal ID “01cb”, and the terminal ID “01db” in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). Do not change the field part of the communication status of each included record. This is because either the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) or the destination terminal (terminals 10bb, 10cb, 10db) is not in a state in which a call can be started. Furthermore, the determination unit 61 determines a response to create a predetermined error message and transmit it to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). Subsequently, the transmitting / receiving unit 51 creates a predetermined error message and transmits it to the requesting terminal (terminal 10aa) to complete the processing.

  Next, returning to FIG. 23, the subsequent processing will be described in the case where the determination unit 61 determines the correspondence to transmit the start request information to each destination terminal. First, the session ID generating unit 56a identifies a session (call data session sed) for executing communication with each destination terminal requested by the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). "Is generated (step S44). When the session ID is generated, the session management unit 57 stores the session ID “se1” and the number of destination terminals “3” in the volatile storage unit 5100. This number of destination terminals is used to determine whether or not the change request information “Reject” has been received from all of the destination terminals when the change request information “Reject” for refusing the start of communication is received later. Used for.

  Subsequently, the relay device selection unit 56 of the management system 50 makes a call between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminals 10bb, 10cb, 10db) based on the relay device management DB 5001 and the relay device selection management DB. Is selected (step S45).

  Here, the process in step S45 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  First, the relay device specifying unit 56b includes the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) included in the start request information sent from the request source terminal (10aa), and the terminal of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb). The ID “01bb”, the terminal ID “01cb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), and the terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) are extracted (step S201). This start request information is the start request information transmitted in S42 of FIG.

  Subsequently, the relay device specifying unit 56b determines the relay device specification management table (see FIG. 15) based on the extracted terminal ID “01aa”, terminal ID “01bb”, terminal ID “01cb”, and terminal ID “01db”. By searching for the relay device IDs ("111a1, 111a2, 111e1, 111e2", "111b1, 111b2, 111e1, 111e2", "111c1, 111c2, 111e1" corresponding to the terminals (10aa, 10bb, 10cb, 10db), respectively. , 111e2 ”,“ 111d1, 111d2, 111e1, 111e2 ”) (step S202).

  Subsequently, the relay device specifying unit 56b narrows the relay device IDs corresponding to the extracted terminals to the relay device IDs ("111e1, 111e2") common to the terminals (step S203).

  Subsequently, the selection unit 56c refers to the operation state of the relay device 30 managed in the relay device management table (FIG. 9), selects the narrowed-down relay device ID (“111e1, 111e2”), and the operation state is “ON”. It narrows down to relay device IDs of “line” (step S204). In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, since the relay devices 30 with the relay device IDs (“111e1, 111e2”) are all in the “ON line” operating state, the narrowed-down relay device IDs are “111e1, 111e2”. Will remain.

  Subsequently, the selection unit 56c refers to the acceptability information of the relay device 30 managed in the relay device management table (FIG. 9), and selects the narrowed relay device ID ("111e1, 111e2"). The relay device IDs that are “acceptable” are narrowed down (step S205). In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the relay device 30 having the relay device ID (“111e1, 111e2”) has the “acceptance” information as to whether or not the information is “acceptable”. Will remain.

  Subsequently, when the narrowed-down relay device ID remains (Yes in step S207), the selection unit 56c determines that the terminal ID “01aa”, the terminal ID “01bb”, and the terminal ID “ By searching the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) based on “01cb” and the terminal ID “01db”, the type information corresponding to each terminal (10aa, 10bb, 10cb, 10db) is specified, and there are many types. It is confirmed whether or not there is a terminal 10 that is the number of persons (step S209). In the example shown in FIG. 11, type information (multiple people) corresponding to the terminal (10aa), type information (multiple people) corresponding to the terminal (10bb), type information (individual) corresponding to the terminal (10cb), and a terminal Since the type information (individual) corresponds to (10db), the selection unit 56c confirms that there is a terminal 10 that has a large number of types (Yes in step S209).

  Subsequently, the selection unit 56c refers to the priority type information of the relay device 30 managed in the relay device management table (FIG. 9), and among the remaining relay device IDs, the relay device ID whose type is a large number of people. If there is (Yes in step S210). One of the relay device IDs whose priority type is a large number of people is selected (step S211), and the relay device 30 is used to relay a call (conference). In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, among the relay device IDs (“111e1, 111e2”), the relay device 30 with the relay device ID (“111e2”) has a high priority type, and therefore the selection unit 56c selects the relay device ID. The relay device 30e2 ("111e2") is selected.

  On the other hand, the selection unit 56c has not been able to confirm that there is a terminal 10 whose type is a large number of people, that is, only the terminal 10 whose type is an individual (No in step S209). With reference to the priority type information of the relay device 30 managed in the relay device management table (FIG. 9), if there is a relay device ID whose type is an individual among the remaining relay device IDs (Yes in step S213). . One of the relay device IDs whose type is individual is selected (step S214), and the relay device 30 for relaying a call (conference) is set.

  If there is no relay device ID whose type is a large number of people among the remaining relay device IDs (No in step S210), there is no relay device ID whose type is an individual among the remaining relay device IDs. In the case (No in step S213), the selection unit 56c selects one of the remaining relay device IDs (step S212), and sets it as the relay device 30 for relaying the call.

  If the narrowed-down relay device ID does not remain (No in step S207), the selection unit 56c cannot select the relay device ID and fails to start the conference (step S208).

  Hereinafter, the case where the relay device 30e2 is selected by the selection unit 56c will be described below.

  When the selection processing of the relay device 30 is completed, the session management unit 57, in the session management table (see FIG. 13) of the nonvolatile storage unit 5000, the request source terminal ID and destination terminal ID of the record including the session ID “se1”. In the field part of the relay device ID, the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the terminal ID “01bb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), the terminal ID “01cb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), and The terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) and the relay device ID “111e2” of the selected relay device are stored and managed (step S46).

  Next, the transmission / reception unit 51 shown in FIG. 4 is selected by the selection unit 56c and the session ID generated by the session ID generation unit 56a to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) via the communication network 2. The relay device connection information used for connecting to the relay device 30e2 is transmitted (step S47). The relay device connection information can include the IP address “1.1.1.4” of the relay device 30e2, authentication information, a port number, and the like. Thereby, the terminal 10aa can grasp the relay device connection information used to connect to the relay device 30e2 used for relaying the call data in the execution of the session with the session ID “se1”.

  Next, the transmission / reception unit 51 includes the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the change request information “Invite” indicating that the start of a call with the destination terminal is requested, and the session ID “se1”. The start request information, the relay device connection information used for connecting to the relay device 30e2, and the IP address of the management system 50 are transmitted to all destination terminals (10bb, 10cb, 10db) (steps S48-1, S48). -2, S48-3). As a result, the transmission / reception unit 51 of the destination terminal (terminals 10bb, 10cb, 10db) receives the start request information and relay device connection information used to connect to the relay device 30e2 used for relaying call data. And the IP address “1.1.1.2” of the management system 50 that is the transmission source.

  Subsequently, using FIG. 25 and FIG. 24, the user of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) that has received the start request information presses the operation button 108 shown in FIG. Processing in a case where a response to permit the start of communication with (terminal 10aa) is accepted will be described. A response to permit the start of communication with the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) is accepted by the operation button 108 of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) (step S49). Next, the transmission / reception unit 11 of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) permits the terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db), the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), and permission to start communication. The start response information including the change request information “Accept” and the session ID “se1” is transmitted to the management system 50 (step S50).

  When the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives the start response information, the state management unit 53 is based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db). In the terminal management table (see FIG. 11), the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” and the terminal ID “01db” is changed (step S51).

  Here, the processing in step S51 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, when the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives this start response information, the state acquisition unit 53b of the state management unit 53 shown in FIG. 5 performs the terminal management table ( The communication status of the terminal managed in (see FIG. 11) is acquired (step S51-1). In this case, the change request information “Accept” received by the transmission / reception unit 51 is determined in advance by the change request information determination unit 63 as specific change request information. Based on this, the state acquisition unit 53 acquires not only the communication state “Ringing” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) but also the communication state “Calling” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa).

  Subsequently, the state change unit 53c of the state management unit 53 performs a request of the request source terminal corresponding to the change request information “Accept” managed in the state change management table (see FIG. 17) in the same manner as the process of step S43-2. The pre-change state information “Calling” and “Accepted” are acquired. Similarly, the state change unit 53c acquires the pre-change state information “Ringing” of the destination terminal corresponding to the change request information “Accept” managed in the state change management table (see FIG. 17) (Step S51— 2).

  Next, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information acquired by the state change unit 53c, and determines whether or not they are the same ( Step S51-3). In this case, the state change unit 53c determines that the communication state “Calling” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b is the status information “Calling before change” of the request source end acquired by the state change unit 53c. ”And“ Accepted ”. Similarly, the state change unit 53c indicates that the communication state “Ringing” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b is the state information “Ringing” before change of the destination terminal acquired by the state change unit 53c. It is determined whether or not the same.

  If it is determined in step S51-3 that the communication state of the request source terminal is the same as the state information before change and the communication state of the destination terminal is the same as the state information before change (step S51- 3), the state changing unit 53c acquires the change information of the request source terminal and the destination terminal corresponding to the response information “Accept” (step S51-4). In this case, the state change unit 53c uses the response information “Accept”, the terminal information “request source” indicating the request source terminal, and the pre-change state “Calling” indicating the communication status before the change of the request source terminal as search keys. The state change management table (see FIG. 17) is searched, and change information “Accepted” of the request source terminal is acquired. Similarly, the state change unit 53c changes the state using the response information “Accept”, the terminal information “destination” indicating the destination terminal, and the pre-change state “Ringing” indicating the communication state before the change of the destination terminal as search keys. The management table (see FIG. 17) is searched, and change information “Accepted” of the destination terminal is acquired.

  Next, the state change unit 53c determines the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) included in the start response information. ), The field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” and the terminal ID “01db” is changed (step S51-5). In this case, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” of the terminal management table is changed to “Accepted” based on the acquired change information of the request source terminal. Similarly, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01db” in the terminal management table is changed to “Accepted” based on the acquired change information of the destination terminal. Further, the determination unit 61 responds to transmitting start response information to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) in order to perform call control for communication between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10db) (step S52). See).

  In step S51-3, it is determined that the communication state of the request source terminal (10aa) and the state information before change are not the same, or the communication state of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) and the state information before change are not the same. In the case (NO in step S51-3), the state changing unit 53c indicates the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” and the terminal ID “01db” in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). Do not change the field part. In this case, the determination unit 61 determines a response to create a predetermined error message and transmit it to the destination terminal (terminal 10db). Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 51 creates this error message and transmits it to the destination terminal (terminal 10db), thereby completing the process.

  Next, returning to FIG. 25, a process when the determination unit 61 determines a response to transmit start response information to each destination terminal will be described. The transmission / reception unit 51 includes a start response including a terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db), change request information “Accept” indicating that a request to start a call with the destination terminal is permitted, and a session ID “se1”. Information is transmitted to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) (step S52). Upon receiving this start response information, the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) transmits the session ID “se1” and the relay device connection information acquired in step S47 to the relay device 30e2 by the transmission / reception unit 11, thereby the relay device 30e2 is connected (step S53). On the other hand, the destination terminal (terminal 10db) connects to the relay device 30e2 by transmitting the session ID “se1” and the relay device connection information acquired in step S48-1 to the relay device 30e2 by the transmitting / receiving unit 11 ( Step S54).

  Next, using FIG. 26 and FIG. 27, the user of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb) that received the start request information in step S48-2 presses the operation button 108 shown in FIG. A process when a response to reject the start of communication with the original terminal (terminal 10aa) is accepted will be described. When a response to reject the start of communication with the request source terminal (terminal 10bb) is received by the operation button 108 of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb) (step S55), the transmission / reception unit of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb) 11, the management system 50 includes start response information including the terminal ID “01bb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), change request information “Reject” indicating that the request to start communication is rejected, and session ID “se1”. (Step S56).

  When the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives this start response information, the state management unit 53 is based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the terminal ID “01bb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb). In the terminal management table (see FIG. 11), the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” and the terminal ID “01bb” is changed (step S57).

  Here, the processing in step S57 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, when the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives the start response information, the determination unit 62 receives the start response information of “Reject” received by the transmission / reception unit 51 in the session indicated by the session ID “se1”. The number (response reception number) is stored in the volatile storage unit 5100 (step S57-1). In this case, since the start response information “Reject” received from the destination terminal (terminal 10bb) is the start response information of “Reject” received first in the session indicated by the session ID “se”, the session ID “Se1” and the response reception number “1” are associated and stored in the volatile storage unit 5100.

  Next, the state acquisition unit 53b of the state management unit 53 shown in FIG. 5 acquires the communication state of the terminal managed by the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) in the same manner as the process of step S43-1. (Step S57-2). Here, the change request information determination unit 63 determines in advance that the change request information “Reject” received by the transmission / reception unit 51 is specific change request information. Based on this, the state acquisition unit 53 determines whether the change request information “Reject” is the destination terminal (terminal 10bb). ), The communication state “Accepted” of the requesting terminal (terminal 10aa) is acquired (step S57-2).

  Subsequently, the state change unit 53c of the state management unit 53 performs the same process as that in step S43-2, with the request source terminal corresponding to the start response information “Reject” managed in the state change management table (see FIG. 18). Pre-change state information “Calling” and “Accepted” and destination terminal pre-change state information “Ringing” are acquired (step S57-3).

  Next, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information acquired by the state change unit 53c, and determines whether or not they are the same ( Step S57-4). In this case, the state change unit 53c determines that the communication state “Accepted” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b is the state information “Calling” before the request source terminal acquired by the state change unit 53c. ”And“ Accepted ”. Similarly, the state change unit 53c determines that the communication state “Ringing” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b is the state information “Ringing” before change of the destination terminal acquired by the state change unit 53c. It is determined whether or not the same.

  If it is determined in step S57-4 that the communication state of the request source terminal is the same as the state information before change and the communication state of the destination terminal is the same as the state information before change (step S57-4). YES), the determination unit 62 determines whether all of the plurality of destination terminals have rejected the request of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), or some of the plurality of destination terminals are requests of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). It is determined whether or not is rejected (step 57-5). Here, the determination unit 62 acquires, from the volatile storage unit 5100, the number “3” of destination terminals that are destinations of the request information transmitted by the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) (see step S44). Subsequently, the determination unit 62 acquires the reception number (response reception number) “1” of the “Reject” start response information measured by the measurement unit from the volatile storage unit 5100 (see Step S57-1). Accordingly, the determination unit 62 determines that some of the plurality of destination terminals have rejected the request from the request source terminal (terminal 10aa).

  When the above determination is completed, the state changing unit 53c acquires the change information of the request source terminal and the destination terminal corresponding to the response information “Reject” (step S57-6). In this case, the state change unit 53c includes the response information “Reject”, the terminal information “request source” indicating the request source terminal, the determination information “partial” indicating the result determined by the determination unit 62, and before the request source terminal is changed. The state change management table (see FIG. 18) is searched using the pre-change state “Accepted” indicating the communication state of the request as a search key, and the change information “Accepted” of the request source terminal is acquired. Further, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 18) using the response information “Reject” and the terminal information “destination” indicating the destination terminal as search keys, and uses the destination terminal change information “None”. get.

  Next, based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the terminal ID “01bb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), the state change unit 53c performs the above-described terminal in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). The field portion of the communication state of the record including the ID “01aa” and the terminal ID “01bb” is changed (step S57-7). In this case, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” of the terminal management table is changed to “Accepted” based on the acquired change information of the request source terminal. Similarly, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01bb” in the terminal management table is changed to “None” based on the acquired change information of the destination terminal. Further, the determination unit 61 responds to transmitting start response information to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) in order to perform call control for communication between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10bb) (step S59). See).

  In step S57-4, it is determined that the communication state of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the state information before change are not the same, or the communication state of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb) and the state information before change are not the same. If it is determined (NO in step S57-4), the state changing unit 53c, in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11), the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” and the terminal ID “01bb”, respectively. Do not change the field part of. In this case, the determination unit 61 determines a response to create a predetermined error message and transmit it to the destination terminal (terminal 10bb). Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 51 completes the process by transmitting this error message to the destination terminal (terminal 10bb).

  Next, returning to FIG. 26, processing when the start response information is transmitted to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) by the determination unit 61 will be described. First, in the session management table (see FIG. 13) of the non-volatile storage unit 5000, the session management unit 57 starts from the field portion of the destination terminal of the record including the session ID “se1” to the terminal ID “of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb). “01bb” is deleted (step S58). Further, the transmission / reception unit 51 receives start response information including the terminal ID “01bb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb), response information “Reject” indicating that the request to start communication is rejected, and the session ID “se1”. Transmit to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) (step S59). Thereby, the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) grasps that the request for starting communication with the request source terminal (terminal 10bb) has been rejected.

  Next, using FIG. 28 and FIG. 24, after a request for starting communication is transmitted by the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the request for starting communication is made by the operation button 108 of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). A process when a request to cancel is accepted will be described. When a request for canceling the communication start request is accepted by the operation button 108 of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) (step S61), the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the start of communication is started. Cancel request information including change request information “Cancel” and session ID “se1” indicating that the request is cancelled is transmitted to the management system 50 (step S62).

  When the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives this cancellation request information, the state management unit 53, based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the terminal ID of the destination terminal included in the cancellation request information, In the terminal management table (see FIG. 11), the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” and the terminal ID of the destination terminal is changed (step S63).

  Here, the processing in step S63 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, when the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives the change request information “Cancel”, the state acquisition unit 53b of the state management unit 53 shown in FIG. 5 is managed by the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). The communication status of the terminal is acquired (step S63-1). Here, the change request information determination unit 63 determines in advance that the change request information “Cancel” received by the transmission / reception unit 51 is specific change request information, and based on this, the state acquisition unit 53 receives the request source terminal (terminal). In addition to the communication status of 10aa), the communication status of each destination terminal is acquired (step S63-1). In this case, the state acquisition unit 53b searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) as a search key, and makes a request to start a call. The communication state “Accepted” of (terminal 10aa) is acquired. Next, the state acquisition unit 53b searches the session management table (see FIG. 13) using the session ID “se1” as a search key, and acquires the terminal IDs “01db” and “01cb” of the destination terminal. Subsequently, the state acquisition unit 53b searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) and the terminal ID “01cd” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) as search keys. The communication status “Accepted” and “Ringing” of each destination terminal is acquired.

  Subsequently, the state change unit 53c of the state management unit 53 performs a request of the request source terminal corresponding to the change request information “Cancel” managed in the state change management table (see FIG. 17) in the same manner as the process of step S43-2. The pre-change state information “Calling” and “Accepted” and the pre-change state information “Ringing” of the destination terminal are acquired (step S63-2).

  Next, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information acquired by the state change unit 53c, and determines whether or not they are the same ( Step S63-3). In this case, the state change unit 53c determines that the communication state “Accepted” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b is the state information “Calling” before the request source terminal acquired by the state change unit 53c. ”And“ Accepted ”. Similarly, the state changing unit 53c determines that the communication state “Accepted” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) and the communication state “Ringing” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) acquired by the state acquiring unit 53b are changed by the state changing unit 53c. It is determined whether or not it is the same as the acquired pre-change state information “Ringing” of the destination terminal.

  If it is determined in step S63-3 that the communication state of the request source terminal is the same as the state information before change and the communication state of the destination terminal is the same as the state information before change (step S63-3). YES), the state changing unit 53c acquires the change information of the request source terminal and the destination terminal corresponding to the change request information “Cancel” (step S63-4). In this case, the state change unit 53c uses the change request information “Cancel”, the terminal information “request source” indicating the request source terminal, and the pre-change state “Accepted” indicating the communication status before the change of the request source terminal as search keys. Then, the state change management table (see FIG. 18) is searched to obtain the change information “Accepted” of the request source terminal. Further, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 17) using the change request information “Cancel” and the terminal information “destination” indicating the destination terminal as search keys, and changes the destination terminal change information “None”. To get.

  Next, based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the terminal ID “01cb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), the state changing unit 53c performs the above-described terminal in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). The field portion of the communication state of the record including the ID “01aa” and the terminal ID “01cb” is changed (step S63-5). In this case, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” of the terminal management table is changed to “Accepted” based on the acquired change information of the request source terminal. Similarly, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01cb” of the terminal management table is changed to “None” based on the acquired change information of the destination terminal. Furthermore, since the determination unit 61 performs call control for communication between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), the determination unit 61 indicates that the request for communication with the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) has been cancelled. A response (see steps S65-1 and S65-2) to transmit the information shown to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) is determined.

  In step S63-3, it is determined that the communication state of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the state information before change are not the same, or the communication state of the destination terminal (terminal 10bb) and the state information before change are not the same. In this case (NO in step S63-3), the state changing unit 53c includes a field part of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID of the request source terminal and the terminal ID of the destination terminal in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). Do not change. In this embodiment, since the communication state “Accepted” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) and the pre-change state “Ringing” of the destination terminal are different, the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01db” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) is different. Do not change the field part. This is because a communication request has already been permitted by the destination terminal (terminal 10db), and the communication request cannot be canceled. In this case, the determination unit 61 creates an error message indicating that the request for communication with the destination terminal (terminal 10db) cannot be canceled, and determines the response to transmit this to the requesting terminal (terminal 10aa). Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 51 completes the process by transmitting this error message to the destination terminal (terminal 10aa).

  Next, returning to FIG. 28, when the determination unit 61 determines the correspondence to transmit information indicating that the communication request has been canceled to the requesting terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10cb). The process will be described. First, in the session management table (see FIG. 13) of the non-volatile storage unit 5000, the session management unit 57 starts from the field portion of the destination terminal of the record including the session ID “se1” to the terminal ID “of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb). “01cb” is deleted (step S64).

  Next, the transmission / reception unit 51 receives cancellation information including the session ID “SE1” and information indicating that a request for communication with the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) has been canceled, from the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). And to the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) (steps S65-1, S65-2). Accordingly, the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) grasp that the request for starting communication between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) has been canceled. .

  Next, a process in which the relay device 30e2 starts relaying call data communicated between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10db) will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 29 illustrates a process in which various types of management information are transmitted and received through the management information session sei.

  First, the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) is connected to the relay device 30e2 (see step S53) at a predetermined timing by the transmission / reception unit 11 by using the terminal ID “01aa” and the session ID of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). Relay request information including “se1” and change request information “Join” indicating a request to start relaying is transmitted to the management system 50 (step S71-1).

  When the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives the relay request information, the state management unit 53 receives the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) included in the relay request information. ), The field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” is changed (step S72-1).

  Here, the process in step S72-1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the state acquisition unit 53b of the state management unit 53 illustrated in FIG. 5 acquires the communication state of the terminal managed by the terminal management DB (step S72-1-1). In this case, the change request information “Join” received by the transmission / reception unit 51 is determined in advance by the change request information determination unit 63 as not being specific change request information. Based on this, the state acquisition unit 53 acquires only the communication state of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). In this case, the state acquisition unit 53b searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) as a search key, and makes a request to start relaying. The communication state “Accepted” of (terminal 10aa) is acquired.

  Next, the state change unit 53c of the state management unit 53 acquires pre-change state information corresponding to the change request information “Join” (step S72-1-2). In this case, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 16) using the change request information “Join” as a search key, and acquires the pre-change state information “Accepted”.

  Next, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information acquired by the state change unit 53c, and determines whether or not they are the same ( Step S72-1-3). In this case, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state “Accepted” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information “Accepted” acquired by the state change unit 53c. Whether these are the same is determined.

  When it is determined in step S72-1-3 that the communication state of the request source terminal is the same as the pre-change state information (YES in step S72-1-3), the state change unit 53c changes the change request information “ Change information corresponding to “Join” is acquired (step S72-1-4). In this case, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 16) using the change request information “Join” as a search key, and acquires the change information “Busy”.

  Next, based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the state changing unit 53c includes a communication status field of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). The part is changed (step S72-1-5). In this case, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” in the terminal management table is changed to “Busy” based on the acquired change information. Further, the determination unit 61 determines a response (see step S73-1) to transmit a relay start request to the relay device 30e2 in order to perform communication call control.

  If it is determined in step S72-1-3 that the communication state of the request source terminal and the pre-change state information are not the same (NO in step S72-1-3), the state change unit 53c determines the terminal management. In the table (see FIG. 11), the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” is not changed. In this case, the determination unit 61 determines a response to create a predetermined error message and transmit it to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 51 completes the process by transmitting this error message to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa).

  Next, returning to FIG. 29, processing when the determination unit 61 determines a response to transmit a relay start request to the relay device 30e2 will be described. First, the management system 50 transmits relay start request information including the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the session ID “se1” to the relay device 30e2 (step S73-1). Upon receiving this relay start request information, the relay device 30e2 transmits to the management system 50 relay start permission information including notification information “OK” indicating permission of relay start (step S74-1). Upon receiving this response, the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 transmits this relay start permission information to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) (step S75-1). Thereby, the call data session sed between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the relay device 30e2 is established (step S76-1).

  On the other hand, the destination terminal (terminal 10db) is connected to the relay device 30e2 (see step S54), and the transmission / reception unit 11 causes the terminal ID “01db” and the session ID “se1” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) to be transmitted and received. "And the relay request information including the change request information" Join "indicating that the start of relay is requested is transmitted to the management system 50 (step S71-2).

  Subsequently, the management system 50 and the relay device 30e2 execute the same processing as that of Steps S72-1, S73-1, S74-1, and S75-1, so that the destination terminal (terminal 10db) and the relay device 30e2 are connected. A call data session sed is established (steps S72-2, S73-2, S74-2, S75-2, S76-2). When the call data session sed between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the relay device 30e2 and the call data session sed between the destination terminal (terminal 10aa) and the relay device 30e2 are established, the relay device 30a The three image data of low resolution, medium resolution, and high resolution, and audio data can be relayed between the terminals (10aa, 10db). Accordingly, the terminals (10aa, 10db) can start a video conference.

  Subsequently, using FIG. 4 and FIG. 31, a process of transmitting and receiving image data and audio data in order to perform a video conference call between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10db). explain. Note that image data and audio data are transmitted and received in one-way processing for transmitting image data and audio data from the terminal 10aa to the terminal 10db and in reverse processing for transmitting image data and audio data from the terminal 10db to the terminal 10aa. Since the delay time detection and the like described later are the same process, the one-way communication will be described, and the reverse communication will be omitted.

  First, the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) transmits and receives the image data of the subject imaged by the imaging unit 14 and the audio data of the audio input by the audio input unit 15a by the image / audio data session sed. To the relay device 30e2 via the communication network 2 (step S81). In the present embodiment, high-quality image data composed of the low resolution, medium resolution, and high resolution shown in FIG. 20 and audio data are transmitted. Thereby, in the relay device 30e2, the transmission / reception unit 31 receives the image data and the audio data of the three resolutions.

  Then, the data quality confirmation unit 33 searches the change quality management table (see FIG. 7) using the IP address “1.3.2.4” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) as a search key, and the corresponding relay image By extracting the image quality of the data, the image quality of the image data to be relayed is confirmed (step S82). In the present embodiment, the image quality of the confirmed image data is “high quality”, which is the same as the image quality of the image data received by the transmission / reception unit 31. Thus, the image data with the same image quality and the sound data with the same sound quality are transferred to the destination terminal (terminal 10db) (step S83). As a result, the destination terminal (terminal 10db) receives the image data and the audio data by the transmission / reception unit 11, the image display control unit 16 displays an image based on the image data on the display 120, and the audio output unit 15b receives the audio. Audio based on the data can be output.

  Next, the delay detection unit 18 of the terminal 10db detects the reception delay time of the image data received by the transmission / reception unit 11 at regular time intervals (for example, every second) (step S84). In the present embodiment, the following description is continued for a case where the delay time is 200 (ms).

  The transmission / reception unit 11 of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) transmits delay information indicating the delay time “200 (ms)” to the management system 50 via the communication network 2 through the management information session sei (step S85). As a result, the management system 50 can grasp the delay time and the IP address “1.3.2.4” of the terminal 10db that is the transmission source of the delay information.

  Next, the delay time management unit 60 of the management system 50 searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the IP address “1.3.2.4” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) as a search key. Then, the corresponding terminal ID “01db” is extracted, and in the session management table (see FIG. 13), the delay indicated in the delay information in the delay time field portion of the record of the terminal ID “01db” The time “200 (ms)” is stored and managed (step S86).

  Next, the quality determination unit 58 searches the quality management table (see FIG. 14) using the delay time “200 (ms)” as a search key, and extracts the image quality “medium image quality” of the corresponding image data. The image quality is determined as “medium image quality” (step S87).

  Next, the transmission / reception unit 51 uses the relay device management table (see FIG. 9) using the relay device ID “111e” associated with the terminal ID “01db” in the session management table (see FIG. 13) as a search key. The IP address “1.1.1.4” of the corresponding relay device 30e2 is extracted by searching (step S88).

  Then, the transmission / reception unit 51 transmits quality information indicating the image quality “medium image quality” of the image data determined in step S87 to the relay device 30e2 via the communication network 2 through the management information session sei (step S89). ). This quality information includes the IP address “1.3.2.4” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) used as the search key in step S86. Thereby, in the relay device 30e2, the change quality management unit 34 stores the IP address “1.3. In the destination terminal 10 (here, the destination terminal (terminal 10db)) in the change quality management table (see FIG. 7). 2.4 ”and the image quality“ medium image quality ”of the image data to be relayed are stored and managed in association with each other (step S90).

  Next, similarly to step S81, the terminal 10aa continues to the relay device 30e2 through the image / sound data session sed, and the high-quality image data including the low image quality, the medium image quality, and the high image quality, and The voice data is transmitted (step S91). As a result, in the relay device 30e2, as in step S82, the data quality confirmation unit 33 uses the IP address “1.3.2.4” of the destination terminal (terminal 10db) as a search key to change the quality management table ( The image quality of the image data to be relayed is extracted, and the image quality of the image data to be relayed is confirmed (step S92).

  In this embodiment, since the image quality of the confirmed image data is “medium image quality” and lower than the image quality “high image quality” of the image data received by the transmission / reception unit 31, the data quality changing unit 35 The image quality of the image data is changed by suppressing the image quality from “high image quality” to “medium image quality” (step S93). Then, the image / sound data session sed changes the image data in which the image quality of the image data is changed to “medium image quality” and the sound quality of the sound to the terminal 10 db via the communication network 2. Audio data that has not been transmitted is transmitted (step S94). As described above, when reception delay occurs at the destination terminal (terminal 10db) that receives the image data, the relay device 30e2 changes the quality of the image and gives a strange feeling to the person participating in the video conference. Can not be.

  Next, referring to FIG. 32, after a call data session is established between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10db), the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) becomes the call data session. The process to participate will be described. Note that FIG. 32 illustrates a process in which various types of management information are transmitted and received through the management information session sei.

  First, when the user of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) presses the operation button 108 shown in FIG. 2, the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) receives the session ID as a destination in order to participate in the call data session sed. Information indicating that notification to the terminal 10cb is requested is received (step S101). Next, the transmission / reception unit 11 of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) has the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the terminal ID “01cb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), and the session ID “se1”. The included session ID notification request information is transmitted to the management system 50 (step S102). When the call management device 50 receives the session ID notification request information, the transmission / reception unit 51 transmits the session ID notification information including the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the session ID “se1” to the terminal. 10cb (step S103).

  When the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) receives the above session ID notification information, the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) accepts a request to participate in the call data session sed (step S104). Here, when the user of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) presses the operation button 108 shown in FIG. 2, a request for participation in the call data session is accepted. Thereby, the transmission / reception unit 11 of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) has the terminal ID “01cb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb), the change request information “Call” indicating that it is requested to participate in the call data session, and the session Session participation request information including the ID “se1” is transmitted to the management system 50 (step S105).

  Upon receiving this session participation request information, the state management unit 53 of the management system 50 receives the terminal management table (FIG. 11) based on the terminal ID “01cb” of the terminal (terminal 10cb) requesting participation included in the session participation request information. In step (S106), the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01cb” is changed.

  Here, the processing in step S106 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the state acquisition unit 53b of the state management unit 53 illustrated in FIG. 5 acquires the communication state of the terminal managed by the terminal management DB (step S106-1). In this case, the change request information “Call” received by the transmission / reception unit 51 is determined in advance by the change request information determination unit 63 as not being specific change request information. Based on this, the state acquisition unit 53 acquires only the communication state of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb). In this case, the state acquisition unit 53b searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the terminal ID “01cb” of the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) as a search key, and the communication state of the terminal (terminal 10cb) requesting participation Get “None”.

  Next, the state changing unit 53c of the state managing unit 53 acquires the pre-change state information of the destination terminal corresponding to the change request information “Call” (step S106-2). In this case, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 16) using the change request information “Call” as a search key, and acquires the pre-change state information “None”.

  Next, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information acquired by the state change unit 53c, and determines whether or not they are the same ( Step S106-3). In this case, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state “None” of the terminal (terminal 10cb) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information “None” acquired by the state change unit 53c. Are the same.

  When it is determined in step S106-3 that the communication state of the destination terminal is the same as the state information before change (YES in step S106-3), the state change unit 53c corresponds to the change request information “Call”. Change information is acquired (step S106-4). In this case, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 16) using the change request information “Call” as a search key, and acquires the change information “Accepted”.

  Next, based on the terminal ID “01cb” of the terminal (terminal 10cb) requesting participation, the state changing unit 53c has a communication state of a record including the terminal ID “01cb” in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). Are changed (step S106-5). In this case, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01cb” in the terminal management table is changed to “Accepted” based on the acquired change information of the destination terminal. Further, the determination unit 61 transmits information indicating that the request for participation is permitted in order to perform call control for communication between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminals 10cb, 10db). ) And a response (see Steps S107-1, S107-2, and S107-3) to be transmitted to each of the destination terminals (terminals 10bb and 10db).

  If it is determined in step S106-3 that the communication state of the terminal requesting participation is not the same as the pre-change state information (NO in step S106-3), the state change unit 53c uses the terminal management table ( 11), the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01cb” is not changed. In this case, the determination unit 61 determines a response to create a predetermined error message and transmit it to the destination terminal (terminal 10cb). Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 51 completes the process by transmitting this error message to the destination terminal (terminal 10cb).

  Next, returning to FIG. 32, the correspondence that the information indicating that the participation request is permitted by the determination unit 61 is transmitted to each of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10bb, 10cb) is determined. The processing in the case of being performed will be described. First, the session management unit 57 of the terminal (terminal 10cb) that requests participation in the field portion of the destination terminal of the record that includes the session ID “se1” in the session management table (see FIG. 13) of the nonvolatile storage unit 5000. The terminal ID “01cb” is added.

  Next, the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 has already notified the participation notification including the terminal ID “01cb” and the session ID “se1” of the terminal (terminal 10cb) participating in the call data session sed. It transmits to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10db) that have started sed (steps S107-1 and S107-2). Accordingly, the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminal (terminal 10db) can grasp that the destination terminal (terminal 10db) participates in the call data session. Further, the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 sends a participation permission notification including the session ID “se1” participating in the call data session sed and the relay device connection information used to connect to the relay device 30e2 to the call data. To the destination terminal (terminal 10cb) that starts the session sed (step S107-3).

  Upon receiving this participation permission notification, the terminal 10cb connects the relay device 30e2 by transmitting the session ID “se1” and the relay device connection information included in the participation permission notification to the relay device 30e2 by the transmission / reception unit 11 (Step S10). S108). Further, the terminal 10cb is changed to indicate that the terminal ID “01cb”, the session ID “se1” of the terminal 10cb, and the start of relay are requested by the transmission / reception unit 11 at a predetermined timing after connecting to the relay device 30e2. The relay request information including the request information “Join” is transmitted to the management system 50. Subsequently, the same processing as in steps S72-1, S73-1, S74-1, and S75-1 is executed by the management system 50 and the relay device 30e2, whereby the call data between the terminal 10cb and the relay device 30e2. Session sed is established. When the call data session sed is established, the relay device 30e2 relays three image data of low resolution, medium resolution, and high resolution, and audio data between the terminals (10aa, 10cb, 10db). can do. Accordingly, the terminals (10aa, 10cb, 10db) can start a video conference.

  Subsequently, referring to FIG. 34, after a call data session is established between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the destination terminals (terminals 10cb, 10db), the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) A process for exiting the session will be described. Note that FIG. 29 illustrates a process in which various types of management information are transmitted and received through the management information session sei.

  First, when the user of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) presses the operation button 108 shown in FIG. 2, a request to leave the call data session is accepted (step S111). Then, the transmission / reception unit 11 of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) includes the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), change request information “Leave” indicating a request to leave the call data session, and the session ID “ Session exit request information including “se1” is transmitted to the management system 50 (step S112).

  Upon reception of the session exit request information, the state management unit 53 of the management system 50 performs a terminal management table (see FIG. 11) based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) included in the session exit request information. Then, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” is changed (step S113).

  Here, the processing in step S113 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the state acquisition unit 53b of the state management unit 53 illustrated in FIG. 5 acquires the communication state of the terminal managed by the terminal management DB (step S113-1). In this case, the change request information “Leave” received by the transmission / reception unit 51 is preliminarily determined by the change request information determination unit 63 as not being specific change request information by the change request information determination unit 63. Based on this, the state acquisition unit 53 acquires only the communication state of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). In this case, the state acquisition unit 53b searches the terminal management table (see FIG. 11) using the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) as a search key, and determines the communication state “of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). "Busy".

  Next, the state change unit 53c of the state management unit 53 acquires the pre-change state information corresponding to the change request information “Leave” (step S113-2). In this case, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 16) using the change request information “Leave” as a search key, and acquires the pre-change state information “Busy”.

  Next, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information acquired by the state change unit 53c, and determines whether or not they are the same ( Step S113-3). In this case, the state change unit 53c compares the communication state “Busy” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) acquired by the state acquisition unit 53b with the pre-change state information “Busy” acquired by the state change unit 53c. Whether these are the same is determined.

  If it is determined in step S113-3 that the communication state of the terminal and the state information before change are the same (YES in step S113-3), the state change unit 53c changes the change request information “Leave”. Information is acquired (step S113-4). In this case, the state change unit 53c searches the state change management table (see FIG. 16) using the change request information “Leave” as a search key, and acquires the change information “None”.

  Next, based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the state changing unit 53c includes a communication status field of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” in the terminal management table (see FIG. 11). The part is changed (step S113-5). In this case, the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” in the terminal management table is changed to “None” based on the acquired change information. Furthermore, the decision unit 61 decides a response to transmit information indicating that the exit is permitted to perform call control to each requesting terminal.

  If it is determined in step S113-3 that the communication state of the request source terminal is not the same as the pre-change state information (NO in step S113-3), the state change unit 53c displays the terminal management table (FIG. 11). In the reference), the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” is not changed. In this case, the determination unit 61 determines a response to transmit a predetermined error message to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 51 completes the process by transmitting this error message to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa).

  Next, returning to FIG. 34, the subsequent processing will be described in the case where the determination unit 61 determines the correspondence indicating that the information indicating that the withdrawal is permitted is transmitted to each requesting terminal. First, in the session management table (see FIG. 13) of the nonvolatile storage unit 5000, the session management unit 57 starts the terminal of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) from the field portion of the request source terminal of the record including the session ID “se1”. The ID “01aa” is deleted (step S114). The management system 50 transmits, to the relay device 30e2, a notification indicating that the session including the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the session ID “se1” is requested (step S115). Accordingly, the relay device 30e2 stops the call data session with the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and disconnects the connection with the request source terminal (terminal 10aa). Subsequently, the relay device 30e2 transmits, to the management system 50, a notification that the request for leaving including the terminal ID “01aa” and the session ID “se1” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) is permitted (step S116). ).

  When the management system 50 receives a notification that the request for leaving is permitted, the transmission / reception unit 51 receives the terminal ID “01aa”, the change request information “Leave”, the session ID “se1” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa), the leaving Session exit permission information including notification information “OK” indicating that the request is permitted is transmitted to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) (step S117). When the session exit permission information is received, the terminal 10aa accepts a power-off request by pressing the power switch 109 shown in FIG. 2 (step S118). When a request to turn off the power is received, the transmission / reception unit 11 transmits to the management system 50 disconnection request information including notification information for disconnecting the connection between the terminal ID “01aa” of the terminal 10aa and the management system 50 ( Step S119).

  When the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives this disconnection request information, the state management unit 53 based on the terminal ID “01aa” of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) included in the disconnection request information (FIG. 11). In step (S120), the record of the field portion of the communication state of the record including the terminal ID “01aa” is deleted. Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 51 transmits disconnection permission information for permitting a disconnection request to the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) (step S121). As a result, the management system 50 stops the management data session with the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and disconnects the connection with the request source terminal (terminal 10aa).

  When receiving the disconnection permission information, the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) turns off the power and completes the process (step S122). The terminal 10cb and the terminal 10db can also leave the call data session sed and complete the call between the terminals in the same manner as the processing of steps S111 to S121 of the terminal 10aa.

  FIG. 40 is a sequence diagram showing the power shutdown process. First, the transmission / reception unit 91 of the maintenance system 100 stands by until the transmission date / time indicated by the transmission date / time information in the schedule management table (see FIG. 38) is reached (step S291).

  Subsequently, when the transmission date and time indicated by the transmission date and time information is reached, the transmission / reception unit 91 includes the relay device ID associated with the transmission date and time information, and updates the acceptability information associated with the relay device ID to accept / deny An update request for requesting to be sent is transmitted to the management system 50 (step S292).

  Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 51 of the management system 50 receives an update request for acceptability information from the maintenance system 100, and the update unit 64 of the management system 50 responds to the update request in the relay device management table (see FIG. 9). The acceptance / rejection information associated with the included relay device ID is updated to acceptance / rejection (step S293).

  Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 91 of the maintenance system 100 stands by until the power-off date / time indicated by the power-off date / time information in the schedule management table (see FIG. 38) is reached (step S294).

  Subsequently, when the power-off date / time indicated by the power-off date / time information is reached, the transmission / reception unit 91 transmits a power-off request for requesting power-off to the relay device 30 indicated by the relay device ID associated with the power-off date / time. (Step S295).

  Subsequently, the transmission / reception unit 31 of the relay device 30 receives the power cutoff request from the maintenance system 100, and the power cutoff unit 36 of the relay device 30 shuts off the power of the relay device 30 based on the power cutoff request ( Step S296).

<< Main effects of embodiment >>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the management system 50 manages the communication state of the terminal 10 that communicates with other terminals. When the management system 50 receives change request information indicating a request for changing the communication state from the terminal 10, the communication of the terminal managed based on the received change request information and the communication state of the managed terminal is received. Change state. Thereby, since the management system can grasp the communication state of the terminals, there is an effect that the connection between the terminals can be efficiently controlled.

  Further, the management system 50 further manages the communication status of other terminals. When the management system 50 receives the change request information indicating the request for changing the communication state from the terminal 10, the management system 50 manages other based on the received change request information and the communication state of the other managed terminal. Change the communication status of the terminal. As a result, the management system 50 can manage the communication status of other terminals, so that it is possible to realize efficient control of connections between terminals.

  Furthermore, when it is determined that the change request information is specific change request information indicating a request for changing the communication state of another terminal, the management system 50 acquires the communication state of the other terminal. Thereby, the management system 50 has an effect that it is possible to realize changing the communication state of one or both terminals that start a call according to the type of change request information.

  The management system 50 also includes a state change management DB 5009 configured by a state change management table in which change request information, pre-change state information, and post-change management information are managed in association with each other. Thereby, the management system 50 can implement | achieve changing the state of communication based on the change request information received by the transmission / reception part 11, and the communication state acquired by the state acquisition part 53b. Play.

  In addition, when the communication state of the terminal 10 is not the predetermined communication state corresponding to the predetermined change request information, the management system 50 does not change the state information of the terminal 10 and the communication state of other terminals is the predetermined state. If it is not the predetermined communication state corresponding to the change request information, the state information of other terminals is not changed. Thereby, the management system 50 has an effect that it can implement | achieve correctly managing the communication state of the terminal 10, and the communication state of another terminal.

  Further, the management system 50 transmits predetermined information used for changing the communication state to at least one of the terminal 10 and other terminals based on the predetermined change request information. Thereby, the management system 50 has an effect that it can implement | achieve controlling connection between the terminal 10 and another terminal.

  In addition, the management system 50 receives change request information indicating that a terminal as a request source requests to start communication with a terminal as a destination, and requests the start of communication when there are a plurality of terminals as destinations. Predetermined information indicating this is transmitted to a plurality of terminals as destinations. Thereby, the management system 50 has an effect that the terminal as the request source can control the connection with the terminal as the destination when a call is started at another base.

  In addition, the management system 50 receives the change request information as a plurality of destinations when the predetermined change request information receives change request information indicating that the terminal as the destination refuses to start the communication with the terminal as the request source. It is determined whether or not change request information for refusing the start of communication has been received from all of the terminals, and the status information of the terminal as the request source is changed based on the determined result. Thereby, the management system 50 accurately determines the communication state of the terminal as the request source when the terminal as the destination receives the change request information indicating that the start of the communication with the terminal as the request source is rejected. Can be managed.

  Further, when information based on connection or disconnection between the terminal 10 and the management system is received, the management system 50 changes the state of the managed terminal 10 to a state indicating connection or disconnection. Thereby, the management system 50 can implement | achieve correctly managing the state of the terminal 10 at the time of the connection or disconnection of the terminal 10 and the said management system.

  In addition, the management system 50 can intentionally create a situation where the relay device is not used in the conference by using the acceptability information in the relay device management table. It is possible to reduce operational costs and power consumption. Specifically, if the acceptance / rejection information of the relay device 30 for maintenance work or power-off target (in this embodiment, at least one of the low-availability relay devices 30) is “acceptance”, the new conference is Since it cannot start, it can only join the existing meeting halfway or end the meeting, so by ending all existing meetings, it is possible to create a situation where the relay device is not used in the meeting, Maintenance work of the relay device and power shutdown are possible. Note that even if the acceptability information of the relay device 30 with low availability is all “acceptance rejected”, the terminal 10 whose type is personal (the terminal 10 whose meeting time tends to be short) uses the relay device 30 with high availability. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the conference cannot be held due to maintenance work or power interruption.

  In the present embodiment, the relay device 30 whose availability is less than the threshold is preferentially used for the terminal 10 that tends to have a short conference time, and the relay device 30 whose availability is equal to or greater than the threshold is preferentially used. Since the terminal 10 that tends to be used preferentially, the terminal 10 that is preferentially used in the relay device 30 becomes the terminal 10 of the conference time according to the availability of the relay device 30, and the ongoing conference is disconnected. This can prevent the service level from being lowered. Specifically, since it becomes easy to prevent a conference with a long conference time from being held by the relay device 30 with low availability, it is possible to suppress a decrease in service level that a conference being held is disconnected. .

<< Supplement of Embodiment >>
In the above embodiment, the case where the user of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) has selected to start a call with the destination terminal (terminals 10bb, 10cb, 10db) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In this case, the user of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) can also select the own terminal as the destination terminal. When the own terminal is selected as the destination terminal, first, a call data session sed between the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) and the relay device 30 is established. Subsequently, information requesting that the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) specify a desired destination terminal and notify the destination terminal of a session ID necessary for participating in the call data session sed is accepted. Thus, the telephone call can be started by executing a process for requesting participation in the session (see step S101). When the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) selects the own terminal as the destination terminal and the change request information “Invite” is transmitted, the management system 50 uses the terminal information “own terminal selection” as a search key, By searching the state change management table (see FIG. 17), the state of the request source terminal (terminal 10aa) can be changed.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the destination list frame 1100-1 showing the destination name 1100-2 etc. and the icon 1100-3a etc. is displayed. The destination list frame 1100-1 is not provided, and only the destination name 1100-2 and the icon 1100-3a may be displayed.

  Further, the management system 50 and the program providing system 90 in each of the above embodiments may be constructed by a single computer, or may be constructed by a plurality of computers arbitrarily assigned by dividing each unit (function or means). May be. In addition, when the program providing system 90 is constructed by a single computer, the program transmitted by the program providing system 90 may be transmitted by dividing it into a plurality of modules. It may be transmitted. Further, when the program providing system 90 is constructed by a plurality of computers, a plurality of modules may be divided and transmitted from each computer.

  Further, the terminal program, the relay device program, and the transmission management program of the present embodiment, the HD 204 storing the program, and the program providing system 90 including the HD 204 are as follows: All of them are used when the terminal program, the relay device program, and the transmission management program are provided to users or the like as program products in Japan or overseas.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the image quality of the image data relayed by the relay device 30 using the changed quality management table shown in FIG. 7 and the quality management table shown in FIG. Although it was managed by focusing on the resolution of the image of the data, the present invention is not limited to this. Other examples of the quality include the depth of image quality of the image data, the sampling frequency of the audio data, and the bit length of the audio data. You may manage it paying attention to.

  9, 11, and 13, the reception date and time are managed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least the reception time of the reception date and time may be managed.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the IP address of the relay device is managed in FIG. 9 and the IP address of the terminal in FIG. 11, but this is not a limitation, and the relay device 30 is specified on the communication network 2. Each relay device specifying information or terminal specifying information for specifying the terminal 10 on the communication network 2 may manage each FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name). In this case, an IP address corresponding to the FQDN is acquired by a known DNS (Domain Name System) server. In addition to “relay device specifying information for specifying the relay device 30 in the communication network 2”, “relay device connection destination information indicating a connection destination to the relay device 30 on the communication network 2” or “communication It may be expressed as “relay device destination information indicating a destination to the relay device 30 on the network 2”. Similarly, not only “terminal specifying information for specifying the terminal 10 in the communication network 2” but also “terminal connection destination information indicating a connection destination to the terminal 10 on the communication network 2” or “on the communication network 2 It may be expressed as “terminal destination information indicating a destination to the terminal 10”.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which the priority type information and the type indicated by the type information indicate whether the usage mode of the terminal 10 is assumed to be an individual or a large number of people. As shown in FIG. 42 and the terminal management table shown in FIG. 42, the priority type information and the type indicated by the type information may indicate whether the terminal 10 is a general-purpose terminal or a dedicated terminal. In general, the conference time tends to be longer for dedicated terminals dedicated to the conference, and tends to be shorter for general-purpose terminals such as PCs (Personal Computers) and smart terminals. For this reason, the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is less than the threshold is associated with priority type information indicating a general-purpose terminal, and the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is greater than or equal to the threshold is assigned a priority type indicating a dedicated terminal. Even if the information is associated, for the same reason as in the above embodiment, the terminal 10 that is preferentially used in the relay device 30 becomes the terminal 10 of the conference time according to the availability of the relay device 30 and is being held. It is possible to suppress a decrease in service level that a conference is disconnected.

  Further, as in the relay device management table shown in FIG. 43 and the terminal management table shown in FIG. 44, the priority type information and the type indicated by the type information indicate whether the terminal 10 is stationary or non-stationary. It is good. In general, a conference time tends to be longer for a stationary terminal installed in a conference room, and tends to be shorter for a non-stationary terminal such as a portable mobile terminal. For this reason, the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is less than the threshold is associated with priority type information indicating a stationary type, and the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is greater than or equal to the threshold is prioritized indicating a non-deferred type. Even if the type information is associated, for the same reason as in the above embodiment, the terminal 10 that is preferentially used in the relay device 30 becomes the terminal 10 of the conference time according to the availability of the relay device 30 and is being held. It is possible to suppress a decrease in service level such that the conference is disconnected.

  The type indicated by the priority type information and the type information may be the type of service used by the terminal 10. For example, in the transmission system 1, there is a terminal 10 that uses a service that assumes a connection every time, and a terminal 10 that uses a service that assumes a constant connection. Therefore, like the relay device management table shown in FIG. 45 and the terminal management table shown in FIG. 46, the type indicated by the priority type information and the type information indicates whether the terminal 10 is connected each time or is always connected. It is good. The service that assumes connection every time is a general video conference service that is used for general remote conferences, and the meeting time tends to be short. It is used for telemedicine and the like, and the meeting time tends to be long. For this reason, the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is less than the threshold is associated with priority type information indicating connection each time, and the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is equal to or greater than the threshold is assigned a priority type indicating always connected. Even if the information is associated, for the same reason as in the above embodiment, the terminal 10 that is preferentially used in the relay device 30 becomes the terminal 10 of the conference time according to the availability of the relay device 30 and is being held. It is possible to suppress a decrease in service level that a conference is disconnected.

  The type indicated by the priority type information and the type information may be the type of contract of the user who uses the terminal 10. For example, in the transmission system 1, a user who uses the terminal 10 may have a contract with a low charge plan, or may have a contract with a high charge plan. Therefore, like the relay device management table shown in FIG. 47 and the terminal management table shown in FIG. 48, the type indicated by the priority type information and the type information indicates whether the billing plan of the user who uses the terminal 10 is low or high. It may be a thing. In the case of a cheap billing plan, the meeting time tends to be short, and in the case of a high billing plan, the meeting time tends to be long. Note that the criterion (boundary) for whether the billing plan is cheap or high may be determined in consideration of, for example, the average value or median value of the billing plan. Therefore, the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is less than the threshold value is associated with priority type information indicating a low price, and the relay device ID of the relay device 30 whose availability is equal to or higher than the threshold value is assigned priority type information indicating a high value. Even if they are associated with each other, for the same reason as in the above embodiment, the terminal 10 that is preferentially used in the relay device 30 becomes the terminal 10 having a conference time corresponding to the availability of the relay device 30, and the conference being held is It is possible to suppress the service level from being disconnected.

  In the above embodiment, the priority type information and the type indicated by the type information are described as an example, but the type indicated by the type information is, for example, the model name of the terminal 10 and the availability is less than the threshold. The priority type information of the relay device 30 is associated with all the model names of the models whose usage modes are assumed to be individuals, and the priority type information of the relay device 30 whose availability is equal to or greater than the threshold indicates that the usage mode has a large number of people. It is also possible to associate all model names of assumed models. Also, for example, a table in which the type indicated by the priority type information is an individual or a large number of people, the type indicated by the type information is the model name of the terminal 10, and the type and model name are associated with each other (individuals are assumed as individuals). It is also possible to associate all the model names of the models that are being used, and add a table that associates all the model names of the models that assume a large number of people) to a large number of people. Further, the types indicated by the priority type information and the type information may be three or more instead of two types of individuals or a large number of people. When the type indicated by the priority type information and the type information indicates whether the terminal 10 is a general-purpose terminal or a dedicated terminal, the terminal 10 indicates whether the terminal 10 is stationary or non-stationary. The same applies to the case of the type of service used by and the type of contract of the user who uses the terminal 10.

  If the type indicated by the priority type information and the type information is the type of service used by the terminal 10, the type indicated by the priority type information remains connected or always connected, and the type indicated by the type information indicates the serial number of the terminal 10. A table in which identification information such as a number is associated with the type and the identification information of the terminal 10 (all the identification information of the terminal 10 that uses the connection service is associated with each connection, and the constant connection is always connected) A table in which all the identification information of the terminal 10 using the service 10 is associated may be added, or such a table already prepared may be used. Further, when the type indicated by the priority type information and the type information is the type of the contract of the user who uses the terminal 10, the type indicated by the type information is the user name using the terminal 10, etc., and the availability is less than the threshold. The priority type information of the device 30 is associated with all IDs of cheap charging plans, and the priority type information of the relay device 30 whose availability is equal to or higher than the threshold is associated with all IDs of high charging plans, and the user name and charging plan A table in which IDs are associated may be added, or such a table already prepared may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the type information of the terminal 10 is managed by the terminal management table has been described, but the terminal 10 may transmit the type information. In this case, the transmission / reception unit 51 receives the type information of the plurality of terminals from at least one of the plurality of terminals 10 used for transmission / reception of the content data, and the selection unit 56c is transmitted from the request source terminal and transmitted / received The type having the highest availability required for the relay device 30 is selected from the types indicated by the type information of the request source terminal and the destination terminal included in the start request information received by the unit 51, and is specified by the relay device specifying unit 56b. The relay device 30 indicated by the relay device ID associated with the priority type information indicating the type indicated by the selected type information and the acceptability information indicating “acceptance” What is necessary is just to select preferentially as the relay apparatus 30 which relays transmission / reception of the said content data.

  In the present embodiment, “video conference” is used as a term that can be replaced with “video conference”.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case of the video conference system has been described as an example of the transmission system 1. . Further, the transmission system 1 may be a car navigation system. In this case, for example, one of the terminals 10 corresponds to a car navigation device mounted on a car, and the other of the terminals 10 is mounted on a management terminal or management server of a management center that manages car navigation, or another car. This corresponds to a car navigation device. Further, the transmission system 1 may be an audio conference system or a PC (Personal Computer) screen sharing system.

  Further, the transmission system 1 may be a mobile phone communication system. In this case, for example, the terminal 10 corresponds to a mobile phone. A display example of the destination list in this case is shown in FIG. That is, the terminal 10 as a mobile phone includes a mobile phone main body 10-1, a menu screen display button 10-2 provided on the main body 10-1, a display unit 10-3 provided on the main body 10-1, The microphone 10-4 provided in the lower part of 10-1 and the speaker 10-5 provided in the main body 10-1 are provided. Among these, the “menu screen display button” 10-2 is a button for displaying a menu screen on which icons indicating various applications are displayed. The display unit 10-3 is a touch panel, and the user can make a call with the other party's mobile phone by selecting a destination name.

  In the above embodiment, image data and audio data have been described as an example of content data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and touch data may be used. In this case, the feeling that the user touched on one terminal side is transmitted to the other terminal side. Further, the content data may be smell data. In this case, the odor (odor) on one terminal side is transmitted to the other terminal side. The content data may be at least one of image data, audio data, tactile data, and olfactory data.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where a video conference is performed by the transmission system 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a general conversation such as a meeting, a family or a friend, or information in one direction is performed. It may be used for presentation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Transmission terminal 11 Transmission / reception part 16 Display control part 18 Delay detection part 19 Storage / reading process part 31 Transmission / reception part 32 State detection part 33 Data quality confirmation part 34 Change quality management part 35 Data quality change part 39 Storage / reading process part 50 Management System 51 Transmission / reception unit (an example of a reception unit, a terminal identification information reception unit, and a type information reception unit)
52 terminal authentication unit 53 state management unit 53a state setting unit 53b state acquisition unit 53c state change unit 54 terminal extraction unit 55 terminal state acquisition unit 56 primary narrowing unit 56a session ID generation unit 56b relay device specification unit (relay device specification unit One case)
56c selection unit 57 session management unit 58 quality determination unit 59 storage / read processing unit 60 delay time management unit 61 determination unit 62 determination unit 63 change request information determination unit 64 update unit 91 transmission / reception unit (an example of transmission unit)
92 Display Control Unit 93 Operation Input Accepting Unit 1000 Nonvolatile Storage Unit 1100 Volatile Storage Unit 3000 Nonvolatile Storage Unit 3001 Change Quality Management DB
5000 Nonvolatile storage unit 5001 Relay device management DB (an example of a relay device management unit)
5002 Terminal authentication management DB
5003 Terminal management DB (an example of a terminal management unit)
5004 Destination list management DB
5005 Session management DB
5007 Quality Management DB
5008 Relay device identification management DB (an example of a relay device identification management unit)
5009 Status change management DB
10,000 schedule management DB

JP 2008-227577 A

Claims (13)

A relay device management unit that associates and manages, for each relay device identification information for identifying a relay device, priority type information indicating that the relay device is preferentially used by a terminal of a type corresponding to the availability of the relay device; ,
A receiving unit for receiving start request information for starting transmission / reception of content data between terminals;
The relay device indicated by the relay device identification information associated with the priority type information indicating the type of terminal used for transmission / reception of the content data related to the received start request information is transferred between the terminals related to the start request information. A selection unit that preferentially selects as a relay device that relays transmission and reception of
A management device comprising: For each terminal identification information for identifying a terminal, a relay device identification management unit that manages the relay device identification information of a relay device that can be used by the terminal in association with each other,
A terminal identification information receiving unit for receiving terminal identification information of a plurality of terminals used for transmission / reception of content data related to the received start request information;
A relay device identifying unit that identifies relay device identification information associated with all the terminal identification information of the plurality of received terminals,
The selection unit corresponds to priority type information indicating a type of the highest availability required for the relay device among the types of the plurality of terminals used for transmission / reception of the content data among the identified relay device identification information The management device according to claim 1, wherein the relay device indicated by the attached relay device identification information is preferentially selected.   The selection unit has the highest availability among the types of the plurality of terminals used for transmission / reception of the content data related to the received start request information in the identified relay device identification information. When there is no relay device identification information associated with the priority type information indicating the relay device, the relay device indicated by any one of the identified relay device identification information is relayed to transmit / receive content data between the terminals related to the start request information The management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the management apparatus is selected as a relay apparatus to perform. For each terminal identification information for identifying a terminal, a terminal management unit that manages the type information indicating the type of the terminal in association with each other;
A terminal identification information receiving unit that receives terminal identification information of the terminal used for transmission / reception of content data related to the received start request information;
The selection unit preferentially selects the relay device indicated by the relay device identification information associated with the priority type information indicating the type indicated by the type information associated with the received terminal identification information. 4. The management apparatus according to any one of 3. A type information receiving unit for receiving type information indicating a type of the terminal used for transmission / reception of the content data related to the received start request information;
The management device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a relay device indicated by relay device identification information associated with priority type information indicating a type indicated by the received type information. . The relay device management unit further manages, in association with each relay device identification information, acceptability information indicating whether a new session of the relay device indicated by the relay device identification information is acceptable,
The selection unit includes a relay device indicated by relay device identification information associated with priority type information indicating a type of the terminal used for transmission / reception of the content data and associated with acceptance / rejection information indicating acceptance. 6. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management apparatus is preferentially selected as a relay apparatus that relays transmission / reception of content data between terminals related to the start request information. The type represents whether the usage mode of the terminal assumes an individual or a large number of people,
The relay device identification information of a relay device whose availability is less than the threshold is associated with priority type information representing an individual, and the relay device identification information of a relay device whose availability is greater than or equal to the threshold corresponds to priority type information representing a large number of people. The management apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-6 attached. The type represents whether the terminal is a general-purpose terminal or a dedicated terminal,
Priority type information representing a general-purpose terminal is associated with the relay device identification information of a relay device whose availability is less than the threshold, and priority type information representing a dedicated terminal is included in the relay device identification information of a relay device whose availability is greater than or equal to the threshold. The management device according to claim 1, which is associated with the management device. The type represents whether the terminal is stationary or not,
Priority type information representing a non-deferred type is associated with relay device identification information of a relay device whose availability is less than a threshold, and priority type information representing a stationary type is associated with relay device identification information of a relay device whose availability is greater than or equal to a threshold Are associated with each other. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The management device according to claim 1, wherein the type is a type of service used by the terminal.   The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the type is a type of a contract of a user who uses the terminal. A relay device management unit that associates and manages, for each relay device identification information for identifying a relay device, priority type information indicating that the relay device is preferentially used by a terminal of a type corresponding to the availability of the relay device; ,
A receiving unit for receiving start request information for starting transmission / reception of content data between terminals;
The relay device indicated by the relay device identification information associated with the priority type information indicating the type of terminal used for transmission / reception of the content data related to the received start request information is transferred between the terminals related to the start request information. A selection unit that preferentially selects as a relay device that relays transmission and reception of
A management system comprising: A relay device management step for managing, for each relay device identification information for identifying a relay device, priority type information indicating that the relay device is preferentially used by a terminal of a type corresponding to the availability of the relay device in association with each other. ,
A reception step of receiving start request information for starting transmission / reception of content data between terminals;
The relay device indicated by the relay device identification information associated with the priority type information indicating the type of terminal used for transmission / reception of the content data related to the received start request information is transferred between the terminals related to the start request information. A selection step that preferentially selects as a relay device that relays transmission and reception of
Management method including.

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