Communication control apparatus, communication apparatus, communication system, and method of the same

• US 7,277,117 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Toshiyuki, Yasutomi, Hiroshi, Takashima, Masatoshi, Morimiya, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/862,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,324 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1409, 348/14.1, 348 1411- 1413, 370/260, 370/261, 709/204, 705/14
• US Class Current: 348/14.09
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability

Abstract

A system friendly to users engaged in multipoint communication, wherein Multipoint communication using a plurality of multipoint communication terminal apparatuses connected via a fixed telephone line network, IP network, and a cellular phone line network is controlled by an MCU. The MCU controls communication so that a signal received from the multipoint communication terminal apparatuses and a signal for providing predetermined advertising information are transmitted to the multipoint communication terminal apparatuses.

Claims

1. A communication control apparatus for controlling multipoint communication performed using a plurality of communication apparatuses connected via a communication line, comprising:

a control means for controlling communication so as to transmit signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and a signal for providing predetermined advertising information to said plurality of communication apparatuses,

wherein said control means determines the type of advertising information to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

2. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means controls communication so that said communication apparatuses display images in accordance with the signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and an image in accordance with the signal for providing said predetermined advertising information on one screen.

3. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means assigns a predetermined selection right to a communication apparatus and allows said communication apparatus assigned the selection right to give said instruction.

4. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said control means changes said communication apparatus assigned said selection right in accordance with a request from a communication apparatus.

5. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said control means transmits a signal for a display for specifying said communication apparatus assigned said selection right to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

6. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means determines whether or not to transmit a signal for providing said advertising information in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus.

7. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said signals received from the communication apparatuses are signals for displaying faces of users of the communication apparatuses.

8. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said control means controls communication so that a communication apparatus displays a second image in accordance with said predetermined advertising information larger compared with first images in accordance with signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses.

9. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said control means controls communication so that said second image is displayed below said first images in a display screen of said communication apparatus.

10. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a charging means for determining fees to be charged to users of said communication apparatuses for use of said multipoint communication in accordance with provision of said advertising information.

11. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means controls communication so as to transmit sound signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

12. A communication control apparatus for controlling multipoint communication performed using a plurality of communication apparatuses connected via communication lines, comprising;

a control means for controlling communication so as to transmit signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and a content signal specified by a communication apparatus to said plurality of communication apparatuses,

wherein said control means determines the type of content signal to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

13. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said control means controls communication so that said communication apparatuses display images in accordance with the signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and an image in accordance with said content signal on one screen.

14. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said control means assigns a predetermined selection right to a communication apparatus and allows said communication apparatus assigned the selection right to designate said content signal.

15. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said control means changes said communication apparatus assigned said selection right in accordance with a request from a communication apparatus.

16. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said control means transmits a signal for a display for specifying said communication apparatus assigned said selection right to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

17. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the signals received from said communication apparatuses are signals for displaying faces of users of the communication apparatuses.

18. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said control means controls communication so as to transmit sound signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

19. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein, when the signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses are sound signals, said control means recognizes sounds indicated by the sound signals and controls communication so as to transmit signals indicating the recognized sounds by text to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

20. A communication apparatus for multipoint communication with a plurality of other communication apparatuses via communication lines, comprising:

a receiving means for receiving first signals transmitted by said plurality of other communication apparatuses and a second signal indicating predetermined advertising information and

a signal processing means for processing for simultaneously displaying images in accordance with said first signals and an image in accordance with said second signal,

wherein said receiving means determines the type of advertising information to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

21. A communication apparatus for multipoint communication with a plurality of other communication apparatuses via communication lines, comprising:

a receiving means for receiving first signals transmitted by said other plurality of communication apparatuses and a second signal of a content designated by said communication apparatus;

a display means; and

a signal processing means for simultaneously displaying by said display means images in accordance with said first signals and an image in accordance with said second signal,

wherein said receiving means determines the type of content to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

22. A communication system for multipoint communication using a plurality of communication apparatuses via communication lines under control by a communication control apparatus, wherein:

said communication control apparatus comprises

a control means for controlling communication so as to transmit first signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and a second signal for providing predetermined advertising information to said plurality of communication apparatuses; and

said communication apparatus comprises a display means and

a signal processing means for processing so as to display images in accordance with said first signals and an image in accordance with said second signal on one screen by a display means,

wherein said control means determines the type of advertising information to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

23. A communication system for multipoint communication using a plurality of communication apparatuses via communication lines under control by a communication control apparatus, wherein:

said communication control apparatus comprises

a control means for controlling communication so as to transmit first signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and a second signal of a content designated by said communication apparatus to said plurality of communication apparatuses; and

said communication apparatus comprises a display means and

a signal processing means for processing so as to display images in accordance with said first signals and an image in accordance with said second signal on one screen by a display means,

wherein said control means determines the type of content to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether or not to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether or not to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

24. A communication method for controlling multipoint communication using a plurality of communication apparatuses connected via communication lines, including the step of controlling communication so as to transmit signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and a signal for providing predetermined advertising information to said plurality of communication apparatuses,

wherein said controlling determines the type of advertising information to be provided in accordance with an instruction received from a communication, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

25. A communication method as set forth in claim 24, including the step of controlling communication so that said communication apparatuses display images in accordance with signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and an image in accordance with the signal for providing said predetermined advertising information on one screen.

26. A communication method as set forth in claim 24, including the steps of determining a type of said advertising information to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus and controlling communication so that a signal for providing said advertising information of the determined kind is transmitted to said communication apparatuses.

27. A communication method as set forth in claim 26, including the steps of assigning a predetermined selection right to a communication apparatus and allowing that communication apparatus assigned the selection right to give said instruction.

28. A communication method as set forth in claim 27, including the step of changing said communication apparatus assigned said selection right in accordance with a request from a communication apparatus.

29. A communication method as set forth in claim 27, including the step of transmitting a signal for display for specifying said communication apparatus assigned said selection right to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

30. A communication method as set forth in claim 24, including the step of determining whether or not to transmit a signal for providing said advertising information in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus.

31. A communication method as set forth in claim 24, wherein the signals received from said communication apparatuses are signals for displaying faces of users of the communication apparatuses.

32. A communication method as set forth in claim 31, including the step of controlling communication so that said communication apparatuses display a second image in accordance with said predetermined advertising information larger than first images in accordance with signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses.

33. A communication method as set forth in claim 32, including the step of controlling communication so that said second image is displayed below said first images in a display screen of said communication apparatus.

34. A communication method as set forth in claim 24, including the step of determining fees to be charged to users of said communication apparatuses for use of said multipoint communication in accordance with provision of said advertising information.

35. A communication method as set forth in claim 24, including the step of controlling communication so as to transmit sound signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

36. A communication method for controlling multipoint communication using a plurality of communication apparatuses connected via communication lines, including the step of controlling communication so as to transmit signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and a content signal designated by a communication apparatus to said plurality of communication apparatuses,

wherein said controlling determines the type of content signal to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

37. A communication method as set forth in claim 36, including the step of controlling communication so that said communication apparatuses display images in accordance with signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and an image in accordance with said content signal on one screen.

38. A communication method as set forth in claim 36, including the step of assigning a predetermined selection right to a communication apparatus and allowing that communication apparatus assigned the selection right to designate said content signal.

39. A communication method as set forth in claim 38, including the step of changing said communication apparatus assigned said selection right in accordance with a request from said communication apparatus.

40. A communication method as set forth in claim 38, including the step of transmitting a signal for display for specifying said communication apparatus assigned said selection right to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

41. A communication method as set forth in claim 36, wherein the signals received from said communication apparatuses are signals for displaying faces of users of the communication apparatuses.

42. A communication method as set forth in claim 36, including the step of controlling communication so as to transmit sound signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

43. A communication method as set forth in claim 42, including the step of, when the signals received from said plurality of communication apparatuses are sound signals, recognizing sounds indicated by the sound signals and controlling communication so as to transmit signals indicating the recognized sounds by text to said plurality of communication apparatuses.

44. A communication control apparatus for controlling multipoint communication using a plurality of communication apparatuses connected via communication line, comprising

a control means for controlling communication so as to transmit first signals indicating pickup results of faces of users of the communication apparatuses received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and second signals indicating pickup results in the directions of the users'"'"' perspectives to said plurality of communication apparatuses,

wherein the control means determines a type of content signal to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

45. A communication control apparatus as set forth in claim 44, wherein said control means controls communication so that first images in accordance with said first signals and second images in accordance with said second signals are displayed in correspondence on one screen by said display means of said communication apparatus.

46. A communication apparatus for multipoint communication with a plurality of other communication apparatuses via communication lines, comprising:

a receiving means for receiving signals;

a display means for display in accordance with said received signals;

a first image pickup means for picking up an image of a face of a user of the communication apparatus;

a second image pickup means for picking up an image in the direction of said user'"'"'s perspective; and

a transmission means for transmitting signals indicating the image pickup results of said first image pickup means and said second image pickup means,

wherein said controlling determines the type of content signal to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus,

wherein, when not displaying an image in the direction of said user'"'"'s perspective, said second image pick-up means displays a type of content signal to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

47. A communication apparatus as set forth in claim 46, wherein said display means displays first images in accordance with image pickup results of faces of users of said plurality of other communication apparatuses and second images in accordance with image pickup results in the directions of the users'"'"' perspectives.

48. A communication apparatus as set forth in claim 47, wherein said display means displays said first images and said second images in correspondence on one screen.

49. A communication method for controlling multipoint communication using a plurality of communication apparatuses connected via communication lines, including the step of

controlling communication so as to transmit first signals indicating image pickup results of faces of users of the communication apparatuses received from said plurality of communication apparatuses and second signals indicating image pickup results in the directions of the users'"'"' perspectives to said plurality of communication apparatuses,

wherein said controlling determines a type of content signal to be provided in accordance with an instruction from a communication apparatus, and

wherein the instruction instructs whether to transmit a signal for providing the determined type of said advertising information to said communication apparatuses and whether to enable users to select a personal type of advertising information.

50. A communication method as set forth in claim 49, including the step of controlling communication so that first images in accordance with said first signals and second images in accordance with said second signals are displayed in correspondence on one screen in said display means of said communication apparatuses.