JP2000115738A - Video conference system, video conference device, mail transfer device, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To alleviate restrictions on time and place in a video conference and to easily provide information to those who do not participate in the video conference. SOLUTION: A mail processing unit 5 of a video conference device 100.
0 creates a mail using a file created from the audio signal input from the audio input device 1 and the video signal input from the video input device 2 as a mail component. In accordance with the user's instruction, the mail processing unit 50 restores the audio signal and the video signal from the mail and outputs them to the audio output device 6 and the video output device 7. Further, by the absence registration of the user, the transfer destination information processing unit 16 of the mail processing unit 50 creates a transfer information table and registers the transfer destination, and the message conversion processing unit 18 performs the message restoration processing unit 14 or the telephone / FAX processing. The file received from the unit 70 is converted into the file type notified from the transfer destination information processing unit 16. Thereby, a message receivable at the transfer destination is created and transferred.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a video conference function,
The present invention relates to a video conference device having a function of transmitting and receiving a mail including a video message including a voice, a text, a text message and the like, and a transfer function capable of automatically converting a message type, and a video conference system using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, networks with large communication capacities, such as ISDN and FDDI, have become widespread, and videoconferencing devices for digitizing and transmitting information such as video and audio have been used. If this video conference device is used, conference participants in remote locations can transmit and receive video and audio, so that close information exchange close to face-to-face conversation is possible.

[0003]

The conventional video conference system focuses on overcoming restrictions due to distance in exchanging information between conference participants at remote locations. But,
In the conventional video conference system, the conference participants are restricted in time and place by adjusting the time to each other and being in front of the video conference device used by each of them at a designated time.

[0004] In addition, in order to provide information about the contents of the conference to those who do not participate in the conference, extra work such as creating an e-mail using an information processing device is required.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and has as its object to alleviate the time and place restrictions imposed in conducting a video conference. Another object of the present invention is to facilitate information provision to a person who does not participate in a video conference.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a video conference system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises:
It comprises a plurality of video conference devices, a network interconnecting the plurality of video conference devices, and a mail server connected to the network, and transmits and receives video and audio, and enables a video conference. There is an audio input device that inputs audio and outputs an audio signal, a video input device that inputs video and outputs a video signal, and an audio signal that is input by the audio input device. Mail sending means for creating a mail (e-mail) including a video signal input by the video input device as a component and transmitting the mail to the mail server via the network; Mail receiving means for restoring an audio signal and a video signal from a component of a mail received from a server; An audio output device that receives the restored audio signal and outputs the audio, and a video output device that receives the video signal restored by the mail receiving unit and outputs the video. The feature is that accumulation is possible.

In this configuration, the video conference device
The voice signal input by the audio input device and the video signal input by the video input device are taken as one of the components of the mail, and the mail can be created and transmitted. Therefore, the video and audio during the conference can be included in the mail and transmitted. Also, those who could not participate in the conference can receive the e-mail and retrieve the contents of the video conference later to check. Therefore, the labor for providing information on the contents of the conference or preparing the minutes of the conference is reduced, and the time and place restrictions on the video conference are alleviated.

[0008] The mail transmission means synchronizes the audio signal input by the audio input device and the video signal input by the video input device to generate a file, and generates a file. It is preferable to include means for taking in the file generated by the means as a component and creating a mail.

To achieve the above object, a video conference system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of video conference devices, a network interconnecting the plurality of video conference devices, and a network connected to the network. A video server configured to transmit and receive video and audio, and to enable a video conference, wherein each of the video conference devices receives image data for a video conference, Display means for displaying image data received by the image receiving means, audio receiving means for receiving audio data for a video conference, sounding means for outputting audio data received by the audio receiving means, The image data for the video conference received by the image receiving means and the audio data for the video conference received by the audio receiving means are included as components. A mail transmitting means for generating a mail (e-mail) and transmitting the mail to the mail server via the network; and an audio signal and a video signal from a component of the mail received from the mail server via the network. A mail receiving means for restoring a signal and outputting to the display means and the mail sending means;
, Which enables transmission / reception and storage of mail.

Also in this configuration, the video conference device
It can create and send e-mail by taking in audio and images for meetings. Therefore, the effort to provide information about the contents of the meeting and to prepare the minutes is reduced,
In addition, restrictions on time and place in the case of conducting a video conference are alleviated.

The mail receiving means includes transfer information storage means for storing a transfer destination of the message, a determination means for determining whether or not to transfer the received message from the contents of the transfer information storage means, and the determination means comprising: It is desirable to have a transfer means for transmitting a received message to a transfer destination when it is determined that the message is to be transferred.

Further, the transfer information storage means stores a transfer destination and a message type receivable by the transfer destination in association with each other, and the determination means determines whether or not the transfer destination receives the content from the transfer information storage means. Means for determining a possible message type, wherein the transfer means converts a message received by the mail receiving means into a message type receivable by a transfer destination and transmits the message according to a determination result of the determination means. It is desirable to have.

In this configuration, a user of the video conference system specifies a transfer destination in advance when a message cannot be received by the video conference device. When receiving the message, the video conference device converts the message into a message corresponding to the designated receiving device and transfers the message. For this reason, for example, even when the user of the video conference system is in a place where only a telephone can be used, the message sent to the video conference device can be received, and the location restriction of the video conference can be reduced.

A video conference apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention transmits and receives video and audio, and enables a video conference. An audio signal input by the audio input apparatus and a video signal input by the video input apparatus are provided. A file is created by synchronizing with the signal to create a file, the file is taken in as a component to create a mail (e-mail), a mail transmitting means for transmitting the mail, a mail is received, and a Mail receiving means for restoring an audio signal and a video signal from the component, means for outputting the audio signal restored by the mail receiving means to an audio reproducing device, and a display device for displaying the video signal restored by the mail receiving means And means for outputting to

A video conference apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention transmits and receives video and audio, enables a video conference, and includes image reception means for receiving video data for a video conference to be displayed. Display means for displaying image data received by the image receiving means, audio receiving means for receiving audio data to be output, sounding means for outputting audio data received by the audio receiving means, Mail sending means for creating a mail (e-mail) including as components image data received by the image receiving means and voice data received by the voice receiving means, and transmitting the mail to a mail server via the network; ,
Mail receiving means for restoring an audio signal and a video signal from a mail component received from the mail server via the network, and outputting the restored audio signal and the video signal to the display means and the mail transmitting means. It is characterized in that transmission and reception and storage are enabled.

[0016] These video conference devices can take in audio and video as mail components and transmit the mail, and can also receive and reproduce such mail. For this reason, the time constraint of the video conference can be reduced.

The mail receiving means includes a transfer information storing means for storing a transfer destination of the received message, a determining means for determining whether or not to transfer the received message from the contents of the transfer information storing means, It is preferable that the apparatus further comprises a transfer unit for transmitting the received mail message to a transfer destination in accordance with a result of the determination by the determination unit.

Further, the transfer information storage means stores a transfer destination and a data type receivable by the transfer destination in association with each other, and the discriminating means stores the data type at the transfer destination based on the contents of the transfer information storage means. Means for determining a possible data type, wherein the transfer means converts the received mail message into data of a type that can be received by the transfer destination and transmits the data when the determination means determines that the data is to be transferred. It is desirable to have means.

In this configuration, the user of the video conference device specifies a transfer destination in advance when a message cannot be received by the video conference device. When receiving the message, the video conference device converts the message into a message corresponding to the designated receiving device and transfers the message. For this reason, even when the user of the video conference device is in a place where the video conference device cannot be used, for example, a location where only a telephone can be used,
The message sent to the video conference device can be received, and the location restriction of the video conference can be reduced.

[0020] A mail transfer device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention comprises: information on whether or not to transfer a mail (e-mail);
When transferring, according to the contents registered in the transfer registration means for registering the transfer destination and the transfer registration means,
Transfer determining means for determining whether or not to forward the mail, and when the transfer determining means determines to forward the mail,
It is characterized by comprising conversion means for converting a mail component into data in a form that can be received by the transfer destination device, and transmission means for transmitting the data converted by the conversion means to the transfer destination. According to this mail transfer device, if the transfer destination is specified when the mail cannot be received, the mail converted into a format compatible with the transfer destination device can be received. Therefore, reception of mail becomes easy.

[0021] All or a part of a program and data for realizing each of the above-described configurations and functions may be recorded and distributed to a computer, and may be installed in each computer. Further, such a program and data may be stored in a ROM or the like and mounted on a computer.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a video conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a video conference system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this video conference system includes video conference devices 100a, 100b,
, 100n, a mail server 150, a video conference control computer 160, a LAN 5 for transmitting mail, video conference data, and the like, and a telephone 31 designated as a transfer destination when a mail recipient is absent. And FAX32
, 100, video conference devices 100a, 100b,.
network 3 that connects n with telephone 31 and facsimile 32
0.

The mail server 150 is a mail storage / transfer device typified by a workstation, and has a LAN
Decrypts the destination mail address of the mail (e-mail) received through the
If it is in its own server, it stores the mail in its mailbox. If the destination mailbox is in another server, the mail is forwarded to that server. If the destination mailbox is not found, a mail notifying the fact is created and stored in the sender's mailbox. In addition, the mail server 150 is used for the video conference device 1.
When a mail addressed to 00a, 100b,..., 100n arrives, the video conference device 100
a, 100b,..., 100n, an incoming call notification is sent to notify that the mail has arrived.

The TV conference control computer 160 is a computer in which network management software is installed, monitors the amount of traffic on the LAN 5, and controls the TV conference so that the amount of traffic does not hinder communication using the LAN 5. Is controlled.

Teleconference devices 100a, 100b,...
, 100n have the same configuration as each other, and FIG.
Is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video conference device 100a as a representative example. As shown in FIG. 2, the video conference device 100a includes an audio input device 1 for inputting an audio signal, a video input device 2 for inputting a video signal, and a video conference device for performing message creation / restoration, transmission / reception processing, and the like. Computer 3, an audio output device 6 that outputs an audio signal sent from the computer 3, an image output device 7 that outputs a video signal sent from the computer 3, an instruction to create a mail, It comprises a keyboard 8 and a mouse 9 for inputting.

The voice input device 1 is a voice signal generating device including a microphone, a voice board, and the like. The voice input device 1 converts air vibration into an electrical signal and supplies the electrical signal to the computer 3.

The video input device 2 is a video signal generating device composed of a television camera, a video capture board, and the like. The video input device 2 senses light incident on the imaging section, converts the light into an electric signal, and supplies the electric signal to the computer 3.

The sound output device 6 is an air vibration generating device including a speaker, a sound board, and the like, and generates air vibration (sound) having a frequency corresponding to an electric signal received from the computer 3.

The video output device 7 includes a CRT display,
This is a display device constituted by a graphic accelerator board or the like, and provides information visually in response to an electric signal received from the computer 3.

The computer 3 includes a mail processing unit 50,
Teleconference processing unit 60 and telephone / fax processing unit 70
And

The video conference processing unit 60 is a normal video conference real-time signal processing unit, and converts the audio signal input by the audio input device 1 and the video signal input by the video input device 2 via the LAN 5. , To the other party's video conference device. Further, it separates the television signal received from the other party's video conference device into an audio signal and a video signal, and outputs them to the audio output device 6 and the video output device 7, respectively.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the mail processing unit 50, and the mail processing unit 50 and other components (audio input device 1, video input device 2, audio output device 6, video output device 7, telephone /
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a relationship with a facsimile processing unit 70). As shown in FIG. 3, the mail processing unit 50 includes a synchronous connection processing unit 10, a message creation processing unit 11, a mail transmission processing unit 12, a mail reception processing unit 13, a message restoration processing unit 14, a file It has a processing unit 15, a transfer destination information processing unit 16, and a message conversion processing unit 18.

The synchronous connection processing unit 10 is an audio / video file creating unit serving as a mail component, and synchronizes the audio signal received from the audio input device 1 and the video signal received from the video input device 2 and connects them. The audio / video file is taken into the audio / video file, and the audio / video file is passed to the message creation processing unit 11.

The message creation processing section 11 adds file identification information to the audio / video file received from the synchronization connection processing section 10 and takes it in as one of the components.
Further, the message creation processing unit 11 creates a mail message by performing processing such as taking in the text input from the keyboard 8 as another component, and sends the created mail message to the mail transmission processing unit 12. In addition, the message creation processing unit 11 attaches file identification information to the file received from the message conversion processing unit 18, takes in the file as one of the components, and sends the file as a mail message to the mail transmission processing unit 12.

The mail transmission processing unit 12 creates a mail header based on the destination mail address input from the keyboard 8 or the like, or the mail address or the video conference device number received from the transfer destination information processing unit 16. The mail transmission processing unit 12 adds the mail header to the mail message received from the message creation processing unit 11, and then transmits the message to the mail server 150 via the LAN 5.

The mail reception processing unit 13 receives an incoming notification from the mail server 150 to notify that the mail has arrived in the user's mail box, and displays the icon on the video output device 7 to receive the mail. Notify that. Further, it outputs an incoming mail signal to the transfer destination information processing section 16. When the user instructs to output the contents of the mail using the keyboard 8 and the mouse 9 shown in FIG. 2, the mail reception processing unit 13 fetches the mail from the mail server 150 and performs the message restoration processing on the fetched mail. Hand over to part 14.

When the mail reception processing unit 13 receives a notification that the mail is to be transferred from the transfer destination information processing unit 16, the mail reception processing unit 13 extracts the mail from the mail server 150, and sends a message indicating that the mail is to be transferred. Restoration processing unit 1
Send to 4. On the other hand, if the mail reception processing unit 13 receives the incoming notification from the mail server 150 and does not receive an instruction from the user and does not receive a transfer notification, the mail reception processing unit 13 does not perform any processing. Is stored in

Upon receiving the mail from the mail reception processing unit 13, the message restoration processing unit 14 extracts an audio / video file, an audio file, and a text file according to the file identification information in the mail. When receiving a notification from the mail reception processing unit 13 that the message is to be transferred, the message restoration processing unit 14 converts the file extracted from the mail into a message conversion processing unit 1.
Send to 8. On the other hand, if the message restoration processing unit 14 does not receive the notification of the transfer, it passes the file extracted from the mail to the file decomposition processing unit 15.

The file disassembly processing section 15 divides and extracts an audio signal and a video signal from the audio / video file, and outputs the audio signal to the audio output device 6 and the video signal to the video output device 7. Further, the file disassembly processing unit 15
An audio output device 6 which extracts an audio signal from an audio file and
The text data is extracted from the text file, and the video message is displayed on the video output device 7.

The transfer destination information processing section 16 has a transfer destination information registration function and a transfer destination information inquiry function. The transfer destination information registration function accepts the absence registration input by the user from the keyboard 8 or the like, and creates a transfer information table 90 as illustrated in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, this transfer information table is
It consists of a “time” column, a “receiving device” column, a “number” column, a “message type” column, and a “file type” column. The user registers the time zone for which the transfer process is requested in the “time” column of the transfer information table 90, and registers the transfer destination receiving device (telephone, fax, computer terminal, video conference device) in the “receiving device” column. Further, the call number (telephone number, fax number, mail address, video conference number) of the transfer destination is registered in the “number” column, and the type of the message (telephone message,
FAX message, video mail, voice mail, text mail) are registered.

Here, if the receiving device at the transfer destination is a telephone, only a telephone message can be specified, and if a facsimile, only a FAX message can be specified. If the transfer destination receiving device is a computer terminal, the type of mail (video mail, voice mail, text mail) can be specified, and if it is a video conference device, all five types of message (telephone message) , FAX message, video mail, voice mail, text mail).

When the user confirms the registration in the “message type” column of the transfer information table 90, the transfer destination information processing unit 16 registers the type of the message creation file corresponding to the registered content in the “file type” column. . That is, if the description in the “Message type” column is video mail,
Register video files, register voice files for voice mail, and register text files for text mail. In the case of a telephone message, a voice file is registered, and in the case of a fax message, a still image file is registered.

The transfer destination information processing unit 16 receives a mail arrival signal from the mail reception processing unit 13 or
Upon receiving the message reception signal from the AX processing unit 70, the transfer destination information inquiry function determines whether or not to transfer the message from the transfer information table 90 and the reception time of the mail arrival signal or the message reception signal.

When transferring the message, the transfer destination information processing section 16 specifies the transfer destination from the transfer information table 90,
The message conversion processing unit 18 is notified of the type of the message creation file (the item described in the “file type” column).

If the receiving device at the transfer destination is a telephone or a facsimile, the transfer destination information processing unit 16 notifies the telephone / fax processing unit 70 of the telephone number or the facsimile number and also transmits the file to the telephone / fax processing unit 70. Is transmitted to the message conversion processing unit 18. If the receiving device at the transfer destination is a computer terminal or a video conference device, the transfer destination information processing unit 16 notifies the mail transmission processing unit 12 of the mail address or the video conference device number, and writes the file to the message creation processing unit. An output destination designation signal designating the output to the output unit 11 is transmitted to the message conversion processing unit 18.

The message conversion processing unit 18 receives a file from the message restoration processing unit 14 or the telephone / fax processing unit 70, and specifies a message creation file type notification from the transfer destination information processing unit 16 and specifies a file output destination. And an output destination designation signal to be received. The message conversion processing unit 18 determines that the type of the file received from the message restoration processing unit 14 or the telephone / fax processing unit 70 is
An audio / video file, an audio file, a text file, or a still image file is specified from an extension of a file name or the like. If the type of the specified file is different from the type of the message creation file notified from the transfer destination information processing unit 16, the message conversion processing unit 18 converts the message. If the file types are the same, the message conversion processing unit 18
Telephone / FAX processing unit 70 or message creation processing unit 1
Send the file to 1.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the conversion table 91 referred to when the message conversion processing section 18 converts a message. As shown in FIG. 5, the conversion performed by the message conversion processing unit 18 includes a conversion method A to a conversion method L. Hereinafter, each conversion method will be described.

The message conversion processing section 18 creates audio / video files according to the conversion methods A, B and C. The conversion method A is a method of adjusting the timing of audio data and converting the data into audio / video data. The conversion method B is a method of decoding text data in a text file, synthesizing voice, and converting the data into audio / video data. The conversion method C is a method of recognizing characters in a still image file, converting the characters into text data, and converting the text data into audio / video data in the same manner as the conversion method B.

Further, the message conversion processing section 18 creates an audio file according to the conversion methods D, E, and F. The conversion method D is a method for extracting only audio data in an audio / video file. The conversion method E is a method of decoding text data in a text file, synthesizing a voice, and converting it into voice data. The conversion method F is a method of recognizing characters in a still image file, converting the characters into text data, and converting the data into audio data in the same manner as the conversion method E.

The message conversion processing unit 18 creates a text file according to the conversion methods G, H, and I.
The conversion method G is a method in which audio data in an audio / video file is extracted and converted into corresponding text data by voice recognition. The conversion method H is a method of recognizing voice data in a voice file and converting the voice data into corresponding text data. The conversion method I is a method of recognizing characters in a still image file and converting the characters into text data.

The message conversion processing section 18 creates a still image file according to the conversion methods J, K, and L.
The conversion method J is a method of extracting audio data in an audio / video file, converting the audio data into text data by voice recognition, extracting a font corresponding to the text data from a storage unit (not shown), and converting it into image data. It is.
The conversion method K is a method of recognizing voice data in a voice file, converting the voice data into text data, arranging fonts corresponding to the text data, and converting the text data into image data. The conversion method L is a method of reading text data in a text file, arranging fonts corresponding to the text data, and converting the font into image data.

The message conversion processing section 18 sends the converted file to the telephone / FAX processing section 70 or the message creation processing section 11 according to the output destination designation signal received from the transfer destination information processing section 16.

The telephone / FAX processing unit 70 receives the audio file or the still image file from the message conversion processing unit 18, and receives a telephone number or F from the destination information processing unit 16.
Receive the AX number. The telephone / fax processing unit 70
Receives a telephone message from the telephone 31 or another video conference device, and receives a fax message from the FAX 32 or another video conference device. The telephone / FAX processing unit 70 converts the voice file received from the message conversion processing unit 18 into a telephone message, calls the transfer destination receiving device (telephone, video conference device), and transmits the telephone message. The telephone / FAX processing unit 70 uses the still image file received from the message conversion processing unit 18 as a FAX message, makes a call to a transfer destination receiving device (FAX, video conference device), and transmits the FAX message.

The telephone / FAX processing unit 70 stores a telephone message received from the telephone 31 or another video conference device in an audio file, and transmits a message reception signal to the transfer destination information processing unit 16. The telephone / fax processing unit 70 stores the facsimile message received from the facsimile 32 or another video conference device in the still image file, and transmits the message reception signal to the transfer destination information processing unit 16.
Send to Upon receiving the notification of the transfer from the transfer destination information processing unit 16, the telephone / FAX processing unit 70 converts the voice file or the still image file into the message conversion processing unit 1.
Send to 8. On the other hand, if not notified of the transfer, the file is stored in a storage device (not shown) in the computer 3.

Next, the operation of the video conference system having the above configuration will be described. For regular video conferencing,
Each of the video conference devices 100a, 100b, ..., 100n
Is connected to the video conference control computer 160 via the LAN 5
Check if the user is ready for a video conference. If the traffic volume of the LAN 5 is such that the video conference can be performed, the video conference control computer 160 issues a conference execution permission. Next, the other party's video conference device is requested to conduct a video conference. LAN if available
5, a video conference is performed by exchanging an audio signal and a video signal with the video conference device of the other party.

On the other hand, the operation in the case of sending and receiving a mail containing audio and video as components independently of or in parallel with the video conference will be described with reference to FIG. Here, in order to facilitate understanding, it is assumed that the source of the mail is the video conference device 100a and the destination of the mail is the video conference device 100b. The computer 3 in the video conference device 100a is a computer 3a, and the computer 3 in the video conference device 100b is a computer 3b.

First, the user of the video conference device 100a designates a mail type (video mail, voice mail, text mail) to the computer 3a by using the keyboard 8 or the mouse 9 shown in FIG. .

In response to the instruction to compose the mail, the video conference device 100a inputs a voice from the voice input device 1, a video from the video input device 2, and a character from the keyboard 8, respectively, to the computer 3a.

Synchronous connection processing unit 10 of computer 3a
The audio signal and the video signal are synchronously combined, converted into audio / video data, stored in an audio / video file, and passed to the message creation processing unit 11.

The message creation processing section 11 attaches file identification information to the audio / video file, takes in the file as one of the components, creates a text message or the like as another component, creates a mail message, and converts the created mail message. The information is passed to the mail transmission processing unit 12.

The mail transmission processing unit 12 prepares a mail by attaching the address of the destination (here, the video conference device 100b) inputted by the user through the keyboard 8 to the mail message received from the message preparation processing unit 11. Then, the created mail is transmitted to mail server 150.

The mail server 150 decodes the address of the supplied mail and sends the received mail to the video conference device 100.
b, and sends a mail arrival notification to the video conference device 100b.

In the video conference device 100b, when the mail reception processing unit 13 of the computer 3b receives the mail arrival notification, it displays on the video output device 7 a notice notifying the mail arrival. When the user of the video conference device 100b instructs to output the contents of the mail using the keyboard 8 or the mouse 9, the mail reception processing unit 13 takes out the mail stored in the mail server 150 and sends it to the message restoration processing unit 14. Give email.

The message restoration processing section 14 converts the text file and the voice / audio data according to the file identification information in the mail.
The video file is taken out and passed to the file disassembly processing unit 15.

The file disassembly processing section 15 divides and extracts the audio signal and the video signal from the audio / video file, outputs the audio signal to the audio output device 6, and outputs the video signal to the video output device 7. Further, text data is extracted from the text file and displayed on the video output device 7 as a text message.

As described above, the video conference computer 3b can extract the audio signal and the video signal from the mail received from the mail server 150 and output the message.

Next, an operation when the user of the video conference apparatus 100b cannot receive a mail using this terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

In this case, the processing performed by the video conference device 100a and the roles of the mail server 150 and the LAN 5 are the same as the case where the user of the video conference device 100b receives a mail using the video conference device 100b.

The user of the video conference device 100b instructs the mail transfer in advance using the keyboard 8 and the mouse 9, and creates a transfer information table 90 as illustrated in FIG. Keep it.

In the video conference device 100b, when the mail reception processing unit 13 of the computer 3b receives the mail arrival notification from the mail server 150, it sends a mail arrival signal to the transfer destination information processing unit 16.

The transfer destination information processing unit 16 refers to the transfer information table 90, determines from the setting that the mail should be transferred, notifies the mail reception processing unit 13 of the fact, and
A message regarding the type of the message creation file and an output destination designation signal are sent to the message conversion processing unit 18.

The mail reception processing unit 13 receives the notification that the mail is to be transferred from the transfer destination information processing unit 16 and
The mail stored in the server 150 is extracted and passed to the message restoration processing unit 14.

The message restoration processing section 14 extracts an audio / video file, an audio file, and a text file from the mail based on the file identification information in the mail, and transfers the file to the message conversion processing section 18.

The message conversion processing section 18 specifies the type of the received file from the extension of each received file name and the like, and if the type of the received file is different from the type of the message creation file, the message conversion processing section 18 proceeds to FIG. Based on the conversion table 91 shown in FIG.
According to the message. The message conversion processing unit 18 sends the converted file to the telephone / FAX processing unit 70 or the message creation processing unit 11 according to the output destination designation signal.

If the type of the received file is the same as the type of the message creation file, the message conversion processing unit 18 does not convert the file, and responds to the output destination designation signal according to the output destination designation signal. 70 or the message creation processing unit 11.

The user of the video conference device 100b determines whether the type of the message to be transferred is a telephone message or a facsimile.
When the absence is registered as a message for use, the telephone / FAX processing unit 70 receives a voice file or a still image file from the message conversion processing unit 18 and receives a telephone number or a FAX number from the transfer destination information processing unit 16. Upon receiving the voice file, the telephone / fax processing unit 70
This is used as a telephone message, and when a still image file is received, this is used as a FAX message, and a call is sent to the receiving device to send the message.

On the other hand, when the user of the video conference apparatus 100b has registered the absence of the type of the message to be transferred as mail, the message creation processing unit 11 sends the voice / video file, the voice file, or the text from the message conversion processing unit 18. Receive the file. The message creation processing unit 11 attaches file identification information to the received file, takes in the file as a mail component, creates a mail message, and sends the created mail message to the mail transmission processing unit 12. Email transmission processing unit 12
Creates an e-mail by attaching the address received from the transfer destination information processing section 16 to the e-mail message, and transmits the e-mail to the e-mail server 150.

For example, if the received mail contains text, video, and audio, and the receiving user specifies the telephone 31 as the receiving device of the transfer destination, first,
The mail reception processing unit 13 sends a mail arrival signal to the transfer destination information processing unit 16. The transfer destination information processing unit 16 obtains information indicating that the message creation file is an audio file and a telephone number from the transfer information table 90, outputs a signal indicating transfer to the mail reception processing unit 13, and Telephone number F
The data is sent to the AX processing unit 70. Further, the transfer destination information processing unit 16
Indicates that the message creation file is a voice file, and transmits the converted file to the telephone / fax processing unit 7.
An output destination designation signal designating output to 0 is sent to the message conversion processing unit 18.

The mail reception processing unit 13 takes out the mail from the mail server 150 and sends it to the message restoration processing unit 14 together with a signal indicating that the mail is to be transferred. The message restoring processing unit 14 according to the file identification information in the mail,
The text file and the audio / video file are extracted, and the file is sent to the message conversion processing unit 18.

The message conversion processing section 18 has a conversion method D
To convert an audio / video file to an audio file, and to convert a text file to an audio file by the conversion method E. The message conversion processing unit 18 sends the audio file to the telephone / fax processing unit 70 according to the output destination designation signal from the transfer destination information processing unit 16. The telephone / fax processing unit 70 converts the voice file into a telephone message, receives the telephone number from the transfer destination information processing unit 16, and
Call to forward the message.

Further, for example, the user can designate a computer terminal as a transfer destination receiving device, designate transfer by text mail, and the video conference device 100b can receive a fax message and transfer the mail. In this case, first, the telephone / FAX processing unit 70 stores the FAX message in the still image file, and sends a message reception signal to the transfer destination information processing unit 16.

The transfer destination information processing unit 16 obtains information indicating that the message creation file is a text file and a mail address from the transfer information table 90, and sends a signal indicating transfer to the telephone / fax processing unit 70. The e-mail address is sent to the e-mail transmission processing unit 12. Further, the transfer destination information processing unit 16 transmits a notification that the message creation file is a text file and an output destination designation signal that designates output of the file to the message creation processing unit 11.
The message is sent to the message conversion processing unit 18.

The telephone / FAX processing unit 70 receives a signal to transfer from the transfer destination information processing unit 16 and sends a still image file to the message conversion processing unit 18. The message conversion processing unit 18 converts a still image file into a text file by the conversion method I. Message conversion processing unit 1
8 sends the text file to the message creation processing unit 1 according to the output destination designation signal received from the transfer destination information processing unit 16.
Send to 1. The message creation processing unit 11 takes in the received file as a mail component, creates a mail message, and passes the created mail message to the mail transmission processing unit 12.

The mail transmission processing unit 12 receives the mail address from the transfer destination information processing unit 16, creates a mail header from the mail address, adds the mail header to the mail message, and creates a mail.
5 to the mail server 150.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the video conference devices 100a, 100b,.
By creating a mail using 0n and storing the mail in the mail server 150, the contents of the video conference can be output and confirmed later. Also, the video conference devices 100a, 100b,..., 100n can convert and transfer the message. The message can be transferred after being converted into a message that can be received at the transfer destination.

Further, audio input device 1, video input device 2,
The audio output device 6 and the video output device 7 are inherently provided for the video conference device to conduct a video conference, and there is no need to increase the number of facilities.

Although the above embodiment has been described with respect to an example in which two video conference apparatuses hold a video conference on a one-to-one basis, a conference may be held with a large number of video conference apparatuses. Is not particularly limited, and is arbitrary. For example, the video conference control computer 160 receives a video from each video conference device 100, generates image data and audio data to be displayed and output by each video conference device 100, and
May be delivered to Alternatively, the video and audio received from another video conference device 100 may be combined by each video conference device 100 to generate a display image.

Further, for example, the video conference apparatus 100a is configured as shown in FIG. 8, and during the video conference, the audio reproduced by the audio output apparatus 6 and the video displayed on the video output apparatus 7 are captured. Alternatively, an email may be created. In this case, the mail may be created by taking in the contents of the video memory (VRAM; not shown) of the video output device 7, the contents of the audio output buffer, and the like. With such a configuration, for example, during a video conference, the contents of the video conference are taken into a message, a comment is added to the message by text data, and the meeting attendees and / or non- It can also be distributed to attendees.

In the above embodiment, one sender sends mail to one recipient. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is possible to send and receive mail in various situations. it can. For example, when a video conference is being held between the plurality of video conference devices 100 by the video conference control computer 160, each participant individually outputs the audio output device 6 and the video output device 7 of the video conference device 100. You can create, send and receive emails.

In the above embodiment, each teleconference device 100 exchanges mail via the LAN 5, but a network other than the LAN can be used. For example, it is possible to exchange mails by connecting to a mail server via ISDN or a dedicated digital line.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the explanation has been given assuming that the computer 3 for the video conference has information on the transfer destination and converts the message and transfers the message. It is not necessary to perform the processing. For example, the mail server 150 may perform these processing.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a mail server 150a having a transfer function and a message conversion function. Here, the message conversion processing unit 18a of the mail server 150a analyzes the data in the mail and determines the type of data included in the mail in addition to the configuration of the message conversion processing unit 18 in the above embodiment. It has a function to specify and a function to create a necessary message using the converted data as a message component. The mail accumulation and transfer processing unit 200 is a part that performs processing as a normal mail server.

In this case, the user sends a mail server 150a from each teleconference device via the network in advance.
To the destination to perform the absence registration, and
Creates a transfer information table for each user who has a mailbox in the server. When a mail addressed to the user who has registered absent arrives, the transfer destination information processing unit 16a specifies the transfer destination, and the message conversion processing unit 18a specifies the message type by extracting the mail and analyzing the data. Convert the type of data. The message conversion processing unit 18a sends the converted message to the mail storage and transfer processing unit 200 or the telephone / FA according to the transfer destination.
X to the X processing unit 70a,
And the telephone / fax processing unit 70a transfers the message to each receiving device.

As described above, even when only the mail server converts a message and has information about a transfer destination, it is possible to convert a mail addressed to each user into a data type corresponding to the receiving device and transfer the mail. Can be. With such a configuration, transfer destination information can be collectively managed,
Efforts to introduce a message conversion function can be reduced.

As the input device to the computer, any of the commonly used input devices other than the keyboard and mouse described in the above embodiment can be used. For example, an input device such as a touch panel display or a trackball is used.

[0097] Further, this video conference device can be realized by using a computer functioning as a normal video conference terminal without using a dedicated device. That is, a program for causing a computer functioning as a video conference terminal to execute the above-described processing is stored in a recording medium (floppy disk, CD-ROM, MO, ROM, or the like), distributed, and installed in the computer. Operating on an OS (operating system)
A computer functioning as a video conference terminal can be caused to function as the video conference device described above.

[0098]

As described above, in the video conference system according to the present invention, the video conference apparatus can transmit and receive mail. For this reason, messages can be stored, and time constraints in a video conference can be reduced.

In the video conference system according to the present invention, the video conference device can transfer a message, and can convert the type of a message according to the receiving device of the transfer destination. The transfer can be performed by designating the device as the transfer destination. Thereby, the location restriction in the video conference can be eased.

Further, since the video conference system according to the present invention can take in the contents of the video conference and create a mail, it is possible to easily provide information to those who do not participate in the conference.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a video conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video conference device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for describing a configuration of the video conference device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a transfer destination information table created by a transfer destination information processing unit;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conversion table included in a message conversion processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram for explaining an operation when a message is not transferred in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram for explaining an operation when a message is transferred in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram for describing a configuration of a modification of the video conference device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a mail server in a modified example of the video conference system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 audio input device 2 video input device 3, 3a, 3b computer 5 LAN 6 audio output device 7 video output device 8 keyboard 9 mouse 10 synchronous connection processing unit 11 message creation processing unit 12 mail transmission processing unit 13 mail reception processing unit 14 message Restoration processing unit 15 file disassembly processing unit 16, 16a transfer destination information processing unit 18, 18a message conversion processing unit 30 network 31 telephone 32 FAX 50 mail processing unit 60 video conference processing unit 70, 70a telephone / FAX processing unit 100a, 100b, 100n Video conference device 150, 150a Mail server 160 Computer for video conference control 200 Mail storage and transfer processing unit

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 5B089 GA12 GA21 JA31 JA40 JB04 JB05 KA01 KC32 KH15 LA08 LA14 5C064 AA02 AC02 AC06 AC12 AC16 AC18 AC22 AD06 AD14 5K030 HA06 HB21 HC14 JT01 JT04 KA01 KA05 KA06 LD11 LD08

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A video conference system comprising: a plurality of video conference devices; a network interconnecting the plurality of video conference devices; and a mail server connected to the network. A video conferencing system, wherein each of the video conferencing devices includes: a voice input device for inputting audio and outputting a voice signal; a video input device for inputting video and outputting a video signal; and the voice input. A mail transmitting unit that generates a mail including, as components, an audio signal input by the device and a video signal input by the video input device, and transmits the mail to the mail server via the network; Mail receiving means for restoring an audio signal and a video signal from a mail component received from the mail server An audio output device that inputs the audio signal restored by the mail receiving unit and outputs audio, and a video output device that inputs the video signal restored by the mail receiving unit and outputs a video, A video conference system capable of sending and receiving and storing e-mail. 2. The file transmitting means for synchronizing and combining an audio signal input by the audio input device and a video signal input by the video input device to generate a file, 2. The video conference system according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that fetches a file generated by the file generation unit as a component and creates an e-mail. 3. A video conference system comprising: a plurality of video conference devices; a network interconnecting the plurality of video conference devices; and a mail server connected to the network. A video conference system, wherein each of the video conference devices includes: an image receiving unit configured to receive image data for a video conference; a display unit configured to display the image data received by the image receiving unit; Audio receiving means for receiving audio data for use; sounding means for outputting audio data received by the audio receiving means; image data for video conference received by the image receiving means; A mail including a video conference audio data as a component is created, and the mail is sent to the mail server via the network. Mail transmitting means for transmitting to the server, and a mail receiving means for restoring audio and video signals from components of the mail received from the mail server via the network, and outputting to the display means and the mail transmitting means A video conference system, comprising: sending and receiving and storing mail. 4. The mail receiving means includes: transfer information storage means for storing a transfer destination of a message; determining means for determining whether to transfer a received message based on the contents of the transfer information storage means; 4. The video conference system according to claim 1, further comprising: a transfer unit configured to transmit a received message to a transfer destination when the unit determines that the transfer is performed. 5. The transfer information storage means stores a transfer destination and a message type receivable by the transfer destination in association with each other, and the determination means determines whether the transfer destination is received from the contents of the transfer information storage means. Message transfer means for converting a mail received by the mail receiving means into a message receivable by a transfer destination according to a result of the determination by the determination means, and transmitting the message. The video conference system according to claim 4, comprising: 6. A video conference apparatus for transmitting and receiving a video and an audio and enabling a video conference, comprising: synchronizing an audio signal input by an audio input device with a video signal input by the video input device to combine the files; Mail sending means for creating an e-mail by taking the file as a component, sending the e-mail, and receiving the e-mail and restoring an audio signal and a video signal from the received e-mail component And a means for outputting a sound signal restored by the mail receiving means to a sound reproducing device; and a means for outputting a video signal restored by the mail receiving means to a display device. apparatus. 7. A video conference apparatus for transmitting and receiving video and audio and enabling a video conference, wherein: an image receiving means for receiving video data for a video conference to be displayed; and image data received by the image receiving means. Display means for displaying, sound receiving means for receiving sound data to be output, sounding means for outputting sound data received by the sound receiving means, image data received by the image receiving means and the sound Mail sending means for creating a mail including the audio data received by the receiving means as a component, and sending the mail to a mail server via the network; and a mail receiving means for receiving the mail from the mail server via the network. Restores audio and video signals from the components and outputs them to the display means and the mail transmission means Over and Le receiving means is constituted by a television conference apparatus being characterized in that it possible to send and receive email and accumulation. 8. The mail receiving means includes: transfer information storing means for storing a transfer destination of a message; determining means for determining whether to transfer the received message based on the contents of the transfer information storing means; 8. The video conference apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a transfer unit configured to transmit a received message to a transfer destination according to a determination result of the unit. 9. 9. The transfer information storage means stores a transfer destination and a message type receivable by the transfer destination in association with each other, and the determination means determines whether or not the transfer destination is received from the contents of the transfer information storage means. Means for determining a possible message type, the transfer means, when the determination means determines to transfer, comprises a message conversion means for converting the received message into a receivable message and transmitting the received message, The video conference apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: 10. A transfer registering means for registering information on whether or not to transfer a mail and, when transferring, the transfer destination, and transferring the mail in accordance with the contents registered in the transfer registering means. Transfer judging means for judging whether or not the mail is transferred; converting means for converting a mail component into data in a form receivable by a transfer destination device when the transfer judging means judges to transfer the mail; And a transmission unit for transmitting the data converted by the transmission device to the transfer destination. 11. A computer functioning as a video conference terminal for exchanging video and audio with another computer via a network and enabling a video conference, wherein the audio signal input by the audio input device and the video input device are input. A file is created by synchronizing with the video signal to create a file, an email including the file as a component is created, an email sending means for sending the email, an email is received, and an audio signal is received from the component of the received email. Mail receiving means for restoring the video signal and the video signal; means for outputting the audio signal restored by the mail receiving means to an audio reproducing device; means for outputting the video signal restored by the mail receiving means to a display device. A machine-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to record is recorded. 12. An image receiving means for exchanging video and audio with another computer via a network to function as a video conference terminal enabling a video conference to receive video data for a video conference to be displayed. Display means for displaying image data received by the image receiving means; audio receiving means for receiving audio data to be output; sound emitting means for outputting audio data received by the audio receiving means; A mail transmitting unit that creates a mail including, as components, image data received by the voice receiving unit and voice data received by the voice receiving unit, and transmits the mail to the mail server via the network. From the components of the mail received from the mail server, audio and video signals are Source, and the display means and the mail mail receiving means for outputting to the transmitting unit, a machine-readable recording medium characterized by a program recorded in order to function as a.