Video conference system, and its reservation server, control unit, video conference terminal equipment, and storage medium stored therein program thereof

• US 6,466,252 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/547,196
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.715, 348/14.01, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/14.1, 348/14.11, 348/14.12, 348/14.14, 348/14.13, 345/330, 345/331, 370/260, 370/261, 709/204, 709/205, 379/93.21, 379/202
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A video conference system enables a video conference to be opened with the exception that a reservation server which accepts the reservation of the conference executes control of conference opening. A user inputs reservation information of the video conference relative to a reservation server while using a personal computer. When the reservation server accepts reservation, the reservation server generates a reservation number. The reservation server transmits the reservation number to any of multi-point control units. The multi-point control unit manages a reserved reservation number. A conference participant inputs the above reservation number on the occasion of circuit connection as a sub-address from any of the video conference terminal devices. The multi-point control unit receives the above reservation number on the occasion of signal reception. The multi-point control unit decides whether or not the reservation number received is the same number that the multi-point control unit manages. If the both numbers agree, it causes the conference to be opened. When another conference participant performs circuit connection with the same reservation number, it causes the conference participant to participate in the video conference which was just opened.

Claims

1. A video conference system comprising:

a plurality of video conference terminal devices;

a control unit effective to cause a video conference to be executed by connecting said plurality of video conference terminal devices selectively;

a reservation unit for inputting therein reservation information in order to reserve said video conference by a user; and

a reservation server which accepts said reservation information before generating an individual reservation number for the sake of a reserved video conference to inform said reservation unit and said control unit;

wherein said control unit causes a video conference to be opened, without use of said reservation unit, when the reservation number sent from said video conference terminal device matches with the individual reservation number while connecting said video conference terminal devices as members participating in said reserved video conference.

2. A video conference system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reservation number is generated in such a way that said reservation number is encoded on the basis of said reservation information.

3. A control unit in a video conference system comprising:

a maintaining means for receiving to be maintained an individual reservation number for the sake of a reserved video conference; and

a control means for comparing the reservation number sent from a plurality of video conference terminal devices respectively with said maintained reservation number, thus causing the video conference to be opened, without use of said maintaining means, while connecting said plurality of video conference terminal devices when the reservation number from said video conference terminal devices matches with the maintained reservation number.

4. A video conference opening method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of video conference terminal devices;

causing a video conference to be executed while connecting said plurality of video conference terminal devices selectively by means of a control unit;

inputting reservation information in order to reserve said video conference by a user by means of a reservation unit; and

generating an individual reservation number for the sake of a reserved video conference to inform said reservation unit and said control unit by means of a reservation server;

wherein said control unit causes a video conference to be opened, without use of said reservation unit, when a reservation number sent from said video conference terminal device matches with said informed reservation number while connecting said video conference terminal devices as members participating in said reserved video conference.

5. A method for initiating a video conference among a plurality of video conference terminals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving reservation information by a reservation unit, said reservation information used to identify a reserved video conference;

generating an individual reservation number corresponding to said reserved video conference;

receiving a requesting reservation number by a control unit from a video conference terminal device; and

initiating said reserved video conference by said control unit, and without use of said reservation unit, when the requesting reservation number received from said video conference terminal device substantially matches with said individual reservation number.

6. A video conference system comprising:

a plurality of video conference terminal devices;

a control unit effective to initiate a video conference by selectively connecting said plurality of video conference terminal devices;

a reservation unit which receives reservation information used to identify a reserved video conference by a user; and

a reservation server which receives said reservation information from said reserving unit and generates an individual reservation number corresponding to said reserved video conference;

wherein said control unit initiates said video conference, without use of said reservation unit, when a reservation number received from a video conference terminal device matches with said individual reservation number.