JP2003224837A - Communication method, communication system, and server apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] A communication method capable of effectively using a communication line without increasing image data flowing between TV conference servers even when the number of participants increases, without increasing the load on a network.
It is an object to provide a communication system and a server device. SOLUTION: The data from the TV conference terminal is converted into reduced video TV conference terminal data on a TV conference server, and the reduced video TV conference terminal data is used. It is added, multiplexed, and handled as TV conference server data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a communication method, a communication system, and a server device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A TV conference server is distributed and arranged in a ring network, and the conventional T conference server is used by the TV conference server.
The V conference system is configured.

[0003]

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of data flowing between TV conference servers in the conventional TV conference system described above.

In the above conventional example, as shown in FIG. 12, the moving image data received from each TV conference terminal is encapsulated as it is, and the encapsulated moving image data is passed between the TV conference servers.

Therefore, in the above conventional example, as the number of participants increases, the amount of image data flowing between the TV conference servers increases, which imposes a heavy load on the network and makes it impossible to effectively use the communication line. .

According to the present invention, even when the number of participants increases, the amount of image data flowing between the TV conference servers does not increase, the load on the network does not increase, and the communication line can be effectively used. It is intended to provide a server device.

[0007]

The present invention converts data from a TV conference terminal into reduced video TV conference terminal data on a TV conference server and uses the reduced video TV conference terminal data to make a request. Only in this case, the original video data is added, multiplexed, and treated as TV conference server data.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a video conference system C according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows S1.

The TV conference system CS1 includes a TV conference server 201, 202, 203, 204 and a digital line 4.
00, and the video conference server 201, 202, 20
3, 204 are connected in a ring shape by a digital line 400.

That is, the TV conference server 201 is connected to the TV conference servers 202 and 204, and the TV conference server 2
02 is connected to the TV conference servers 203 and 201, and T
The V conference server 203 is a TV conference server 204, 202.
The video conference server 204 is connected to the video conference servers 201 and 203.

The TV conference server 201 is connected with the TV conference terminals 303, 304, 305, the TV conference server 202 is connected with the TV conference terminals 306, 307, 308, and the TV conference server 203 is connected with the TV conference terminal. Thirty
9, 310, 311 are connected to the TV conference server 204
The video conference terminals 312, 313, and 314 are connected to.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing TV conference terminal data transmitted by the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 in the first embodiment.

The TV conference terminal data is the TV conference terminal 30.
3 to 314 is data generated by multiplexing the video signal from the camera, the audio signal from the microphone, and the terminal information about the terminal. Further, the terminal information includes image requests from the other TV conference terminals 303 to 314.

FIG. 4 shows a TV generated by the TV conference servers 201 to 204 when there is no request from the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 connected to the other TV conference servers 201 to 204 in the above embodiment. It is a figure which shows conference server data.

The video conference server data is a reduced video T.
It is data generated by multiplexing V-conference terminal data and information specifying the TV conference servers 201 to 204.

The reduced video TV conference terminal data is the video data portion of the TV conference terminal data shown in FIG. 3 obtained from the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 connected to the TV conference servers 201 to 204. TV conference server 201
Nos. 204 to 204 are composed of data converted into reduced video data by the reduced video generation means, audio data, and terminal data.

FIG. 5 shows other TV conference servers 201 to 204.
Of the TV conference system CS1 when there is one request from the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 connected to the
It is a figure which shows the TV conference server data which the conference servers 201-204 produced.

The TV conference server data includes the reduced video TV conference terminal data and the requested TV conference terminal 3
The video conference terminal data Nos. 03 to 314 and the information specifying the video conference servers 201 to 204 are multiplexed and generated.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the TV conference server data of the TV conference server 201 in the first embodiment.

That is, when viewed from the TV conference server 201, when the TV conference terminals 306 to 314 connected to the other TV conference servers 202 to 204 are requesting video data, the TV conference server of the TV conference server 201. The data is, as shown in FIG. 6, TV conference terminals 303 to 305.
Video conference terminal data of the TV conference terminal data of the TV conference terminal 303
It is configured by multiplexing the TV conference server information of the conference server 201.

The reduced video TV conference terminal data to be multiplexed with the TV conference server data may be arranged in an order based on the connection order with the terminal, and the TV conference terminal data includes the terminal information. As it is, a reduced video TV
Since the relationship between the conference terminal data and the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 can be identified, they may be arranged in no particular order.

Further, although FIG. 4 shows an example in which the TV conference server data is composed of three TV conference terminal data, generally, the TV conference servers 201 to 201.
The same number of reduced video TV conference terminal data as the number of the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 connected to 204 are arranged.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of communication frames exchanged among the TV conference servers 201 to 204.

The communication frame is T shown in FIGS.
It is generated by multiplexing V conference server data.

In the first embodiment, the communication frame generated by the TV conference server is obtained by removing the TV conference server data transmitted by the downstream TV conference server from the communication frame transmitted by the upstream TV conference server. One's own T
The video conference server data generated by the V conference server is added.

That is, the communication frame received by the TV conference server is obtained by extracting all the TV conference server data of the own TV conference server from all the TV conference server data of all the TV conference servers, and The received communication frame is obtained by extracting all the TV conference server data of the downstream side TV conference server from all the TV conference server data of all the TV conference servers.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a communication frame received by the TV conference server 201.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the TV conference terminal 30
3 requests the video of the TV conference terminal 310, and the TV conference terminals 304 and 305 have not issued the request. Also, other T
From the TV conference terminal connected to the V conference server,
A video request is issued to the conference terminals 309 and 314.

The communication frame is transmitted from the own TV conference server 201.
TV of the TV conference server 202, 203, 204 excluding
The video conference server data of the video conference server 203 includes video conference terminals 309 and 31.
0 video conference terminal data is included, and the video conference server 20
The TV conference server data of No. 4 includes the TV conference terminal data of the TV conference terminal 314.

In the communication frame received by the TV conference server 201 shown in FIG. 8, the TV conference terminals 306, 307, 3 are included.
08, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 31
4 reduced video TV conference terminal data is included.

At the same time, the TV conference server 201 receives the TV conference terminal data from the TV conference terminals 303, 304, 305 connected to its own server, and stores it in the TV conference terminal data storage unit 19 as reduced video TV conference terminal data. There is.

Therefore, the TV conference server 201 has the reduced video TV conference terminal data of all the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 connected to the TV conference system CS1.
TV conference terminals 303 and 30 connected to this server
4, 305 can receive all the reduced video TV conference terminal data of the TV conference terminals 303 to 314.

FIG. 10A shows the TV conference terminals 304 and 3.
It is a figure which shows the example of an image displayed on 05. Since the video conference terminals 304 and 305 have not requested the video, T
All the reduced video TV conference terminal data of the V conference terminals 303 to 314 are displayed.

FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the TV conference terminal 303.

The TV conference terminal 303 is the TV conference terminal 31.
Since 0 video is requested, the video conference terminals 303 to 3
An image composed of all the reduced video TV conference terminal data of 14 and the TV conference terminal data of the TV conference terminal 310 is displayed, and the audio of the TV conference terminal 310 is reproduced.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a communication frame transmitted by the TV conference server 201.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the video of the TV conference terminal 303 is requested from another TV conference terminal.

The communication frame is sent to the downstream TV conference server 2
The TV conference server 20 is composed of the TV conference server data of the TV conference servers 203, 204 and 201 excluding 02.
In the video conference server data of No. 3, the video conference terminal 309,
The TV conference terminal data of 310 is included, and the TV conference server data of the TV conference server 204 includes the TV conference terminal 31.
The TV conference server 20 including the data of the TV conference terminal 4
The TV conference server data of No. 2 includes the TV conference terminal data of the TV conference terminal 303.

The above is the video conference server 202, 2
The same applies to 03 and 204.

The TV conference server data multiplexed in the communication frames shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be arranged in an order based on the connection order or the like on the digital line. Since the server information is included in the server data, the relationship between the TV conference server data and the TV conference server can be identified, and therefore the servers may be arranged in any order.

In the first embodiment, four TV conference servers 201 to 204 and twelve TV conference terminals 303 to 314 are used.
However, by adding a TV conference server on the digital line 400, the number of participants in the TV conference can be easily increased.

FIG. 2 shows a TV which is a first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conference server 201. FIG.

Depending on the processing capacity of the TV conference server 201, TV conference terminals other than three may be connected to the TV conference server 201.

The transmitting units 21, 26, 31 are used by the TV conference terminals 303, 304, 305 for display / audio reproduction.
It is a transmission unit that transmits the display data for the TV conference terminal generated by the TV conference server 201 to each of the TV conference terminals 303 to 305.

The receiving units 24, 29 and 34 receive the video conference terminal data from the video conference terminals 303, 304 and 305 (see FIG. 3).
(Shown in FIG. 3) is received.

The TV conference terminal display control data separating section 23,
28 and 33 are TVs included in the terminal information from the TV conference terminal data which are output signals of the receiving units 24, 29 and 34.
T for controlling the status displayed on the conference terminals 303 to 305
It is a TV conference terminal display control data separation unit that separates the V conference terminal display control data.

This TV conference terminal display control data is the TV
T for generating images displayed on the conference terminals 303 to 305
It is sent to the V conference terminal display data generation unit 30 and the TV conference terminal data storage unit 19.

Reduced video TV conference terminal data generation unit 22,
Reference numerals 27 and 32 denote reduced video TV conference terminal data generation units that reduce the video data of the TV conference terminal data and generate reduced video data.

The TV conference terminal data storage unit 19 stores each TV
The TV conference terminal data from the conference terminals 303, 304, 305 and the reduced video TV conference terminal data generation units 22, 2
This is a video conference terminal data storage unit that stores the reduced video TV conference terminal data that is the output of 7 and 32.

The stored TV conference terminal data is sequentially updated to the latest data by the data output from each of the TV conference terminals 303 to 305.

TV conference terminal display data generation section 20, 2
5, 30 are TV conference terminal display control data separating units 23,
According to the output signals of 28 and 33, the video conference terminal 303 to
A TV conference terminal display data generation unit that generates image data and audio data displayed and output by 305.

The server information storage unit 18 is a server information storage unit for the TV conference server 201.

The TV conference server data generation unit 17
Of the TV conference terminal data, the reduced video TV conference terminal data, and the display control data stored in the conference terminal data storage unit 19, display request data that is a display request to another TV conference server, and the server information recording unit 18 Is a TV conference server data generation unit that multiplexes the server information on the TV conference server 201 recorded in the above to generate TV conference server data (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).

The receiving unit 10 is a receiving unit that receives a communication frame from the upstream TV conference server.

In the received communication frame, as shown in FIG. 8, the TV conference server data of the TV conference server is multiplexed.

The TV conference server data separation unit 11 is a TV conference server data separation unit that separates the communication frame received by the reception unit 10 into the form of TV conference server data.

As shown in FIG. 7, the separated main data group is the TV conference server data of all the other TV conference servers connected to the digital line 400.

The TV conference server data storage unit 12 is a TV
It is a TV conference server data storage unit that stores the TV conference server data of all other TV conference servers, which is the output of the conference server data separation unit 11.

The TV conference server data multiplexing unit 13 is a TV conference server data multiplexing unit that generates a communication frame to be sent to the downstream TV conference server shown in FIG.

In response to the read control signal, the TV conference server data storage unit 12 causes the T of the downstream TV conference server 202 to transmit to T.
The TV conference server data excluding the V conference server data is read, the own TV conference server data is received from the TV conference server data generation unit 17, and these TV conference server data are multiplexed.

The transmitting unit 14 is a transmitting unit for transmitting the communication frame generated by the TV conference server data multiplexing unit 13 to the downstream TV conference server 202.

Other server TV conference terminal data separation unit 16
Is a separate server TV conference terminal data separation unit that separates the TV conference server data of the other server stored in the TV conference server data storage unit 12 into respective reduced video TV conference terminal data and TV conference terminal data.

Other server TV conference terminal data storage unit 15
Is another server TV conference terminal data storage unit that stores each reduced video TV conference terminal data and TV conference terminal data separated by the other server TV conference terminal data separation unit 16.

The configuration of the TV conference servers 202 to 204 is similar to that of the TV conference server 201.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

The TV conference server 201 is connected with the TV conference terminals 303, 304 and 305.

The operations of the transmitting unit 21, the receiving unit 24, the TV conference terminal display control data separating unit 23, the reduced video TV conference terminal data generating unit 22, and the TV conference terminal display data generating unit 20 connected to the terminal 303, and the terminal 304. Of the transmission unit 26, the reception unit 29, the TV conference terminal display control data separation unit 28, the reduced video TV conference terminal data generation unit 27, and the TV conference terminal display data generation unit 25, and the transmission unit connected to the terminal 305. The operations of 31, the reception unit 34, the TV conference terminal display control data separation unit 33, the reduced video TV conference terminal data generation unit 32, and the TV conference terminal display data generation unit 30 are
Is equivalent.

Therefore, the transmitting unit 21, the receiving unit 24, the TV conference terminal display control data separating unit 23, the reduced video TV conference terminal data generating unit 22, which are connected to the terminal 303,
The operation of the TV conference terminal display data generation unit 20 will be described.

The TV conference terminal data (shown in FIG. 3) transmitted from the TV conference terminal 303 is received by the receiving unit 24. A TV that controls the image display / audio output state of the TV conference terminal 303 from the received TV conference terminal data.
The conference terminal display control data is separated by the TV conference terminal display control data separation unit 23 and output to the TV conference terminal display data generation unit 20 and the TV conference terminal data storage unit 19.

In the first embodiment, the TV conference terminal 30
3 is a TV conference terminal 3 connected to the TV conference server 203
You are requesting 10 images.

At the same time, the data in the same form received by the receiving unit 24 from the TV conference terminal display control data separating unit 23 is the reduced video TV conference terminal data generating unit 22 and the TV.
It is output to the conference terminal data storage unit 19.

Reduced video TV conference terminal data generation unit 22
Among the TV conference terminal data, the video data is reduced in size, the frame rate is reduced, and the like to generate reduced video TV conference terminal data, which is output to the TV conference terminal data storage unit 19.

The TV conference terminal data storage unit 19 similarly receives and stores the TV conference terminal data, the reduced video TV conference terminal data, and the display control data from the TV conference terminals 304 and 305.

The accumulated data is sequentially updated by the data from the TV conference terminals 303 to 305.

In the TV conference server 201, the receiving unit 10 receives the communication frame shown in FIG. 8 from the upstream TV conference server 204. TV connected to digital line 400
TV conference servers 202, 20 excluding the conference server 201
The TV conference server data transmitted from No. 3, 204 is included in the communication frame.

The TV conference server data separation unit 11 divides the communication frame into TV conference server data and outputs it to the TV conference server data storage unit 12.

The TV conference server data storage unit 12 is
The TV conference server data received from the conference server data separating unit 11 is accumulated and output to the other server TV conference terminal data separating unit 16.

Other server TV conference terminal data separation unit 16
Is the T received from the video conference server data storage unit 12.
The V conference server data is separated into reduced video TV conference terminal data and TV conference terminal data, and the separated data is stored in the other server TV conference terminal data storage unit 15.

At the same time, if there is a display request for requesting the video of the TV conference terminals 303 to 305 connected to the TV conference server 201 from the terminal information of the reduced video TV conference terminal data, the display request data is changed. The data is output to the TV conference server data generation unit 17.

The reduced video TV conference terminal data of all the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 connected to the TV conference system CS1 and the TV conference terminal data distributed by the request are stored in another server's TV conference terminal data storage unit. 15
Are stored in the TV conference terminal data storage unit 19, and each individual data is identified by the terminal information included in the data.

The TV conference terminal display data generation unit 20 uses the T
All reduced video TV stored in the V conference terminal data storage unit 19 and the other server TV conference terminal data storage unit 15
According to the conference terminal data and the display control data including the display request of the TV conference terminal 303, the TV conference terminal data is received from the TV conference terminal data storage unit 19 or the other server TV conference terminal data storage unit 15, and the TV conference terminal 303 is received.
The image to be displayed on the
The terminal display data is generated by synthesizing and adding voice data.

In FIG. 10 (b), which is schematically shown, the images arranged in the lower part are reduced images of the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 created based on the reduced image TV conference terminal data. In FIG. 10B, the TV conference servers 201 to 20
Although it is displayed so as to form a group for every 4, the video conference terminals 303 to 314 do not have to be particularly grouped.
However, the grouping may be instructed in advance. Video conference terminal 303 selected from the reduced images and instructed to display
The images of ˜314 are individually displayed in large size at the top.

Regarding the voice data, if the TV conference terminal is instructed to display, the voice data is sent to the TV conference terminal,
If the TV conference terminal is not instructed, the voice may be silent, the voices of all the TV conference terminals may be mixed, or the TV conference terminal may instruct in advance. Alternatively, the one with the highest audio level may be selected.

The terminal display data generated by the TV conference terminal display data generation unit 20 is sent to the TV conference terminal 303 via the transmission unit 21, and the video and audio are reproduced.

The TV conference server data generation unit 17 includes server information about the TV conference server 201 stored in the server information storage unit 18, and all reduced video conference terminal data stored in the TV conference terminal data storage unit 19. The TV conference terminal data designated by the display request data received from the other server TV conference terminal data separating unit is read and multiplexed to generate the TV conference server data as shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, the video of the TV conference terminal 303 is requested.

The generated TV conference server data is TV
It is output to the conference server data multiplexing unit 13.

The TV conference server data multiplexing unit 13 reads the TV conference server data excluding the downstream TV conference server data from the TV conference server data storage unit 12,
It is multiplexed with the TV conference server data received from the conference server data generation unit 17, and as shown in FIG. 9, a communication frame is generated and output to the transmission unit 14.

The TV conference server data of the TV conference servers 201, 203 and 204 excluding the downstream TV conference server 202 is included in the communication frame.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the structure of the communication frame is T read from the TV conference server data storage unit 12.
Although the TV conference server data from the TV conference server data generation unit 17 is added after the V conference server data, since the TV conference server data includes server information for specifying the server, FIG. The arrangement may not be as shown in.

The transmission unit 14 sends the communication frame received from the TV conference server data multiplexing unit 13 to the TV on the downstream side.
It transmits to the conference server 202.

As described above, the TV conference terminal data from the TV conference terminal is converted into the reduced video TV conference terminal data, and normally the reduced video TV conference terminal data is multiplexed.
If there is a display request using the V conference server data,
It is possible to provide a TV conference system that effectively uses a communication line for adding only the TV conference terminal data of the TV conference terminal.

According to the above-described embodiment, the amount of data between servers can be made extremely small as compared with the conventional method of multiplexing all TV conference terminal data, and therefore, of the TV conference server connected to the ring network. The number can be much higher than in the conventional scheme.

Further, in the TV conference server, the function of reducing the video data of the TV conference terminal and the function of synthesizing the terminal data can be configured as a unit for each terminal, so that the number of TV conference terminals is increased. It is easy to do.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the TV conference system CS2 which is an Example of this.

The TV conference system CS2 has a digital communication network 40 such as ISDN instead of the digital line 400 which is a one-way ring in the TV conference system CS1.
This is a system using 0, 401. In a digital communication network such as ISDN, bidirectional transmission is possible between terminals, and as shown in FIG. 11, actually, two rings in opposite directions can be constructed and used.

That is, in the conventional technique, a thumbnail moving image is generated from the moving image data received from the upstream TV conference server and the moving image data from the TV conference terminal connected to the own server, and the request from the TV conference terminal is generated. If so, the requested moving image from the TV conference terminal is combined and distributed to the TV conference terminal.

In the above embodiment, the moving image between the TV conference servers is first converted into a thumbnail moving image, and the moving image data is added and distributed only when a distribution request is made. Therefore, a large amount of data flows between the servers. Can be reduced.

That is, in the communication method of the above embodiment, the communication frame circulates on the communication path to which a plurality of TV conference servers are connected, and each TV conference server is adjacent to the downstream side from the data received from the upstream side. A communication method in which the TV conference server data generated by the TV conference server is deleted, the TV conference server data generated by the own TV conference server is added, and the data is output to the downstream side.
Packet data composed of moving image data (thumbnail moving image data) of a small data size obtained by thumbnailing the moving image data from the V conference terminal flows, and a request is made from a TV conference terminal connected to another TV conference server. This is a method of outputting the packet data to which the moving image data of the TV conference terminal corresponding to the above packet data is added only when there is such a situation.

Further, in the communication system of the above embodiment, the communication frames circulate around the communication path to which the plurality of TV conference servers are connected, and each of the plurality of TV conference servers receives the communication frame from the upstream side. Receiving means and other T included in the communication frame received by the receiving means
From the TV conference server data of the V conference server and the TV conference server data generated by the own TV conference server, the TV conference server data excluding the TV conference server data generated by another TV conference server adjacent to the downstream side is multiplexed, Video conferencing server data multiplexing means for generating a communication frame, transmitting means for transmitting the output of the multiplexing means to the downstream side, and original video data from a video conferencing terminal connected to the own video conferencing server are converted into reduced video. In the communication frame generated by the reduced video TV conference terminal data generation means and the own video conference server, the output data from the reduced video TV conference terminal data generation means is multiplexed and is connected to another TV conference server. When there is a request from the TV conference terminal, the moving image data of the corresponding TV conference terminal is added to a normal communication frame. It is a communication system comprising a TV conference server data generating means for as.

As the TV conference server data multiplexing means, a means for separating the communication frame received by the receiving means into TV conference server data, a storage means for storing the separated TV conference server data, and a stored TV Of the conference server data, the TV conference server data excluding the TV conference server data generated by another TV conference server adjacent to the downstream side and the TV conference server data generated by the own TV conference server are multiplexed to form a communication frame. And a multiplexing means for generating.

Further, the TV conference server apparatus according to the above-mentioned embodiment receives the TV conference terminal data from the TV conference terminal connected to the TV conference server, and the display control data from the received TV conference terminal data. Video conference terminal display control data separating means for separating the video conference terminal display data, reduced video conference terminal data generation means for generating reduced video TV conference terminal data from the received video conference terminal data, the video conference terminal data, and video conference terminal display. A TV conference terminal data storage unit that stores control data and reduced video TV conference terminal data, a reduced video TV conference terminal data stored in the TV conference terminal data storage unit, and a TV connected to another TV conference server. The TV conference terminal data requested by the conference terminal is multiplexed to generate the TV conference server data. Conference server data generating means, receiving means for receiving a communication frame from the upstream side, TV conference server data separating means for separating the communication frame received by the receiving means into TV conference server data, and TV from this separating means. Other than the TV conference server data storage means for storing the conference server data and the TV conference server data generated by the TV conference server adjacent to the downstream side of the other server TV conference server data stored in this storage means A TV conference server data multiplexing unit that multiplexes the TV conference server data and the TV conference server data generated by the own TV conference server to generate a communication frame, and a transmission unit that transmits the output of the multiplexing unit to the downstream side. , Read out the TV conference server data of another TV conference server from the TV conference server data storage means Another server TV conference terminal data separating means for separating the reduced video TV conference terminal data and the TV conference terminal data, and the reduced video TV conference terminal data and the TV conference of the TV conference terminal of the other TV conference server which is the output of this separating means. Reduced video TV conference terminal data is extracted from the other server TV conference terminal data storage unit that stores terminal data, the TV conference terminal data storage unit and the other server TV conference terminal data storage unit, and is connected to the TV conference server. According to the display control instruction from the TV conference terminal, the TV conference terminal data is taken out from the TV conference terminal data storage means and the other server TV conference terminal data storage means, and an image to be displayed on the TV conference terminal is generated. It has a TV conference terminal display data generation means and a transmission means for transmitting the output of this generation unit to the TV conference terminal. To do.

As described above, in the above embodiment, most of the communication frames between the servers are composed of the reduced video TV conference terminal data, and the TV conference terminal data is added only when there is a request. .

That is, the data size can be made extremely small by using the reduced image.

[0104]

According to the present invention, the data from the TV conference terminal is converted into the reduced video TV conference terminal data on the TV conference server, and the reduced video TV conference terminal data is used only when there is a request. Since the original video data is added, multiplexed, and treated as TV conference server data, the data size flowing through the communication circuit can be made extremely small, and the communication line can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a TV conference system CS1 which is a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a video conference server 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of 01.

FIG. 3 is a video conference terminal 303 to in the first embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the TV conference terminal data which 314 transmits.

FIG. 4 is another TV conference server 20 in the above embodiment.
TV conference terminals 303 to 31 connected to 1 to 204
When there is no request from the TV conference server 4, the TV conference servers 201 to 201
It is a figure which shows the TV conference server data produced | generated by 04.

FIG. 5 is a TV conference server 2 of the TV conference system CS1 when there is one request from the TV conference terminals 303 to 314 connected to the other TV conference servers 201 to 204.
It is a figure which shows the TV conference server data which 01-204 produced.

FIG. 6 is a video conference server 201 in the first embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the example of the TV conference server data of.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication frame exchanged between the TV conference servers 201 to 204.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a communication frame received by the TV conference server 201.

9 is a diagram showing an example of a communication frame transmitted by the TV conference server 201. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the TV conference terminals 303 and 304.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a TV conference system CS2 which is a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a TV in the conventional TV conference system described above.
It is a figure which shows the example of the data which flows between conference servers.

[Explanation of symbols]

CS1, CS2 ... TV conference system, 201, 202, 203, 204 ... TV conference server, 303-314 ... TV conference terminal, 400 ... Digital line.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A communication method using a plurality of TV conference servers, wherein information deleted by a TV conference server adjacent to a downstream side is deleted from data received from each TV conference server from the upstream side. Steps; if the video from the TV conference terminal connected to the own TV conference server is reduced and multiplexed, and if there is a request from a TV conference terminal connected to another TV conference server, the original before the reduction is performed. A data output step of adding information to which video information is multiplexed and outputting the data to the downstream side. 2. A communication system comprising a plurality of TV conference servers, each of the TV conference servers receiving means for receiving communication conference data from an upstream side; communication data received by the receiving means. To a video conference server data; a video conference server data storage unit that stores the video conference server data separated by the video conference server data; and a video conference server data stored in the video conference server data storage unit. From the TV conference server data that is generated by the TV conference server adjacent to the downstream side from the video conference server data, and multiplexes with the TV conference server data information generated by the own TV conference server to generate a communication frame. Connection means; transmission means for transmitting the output of the multiplexing means to the downstream side; connection to the video conference server Reduced video generation means for reducing the video information from the TV conference terminal; TV conference terminal data storage means for storing the output data of the reduced video generation means and original video data before reduction; other TV conference server If there is no request from the TV conference terminal connected to the, the reduced video is multiplexed to generate the TV conference server data, and if there is a request, the original video data of the corresponding terminal is multiplexed to generate the TV conference server data. T
V conference server data generating means; 3. The TV conference server data generating means according to claim 2, wherein another T adjacent to the downstream side is included in the communication data received by the receiving means.
The portion containing the information generated by the V conference server is
A communication system that is a means for replacing the occurrence information of the conference server. 4. A server device comprising: receiving means for receiving communication conference data from an upstream side; separating means for separating communication data received by the receiving means into TV conference server data; and separating means. TV
TV conference server data storage means for storing the conference server data; T adjacent to the downstream side from the TV conference server data stored in the TV conference server data storage means.
Multiplexing means for reading out the TV conference server data excluding the TV conference server data generated by the V conference server and multiplexing the TV conference server data information generated by the own TV conference server to generate a communication frame; And a transmitting unit that transmits the output signal output by the unit to the downstream side. 5. A server device, which transmits TV conference data before reduction when a request for data before reduction is detected during transmission of TV conference data from a connected terminal in a reduced size. A server device characterized by: 6. The server device according to claim 5, wherein the video conference data before reduction is transmitted together with the video conference data after reduction.