JPH05260194A - Remote conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently progress a conference by executing periodically a check so that a display of all conference terminals used for the conference is executed unitarily and explaining data under discussion while displaying it commonly on each display. CONSTITUTION:In plural conference terminals 19 connected mutually through an ISDN network, a conference terminal equipment 19-1 which obtains a token executes polling so as to transmit periodically picture information displayed on a display of other each conference terminal 19, and transmitted picture information and picture information displayed on the display of the conference terminal equipment 19-1 are compared. Also, this system is constituted so that in the case there is a difference, a change of a display is executed by transmitting a display image on the conference terminal equipment 19-1 side to the other party conference terminal equipment 19 which executes polling, and the display of all the conference terminals under operation is unified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a teleconferencing system, and more particularly to a teleconferencing system that unifies the display images of a plurality of conference terminals connected to each other using a remote point communication line such as an ISDN communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when people from remote locations meet together to hold a meeting, the meeting place and date and time are determined, and all attendees are notified of this, and the attendees hold the meeting. I had to move to the ground. However, it took time to move to attend a meeting, and it was not easy to decide a suitable venue and date for all attendees.

Therefore, in recent years, by using a communication line such as an ISDN network and connecting a conference terminal to this communication line, it is possible to easily hold a conference even between remote points. Is being developed. In the conference terminal of the remote conference system as described above, in addition to a microphone and a speaker for inputting and outputting voice, a display display capable of visually displaying conference materials and the like, and a telewriting device capable of handwriting input, Alternatively, it is equipped with a keyboard for entering characters and numbers. Attendees using this teleconferencing system can efficiently talk while using the microphones and speakers provided in each conference terminal during the conference to display the conference materials on the display and display. Can explain and proceed with the meeting.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional teleconferencing system, each conference terminal itself has a function of advancing a conference while displaying a document display such as conference material using a display device. You can freely refer to the page of the conference material displayed on the display by moving it forward or backward or by selecting any other material. For this reason, the display of the meeting attendees is not always unified, and when the meeting explainer explains based on a certain display, different pages and different materials are likely to occur, and different displays are displayed. There was a problem that an unexpected misunderstanding was caused by listening to the explanation while watching and the progress of the meeting was hindered.

For example, when a conference explainer makes a telewriting marking on a document displayed on the display of a certain conference terminal, the page of the document of the other conference terminal is different from the telewriting side. However, it will be marked in unexpected places, and mutual misunderstandings will occur, and the progress of the conference will be hindered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and periodically displays each conference terminal so that a unified image is displayed on the display of all conference terminals attending the conference. Provide a remote conference system that can efficiently conduct a conference while displaying common materials on the display by checking the display image of the conference terminal and changing to the reference display image if there is a difference The purpose is to

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
Multiple conference terminals are connected between two or multiple points via a remote point communication line, and voice information, video information, document information and telewriting information are exchanged with each other, and documents are displayed on the display provided in each conference terminal. In a teleconferencing system that conducts a conference while displaying information and telewriting information, among the conference terminals, the conference terminal that has obtained the token periodically transmits the image information displayed on the display to other conference terminals. The first polling unit requesting to do so is compared with the image information transmitted from the other conference terminal by the first polling unit and the image information of the conference terminal which has obtained the token to determine whether there is a difference. If there is a difference between the first display image information comparing means and the image information, the image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal side that obtained the token is displayed. A first image changing means for changing the display image by transmitting it to the other conference terminal which is displaying a different display, and periodically unifies the display displays of all the conference terminals attending the conference. It is characterized by doing so.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the remote conference system, display image information transmitting means for periodically transmitting the image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal that has obtained the token to another conference terminal. And second transmitted image information comparing means for comparing the transmitted image information with the image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal receiving the same in each received conference terminal to determine whether there is a difference. And a second image changing means for changing the display image so that the conference terminal receiving the image information displays the received image information on the display when there is a difference in the image information. It is characterized in that the display display of the conference terminal is periodically unified.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the teleconferencing system, each conference terminal attending the conference periodically sends the image information displayed on its display to the conference terminal which has obtained a token. Second polling means for requesting the terminal to transmit, image information transmitted from the conference terminal that obtained the token by the second polling means, and image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal that received the image information. And a third display image information comparing unit that determines whether there is a difference by comparing the received image information on the display with the third display image information comparing unit that determines whether there is a difference. Third to change the display image to display
And an image changing means of (1), and the display display of all the conference terminals attending the conference is periodically unified.

[0010]

According to the invention described in claim 1, the conference terminal which has obtained the token periodically polls the image information displayed on the display of another conference terminal and compares it with the image information currently displayed. If there is a difference in the image information, the image information of the conference terminal that got the token is sent to the polled conference terminal and the display image is changed to unify the display display of all conference terminals attending the conference. It was made to let.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal which has obtained the token is periodically transmitted to another conference terminal and compared with the image information currently displayed. If there is a difference in the image information, the display image is changed to display the transmitted image information so that the display display of all the conference terminals attending the conference is unified. ..

According to the third aspect of the present invention, each conference terminal attending the conference periodically polls the image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal for which the token has been obtained, and the image information currently displayed is displayed. Compared with each other, and if there is a difference in the image information, the display image is changed to display the transmitted image information so that the display display of all conference terminals attending the conference is unified. Is.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a conference terminal of a remote conference system according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a teleconferencing system, which is a conference terminal used by attendees, and 2 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Device) that displays documents and drawings of conference materials and acts as a system monitor.
e) or the like, a display indicator 3 is provided on the screen of the display indicator 2, a transparent writing pad for performing handwriting input for telewriting, 4 is a writing pen for drawing on the writing pad 3, 5 is a keyboard for inputting characters and numbers, 6 is a handset for exchanging voice and data,
7 is a microphone for voice input for transmitting conversation contents during the conference, 8 is a speaker for voice output for playing the voice during the conference sent from another conference terminal, and 9 is a distance between remote points. It is an ISDN communication line.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the conference terminal shown in FIG. In the figure, 10 is a CPU (central control unit) that executes a program for controlling the entire system of the conference terminal 1. In this embodiment, the other conference terminal is requested to transmit a display image to its own terminal. Polling (polling means), comparing the image information displayed on different conference terminals to detect the difference (display image information comparing means), and changing the display image based on the result ( Image changing means). 11 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) for storing data and programs.
y), R for storing programs and fixed data
OM (Read Only Memory), VRAM (Video) for display buffer to image information and display
Random Access Memory), a memory including a hard disk as a large-capacity storage device and a kanji ROM, 12 is a real-time clock for time management such as conference time in the conference terminal 1, 13 is DCR for compressing / expanding raster data of image information (Encoding / decoding unit). Reference numeral 14 denotes a display interface which generates a display timing signal, converts it into a timing required by the display display 2 and transfers the display data from the VRAM of the memory 11 to the display display 2. Since the formats of control and display data differ depending on the CRT, LCD, etc., the display interface corresponding to each display is used. 15 is a data input interface (RS232) for connecting the writing pad 3 and the keyboard 5.
C). 16 is a communication network interface for connecting a line to the ISDN network. In this way, multi-data communication is realized by performing data demultiplexing recommended by 221. Reference numeral 17 is a voice processing unit for converting voice into analog / digital or digital / analog, and 18 is a data bus for connecting the above-mentioned units to exchange data.

FIG. 3 is a network configuration diagram showing a communication line connection state of a plurality of conference terminals holding a conference. In the figure, 19 is a conference terminal attending the conference,
19-1 shows the conference terminal which obtained the token among the conference terminals. 20 is an ISDN network,
These include MCUs (multipoint conference units) that enable multipoint communication as well as two-point communication.

Next, the operation will be described. First Embodiment FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the remote conference system according to the invention described in claim 1. Figure 4
After the conference shown in Fig. 3 is started, the conference terminal 19-1 which has obtained the token of Fig. 3 is currently displaying on the display / indicator 2 of each conference terminal 19 with respect to all the other conference terminals 19 at a certain fixed time. The polling requesting that the image information stored in the conference terminal 19-1 be transmitted is performed.

That is, in step 100 shown in FIG.
Set a predetermined time on the timer provided in the CPU 10,
At step 101, it is confirmed whether the display 2 is used and the image display is turned on. If the display is ON, it is determined in step 102 whether or not the predetermined time set in the timer has elapsed. If not, the process returns to step 100.

When it is confirmed by the timer that the predetermined time has passed, in step 103, polling is requested to the partner conference terminal 19 to transmit the image information displayed on the display. The polled conference terminal 19 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, after the image currently displayed on the display 2 is compressed by the DCR 13, the image information is compressed.
It is transmitted to the conference terminal 19-1 which has obtained the token shown in FIG.
In this way, the plurality of conference terminals 19 are polled and the display image information is received one after another. At the same time, in step 104, the conference terminal 19-1 that has obtained the token
The CPU 10 compares the image information displayed in step 2 with the image information transmitted by polling, and extracts conference terminals having different display images.

In step 105, as a result of comparing the display images, if there is a difference between the display images of the polled partner conference terminal 19 and the conference terminal (own terminal) 19-1 that obtained the token, in step 106 the conference terminal 19 The display image information of -1 is transmitted to the other conference terminal 19 having a difference, and the display image is changed by sending a request command to display the transmitted image information, and the display is displayed on all conference terminals. Unify.

If there is no difference in the display image in step 105, or after step 106 is completed, step 107
Then, the presence / absence of another conference terminal is discriminated, and if there is another conference terminal, the process returns to step 103, and the above-described operation of extracting the difference between the display images and changing the display image is repeated. If all the conference terminals have been polled in step 107, the process returns to step 101 and the above operation is repeated every predetermined time.

When the display indicator is turned off in step 101, it is judged in step 108 whether or not the conference is over. If the conference is not over, step 10
Returning to 1, the above flow ends when the conference ends. In the first embodiment, the communication network interface
In H.16. Since communication is performed by multi-frame data communication of 221 recommended specifications, voice is 48 kbps and telewriting is 6.4 during a teleconference.
If communication is performed at kbps, it means that a data channel of 8 kbps is vacant for most of the time. Therefore, if the data of this case is communicated using the vacant channel, it can be processed without disturbing the communication of voice and telewriting.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the conference terminal which has obtained the token polls the other conference terminals, so that the display images of all the conference terminals attending the conference are periodically displayed. Will be unified. For this reason,
Even if the pages of the conference material individually displayed on the display by each conference terminal are moved back and forth and the displayed images are different, the displayed images are unified at regular time intervals, so that the conference can be smoothly advanced.

Second Embodiment In the second embodiment for explaining the teleconferencing system according to the invention described in claim 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the own terminal 19-1 which has obtained the token is currently Display indicator 2
The image displayed at is compressed by the DCR 13 at regular intervals and transmitted to another conference terminal 19.
Upon receiving the image, the conference terminal 19 compares it with its own display image, and if a difference is detected, the display image is changed so as to be unified with the received image.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the conference terminal that has obtained the token periodically transmits the display image information to the other conference terminals, and each conference terminal displays the display image information based on the image information. By performing the unifying operation of, the display images of all the conference terminals attending the conference are periodically unified. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to smoothly proceed with the conference, and it is possible to omit the difference in the image information on the conference terminal side that has obtained the token and to omit the transmission process to the terminal that has caused the difference. Therefore, the processing speed can be increased by reducing the load on the conference terminal that has obtained the token.

Third Embodiment Further, in the third embodiment for explaining the remote conference system according to the invention described in claim 3, as shown in FIG. 3, there is a conference terminal 19 attending a conference. Polling is performed for the conference terminal 19-1 that has obtained the token at regular time intervals, requesting that the image information displayed on the display be transmitted to the terminal itself. Upon receiving the polling, the conference terminal 19-1 that has obtained the token compresses the image information of the image currently displayed on the display 2 with the DCR 13, and transmits it to the polled conference terminal 19. The conference terminal 19 that received the transmitted image information compares it with the image information displayed on its own display, and if there is a difference, gives priority to the transmitted image information from the conference terminal 19-1. Display again.

As described above, in the third embodiment, each of the other conference terminals individually polls the conference terminal for which the token is obtained, receives the reference image information, and there is a difference in the image information. In this case, by changing the display image based on the received image information, it is possible to unify the display display of all the conference terminals attending the conference. Therefore, the conference can be smoothly progressed, and
As in the case of the second embodiment, the load on the conference terminal that has obtained the token is reduced, and the processing speed can be increased.

[0027]

According to the invention described in claim 1, the conference terminal that has obtained the token periodically polls the image information displayed on the display of another conference terminal, compares the image information, For the conference terminals having a difference, the image information of the conference terminal that has obtained the token is transmitted to change the display image, so that the display display of all the conference terminals attending the conference can be unified.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal that has obtained the token is transmitted to another conference terminal, and if there is a difference in the image information, the transmitted image information is transmitted. Since the image display is changed based on the above, it is possible to unify the display display of all the conference terminals that attended the conference, reduce the load on the conference terminal that obtained the token, and speed up the process. ..

According to the third aspect of the invention, each conference terminal attending the conference periodically polls and compares the image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal for which the token is obtained, and the image information is different. If there is, the display image of the conference terminal that got the token is changed, so that the display display of all the conference terminals can be unified, and the load on the conference terminal that got the token can be reduced to speed up the process. Can be converted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a conference terminal of a remote conference system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the conference terminal of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a network configuration diagram showing a communication line connection state of a conference terminal holding a conference.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the remote conference system according to the invention described in claim 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conference Terminal 2 Display Display 3 Writing Pad 4 Writing Pen 5 Keyboard 6 Handset 7 Microphone 8 Speaker 9 ISDN Communication Line 10 CPU 11 Memory 12 Real Time Clock 13 DCR 14 Display Interface 15 Data Input Interface 16 Communication Network Interface 17 Voice Processing Part 18 Data bus 19, 19-1 Conference terminal 20 ISDN network

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of conference terminals are connected via a remote point communication line between two points or between multiple points, and voice information, moving image information, document information and telewriting information are communicated with each other and provided in each conference terminal. In a teleconferencing system for conducting a conference while displaying document information, telewriting information, etc. on the displayed display, the conference terminal that has obtained the token among the conference terminals periodically displays on the display to other conference terminals. Comparing the image information transmitted from the other conference terminal by the first polling means with the image information of the conference terminal which obtained the token, and the difference If there is a difference in the image information from the first display image information comparing means for determining the presence or absence of The first image changing means for changing the displayed image by transmitting the displayed image information to the conference terminal of the other party who is displaying a different image, and periodically displays the display on all the conference terminals attending the conference. Teleconferencing system, which is characterized by being unified as a whole. 2. The remote conference system according to claim 1, further comprising: display image information transmitting means for periodically transmitting the image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal which has obtained the token, to another conference terminal. Second display image information comparing means for comparing the transmitted image information with the image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal receiving the same in each received conference terminal to determine whether there is a difference; When there is a difference in the image information, the conference terminal that receives the image information includes a second image changing unit that changes the displayed image so that the received image information is displayed on the display. A teleconferencing system characterized by periodically unifying the display of terminals. 3. The teleconferencing system according to claim 1, wherein each conference terminal attending the conference periodically receives the image information displayed on its display from the conference terminal which has obtained a token. Second polling means for requesting transmission, image information transmitted from the conference terminal which has obtained the token by the second polling means, and image information displayed on the display of the conference terminal which has received the token information. A third display image information comparing unit that compares the received conference terminal to determine whether there is a difference and the conference terminal that receives the image information displays the received image information on the display when there is a difference in the image information. And a third image changing means for changing the display image as described above, and the display display of all the conference terminals attending the conference is periodically unified. Stem.