Multipoint communication system and multipoint communication method

• US 20030093700A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshimoto, Morio, Oka, Susumu, Murayama, Shuu, Horii, Yuuji
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects

Abstract

When a service receiving server 1 receives a request of a multi-point communication service from communication terminals 3A to 3C, a service ID corresponding to the multi-point communication service and passwords are respectively sent to the communication terminals 3A to 3C receiving the multi-point communication service and are sent to a communication service unit 2. When the communication service unit 2 receives the service ID and the password from the communication terminals 3A to 3C, the communication service unit 2 collates whether or not the service ID and the password sent from the communication terminals 3A to 3C agree with those sent from the service receiving server 1. In case of the agreement, the communication service unit 2 connects with the group of communication terminals 3A to 3C and provides the multi-point communication service for the communication terminals 3A to 3C according to the service ID.

Claims

1. A multi-point communication system, comprising a communication service unit for providing a type of multi-point communication service or a plurality of types of multi-point communication services for a single communication terminal or a plurality of communication terminals,

characterized in that the multi-point communication system further comprises a service receiving unit for receiving a request of one type of multi-point communication service from the single communication terminal or the communication terminals, issuing both a service identifier corresponding to the type of multi-point communication service and a password corresponding to a communication terminal group receiving the type of multi-point communication service to the single communication terminal or each of the communication terminals requesting the type of multi-point communication service, and outputting the service identifier and the password or the passwords to the communication service unit,

wherein the service receiving unit receives a request of a type of multi-point communication service from an arbitrary communication terminal denoting the single communication terminal or selected from among the communication terminals, the communication service unit receives the service identifier indicating the type of multi-point communication service and the password of the arbitrary communication terminal from the arbitrary communication terminal, the communication service unit confirms whether or not the password received from the arbitrary communication terminal agrees with the password of the arbitrary communication terminal output from the service receiving unit, and the communication service unit provides the type of multi-point communication service indicated by the service identifier for the arbitrary communication in a case where the password received from the arbitrary communication terminal agrees with the password output from the service receiving unit.

2. A multi-point communication system⁻

1 according to claim 1, wherein the service receiving unit is connected with the communication service unit through a network.

3. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein the request of the type of multi-point communication service received in the service receiving unit includes a name of a group of communication terminals performing a multi-point communication according to the type of multi-point communication service.

4. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein the service identifier or the password sent from the arbitrary communication terminal to the communication service unit is arbitrarily selected by a user of the arbitrary communication terminal.

5. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein the service receiving unit outputs an instruction indicating the start of the type of multi-point communication service to the communication service unit after the service receiving unit confirms that a user of the arbitrary communication terminal receiving the multi-point communication service pays a charge for the multi-point communication service, and the service receiving unit permits the communication service unit to provide the type of multi-point communication service for the user of the arbitrary communication terminal.

6. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein the service receiving unit outputs an instruction, which indicates that the password of the arbitrary communication terminal receiving the type of multi-point communication service is available, to the communication service unit after the service receiving unit confirms that a user of the arbitrary communication terminal receiving the type of multi-point communication service pays a charge for the type of multi-point communication service, and the service receiving unit permits the communication service unit to provide the type of multi-point communication service for the user of the arbitrary communication terminal.

7. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein a resource of the communication service unit is short when the service receiving unit receives the request of the type of multi-point communication service from the arbitrary communication terminal, the provision of the type of multi-point communication service becomes possible at a specific time because a free space is obtained in the resource of the communication service unit, and the service receiving unit notifies the arbitrary communication terminal requesting the type of multi-point communication service at the specific time that the provision of the type of multi-point communication service is possible.

8. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein a resource of the communication service unit is short when the service receiving unit receives the request of the type of multi-point communication service from the arbitrary communication terminal, the provision of the type of multi-point communication service becomes possible at a specific time because a free space is obtained in the resource of the communication service unit, and the service receiving unit sends an instruction to the communication service unit at the specific time to make the arbitrary communication terminal requesting the type of multi-point communication service connect with the communication service unit.

9. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein the service receiving unit is automatically connected with the arbitrary communication terminal, for which the type of multi-point communication service is provided, before a service providing time when the service providing time is coming, and the service receiving unit sends a notice of the provision of the type of multi-point communication service to the arbitrary communication terminal.

10. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein the service receiving unit issues a password conformable to a communication capacity of one communication terminal or an authorized limit of rights given to one communication terminal to the communication terminal for each communication terminal, and the communication service unit provides a type of multi-point communication service or a plurality of types of multi-point communication services conformable to the communication capacity of each communication terminal or the authorized limit of rights given to each communication terminal according to the password of the communication terminal.

11. A multi-point communication system according to claim 1, wherein the service receiving unit specifies a call-in address of the communication service unit for each service identifier and notifies the arbitrary communication terminal of the call-in addresses, the arbitrary communication terminal selects one service identifier notified by the service receiving unit to automatically send a call to the corresponding call-in address of the communication service unit and to be connected with the communication service unit, and the service receiving unit notifies the communication service unit of the password sent to the arbitrary communication terminal.

12. A multi-point communication method, comprising the step of providing a type of multi-point communication service or a plurality of types of multi-point communication services for a single communication terminal or a plurality of communication terminals, characterized in that the multi-point communication method further comprises the steps of;

receiving a request of a type of multi-point communication service from the single communication terminal or the communication terminals;

issuing a password or a service identifier corresponding to a communication terminal group receiving the type of multi-point communication service to the single communication terminal or each of the communication terminals requesting the type of multi-point communication service; and

providing the type of multi-point communication service for an arbitrary communication terminal denoting the single communication terminal or selected from among the communication terminals according to the password or the service identifier sent from the arbitrary communication terminal in a case where the service identifier indicating a request of the type of multi-point communication service and the password are received from the arbitrary communication terminal.