JP2007318273A - Audio conference device and audio conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an audio conference device and an audio conference system in which audio conference can be achieved under optimal environment depending on the number of connected audio conference devices. <P>SOLUTION: A network I/F 3 receives communication voice data from other audio conference device connected through a network and delivers an input audio signal to a voice signal processing section 2. The voice signal processing section 2 delivers the input audio signal to a sound emitting/collecting section 1 and stores it primarily. When a sound pickup sound signal from the sound emitting/collecting section 1 is inputted to the voice signal processing section 2, the voice signal processing section 2 delivers the sound pickup sound signal, as it is, to the network I/F 3 as an output sound signal if a mesh connection mode or a grouping connection mode is selected as a slave unit mode. If a grouping connection mode is selected as a master unit mode, the voice signal processing section 2 delivers an output sound signal obtained by mixing the sound pickup sound signal and the input audio signal to the network I/F 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio conference apparatus and an audio conference system for performing an audio conference between remote locations.

  Various audio conference apparatuses and audio conference systems for performing audio conferences between remote locations have been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

Some of these audio conference systems simply hold a conference between two points that are separated from each other, and some have a multi-point audio conference by connecting multiple points via a network. Patent Documents 1 and 2 are the latter, and in such a multipoint audio conference system, an audio conference apparatus is installed at each point, and these are connected via a network to realize an audio conference. In this conventional audio conference system, audio signal communication is managed and operated by connecting each audio conference device via a network to a dedicated communication control device that controls audio signal communication.
JP-A-11-88513 JP 2001-69249 A

  However, in the conventional audio conference system, a dedicated communication control device is essential, and this communication control device is usually expensive, so that the management cost of the audio conference system becomes high. In addition, the conventional audio conference system is inefficient because a large-scale audio conference system including a communication control device must be used even if the number of audio conference devices actually connected is small. Furthermore, since the conventional audio conference system is realized by a dedicated network line, it is not versatile and cannot be used unless it is in a dedicated environment.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an audio conference apparatus and an audio conference system that are versatile and can realize an audio conference in an optimum environment according to the number of connected audio conference apparatuses.

  The audio conference apparatus according to the present invention includes sound emission / collection means for emitting sound based on an inputted audio signal and generating a collected sound signal from the collected sound, and network connection means for connecting to a network. The voice conference apparatus according to the present invention is connected between the sound emission and collection means and the network connection means, and transmits the collected sound signal to all the destinations independently, or the collected sound signal other than the transmission destination. And an audio signal processing means for selectively realizing whether the audio signal is mixed and transmitted.

  The voice conference system according to the present invention is formed by connecting the voice conference apparatus to a network. In the audio conference system of the present invention, if the number of devices connected to the network is within a predetermined threshold, all the audio conference devices independently transmit their own collected audio signals to the respective destinations. On the other hand, if the number of devices connected to the network is larger than the predetermined threshold, all the audio conference devices are grouped with the number of devices smaller than the predetermined threshold, and one audio conference device in the group has its own collected audio. It is characterized in that the signal is mixed with an audio signal from a destination other than the destination and transmitted.

  In this configuration, the sound emission / collection means of the audio conference apparatus emits an audio signal input via the network, and also collects the voice of the speaker in the room where the apparatus is located, Generate a signal. The network connection means connects the audio conference apparatus to the network using a predetermined protocol, and performs conversion between a communication signal and each audio signal.

  The audio signal processing means generates a transmission audio signal to the network by a different method according to a mode set according to the number of audio conference apparatuses connected to the network.

  (1) If the number of voice conference apparatuses is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, all voice conference apparatuses enter a mesh connection mode in which voice signals are mutually transmitted and received. In the mesh connection mode, the audio signal processing means directly uses the collected audio signal as an output audio signal for all audio conference apparatuses connected to the network. At this time, the audio signal processing means outputs its own collected audio signal having the same contents while sequentially changing the other party's audio conference apparatus in time division.

  (2) If the number of audio conference devices is greater than a predetermined threshold, the audio conference devices are grouped by a number equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, and one audio conference device in the group is used as a parent device, and grouping connection using the other as a child device. It becomes a mode. In the grouping connection mode, the slave unit outputs its own collected sound signal as it is to the connected master unit. On the other hand, the master unit mixes and outputs the collected voice signal, the voice signal from the network, and the voice signal of the other slave unit in the group to the destination slave unit in the group, It mixes and outputs the collected sound signal of its own and the sound signal of each slave unit in the group to the network.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to arrange a dedicated communication control device on the network, and the voice conference system can be made simple and versatile. In addition, since each audio conference apparatus is connected in an optimal connection mode according to the number of connections, an audio conference system with good communication characteristics can be easily configured with a scale suitable for the number of connected audio conference apparatuses. .

An audio conference apparatus and an audio conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the audio conference apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The audio conference apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment includes a sound emission and collection unit 1, an audio signal processing unit 2, a network I / F 3, a control unit 4, and an operation input unit 5.

  The sound emission and collection unit 1 includes an echo cancellation circuit 10, a speaker signal processing unit 11, a D / A conversion circuit 12, a sound emission amplifier 13, a speaker SP, a microphone MIC, a sound collection amplifier 14, an A / D conversion circuit 15, and a microphone signal. A processing unit 16 is provided.

  The sound output sound signal input from the sound signal processing unit 2 to the sound output / collection unit 1 is input to the speaker signal processing unit 11 via the echo cancellation circuit 10. The speaker signal processing unit 11 performs predetermined signal processing on the emitted sound signal and outputs the signal to the D / A conversion circuit 12. Here, when there is one speaker SP as in the present embodiment, the speaker signal processing unit 11 performs a process of outputting the input sound output sound signal as it is, and if there are a plurality of speakers SP. Then, the input audio signal from each audio conference device is assigned to an individual speaker and emitted, and the sound source is localized at an arbitrary position in the conference room to generate a virtual point sound source. The D / A conversion circuit 12 performs D / A (digital-analog) conversion on the sound output sound signal and outputs it to the sound output amplifier 13. The sound emission amplifier 13 amplifies the sound output sound signal and applies it to the speaker SP, and the speaker SP converts the sound output sound signal into sound and emits the sound.

  The uttered sound from the conference person in the room where the audio conference apparatus 101 is provided is collected by the microphone MIC and converted into an electrical signal to generate a collected audio signal. The sound collection amplifier 14 amplifies the collected sound signal and outputs the amplified sound signal to the A / D conversion circuit 15. The A / D conversion circuit 15 performs A / D (analog-digital) conversion on the collected sound signal, and the microphone. The signal is output to the signal processing unit 16. The microphone signal processing unit 16 performs predetermined signal processing on the collected sound signal and outputs it to the echo cancellation circuit 10. Here, the microphone signal processing unit 16 outputs the collected sound signal as it is if there is one microphone MIC as in this embodiment, and forms a microphone beam if a plurality of microphones MIC are arranged. Then, processing such as outputting a collected sound signal is performed. The echo cancellation circuit 10 generates a pseudo-regression sound signal based on the sound output sound signal, performs a difference from the collected sound signal, and removes the influence of the wraparound sound from the speaker SP included in the collected sound signal to the microphone MIC. To the audio signal processing unit 2.

  The audio signal processing unit 2 outputs the input audio signal converted from the communication audio data in the network data format to the audio signal in the predetermined format by the network I / F 3 as a sound output audio signal. Further, the audio signal processing unit 2 outputs the collected audio signal as it is if it is a slave unit mode of (1) mesh connection mode or (2-2) grouping connection mode according to a selected mode to be described later. (2-1) If the master unit mode is the grouping connection mode, the input audio signal is mixed with the collected audio signal and output.

  The network I / F 3 converts the output audio signal from the audio signal processing unit 2 into a predetermined network data format while buffering, and transmits it to a partner apparatus connected to the network at a predetermined timing. Further, the network I / F 3 buffers the communication audio data received from the network as described above, converts it into a predetermined audio data format, and outputs it to the audio signal processing unit 2.

  The control unit 4 controls the operation of the entire audio conference apparatus 101 and controls the mode of the audio signal processing unit 2 based on the connection mode selected by the operation input unit 5 or the like.

  The operation input unit 5 includes a plurality of operators including a mode selection switch and the like. When a mode is selected by the mode selection switch, mode selection information is given to the control unit 4.

  The connection mode selection criterion is determined by whether or not the number of voice conference apparatuses connected to the network is within a predetermined threshold. If the number of voice conference apparatuses connected to the network is equal to or less than this threshold value (4 in this embodiment), the mesh connection mode is selected, and if it is greater than the threshold value, the grouping connection mode is selected.

  When the mode is selected manually, the conference person grasps the number of voice conference apparatuses to be connected in advance and selects the mode using the operation input unit 5. On the other hand, when the mode is automatically selected, the number of voice conference apparatuses in the ON state on the network is automatically acquired by any voice conference apparatus. Then, the automatically acquired voice conference device transmits the number of connected devices to each voice conference device connected to the network, and each voice conference device automatically performs mode selection based on the number of connections.

Next, each connection mode will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
(1) Mesh Connection Mode FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of communication voice data transmission / reception in the mesh connection mode.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of input / output data between the network I / F 3 of the audio conference apparatus 101A and the audio signal processing unit 2 in the mesh connection mode.

  The mesh connection mode is a mode in which each voice conference apparatus connected to the network transmits and receives communication voice data individually.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the audio conference apparatus 101A transmits and receives communication audio data to and from the audio conference apparatuses 101B, 101C, and 101D, respectively. That is, the audio conference apparatus 101A transmits the communication audio data TSab to the audio conference apparatus 101B, and receives the communication audio data TSba from the audio conference apparatus 101B. Also, the audio conference apparatus 101A transmits the communication audio data TSac to the audio conference apparatus 101C, and receives the communication audio data TSca from the audio conference apparatus 101C. The audio conference apparatus 101A transmits the communication audio data TSad to the audio conference apparatus 101D and receives the communication audio data TSda from the audio conference apparatus 101D.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the audio signal processing unit 2 of the audio conference apparatus 101A has the same contents as the collected audio signal and the transmission destinations are set to the audio conference apparatuses 101B, 101C, and 101D, respectively. , SSac, SSad are sequentially generated at a predetermined timing and output to the network I / F 3. The network I / F 3 sequentially converts the audio signals SSab, SSac, and SSad into communication audio data TSab, TSac, and TSad, and transmits them to the audio conference apparatuses 101B, 101C, and 101D at predetermined timings, respectively. In this description, data transmission / reception is performed using the TDMA method, but data transmission / reception may be performed using the multicast method.

  On the other hand, the network I / F 3 of the audio conference apparatus 101A receives the communication audio data TSba, TSca, TSda from the audio conference apparatuses 101B, 101C, 101D via the network, respectively, and buffers the input audio signals SSba, SSca. , SSda and sequentially output to the audio signal processing unit 2 at the timing shown in FIG. The audio signal processing unit 2 outputs these input audio signals SSba, SSca, and SSda as sound output sound signals to the speaker signal processing unit 11 via the echo cancellation circuit 10 and emits sound from the speaker SP.

  Similarly, the audio conference apparatus 101B individually transmits and receives communication audio data to and from the audio conference apparatuses 101C, 101D, and 101A. That is, the audio conference apparatus 101B transmits the communication audio data TSbc to the audio conference apparatus 101C, and receives the communication audio data TScb from the audio conference apparatus 101C. The audio conference apparatus 101B transmits the communication audio data TSbd to the audio conference apparatus 101D and receives the communication audio data TSdb from the audio conference apparatus 101D. The audio conference apparatus 101B transmits the communication audio data TSba to the audio conference apparatus 101A and receives the communication audio data TSab from the audio conference apparatus 101A.

  The audio conference apparatus 101C transmits and receives communication audio data to and from the audio conference apparatuses 101D, 101A, and 101B individually. That is, the audio conference apparatus 101C transmits the communication audio data TScd to the audio conference apparatus 101D, and receives the communication audio data TSdc from the audio conference apparatus 101D. Also, the audio conference apparatus 101C transmits the communication audio data TSca to the audio conference apparatus 101A, and receives the communication audio data TSac from the audio conference apparatus 101A. Also, the audio conference apparatus 101C transmits the communication audio data TScb to the audio conference apparatus 101B, and receives the communication audio data TSbc from the audio conference apparatus 101B.

  The audio conference device 101D individually transmits and receives communication audio data to and from the audio conference devices 101A, 101B, and 101C. That is, the audio conference apparatus 101D transmits the communication audio data TSda to the audio conference apparatus 101A, and receives the communication audio data TSad from the audio conference apparatus 101A. The audio conference apparatus 101D transmits the communication audio data TSdb to the audio conference apparatus 101B and receives the communication audio data TSbd from the audio conference apparatus 101B. The audio conference apparatus 101D transmits the communication audio data TSdc to the audio conference apparatus 101C and receives the communication audio data TScd from the audio conference apparatus 101C.

  As described above, when the number of voice conference apparatuses connected is within a range that can afford the transmission capability of the network, communication voice data can be transmitted and received while maintaining sufficient communication quality. And in this mesh connection mode, since it is not necessary to mix an audio signal, an audio conference can be realized with a simple system without using a server function. Furthermore, since each audio conference device is individually connected, it is possible to independently disconnect the reception of the communication audio signal having contents unnecessary for the conference participants of the own device.

(2) Grouping Connection Mode FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the state of voice communication data transmission / reception in the grouping connection mode.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of input / output data between the network I / F 3 and the audio signal processing unit 2 of the audio conference apparatus 101A in the master unit mode of the grouping connection mode.

  In the grouping connection mode, when the number of voice conference apparatuses connected to the network is larger than the above-described threshold value, the voice conference apparatuses are grouped so that each group is composed of the number of voice conference apparatuses equal to or less than the threshold value. Then, one voice conference device in each group is executed in the parent device mode, and the other voice conference devices are executed in the child device mode. Between each group, communication audio data is transmitted and received between the audio conference apparatuses in the master mode via the network. On the other hand, the audio conference device in the handset mode transmits / receives communication audio data only to / from the audio conference device in the parent device mode of the group to which it belongs.

  As a group configuration method, the audio conference devices participating in the conference are grasped and grouped in advance, and the parent device and the child device in each group are determined. And it implement | achieves by setting the mode allocated to each by the mode selection switch at the time of a meeting. Alternatively, any one of the audio conference apparatuses connected to the network may acquire the address of each audio conference apparatus, and automatically perform grouping and setting of the master mode and the slave mode from the address. Good.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the audio conference devices 101A, 101B, and 101C form a group G1, and the audio conference device 101A is set as the parent device and the audio conference devices 101B and 101C are set as the child devices.

  The voice conference apparatus 101A in the master mode communicates with the voice conference apparatuses 101B and 101C in the slave mode in the same group G1 and the master mode voice conference apparatus in another group connected via the network. Send and receive data.

  The audio conference apparatus 101A in the group G1 transmits the communication audio data TSabEX to the audio conference apparatus 101B in the group G1, and receives the communication audio data TSba from the audio conference apparatus 101B. Also, the audio conference apparatus 101A transmits the communication audio data TSacEX to the audio conference apparatus 101C in the group G1, and receives the communication audio data TSca from the audio conference apparatus 101C. Also, the audio conference apparatus 101A transmits the communication audio data TSaEX to the audio conference apparatus of another group, and receives the communication audio data TSEXa from the audio conference apparatus of the other group.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the audio signal processing unit 2 of the audio conference apparatus 101A receives the input audio signal SSca received from the audio conference apparatus 101C of the same group G1 and the audio of other groups as the collected audio signal. The input audio signal SSExa received from the conference device is mixed to generate an output audio signal SSabEX. Also, the audio signal processing unit 2 of the audio conference apparatus 101A uses the input audio signal SSba received from the audio conference apparatus 101B of the same group G1 and the input audio signal SSExa received from the audio conference apparatus of another group as the collected audio signals. And the output audio signal SSacEX is generated. Furthermore, the audio signal processing unit 2 of the audio conference apparatus 101A mixes the input audio signals SSba and SSca received from the audio conference apparatuses 101B and 101C of the same group G1 with the collected audio signal to generate an output audio signal SSaEX. To do. The audio signal processing unit 2 sets the transmission destinations of the output audio signals SSabEX, SSacEX, and SSaEX to the audio conference apparatuses 101B and 101C and the audio conference apparatuses of other groups, respectively, and outputs them to the network I / F 3. The network I / F 3 sequentially converts the output audio signals SSabEX, SSacEX, SSaEX into communication audio data TSabEX, TSacEX, TSaEX, and transmits them to the audio conference apparatuses 101B, 101C and other groups of audio conference apparatuses at predetermined timings, respectively. To do.

  On the other hand, the network I / F 3 of the audio conference apparatus 101A receives the communication audio data TSba, TSca, and TSEXa from the audio conference apparatuses 101B and 101C and other groups of audio conference apparatuses via the network and inputs them while buffering. It converts into audio | voice signal SSba, SSca, SSEXa, and outputs to the audio | voice signal processing part 2 sequentially at the timing as shown in FIG. The audio signal processing unit 2 stores these input audio signals SSba, SSca, SSEXa, and outputs them as sound output sound signals to the speaker signal processing unit 11 via the echo cancellation circuit 10 to emit sound from the speaker SP.

  The audio signal processing unit 2 of the audio conference apparatus 101B operating in the slave mode in the group G1 sequentially generates the audio signal SSba, which is a collected audio signal, at a predetermined timing, and outputs it to the network I / F 3. The network I / F 3 converts the input audio signal SSba into communication audio data TSba and transmits it to the audio conference apparatus 101A at a predetermined timing.

  Further, the network I / F 3 of the audio conference apparatus 101B receives the communication audio data TSabEX from the audio conference apparatus 101A via the network, converts it into the input audio signal SSabEX while buffering it, and outputs it to the audio signal processing unit 2 To do. The audio signal processing unit 2 outputs these input audio signals SSabEX as sound output sound signals to the speaker signal processing unit 11 via the echo cancellation circuit 10 and emits sound from the speaker SP.

  The audio signal processing unit 2 of the audio conference apparatus 101C operating in the slave mode in the group G1 sequentially generates the audio signal SSca, which is a collected audio signal, at a predetermined timing, and outputs it to the network I / F 3. The network I / F 3 converts the input audio signal SSca into communication audio data TSca and transmits it to the audio conference apparatus 1A at a predetermined timing.

  Also, the network I / F 3 of the audio conference apparatus 101C receives the communication audio data TSacEX from the audio conference apparatus 101A via the network, converts it into the input audio signal SSacEX while buffering it, and outputs it to the audio signal processing unit 2 To do. The audio signal processing unit 2 outputs these input audio signals SSacEX as sound output sound signals to the speaker signal processing unit 11 via the echo cancellation circuit 10 and emits sound from the speakers SP.

  By adopting such a configuration, even if there are a large number of connected audio conferencing apparatuses, the parent device that is grouped and becomes the server of each group is set, and communication audio data is transmitted and received between the parent devices between the groups. It is possible to reduce the transmission load of the network in the multipoint audio conference.

In addition, as a multipoint deployment method by grouping connection mode, according to the number of connected audio conference devices, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, there is a method of setting a parent device (original parent device) of the parent device and transmitting / receiving communication voice data between the groups via the original parent device.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of voice communication data transmission / reception in a voice conference in a grouping connection mode including two groups G1 and G2.

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state of voice communication data transmission / reception in a voice conference in a grouping connection mode including three groups G1, G2, and G3. In FIG. 7, the handset mode audio conference apparatuses of the groups G1 to G3 are not shown.

  In the case where there are six voice conference apparatuses connected as shown in FIG. 6, assuming that there is one parent machine, the number of voice conference apparatuses connected to this parent machine exceeds the aforementioned threshold value 4, so the number of parent machines is 2 Groups G1 and G2 are formed as a table, respectively. The group G1 uses the audio conference apparatus 101A as a parent machine and the audio conference apparatuses 101B and 101C as child machines. The group G2 has the audio conference apparatus 101D as a parent machine and the audio conference apparatuses 101E and 101F as child machines. In each group G1, G2, transmission / reception is performed in the grouping connection mode described above, and the collected audio signals of each audio conference device in each group G1, G2 are mixed between the audio conference devices 101A, 101D as the master unit. The communication voice data TSEXad and TSEXda are transmitted and received. Specifically, the audio conferencing apparatus 101A that is the parent machine of the group G1 uses the audio signal obtained by mixing the collected audio signals of the audio conferencing apparatuses 101A to 101C in the group G1 as communication audio data TSEXad, and serves as the parent apparatus of the group G2. Is transmitted to the audio conference apparatus 101D. The audio conferencing apparatus 101D which is the parent machine of the group G2 transmits the audio signal obtained by mixing the collected audio signals of the audio conference apparatuses 101D to 101F in the group G2 to the audio conferencing apparatus 101A of the group G1 as communication audio data TSEXda. .

  Then, the audio conference apparatus 101A mixes the audio signal based on the communication audio data TSEXda from the group G2, the audio signal based on the communication audio data TSca of the audio conference apparatus 101C in the group G1, and its own collected audio signal. To the voice conference apparatus 101B. Also, the audio conference apparatus 101A mixes the audio signal based on the communication audio data TSEXda from the group G2, the audio signal based on the communication audio data TSba of the audio conference apparatus 101B in the group G1, and its own collected audio signal. To the audio conference apparatus 101C.

  On the other hand, the audio conference apparatus 101D mixes an audio signal based on the communication audio data TSEXad from the group G1, an audio signal based on the communication audio data TSed of the audio conference apparatus 101E in the group G2, and its own collected audio signal. To the audio conference apparatus 101F. Also, the audio conference apparatus 101D mixes the audio signal based on the communication audio data TSEXad from the group G1, the audio signal based on the communication audio data TSfd of the audio conference apparatus 101F in the group G2, and its own collected audio signal. To the voice conference apparatus 101E.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the transmission load of the network in the multipoint audio conference as described above.

  In the case of FIG. 7, since the number of connected audio conference apparatuses is large, each of the groups G1, G2, and G3 is configured, and the audio conference apparatuses 101A and 101A that are the master units of the groups G1, G2, and G3, respectively. 101B and 101C are set. Further, the voice conference device 101Z of the former parent device connected to the voice conference devices 101A, 101B, 101C of the parent device of each group G1, G2, G3 is set. Such situations include, for example, the Tokyo head office, the East Japan branch group (eg, Sapporo, Sendai, Yokohama), the Chubu Japan branch office (eg, Nagoya, Osaka, Nagano) group, and the West Japan branch group (eg, Hiroshima, Takamatsu). , Fukuoka) for audio conferences.

  In each group G1, G2, G3, communication voice data is transmitted and received in the above-described grouping connection mode.

  The audio conference device 101Z of the original master unit emits and collects sound itself, and an audio signal based on the communication audio data TSEXaz from the audio conference device 101A in the group G1 and communication audio data from the audio conference device 101B in the group G2 The audio signal based on TSEXbz and its own collected audio signal are mixed and transmitted to the audio conference apparatus 101C of group G3. In addition, the audio conference device 101Z of the former master device has an audio signal based on the communication audio data TSEXbz from the audio conference device 101B in the group G2, and an audio signal based on the communication audio data TSEXcz from the audio conference device 101C in the group G3. The collected voice signal is mixed with the collected voice signal and transmitted to the voice conference apparatus 101A of the group G1. In addition, the audio conference device 101Z of the former master unit has an audio signal based on the communication audio data TSEXcz from the audio conference device 101C in the group G3, an audio signal based on the communication audio data TSEXaz from the audio conference device 101A in the group G1, It mixes with its own collected audio signal and transmits it to the audio conferencing apparatus 101B of group G2.

  In this way, a structure in which the master units are cascade-connected may be used, and by using this configuration, more voice conference apparatuses can be connected without increasing the network transmission load.

  As described above, by using the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to realize an audio conference in which an optimal connection environment is set and the transmission load of the network is suppressed according to the number of connected audio conference devices. In addition, since a dedicated line and a dedicated server for performing such an audio conference are not required, the audio conference can be performed with a simpler configuration and at a lower cost than in the past.

  In the above description, an example has been shown in which the case where three voice conference devices individually transmit and receive to one voice conference device is set as the upper limit of the network load. May be set as appropriate according to the specifications of the network and the specifications of each audio conference device. In other words, if the upper limit is the case where five voice conference devices individually transmit and receive to one voice conference device, the voice connection by the six voice conference devices is set to the mesh connection mode, and there should be seven or more. For example, a grouping connection mode in which one group is 5 or less may be set.

It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the audio conference apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram showing the state of audio | voice communication data transmission / reception of a mesh connection mode. It is a conceptual diagram of input / output data between the network I / F 3 of the audio conference apparatus 101A and the audio signal processing unit 2 in the mesh connection mode. It is a conceptual diagram showing the state of communication audio | voice data transmission / reception in grouping connection mode. It is a conceptual diagram of input / output data between the network I / F 3 of the audio conference apparatus 101A and the audio signal processing unit 2 in the parent device mode of the grouping connection mode. It is a conceptual diagram showing the state of communication audio | voice data transmission / reception of the audio conference by the grouping connection mode which consists of two groups G1, G2. It is a conceptual diagram showing the state of communication audio | voice data transmission / reception of the audio conference by the grouping connection mode which consists of three groups G1, G2, G3.

Explanation of symbols

101, 101A to 101F, 101Z-voice conferencing apparatus, 1-release / collection unit, 2-voice signal processing unit, 3-network I / F, 4-control unit, 5-operation input unit

Claims (2)

Sound emission and collection means for emitting sound based on the input audio signal and generating a collected audio signal from the collected audio;
Network connection means for connecting to the network;
Connected between the sound emission and collection means and the network connection means,
Only the collected voice signal is supplied to the network communication means, or the network communication is performed by mixing the collected voice signal and a voice signal from a destination device excluding a transmission destination input via the network communication means. Audio signal processing means to be provided to the means;
An audio conference apparatus comprising: The voice conference device according to claim 1 is connected to a network,
If the number of devices connected to the network is within a predetermined threshold, all the audio conference devices independently transmit their collected audio signals to each destination device,
If the number of devices connected to the network is greater than a predetermined threshold, all the audio conference devices are grouped with a number of devices smaller than the predetermined threshold, and one parent device is set in each group.
The audio conference device of the parent device mixes its own collected audio signal with an audio signal from a destination other than the transmission destination and transmits it to the transmission destination. Send to the audio conference device of the master unit,
An audio conference system characterized by that.

Images