Virtual proximity service control system

• US 6,462,767 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1996
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Sasaki, Kazuo, Obata, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US08/730,268
• Time in Patent Office: 2,184 Days
• Field of Search: 348/12-20, 379/93.07, 379/93.21, 379/93.23, 379/202, 379/355-357, 379/88.13, 379/88.21, 370/260, 370/261, 345/329-332
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A virtual proximity service control system capable of realizing informal and unplanned communication and a TV conference with which virtual proximity feeling can be obtained between remote persons in an office. The virtual proximity service uses a network formed by connecting a plurality of communication terminals of users in the office. Prior to commencing communication with the companion, the image of the department to which the companion belongs, information of the members of the department, another person who is performing communication with the department and relative sections, and address information of the terminal of the foregoing persons are acquired to perform communication while considering the state of the companion. Moreover, an opportunity to perform communication with a person adjacent to the companion can be obtained.

Claims

1. A virtual proximity service control system using multimedia communication configured for holding a conversation while seeing the face of a communication companion and performing an image process, comprising:

group defining means for defining a plurality of users as a group;

first image input means, shared by a plurality of terminals, for photographing the overall image of a group;

second image input means for inputting the image of a user of one of the terminals;

image display means for displaying the image;

voice input means for inputting voice of the user of the terminal;

voice output means for outputting voice of the user of the terminal;

communication control means for communicating the image and voice through a communication line;

command input means for receiving any one of commands “

GLANCE”

, “

APPROACH” and

“

TALK”

; and

service control means for controlling image link and voice link to satisfy a demand from the user,

wherein a conversation is allowed to start by a first step of connecting a first image link for communicating the image of a first terminal and the image of a remote group to which a communication companion as a receiver designated by a command “

GLANCE”

belongs, said remote group being defined by the communication companion as the receiver, between a user as a sender of the first terminal and terminals of said remote group, to follow the command “

GLANCE”

from the user of the first terminal, a second step of connecting a second image link for communicating the image of the first terminal and the image of a second terminal of any one of the users in said remote group designated by a command “

APPROACH”

, between the user of the first terminal and the communication companion as the receiver of the second terminal, to follow the command “

APPROACH”

from the user of the first terminal, and a third step of connecting a voice link in addition to the second image link connected in the second step to follow a demand “

TALK”

from the user of the first terminal or the second terminal.

2. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 1, wherein

when a user of the first terminal designates the second terminal and inputs “ APPROACH”

in the first step and the second or the third step is formed between the second terminal and one or a plurality of third terminals, the second image link is connected between the first terminal and the second and the third terminals.

3. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 2, wherein

when any user of the first, second and third terminals inputs “

TALK” and

the second step is formed between the second and third terminals, the voice link is connected, in addition to the second image link, between the first, second and third terminals.

4. A virtual proximity service control system performing mutual conversation between users by using a communication network to which a communication terminal assigned to each user is connected, comprising:

a plurality of communication terminals each of which has play means, voice output means, voice input means, command input means for receiving a conversation demand and a conversation start demand in which a conversation companion is made to be a parameter, and communication control means for transferring image, voice and information between communication terminals;

group definition means for defining a plurality of users as being in one of a plurality of defined work groups;

a plurality of image input means each of which is assigned to each defined work group and inputs an image of a plurality of users defined as being in the same defined work group; and

group data control means for controlling each user in one of the defined work groups, addresses of the plurality of communication terminals and addresses of the plurality of image input means, wherein

on the basis of a receipt of a conversation demand of a sender by said command input means, said image input means for inputting an image of one of the defined work groups including a conversation companion as a receiver, is designated by a conversation demand specified by said group data control means, wherein one of the defined groups including the conversation companion as the receiver, is defined by the conversation companion and an image obtained by said image input means or a group information including names of users belonging to the defined group and addresses of communication terminals belonging thereto are transferred to said display means of a communication terminal of the sender by said communication control means

and after an image is displayed on said display means of the sender communication terminal of the sender,

on the basis of a receipt of a conversation start demand of the sender by said command input means, a voice link is connected by said communication control means, voice output means and voice input means between the communication terminal of the sender and a communication terminal of the conversation companion as the receiver designated by the conversation demand or a communication terminal of a conversation companion as the receiver selected from a group information transferred as a parameter at the time of the conversation start demand.

5. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 4, further comprising:

at least any one of group voice input means for inputting voice information of one of the defined groups, sensor means for detecting presence/non-presence of each user in one of the defined groups, and

communication state control means for controlling a communication state of each user of one of the defined groups including a state where a conversation demand is received and an image is being transferred and a group name of a transferring side, and including a state where a conversation start demand is received and conversation is being performed and an information of the conversation companion as the receiver,

wherein on basis of a receipt of a conversation demand of the sender by said command input means, an information obtained from said group voice input means, at least sensor means or communication state control means is transferred to said display means of a communication terminal of the sender by said communication control means.

6. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 5, wherein

a conversation demand and a conversation start demand are issued by making a name of a third group of an image transferring side or a third conversation companion as a receiver under conversation by a parameter, in a communication state of each user obtained from said communication state control means.

7. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 5, wherein

a voice link is connected by said communication control means voice output means and voice input means between communication terminals of a sender, a user under conversation and a third conversation companion as a receiver, by receiving a conversation start demand toward the user under conversation or the third conversation companion as the receiver under conversation obtained by said communication state control means.

8. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 5, wherein

said communication state control means also controls an address and a user'"'"'s name of a third communication terminal which is issuing a conversation demand, toward one of the defined groups of said image input means;

and

in addition to an image by said image input means, at least one of information mentioned in the following is transferred to a communication terminal which has issued a conversation demand,

information of the address and the user'"'"'s name of said third communication terminal,

information of an image obtained by image input means of said third communication terminal on the basis of the address of said third communication terminal, and

information obtained from group voice input means, at least sensor means or communication state control means of one of the defined groups including said third communication terminal.

9. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 8, wherein

said third communication terminal has second image input means for inputting an image of a user himself, and transfers an image of a user himself inputted by second image input means of said third communication terminal to a communication terminal which has issued a conversation demand, instead of an image of a group including said third communication terminal.

10. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 8, wherein

a conversation demand and a conversation start demand can be received, concerning an address and a user'"'"'s name of said third communication terminal.

11. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 5, further comprising:

group informing means for informing an address and a user'"'"'s name of at least a sender communication terminal or information obtained from image input means, group voice input means, at least sensor means or communication state control means of one of the defined groups of a communication terminal of the sender to one of the defined groups including a designated conversation companion as a receiver and defined by said group definition means or to each user of a one of the defined groups, when an image obtained by said image input means of one of the defined groups including a designated conversation companion as a receiver and defined by said group definition means or one of the defined groups is transferred, on the basis of a receipt of a conversation demand of the sender by said command input means.

12. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 11, wherein

said communication terminal of the sender has second image input means for inputting an image of a user himself, and transfers an image of a user himself inputted by said sender second image input means to a group including a designated conversation companion as a receiver and defined by said group definition means or to each user of a designated group, instead of an image of a group including said communication terminal of the sender.

13. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 11, wherein

a conversation demand and a conversation start demand can be received, concerning an address and a user'"'"'s name of said communication terminal of the sender.

14. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 5, wherein

said command input means receives an approach demand in which an approaching companion is made to be a parameter, and

when said command input means receives an approach demand after a conversation demand of a user is received and before a conversation start demand is received,

an address and a user'"'"'s name of at least a communication terminal of the sender or information obtained from image input means, group voice input means, at least sensor means or communication state control means of one of the defined groups of the communication terminal of the sender are informed to a communication terminal of a communication companion designated by a parameter at the time of the conversation demand or of an approaching companion designated by a parameter at the time of the approach demand from among users belonging to one of the defined groups transferred at the time of the conversation demand.

15. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 14, wherein

a conversation demand, an approach demand and a conversation start demand can be received, concerning an address and a user'"'"'s name of the communication terminal of the sender informed by a receipt of an approach demand.

16. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 14, wherein

a communication terminal has second image input means for inputting an image of a user himself, and

an image of a group inputted by image input means to be transferred due to a receipt of a conversation command is switched to an image of a user himself inputted by said second image input means of a communication terminal of a communication companion designated by a parameter at the time of a conversation demand or a parameter at the time of an approach demand.

17. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 14, wherein

a communication terminal has second image input means for inputting an image of a user himself, and an image inputted by sender image input means transferred due to a receipt of a conversation demand is switched to an image of a user himself inputted by said second image input means of a sender communication terminal.

18. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 14, wherein

information having not been transferred at the time of a receipt of a conversation demand among information obtained from image input means, group voice input means, sensor means and communication state control means of a group of companion communication terminal, is transferred, on the basis of a receipt of an approach demand by said command input means, in addition to information having been transferred at the time of a receipt of a conversation demand.

19. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 14, wherein

on the basis of a receipt of an approach demand by said command input means, an address and a user'"'"'s name of at least a communication terminal of the sender or information obtained from image input means, group voice input means, at least sensor means or communication state control means of one of the defined groups of the communication terminal of the sender are transferred to a communication terminal of a third conversation companion under conversation, when a communication state of a communication terminal of an approaching companion designated by an approach demand is a conversation state.

20. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 19, wherein

a conversation demand, an approach demand and a conversation start demand can be received by command input means of the communication terminal of the third conversation companion, concerning the address and the user'"'"'s name of the sender communication terminal received by the third conversation companion under conversation.

21. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 4, further comprising:

generating means for generating a conversation demand toward a communication companion or a group selected at random at a random time.

22. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 4, further comprising:

generating means for generating a conversation demand, toward a communication companion or a group selected at random, in the case where a communication terminal has not been operated for a predetermined time.

23. A virtual proximity service control system according to claim 5, wherein

said communication state control means measures frequency of communication performed with each communication companion, further comprising:

generating means for selecting a communication companion or a group on the basis of the measured communication frequency or the variation of the communication frequency, and generating a conversation demand toward the selected communication companion or group.

24. A communication aiding system for performing communication among users by using a communication network to which communication terminals allocated to each user are connected, comprising:

a receiving unit receiving, from a sender, a first communication demand and a second communication demand to a communication companion as a receiver;

a sending unit sending, to said sender, information about a group to which said communication companion as the receiver belongs and which is defined by said communication companion as the receiver when the first communication demand is received;

a notifying unit notifying the users of said group that said sender has set the first communication demand and information about said sender, when the first communication demand is received; and

a connecting unit connecting a voice link between said sender and said communication companion as the receiver, when the second communication demand is received.

25. The communication aiding system according to claim 24, wherein said information about said group includes image information of said group.

26. The communication aiding system according to claim 24, wherein said information about said group includes a name, a communication terminal address and a communication state of each user belonging to said group.

27. The communication aiding system according to claim 24, wherein said information about said group includes a name, a group name and a communication terminal address of each user belonging to another group, each user belonging to another group having set the first or second communication demand to each user belonging to said group.

28. The communication aiding system according to claim 24, wherein said information about said group includes names of other groups to which each user belonging to said group relates.

29. The communication aiding system according to claim 24, wherein said information about said sender includes a name, a group name, a communication terminal address and a communication state of said sender.

30. The communication aiding system according to claim 24, wherein said notifying unit notifies the users of said group of image of said sender, along with the information.

31. The communication aiding system according to claim 24, further comprising:

a receiving unit receiving, from said sender, a third communication demand to a communication companion as the receiver who is a user belonging to said group or a user having set the first or second communication demand to each user belonging to said group; and

a notifying unit notifying, to said communication companion as the receiver, hat said sender has set the third communication demand, a name, a group name, and a communication terminal address of said sender, when the third communication demand is received.

32. The communication aiding system according to claim 31, further comprising a transmission unit mutually transmitting image information between said sender and said communication companion as the receiver, when the third communication demand is received.

33. The communication aiding system according to claim 31, further comprising a notifying unit notifying the users of the group to which said communication companion as the receiver belongs that said sender has set the third communication demand to said communication companion as the receiver, the name, the group name, and the communication terminal address of said sender.

34. The communication aiding system according to claim 26, wherein said receiving unit receives, from said sender, the second communication demand to another user belonging to the same group as said communication companion as the receiver.

35. The communication aiding system according to claim 27, wherein said receiving unit receives, from said sender, the first or second communication demand to a user belonging to another group, whose name has been sent.

36. The communication aiding system according to claim 31, wherein when the third communication demand is set by a sender to one of first and second users to whom voice link has been connected, the other user of the first and second users is notified that said sender has set the third communication demand, the name, the group name, and the communication terminal address of said sender.

37. The communication aiding system according to claim 36, wherein image information is mutually transmitted between said sender and said other user when the third communication demand is set by said sender.

38. The communication aiding system according to claim 25, further comprising:

an image acquiring unit acquiring images produced by photographing each user of the group,

wherein said image information of said group is obtained by composing images acquired by said image acquiring unit.

39. The communication aiding system according to claim 30, further comprising:

an image acquiring unit acquiring an overall image of the group,

wherein said image information of said sender is obtained by cutting out a part of the image acquired by said image acquiring unit.

40. The communication aiding system according to claim 32, further comprising:

an image acquiring unit acquiring an overall image of each group,

wherein said image information of said sender and said image information of said communication companion as the receiver are obtained by cutting out a part of the images which have been obtained for each group by said image acquiring unit.