Multi-point video conference control apparatus

• US 5,774,457 A
• Filed: 11/18/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Iizawa, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, RICKY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US08/751,724
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/260, 370/261, 370/262, 370/263, 370/265, 370/266, 379/201, 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/205, 348/205, 455/518, 455/519, 395/202
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

In a multi-point video conference control apparatus, a chairman demultiplexer separates video and speech signals from a multiplexed signal from a chairman CODEC. A talker demultiplexer separates video and speech signals from a selected multiplexed signal. A detecting section detects a talk request signal. A first selection instructing section instructs a first selector to select one multiplexed signal on the basis of a detected talk request signal. A second selection instructing section instructs an image selector to select the video signal from the talker demultiplexer upon detection of no talk request signal, and instructs the image selector to select the video signal from the chairman demultiplexer upon detection of no talk request signal. A multi-address calling multiplexer multiplexes the video signal from the image selector and the speech signal from a speech adder. A distribution unit transmits a signal based on the signal from the chairman CODEC to the entrant CODEC as the talk request source and transmits the multiplexed signal from the multi-address calling multiplexer to the remaining entrant CODECs upon detection of a talk request signal, and transmits the multiplexed signal from the multi-address calling multiplexer to all the entrant CODECs upon detection of no talk request signal.

Claims

1. A multi-point video conference control apparatus comprising:

first signal separation means for separating a multiplexed signal transmitted from a specific first terminal station into video and speech signals;

first multiplexed signal selection means for selecting one of multiplexed signals transmitted from a plurality of second terminal stations other than said first terminal station;

second signal separation means for separating the multiplexed signal selected by said first multiplexed signal selection means into video and speech signals;

speech signal addition means for adding the speech signals output from said first and second signal separation means;

video signal selection means for selecting one of the video signals output from said first and second signal separation means;

talk request signal detection means for detecting a talk request signal indicating a talk request transmitted from one of said second terminal stations;

first selection instructing means for, when a talk request signal is detected, instructing said first multiplexed signal selection means to select a multiplexed signal from one of said second terminals which is a talk request source on the basis of the detected talk request signal;

second selection instructing means for instructing said video signal selection means to select a video signal from said second signal separation means when a talk request signal is detected, and instructing said second selection instructing means to select a video signal from said first signal separation means when no talk request signal is detected by said talk request signal detection means;

first signal multiplexing means for multiplexing the video signal selected by said video signal selection means and the speech signal output from said speech addition means; and

signal distribution means for, when a talk request signal is detected, transmitting a signal based on the multiplexed signal transmitted from said first terminal station to one of said second terminal stations which is the talk request source, and transmitting the multiplexed signal from said first signal multiplexing means to said second terminal stations other than the talk request source, and when a talk request is not detected by said talk request signal detection means, transmitting the multiplexed signal from said first signal multiplexing means to all said second terminal stations.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second signal multiplexing means for multiplexing the video and speech signals from said first signal separation means and outputting the multiplexed signal to said signal distribution means, and

wherein when a talk request signal is detected by said talk request signal detection means, said signal distribution means transmits the multiplexed signal from said second signal multiplexing means to said second terminal station as the talk request source.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second signal multiplexing means for multiplexing the video and speech signals from said second signal separation means and transmitting the multiplexed signal to said first terminal station.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

signal transmission means for transmitting a talk request station display signal, indicating one of said second terminal stations which is the talk request source, on the basis of the detection result obtained by said talk request signal detection means to said first terminal station; and

signal detection means, responsive to transmission of a talk request station display signal, for detecting a talk permission signal indicating one of said second terminal stations which is permitted to talk and transmitted from said first terminal station.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the talk request signal is multiplexed with the multiplexed signal transmitted from said second terminal station, and said talk request signal detection means comprises

second multiplexed signal selection means for cyclically and sequentially selecting multiplexed signals transmitted from said second terminal stations, and

third signal separation means for separating a talk request signal from the multiplexed signal selected by said second multiplexed signal selection means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing talk request signals transmitted from said second terminal stations in the order in which the signals are detected, and

wherein said talk request signal detection means reads out the talk request signals stored in said memory in the order in which the signals are stored, thereby detecting arrival of the talk request signals in the order in which the signals are read out.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising selection control means, having said first and second selection instructing means, for controlling said signal distribution means in accordance with the presence/absence of a talk request signal detected by said talk request signal detection means and setting destinations to which a signal based on a multiplexed signal from said first signal multiplexing means and a signal based on a multiplexed signal from said first terminal station are to be distributed.

8. A multi-point video conference control apparatus comprising:

first signal separation means for separating a multiplexed signal transmitted from a specific first terminal station into video and speech signals;

first multiplexed signal selection means for selecting one of multiplexed signals transmitted from a plurality of second terminal stations other than said first terminal station;

second signal separation means for separating the multiplexed signal selected by said first multiplexed signal selection means into video and speech signals;

speech signal addition means for adding the speech signals output from said first and second signal separation means;

video signal selection means for selecting one of the video signals output from said first and second signal separation means;

second signal multiplexing means for multiplexing the video and speech signals from said second signal separation means and transmitting the multiplexed signal to said first terminal station;

third signal multiplexing means for multiplexing the video and speech signals from said first signal separation means and outputting the multiplexed signal to said signal distribution means;

talk request signal detection means for detecting a talk request signal indicating a talk request transmitted from said second terminal station;

first selection control means for, when a talk request signal is detected, selecting a multiplexed signal from one of said second terminals which is a talk request source on the basis of the detected talk request signal by controlling said first multiplexed signal selection means;

second selection control means for selecting one of the video signals from said first and second signal separation means which are output to said first signal multiplexing means, by controlling said video signal selection means on the basis of the presence/absence of a talk request signal detected by said talk request signal detection means;

first signal multiplexing means for multiplexing the video signal selected by said video signal selection means and the speech signal output from said speech addition means;

signal distribution means for distributing the multiplexed signals from said first and third signal multiplexing means to said second terminal stations; and

third selection control means for controlling said signal distribution means on the basis of the presence/absence of a talk request signal, said third selection control means transmitting the multiplexed signal from said third signal multiplexing means to one of said second terminal stations which is a talk request source and transmitting the multiplexed signal from said first signal multiplexing means to said second terminal stations other than the talk request source when a talk request signal is detected, and transmitting the multiplexed signal from said first signal multiplexing means to all said second terminal stations when a talk request signal is not detected.