EP0400668A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Multi-point conference system
Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
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Filing: 1990-06-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A multi-point conference system for making a video conference includes a center unit (2) having a controller (46) and an image selector (42), and three or more stations (1) respectively coupled to the center unit, where each station includes at least one camera (11-13) for picking up an image to output an image data, a display (14, 15) for displaying an image based on an image data and a request part (18) for making a request. The controller initially sets master, sub and participating stations in conformance with a predetermined rule. The image selector automatically supplies the image data from the master station to the sub and participating stations to be displayed on the display thereof and supplies the image data from the sub station to the master station to be displayed on the display thereof. The controller automatically sets a new master station in response to a request from the request part of an arbitrary station requesting the new master station, sets the master station prior to receiving the request as a new sub station and sets all stations other than the new master and sub stations as new participating stations.
Inventors
- 👤 Youichi Ashida
- 👤 Yuji Yoshida
- 👤 Hitoshi Ishiguro
- 👤 Hitoshi Sato
- 👤 Hiroaki Natori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/15; H04N7/152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A multi-point conference system for making a video conference characterized in that there are provided: a center unit (2) including control means (46) and image selector means (42); and three or more stations (1A-1D) respectively coupled to said center unit, each of said stations including at least one camera (11-13) for picking up an image to output an image data, display means (14, 15) for displaying an image based on an image data and request means (18) for making a request; said control means initially setting master, sub and participating stations in conformance with a predetermined rule; said image selector means automatically supplying the image data from the master station to the sub and participating stations to be displayed on the display means thereof and supplying the image data from the sub station to the master station to be displayed on the display means thereof; said control means automatically setting a new master station in response to a first request from the request means of an arbitrary station requesting the new master station, setting the master station prior to receiving the first request as a new sub station and setting all stations other than the new master and sub stations as new participating stations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A multi-point conference system for making a video conference characterized in that there are provided: a center unit (2) including control means (46) and image selector means (42); and three or more stations (1A-1D) respectively coupled to said center unit, each of said stations including at least one camera (11-13) for picking up an image to output an image data, display means (14, 15) for displaying an image based on an image data and request means (18) for making a request; said control means initially setting master, sub and participating stations in conformance with a predetermined rule; said image selector means automatically supplying the image data from the master station to the sub and participating stations to be displayed on the display means thereof and supplying the image data from the sub station to the master station to be displayed on the display means thereof; said control means automatically setting a new master station in response to a first request from the request means of an arbitrary station requesting the new master station, setting the master station prior to receiving the first request as a new sub station and setting all stations other than the new master and sub stations as new participating stations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said image selector means (42) automatically supplies the image data from an arbitrary station to the master station in response to a second request from said request means (18) of the master station requesting a display of the image data from said arbitrary station, and said control means (46) in response to said second request automatically sets said arbitrary station as a new sub station and sets all stations other than the master and the new sub stations as new participating stations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said control means (46) automatically sets a station which is newly coupled to said center unit (2) as a new participating station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said control means (46) in response to the master station disconnecting from said center unit (2) automatically sets the sub station as a new master station and forcibly sets an arbitrary participating station as a new sub station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said control means (46) in response to the sub station disconnecting from said center unit (2) forcibly sets an arbitrary participating station as a new sub station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said request means (18) includes means (18) for manually making a request.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each of said stations (1A-1D) include a plurality of cameras (11-13), and said request means (18) automatically makes said first request when a predetermined one (13) of said cameras is selected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each of said stations (1A-1D) include a microphone (16) for picking up a sound to output an audio data and a speaker (17) for outputting a sound based on an audio data, and said request means (18) automatically makes said first request when said microphone picks up the sound continuously for a predetermined time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each of said stations (1A-1D) include detection means (18) for automatically detecting that the station is to be regarded as a new master station, and said request means (18) automatically makes said first request in response to a detection made by said detection means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each of said stations (1A-1D) include a plurality of cameras (11-13), and said control means (46) automatically selects the camera to be used in said master station and/or sub station based on a request from said request means (18).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said control means (46) initially sets the master, sub and participating stations depending on an order with which said stations are turned ON so that a station turned ON first is set as the master station, a station turned ON second is set as the sub station, and one or a plurality of stations turned ON thereafter are set as the participating station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said control means (46) automatically sets a new master station in response to the first request from the request means (18) of the sub or participating station requesting the new master station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
276 words
A multi-point conference system for making a video conference characterized in that there are provided: a plurality of center units (2, 21-24), each of said plurality of center units including control means (46) and image selector means (42); a plurality of stations (1, 28-37) respectively coupled to each of said center units, each of said stations including at least one camera (11-13) for picking up an image to output an image data, display means (14, 15) for displaying an image based on an image data and request means (18) for making a request; and circuits (3, 25-27) which couple said center units in a tandem connection; said control means initially setting master, sub and participating stations depending on an order with which said stations are turned ON so that a station turned ON first is set as the master station, a station turned ON second is set as the sub station and one more a plurality of stations turned ON thereafter are set as the participating station; said image selector means automatically supplying the image data from the master station to the sub and participating stations to be displayed on the display means thereof and supplying the image data from the sub station to the master station to be displayed on the display means thereof; said control means automatically setting a new master station in response to a first request from the request means of the sub or participating station requesting the new master station, setting the master station prior to receiving the first request as a new sub station and setting all stations other than the new master and sub stations as new participating stations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
276 words
A multi-point conference system for making a video conference characterized in that there are provided: a plurality of center units (2, 21-24), each of said plurality of center units including control means (46) and image selector means (42); a plurality of stations (1, 28-37) respectively coupled to each of said center units, each of said stations including at least one camera (11-13) for picking up an image to output an image data, display means (14, 15) for displaying an image based on an image data and request means (18) for making a request; and circuits (3, 25-27) which couple said center units in a tandem connection; said control means initially setting master, sub and participating stations depending on an order with which said stations are turned ON so that a station turned ON first is set as the master station, a station turned ON second is set as the sub station and one more a plurality of stations turned ON thereafter are set as the participating station; said image selector means automatically supplying the image data from the master station to the sub and participating stations to be displayed on the display means thereof and supplying the image data from the sub station to the master station to be displayed on the display means thereof; said control means automatically setting a new master station in response to a first request from the request means of the sub or participating station requesting the new master station, setting the master station prior to receiving the first request as a new sub station and setting all stations other than the new master and sub stations as new participating stations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said controller (46) of said center unit (2, 21-24) includes means (46A, 46B) for indicating that the center unit is a master center unit when the master station is coupled thereto and for indicating that the center unit is a sub center unit when the sub station is coupled thereto, said master center unit transmitting the image data from the master station to one or a plurality of center units which are coupled to stations other than the master station, said sub center unit transmitting the image data from the sub station to the master station via the master center unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that an address is assigned to each of said center units (2, 21-24) and said address is transmitted and received among said center units, said control means (46) initially setting the center unit with a smallest address value as the master center unit and the center unit with a second smallest address value as the sub center unit by comparing the address of the center unit with the addresses of other center units.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
96 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said image selector means (42) automatically supplies the image data from an arbitrary station to the master station in response to a second request from said request means (18) of the master station requesting a display of the image data from said arbitrary station, and said control means (46) in response to said second request automatically sets said arbitrary station as a new sub station and sets all stations other than the master and the new sub stations as new participating stations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that said control means (46) automatically sets a station which is newly coupled to said center unit (2, 21-24) as a new participating station.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that said control means (46) in response to the master station disconnecting from said center unit (2, 21-24) automatically sets the sub station as a new master station and forcibly sets an arbitrary participating station as a new sub station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that said control means (46) in response to the sub station disconnecting from said center unit (2, 21-24) forcibly sets an arbitrary participating station as a new sub station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that said request means (18) includes means (18) for manually making a request.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 14 to 20, characterized in that each of said stations (1, 28-37) include a plurality of cameras (11-13), and said request means (18) automatically makes said first request when a predetermined one (13) of said cameras is selected.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
71 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 14 to 21, characterized in that each of said stations (1, 28-37) include a microphone (16) for picking up a sound to output an audio data and a speaker (17) for outputting a sound based on an audio data, and said request means (18) automatically makes said first request when said microphone picks up the sound continuously for a predetermined time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
61 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 14 to 22, characterized in that each of said stations (1, 28-37) include detection means (18) for automatically detecting that the station is to be regarded as a new master station, and said request means (18) automatically makes said first request in response to a detection made by said detection means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 14 to 23, characterized in that each of said stations (1, 28-37) include a plurality of cameras (11-13), and said control means (46) automatically selects the camera to be used in said master station and/or sub station based on a request from said request means (18).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
79 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 13 to 24, characterized in that said control means (46) initially sets the master, sub and participating stations depending on an order with which said stations are turned ON so that a station turned ON first is set as the master station, a station turned ON second is set as the sub station, and one or a plurality of stations turned ON thereafter are set as the participating station.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
The multi-point conference system as claimed in any of claims 13 to 25, characterized in that said control means (46) automatically sets a new master station in response to the first request from the request means (18) of the sub or participating station requesting the new master station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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