Video conference apparatus for storing a value of a parameter when communication is temporarily disconnected
First Claim
1. A first video conference apparatus connected to communicate with at least one second video conference apparatus via a communication link so as to transmit at least audio and video data during a video conference, said first video conference apparatus comprising:
- a first input inputting a temporary stop command to suspend the video conference currently being performed;
an information storing portion;
a storage control portion responsive to the received temporary stop command to control the information storing portion so as to store a present value of information regarding the video conference currently being performed when said temporary stop command is provided by said first input, said information including at least a communication parameter required for establishing the communication link;
a disconnecting control portion operating to disconnect said communication link after said temporary stop command is provided by said first input; and
a notifying portion responsive to said temporary stop command transmitting a notifying message on said communication link to said at least one second video conference apparatus indicating that said temporary stop command has been input.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a video conference apparatus which can disconnect a communication line by a simple operation, and automatically return to a previous state when the communication line is reconnected. The video conference apparatus communicates with another video conference apparatus via a communication line so as to transmit audio and video data to permit video conferences between the apparatuses. When a temporary stop command is input, representing that the video conference currently performed is to be suspended, a present value of a parameter used for the video conference is stored. When a cancel command is input, the communication line is reconnected by using the stored value of the parameter.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A first video conference apparatus connected to communicate with at least one second video conference apparatus via a communication link so as to transmit at least audio and video data during a video conference, said first video conference apparatus comprising:
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a first input inputting a temporary stop command to suspend the video conference currently being performed; an information storing portion; a storage control portion responsive to the received temporary stop command to control the information storing portion so as to store a present value of information regarding the video conference currently being performed when said temporary stop command is provided by said first input, said information including at least a communication parameter required for establishing the communication link; a disconnecting control portion operating to disconnect said communication link after said temporary stop command is provided by said first input; and a notifying portion responsive to said temporary stop command transmitting a notifying message on said communication link to said at least one second video conference apparatus indicating that said temporary stop command has been input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13)
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7. A first video conference apparatus connected to communicate with at least one second video conference apparatus via a communication link on a telephone communication network so as to transmit at least audio and video data during a video conference, said first video conference apparatus comprising:
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a first input inputting a temporary stop command to suspend the video conference currently being performed; an information storing portion; a storage control portion responsive to the received temporary stop command to control the information storing portion so as to store a present value of information regarding the video conference currently being performed when said temporary stop command is provided by said first input, said information including at least a telephone number of said at least one second video conference apparatus required for establishing the communication link; a disconnecting control portion operating to disconnect said communication link after said temporary stop command is provided by said first input; a second input inputting a cancel command which indicates that the video conference currently being suspended is to be resumed; a communication link re-establishing control portion responsive to said cancel command to control said storage control portion to recall said telephone number of said at least second video conference apparatus from said information storing portion to automatically re-establish the communication link, wherein said communication link re-establishing control portion comprises, a sending control portion providing a call set-up message to said telephone communication network so as to selectively establish said communication link with said at least one second video conference apparatus, and a telephone number setting portion providing the telephone number recalled from storage of said at least one second video conference apparatus in said call set-up message to automatically re-establish said communication link with said at least one second video conference apparatus; a telephone call rejecting portion rejecting a telephone call requesting establishment of a communication link with any video conference apparatus other than said at least one second video conference apparatus at least for a predetermined period of time after said communication link has been disconnected by said disconnecting control portion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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12. A video conference apparatus connected to communicate with another video conference apparatus via a communication link so as to transmit at least audio and video data during a video conference, said video conference apparatus comprising:
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a first input inputting a temporary stop command to suspend the video conference currently being performed; an information storing arrangement; a first storage control portion connected to receive the temporary stop command and to control the information storage arrangement so as to store a present value of at least one parameter used for the currently performed video conference when said temporary stop command is provided by said input; a control portion disconnecting said communication link after said temporary stop command is provided by said first input; and a cancelling control portion cancelling the value of the parameter stored in said information storing arrangement when a predetermined time period is determined by said cancelling control portion to have elapsed after said temporary stop command is provided by said first input so that said video conference is fully terminated and the video conference apparatus is free to participate in new video conferences.
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14. A video conference system including a first video conference device connected to communicate with at least a second video conference device via a communication link that provides for the transmission and reception of at least audio and video data between each of said linked video conference devices during a video conference, each of said linked video conference devices comprising:
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a first input inputting a local temporary stop command; an information storing portion; a storage control portion responsive to the received local temporary stop command to control the information storing portion so as to store information regarding the video conference in progress when the local temporary stop command is provided by said first input, said information being stored including at least a communication parameter for establishing a communication link; a disconnecting control portion operating to disconnect said communications link after said local temporary stop command is provided by said first input; a disconnect message transmitting portion responsive to the local temporary stop command and providing a disconnect message on said communication link for transmission to others of said linked video conference devices prior to the disconnection of said communication link; a disconnect message receiving portion responsive to received disconnect messages from others of said linked video conference devices for providing a control signal to said storage control portion; and wherein said storage control portion responds to the control signal from the disconnect message receiving portion to cause the storage of at least some of the video conference information regarding files and parameters associated with the video conference in progress when said disconnect message is received. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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15. A video conference system including a first video conference device connected to communicate with at least a second video conference device via a communication link that provides for the transmission and reception of at least audio and video data between each of said linked video conference devices during a video conference, wherein each of said linked video conference devices comprises:
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a first input inputting a local temporary stop command; an information storing portion; a storage control portion responsive to the received local temporary stop command to control the information storing portion so as to store information regarding the video conference in progress when the local temporary stop command is provided by said first input, said information being stored including at least a communication parameter for establishing a communication link; a disconnecting control portion operating to disconnect said communication link after said local temporary stop command is provided by said first input; a disconnect message transmitting portion responsive to the local temporary stop command and providing a disconnect message on said communication link for transmission to others of said linked video conference devices prior to the disconnection of said communication link; a disconnect message receiving portion responsive to receive disconnect messages from others of said linked video conference devices for providing a control signal to said storage control portion; wherein said storage control portion responds to the control signal from the disconnect message receiving portion to cause the storage of at least some of the video conference information regarding files and parameters associated with the video conference in progress when said disconnect message is received; and a storage completion control portion detecting the completion of the storage of the at least some of the video conference information and transmitting a notification message indicating storage completion to at least the video conference device originating the disconnect message prior to the communication link being disconnected. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification