Controller and system for plural participants video conference

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a multipoint video conferencing system for performing multipoint video conferencing using a plurality of video conferencing / telephone terminals, and in particular, a video conferencing / telephone terminal for a multipoint video conferencing control device for controlling multipoint video conferencing. It is related to the technology to control from.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

A multi-point video conferencing system that realizes a video conferencing that accommodates multiple points by connecting multiple video conferencing / telephone terminals to a multi-point video conferencing control device and controlling the multi-point video conferencing by the multi-point video conferencing control device. It has been known.

【0003】

Further, as a technique for controlling such a multipoint video conferencing control device from a video conferencing / telephone terminal, the protocol described in the ITU-T H.243 recommendation is known. In the video conferencing system that adopts the protocol described in this ITU-T H.243 recommendation, when controlling the multipoint video conferencing controller from the video conferencing / telephone terminal, the video conferencing / telephone terminal and the multipoint video conferencing It is necessary to execute a predetermined sequence of sending and receiving a predetermined control command between the control devices. Further, it is necessary to provide a user interface for accepting an operation for using this protocol from the user, for example, a key pad having a key corresponding to each control performed on the multipoint video conferencing control device.

【0004】

In addition, the protocol described in this ITU-T H.243 recommendation allows only those who have the chairmanship to control the entire multipoint video conference among the participants of the multipoint video conference. Participants can only select participants to display on their video conferencing / telephone terminal. In addition, the acquisition of this chairmanship and the control of the entire multipoint video conference are carried out by independent procedures.

【0005】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

According to the technology for controlling the multipoint video conferencing controller from the video conferencing / telephone terminal by the protocol described in the ITU-T H.243 recommendation, only the multipoint video conferencing controller is included in the ITU-T H.243 recommendation. Even if it is configured to support the described protocol, if the video conferencing / telephone terminal does not have a function that can process this protocol or a user interface for accepting operations for using this protocol from the user, It is not possible to control the multipoint video conferencing controller from this video conferencing / telephone terminal.

【0006】

Therefore, according to this technology, existing video conferencing / telephone terminals that do not comply with ITU-T H.243 can control the multipoint video conferencing controller even if they participate in the multipoint video conferencing. Will not be possible.

【0007】

Therefore, the present invention provides a multipoint video conferencing controller from a video conferencing / telephone terminal regardless of whether the video conferencing / telephone terminal supports a specific protocol for controlling the multipoint video conferencing controller. An object of the present invention is to provide a multipoint video conferencing control device that can be controlled.

【0008】

In addition, according to the protocol described in the ITU-T H.243 recommendation, participants who do not have the chairmanship because the acquisition of the chairmanship and the control of the entire multipoint video conference must be performed by an independent procedure. In order to control the entire multipoint video conference, the operation must first be performed to obtain the chairmanship, and then the operation to control the entire multipoint video conference must be performed. It becomes complicated.

【0009】

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multipoint video conferencing control device capable of controlling the entire desired multipoint video conferencing with a simpler operation.

【0010】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, for example, accommodates a plurality of video conferencing / telephone terminals and controls a multipoint video conferencing in which video and audio are exchanged between the accommodating video conferencing / telephone terminals. It is a video conferencing control device, and has multiple points according to the means for detecting the PB (push button) signal included in the voice signal received from each accommodated video conferencing / telephone terminal and the code string represented by the detected PB signal. Provided is a multipoint video conferencing control device characterized by having a control means for controlling a form of video conferencing.

【0011】

In this way, the Honda multipoint video conferencing controller accepts control from the video conferencing / telephone terminal by means of a PB signal that can be transmitted according to the user's operation, if it is a video conferencing / telephone terminal. , The video conferencing / telephone terminal can control the multipoint video conferencing controller regardless of whether the video conferencing / telephone terminal supports a specific protocol for controlling the multipoint video conferencing controller. ..

【0012】

Further, according to such a multipoint video conferencing control device, the control that requires complicated operation in the case of the protocol described in the ITU-T H.243 recommendation is the result of such complicated operation. Simpler operation because the multipoint video conferencing controller can be made to execute the control that can obtain the same result as the above according to the simple PB signal sequence received from the video conferencing / terminal device. Allows control of the entire desired multipoint video conferencing.

【0013】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

【0014】

First, the first embodiment will be described.

【0015】

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the multipoint video conferencing system according to the present embodiment.

【0016】

In the figure, 11, 12, ... 1n are video conferencing / telephone terminals compliant with ITU-T Recommendation H.320 installed at points 1, point 2, ... points n, respectively, and these are circuit-switched lines. It is connected to the multipoint video conferencing control device 3 via circuits 21, 22, ... 2n via the switching network 2, and video, audio, and data are transmitted and received to and from the multipoint video conferencing control device 3.

【0017】

Here, each of the video conferencing / telephone terminals 11, 12, ... 1n requests the circuit switching network 2 to connect a line to the multipoint video conferencing control device 3, respectively, when the line 21 , 22, ... A push button that can be operated by the user to notify the circuit switching network 2 of the 2n telephone number, and a function that sends a PB (push button) signal in response to the operation of the user's push button. It has. Further, this PB signal will be sent to the multipoint video conferencing control device 3 as a part of audio after the line is connected. It should be noted that such a function related to the push button and the PB signal is a function generally provided in the video conference / telephone terminal regardless of the model.

【0018】

In addition, some video conferencing / telephone terminals among the video conferencing / telephone terminals 11, 12, ... 1n have a function of processing the protocol described in the ITU-T H.243 recommendation. It is a terminal.

【0019】

Next, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the multipoint video conferencing control device 3 according to the present embodiment.

【0020】

In FIG. 2, the line control units 41, 42, ... 4n accommodate the lines 21, 22, and 2n, respectively, and perform line control of the accommodating lines and incoming / outgoing control according to ITU-T Recommendation H.221. , The video, audio, and data transmitted and received between the multipoint video conferencing controller 3 and each video conferencing / telephone terminal 11, 12, ... 1n are separated to perform time division multiplexing processing of video / audio signals. Do.

【0021】

Video, data and time-division-multiplexed audio signals sent from each video conferencing / telephone terminal 11, 12, ... 1n to the multipoint video conferencing control device 3 via lines 21, 22, 2n are The line control units 41, 42, ... 4n are separated and the voice decoding units 51, 52 ... 5n are decoded, and the video conferencing processing unit 410 and the D / A (digital-to-analog converter) 61, 62. Sent to 6n.

【0022】

The voice processing unit 410 synthesizes each voice signal received from each voice decoding unit 51, 52 ... 5n, and makes the voice coding unit 421, 422, 42n into the voice coding unit 421, 422, 42n. Performs audio N-1 addition processing that sends an audio signal obtained by subtracting the audio signal received from the audio decoding unit paired with. Each voice coding unit 421, 422, 42n encodes the received voice signal and sends it to the line control units 41, 42, ... 4n. Each line control unit 41, 42, ... 4n transmits the received audio to each video conference / telephone terminal 11, 12, ... 1n to the video conference / telephone terminal. It is transmitted via lines 21, 22, and 2n.

【0023】

On the other hand, each D / A61, 62 ... 6n converts the received audio signal into an analog audio signal and sends it to the PB receivers 611, 612 ... 61n. Each PB receiver 611, 612 ... 61n is a push button code (0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, #, * represented by the PB signal included in the received analog audio signal. ), And output this to the key code decoder units 71, 72 ... 7n. Since the PB signal is a DTMF signal that represents a push button code (0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, #, *) with a combination of sounds of a plurality of predetermined frequencies. By detecting the combination of these frequency components contained in the sound, the code of the push button can be decoded. Next, the key code recorder units 71, 72 ... 7n controls the switching control circuit unit 101 by controlling the code string of the push button received from the PB receivers 611, 612 ... 61n according to a predetermined correspondence. Converted to a command and sent to the switching control circuit unit 101.

【0024】

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, four code strings (# 11 #, # ×× *, * ×× *, # 33 #) of the push button correspond to the code strings and the code strings. Depending on the line m that received the PB signal, the chairman's right request from the line m, the video transmission request of the point XX from the chairman of the line m, the video request of the point XX from the line m, the video request from the line m Lecturer right request Convert to 4 control commands.

【0025】

The operation of the switching control circuit unit 101 will be described later.

【0026】

Next, data sent from each video conferencing / telephone terminal 11, 12, ... 1n to the multipoint video conferencing controller 3 via lines 21, 22, 2n in a time-division-multiplexed manner. Is separated by the line control units 41, 42, ... 4n and sent to the data processing unit 400. On the contrary, the data sent by the data processing unit 400 to each line control unit 41, 42, ... 4n is transmitted from the line control unit 41, 42, ... 4n to each video conference / telephone terminal 11, 12, ... In 1n, the audio and video to be transmitted to the video conference / telephone terminal are time-division-multiplexed and transmitted via lines 21, 22, and 2n.

【0027】

The data processing unit 400 sends the received data a command requesting the chairmanship request specified in ITU-T H.243, a command requesting the transmission of the video of the point XX from the chairman, and the video of the point XX. ITU-T H.243 by sending and receiving data to and from the video conference / telephone terminal that sent the command via the line control units 41, 42, ... 4n, if the command to request is included. Executes the sequence specified in and accepts the command. Then, the control command corresponding to the command is sent to the switching control circuit unit 101. That is, assuming that the line that received the command is line m, if the command is a command that requests chairmanship, the chairmanship request from line m is sent as a control command at the point XX from the chairman. If it is a command that requests video transmission, a video transmission request for point XX from the chairman of line m is used as a control command, and if it is a command that requests video for point XX, it is used as a control command from line m. The video request of the point XX is sent to the switching control circuit unit 101.

【0028】

The operation of the switching control circuit unit 101 will be described later.

【0029】

Next, data, audio, and time-division-multiplexed video sent from each video conferencing / telephone terminal 11, 12, ... 1n to the multipoint video conferencing controller 3 via lines 21, 22, 2n. Is separated by the line control units 41, 42, ... 4n, and decoded by the video decoding units 81, 82 ... 8n. The decoded video signal is input to the selector 1 of 111, 112, 11n and the frame memory 121. The selector 1 selects and outputs the decoded video signal at any point by the selection signal output from the switching control circuit unit 101. The read address generator of 131 synchronizes the video signal of each point written in the frame memory 121, and the video of one point is 1 / (2m × 2m) of the screen (m = 1,2, ...). Read out so that it is the size of. The screen synthesis circuit unit 141 synthesizes the signal read from the frame memory into a 2m × 2m (m = 1,2, ...) Split screen and inputs it to the selector 2 of 151, 152 ... 15n. The selector 2 selects the output of the screen synthesis circuit unit 141 or the output selected by the selector 1 by the selection signal from the switching control circuit unit 101, and outputs the output to the video coding unit 91 of 91, 92 ... 9n. Send to 92 and 9n. The video coding units 91, 92, 9n encode the video signal and send it to the line control units 41, 42, ... 4n. The line control units 41, 42, ... 4n transmit the encoded video signal to each video conference / telephone terminal 11, 12, ... 1n with audio and data transmitted to the video conference / telephone terminal. Time division multiplexing is performed and transmission is performed via lines 21, 22, and 2n.

【0030】

Hereinafter, the operation of the switching control circuit unit 101 described above will be described.

【0031】

First, when a chairmanship request from the line m is received as a control command from any of the data processing unit 400 and the key code decoder unit 71, 72, or 7n, the video conference / telephone in which the line m has the chairmanship. Store as the line to which the terminal is connected.

【0032】

Next, when a video transmission request for the point XX is received from the data processing unit 400 or the key code decoder unit 71, 72, or 7n as a control command from the chairman of the line m, the line m However, it is determined whether or not the line is connected to the video conferencing / telephone terminal having the memorized chairmanship, and if so, the following operation is performed.

【0033】

That is, based on the correspondence between the point and the line stored in advance, the selection signal that causes the selector 1 of 111, 112, 11n to select the video signal from the line corresponding to the point XX, and 151, 152, By transmitting a selection signal that causes selector 2 of 15n to select the output of selector 1 of 111, 112, and 11n, control is performed so that the video signal received from the line corresponding to the point XX is transmitted to each line. .. In Fig. 4, the line corresponding to the chairman is line 21, and when the video transmission request of point 2 is received from the chairman, the line corresponding to point 2 is line 22. It shows the control of the control circuit unit 101. As shown in the figure, in this case, the switching control circuit unit 101 causes all the selectors 1 to select the video signal from the line 22 and all the selectors 2 to select the video signal of the selector 1.

【0034】

Next, when a video request for a point XX from the line m is received as a control command from any of the data processing unit 400 and the key code decoder unit 71, 72, or 7n, the line control corresponding to the line m is received. The video coding unit 9m is connected to the unit 4m, and the selector 1 connected via the selector 2 selects the video signal from the line corresponding to the point XX, and the video coding unit 9m is connected to the line control unit 4m corresponding to the line m. By manipulating the selection signal so that the selector 2 connected via the above selects the output of the selector 1, the line m is controlled so that the video signal from the line corresponding to the point XX is transmitted. To do.

【0035】

Next, when a lecturer right request from the line m is received as a control command from any of the key code decoder units 71, 72, and 7n, the image is displayed on the line control unit corresponding to all lines other than the line m. Selector 1 connected via the coding unit and selector 2 selects the video signal from the line m and connects to the line control unit corresponding to all lines other than the line m via the video coding unit. Outputs the selection signal so that the output of the selector 1 is selected, and controls so that the video signal from the line m is transmitted to all the lines other than the line m. Further, by outputting a selection signal for selecting the output of the screen synthesis circuit unit 141 to the selector 2 connected to the line control unit corresponding to the line m via the video coding unit, the screen composition circuit unit 141 is connected to the line m. Control so that a split composite screen that combines video signals from all lines into one screen is transmitted.

【0036】

FIG. 5 shows the control of the switching control circuit unit 101 when the line receiving the PB signal corresponding to the instructor right request is the line 21. As shown in the figure, in this case, the switching control circuit unit 101 sets the selector 2 of the video coding units 92 to 9n and 152 to 15n to the line control units 42 to 4n corresponding to all the lines 22 to 2n other than the line 21. Selector 1 of 112 ~ 11n connected via selects the video signal from line 21, and selector 2 of 152 ~ 15n selects the output of selector 1 of 112 ~ 11n, so that the selection signal is output and the line is selected. It is controlled so that the video signal from the line 21 is transmitted from 22 to 2n. Further, a selection signal for selecting the output of the screen synthesis circuit unit 141 is output to the selector 2 of 151 connected to the line control unit 41 corresponding to the line 21 via the video coding unit 91, and the screen composition circuit unit is connected to the line 21. 141 controls so that the split composite screen that combines the video signals from all lines 21 to 2n into one screen is transmitted.

【0037】

Here, FIG. 6 shows a display screen displayed on each video conference / terminal 11 to 1n under the control of the switching control circuit unit 101 for such a lecturer right request.

【0038】

As shown in the figure, in this case, the video of all the users of the video conference / telephone terminal is divided and displayed in one screen on the video conference / telephone terminal that has transmitted the PB signal indicating the instructor right request. The split screen 301 displays the display screen 302 displaying the image of the user of the video conferencing / telephone terminal that has transmitted the PB signal indicating the instructor right request to the other video conferencing / telephone terminal. Such a display is particularly suitable for use in various meetings such as distance learning and lectures, in which one of the video conference participants mainly confronts the whole.

【0039】

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

【0040】

As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the case of a video conferencing / telephone terminal, a PB signal that can be transmitted according to a user's operation is used to perform multiple points from the video conferencing / telephone terminal. Since the video conferencing controller can be controlled, the video conferencing / telephone terminal can be used at multiple points regardless of whether the video conferencing / telephone terminal supports a specific protocol for controlling the multipoint video conferencing controller. The video conferencing control device can be made controllable.

【0041】

In addition, due to the processing of the instructor right request shown above, the user can specify a display form that requires multi-step operations when using the protocol described in the ITU-T H.243 recommendation. This can be achieved only by pressing down the push button of. Therefore, it becomes possible to control the entire desired multipoint video conference with a simpler operation.

【0042】

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, to obtain the display form shown in FIG. 6 using the protocol described in the ITU-T H.243 recommendation, look at the display screen of 301 in FIG. As shown in Fig. 7 (a), the user displayed on the display screen of 302 performs an operation of inputting a command requesting the chairmanship, and then an operation of inputting a command requesting video transmission at his / her own location. In addition to displaying the self-image on all other video conferencing / telephone terminals, an operation for inputting a command to request the image of the point to be displayed on the own video conferencing / telephone terminal, and a video signal as a composite split display screen An operation must be performed to submit a command requesting supply. On the other hand, according to the process for the instructor right request of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, the user can obtain the display form shown in FIG. 6 only by pressing a predetermined push button.

【0043】

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

【0044】

The multipoint video conferencing control device 3 processes reservations and holdings of multipoint video conferencing, and the processing of the multipoint video conferencing control device 3 can be controlled from the video conferencing / telephone terminal.

【0045】

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the multipoint video conferencing control device 3 according to the second embodiment.

【0046】

As shown in the figure, the Honda multipoint video conferencing control device 3 includes a transmission / reservation control unit 171, a guidance screen generation unit 181, and a memory in the configuration of the multipoint video conferencing control device according to the first embodiment (FIG. 2). Selector 3 of parts 191, 200 is added. Further, in the key code decoder unit 71, among the PB code strings sent from the PB receiver 611, the PB code strings other than the PB code string shown in FIG. 3 are sent to the transmission / reservation control unit 171. Is.

【0047】

The operation will be described below.

【0048】

First, the operation of registering the reservation for holding a multipoint video conference in the multipoint video conference control device from the video conference / telephone terminal will be described.

【0049】

In this case, the video conference / telephone terminal that wants to make a reservation for holding a multi-point video conference is connected to the line 22, and first, the PB signal corresponding to the predetermined PB code string representing the reservation request is sent to the user's push button. Send according to the operation. As shown in FIG. 9, the transmission / reservation control unit 171 that received this PB code string via the line control unit 41, the D / A61, and the PB receiver 611 is connected to the guidance screen generation unit 181 in FIG. 10 (a). Requests the generation of the guidance screen 1 for guiding the input of the telephone numbers of the participants of the multipoint video conference shown in the above, and controls the selector 3 to select and output the guidance screen 1 generated by the guidance screen generation unit 181. .. The guidance screen 1 selected by the selector 3 of the 200 is sent to and displayed at the video conference / telephone terminal that previously transmitted the PB signal via the video coding unit 91, the line control unit 41, and the line 21.

【0050】

When the user of the video conference / telephone terminal inputs the telephone number from the push button according to the guidance on the guidance screen 1, the corresponding PB signal is transmitted. Then, the PB code string represented by this PB signal, here, the outgoing / reservation control unit 171 that has received the telephone number registers this telephone number in the memory unit 191 as a conference participant of the new group n, and also displays a guidance screen. The generation unit 181 is requested to generate the guidance screen 2 for guiding the input of the telephone number of the next participant of the multipoint video conference shown in FIG. 10 (b). Then, the guidance screen 2 selected by the selector 3 is sent to and displayed at the video conference / telephone terminal that previously transmitted the PB signal via the video coding unit 91, the line control unit 41, and the line 21.

【0051】

When the user inputs the telephone number from the push button according to the guidance on the guidance screen 2, the corresponding PB signal is transmitted. Then, the outgoing / reservation control unit 171 that receives the telephone number represented by this PB signal adds this telephone number to the memory unit 191 as a conference participant of group n. After that, similarly, the telephone number is added to the memory unit 191 as a conference participant of group n. Then, the outgoing / reservation control unit 171 receives the PB code represented by the PB signal sent by the user inputting the PB code indicating the end of the reservation operation from the push button of the telephone number, and the transmission / reservation control unit 171 reserves the holding of the multipoint video conference. Ends the processing for.

【0052】

Next, the operation of holding a multipoint video conference from a video conference / telephone terminal will be described.

【0053】

In this case, the video conference / telephone terminal that wants to hold the multi-point video conference is connected to the line 22, and first, the PB signal corresponding to the predetermined PB code string representing the multi-point conference holding request is sent to the user's push button. Send according to the operation. As shown in FIG. 11, the transmission / reservation control unit 171 that receives this PB code string via the line control unit 21, D / A61, and PB receiver 611 registers it in the guidance screen generation unit 181 and in the memory unit 191. In addition to indicating the registered contents of each group, the generation of the guidance screen A shown in FIG. 12 that guides the selection of the group is requested, and the selector 3 is output by selecting the guidance screen A generated by the guidance screen generation unit 181. Control to do. The guidance screen A selected by the selector 3 is sent to and displayed at the video conference / telephone terminal that previously transmitted the PB signal via the video coding unit 91, the line control unit 41, and the line 21.

【0054】

When the user of the video conference / telephone terminal inputs the group number from the push button according to the guidance on the guidance screen A, the corresponding PB signal is transmitted. Then, the outgoing / reserved control unit 171 that receives the PB code string represented by this PB signal reads the registered contents of the group of the numbers indicated by the PB code string from the memory unit 191 and controls the line control units 42 and 4n. By making a call to each telephone number registered as a group conference participant, the video conference / telephone terminal of each telephone number is accommodated in the multipoint video conference control device 3, and the holding process is completed.

【0055】

Next, other operations of holding a multipoint video conference from a video conference / telephone terminal will be described.

【0056】

In this case, the video conference / telephone terminal that wants to hold the multi-point video conference is connected to the line 22, and first, the user pushes the PB signal corresponding to the predetermined PB code string representing the display request of the multi-point conference registration terminal. Send according to the button operation. As shown in FIG. 13, the transmission / reservation control unit 171 that receives this PB code string via the line control unit 21D / A61 and the PB receiver 611 is separately separated from the guidance screen generation unit 181 and the memory unit 191 shown. Generates the guidance screen B shown in Fig. 14 (a) that displays the registered telephone directory consisting of the terminal number, terminal name, and telephone number assigned to each video conference / telephone terminal, and guides the selection of participating terminals. Is requested, and the selector 3 is controlled to select and output the guidance screen B generated by the guidance screen generation unit 181. The guidance screen B selected by the selector 3 is sent to and displayed at the video conference / telephone terminal that previously transmitted the PB signal via the video coding unit 91, the line control unit 41, and the line 21.

【0057】

When the user of the video conference / telephone terminal inputs the terminal number from the push button according to the guidance on the guidance screen B, the corresponding PB signal is transmitted. Then, the outgoing / reservation control unit 171 that receives the PB code string represented by this PB signal controls the line control units 42 and 4n to transmit to the telephone number of the video conferencing / telephone terminal of the terminal number indicated by the PB code string. By doing so, the video conferencing / telephone terminal of this telephone number is accommodated in the multipoint video conferencing control device 3.

【0058】

Further, the transmission / reservation control unit 171 requests the guidance screen generation unit 181 to generate the guidance screen C for guiding the selection of the next participating terminal shown in FIG. 14 (b). The guidance screen C selected by the selector 3 is sent to and displayed at the video conference / telephone terminal that previously transmitted the PB signal via the video coding unit 91, the line control unit 41, and the line 21.

【0059】

When the user of the video conference / telephone terminal inputs the next terminal number from the push button according to the guidance on the guidance screen C, the corresponding PB signal is transmitted. Then, the outgoing / reservation control unit 171 that receives the PB code string represented by this PB signal controls the line control units 42 and 4n to transmit to the telephone number of the video conferencing / telephone terminal of the terminal number indicated by the PB code string. By doing so, the video conferencing / telephone terminal of this telephone number is accommodated in the multipoint video conferencing control device 3.

【0060】

After that, in the same manner, the video conferencing / telephone terminal for which the terminal number is selected is accommodated in the multipoint video conferencing control device 3. Then, the outgoing / reservation control unit 171 that receives the PB code represented by the PB signal sent by the user inputting the PB code indicating the end of the holding operation from the push button of the telephone number determines the holding of the multipoint video conference. End the process.

【0061】

Note that the selector 3 of the 200 is controlled to select the output of the selector 2 of the 151 except when the output of the guidance screen generation unit 181 is selected in each of the above operations. In addition, the above-mentioned call / reservation control unit 171 can also control the holding reservation and holding processing of the multipoint video conference and the registration of the telephone directory from the console device connected to the call / reservation control unit 171.

【0062】

The second embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

【0063】

In the second embodiment, the PB code corresponding to the PB signal received from only one line is sent to the transmission / reservation control unit 171. However, this is a PB signal received from a plurality of or all lines. By sending the PB code corresponding to the above to the outgoing / reservation control unit 171, the video conference / telephone terminal can be connected to any line among multiple or all lines to hold a multipoint video conference. It may be possible to control reservations and holdings.

【0064】

As described above, according to the second embodiment, if it is a video conference / telephone terminal, a reservation for holding a multipoint video conference is made from the video conference / telephone terminal by a PB signal that can be transmitted according to the operation of the user. And holdings can be controlled, so these controls can be performed regardless of the video conferencing / telephone terminal.

【0065】

In addition, since the guidance and operation results of the push button operations required for these controls are displayed on the guidance screen, the user can easily check the operations and operation results. Become.

【0066】

The first and second embodiments have been described by taking the case of connecting the video conferencing / telephone terminal and the multipoint video conferencing control device 3 using the circuit switching network 2 as an example, but this is described by using an arbitrary network. A video conferencing / telephone terminal and a multipoint video conferencing controller 3 may be connected.

【0067】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, the video conferencing / telephone terminal can be used at multiple points regardless of whether or not the video conferencing / telephone terminal supports a specific protocol for controlling the multipoint video conferencing controller. It is possible to provide a multipoint video conferencing control device capable of controlling the video conferencing control device. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a multipoint video conferencing control device capable of controlling the entire desired multipoint video conferencing with a simpler operation.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multipoint video conferencing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multipoint video conferencing control device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 3]

It is a figure which showed the correspondence between the PB signal which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and a control command.

[Fig. 4]

It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation at the time of generating the video request control command which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 5]

It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation at the time of occurrence of the lecturer right request control command which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 6]

It is a figure which shows the display form of the multipoint video conferencing system by the lecturer right request control command processing result which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 7]

It is a figure which compared the operation contents of the user for obtaining the same display form at the time of using a PB signal which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and when using a conventional protocol.

[Fig. 8]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multipoint video conferencing control device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 9]

It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation at the time of holding reservation control which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 10]

It is a figure which shows the guide screen used for holding reservation control which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 11]

It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation at the time of holding control which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 12]

It is a figure which shows the guide screen used at the time of holding control which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 13]

It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation at the time of another holding control which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 14]

It is a figure which shows the guide screen used for the other holding time control which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 12, 1n ... Video conferencing / telephone terminal, 21, 22, 2n ... Line, 2 ... Circuit switching network, 3 ... Multipoint video conferencing controller, 41, 42, 4n .. .Line control unit, 51, 52, 5n ... Voice decoding unit, 61, 62, 6n ... D / A conversion unit, 611, 612, 61n ... PB receiver, 71, 72, 7n ... -Key code decoder section, 81, 82, 8n ... Video decoding section, 91, 92, 9n ... Video coding section, 101 ... Switching control circuit section, 111, 112, 11n ... Selector 1, 121 ... Frame memory, 131 ... Read address generator, 141 ... Screen synthesis circuit section, 151, 152, 15n ... Selector 2, 171 ... Call / reservation control section, 181 Guidance screen generation unit, 191 Memory unit, 200 Selector 3, 400 Data processing unit, 410 Voice conference processing unit, 421, 422, 42n Voice coding Department