Videoconference system

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a videoconference system, and in particular, to a videoconference system by which a plurality of users holds a videoconference with each other via a communication network.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 59-154840 discloses a teleconference system which can mutually connect a plurality of stations so that broadcasting type communication may be possible, can make each station being equipped with an input unit and a display device, can connect stations, which participate in a conference by the transmission of a conference request, including a conference participating station list, from a station, logically as a group, and can perform exclusive control of excluding an access to the display device and input unit from a station other than the group during group formation.

[0005] However, although the teleconference system performs the exclusive control of excluding an access from stations other than a group, there arises a malfunction that it is not possible to easily select a partner who can hold a teleconference or to easily perform initial registration work relating to a teleconference.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 60-178784 discloses an image receiving apparatus which has an image display device displaying a user's own image under transmission in a mirror image or a normal image on a half or a part of a screen at the same time of displaying an image from a partner.

[0007] However, although the image receiving apparatus displays an image under transmission from a user's own side with a communication partner's pickup image during operation of a videophone on an image display device, there arises a malfunction that it is impossible to easily select a partner who can perform a videophone or to easily select an image, which has been taken and recorded beforehand, and to transmit the image to a partner.

[0008] Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-71275 discloses a teleconference system that has a plurality of image pickup devices which take moving images of a plurality of conference attendants and a plurality of audible sound input devices of inputting audible sound, and in which a plurality of conference unit systems, transmitting moving image data and audible sound data from each device, is connected through a line. The teleconference system comprises an identification device of determining a speaker out of the plurality of conference attendants, a transmitter of generating identification information showing the speaker who is determined by this identification device and transmitting this identification information via the line, a receiver of receiving the identification information from the line, and a display device of dividing a screen into a plurality of areas, displaying the moving image of the speaker on a predetermined area of the divided screen on the basis of moving image data of the speaker corresponding to the identification information received by the receiver while displaying a still image of other conference attendants on the basis of moving image data of the attendants other than the speaker on another area of the divided screen.

[0009] However, although the teleconference system displays an image of a plurality of conference attendants on a screen, specifies a speaker, and performs moving image display in a predetermined area, there arises a malfunction that it is impossible to easily select a partner who can perform a videophone or to easily select an image, which has been taken and recorded beforehand, and to transmit the image to a partner.

[0010] In recent years, it becomes possible to hold a videoconference with other users through the Internet. Another known system is a system that a user's personal computer acquires and displays a list of plural users that are registered in a predetermined server on a network and ready for communication, and that the user can select a partner, whom the user expects, from the list and can perform a videophone type network meeting.

[0011] Generally, when a user logs in to a communication network such as the Internet to enable actual use, personal information such as a name, an address, a payment method of a charge, and an e-mail address which the user inputs is recorded in a predetermined server of a provider or the like, or a user's own communication terminal (communication equipment such as a personal computer, an electronic camera, or a cellular phone). However, up to now, when first starting software for a videoconference for communication via a network, it was necessary to input the personal information and the like anew. Hence, in spite of maintenance of an environment where a videoconference can be held, there arises a situation that users who do not like troublesome operation pass the time away without registering and using a videoconference system. Although a user tries the registration of personal information, there arises a malfunction that it is not possible to set the videoconference system in a state that the videoconference system can be used since the user fails the input of the personal information to be set in many items.

[0012] In the above-described network meeting system, there arises a malfunction that a user cannot look for a desired communications partner as a matter of fact since the number of users who can communicate and are registered into a server has reached a huge amount, that is, thousands of people with the spread of the Internet.

[0013] Moreover, in the above-described network meeting system, it is possible to acquire other users' names and addresses that are registered into a specific server, and the information of rough communication availability of whether other users have started application software for a specific network meeting, and to display them on a user's personal computer. However, since the information is displayed in characters with which the user can seldom recognize a communication partner easily, it is difficult to specify and select a desired communication partner in fact.

[0014] Furthermore, since a user cannot easily know information on whether a desired communication partner is ready for performing a network meeting and a plurality of status information about communication availability of the desired communication partner, there arises a malfunction that it is difficult to predict inconvenience which will be generated after actually performing a network meeting.

[0015] Up to now, during a network meeting with another user, when transmitting one or more images, which were taken by an electronic camera etc. and are currently recorded, to the partner, the user boots a file management program other than application software for a network meeting simultaneously, and commands transmission after selecting an image file that the user wishes to transmit. Nevertheless, even if the file management program displays a list of a file name including a drive name of a recording device or a directory name where the desired image is recorded, it is not possible to grasp the contents of an image only from a file name. Hence, the user performs such complicated image transmission operation that the user specifies the file name of the image to be sent, views and checks the image, and commands transmission thereafter.

[0016] Furthermore, when a plurality of images are sent, it is necessary to perform troublesome processing so as to send the plurality of images since it is necessary to perform the above-described processing for the plurality of images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention is made in view of such a situation, and aims to provide a videoconference system that does not need complicated operation, makes it possible that a user can easily participate in a videoconference, facilitates initial registration at the time of first starting the use of the videoconference system, makes it possible to easily select a desired partner at the time of starting the videoconference, and can easily select and send an image, which has been already taken, during the operation of the videoconference.

[0018] In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention is directed to a videoconference system that comprises a computer of each user, which can communicate mutually via a communication network, and an electronic camera of each user with which a moving image can be taken and which is connected to the computer duplex-communicably, and makes a videoconference possible by making a moving image, taken by the electronic camera of each user, displayed on a display device of a computer of a communication partner, and is characterized in that the computer has a program for videoconference for performing the videoconference, and that the program for videoconference is automatically booted when it is detected that the electronic camera is connected duplex-communicably.

[0019] That is, when an electronic camera is connected to a computer duplex-communicably, the computer automatically starts a program for videoconference, and makes it possible to hold a videoconference.

[0020] Preferably, the videoconference system further comprises a cradle where the electronic camera is detachably mounted, and a communication cable connecting the cradle to a computer, and characterized in that the cradle connects the electronic camera with the communication cable when the electronic camera is mounted. That is, a videoconference can be held just by mounting an electronic camera on a cradle.

[0021] Preferably, the electronic camera has a photography/playback mode, and a communication mode where either of a videoconference mode, where the electronic camera is made to operate as a camera for a computer, and a mass storage class mode where the electronic camera is made to operate as a card reader is set, that the electronic camera automatically sets itself in the communication mode when detecting that the electronic camera is connected to the computer duplex-communicably, and that the computer automatically boots the program for videoconference when the communicate mode that is set is a videoconference mode.

[0022] Preferably, the computer has a program for videoconference, and a program for image display, and that the computer automatically boots the program for videoconference and the program for image display when the computer detects that the electronic camera is connected duplex-communicably.

[0023] The present invention is also directed to a videoconference system that comprises a computer of each user, which can communicate mutually via a communication network, and an electronic camera of each user with which a moving image can be taken and which is connected to the computer duplex-communicably, and makes a videoconference possible by making a moving image, taken by the electronic camera of each user, displayed on a display device of a computer of a communication partner, and is characterized in that the computer has a program for videoconference for performing the videoconference, and that the computer makes the program for videoconference operate only when it is detected that the electronic camera is connected duplex-communicably and is a predetermined model.

[0024] Preferably, the predetermined model of electronic camera is an electronic camera which has a function of treating the program for videoconference, or an electronic camera that has a function of treating the program for videoconference and is produced by a predetermined manufacturer. Namely, only in the case that an electronic camera connected to a computer is a predetermined model that can transmit a moving image to a computer in a predetermined communication mode, the above-described program for videoconference can be booted.

[0025] The present invention is also directed to a videoconference system that comprises a computer of each user, which can communicate mutually via a communication network, and an electronic camera of each user with which a moving image can be taken and which is connected with the computer duplex-communicably, and makes a videoconference possible by making a moving image, taken by the electronic camera of each user, displayed on a display device of a computer of a communication partner, characterized in that the computer has a program for videoconference for performing the videoconference, and that the program for videoconference makes the computer perform a function of using personal information of a user at the time of user registration by another program. Namely, since a user does not need to anew perform user registration with a program for videoconference, time and effort can be saved.

[0026] Preferably, the other program is a program for image display simultaneously booted at the time of the program for videoconference being booted.

[0027] Preferably, the program for image display makes the computer execute a function of making a display device of the computer simultaneously display an image recorded in a recording medium in the electronic camera, or a list of images currently recorded in a recording medium in the computer, and a menu button of commanding the computer to connect to a server performing various kinds of services, and a function of making a server, which is selected by the menu button, transmit an image selected from the list of images.

[0028] Preferably, the program for videoconference makes the computer execute a function of making an image, which is selected, transmitted to a communication partner when the image is selected from the list of images during communication and image transmission is commanded. Owing to this, it becomes possible to easily send an image to a communication partner.

[0029] The present invention is also directed to a method of generating an address book for recording an image, which is transmitted from another user's communication equipment during a videoconference that is held while mutually transmitting and receiving images, which are taken, between a user's own communication equipment and another user's communication equipment, by associating the image with registration information such as an address of the other user who perform the videoconference, characterized by comprising a step of receiving and displaying an image from another user's communication equipment, a step of a user inputting a command of recording the image that is displayed, a step of recording an image, received on the basis of the command of recording the image, the command which is inputted, by associating the image with address information which shows a communication place of another user under communication, and a step of displaying the address, which shows the communication place of the other user, by associating the address with the image that is recorded.

[0030] Namely, it is possible that a still image or a part of a moving image is fetched from the moving image, which show a communication partner, during communication and this is incorporated into an address book relating to the communication partner.

[0031] The present invention is also directed to an image transmitting method for transmitting an image, which a user specifies in a videoconference, to another user's communication equipment, characterized by comprising a step of another user's communication equipment and user's own communication equipment performing voice or image communication, a step of displaying the voice or image as one or more image menus on a display device of user's own communication equipment, a step of selecting an image, which the user desires to transmit, from the image menu during the communication, a step of the user commanding the transmission of the image which the user select during the communication, and a step of transmitting the image, which the user selects, to another user's communication equipment during the communication on the basis of the command of communication that the user inputs. Thereby, an image can be easily sent to a communication partner.

[0032] The present invention is also directed to an address book display method for displaying information about a user, who is a partner in a videoconference and has been registered beforehand, in a list when the videoconference that is held while transmitting and receiving images, which are being taken, between user's own communication equipment and another user's communication equipment is started, characterized by comprising: a step of displaying partner information such as a name, and an address of a user, the address which shows a communication place, the user who is a partner in a videoconference, a message or a comment, and a photograph of the communication partner on a display device of the user's own communication equipment; a step of acquiring information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference from other communication equipment; and a step of displaying the information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference, which is obtained, by associating the information with the information about the partner. That is, just by opening a user's own address book, it is possible to easily search a partner with whom the user can communicate.

[0033] Preferably, the address book display method further comprises a step of acquiring partner information such as a name, and an address of a user, the address which shows a communication place, the user who is a partner in a videoconference, a message or a comment, and a photograph of the communication partner through a communication network from other communication equipment.

[0034] Preferably, the communication availability is displayed by using a pattern or a character.

[0035] The present invention is also directed to a communication partner setup method for displaying information about a user, who is a partner in a videoconference and has been registered beforehand, in a list and for setting a communication partner when the videoconference held while transmitting and receiving images, which are being taken, between user's own communication equipment and another user's communication equipment is started, characterized by comprising: a step of displaying partner information such as a name, and an address of a user, the address which shows a communication place, the user who is a partner in a videoconference, a message or a comment, and a photograph of the communication partner on a display device of the user's own communication equipment; a step of acquiring information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference from other communication equipment and selecting a partner who cannot presently perform the videoconference on the basis of the communication availability that is obtained; a step of displaying the information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference, which is obtained, by associating the information with the information about the partner; and a step of giving the user a notice of rejecting user's selection if the user selects the partner, with whom the user cannot presently hold the videoconference, as a partner in the videoconference. That is, if a partner cannot receive communication, it is not possible to select the partner as a communication partner in an address book.

[0036] The present invention is also directed to a communication partner setup method for displaying information about a user, who is a partner in a videoconference and has been registered beforehand, in a list and for setting a communication partner when the videoconference that is held while transmitting and receiving images, which are being taken, between user's own communication equipment and another user's communication equipment is started, characterized by comprising: a step of displaying partner information such as a name, and an address of a user, the address which shows a communication place, the user who is a partner in a videoconference, a message or a comment, and a photograph of the communication partner on a display device of the user's own communication equipment; a step of acquiring information about communication availability of a partner in the videoconference from other communication equipment and selecting a partner who can presently perform the videoconference on the basis of the communication availability that is obtained; a step of displaying the information about communication availability of the partner in the videoconference, which is obtained, by associating the information with the information about the partner; and a step of permitting selection and starting the videoconference with an address of a user who is the partner whom the user selects only when the user selects the partner with whom the user can hold the videoconference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will be explained in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein:

[0038]FIG. 1 is an entire structural diagram of a videoconference system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039]FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an example of a GUI screen of the program for image display;

[0040]FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a status at the time when a window for a videoconference (VC window) is opened simultaneously with a viewer window;

[0041]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the VC window in this embodiment;

[0042]FIG. 5 shows an example of an address book window;

[0043]FIG. 6 shows an example of an addition form of a record in the address book; and

[0044]FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram used for explaining the mutual operation of the viewer window and VC window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] Hereafter, preferable embodiments of a videoconference system according to the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0046]FIG. 1 is an entire structural diagram of a videoconference system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this videoconference system comprises a plurality of users' computers (hereinafter, a user PC) <b>100</b>, <b>100</b>, . . . , digital cameras (electronic cameras) <b>120</b>, <b>120</b>, . . . , each of which is connected to a user PC <b>100</b> through a cradle <b>110</b> and can take a moving image, a server <b>130</b> for a videoconference (hereinafter, a VC server), a management server <b>140</b> which manages the personal information of users and the like, and a communication network such as the Internet <b>150</b> that connects these user PCs <b>100</b>, <b>100</b> . . . , the VC server <b>130</b>, management server <b>140</b>, and the like.

[0047] The user PC <b>100</b> can transmit and receive information such as an image through the cradle <b>110</b> and a USB cable <b>122</b> from the digital camera <b>120</b>, and further, can transmit and receive information such as an image, and voice through the Internet <b>150</b>.

[0048] In this user PC <b>100</b>, a program for image display for displaying in a list an image recorded in a recording medium in the digital camera <b>120</b>, or an image recorded in a recording medium in the user PC <b>100</b>, and a program for videoconference that is a program for holding a videoconference and relates to the present invention are installed. Furthermore, the program for image display, and the program for videoconference will be described later in detail.

[0049] The cradle <b>110</b> is connected to the user PC <b>100</b> and communication cable (in this embodiment, a USB cable) <b>112</b> with which duplex communication is possible, and is given DC power from an AC adapter <b>114</b>.

[0050] The cradle <b>110</b> has a concavity <b>110</b>A guiding the digital camera <b>120</b> at the time of detaching the digital camera <b>120</b>, and a cradle connector <b>110</b>B is provided in the bottom face of this concavity <b>110</b>A. Then, when the digital camera <b>120</b> is mounted on the concavity <b>110</b>A of the cradle <b>110</b>, a camera connector (not shown) provided in the bottom face of the digital camera <b>120</b> is connected to a cradle connector <b>110</b>B while being interlocked with the mounting operation. When the digital camera <b>120</b> is mounted on the cradle <b>110</b> and a camera power supply is OFF, a rechargeable battery in the digital camera <b>120</b> is charged by DC power supplied from the AC adapter <b>114</b>, and when the camera power supply is ON, the DC power supplied from the AC adapter <b>114</b> is used in preference to the rechargeable battery in the digital camera <b>120</b>.

[0051] The digital camera <b>120</b> has a photography mode where a still image or a moving image is taken and is recorded in a memory card, a playback mode where an image recorded in the memory card is read and is displayed on an LCD monitor of the digital camera <b>120</b>, and a communication mode for transmitting and receiving information such as an image with the user PC <b>100</b>.

[0052] Either of the above-described photography mode and playback mode is selected by the operation of a mode selection lever of the digital camera <b>120</b> that is not shown.

[0053] On the other hand, the above-described communication mode is automatically set in preference to the photography and playback modes if the digital camera <b>120</b> is USB-connected to the user PC <b>100</b>.

[0054] That is, when the digital camera <b>120</b> is mounted on the cradle <b>110</b>, the power supplies of the user PC <b>100</b> and digital camera <b>120</b> are ON, and the user PC <b>100</b> and cradle <b>110</b> are connected through the USB cable <b>112</b>, the digital camera <b>120</b> automatically makes the operation mode of the camera be a communication mode (USB mode). The digital camera <b>120</b> discriminates USB connection/non-USB connection with the user PC <b>100</b> by monitoring ON/OFF of pull-up of a specific USB terminal.

[0055] Furthermore, the digital camera <b>120</b> acts as a device with two kinds of different device classes according to a USB setting state of a camera body at the time of being USB-connected. That is, in the above-described USB mode, there are a USB mass storage class mode where the digital camera <b>120</b> is operated as a card reader, and a videoconference mode where the digital camera <b>120</b> is operated as a PC camera, and the digital camera <b>120</b> is set beforehand in either of the modes at the time of camera setup. When USB setting is the USB mass storage class mode, the digital camera <b>120</b> reads and transmits an image recorded in the memory card in the digital camera <b>120</b>, and when the USB setting is the videoconference mode, the digital camera <b>120</b> transmits a moving image under image pickup in real time so that a videoconference can be held.

[0056] On the other hand, the user PC <b>100</b> automatically detects the connection of the digital camera <b>120</b> (a Plug &amp; Play function is used) when the digital camera <b>120</b> is mounted on the cradle <b>110</b>. When the communication mode of the digital camera <b>120</b> is the USB mass storage class mode, the user PC <b>100</b> automatically boots the above-described program for image display, and when being the videoconference mode, the user PC <b>100</b> automatically boots the above-described program for image display and the above-described program for videoconference. As for the function to automatically detect the connection of the digital camera <b>120</b>, a device driver that automatically detects the connection of the digital camera <b>120</b> is installed at the time of or after the booting of a system program of the user PC <b>100</b> to monitor a Plug &amp; Play event of a communication system. When the device driver recognizes the connection of the digital camera <b>120</b>, the user PC <b>100</b> boots a required program according to the processing mode of the digital camera <b>120</b>. In this embodiment, although the user PC <b>100</b> is connected to the cradle <b>110</b> by using the communication cable (USB cable) <b>112</b>, a connection mode is not limited to a wired mode, but both can be also connected by using a wireless communication interface.

[0057] Next, the case where the program for image display in the user PC <b>100</b> is booted will be described.

[0058] In this case, a viewer window <b>222</b> shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on a display device of the user PC <b>100</b>. In this viewer window <b>222</b>, for example, a file list <b>224</b> where the identification information of taken image data and incidental information that are currently recorded in the memory card of the digital camera <b>120</b> and the identification information of folder names and file names of saved image data and incidental information that are recorded in a database in the user PC <b>100</b>, a list of compressed images (identification information in thumb nail images) <b>226</b> of respective images recorded in a folder which a user specifies for inspection, and various kinds of menu buttons <b>228</b> for commanding connection to a server (not shown) which provide various kinds of services such as a print service, and an image storage service are displayed simultaneously.

[0059] It becomes possible to upload an image file or a voice file for the transmission of print service information of a desired image, photography publication service on the Internet, and contribution to a photo contest just by a user selecting one or more desired images from the list of file names or the compressed images <b>226</b> that are displayed in the viewer window <b>222</b> through the use of an input device represented by a mouse or a keyboard, and pushing one of the menu buttons <b>228</b> (for example, a print service button, a photograph publication button, and a photo contest contribution button) for commanding the connection and transmission to various kinds of servers.

[0060] When a “user registration button” (not shown) is pushed for the first time after the above-described program for image display is installed in the user PC <b>100</b>, the user PC <b>100</b> accesses the management server <b>140</b> shown in FIG. 1 to take procedure necessary for user registration. Namely, a user inputs personal information for registration in a user registration page of the management server <b>140</b>, the personal information including a name, an address, a zip code, an E-mail address, a model of a user's own electronic camera, gender, a telephone number, a birth date, an occupation, a password, etc. User identification information (user ID) is given in exchange for this registration, and hereafter, at the time of access to the management server <b>140</b>, the user ID is collated for certification. The management server <b>140</b> manages personal information of users by using user IDs. Thereby, the menu buttons <b>228</b>, banner advertising, etc. that are customized for every user can be distributed.

[0061] Next, the program for videoconference that is installed in the user PC <b>100</b> will be described.

[0062] This videoconference program allows users connecting the Internet to have a videoconference with each other by using the videoconference mode of the digital camera <b>120</b>. As described above, when the digital camera <b>120</b> is USB-connected to the user PC <b>100</b> in the videoconference mode, this program for videoconference is automatically booted by the Plug &amp; Play function, and if the above-described program for image display has been not booted, the program for image display is also booted simultaneously.

[0063] Only when the camera with the videoconference mode is USB-connected, the program for videoconference can operate. That is, the program for videoconference reads a product ID, a maker ID, etc. in a digital camera that is USB-connected, and determines whether the model of the digital camera has a function of treating the above-described program for videoconference. Only when determining that the digital camera can treat the program for videoconference, the program for videoconference can operate. Furthermore, in addition to the above-described function, it is also good to make the program for videoconference be operable only when the program for videoconference determines that the digital camera is a predetermined maker's digital camera.

[0064] When the above-described program for videoconference starts, as shown in FIG. 3, on the display device of the user PC <b>100</b>, a window <b>300</b> for a videoconferences (hereinafter, a VC window) is opened as a child window simultaneously with the viewer window <b>222</b>, and the program for videoconference becomes operable in the state that both windows open. The configuration and its operating method of the VC window <b>300</b> will be described later in detail, but will be simply described. At the time of the VC window <b>300</b> opening, the program for videoconference does not access the VC server <b>130</b> shown in FIG. 1, and the user is under logout. Under this logout, only user's own moving image are displayed, and the VC window <b>300</b> can be closed by a Close button <b>314</b>. The VC window <b>300</b> can be opened again by pushing a VC open button on the viewer window <b>222</b> (not shown) after closing the VC window <b>300</b>. While the VC window <b>300</b> is opened, an address book can be opened regardless of being under logout or login.

[0065] Here, when the user pushes a Login button <b>316</b> in the VC window <b>300</b>, the user is treated as a user under login/waiting. That is, the user PC <b>100</b> accesses the VC server <b>130</b> to transmit a user ID etc, and in the VC server <b>130</b>, the user is registered as a user under login/waiting on the basis of the user ID that is received.

[0066] As the above-described user ID, the user ID given from the management server <b>140</b> at the time of user registration is used after the above-described program for image display is installed in the user PC <b>100</b>. Therefore, the user does not need to take procedure necessary for user registration after the installation of the program for videoconference to the user PC <b>100</b>. If there is no user ID when a Login button is pushed, the dialog display of a warning message that urges user registration is given by the program for an image display.

[0067] Furthermore, when the user specifies the address of a communication place under the above-described login and waiting and pushes a Communication start button <b>320</b>, or when the user's address is specified from a partner and a Communication start button is pushed, the user PC <b>100</b> becomes under login/communication. Since the VC server <b>130</b> is informed of whether a user is under waiting or communication, the VC server <b>130</b> manages in which status the user under login is. Furthermore, if a Logout button <b>318</b> is pushed during login/waiting or login/communication, the status of the user PC <b>100</b> becomes under logout and the registration of the user by whom the logout button <b>318</b> is pushed is deleted in the VC server <b>130</b>.

[0068] Moreover, if a Communication stop button <b>322</b> is pushed during login/communication, the status become under login/waiting, and in the VC server <b>130</b>, the user status under management is changed from the login/communication to the login/waiting.

[0069]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the VC window <b>300</b>. The VC window <b>300</b> has a partner's moving image display section <b>302</b> which displays a moving image of the partner under communication, and a user's own moving image display section <b>304</b> which displays a moving image of a user who is taking the moving image with the digital camera <b>120</b>, and these moving image display sections <b>302</b> and <b>304</b> are arranged in right-hand and left-hand sides respectively. Although each size of the partner's moving image display window and user's own moving image display window is set at fixed size (for example, 160×120 dots) in this embodiment, it is also good to constitute the size so that the display size may be made variable.

[0070] The functional name and module version information of the VC window <b>300</b> are displayed on the title bar <b>306</b> of the window, and a minimization button <b>308</b>, a maximization button <b>310</b>, and a close button <b>312</b> are provided in the right end of the title bar <b>306</b>. The close button <b>312</b> is equivalent to the Close button <b>314</b> arranged at the lower right of the window, and a push of either of these buttons <b>312</b> and <b>314</b> performs the processing of closing the VC window <b>300</b>. The maximization button <b>310</b> is dimmed (grayout-displayed) lest maximization processing should be accepted. The minimization button <b>308</b> functions effectively, and if the button <b>308</b> is pushed, the VC window <b>300</b> is minimized.

[0071] Operation buttons such as the Login button <b>316</b>, Logout button <b>318</b>, Communication start button <b>320</b>, and Communication stop button <b>322</b>, and a Communication partner input box <b>324</b> are provided below the title bar <b>306</b>.

[0072] Since a user does not access a network when the VC window <b>300</b> is opened, the partner's moving image display section <b>302</b> displays a blank or a predetermined icon (for example, an icon which is a person's silhouette that is designed), and the user's own moving image display section <b>304</b> displays user's own moving image which is taken with the digital camera <b>120</b>.

[0073] The user PC <b>100</b> is connected to the VC server <b>130</b> by a push of the Login button <b>316</b> for ILS (Internet Location Server) registration. In the case of a user under dial-up connection, a telephone is called at this time, and a user PC <b>100</b> of the user is connected to the Internet. During login, an indicator (icon) <b>325</b> is displayed on the upper left of the window to show that a current status is under ILS login. Only during login, the start/stop of communication can be repeated. This user PC <b>100</b> is deleted from ILS by logout.

[0074] A communication partner's address is inputted into the communication partner input box <b>324</b> after login. For example, it is possible to directly input the IP address (for example, 133.170.49.153) of the computer that serves as a communication partner, or the e-mail address (for example, “fgate@test.fujifilm.co.jp”) of a partner. The partner's e-mail address is automatically inputted into the communication partner input box <b>324</b> by clicking the Address book open button <b>326</b> provided in the right of the communication partner input box <b>324</b> to open the window screen (refer to FIG. 5) of the address book, and a partner is selected from the lists. The address book will be described later in detail.

[0075] Since the address of the partner with whom the user communicated last time is kept in the communication partner input box <b>324</b> as a default value at the time of starting the VC window <b>300</b>, what is necessary is just to click the Communication start button <b>320</b> in the case of the call to the same partner.

[0076] As for users of the Internet in normal dial-up connection, each IP address is changed for every connection to a provider, and further, there are many users who do not know a confirmation method of their own current IP addresses. Hence, in most cases, it is assumed that e-mail address inputs are used. Since, the address at the time of user registration in the program for image display is automatically reflected as an e-mail address, the communication by this system cannot be performed unless the user registration is correctly performed to the management server <b>140</b>.

[0077] When the Communication start button <b>320</b> is pushed after the address is inputted into the communication partner input box <b>324</b>, a telephone call is performed to the address of the communication partner concerned, and communication is started if the partner responds. If no response comes within predetermined time after a communication call started, a message box showing the notification of “No response” is displayed on a display device of the user PC <b>100</b>.

[0078] When communication is established by the partner responding to the telephone call, the moving image sent by the partner is displayed in the partner's moving image display section <b>302</b>. Although a microphone and a loudspeaker that are attached to an user PC <b>100</b> performs audio input and output, it is also good to use a microphone and a loudspeaker that are built in the digital camera <b>120</b> or are external ones.

[0079] In the VC window <b>300</b>, a Still image save button <b>328</b> is provided in the lower part of the partner's moving image display section <b>302</b>. When the Still image save button <b>328</b> is pushed while the communication partner is being displayed, moving image display is stopped and a snapshot (still image) can be taken. Then, the moving image display is resumed and a dialog (not shown) of inquiring the processing method of the static image is displayed. In this dialog, selection candidates such as “Copying to clipboard”, and “Sticking on partner image column of address book” for the still image fetched are shown, and the user can select any processing.

[0080] One frame image (still image) of the communication partner is saved in the user PC <b>100</b> by being associated with the address of the concerned partner in the address book by the user selecting “Sticking on partner image column of address book”. Thereby, a partner's photograph is hereafter displayed in the VC window <b>300</b> at the time of opening the address book, and being under communication. Although an image fetched by a still image save function is recorded by being associated with a partner's address in this embodiment, a method of association is not limited to this, but what is necessary is just to record the image by associating the image with certain information, with which a user can be specified, such as a user ID issued in user registration.

[0081] In the VC window <b>300</b>, below the partner's moving image display section <b>302</b>, a communication partner information display section <b>330</b> is provided. Below the user's own moving image display section <b>304</b>, a user's own information display section <b>332</b> and a message input box <b>334</b> are provided. The communication partner information display section <b>330</b> is an area which displays the information about the partner under communication, and partner's address and name, a comment about the partner, a message written by the partner, the partner's image (80×60 dots), etc. are displayed in the communication partner information display section <b>330</b>. The e-mail address that the user registered is displayed here as a partner's address becomes a specific handle name of the communication partner. The name registered is displayed as a name. The comment is written by the user about the partner, and the contents of the comment appended to the address book as information about a partner are displayed. The contents that are inputted by the partner in a partner's message input box are displayed as the message.

[0082] The image (still image) stuck on the address book is displayed in a partner's image display section <b>336</b>. When there is no pasted image of the partner in the address book, a blank or a predetermined icon (a person's silhouette icon etc.) is displayed.

[0083] The user's own information display section <b>332</b> provided below the user's own moving image display section <b>304</b> is an area where information about the user's own registration contents is displayed, and an address and a name (these are the same as the contents of user registration) are displayed. Since the setting of user's own information is automatically fetched from the information of user registration, a setup function of user's own information is omitted.

[0084] A message input box <b>334</b> is a column for inputting characters displayed on a partner's screen when the partner looks through a communication partner in an address book, and a message which the user inputs is displayed on a connection partner list of the partner's address book and a communication partner information display section of a partner's VC window.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 4, an option setting column <b>338</b> is provided in the lower part of the VC window <b>300</b>. An automatic/manual response switching setup check box <b>340</b> and a network band selection box <b>342</b> are displayed in this option setting column.

[0086] The automatic/manual response switching setup check box <b>340</b> is a user interface for selecting whether an inward response is automatically performed when a telephone call comes from a partner. When a check mark is removed and “manual response” is selected, a dialog showing an incoming call pops up when a telephone call comes from the partner, and the user can select acceptance or refusal each time. On the other hand, when a check box is marked to select “automatic response”, a telephone call from the partner is promptly accepted without a dialog.

[0087] When a downward triangle mark (▾) at the right end of the network band selection box <b>342</b> is clicked, a drop down list (pull-down menu) appears. Selection candidates such as a 28800-bps or faster modem, ISDN, and LAN, are displayed in the drop down list. The user selects an item near the bandwidth of a user's network environment from the drop down list.

[0088]FIG. 5 shows an example of an address book window <b>400</b>. When the address book open button <b>326</b> described in FIG. 4 is pushed, an address book is opened, and the address book window <b>400</b> is displayed on the display device of the user PC <b>100</b>. As shown in FIG. 5, the address book window <b>400</b> has a display section (hereinafter, a partner list display section) <b>402</b> that displays a partner list, and various kinds of operation buttons <b>404</b>, <b>406</b>, <b>408</b>, <b>410</b>, <b>412</b>, and <b>414</b>.

[0089] The contents displayed in the communication partner information display section <b>330</b> described in FIG. 4 become a record of each partner, and a list of the records is displayed in the partner list display section <b>402</b>. This is configured so that, if there are a large number (a registration number of users in the address book) of records, records are displayed in a displayable range, and display objects can be also changed with a scroll bar <b>416</b>. It is possible to freely set the display order of the records, that is, in the alphabetic sequence of names or addresses, the order of registration dates to the address book, the order of usage frequencies, or the order of statuses.

[0090] In the partner list display section <b>402</b>, a status of whether each is presently opening a VC window is displayed by each of icons <b>420</b>, <b>422</b>, and <b>424</b> for each partner on the list. This is realized by the user PC <b>100</b> accessing the VC server <b>130</b> and acquiring the ILS registration information when the address book is opened. The user PC <b>100</b> inquires the partners, registered into the address book, of the VC server <b>130</b>, and displays statuses of only the partners, who are registered in the address book, among those who are given ILS registration.

[0091] The status is classified into three kinds as follows:

[0092] (1) Offline (status where the VC window is not opened),

[0093] (2) Online (under communication with someone),

[0094] (3) Online (without communication)

[0095] In FIG. 5, reference numeral <b>420</b> denotes an offline icon, reference numeral <b>422</b> denotes an online (under communication with someone) icon, and reference numeral <b>424</b> denotes an on-line (without communication) icon.

[0096] Neither a partner in the offline status nor a partner, who is already communicating with someone even if the partner is in the online status, can select as a communication partner, but only a partner in the online (without communication) status is ready for communication acceptance. Hence, also on the user interface of the address book, selectional restriction is controlled so that a partner concerned on the address book cannot be selected as a communication partner unless the partner is in the status ready for communication acceptance.

[0097] A record of any one of partners, who are ready for communication acceptance, in the list is clicked to be highlighted (for example, a cursor frame <b>430</b> is displayed), and then, when a Selection determination button <b>404</b> is pushed, the address of the partner relating to the record concerned is inputted into the communication partner input box <b>324</b> described in FIG. 4. A double-click of a record in the list exhibits the same effect as the push of the Selection determination button <b>404</b>.

[0098] As for the record of a partner who cannot be selected, even if it the Selection determination button <b>404</b> is selected after highlighting, the processing of writing the address in the communication partner input box <b>324</b> is not performed, but the processing of displaying on a computer screen the dialog of a warning message that the partner cannot be selected is performed.

[0099] Each partner's status on the list is the status at the time of the address book being opened. It is possible to update status display by inquiring all the partners of the VC server <b>130</b> again through the use of a Status update button <b>406</b>.

[0100] In the partner list display section <b>402</b>, since a partner information display section <b>440</b>, a partner photography display section <b>442</b>, and a status display section <b>444</b> are included for every partner, the partner's status can be easily grasped with partner information.

[0101] The contents of the address book can be edited by operating an Add button <b>408</b>, a Correct button <b>410</b>, and a Delete button <b>412</b> in the address book window <b>400</b>. When the Add button <b>408</b> is pushed, a form for registering a new partner is displayed. An example of the form is shown in FIG. 6. A name column <b>502</b>, an address column <b>504</b>, a comment column <b>506</b>, and a photograph pasting column (partner image column) <b>508</b> are provided in the form <b>500</b>.

[0102] A partner's name is inputted into the name column <b>502</b>. Anything is acceptable as contents here inputted since it is what is saved in the inside of the user PC <b>100</b> as local information in the user's own computer, and this does not relate to the name which the partner registered at the time of user registration in the management server <b>140</b>. It is necessary to input the e-mail address, which the partner registered at the time of user registration in the management server <b>140</b>, in the address column <b>504</b>. It is possible to input a comment about a partner into the comment field <b>506</b>. Anything is acceptable as contents, inputted in the comment column <b>506</b>, since it is what is saved as local information in the user's own computer, and this does not relate to the message which the partner sets by herself/himself. Since there is no partner image in the record at the time of addition as an initial state, an icon of a person's silhouette is displayed in the photograph pasting column <b>508</b>. As described in FIG. 4, it is possible to fetch a partner's image into the address book by pushing the Still image save button <b>328</b> during communication.

[0103] When at least a name and an address are inputted into an addition form <b>500</b> shown in FIG. 6 and an OK button <b>510</b> is pushed, the record is added. If a Cancel button <b>512</b> is pushed before pushing the OK button <b>510</b>, record creation processing is canceled.

[0104] When the Correct button <b>410</b> is pushed in the address book window <b>400</b> shown in FIG. 5 after a record for correction is selected, the dialog that is the same as that in the description in FIG. 6 and relates to the record concerning the selection is displayed to make it possible to change the written contents such as the partner's name, address, and comment. If a record registered into the address book is deleted, the Delete button <b>412</b> is clicked after the record for deletion is selected from the lists shown in FIG. 5. A confirmation dialog in a message is displayed on the screen of the user PC <b>100</b> according to a push of the Delete button <b>412</b> (for example, an OK button and a Cancel button are displayed with the message “Deletion of this is OK?”). When the user inputs the command of execution agreement, the processing of deleting the record concerned is performed.

[0105] When the Close button <b>414</b> provided in the lower right of the address book window <b>400</b> or the close button <b>442</b> at the right end of the title bar <b>440</b> is pushed, the address book is closed. In this embodiment, unless the address book window <b>400</b> is closed, the VC window <b>300</b> described in FIG. 4 cannot be operated.

[0106] Furthermore, since the address book of this embodiment has an automatic registration function, a dialog which asks whether registration to the address book is required is displayed if a user is communicating with a partner who is not listed in the address book at the time of the termination of communication also including termination caused by the termination of the program for image display or the VC window <b>300</b>. If the user selects “YES (OK)”, the record addition dialog that is described in FIG. 6 is displayed. In the addition dialog displayed at this time, the address of the partner who was under communication is posted at a default value, and if still image was saved during communication, the image is also posted to the photograph pasting column.

[0107] Next, the mutual operation of the viewer window <b>222</b> and VC window <b>300</b> will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the viewer window <b>222</b> and VC window <b>300</b> can be operated respectively in the status that both are opened. When one or more compressed images (thumb nails) <b>226</b> on the viewer window <b>222</b> are selected during a videoconference and a VC file transfer button <b>280</b> is clicked, an image file concerning the selection is transmitted to the partner under communication. It is possible to configure such a user interface that an image file concerning the selection is transmitted to the partner by dragging &amp; dropping the compressed image <b>226</b> selected in the viewer window <b>222</b> into the partner's moving image display section <b>302</b> of the VC window <b>300</b>.

[0108] A progressive dialog relating to the file under reception is displayed in a partner's (a receiving user) user PC at the time of performing VC file transfer, and a folder which includes the received file at the time of the completion of the transfer becomes in a selection status automatically. In consequence, in the partner's viewer window, the thumbnail image of the received file is displayed in a list display section. The partner receiving the file can confirm the contents of the received file by selecting the thumb nail image of the received file if necessary.

[0109] It is possible to transmit various kinds of files besides a still image file to a communication partner in a videoconference by using procedure being the same as the transfer procedure of a still image file by displaying icons of a moving image file, a voice file, a document file, and the like on the list display section of the viewer window <b>222</b>.

[0110] When the VC window <b>300</b> is open at the time of closing the viewer window <b>222</b>, the VC window <b>300</b> is closed automatically by following the termination processing of the viewer window <b>222</b>. When the VC window <b>300</b> is closed by following the termination of the viewer window <b>222</b>, the processing of compulsorily cutting connection is performed if the status is under communication.

[0111] As described above, according to the present invention, since a program for videoconference is automatically booted just by connecting an electronic camera to a computer (mounting on a cradle), complicated operation is unnecessary, and a user can easily participate in a videoconference. Since user's personal information at the time of user registration in another program is used in the program for videoconference, it is not necessary to perform user registration anew, and hence, time and effort can be saved.

[0112] Furthermore, it is possible to easily search a partner with whom a user can communicate just by opening a user's own address book, and moreover, it is possible to easily send an image to a communication partner during a videoconference. It is possible to fetch a still image or a part of a moving image from the moving image, which shows a communication partner, during communication, and to incorporate the image into a communication partner address book.

[0113] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternate constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.