Communication information bandwidth control apparatus and method

• US 20030095570A1
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Shinji, Uramatsu, Naoyuki, Shirasaka, Shinichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,529,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1682 Allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users, e.g. concentrated multiplexers, statistical multiplexers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

A bandwidth used in communication processing means to transmit and receive different types of information via a communication line is monitored. A priority definition file 13 previously defining the processing priority of information corresponding to a combination of the different types of information transmitted and received is provided. When the monitor result of monitoring the bandwidth indicates that the amount of information being transmitted/received is a given value or more, the priority definition file is referenced, the appropriate bandwidth for the information being transmitted/received is set in accordance with the processing priority, and the bandwidth of the information being transmitted/received is controlled based on the setup appropriate bandwidth.

Claims

1. A communication information bandwidth control apparatus comprising:

a communication processor adapted to transmit and receive different types of information via a communication line;

a band use state monitor adapted to monitor a bandwidth used in said communication processor to transmit and receive the different types of information;

a priority definition unit having a priority definition file previously defining the processing priority of information corresponding to a combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in said communication processor; and

a bandwidth controller, when the monitor result of said;

band use state monitor indicates that the amount of information being transmitted/received in said communication processor is a given value or more, said bandwidth controller for referencing the priority definition file of said priority definition unit, setting the appropriate bandwidth for the information being transmitted/received in accordance with the processing priority, and controlling the bandwidth of the information being transmitted/received in said communication processor based on the setup appropriate bandwidth.

2. The communication information bandwidth control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 as the bandwidth control apparatus in a network conference system wherein said communication information bandwidth control apparatus transmits and receives information to conduct a conference via the communication line, wherein when the combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in said communication processor contains voice information, drawing information, and monitor video information as the information to conduct a conference, the priority definition file of said priority definition unit is set so as to lower the processing priority in the order of the voice information, the drawing information, and the monitor video information.

3. The communication information bandwidth control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 as the bandwidth control apparatus in a network conference system wherein said communication information bandwidth control apparatus transmits and receives information to conduct a conference via the communication line, wherein when the combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in said communication processor contains voice information, display information, and monitor video information as the information to conduct a conference, the priority definition file of said priority definition unit is set so as to lower the processing priority in the order of the display information, the voice information, and the monitor video information.

4. The communication information bandwidth control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 as the bandwidth control apparatus in a network conference system wherein said communication information bandwidth control apparatus transmits and receives information to conduct a conference via the communication line, wherein when the combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in said communication processor contains voice information, conference data file information, and monitor video information as the information to conduct a conference, the priority definition file of said priority definition unit is set so as to lower the processing priority in the order of the voice information, the conference data file information, and the monitor video information.

5. The communication information bandwidth control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 as the bandwidth control apparatus in a network conference system wherein said communication information bandwidth control apparatus transmits and receives information to conduct a conference via the communication line, wherein when the combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in said communication processor contains voice information and monitor video information as the information to conduct a conference, the priority definition file of said priority definition unit is set so as to lower the processing priority in the order of the voice information and the monitor video information.

6. A communication information bandwidth control method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a bandwidth used in communication processor to transmit and receive different types of information via a communication line;

when the monitor result in said step of monitoring the bandwidth indicates that the amount of information being transmitted/received in the communication processor is a given value or more, referencing a priority definition file previously defining the processing priority of information corresponding to a combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in the communication processor, and setting the appropriate bandwidth for the information being transmitted/received in accordance with the processing priority; and

controlling the bandwidth of the information being transmitted/received in the communication processor based on the setup appropriate bandwidth.

7. The communication information bandwidth control method as claimed in claim 6 in a network conference system wherein information to conduct a conference is transmitted and received via the communication line according to said communication information bandwidth control method, wherein when the combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in the communication processor contains voice information, drawing information, and monitor video information as the information to conduct a conference, the priority definition file is set so as to lower the processing priority in the order of the voice information, the drawing information, and the monitor video information.

8. The communication information bandwidth control method as claimed in claim 6 in a network conference system wherein information to conduct a conference is transmitted and received via the communication line according to said communication information bandwidth control method, wherein when the combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in the communication processor contains voice information, display information, and monitor video information as the information to conduct a conference, the priority definition file is set so as to lower the processing priority in the order of the display information, the voice information, and the monitor video information.

9. The communication information bandwidth control method as claimed in claim 6 in a network conference system wherein information to conduct a conference is transmitted and received via the communication line according to said communication information bandwidth control method, wherein when the combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in the communication processor contains voice information, conference data file information, and monitor video information as the information to conduct a conference, the priority definition file is set so as to lower the processing priority in the order of the voice information, the conference data file information, and the monitor video information.

10. The communication information bandwidth control method as claimed in claim 6 in a network conference system wherein information to conduct a conference is transmitted and received via the communication line according to said communication information bandwidth control method, wherein when the combination of the different types of information transmitted and received in the communication processor contains voice information and monitor video information as the information to conduct a conference, the priority definition file is set so as to lower the processing priority in the order of the voice information and the monitor video information.