Conference adjustment apparatus and conference adjustment program

Abstract

To provide a conference adjustment apparatus and a conference adjustment program configured to reliably delete former reservation information of a conference after the date and time of the conference is changed.SOLUTION: A conference adjustment apparatus includes a first interface, a second interface, a third interface, and a processor. The first interface acquires schedule information of attendees at a conference. The second interface acquires reservation information of a conference room. The third interface acquires reset conditions for resetting the reserved conference. The processor is configured to reserve a conference for resetting, which satisfies the reset conditions, based on the reservation information of the conference room and the schedule information of the attendees at the conference to be reset, and deletes the former reservation information of the conference to be reset.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a conference adjustment device and a conference adjustment program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is a conference setting system that sets a conference that meets conference conditions such as the conference participants and the conference time by referring to the schedules of the conference participants and the reservation status of the conference room. Conventional conference setting systems set a conference that meets the conference conditions from the schedules of the participants and the reservation status of the conference room, and notify the participants of the conference date and time, the conference room, etc.

[0003] However, it may become necessary to change the date and time of a scheduled conference due to the convenience of the participants. In a conventional conference setting system, when a change occurs to a conference, a new conference is set up under the changed setting conditions. When the conference setting system sets up a new conference with the changes, there is a problem that the user may forget to cancel the reservation of the conference room before the change. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-174194 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a conference coordination device and a conference coordination program that can reliably delete reservation information for a conference before the change when the date and time of the conference is changed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to an embodiment, a conference adjustment device has a first interface, a second interface, a third interface, and a processor. The first interface acquires schedule information of conference participants. The second interface acquires reservation information of a conference room. The third interface acquires reconfiguration conditions for reconfiguring a reserved conference. The processor reserves a reconfigured conference that meets the reconfiguration conditions based on the schedule information of the participants of the conference to be reconfigured and the reservation information of the conference room, and deletes reservation information related to the conference before being reconfigured that is to be reconfigured. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a conference setting system having a coordination device (conference coordination device) according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a schedule database in a schedule management system connected to an adjustment device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a conference room management database in a conference room management system connected to the adjustment device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a first processing example as a conference resetting process by the adjustment device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a first processing example as a conference resetting process by the adjustment device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a second processing example as a conference resetting process by the adjustment device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a second processing example as a conference resetting process by the adjustment device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of a conference setting system 1 according to an embodiment and the configuration of an adjustment device 11 in the conference setting system 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conference setting system 1 according to an embodiment and an example of the configuration of an adjustment device 11 in the conference setting system 1. As shown in FIG. The conference arrangement system 1 is a system that schedules a conference in response to a conference setting request from a user and notifies the participants of the scheduled conference. However, in this embodiment, the conference arrangement system 1 sets up a conference using a conference room.

[0009] In the exemplary configuration shown in FIG. 1, the conference arrangement system 1 includes an adjustment device 11, a user terminal (PC) 12, a schedule management system 13, and a conference room management system 14. The coordination device 11 is a device that sets the schedule of a conference. The coordination device 11 receives a conference setting request that specifies setting conditions (conference setting conditions) for holding (setting) a conference from the user terminal 12. The conference setting conditions include at least the conference time (scheduled time for holding the conference). For example, the conference setting conditions include information such as participants, conference time, and a period during which the conference can be set.

[0010] The adjustment device 11 sets the schedule of the conference while adjusting the schedules of the participants and the reservation status of the conference room according to the specified conference conditions. The adjustment device 11 also notifies the participants of the conference of information (conference opening notice) indicating the schedule of the set conference. When rescheduling an already set conference, the adjustment device 11 receives a conference rescheduling request in which rescheduling conditions for rescheduling the conference are specified. The conference rescheduling conditions are, for example, the above-mentioned conference setting conditions plus information indicating the conference to be rescheduled (for example, a conference ID).

[0011] The user terminal 12 is a terminal device used by a user who may be a conference organizer or a conference participant. The user terminal 12 includes a computer having an information processing function realized by a processor executing a program and a communication function with devices such as the adjustment device 11. For example, the user terminal 12 is a personal computer (PC). The user terminal 12 may also be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, or a wearable terminal such as a smart watch.

[0012] The schedule management system 13 is a system that manages information showing a user's schedule. For example, the schedule management system 13 is configured with a computer such as a server device. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 1, the schedule management system 13 has a management device (schedule management device) 31 as an information processing device and a schedule database 32 provided in a storage device. The management device 31 is configured with a computer equipped with a processor, a memory, a communication interface, and the like. The management device 31 processes information by executing a program stored in the memory by the processor, and communicates with devices such as the adjustment device 11.

[0013] Furthermore, the schedule database 32 stores schedule information indicating a schedule for each user. The schedule database 32 may be configured to be accessible from the management device 31. For example, the schedule database 32 may be provided in a storage device provided in a computer serving as the management device 31. The schedule database 32 may be provided in a storage device provided in a device such as a server device configured to be able to communicate with the computer serving as the management device 31.

[0014] In the schedule management system 13, the management device 31 accesses the schedule information of each user stored in the schedule database 32. For example, the management device 31 acquires schedule information of users who will be participants in a conference specified by the adjustment device 11 from the schedule database 32 and transfers it to the adjustment device 11. In addition, the management device 31 adds information to the schedules of the participants of the conference in the schedule database 32 according to the schedule of the conference set by the adjustment device 11. This allows the management device 31 to incorporate the scheduled conference time of the conference schedule set by the adjustment device 11 into the schedule of each participant of the conference.

[0015] The conference room management system 14 is a system that manages reservation information for conference rooms. For example, the conference room management system 14 is mainly composed of a computer such as a server device. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the conference room management system 14 has a management device (conference room management device) 41 as an information processing device and a conference room management database 42 provided in a storage device. The management device 41 is composed of a computer equipped with a processor, memory, a communication interface, etc. The management device 41 processes information and communicates with devices such as the adjustment device 11 by executing a program stored in the memory by the processor.

[0016] Furthermore, the conference room management database 42 stores reservation information indicating the reservation status of each conference room. The conference room management database 42 may be configured to be accessible from the management device 41. For example, the conference room management database 42 may be provided in a storage device provided in a computer serving as the management device 41. The conference room management database 42 may also be provided in a storage device provided in a device such as a server device configured to be able to communicate with the computer serving as the management device 41.

[0017] In the conference room management system 14, the management device 41 accesses reservation information indicating the reservation status of each conference room stored in the conference room management database 42. For example, the management device 41 acquires reservation information for a conference room or time period specified by the adjustment device 11 from the conference room management database 42 and transfers it to the adjustment device 11. The management device 41 also updates the reservation information in the conference room management database 42 according to the conference schedule set by the adjustment device 11. This allows the management device 41 to reserve a conference room in the conference schedule set by the adjustment device 11 according to the scheduled conference time.

[0018] Next, a configuration of the adjustment device 11 in the conference setting system 1 according to the embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the adjustment device 11 includes a processor 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an NVM 24, a first interface (I / F) 25, a second interface (I / F) 26, and a third interface (I / F) 27.

[0019] The processor 21 executes various processes by executing programs. The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU, an MPU, or a DSP. The processor 21 may also be a combination of a CPU, an MPU, or a DSP. The processor 21 executes programs (system programs, application programs, or firmware) stored in the ROM 22 or the NVM 24. For example, a program (conference adjustment program) that the processor 21 executes to realize the processes (functions) described below is stored in the NVM 24 or the ROM 22.

[0020] The ROM 22 is a non-volatile memory used for reading out data. The ROM 22 stores programs executed by the processor 21. The ROM 22 also stores data or various setting values ​​used by the processor 21 to perform various processes. The RAM 23 is a memory used for reading and writing data, and is used as a working memory for storing data that is temporarily used when the processor 21 performs various processes.

[0021] The NVM 24 is a non-volatile memory to which data can be written and rewritten. The NVM 24 is used as a data memory for saving various data. The NVM 24 may also store programs executed by the processor 21 or various setting data. The NVM 24 may also store data generated by the processing by the processor 21.

[0022] The first interface 25 is an interface for communicating with the schedule management system 13. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 1, the first interface 25 is an interface that communicatively connects to a management device 31 of the schedule management system 13. For example, the first interface may be a network interface for communicating with the management device 31 via a network.

[0023] The second interface 26 is an interface for communicating with the conference room management system 14. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 1, the second interface 26 is an interface that communicatively connects to a management device 41 of the conference room management system 14. For example, the second interface 26 may be a network interface for communicating with the management device 41 via a network.

[0024] The third interface 27 is an interface for communicating with the user terminal 12. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 1, the third interface 27 is an interface for communicatively connecting to the user terminal 12 of each user. For example, the third interface 27 may be a network interface for communicating with each user terminal 12 via a network.

[0025] The first, second and third interfaces 25, 26 and 27 may each be configured with one or two interfaces. For example, the first and second interfaces 25 and 26 may be configured with a network that communicates with the schedule management system 13 and the conference room management system 14 via the Internet. The third interface 27 may be configured with a local area network (LAN) network that communicates with the user terminal 12 via a LAN.

[0026] Next, the schedule database 32 of the schedule management system 13 to which the adjustment device 11 according to the embodiment refers will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a schedule database 32 to which the adjustment device 11 according to the embodiment refers. As shown in Fig. 2, the schedule database 32 stores information (schedule information) indicating the schedule of each user who may be a participant in the conference. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the schedule of employee A on a certain month and date indicates that the employee A has an appointment between 9:30 and 10:30, and no appointment outside of that time period.

[0027] 2, the schedule database 32 shows an example in which a schedule is registered with a predetermined time unit being one frame time. That is, the schedule management system 13 manages each user's schedule in predetermined time units. In the example shown in FIG. 2, as a specific example, each user's schedule is managed with 15 minutes, which is ¼ of an hour, as a predetermined time unit (one frame time). The management device 31 of the schedule management system 13 reflects (registers or updates) the schedule of each user for each predetermined time in the schedule database 32.

[0028] For example, when adjusting a schedule for a conference in response to a request from the user terminal 12, the adjustment device 11 selects candidates for a time period during which the conference can be set from the schedule information of the conference participants. Furthermore, when the adjustment device 11 sets (confirms) a conference, it adds the schedule of the set conference time period to the schedules of the conference participants. This allows the adjustment device 11 to update the schedule information of the conference participants in the schedule database 32.

[0029] Next, the conference room management database 42 of the conference room management system 14 to which the adjustment device 11 according to the embodiment refers will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the conference room management database 42 to which the adjustment device 11 according to the embodiment refers. As shown in Fig. 3, the conference room management database 42 stores information (conference room reservation information) indicating the reservation status of conference rooms that can be used for conferences that can be set by the adjustment device 11. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the conference room management database 42 stores the capacity and reserved time period for each conference room. In the example shown in Fig. 3, conference room B has a capacity of 20 people, and is reserved for the time period from 11:00 to 11:45 on a certain month and date, with the other time periods being available.

[0030] In the example shown in Fig. 3, the conference room management database 42 shows an example in which the reservation of each conference room is registered with a predetermined time unit being one frame time. In other words, the conference room management system 14 manages the reservation status of each conference room in predetermined time units. In the example shown in Fig. 3, as a specific example, the reservation status of each conference room is managed with 15 minutes, which is 1 / 4 of an hour, as a predetermined time unit (one frame time). The management device 41 of the conference room management system 14 reflects (registers or updates) the reservation status of each conference room for each predetermined time in the conference room management database 42.

[0031] For example, when adjusting a conference schedule, the adjustment device 11 selects candidate conference rooms and time slots in which conference time can be secured from the reservation information of each conference room in the conference room management database 42. Furthermore, when the adjustment device 11 sets (confirms) a conference, it sets the scheduled time slot for the set conference as reserved in the reservation information of the conference room where the set conference is scheduled to be held. This allows the adjustment device 11 to update the reservation information of the conference room where the conference is scheduled to be held in the conference room management database 42.

[0032] The process of the adjustment device 11 in the conference setting system 1 according to the embodiment will be described below. First, a first processing example of a resetting (changing) process for an already-set conference by the adjustment device 11 according to the embodiment will be described. 4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining a first processing example as a conference resetting process by the adjustment device 11 according to the embodiment. When a user reschedules a conference using the conference scheduling system 1, the user inputs conference rescheduling conditions into the user terminal 12.

[0033] The conference resetting conditions include, for example, information indicating the conference to be reset (e.g., conference ID), information specifying the participants of the conference to be reset, the conference time (scheduled time), and the period during which the conference can be held. The conference resetting conditions may also include information for limiting the conference room of the conference to be reset, such as the size (capacity) of the conference room. The user terminal 12 transmits to the adjustment device 11 a conference resetting request specifying the conference resetting conditions input by the user.

[0034] The adjustment device 11 communicates with a user terminal 12 to which a user issues a request to reschedule a conference via a third interface 27. The processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 acquires (receives) a request to reschedule a conference including a condition for rescheduling a conference specified by the user in the user terminal 12 (ACT11).

[0035] When the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 receives a request to reschedule a conference, it acquires schedule information of each participant of the conference to be rescheduled stored in the schedule database 32 (ACT12). The processor 21 identifies the participants of the conference, the conference time, and the period during which the conference can be held, which are specified in the rescheduling conditions of the conference. The processor 21 acquires schedule information of each participant of the conference during the period during which the conference can be held, which is specified in the rescheduling conditions of the conference, from the schedule management system 13.

[0036] When the processor 21 acquires the schedule information of each participant, the processor 21 selects candidates for the time (date and time) when all participants of the conference to be rescheduled can participate as candidate dates and times (candidate holding time) (ACT13). For example, the processor 21 selects, as the candidate dates and times, the conference time during which all participants' schedules are free during the period during which the conference can be held. Here, the number of selected candidate dates and times is N, and the N candidate dates and times are expressed as candidate dates and times A1 to An (n≦N). The processor 21 stores the selected candidate dates and times A1 to An in a memory such as the RAM 23 or the NVM 24.

[0037] The processor 21 may acquire, as the schedule information, information indicating the time when the conference time is free (free time) for each participant within the period during which the conference can be held. In this case, the processor 21 may select, as the candidate date and time, the time when the conference time is free in the schedules of all the participants from the information indicating the free time of each participant.

[0038] After selecting a candidate date and time, the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 initializes a variable n (n=n+1) for selecting one candidate date and time from N candidate dates and times (ACT14). After initializing or updating the variable n, the processor 21 determines whether or not there is a conference room that is available at the date and time indicated by the candidate date and time An (ACT15). The processor 21 selects a conference room that is available at the candidate date and time An from conference rooms limited by the number of participants or the conference room conditions specified by the reset conditions.

[0039] For example, the processor 21 specifies the reset conditions and queries the conference room management system 14 for information indicating conference rooms that are available at candidate date and time An. The management device 41 of the conference room management system 14 searches the conference room management database 42 for conference rooms that are available at candidate date and time An under the reset conditions. The management device 41 supplies the reservation information selected from the conference room management database 42 (reservation information for the candidate date and time and a predetermined time period before and after the candidate date and time) to the adjustment device 11.

[0040] If there is no conference room available at the candidate date and time An (ACT15, NO), the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 increments the variable n (n=n+1) (ACT19). If the variable n does not exceed the number of candidate dates and times (N) (ACT20, NO), the processor 21 selects a conference room available at the next candidate date and time An, for which n=n+1 has been set, and returns to ACT15 to execute the above-mentioned process.

[0041] When the variable n exceeds the number (N) of candidate dates and times (ACT20, YES), the processor 21 notifies the user who requested the rescheduling of the conference that the conference cannot be rescheduled (ACT21), and proceeds to ACT25. Here, since there are no available conference rooms at the candidate dates and times at which all participants can attend, the processor 21 may notify the user that an online conference is recommended. Furthermore, when recommending an online conference, the processor 21 may notify the user of dates and times at which all participants can attend (candidate dates and times) as candidate dates and times at which the online conference can be held.

[0042] Furthermore, when there is a conference room that is available at the candidate date and time An (ACT15, YES), the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 selects one conference room from the conference rooms that are available at the candidate date and time An (ACT16). When there are multiple selected conference rooms, the processor 21 may select a conference room randomly, or may select conference rooms in order based on specific conditions. For example, the processor 21 may select conference rooms from the conference rooms that are available at the candidate date and time An in order that matches the number of participants. As a specific example, if the number of participants is five, the processor 21 may select conference rooms from conference rooms with a capacity of five or more in order of least capacity.

[0043] When the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 selects one conference room, it determines whether a predetermined margin time immediately before (or after) the candidate date and time in the reservation information of the selected conference room is available (ACT17). Here, the conference setting system 1 provides a predetermined length of margin time immediately before (or after) the scheduled time (conference time) of the conference to be set. The margin time is a time for setting a conference in a state where the conference is allowed to be extended up to a predetermined length. In other words, the adjustment device 11 of the conference setting system 1 sets the conference by allowing an extension of the margin time. For example, the margin time is set to about 15 minutes, which is 1 / 4 of an hour.

[0044] If the selected conference room is not available for the margin time immediately before the candidate date and time (ACT17, NO), the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 determines whether another conference room is available at the candidate date and time An (ACT18). The processor 21 selects one conference room from the conference rooms that are available at the candidate date and time An. Therefore, the processor 21 determines whether there is another conference room that has not been selected among the conference rooms that are available at the candidate date and time An.

[0045] If there is another conference room available at the candidate date and time An (ACT18, NO), the processor 21 returns to ACT16, selects another conference room, and executes the above-mentioned process. If there is no other conference room available at the candidate date and time An (ACT18, NO), the processor 21 proceeds to ACT19.

[0046] If the selected conference room is also free for the margin time immediately before the candidate date and time (ACT17, YES), the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 reserves the selected conference room for the candidate date and time An (ACT22). For example, the processor 21 issues a conference ID for the conference to be rescheduled, and requests the conference room management system 14 to reserve the conference room to be used for the conference with the conference ID for the candidate date and time. In response to the request from the adjustment device 11, the management device 41 of the conference room management system 14 adds the reservation of the conference time to the reservation information for the conference room of the conference in question in the conference room management database 42.

[0047] Furthermore, the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 performs a process of updating the schedule of each participant who will participate in the conference to be reset (ACT23). For example, the processor 21 requests the schedule management system 13 to add the conference plan to the schedule of all participants who will participate in the conference to be reset. In response to the request from the adjustment device 11, the management device 31 of the schedule management system 13 adds the conference time to the schedule information of all participants in the conference to be reset in the schedule database 32.

[0048] After reserving the conference room for the conference to be rescheduled and updating the schedules of the participants, the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 notifies each participant of the conference to be rescheduled of a conference rescheduling notice (ACT24). For example, the processor 21 creates a message (e.g., a text message) indicating information such as the date and time of the rescheduled conference, the conference room, the names of the participants, and the conference ID as information about the rescheduled conference (conference rescheduling notice). The processor 21 notifies each participant of the created message as the conference rescheduling notice.

[0049] Furthermore, when the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 reschedules the conference or when the conference cannot be rescheduled, the processor 21 deletes the plan of the original conference (conference before rescheduling) for which rescheduling was requested (ACT25). That is, the processor 21 deletes the reservation information of the conference room and the schedule information of each participant for the conference before rescheduling.

[0050] For example, the processor 21 identifies the conference before rescheduling by a conference ID or the like, and specifies the conference room and conference time of the conference before rescheduling. The processor 21 specifies the conference room of the conference before rescheduling and requests the conference room management system 14 to delete the conference time of the conference from the reservation information. The management device 41 of the conference room management system 14 deletes the reservation for the conference time of the conference from the reservation information of the conference room specified in the conference room management database 42. However, if the management device 41 of the conference room management system 14 manages the conference room and conference time by conference ID, the processor 21 may specify the conference ID to request deletion. In this case, the management device 41 may delete the reservation of the conference room for the conference with the specified conference ID (the conference ID of the conference before rescheduling).

[0051] The processor 21 also identifies the participants and conference time of the conference before it was rescheduled. The processor 21 specifies the participants of the conference before it was rescheduled and requests the schedule management system 13 to delete the schedule for the conference time of the conference. The management device 31 of the schedule management system 13 deletes the plans for the conference time of the conference from the schedule information of the specified participants in the schedule database 32. However, if the management device 31 of the schedule management system 13 manages the participants and conference time by conference ID, the processor 21 may specify the conference ID to request the deletion. In this case, the management device 31 may delete the plans for the conference from the schedule of each participant for the conference with the specified conference ID (the conference ID of the conference before it was rescheduled).

[0052] According to the above-described first processing example, the adjustment device as a conference adjustment device re-establishes a conference that satisfies the re-establishment condition in response to a request for re-establishment of an already-established conference. After executing the process of re-establishing the conference, the adjustment device deletes the reservation of the conference room and the schedule of the participants that were reserved for the conference before the re-establishment.

[0053] Thereby, when the adjustment device according to the embodiment reschedules the conference, it is possible to delete not only the rescheduling of the conference, but also the reservation of the conference room related to the conference before the rescheduling. As a result, according to the adjustment device according to the embodiment, it is possible to prevent forgetting to cancel the conference before the rescheduling when the conference is rescheduled. Furthermore, the adjustment device according to the first processing example of the embodiment deletes the schedule of the conference before the rescheduling after the process of rescheduling the conference is completed. Therefore, in the first processing example, it is possible to hold the schedule of the conference before the rescheduling until the process of rescheduling the conference is completed.

[0054] Next, a second processing example of a resetting (changing) process for an already-set conference by the adjustment device 11 according to the embodiment will be described. 6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining a second processing example as a conference resetting process by the adjustment device 11 according to the embodiment. The processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 acquires (receives) a conference re-establishment request including a conference re-establishment condition designated by a user using the user terminal 12 (ACT31).

[0055] The processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 deletes the schedule of the conference to be rescheduled (the conference before rescheduling) in response to the rescheduling request (ACT32). That is, the processor 21 deletes the conference room reservation information and the schedule information of each participant for the conference before rescheduling. For example, the processor 21 can delete the schedule of the conference before rescheduling from the conference room management database 42 by the method described in the first processing example.

[0056] When the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 deletes the plan of the conference before reconfiguration, it acquires schedule information of each participant of the conference to be reconfigured in accordance with the reconfiguration conditions (ACT33). The processor 21 identifies the participants of the conference, the conference time, and the period during which the conference can be held, which are specified by the reconfiguration conditions. The processor 21 acquires schedule information of each participant for the period during which the conference can be held, which is specified by the reconfiguration conditions, from the schedule management system 13.

[0057] When the processor 21 acquires the schedule information of each participant, it selects a time when all participants of the conference to be rescheduled can participate as a candidate date and time (candidate holding time) (ACT34). For example, the processor 21 selects a conference time during the period when the conference can be held that is free in the schedules of all participants as the candidate date and time. Here, the number of selected candidate date and time is N, and the N candidate date and time are expressed as candidate date and time B1 to Bn (n≦N). The processor 21 stores the selected candidate date and time B1 to Bn in a memory such as the RAM 23 or the NVM 24.

[0058] The processor 21 may acquire, as the schedule information, information indicating the time when the conference time is free (free time) for each participant within the period during which the conference can be held. In this case, the processor 21 selects, as the candidate date and time, the time when the conference time is free in the schedules of all participants from the information indicating the free time of each participant.

[0059] When the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 selects N candidate dates and times, it initializes a variable n (n=1) for selecting one candidate date and time from the N candidate dates and times (ACT35). When the processor 21 initializes or updates the variable n, it determines whether or not there is a conference room that is available at the date and time indicated by the candidate date and time Bn (ACT36). The processor 21 selects a conference room that is available at the candidate date and time Bn from conference rooms limited by the number of participants or the conference room conditions specified by the reset conditions.

[0060] For example, the processor 21 specifies the reset conditions and queries the conference room management system 14 for information indicating conference rooms that are available at the candidate date and time Bn. The management device 41 of the conference room management system 14 searches the conference room management database 42 for conference rooms that are available at the candidate date and time Bn under the reset conditions. The management device 41 supplies the reservation information selected from the conference room management database 42 (reservation information for the candidate date and time and a predetermined time period before and after the candidate date and time) to the adjustment device 11.

[0061] If there is no available conference room for the candidate date and time Bn (ACT36, NO), the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 increments the variable n (n=n+1) (ACT40). If the variable n does not exceed the number of candidate dates and times (N) (ACT41, NO), the processor 21 selects a conference room that is available for the next candidate date and time as described above, returns to ACT36, and executes the above-mentioned process.

[0062] When the variable n exceeds the number (N) of candidate dates and times (ACT41, YES), the processor 21 notifies the user who requested the rescheduling of the meeting that the meeting cannot be rescheduled (ACT42), and ends the series of processes. Here, the processor 21 may notify the user that an online meeting is recommended. Furthermore, when the processor 21 recommends an online meeting, the processor 21 may notify the user of dates and times when all participants can participate (candidate dates and times) as candidates for dates and times when the online meeting can be held.

[0063] Furthermore, if there is a conference room available at the candidate date and time Bn (ACT36, YES), the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 selects one conference room from the conference rooms available at the candidate date and time Bn (ACT37). If there are multiple conference rooms available at the candidate date and time Bn, the processor 21 may randomly select a conference room, or may select conference rooms in order based on specific conditions. For example, the processor 21 may select conference rooms from the conference rooms available at the candidate date and time Bn in the order that matches the number of participants.

[0064] When the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 selects one conference room, it determines whether the margin time immediately before (or after) the candidate date and time Bn in the reservation information of the selected conference room is available (ACT38). Here, the conference setting system 1 provides a margin time of a predetermined length immediately before (or after) the scheduled time of the conference to be set, as in the first processing example.

[0065] If the selected conference room is not available for the margin time immediately before the candidate date and time Bn (ACT38, NO), the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 determines whether there is another conference room available at the candidate date and time Bn (ACT39). Since the processor 21 selects one conference room from the conference rooms available at the candidate date and time Bn, it determines whether there is another conference room that has not been selected at the candidate date and time Bn.

[0066] If there is another conference room available at the candidate date and time Bn (ACT39, NO), the processor 21 returns to ACT37, selects another conference room, and executes the above-mentioned process. If there is no other conference room available at the candidate date and time Bn (ACT39, YESS), the processor 21 proceeds to ACT40.

[0067] Furthermore, if the selected conference room is also free for the margin time immediately prior to the candidate date and time Bn (ACT38, YES), the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 reserves the selected conference room for the candidate date and time Bn (ACT43). For example, the processor 21 issues a conference ID for the conference to be rescheduled, and requests the conference room management system 14 to reserve the conference room to be used for the conference with the conference ID for the candidate date and time. In response to the request from the adjustment device 11, the management device 41 of the conference room management system 14 adds the reservation of the conference time to the reservation information for the conference room of the conference in question in the conference room management database 42.

[0068] Furthermore, the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 performs a process of updating the schedule of each participant who will participate in the conference to be reset (ACT44). For example, the processor 21 requests the schedule management system 13 to add the conference plan to the schedule of all participants who will participate in the conference to be reset. In response to the request from the adjustment device 11, the management device 31 of the schedule management system 13 adds the conference time of the conference to be reset to the schedule information of all participants of the conference to be reset in the schedule database 32.

[0069] After reserving the conference room for the conference to be rescheduled and updating the schedules of each participant, the processor 21 of the adjustment device 11 notifies each participant of the conference to be rescheduled of a conference rescheduling guide (ACT45). For example, the processor 21 creates a message (e.g., a text message) indicating information such as the date and time of the rescheduled conference, the conference room, the names of the participants, and the conference ID as information about the rescheduled conference (conference rescheduling guide). The processor 21 notifies each participant of the created message as the conference rescheduling guide.

[0070] According to the second processing example described above, the adjustment device as a conference adjustment device deletes the schedule of the conference before re-setting to be re-set in response to a request for re-setting of the set conference. After deleting the schedule of the conference before re-setting, the adjustment device executes a process of re-setting the conference in accordance with the resetting conditions.

[0071] As a result, the adjustment device according to the embodiment can reschedule a conference after reliably deleting the conference room reservation and the like related to the conference before rescheduling. As a result, the schedule of the conference before rescheduling is deleted immediately upon receiving a request to reschedule a conference, so that unnecessary reservation information that is the subject of rescheduling can be quickly deleted and released to other users. In addition, since the reservation information and schedule information related to the conference before rescheduling are deleted before rescheduling, a conference can be smoothly rescheduled even under rescheduling conditions that partially overlap with the conference before rescheduling.

[0072] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the function for implementing the invention is pre-recorded in the device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the function of a similar program may be downloaded from a network to the device, or a recording medium having the same function stored therein may be installed in the device. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it is capable of storing a program such as an optical disk and is readable by the device. The function obtained by pre-installation or downloading may cooperate with an OS (operating system) in the device to realize the function.

[0073] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1...conference setting system, 11...adjustment device (conference adjustment device), 12...user terminal (PC), 13...schedule management system, 14...conference room management system, 21...processor, 22...ROM, 23...RAM, 24...NVM, 25...first interface, 26...second interface, 27...third interface, 31...management device, 32...schedule database, 41...management device, 42...conference room management database.

Claims

1. A first interface for obtaining schedule information of participants of the conference; a second interface for acquiring reservation information of the conference room; a third interface for acquiring a rescheduling condition for rescheduling a reserved conference; a processor for reserving a reconfigured conference meeting the reconfiguration conditions based on schedule information of participants of the reconfigured conference and reservation information of the conference room, and deleting reservation information related to the conference before the reconfiguration; A conference adjustment device comprising:

2. the processor deletes reservation information relating to the conference before the reconfiguration after the process of reserving the reconfigured conference that meets the reconfiguration condition is completed. The conference adjustment device of claim 1 .

3. the processor deletes reservation information relating to the conference before the reconfiguration, and then reserves a reconfigured conference that meets the reconfiguration conditions; The conference adjustment device of claim 1 .

4. The processor selects candidate dates and times from schedule information of each participant of the conference to be rescheduled, and reserves the rescheduled conference time in a conference room that is available with a predetermined margin time added to the selected candidate dates and times. The conference adjustment device of claim 1 .

5. On the computer, A function to obtain schedule information of meeting participants; A function to obtain conference room reservation information, The ability to obtain rescheduling conditions for rescheduling a scheduled meeting; a function of reserving a rescheduled conference meeting the rescheduling conditions based on schedule information of the participants of the rescheduled conference and reservation information of the conference room, and deleting reservation information related to the conference before being rescheduled; A conference coordination program to achieve this.

6. After the process of reserving the re-established conference that meets the re-establishment conditions is completed, the reservation information regarding the conference before the re-establishment is deleted. The conference adjustment program according to claim 5.

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