Communication system.

The invention relates to a communication system for shared communication and cooperation between jobs.

From state of the art video conferencing systems are known. In order to have a direct view of the interlocutors in discussions about the language contact addition, these videoconferencing systems are used. In addition, a visualization of technical issues on two (or more) of sides simultaneously. In addition, it is often important to make a recording and transmission of a video film. As basic equipment it owns the work a monitor with integrated personal camera, a video Multplexer to select the image signal sources as well as a video phone controller for control, connection setup and for signaling. The workstation can also be connected to the telephone network. A document camera can be added any time ( "video and data communications in VBN" Pernsteiner P., F. Brendel ntz; Vol 42 (1989) No. 8; pages 486-493.).

Furthermore, from the state of the art communication workstations known, in which simultaneously transmitted over a broadband network moving video, voice and data. A workspace consists of a video camera, microphone, broadband phone and a control unit.

As so-called "virtual jobs" is to develop a desktop video conference system, which confer as politicians over an FDDI broadband network and to exchange graphics, documents and videos (Multimedia, The Handbook for intraktive media; Graf J., Treplin D ., New media Ulm mbH; Chapter 6.5 communication; section 6.5.1 and 6.3.3; 12/93).

The object of the invention to provide a communication system with which of several computers can work jointly on a document and voice and image data can be transmitted.

The object is solved by the teaching of the first, fifth and sixth claim.

One advantage of the invention is that the same document can be edited by several communication jobs from different places. A communication office can therefor consist of a fully equipped functional Kommuniktionsarbeitsplatz, whereas another communications workstation is designed so that it can be by simple means, for example, the finger operated. This also makes it possible in an advantageous manner of a person who is inexperienced in dealing with data processing devices to use them without having to miteinbringen special knowledge.

Another advantage is the multimedia application for simultaneous video transmission plus video phones and / or text document editing.

Further advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims 2-4 and 6. FIG.

The dependent claims 2 to 4 show further possible communication workstations, you can work from which in a group. A group of people can collectively create documents and discuss them at the same time with another, distant person.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. The following figures show:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1:</dt><dd>Representation of a communication system according to the invention,</dd><dt>Fig. 2:</dt><dd>Illustration of a group job,</dd><dt>Fig. 3:</dt><dd>Conference of group work stations,</dd><dt>Fig. 4:</dt><dd>User interface of a communication job.</dd></dl>

In the following the invention is explained in detail with reference to Figure 1, and and on the basis of a possible embodiment of the communication system.

A communication system used for connecting communication jobs a telecommunications network ISDN, which is the transmission of voice and image data and / or document data.

With the telecommunications network at least one first communication workstation A1 is connected. The first communication workstation A1 consists of a display device D1 with a touch-sensitive surface, such as a so-called touch screen. Furthermore, there is the communication job A1 from a computer terminal PC1 with software for a user, from a camera C1 and an interface for connection to the telecommunications network. In addition, the first communication workstation can even include a touch-sensitive writing surface S1 with handwriting recognition. On this writing surface S1 insertion or note can be made by hand by a pin.

The communication system further consists of at least one second communication workstation A2. This is composed of a display device D2, as a display of a data processing terminal PC2 with a keyboard T, from a camera C2 and an interface for connection to the telecommunications network ISDN.

As telecommunications network ISDN, a digital ISDN network or a broadband ISDN (B-ISDN), or a precursor broadband network used (VBN) or a similar digital network.

A joint collaboration and communication between the communication jobs A1, A2 via the telecommunications network ISDN and is as follows:

After establishing a connection between the communications workstations a user of the first communication workstation A1 is captured by the camera C1 and the image data is transmitted to the second communication workstation A2 and there a wide user on the display device D2, hereinafter referred to as display. This user is also picked up by the camera located there C2 whose image data is transmitted to the first communication office.

At each of the communications workstations, a data processing terminal PC1 and PC2 with a standard software for word processing, graphics creation, etc. On the second communication workstation is a text document, for example, by an agent, by using the keyboard T or mouse M created or programming is carried out. Thereafter, for example, the supervisor who must approve the text document and which is located on the first communication workstation A1, the text document appears on its display D1. insert to correct or to make observations in the existing text or call to service, is on the first communication workstation A1 special software for a user interface, which will be explained in greater detail below with reference to Figure 4, allows corrections and comments enter with the aid of simple means and invoke services. These will be made via the touch screen D1 or through the touch-sensitive surface S1 with handwriting input by use of the finger or a special pen. Also can be directed to the agent via a function call an oral comment, which then has the task to use the comment.

Further, also in addition a video sequence on the displays D1 and D2 are shown either or. It is possible as a backing of the whole through music, as means of transmitting sound.

A inputted through the touch-sensitive surface of the display D1 note or identification of a text is also displayed on the display D2 of the second communication workstation A2 simultaneously.

The communication system is so extensible, that even more communication work places A1 and A2 can be added. Disablement of each communication job is possible from any other communication from workstation. It is also possible at any time to make only one transfer of the date on the cameras recorded images, ie a videophone function with simultaneous tone. And just as it is possible to simultaneously transmit a video sequence, which can then be discussed verbally.

The possible functions that can be carried by the out Kommmunikationsarbeitsplätzen in a text document work are without claim to completeness:

Telecommunications job A1:

<ul><li>Mark (highlighters)</li><li>underscore</li><li>Paste (both text and language)</li><li>set correction mark</li><li>delete</li><li>copy</li><li>Enter separator.</li></ul>

Telecommunications job A2:

<ul><li>program</li><li>Create a text document</li><li>Define Text Format</li><li>insert graphics, images</li><li>copy</li><li>change font</li><li>store and send text document</li><li>correct</li></ul> From the first Kommunikationsarbeitspltz A1 from various service may also be called. As services are possible here:<ul><li>Communication with the functions of telephone, videophone, email and Telefonfax</li><li>Language with the functions for reputation, dictation, music, voice notes</li><li>Documents with the functions for letter folders (filing), press (from the outside appears) and private mail</li><li>Media with the functions for TV, video, television news and document camera.</li></ul>

All these services and functions can be called by touching the touch-sensitive surface.

A communication system may also include a group workplace A3, which is shown in Figure 1 in broken lines. The group job A3 is connected via a control unit St to the telecommunications network ISDN. At the control unit St a server S is connected.

In the figure 2 the group job is shown completely and is therefore explained in more detail with reference to FIG.

The group workstation consists of a variety of display devices Dx. Especially suitable appear 2 to 4 display devices to be Dx, for a Community group of 1 to 4 persons. According to the number of display devices has the group workplace A3 a number of cameras C3. The group workplace A3 has a touch-sensitive writing surface with handwriting recognition S3 and / or a keypad for handwritten or inscribed input a text document or a graphic.

Optionally, such a group workplace A3 still a large image projection device include on the clearly visible for the group, a large representation of what is on the touch-sensitive surface, is shown.

The plurality of display devices and cameras serves to ensure that each user of a group of users a seemingly direct eye contact with his virtual "Opposite" has. This is important for a group working. The group workplace may, in accordance with the requirements, and optionally via portable data processing devices (laptop) data communication with another user make (not shown). For this, the server S should be so transformed that it is connected via a radio interface and a radio connection with the or the laptop.

In the two previous figures, the designated cameras or video cameras combined video object cameras. Of course it is also possible to form another additional camera as an object camera.

A further particular embodiment is explained with reference to FIG. 3

In order to build a video conferencing system, 4 group workplaces A3 are connected together and each of the 4 group workplaces is connected to the 3 the other group workplaces. Because each 3 display devices Dx are present at each group workplace and also 3 cameras C3, everyone has with each a virtual eye contact, which, as previously explained, is essential.

Hereinafter, a user of a communication job A1 is erläuert reference to FIG. 4

The user interface consists for example of a first field 1, which reproduces the images captured by a camera C3 of another communication workplace A2 image data.

A second 2, third 3 and fourth 4 field can be invoked by touching a function or service. The number of these fields is not limited, but should for clarity remain within manageable limits.

The first 1 field may in this case be, for example, to call a function that allows you to add comments by language. The second 2 field may in this case represent a marking function.

The third field 3 can in this case represent a function to underline. Another sixth panel 6 displays a text document, which is displayed simultaneously on several communication jobs.

The fifth field 5, the background field is to use means of contact to the pages of a text document.

The arrangement and assignment of the field, you can, but should be selected so that a computers untrained users can operate them easily and simply.

It is also possible to assign each of the fields so that (subroutines) to be called by touching various services and their functions, as has already been described previously.