Communication terminal, communication function starting method, and computer-readable recording medium

• US 10,133,456 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2013
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kanda, Hiroyuki, Asai, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Amy M
• Application Number:
  US14/395,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20150121253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/103 Selection of coding mode or of prediction mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/162 User input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/187 the unit being a scalable video layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A communication terminal includes a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit, a function selecting screen that contains a first icon for receiving a selection of a first communication function and a second icon for receiving a selection of a second communication function. The first communication function is to provide communication using a signaling protocol for connecting to or disconnecting from a destination of communication and an encoding protocol for encapsulating communication data in IP packets. The second communication function is to provide communication using the same signaling protocol and a different encoding protocol. The communication terminal also includes a receiving unit configured to receive a selection of the first icon or the second icon; and a starting unit configured to start the first communication function and the second communication function in response to the selection of the first icon and the second icon, respectively.

Claims

1. A communication terminal, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to

cause a display, to display, prior to a video communication session, a function selecting screen that contains a first icon for receiving a selection of a first communication function and a second icon for receiving a selection of a second communication function, the first communication function being to provide video communication using a first encoding protocol for encapsulating communication data in internet protocol (IP) packets, the second communication function being to provide video communication using a second encoding protocol different from that of the first communication function;

receive, from a user of the communication terminal, a selection of the first icon or the second icon, selection of the first icon causing display of a destination list of destination candidates, and selection of the second icon causing the processing circuitry to receive a designated destination entered by the user;

display the destination list of destination candidates when the first icon is selected;

start the first communication function in response to the selection of the first icon and initiate a video communication session based on the first encoding protocol with a destination communication terminal selected from the displayed destination list using the first communication function; and

start the second communication function in response to the selection of the second icon and initiate a video communication session based on the second encoding protocol with the designated destination communication terminal using the second communication function.

2. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to start the first communication function when a communication initiating request issued on the first communication function is received from another communication terminal having only the first communication function, while the function selecting screen is displayed, but before the process circuitry receives the selection, and initiate a video communication session with the another communication terminal using the first communication function.

3. The communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit operation status information indicating that the second communication function is running to a communication management system for managing an operation status of the communication terminal when the receiver receives the selection of the second icon.

4. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein

the processing circuitry causes the display to display the destination list indicating an operation status of the destination candidates, and display, in addition to the destination list, a third icon for displaying the function selecting screen on the display,

the processing circuitry is configured to receive a selection of the third icon, and

the processing circuitry is configured to cause the display to display the function selecting screen when the selection of the third icon is received.

5. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication data includes at least audio data.

6. The communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the first communication function provides video communication using a signaling protocol for connecting to or disconnecting from a destination of communication, and the second communication function uses the signaling protocol of the first communication function.

7. A communication function starting method, comprising:

displaying, on a display, prior to a video communication session, a function selecting screen that contains a first icon for receiving a selection of a first communication function and a second icon for receiving a selection of a second communication function, the first communication function being to provide video communication using a first encoding protocol for encapsulating communication data in internet protocol (IP) packets, the second communication function being to provide video communication using a second encoding protocol different from that of the first communication function;

receiving, from a user, a selection of the first icon or the second icon, selection of the first icon causing display of a destination list of destination candidates, and selection of the second icon causing receipt of a designated destination entered by the user;

displaying the destination list of destination candidates when the first icon is selected;

starting the first communication function, in response to the selection of the first icon, and initiating a video communication session based on the first encoding protocol with a destination communication terminal selected from the displayed destination list using the first communication function; and

starting the second communication function, in response to the selection of the second icon, and initiating a video communication session based on the second encoding protocol with the designated destination communication terminal using the second communication function.

8. A computer-readable recording medium with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a computer to execute the communication function starting method according to claim 7.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising starting the first communication function when a communication initiating request issued on the first communication function is received from another communication terminal having only the first communication function, while the function selecting screen is displayed but before the process circuitry receives the selection, and initiate a video communication session with the another communication terminal using the first communication function.