JPH09200352A - Video conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily identify a video conference terminal equipment being a communication destination for each application by displaying a communication state with the video conference terminal equipment being the communication destination for each registered application. SOLUTION: A connection state display section displays a destination terminal equipment while making a conference and displays opposite terminal equipments making communication with an application and opposite terminal equipments not making communication in a dinstinguishable way. Then a communication state registration means 1 registers a communication state with a video conference terminal equipment being a communication destination for each started application. Furthermore, a communication state display control means 2 displays a communication state with a video conference terminal equipment being a communication destination for each registered application by the communication state registration means 1 onto a window of each application. Thus, in the case that a video conference terminal equipment being a communication destination differs from each application, a video conference terminal equipment being a communication destination for each application is easily identified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video conference system, and more particularly to connecting a plurality of video conference terminals such as personal computers via communication lines and executing various applications between the video conference terminals. The present invention relates to a video conference system suitable for holding a conference between video conference terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a video conference system based on a personal computer (video conference terminal) connected via a communication line has become widespread. With the spread of this type of video conference system, it is possible to execute various applications and hold a video conference on a personal computer. By the way, in the above-mentioned personal computer-based video conference system, for example, the following applications are provided.

The whiteboard reads the chart as a shared space between the video conference terminals, and the operators of the video conference terminals can edit the chart with each other. In addition, in application sharing, operators of respective video conference terminals can share a certain application with each other to perform collaborative work.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, when a plurality of partner terminals participate in a conference provided by the video conference system and the partner terminal with which communication is performed is different for each application, to know which partner terminal the communicating application is in communication with. I couldn't. For this reason, there is a problem that it is not possible to grasp which partner terminal the information is transmitted to.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and when the video conference terminal of the communication partner is different for each application, it is possible to easily identify the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each application. The purpose is to provide a video conferencing system that has made it possible.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is provided with a plurality of video conference terminals connected via a communication line, and various applications are executed between the video conference terminals. In a video conference system configured to hold a conference between video conference terminals, communication state registration means for registering a communication state with a video conference terminal of a communication partner for each application activated in the video conference terminal, and the communication. And a communication status display control means for displaying the communication status with the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each application registered by the status registration means.

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention of claim 2, the communication status display control means has a function of displaying a communication status of each application with a video conference terminal of a communication partner, in a window of each application. It is characterized by having.

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention of claim 3, the communication state display control means displays the communication state of each application with the video conference terminal of the communication partner for the application which has become the active state. It is characterized by having a function.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment A video conference system according to the first embodiment connects a plurality of video conference terminals (not shown) via a communication line,
The video conference terminals are configured to execute various applications to hold a conference between the video conference terminals.

First, in the video conference system according to the first embodiment, an example of a display screen of an application communicating with a video conference terminal (a partner terminal) of a partner will be described with reference to FIG.

The application 100 is an application capable of communicating with the partner terminal, and is equipped with a connection status display section 101 for indicating the communication status with the partner terminal, for example, at the bottom of the window. Connection status display 1
01 is for displaying the other terminal in the conference,
The partner terminal communicating with the application 100 and the partner terminal not communicating are displayed separately.

In FIG. 1, the own terminal is in a meeting with the other terminal A, the other terminal B, and the other terminal C, and the application 1
00 indicates that only the other terminal A is communicating.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the communication status registration means 1 and the communication status display control means 2 according to the first embodiment. The communication state registration means 1 registers the communication state with the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each activated application. The communication status display control means 2 is
The communication status with the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each application registered by the communication status registration means 1 is displayed in the window of each application.

Next, in the video conference system according to the first embodiment, a case of starting communication between the partner terminal B and the application 100 from the state of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and FIG. To do.

In FIG. 2, first, the application 1
00 performs a connection process for starting communication such as establishing a connection (logical communication path) and a path with the partner terminal B (step S1). Next, a connection state management table (not shown) that stores the connection state of the application 100 with the partner terminal indicating that communication with the partner terminal B has started
(Step S2). After that, the connection state with the partner terminal is displayed on the connection state display unit 101, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (step S3).

In the example of FIG. 3, the connection status display section 101 displays that the application 100 is communicating with the partner terminal A and the partner terminal B.

Next, in the video conference system according to the first embodiment, a case of ending the communication with the partner terminal B from the state of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 4, first, the application 1
00 performs connection release processing for terminating communication with the partner terminal B, such as disconnecting connection and path (step S11). Then, the fact that the communication with the partner terminal B is completed is registered in a connection status management table (not shown) that stores the connection status of the application 100 with the partner terminal (step S12). After that, the connection state with the partner terminal is displayed on the connection state display unit 101, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 (step S13).

In the example of FIG. 1, the connection state display section 101 displays that the application 100 is communicating only with the partner terminal A.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the communication status registering means 1 for registering the communication status of each activated application with the video conference terminal of the communication partner, and the communication status registering means. The video conference terminal of the communication partner is provided with the communication status display control means 2 for displaying the communication status with the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each application registered in 1 in the window of each application. When different for each application, the video conference terminal of the communication partner of each application can be easily identified.

(2) Second Embodiment In a video conference system according to a second embodiment, a plurality of video conference terminals (not shown) are connected via a communication line,
The video conference terminals are configured to execute various applications to hold a conference between the video conference terminals.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the configurations of the communication status registration means 1 and the communication status display control means 2 according to the second embodiment. The communication state registration means 1 registers the communication state with the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each activated application. The communication status display control means 2 is
The communication status of each application registered by the communication status registration means 1 with the video conference terminal of the communication partner is displayed for the application in the active status.

First, in the video conference system according to the second embodiment, an example of a display screen of an application communicating with a video conference terminal (a partner terminal) of a partner will be described with reference to FIG.

The application 200 is an application capable of communicating with a partner terminal and is in an active state (a state in which the selected application is displayed in front of other applications). The connection status display window 201 displays a partner terminal currently in a conference of an active application, and distinguishes between a partner terminal that is communicating and a partner terminal that is not communicating.

In FIG. 5, the own terminal is in a meeting with the other terminal A, the other terminal B, and the other terminal C, and the application 2
00 indicates that only the other terminal A is communicating.

Next, in the video conference system according to the second embodiment, in the case where the communication between the partner terminal B and the application 200 is started from the state of FIG. 5, the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 and FIG. It will be explained based on.

In FIG. 6, first, the application 2
00 performs a connection process for starting communication such as establishing a connection and a path with the partner terminal B (step S).
21). Next, the fact that communication has started with the partner terminal B
The application 200 is registered in a connection state management table (not shown) that stores the connection state with the partner terminal (step S22). Thereafter, in order to display the connection state with the partner terminal on the connection state display window 201, a message and data indicating the connection state are posted (step S2).
3).

On the other hand, in FIG. 7, the connection status display window 201 receives a message from the application 200 and data indicating the connection status (step S3).
1). Next, using the data indicating the connection state posted by the application 200, the connection state is displayed as shown in FIG. 8 (step S32).

In the example of FIG. 8, the connection status display window 2
In 01, it is displayed that the active application 200 is communicating with the partner terminals A and B.

Next, in the video conference system according to the second embodiment, the case of ending the communication with the partner terminal B from the state of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 9, first, the application 2
00 performs connection release processing for terminating communication with the partner terminal B, for example, disconnecting connection and path (step S41). Next, the fact that the communication with the partner terminal B is completed is registered in a connection status management table (not shown) that stores the connection status of the application 200 with the partner terminal (step S42). Then, in order to display the connection state with the partner terminal on the connection state display window 201, a message and data indicating the connection state are posted (step S43). Along with this, the connection status display window 2
01 is displayed as shown in FIG. 5, for example, according to the flowchart of FIG.

In the example of FIG. 5, the connection status display window 2
In 01, it is displayed that the application 200 is communicating only with the partner terminal A.

Next, in the video conference system according to the second embodiment, the process when the application 200 is in the active state will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 10, the application 200
Receives a message from the OS (Operating System) notifying that it has become active (step S51). Then, in the connection status display window 201,
The message and the data indicating the connection state already registered in the connection state management table (not shown) are posted (step S52). Along with this, the connection status display window 2
01 displays the connection state according to the flowchart of FIG.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the communication status registering means 1 for registering the communication status of each activated application with the video conference terminal of the communication partner, and the communication status registering means. The communication status display control means 2 for displaying the communication status with the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each application registered in 1 for the application in the active state. Therefore, the video conference terminal of the communication partner. When is different for each application, the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each application can be easily identified.

The first and second embodiments described above are examples of the present invention, and the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments. Absent. For example, in the first embodiment described above, the connection status display unit 101 is arranged in the lower part of the window, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it can be arranged in any place.

In the first embodiment, the connection status display unit 101 distinguishes between the partner terminal in the conference and the partner terminal with which the application is communicating, and in the second embodiment, the connection status is displayed. The partner terminal in the conference and the partner terminal in communication with the application are displayed separately in the status display window 201, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The application may display only the other terminal with which the application is communicating.

[0039]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, the plurality of video conference terminals connected via the communication line are provided, and the various video conference terminals execute various applications to perform the video conference terminal. In a video conference system configured to hold a conference between users, a communication state registration unit that registers a communication state with a video conference terminal of a communication partner for each application activated in the video conference terminal, and a communication state registration unit. Since the communication status display control means for displaying the communication status of the registered application with respect to the video conference terminal of the communication partner is provided, if the video conference terminal of the communication partner is different for each application, It is possible to easily identify the video conference terminal of the communication partner.

According to the invention of claim 2, the communication status display control means has a function of displaying the communication status of each application with the video conference terminal of the communication partner, in the window of each application. Similarly to the invention described above, when the video conference terminal of the communication partner is different for each application, the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each application can be easily identified.

According to the invention of claim 3, the communication state display control means has a function of displaying the communication state of each application with the video conference terminal of the communication partner, for the application in the active state. 1
Similarly to the invention described above, when the video conference terminal of the communication partner is different for each application, the video conference terminal of the communication partner for each application can be easily identified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen of an application communicating with a partner terminal A in the video conference system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when starting communication with a partner terminal B in the application according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen of an application communicating with a partner terminal A and a partner terminal B in the video conference system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when terminating communication with a partner terminal B in the application according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen of an application communicating with a partner terminal A in the video conference system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when starting communication with a partner terminal B in the application according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display operation of a connection status display window according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen of an application communicating with a partner terminal A and a partner terminal B in the video conference system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when terminating communication with a partner terminal B in the application according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation when an application according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is in an active state.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a connection state registration unit and a connection state display control unit according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Communication status registration means 2 Communication status display control means 100 Application 101 Connection status display unit 200 Application 201 Connection status display window A partner terminal (video conference terminal) B partner terminal (video conference terminal) C partner terminal (video conference terminal)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video conference system comprising a plurality of video conference terminals connected via a communication line, wherein various video conference terminals execute various applications to hold a conference between the video conference terminals. A communication state registering means for registering a communication state with a video conference terminal of a communication partner for each application activated in the conference terminal; and a video conference terminal of a communication partner for each application registered by the communication state registering means. And a communication state display control means for displaying the communication state of the video conference system. 2. The communication status display control means has a function of displaying a communication status of each application with a video conference terminal of a communication partner, in a window of each application. Video conferencing system. 3. The communication status display control means has a function of displaying a communication status of each application with a video conference terminal of a communication partner, for an application in an active status. Video conferencing system.