COMMUNICATION TERMINAL, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING DISPLAY CONTROL PROGRAM

• US 20130298031A1
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Hiroyuki Kanda, Takahiro Asai
• Inventors: ASAI, Takahiro, KANDA, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,544,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• 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 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8451 using Advanced Video Coding [AVC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

At a communication terminal, visual information reflecting an operation state of a candidate counterpart terminal and a graphical image that allows the communication terminal to switch from a first communications protocol to a second communications protocol, is displayed, respectively, when the communication terminal activates the first communications protocol. In response to a user instruction for selecting the graphical image, the communication terminal activates the second communications protocol to cause the communication terminal to communicate using the second communications protocol.

Claims

1. A communication terminal, comprising:

an activator configured to activate one of a first communications protocol or a second communications protocol, the first communications protocol and the second communications protocol having the same call control protocols and different encoding formats;

a display controller configured to display visual information reflecting an operation state of a candidate counterpart terminal and a graphical image that allows the activator to switch from the first communications protocol to the second communications protocol, respectively, on a display, when the activator activates the first communications protocol; and

a receiver configured to receive a user instruction for selecting the graphical image,

wherein, when the user instruction for selecting the graphical image is received, the activator is configured to activate the second communications protocol to cause the communication terminal to communicate using the second communications protocol.

2. The communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to send operation state information indicating activation of the second communications protocol to a communication management system, when the receiver receives the user instruction for selecting the graphical image.

3. The communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage area configured to store the visual information reflecting the operation state in association with operation state information indicating the operation state,

wherein the display controller displays the visual information obtained from the storage area.

4. A communication system, comprising:

the communication terminal of claim 2; and

the communication management system including;

a storage area configured to store the operation state information indicating activation of the second communications protocol; and

a converter configured to, when the operation state information of the communication terminal indicates activation of the second communications protocol, converts data received from the communication terminal so as to be in compliance with the first call control protocol.

5. A method of controlling display at a communication terminal, comprising:

displaying visual information reflecting an operation state of a candidate counterpart terminal and a graphical image that allows the communication terminal to switch from a first communications protocol to a second communications protocol, respectively, on a display, the first communications protocol and the second communications protocol having the same call control protocols and different encoding formats;

receiving a user instruction for selecting the graphical image; and

activating the second communications protocol to cause the communication terminal to communicate using the second communications protocol.

6. The display control method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending operation state information indicating activation of the second communications protocol to a communication management system, based on the user instruction for selecting the graphical image.

7. The display control method of claim 5, further comprising:

storing, in a memory, the visual information reflecting the operation state in association with operation state information indicating the operation state, wherein the displaying displays the visual information obtained from the memory.

8. A non-transitory recording medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform a method of controlling display at a communication terminal, the method comprising:

displaying visual information reflecting an operation state of a candidate counterpart terminal and a graphical image that allows the communication terminal to switch from a first communications protocol to a second communications protocol, respectively, on a display, the first communications protocol and the second communications protocol having the same call control protocols and different encoding formats;

receiving a user instruction for selecting the graphical image; and

activating the second communications protocol to cause the communication terminal to communicate using the second communications protocol.

9. The non-transitory recording medium of claim 8, wherein the display control method further comprises:

sending operation state information indicating activation of the second communications protocol to a communication management system, based on the user instruction for selecting the graphical image.

10. The non-transitory recording medium of claim 8, wherein the display control method further comprises:

storing, in a memory, the visual information reflecting the operation state in association with operation state information indicating the operation state, wherein the displaying displays the visual information obtained from the memory.