JP2804405B2 - Multipoint video conference system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipoint video conference system, and more particularly to a multipoint videoconference system for connecting a plurality of users via a multipoint communication control device for connecting a plurality of remote video conference terminals. The present invention relates to a multipoint videoconference system having a pointer control function for simultaneously performing a videoconference.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of multipoint video conference system, for example, there is a multipoint video conference system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-219787. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of such a conventional multipoint video conference system.

In the figure, a conventional multipoint video conference system includes a multipoint communication control device 11, a video conference terminal 12a of station A, a video conference terminal 12b of station B,
Station video conference terminal 12c and station D video conference terminal 1
2d. The multipoint communication control device 11 and the video conference terminals 12a to 12d are connected by data transmission paths 16a to 16d.

[0004] The video conference terminals 12a to 12d are provided with display monitors 13a to 13d for displaying images, pointers and the like.
d, and in FIG.
In a to 13d, pointers 14a to 14d indicating predetermined positions on the screen are displayed. The video conference terminals 12a to 12d have display monitors 13a to 13d.
Mice 15a to 15d, which are control means for inputting position information and the like displayed on 13d, are connected.

[0005] The multipoint communication control device 11 includes line interface units 17a to 17d for controlling an interface with the data transmission paths 16a to 16d, and a voice processing for inputting input voice information and outputting output voice information. Part 24
And a video processing unit 25 for inputting input video information and outputting output video information, and pointer information included in input control information transmitted from any of the video conference terminals 12a to 12d. Video conference terminals 12a other than
Control unit 26 for controlling transmission to 12d
It is composed of

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the audio processing unit 24 receives the input audio information 18a to 18d transmitted from the line interface units 17a to 17d, adds the input audio information 18a to 18d, and outputs the output audio information 19a to 19d. 19d is transmitted to the video conference terminals 12a to 12d. Further, the video processing unit 25 receives the input video information 20a to 20d transmitted from the line interface units 17a to 17d, processes the video, and transmits the processed video information to the video conference terminals 12a to 12d as output video information 21a to 21d. In addition, control unit 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes pointer information included in the input control information 22a to 22d transmitted from any of the video conference terminals 12a to 12d (for example, pointer movement information, control right request information, and the like).
And output control information 23a to 23d including pointer information such as control right grant information to another video conference terminal 12a.
To 12d. Therefore, in such a system, together with image information and audio information,
A video conference is held while pointing to a predetermined position on the TV screen.

The operation of the conventional multipoint video conference system configured as described above will be described first.
When a video conference is performed between the four stations A, B, C, and D shown in (1), the operation of acquiring the pointer control right in the video conference terminal of an arbitrary station is started. That is, in general, in a conventional multipoint videoconference system, an arbitrary videoconference terminal notifies the multipoint communication control device 11 of a pointer control right request by operating a mouse button such as a click, and responds to the received request. The multipoint communication control device 11 performs the conflict / selection control to determine the video conference terminal to which the pointer control right is given.

For example, in the following description, it is assumed that the user at the station A starts the operation of controlling the pointer 14a on the display monitor 13a using the mouse 15a. In this case, a pointer control right allocation request from the video conference terminal 12a is notified to the multipoint communication control device 11 by operating the button of the mouse 15a, and the control unit 26 in the multipoint communication control device 11 and the terminal 12a of the A station are notified. The sequence of requesting / acquiring the pointer control right is performed between these steps. Through the sequence of requesting and acquiring the pointer control right, the pointer control right is given to the terminal 12a of the A station.

When the terminal 12a of the station A obtains the pointer control right, the pointer information transmitted from the terminal 12a of the station A is transmitted to the multipoint communication control device 11 via the data transmission line 16a and the line interface 17a. Is input as input control information 22a to the control unit 26 in the inside.
The control unit 26 generates output control information 23b to 23d including pointer position information based on the input control information 22a, and transmits the output control information to the video conference terminals 12b to 12d via the line interface units 17b to 17d. In the video conference terminals 12b to 12d, the pointers 14b to 14d are displayed on the display monitors 13b to 13d at the same positions as the pointers 14a on the display monitor 13a of the station A based on the pointer information transmitted from the multipoint communication control device 11.
Display d.

Next, when the user of the station B starts the operation of controlling the pointer 14b on the display monitor 13b using the mouse 15b, the same control as the pointer control right request in the case of the user of the station A is carried out. The control unit 26 in the multipoint communication control device 11 and the terminal 12b of the station B
A request / acquisition sequence of the pointer control right is performed between the steps. After the sequence of requesting / acquiring the pointer control right, if the terminal 12a of the station A has relinquished the pointer control right, that is, the user of the station A
Is temporarily terminated, the pointer control right is granted to the terminal 12b of the station B. Then, the pointer information from the terminal 12b of the station B is transmitted to the multipoint communication control device 1 via the data transmission path 16b and the line interface unit 17b.
1 is input to the control unit 26 as input control information 22b. Thereafter, the same operation as in the case where the station A acquires the pointer control right is performed, and the display monitor 1
Display monitor 1 of station B on 3a, 13c, 13d
3b at the same position as the pointer 14b.
a, 14c and 14d are displayed.

The user who uses the video conference terminals 12a to 12d in this way can use the display monitors 13a to 13d.
A multipoint video conference can be performed while watching the pointers 14a to 14d at the same position above. The description of the operations of the audio processing unit 24 and the video processing unit 25 is omitted here.

[0012]

As described above, in the conventional multipoint video conference system, a pointer control right request is notified from the video conference terminal by operating a mouse button such as a click, and a multipoint communication control device is provided. Was configured to determine the pointer control right assignment terminal by performing contention / selection control for this request, so that the terminal that was notified of the request for obtaining the pointer control right to the multipoint communication control device early, Will be obtained. However,
The timing of the request for obtaining the pointer control right varies depending on the user, and the request for obtaining the pointer control right may be issued early before the turn of the presentation has come. In this way, if the timing of the request for obtaining the pointer control right and the timing of the presentation differ between individuals, unexpected competition for the request for obtaining the pointer control right occurs, and the smooth progress of the conference occurs. There was a problem that would be hindered.

If the request for pointer control right acquisition is to be adjusted while using the button operation technique, the multipoint communication control device must control the contention / selection control for the pointer control right allocation request received from each video conference terminal. Hardware and software for performing
There are problems such as an increase in cost.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide an environment in which a conference can proceed smoothly and to obtain a less expensive multipoint video conference system.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, while a presenter of a conference speaks, a video conference terminal assigned to the presenter is brought into a state where pointer control is possible. It is characterized by having a simple configuration. For this reason, in the present invention, a speaker determination unit for video switching control which is conventionally generally provided in a multipoint communication control device is used as means for determining a terminal to which pointer control authority is assigned. By using the terminal, the terminal selected by the speaker determination unit is provided with the pointer control right, and the terminal having the pointer control right performs the pointer control.

That is, in the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the multipoint video conference system according to the first invention of the present invention detects a speaker from input voice information received from each video conference terminal. A multipoint communication control device comprising: a speaker determination unit that determines a terminal of a speaker and a pointer control right transmission unit that determines a terminal to which the pointer control right is assigned based on the determination of the speaker determination unit. Then, a pointer control right is given to the terminal selected by the speaker determination unit, and only the terminal having the pointer control right performs pointer control.

Further, the multipoint video conference system according to the second invention is a speaker determination unit for detecting a speaker based on input voice information received from each video conference terminal to determine a speaker terminal, A pointer control right transmission unit that determines a terminal to which the pointer control right is assigned based on the determination of the user determination unit, and releases the pointer control right by detecting the end of a mouse operation connected to the terminal to which the pointer control right is assigned A multipoint communication control device provided with a pointer control right release means,
When a pointer control right is given to the terminal selected by the speaker determination unit, only the terminal having the pointer control right performs pointer control, and when the speaker of the terminal and the mouse operation are terminated, Release the pointer control right of the terminal.

[0018]

According to the multipoint video conference system of the present invention configured as described above, while the presenter is speaking, the speaker control section gives pointer control authority to the presenter, When the presenter's statement ends, the pointer control right from the presenter is released. Therefore, the timing of the presenter's remark and the timing of giving the pointer control right coincide, so that the video conference can smoothly proceed.

That is, the request for the pointer control right is not made by the button operation which is not related to the contents of the conference, and the request for the pointer control right is naturally made by the act of speaking which is closely related to the contents of the conference. Unnecessary requests do not compete, and the pointer control right can be given only to the terminal that speaks using the pointer, so that the video conference can proceed smoothly.

When the speaker of the terminal and the mouse operation are completed, the pointer control right of the terminal is released, so that the pointer control can be performed so as to follow an action closely related to the contents of the conference. It is possible to grant and release rights.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the multipoint video conference system according to the present embodiment. Note that the same or corresponding parts as those of the conventional multipoint video conference system are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 1, a multipoint communication control device 31 of the multipoint video conference system of the present embodiment detects a speaker based on the input voice information 18a to 18d to determine a speaker terminal. And a pointer control right transmitting unit 29 for transmitting pointer control right information according to the speaker terminal information 28 determined by the speaker determining unit 27. The pointer control right transmitting unit 29 is installed in the control unit 30. Have been. Note that the pointer control right information transmitted from the pointer control right transmitting unit 29 includes output control information 23a to 23
d and transmitted to the video conference terminals 12a to 12d.

Next, the operation of the multipoint video conference system of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. In this embodiment, as in the prior art, stations A, B, C
It is assumed that a video conference is performed between the four stations, station D and station D.

First Embodiment For example, it is assumed that the user at the station A controls the pointer 14a on the display monitor 13a using the mouse 15a to start explaining the contents of the conference. In this case, the input audio information 18a from the terminal 12a of the station A is transmitted to the data transmission path 16a.
is input to the speaker determination unit 27 in the multipoint communication control unit 31 via the line interface unit 17a. At this time, since the users of the stations B, C, and D are the listeners, the input voice information 18a to 18d from the station terminals is not input to the speaker determination unit 27. Therefore, the speaker determination unit 27 determines the speaker terminal as the station A from the state of the input voice information 18a to 18d, and outputs the speaker terminal information 28 to the pointer control right transmission unit 29.

The pointer control right transmitting section 29 inputs the speaker terminal information 28, and sets only the terminal 12a of the station A to a state where the pointer can be controlled, thereby giving the pointer control right to the station A. The output control information 23a to 23d output the pointer control right information including the content of giving the pointer control right to the station A. Output control information 2
3a to 23d are line interface units 17a to 17d
The data is transmitted to the video conference terminals 12a to 12d via the data transmission paths 16a to 16d. Video conference terminal 12
In a to 12d, A is determined by the received pointer control right information.
It is possible to recognize that the pointer control right has been granted to the station terminal 12a.

The fact that the terminal 12a of the station A obtains the pointer control right means that only the terminal 12a of the station A is set to a state where pointer control is possible. In this case, only the terminal 12a of the station A can perform pointer control, and the other terminals cannot perform pointer control. At the same time, the pointer information input at the terminal 12a of the station A is transmitted to the other terminals. Will be displayed. That is, when the terminal A of the station A acquires the pointer control right, the pointer information transmitted from the terminal 12a of the station A is transmitted to the multipoint communication control device 31 via the data transmission line 16a and the line interface unit 17a. Is input as input control information 22a. The control unit 30 outputs output control information 23b to 23 including pointer position information based on the input control information 22a.
d is generated and transmitted to the video conference terminals 12b to 12d via the line interface units 17b to 17d. In the video conference terminals 12b to 12d, the multipoint communication control device 31
Is displayed on the display monitors 13b to 13d based on the pointer information transmitted from the
a at the same position as the pointer 14a on the pointer 14a.
14d is displayed.

In this case, the stations B, C are not used until the user of the terminal 12a at the station A finishes operating the pointer 14a.
The video conference terminals of the stations D and D are not given the pointer control right, and these terminals cannot perform pointer control.

Here, when the user of the station A has finished the explanation of the contents of the conference, the input voice information 18a from the station terminal 12a is not input to the speaker determination section 27.
In this case, the pointer control right of the user of the station A is released, and the pointer control right is not given to any of the users of the stations A, B, C, and D. The length of silence for releasing the pointer control right is set to an appropriate length according to the setting conditions of the present apparatus.

Second Embodiment If it is not appropriate to release the pointer control right only by the silence length due to various circumstances, the operation of the mouse 15a used by the user at the station A is detected. If the pointer control right is released when a predetermined length of silence occurs and the operation of the mouse 15a stops, the pointer control right can be granted and followed by an action closely related to the content of the conference. Release can be performed.

The user at the station A finishes the explanation of the contents of the conference,
When the pointer control right is not given to any of the users of the stations A, B, C and D, the user of the station B starts a speech operation and uses the mouse 15b to display the monitor 1.
Assuming that the pointer 14b on the terminal 3b is controlled, the input voice information 18b from the terminal 12b of the station B
The signal is input to the speaker determination unit 27 in the multipoint communication control device 31 via the communication interface 6b and the line interface unit 17b.
At this time, similarly, the users of the stations A, C, and D become the listeners, so that the speaker determination unit 27 does not receive the input voice information 18a, 18c, 18d from those stations.
Therefore, the speaker determination unit 27 outputs the input voice information 18a to 18d.
Is determined as station B from the state, and the speaker terminal information 28 is determined.
To the pointer control right transmitting unit 29. The pointer control right transmitting unit 29 outputs pointer control right information of the content for giving the pointer control right to the station B to the output control information 23a to 23d, and outputs the information via the line interface units 17a to 17d and the data transmission paths 16a to 16d. Video conference terminal 12a
To 12d. In the video conference terminals 12a to 12d, the terminal 12b of the station B
Recognizes that the pointer control right has been granted to.

The same operation as in the case where the user of the station A has acquired the pointer control right is performed, and the display monitor 13a, 13c, 13d is placed at the same position as the pointer 14b on the display monitor 13b of the station B.
The pointers 14a, 14c and 14d are displayed. In this case, the user of the station B terminal 12b
Until the operation of b is completed, the video conference terminals of the stations A, C, and D are not given the pointer control right and cannot perform the pointer control.

Thus, the user using the video conference terminals 12a to 12d can use the display monitors 13a to 13d.
A multipoint video conference can be performed while watching the pointers 14a to 14d at the same position above. In this way, the pointer control right is given only to the speaker of the video conference, and only the speaker can control the pointer, so that the video conference can proceed smoothly. .

Here, the screen can be moved following the movement of the pointer control right, but it is also possible to move the pointer control right without moving the screen. If the setting is made so that the movement of the pointer control right and the movement of the screen do not accompany, for example, asking "Who can disagree with this opinion?" Some simply argue,
A rebuttal can be made on the screen. This allows
It is also possible to have a direct and effective discussion. That is, a screen used for explanation using a pointer is generally a still image showing a catalog, a drawing, a document, and the like, and this screen is a shared screen for all conference participants. By moving only the pointer control right as in the present embodiment, the screen is not switched to a speaker other than the presenter,
Meeting participants can exchange discussions without changing the shared screen. The case where only the pointer control right is moved as in this embodiment may be set as one mode such as a still image mode. In this case, by providing a mode switch or the like, the mode can be switched to the still image mode.

In the multipoint video conference system of the above embodiment, the number of terminals to which the pointer control right is given is described as one. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may make it give.

Further, in the multipoint video conference system of the above embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the pointer control right information is included in the output control information and transmitted. However, the pointer control right information is included in the output audio information or the output video information. Is also good.

[0036]

As described above, according to the multipoint video conference system of the present invention, a speaker terminal is determined based on input voice information received from a plurality of terminals, and pointer control authority is given to the speaker terminal. The pointer control right information regarding the terminal is transmitted to the other terminals, and only the terminal having the pointer control right is configured to perform the pointer control.
The pointer control right can be granted and released by following an action closely related to the content of the conference. That is, it is possible to determine a pointer control right terminal without performing complicated contention / selection control for requests from a plurality of terminals, thereby simplifying hardware and software and reducing costs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multipoint video conference system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional multipoint video conference system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 31 Multipoint communication control device 12 Video conference terminal 13 Display monitor 14 Pointer 15 Mouse 16 Data transmission line 17 Line interface unit 24 Audio processing unit 25 Video processing unit 26, 30 Control unit 27 Speaker determination unit 28 Speaker terminal Information 29 Pointer control right transmission unit

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 7/14

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A multi-point teleconference terminal installed remotely at a multi-point, a multi-point communication control device to which the plural tele-conference terminals are connected, and a predetermined Means for setting a pointer indicating a position, using a pointer indicating a predetermined position in the image together with image and audio information, in a multipoint video conference system for performing a video conference between the plurality of video conference terminals, The multipoint communication control device includes: a speaker determination unit that determines a video conference terminal to which an audio signal is input; and a pointer that sets the video conference terminal to which the audio signal is input so that the pointer can be controlled. A multipoint video conference system, comprising: a control right transmission unit, wherein a right to control a pointer is given to a speaker during the video conference. 2. A plurality of video conference terminals installed at remote locations at a multipoint, a multipoint communication control device to which the plurality of video conference terminals are connected, and a predetermined Means for setting a pointer indicating a position, using a pointer indicating a predetermined position in the image together with image and audio information, in a multipoint video conference system for performing a video conference between the plurality of video conference terminals, The multipoint communication control device includes: a speaker determination unit that determines a video conference terminal to which an audio signal is input; and a pointer that sets the video conference terminal to which the audio signal is input so that the pointer can be controlled. A control right transmitting unit, and a pointer control enabled state of the video conference terminal when the input of the audio signal ends and the pointer control in the video conference terminal ends. And a pointer control right release means for releasing the pointer control right to the speaker during the video conference, and releasing the pointer control right when the order of the speakers elapses. Multipoint video conference system.