JPH07107171A - Communication method change method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Structure] By providing an information table for storing information capable of identifying a communication partner in the videophone program and automatically adding the information to the activation request 650, the videoconference program becomes the current communication partner. A connection request 670 is sent. [Effect] The communication means can be changed by a simple operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention enables conversation or information exchange with users of other terminals by exchanging character information, voice information, video information, etc. between terminals connected by a communication network. It relates to possible simultaneous communication means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some of the video conferences and video conferences held by network terminals include those called directly by the program itself and those that can directly participate in the meeting halfway. In addition, it was possible to connect a communication path with the partner device by telephone dialing and send a fax or an e-mail on the communication path.

[0003]

When calling the other party in a video conference or the like, the telephone attendant accepts the participation in the conference, and then the telephone is hung up to invite the participation from the video conference. Alternatively, it was a method of calling for participation in the meeting.

An object of the present invention is to make the process of participating in a conference more smooth, and to communicate between instant communicators who can exchange information without a time difference, like a telephone, without redesignating the communication partner. It is to be able to change the means.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention stores information that can uniquely identify a communication partner during communication using simultaneous communication means, and uses the stored information,
Made it possible to easily change to another means of simultaneous communication.

[0006]

Since the information for uniquely identifying the communication partner is stored during communication using the simultaneous communication means, simultaneous communication by changing the communication means with the current communication partner without redesignating the communication partner. You can

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As one embodiment of the present invention, a work station incorporating a video telephone system and a video conference system as different communication means will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates three workstations 10 (10-A, 1 connected by a communication network 90).
The explanatory view of the video conference system consisting of 0-B, 10-C) is shown. In this workstation, a camera 60 (60-A, 60-
B, 60-C), speaker 70 (70-A, 70-B,
70-C), microphone 80 (80-A, 80-B, 80-
C) is attached. A handset (headphones with a microphone) may be used instead of the microphone and the speaker. The communication network 90 includes a LAN (Local Area Neighbor).
twork) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Ne
twork), or FDDI (Fiber Dist), which is one of the high-speed LANs.
ributed Data Interface) can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the workstation 10 for implementing the present invention. The input from the keyboard 20 is analyzed by the keyboard driver 110, and the input from the mouse 30 is analyzed by the mouse driver 130, and sent to the program running on the CPU 120. Inputs from the camera and microphone are analyzed by the device control driver and sent to the control program being executed by the CPU 120. The output to the speaker sent through the network is sent from the control program being executed by the CPU 120 to the speaker through the device control driver. The CPU 150 executes a program stored in the main memory 140, and reads / writes data stored on the disk 180 through the disk controller 160 as needed. The processing result of the program is written in the frame memory 150. The display controller 170 periodically reads the content of the frame memory 150 and displays it on the display 40.

The program is a communication interface 100.
It is possible to exchange information with the communication network 90 through.

FIG. 3 shows a screen example 21 during use of the videophone.
Indicates 0. Videophone is voice information on each other's terminals,
You can talk while exchanging image information and seeing each other's faces as a video. The title field 210 indicates that this is a videophone window. Video 2
In 50, the image taken by the other party's camera is projected. Below that, the name 260 of the other party is displayed. In addition, the menu 220 includes “to video conference” 230 and “end” 240. When "to video conference" 230 is selected, a window 310 for a video conference as shown in FIG. 5 is opened, a video is put into the video conference, video control and voice control are transferred to the video conference, and the video call ends. To do. When “end” 240 is selected, the videophone call ends.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an information table 270 of the videophone program. In the information table 270,
The user 280 of the other party and the terminal name 290 that can uniquely determine the terminal being used by the other party are stored. When using a videophone, tell your partner's program your name and device name when you connect. The information received is stored in this information table, and always has this information table while using the videophone.

FIG. 5 shows a screen example 31 during use of a video conference.
Indicates 0. A video conference is a system for holding a conference using voice, video, and sharing of materials. The difference from the videophone is that you can collaborate using data sharing functions such as sharing materials. In the title column 320, the name of the conference currently being held is displayed. This conference name is input by the user at the start of the conference. Menu column 3
Reference numeral 30 denotes a file, a display and a help, and functions (for example, conference end for a file, voice control for display, etc.) related to each are included in this menu. Video 38
On 0-a and 380-b, the image taken by the camera of the other party is displayed, and the name of the other party is displayed below it. The current time is displayed on the clock 340. Blackboard 350
Is for launching a shared blackboard that everyone in the conference can read and write freely, and the shared blackboard acts as a blackboard or whiteboard normally used in conferences. OHP360
Is for activating a collaborative work function for sharing materials and the like. The collaborative work function is a function in which a file held by a certain individual is displayed to all conference participants, and all the participants can input or delete the displayed file. The telephone 370 is used for activating a videophone when it is desired to use the videophone during the conference. Also, the person who made the videophone call can participate in the conference.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the information table 400 of the video conference program. The meeting name 410 is
Ask the user to enter at the beginning of the meeting, and start the meeting at 4
When the video conference program is executed, 20 automatically stores the time at that time in this information table. Number of participants 4
The number 30 stores the number of people participating in the conference, and changes each time the number of participants increases or decreases. The participant information table 440 stores information unique to each participant, and the user name 450 of the participant, the terminal name 460 that can uniquely determine the terminal used by the participant, and the conference participation time of the participant. 470 and the like are stored.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a message 480 exchanged between the video telephone program and the video conference program. The message type code 490 includes the type of message (for example, program start request, connection request, etc.)
Stores the code that represents. Further, after that, a message length 500 and a message body 510 are stored.

FIG. 8 is a state transition diagram when shifting from a videophone to a videoconference. Start the videophone,
The procedure is as follows until the transition to the video conference is completed.

The videophone program of the terminal is started by designating the other party (step 600).

The activated videophone program issues a connection request to the designated destination (step 610). At this time, the videophone program stores the user name and terminal name of the other party in the videophone information table 270. Also,
This connection request message contains the name of the user who issued the connection request and the terminal name.

The terminal which receives the connection request starts the videophone program (step 620).

When the user of the terminal receiving the connection request gives an instruction to permit the connection, a connection permission message is sent back (step 630), and these videophones are connected (step 640). At this time, the user name and terminal name included in the connection request are stored in the videophone information table 270.
To store.

When it is desired to shift to the video conference due to the user's discussion, "To video conference" 230 is selected from the menu 220 in FIG. At this time, the videophone program issues an activation request to the videoconference program (step 650) and activates the videoconference program (step 660). Here, both users may start the video conference, but it is sufficient for either one to start the video conference.
The activation request message sent at this time also includes the user name and the terminal name of the other party who is currently talking.

The activated video conference program sends a connection request message to the video conference program of the other terminal based on the user name and the terminal name included in the message (step 670). The user name and terminal name of the other party are stored in the video conference information table 400. In addition, this connection request message includes the user name and the terminal name that issued the connection request.

Upon receiving the connection permission instruction from the user, the video conference program receiving the connection request returns a connection permission message (step 680) and is connected (step 690). At this time, the user name and the terminal name included in the connection request are added to the video conference information table 400.
To store.

When the connection between the video conference programs is completed, the video conference program of each terminal issues a termination request to the video telephone program of its own terminal (step 700), and the video telephone program is terminated (step 710).

FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram from a video conference in use to a video call until the other party participates in the video conference halfway. Follow the procedure below.

From the video conference being used, the video telephone program of his terminal is activated by telephone 370 by designating the other party (step 750).

Thereafter, steps 760 to 80
0 is performed in the same manner as steps 600 to 640 in FIG.

When a person who receives a videophone call participates in the videoconference, he / she selects "to videoconference" 230 from the videophone menu 220. The videophone program sends a start request to the videoconference program (step 81).
0), start a video conference (820).

The subsequent steps are the same as those of step 670 and thereafter shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a state transition diagram until a videophone call is made during the use of the videoconference and the called party joins the videoconference halfway. Follow the procedure below.

The videophone program is started by designating the other party (step 850).

Thereafter, steps 860 to 89
0 to step 640 from step 600 in FIG.
Do the same as above.

When the called party participates in the conference,
The calling person selects “to video conference” 230 from the menu 220 in FIG. At this time, the videophone program sends a start request for starting the videoconference (step 900).

The subsequent steps are the same as those after step 670 shown in FIG.

[0035]

According to the present invention, when the communication means is changed to communicate with the same terminal, the communication means can be changed without redesignating the communication partner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an entire system used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system of one terminal which constitutes the system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a screen example of a videophone.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an information table held by a videophone program.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a screen example of a video conference.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an information table held by the video conference program.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of messages exchanged in a videophone program and a videoconference program.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of state transition when transitioning from a videophone to a videoconference during connection with a videophone.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a state transition until a person who has not participated in the conference is called by a videophone during the video conference and is allowed to participate in the conference.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a state transition until a person who makes a videophone call participates in the videoconference during the videoconference.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... workstation, 20 ... keyboard, 30 ...
Mouse, 40 ... Display, 50 ... Communication path, 60 ... Camera, 70 ... Speaker, 80 ... Microphone.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Masami Kameda, 5030 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Ltd. Software Development Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Chiho Kitahara 1099, Ozen-ji, Aso-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Inside the Hitachi Systems Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Kenjiro Mori 1099 Ozenji, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Hitachi Systems Development Laboratory

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. By exchanging character information, voice information, video information and the like between terminals connected by a communication network, conversations or information exchanges can be carried out and exchanged with users of other terminals without lag. In a terminal network system having a plurality of simultaneous communication means distinguished by the difference in information, during communication by the first simultaneous communication means, information for uniquely identifying a communication partner is stored, and the communication partner with the currently communicating partner is stored. The communication means is characterized in that the communication means can easily communicate with the current communication partner by the second simultaneous communication means based on the designation of transition to the second simultaneous communication means. Change method. 2. When communication is performed using the terminal device according to claim 1 and the simultaneous communication means, information for uniquely identifying a communication partner is stored during communication by the first simultaneous communication means, When communicating with the other party currently communicating with the second simultaneous communication means in parallel, it is possible to automatically communicate with the current communicating party with the second simultaneous communication means by using the stored information. Communication method change method. 3. When communicating with the terminal device according to claim 1 and the simultaneous communication means capable of communicating with three or more persons, Party A is communicating with the second party using the first simultaneous communication means, and
During communication with Taoi using the second simultaneous communication means, information for uniquely identifying a communication partner is stored, and by using the information, all three persons can easily communicate with each other without specifying a communication partner. A communication means changing method that enables communication using one simultaneous communication means. 4. The communication according to claim 1, wherein one of the terminal devices sends a connection request of the simultaneous communication means to a terminal with which the user wants to communicate by adding a user name and information for uniquely determining the terminal. You can have the other terminal information,
Communication method change method that changes communication method based on the information. 5. A video conferencing system capable of simultaneously exchanging image information, voice information, and character information between terminals connected by a communication network to make a meeting, when the image information or the voice information is called to the meeting. A video conference system characterized in that a video telephone system that enables exchanges and conversations between people is called, and if the called person can participate in the meeting, the communication method can be changed to a video conference. 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein a terminal connected to the communication network communicates with a person who is not participating in the conference by the videophone during the conference by the videoconference system, and the person can participate in the conference. For example, a video conference system that allows participants to participate in a video conference midway through the communication means changing method.