Conference communication system

[Detailed Description of the Invention]

[Industrial Application] The present invention relates to the meeting communication / Sudem of a ring type Nest work method which can hold a conference by connecting a meeting device and a plurality of meeting terminals to the ring network constituted by the place of business etc. Especially the present invention can be used when holding a conference using the ring network built in the company and the place of business. [Description of the Prior Art] as the conventional meeting communication System -- Drawing 7 -- Not shown -- there were some which hold a conference by connecting meeting device 1 and a plurality of meeting terminals 3 via exchange device 2 like. In this case, in holding a conference, between meeting device 1 and exchange device 2, the circuit for several maximum terminal minutes which participates in a meeting is set up a priori, and at every meeting holding, starting is applied to exchange device 2 from meeting device 1 or meeting terminal 3, and it performs a circuit setup between meeting device 1 and meeting terminal 3. Connection of 1 to 1 is made to meeting l;li device 1 with exchange device 2, the meeting information sent out from each meeting terminal 3 is piled up by the adding means in meeting device 1, and meeting terminal 3 is distributed to each meeting terminal by a dispensing means. [Problem(s) to be Solved by the Invention] First, an exchange device and a plurality of circuits are required between a meeting device and a meeting terminal, and there is a problem specified with the number of circuits with which the number of terminals which can participate in a meeting is set up between the number of input circuits of a meeting device and a meeting device, and an exchange device in the meeting communication method through such a conventional exchange device. Since it became with excess capacity this time in the meeting held by a small number of people when many circuits were set up, in order to compensate the problem to which the number of terminals which can participate in this meeting is limited with the number of circuits, the fault for which equipment is not used effectively had arisen. The present invention does not have restriction in the number of meeting participants in the fault of this conventional meeting telephone call method by using the simultaneous transmissive communication channel function and individual communications channel function of a ring network, and, moreover, aims to let a system configuration provide the meeting communication method which becomes economical. Other objects of the present invention provide the channel for transmitting a picture from a meeting terminal, and there are in providing the meeting communication method which can make the picture information as meeting information transmit to each device which has participated in the meeting from one selected meeting terminal. [A useless means to solve a problem] In the meeting communication method with which the meeting terminal of one meeting device and plurality was connected to the ring network channel, [ present invention ] The above-mentioned ring network channel is a Time-Division-Multiplexing channel, and is this Time-Division-Multiplexing channel, The first communications channel that transmits the voice information same as a destination address for a plurality of meeting terminals, The second communications channel that Concentration the voice information assigned to one meeting terminal is included, and it is in the above-mentioned meeting device, A means to input meeting information, and the reception means which receives the meeting information from the meeting terminal on the communications channel of above second, The meeting information adding means which compounds the inputted meeting information and the meeting information from the meeting terminal received by the above-mentioned reception means, The meeting information output means which outputs the meeting information compounded by this meeting information adding means, It has a transmitting means which transmits the meeting information compounded by the above-mentioned meeting information adding means on the communications channel of above first, and is in each meeting terminal, It had a means to input meeting information, the reception means which receives the meeting information on the communications channel of above first, the meeting information output means which outputs the meeting information received by this reception means, and the transmitting means which transmits the inputted meeting information on the communications channel of above second. When transmitting picture information, in 7 work channel, it is in a ring type, The useless pictorial communication channel which transmits the picture information from a meeting terminal separately from the communications channel for voice communication of information is provided, and it is in meeting Place, It has a picture output means and a means to choose one meeting terminal and to give use permission of this pictorial communication channel, and is in each meeting terminal, It can have an image input means, a means to require use of the above-mentioned pictorial communication channel from a meeting device, and a means to transmit picture information to the above-mentioned pictorial communication channel by use permission from a meeting device. [Function] In the present invention, first, prior to a meeting, the synchronization of the frame of a ring network channel is established and the news of a Time-Division-Multiplexing channel and use of an individual communications channel are enabled. In a meeting terminal with a Request to Send, the royalty of an individual communications channel is acquired, the meeting information inputted via the meeting information input means with which a meeting terminal is equipped is put on individual communications channel" 2 of y work channel in a ring type via a transmitting means, and it transmits to a meeting device. In a meeting device, a reception means receives the meeting information on an individual communications channel, While piling up the self-device meeting information that it inputted by the meeting information input means, and the meeting information transmitted from the individual meeting terminal by a meeting information adding means and outputting to a meeting information output means, the meeting information compounded on the simultaneous transmissive communication channel via the transmitting means is carried, and it transmits to all the meeting terminals. Each meeting terminal receives the meeting information on a simultaneous transmissive communication channel by a reception means, and outputs it to a meeting information output means. Thus, the thing using the simultaneous transmissive communication channel function and individual communications channel function of the Rink type network communication way, The meeting information which becomes all the terminals which have participated in the meeting from the same sound can be transmitted, and the cheap circuit equipment independent of the number of meeting participants can realize a meeting communication method. In the meeting accompanied by picture transfer, the useless channel which transmits a picture is provided separately from the above-mentioned channel. In using the useless channel which transmits the picture information from each meeting terminal, a meeting device attaches to each meeting terminal first the control bit which hears the Request to Send of the channel, and it circulates each meeting terminal. The meeting terminal with a Request to Send makes a Request to Send by the individual communications channel assigned to the self-device. A meeting device receives the Request to Send from this meeting terminal, and gives the use permission of a channel which transmits the picture information from a meeting terminal to one meeting terminal among meeting terminals with that Request to Send. The meeting terminal which obtained use permission transmits picture information to all the devices which put picture information on the channel for this picture information transfer, and have participated in the meeting. [Example] With reference to drawings, a detailed description of the invention is carried out below. The example described below explains the meeting communication method which has a function which distributes the voice information from a meeting device and all the meeting terminals to each meeting terminal, and distributes any one set of a meeting device and meeting terminal A picture information to all the meeting terminals. Drawing 1 shows the composition of the meeting communication method of the present invention. The meeting communication method of a present invention example is the composition that a plurality of meeting terminals 3 were connected with meeting device 1 at ring network channel 4. This Rink type network communication way contains the simultaneous transmissive communication channel which is a Time-Division-Multiplexing channel and transmits the same information to a plurality of terminals from one terminal, and the individual communications channel which transmits information to other one terminal from one terminal. First, before explaining the composition of meeting device 1 in the meeting communication method of this example, and meeting terminal 3, referring to Drawing 3, the composition of the frame of the ring network channel used in this example is described. In a ring network, as shown in Drawing 3, the fixed-length signal frame (it is called a frame for short below.) divided by frame identification child F is repeatedly circulated in the channel top. Multiple these frames are further divided into N channels. Ddelta field where each channel shows the address of the receiving set of an address as shown in Drawing 3, It comprises I fields which carries transmitting information as C fields which carries Sdelta field which shows the address of the dispatch device which is a sending agency, and the control information by which the channel concerned controls the state of the channel of under use, an opening, etc. The device which acquired the Channel royalty sets a mating device address to Ddelta field of the channel which acquired the royalty, sets a self-device address to SA field, puts transmitting information on ■ field, and sends it out on a channel. If the device which received the frame has a channel with the contents of DA field which was in agreement with the self-device address, it will take in the information on the channel, otherwise, will carry out relay sending out of the frame as it is at a low-ranking channel. An individual communications channel function of a ring network is a function which sets a specific device address to DA field, and communicates between devices of 1 to 1. A simultaneous transmissive communication Channel function is a function which sets a common global address provided in a system as DA field, and transmits the same information to a plurality of devices simultaneously from one device. In this example, the voice information from meeting terminal 3 is collected to a meeting device via an individual communications channel, and meeting communication is realized by distributing the meeting information added and compounded in the meeting device to each meeting terminal via a simultaneous transmissive communication channel. Next, the lineblock diagram of meeting device 1 and meeting terminal 3 which realizes the meeting communication method of this example is shown in Drawing 2, and meeting device 1 and meeting terminal 3 are explained. Meeting device 1 is provided with meeting information input means 11 which inputs meeting information with an analog signal, and meeting information output means 12 which outputs the meeting information changed into analog information. This meeting information input means 11 can input voice information with a microphone etc. Meeting information output means 12 can output voice information, including a speaker etc. Meeting device 1 is provided with image input means 19 and picture output means 20, and image input means 19 can input picture information, such as a television camera. Picture output means 20 can output voice information and picture information, such as a television set. This picture output means 20 has a multi-window display function which displays two receiving set or two screens or more, when outputting picture information. Meeting device 1 receives the frame of a ring network channel, and is provided with reception means 13 which has a function which carries out memory accumulation of that information temporarily, and the output of this reception means 13 is inputted into DA conversion means 14 and transmitting right control means 17. DA conversion means 14 changes the meeting information in the freight inputted from reception means 13 into the analog signal in which an output is possible, and outputs it to meeting information adding means 18. Meeting information from each meeting terminal 3 that meeting information adding means 18 was received via the collection Trust channel of voice information whose reception means 13 is an individual communications channel of a ring network channel, It has a function which piles up the meeting information inputted from meeting information input means 11 of the above-mentioned self-device, and compounds a meeting sound, and the voice response is inputted into AD translation means 15 while it is inputted into meeting information output means 12. AD translation means 15 changes the inputted analog signal into the digital signal sequence of the form which can be carried in the information field of the frame of a ring network channel, and the output is inputted into transmitting means 16. Transmitting means 16 is added by meeting information adding means 18, carries the channel which gave address information and control information to the meeting information changed into the digital signal by AD translation means 15■ /+ in the prescribed position of a frame, and sends it out to a ring network channel. The picture information inputted by image input means 19 is transmitted to a ring network channel by transmitting means 16 via AD translation means 15, and the picture information received by reception means 13 is changed into an analog signal by DA conversion means 14, and is outputted to picture output means 20. This meeting device 1 is provided with transmitting right control means 17 which controls the transmitting right of each meeting terminal, One meeting terminal which rewrites the bit of the address field of Removal <DA and SA and the field of control information, and has a Request to Send in the information field in a frame is chosen, and use permission of a transmitting right control channel is given to each meeting terminal 3 from transmitting means 16. Next, the composition of each meeting terminal 3 is explained. both meeting terminals 3 are provided with meeting information input means 31 which can input voice information and picture information, and meeting information output means 32 which can output voice information and picture information -- Li and meeting information input means 31, It is a microphone, a television camera, etc. and meeting information output means 32 are a speaker, a television set, etc. This meeting information output means 32 has two receiving sets or a multi-window display function as well as the above-mentioned meeting device 1, when outputting picture information. Meeting terminal 3 receives the frame of a ring network channel, and is provided with reception means 33 which has a function which carries out memory accumulation of that information temporarily, and the output of this reception means 33 is inputted into DA conversion means 34 and transmitting right acquisition means 37. Ddelta conversion method 34 changes the meeting information in the frame inputted from reception means 33 into the analog signal in which an output is possible, and outputs it to meeting information output means 32. The meeting information on the analog signal inputted from meeting information input means 31 changes the analog signal inputted by deltaD conversion method 35 into the tee Jital signal sequence of the form which can be carried in the information field of the frame of the Rink type network communication way, and the output is inputted into transmitting means 36. Transmitting means 36 gives address information and control information to the meeting information changed into the digital signal by the AD translation means, carries them in the prescribed position of a frame, and transmits to a Rink type non-Work channel. The output signal of transmitting right acquisition means 37 is inputted into this transmitting means 36. The function for transmitting right acquisition means 37 to make 1'' the transmitting right focus of the collection Trust channel of voice information of the channel of the ring network channel mentioned below, and to require use permission of a transmitting right control channel, The function to judge whether DA field of the transmitting right control channel of Freno, received by reception means 33, SA field, and the contents of C fields are seen, and use permission of the channel is given, It has the function to gain a bit during the use of C fields of the gained channel, and to release the royalty of the channel. Next, the frame composition of the Rink type network in this example is shown in Drawing 4. The useless voice information distribution channel by which the frame in this example distributes voice information to all the meeting terminals following frame synchronization signal F, Collection Trust channel [ of M voice information ] #1~#M for collecting the voice 11 A information from a meeting terminal to meeting device 1, The picture information distribution channel which distributes picture information, such as a facsimile numerals sequence and a television picture, to all the meeting terminals, One meeting terminal 3 with the picture information which should be transmitted is chosen, and the royalty of the channel is granted to selected meeting terminal 3 temporarily, and it comprises a transmitting right control channel which distributes picture information to all the meeting participating devices from the terminal. Among these, as for the collection Trust channel of voice information, meeting device 1 and meeting terminal 3 are one to one correspondence, and the channel of the number of meeting terminals and the same number is prepared, As the voice information on meeting terminal 3#1 said in channel #2 in the voice information on meeting terminal 3#2 channel #1, channel #M is assigned fixed, in order to carry the voice information on meeting terminal 3#M. Each channel is divided into ■ field on which DA field which shows the address of transmission destination equipment, SA field which shows the address of a transmission source device, C fields which carries a control signal, and meeting information are put as shown in Drawing 3. Drawing 5 shows the contents of each field in this channel, and is in Ddelta field of a voice information distribution channel, The global address which makes all the meeting terminals 3 an addressee is set up, the address of meeting device 1 which becomes a transmitting agency is set to SA field, and the meeting information (voice information) compounded by meeting information adding means j8 of meeting device 1 is placed on ■ field. The meeting information (voice information) as which the address of each meeting FA terminal 3 of a transmitting agency was inputted into I fields for the address of meeting device 1 from meeting information input means 31 of meeting terminal 2 in SA field is placed on Ddelta field of the collection Trust channel of voice information. Meeting device 1 uses a picture information distribution channel, and the meeting information whose address of meeting device 1 of a transmitting agency the global address to which DA field makes a whole assembly gfl terminal an address is picture information in ■ field at Sdelta field as well as voice information is carried. Since there are four states about a transmitting right control channel, an attached table expresses the contents. A field containing each control bit of Po IJ Tongue and a transmitting right is established in these C fields of this example during use. Channel control is performed by this control bit. First, it is shown during use that meeting information of a bit is in I fields as Excitement. The beer becomes 1'' when asking whether a polling focus is meaningful only in a transmitting right control channel, and has the picture information which wants to transmit meeting device 1 to meeting terminal 3. It can be controlled whether a transmitting right bit has a royalty of a transmitting right control channel in meeting terminal 3, or it is in meeting device 3, and meeting terminal 3 can use a transmitting control channel as a picture information distribution channel which distributes picture information to all the meeting participating devices at the time of "1." The contents of the transmitting right control channel are shown as a table below. (Following this page space) Next, operation of the meeting communication method of this example is explained. First, simultaneous transmissive communication operation of the voice information in a plenary session communication method is Consultation(ed). the frame of a ring type Nest work -- three meeting terminal#1 from meeting device 1, #2, and .. it is circulated in order to #M and returns to meeting device 1. Meeting terminal 3 is sent out to the collection Trust channel of voice information to which the voice information inputted through meeting information input means 31 was assigned by each meeting terminal 3 of the ring network channel via transmitting means 36. After meeting device 1 receives the audio teleconference information from each meeting terminal 3 by reception means 13 and changes it into analog information by DA conversion means 14, it piles up the self-device voice information that it inputted from meeting information input means 11, by meeting information adding means 18. Voice information piled up and compounded by this meeting information adding means, While Output(ing) meeting information output means 12, it changes into a digital signal by AD translation means 15, and via transmitting means 16, the address in the frame of a ring network channel puts on the voice information distribution channel used as a global address, and sends out to meeting terminal 3. If the frame of a ring network channel is circulated by meeting terminal 3, it is each meeting terminal 3 The, While reception means 33 receiving a freight, and changing the voice information on ■ field of the circulated voice information distribution channel into an analog signal and outputting it to meeting information output means 32 by DA conversion means 34, ■ field of the collection Trust channel of voice information corresponding to the self-device address in a receiving frame is transposed to the following voice information that meeting information input means 31 was Input(ed), and relay sending out of the frame is carried out by transmitting means 36 at low-ranking meeting terminal 3. By meeting device 1 and each meeting terminal 3 repeating this operation, and performing it, all the contents with the sound inputted from meeting device 1 and meeting terminal 3 are equally distributed to all the meeting participating devices, and meeting communication can be performed. Next, the operation in the case of transmitting the meeting information accompanied by picture information with voice information is explained. Meeting device 1 sends out the meeting information which consists of picture information inputted by meeting information input means 11 to all the meeting terminals by the picture information distribution channel shown in Drawing 5. Each meeting terminal 3 displays Acceptance on one screen divided in the picture information from taken meeting device l by one or the multi window of the receiving set of meeting output means 32 by reception means 33. Next, the operation which distributes the picture information from meeting terminal 3 to a meeting participating device is explained. Using the above-mentioned transmitting control channel, distribution of this picture information chooses one of the meeting terminals 3 with a Request to Send with meeting device 1, and makes the picture information from meeting terminal 3 transmit to all the meeting participating devices. Meeting device 1 will change the state of a transmitting right control channel into the polling state shown in a table, if distribution of picture information is attained. A meeting device address and the drilling bit of C fields are made into *'1 The for SA field by making Strange and DA field into a global address, and a frame is circulated on a ring network channel. Transmitting right acquisition means 37 decodes deflection 1 Beam which received meeting terminal 3 by reception means 33. When a drilling bit detects the frame used as 1'' and meeting terminal 3 has a Request to Send in meeting terminal 3, The transmitting right bit in C fields of the collection Trust channel of sounds corresponding to self-meeting terminal 3 of a receiving frame is set to "1", and relay sending out of the frame is carried out by transmitting means 36 at low-ranking meeting terminal 3. If the frame sent out from meeting device 1 takes a round of all the meeting terminals 3 and returns to meeting device 1, the transmitting right bit of the collection Trust channel of voice information corresponding to all the meeting terminals 3 with a Request to Send is "1." In meeting device 1, by transmitting right control means 17, one set of meeting terminal 3 is chosen and a transmitting right control channel is set as the transmitting right grant state of a table. That is, the address of meeting terminal 3 which chose the transmitting right control channel as DA field is set up, The transmitting right control channel which set the transmitting right bit to "i" is united with other Chi 1 Yanel, a frame is constituted, and transmitting means 16 sends out the frame to a ring network channel. In this case, transmitting right control means 17 has a function which chooses a specific meeting terminal uniquely from a plurality of meeting terminals 3. Meeting terminal 3 which advanced the Request to Send will change the transmitting right control channel into the picture information transmitting state of a table, if coincidence with the address of DA field of the transmitting right control channel of the received frame and the address of a self-device can be taken by transmitting right acquisition means 37. That is, SA field is made a Clovel address for the DA field with a self-device address, and it is a bit during use of C fields, A transmitting right bit is made into 1'', the meeting information (picture information) which should be transmitted to ■ field is carried, and it transmits to the Rink type network communication on the street via transmitting means 36. Thereby, it is drawing (elephant information can be distributed.) from meeting terminal 3 by a transmitting right control channel to all the devices under intervention to a meeting. Picture information by which the meeting information (picture information) from this selected meeting terminal 3 is distributed to all the meeting terminals by meeting information output means 32 of a meeting terminal from the above-mentioned meeting device 1, It is displayed as a plurality of divided pictures on a receiving set or one screen, and is outputted to picture output means 20 with meeting device 1. - The meeting terminal 3 can use it for a transmitting right control channel, continuing as a channel for distribution of picture information until it will set a bit to "o" during use of the transmitting right control channel, if Meeting terminal 3 acquires the royalty of a transmitting right control channel. If meeting terminal 3 completes transmission of information, a bit will be set to "o" during the use of C fields of a transmitting right control channel, and the royalty of a transmitting right control channel will be released. The released transmitting control channel is used for selection of meeting terminal 3 which has the following Request to Send under management of meeting device 1 again. The communication procedure which transmits the picture information from a meeting terminal to a meeting participating device using this transmitting control channel is shown in Drawing 6. [Effect of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the meeting information from a meeting terminal is collected to a meeting device using the individual channel of a ring network channel, The cheap circuit equipment by a ring network can realize meeting communication System without being able to distribute the same meeting information to all the devices which have participated in the meeting using the circular communications channel of a network communication way and being dependent on the number of meeting participants. When using a picture channel, the meeting terminal of a sending-out place can be chosen and transfer of the picture information from each meeting terminal in meeting communication can be performed, and it is business effectively about a time sharing channel at a ring network. It is possible to be and to perform meeting communication accompanied by picture information.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

Drawing 1 is a figure showing the composition of a present invention example. Drawing 2 is a configuration block figure showing the composition of this example meeting communication method still more concretely. Drawing 3 is a frame lineblock diagram of a ring network. Drawing 4 is a frame lineblock diagram of an example. Drawing 5 is a figure showing each contents of the field of the channel of an example. Drawing 6 is a figure explaining the procedure for transmitting picture information. Drawing 7 is a figure showing the conventional meeting communication method. 1 ... meeting device, 2 ... exchange device, 3 ... a meeting terminal, and 4 and ring network channel, 11.31 ... meeting information input means, 12.32 .. meeting information output means, 13.33 .. reception means, 14.34 ... Ddelta conversion method, 15.35 ... A'I conversion method, 16.36 .. transmitting means, 17 ... transmitting right control means, 18 .. meeting information adding means, 19 ... image input means, 20 .. picture output means, 37 ... transmitting right acquisition means. Applicant for a patent Nippon Telegraph and Telephone CORP.