Web conference system, web conference terminal, web conference terminal program, web conference server, and web conference server program

Abstract

To provide a web conference system, a web conference terminal, and a web conference server that prevent the leakage of confidential information from web conference terminals to third parties during web conferences.SOLUTION: A web conference system allows a plurality of web conference terminals to connect to each other and hold web conferences via real-time audio or video communication. The web conference system includes a degree-of-confidentiality information generation unit that generates degree-of-confidentiality information indicating the degree of confidentiality of the web conference based on the audio or video of the web conference, and an information protection control unit that performs information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the plurality of web conference terminals in a manner based on the degree-of-confidentiality information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a web conference system, a web conference terminal and a web conference server used in the web conference system, a web conference terminal program, and a web conference server program. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, due to changes in the social and technological environment, situations in which confidential information such as business information is shared without any barriers to its surroundings are on the rise.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming device (printer) or the like that displays a preview image of scanned data not on a display device attached to the image forming device, but on a mobile terminal device carried by the user who made the scan request. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-135734 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Furthermore, in recent years, web conferences are increasingly being held using not only image forming apparatuses such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1, but also web conference terminals and the like, with real-time audio or video communication between participants.

[0006] In addition, there are an increasing number of web conferences where participants are using their own personal web conference devices, and confidential information may be leaked to third parties through the display screen, speaker audio, and speech from the personal web conference device.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a web conference system, a web conference terminal, and a web conference server that prevent confidential information from being leaked to third parties from a web conference terminal during a web conference. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The web conferencing system of the present invention is a web conferencing system in which multiple web conferencing terminals are connected to each other so that they can hold web conferences via real-time audio or video communication, and is characterized by having a confidentiality information generation unit that generates confidentiality information indicating the confidentiality of the web conference based on the audio or video of the web conference, and an information protection control unit that performs information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the multiple web conferencing terminals in a manner based on the confidentiality information.

[0009] In addition, the web conferencing system according to the present invention is a web conferencing system in which multiple web conferencing terminals are connected to each other so that they can hold web conferences via real-time audio or video communication, and is characterized by having the steps of generating confidentiality information indicating the confidentiality of the web conference based on the audio or video of the web conference, and performing information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the multiple web conferencing terminals in a manner based on the confidentiality information.

[0010] In addition, the web conference terminal according to the present invention is a web conference terminal that is connected to each other so that web conferences can be held through real-time audio or video communication, and is characterized by having a receiving unit that receives information protection processing information indicating that information protection processing is to be performed on the audio or video of the web conference output from the web conference terminal in a manner based on confidentiality information indicating the confidentiality of the web conference, an output adjustment unit that adjusts the output of the audio or video of the web conference based on the information protection processing information, and an output unit that outputs the adjusted audio and video of the web conference.

[0011] In addition, the web conference server according to the present invention is a web conference server in which multiple web conference terminals are connected to each other so that they can hold web conferences through real-time audio or video communication, and is characterized by having a confidentiality information generation unit that generates confidentiality information indicating the confidentiality of the web conference based on the audio or video of the web conference, and an information protection control unit that performs information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the multiple web conference terminals in a manner based on the confidentiality information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a web conference system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a web conference server in the web conference system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a web conference terminal main body in the web conference system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a web conference system according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a web conference server in the web conference system according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of a web conference terminal in the web conference system according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same components will be omitted. [Example]

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a web conference system 1 according to an embodiment.

[0015] The web conference system 1 includes a web conference server 10 and a plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22.

[0016] The web conference server 10 is, for example, a server device such as a computer equipped with a communication means (not shown) capable of communicating with a network NW and a storage means (not shown) such as an HDD or SSD. The web conference server 10 is connected to a plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 via a network NW capable of two-way communication, such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network), by the communication means.

[0017] The web conference server 10 receives, for example, audio and video data from a plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22, and transmits the data to each of the plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22.

[0018] The web conference server 10 provides a web conference by communicating audio and video in real time between the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 by performing bidirectional communication with each of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 at any time.

[0019] The multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 are, for example, communication terminals such as personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs).

[0020] The web conference terminal 20 includes a web conference terminal main body 210, which is a PC main body, and a monitor 220, a speaker 230, a microphone 240, and a camera 250, which are connected to the web conference terminal main body 210 as devices.

[0021] Furthermore, web conference terminal main body 210 has web conference client software installed.

[0022] The web conference terminal main body 210 transmits audio and image data acquired via a monitor 220 , a speaker 230 , a microphone 240 and a camera 250 to the web conference server 10 .

[0023] Furthermore, the web conference terminal main body 210 outputs the audio and image data received from the web conference terminals 21 and 22 via the web conference server 10 to the monitor 220 and speaker 230 .

[0024] Furthermore, the web conference terminal main body 210 transmits setting information for the monitor 220, speaker 230, and microphone 240 from the web conference client software to the web conference server 10. Specifically, the web conference client software acquires device setting information such as the brightness and polarization degree of the monitor 220, the volume of the speaker 230, and the sensitivity of the microphone 240 from the web conference terminal main body 210, and transmits the device setting information to the web conference server 10 as client setting information.

[0025] The web conference terminals 21 and 22 have the same configuration as the web conference terminal 20, and the same web conference client software as that of the web conference terminal main body 210 is installed in each web conference terminal main body.

[0026] A plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, 22 can communicate with the web conference server 10 using the same web conference client software, and only users who have a specified address or passcode can participate in the web conference.

[0027] The multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 are not limited to PCs, but may be mobile terminals such as smartphones on which the above-mentioned web conference client software is installed.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the web conference server 10 in the web conference system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0029] The web conference server 10 communicates with each of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 in real time via a network NW using a communication means.

[0030] The web conference server 10 includes a web conference server means 11 that manages web conferences, and a confidentiality level determination means 12 that determines the confidentiality level of communications related to the web conference.

[0031] The web conference server means 11 includes a screen sharing means 111 , a file sharing means 112 , a client setting generation means 113 , and a client setting instruction means 114 .

[0032] The web conference server means 11 includes means (not shown) for transmitting the audio and image data of each of the plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 received via the communication means to each of the web conference terminals.

[0033] In response to a request for screen sharing made by one of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22, the screen sharing means 111 transmits the display screen received from the web conference terminal that requested the screen sharing to the other web conference terminals as image information via a communication means.

[0034] In response to a file sharing request made by one of the plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22, the file sharing means 112 transmits the file sent from the web conference terminal that requested the file sharing to the other web conference terminals via a communication means.

[0035] The client setting generation means 113 generates client setting information for each of the plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22, which is device setting information for each of the terminals, based on confidentiality information indicating the confidentiality of the web conference.

[0036] Specifically, the client setting generation means 113 generates setting information for the brightness and polarization of the monitor, the speaker volume, and the microphone sensitivity of each of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 according to the level of confidentiality of the web conference.

[0037] For example, if the confidentiality of a web conference is high, client setting information received from multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 is used for information protection processing, and client setting information such as lowering the monitor brightness or narrowing the degree of polarization of the monitor to prevent third parties from looking at the information, or lowering the speaker volume or increasing the microphone sensitivity to prevent third parties from eavesdropping, is generated for the device setting values ​​of each web conference terminal.

[0038] The client setting information also causes the web conference participants of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 to be notified on a monitor or the like to reduce the volume of their speech.

[0039] The client setting information generated by the client setting generation means 113 may be specific setting values ​​calculated based on the device setting information received from each web conference terminal.

[0040] The client setting information may also be a guideline for setting values ​​such as relatively or simply increasing or decreasing the setting values ​​of the audio output or video output of each device.

[0041] The client setting instruction means 114 transmits each piece of client setting information generated by the client setting generation means 113 as client setting instruction information as information protection processing information to each of the plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, 22 via communication means.

[0042] In other words, the client setting generation means 113 and the client setting instruction means 114 function as an information protection control unit that generates client setting information and transmits client setting instruction information as information protection processing for the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 in a manner based on the confidentiality information.

[0043] The confidentiality determination means 12 is a determination means for determining the confidentiality of a web conference.

[0044] The confidentiality determination means 12 includes a conference attribute management means 121, a text conversion means 122, a keyword extraction means 123, and a confidentiality determination database .

[0045] The conference attribute management means 121 is a means for defining attributes of a web conference, such as business type information or in-house management information, and controlling the confidentiality determination means 12 so as to determine the confidentiality level according to the attributes.

[0046] In this explanation, the web conference attributes defined by the conference attribute management means 121 are assumed to be specified by the web conference terminal participants of each client. Conference attributes include, for example, "morning assembly," "information sharing meeting," "new product or service development meeting," "management meeting," and "board of directors." For example, "morning assembly" may be a conference with a low confidentiality attribute, while "new product or service development meeting," "management meeting," and "board of directors" may be conferences with a high confidentiality attribute.

[0047] The attributes of the web conference defined by the conference attribute management means 121 may be automatically determined by the keyword extraction means 123 described later.

[0048] The text conversion means 122 converts the voice data of each of the plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 acquired by the web conference server means 11 via the communication means into text data.

[0049] Furthermore, the text conversion means 122 performs character recognition on the image information shared by the screen sharing means 111 and converts the characters into text data.

[0050] Furthermore, the text conversion means 122 acquires the text of the chat data entered by the web conference participants.

[0051] The keyword extraction means 123 extracts keywords related to the confidentiality of the conference from the text converted into text data by the text conversion means 122.

[0052] Keywords related to the confidentiality of a meeting include, for example, keywords that indicate a high level of confidentiality, such as "secret," "classified," "important," "confidential," "just between us," "off the record," and "secret," keywords that indicate the names of business partners or companies, and keywords such as numbers that indicate specific data.

[0053] Note that a keyword list may be linked to the conference attributes defined by the conference attribute management means 121, and the conference attribute management means 121 may automatically determine the conference attributes it defines based on whether the keywords extracted by the keyword extraction means 123 match any of the keywords in the keyword list. For example, if keywords such as "president" or "senior managing director" are extracted, the attribute may be "board of directors meeting," and if keywords such as "new product," "new service," or "under development" are extracted, the attribute may be "new product or service development meeting."

[0054] The keyword extraction means 123 may also analyze a file shared by the file sharing means 112 and extract keywords written in the file.

[0055] The confidentiality determination database 124 is a confidentiality information generation unit that generates confidentiality information indicating the confidentiality of a web conference based on the audio or video of the web conference.

[0056] The confidentiality determination database 124 generates confidentiality information indicating the confidentiality of the web conference being held by the web conference server means 11, for example, by the file sharing means 112, based on at least one of the display content of the screen shared by the screen sharing means 111, the content of the shared file, the conference attributes defined by the conference attribute management means 121, and the keywords extracted by the keyword extraction means 123.

[0057] In this description, the confidentiality determination database 124 determines the level of confidentiality of the web conference being held by the web conference server means 11 based on the type of keywords that match the keyword list based on the conference attributes or their frequency of occurrence.

[0058] The keyword list may be set by each client, or may be set automatically based on the conference attributes.

[0059] Furthermore, during the web conference, participants in the web conference may add keywords indicating high confidentiality at any time.

[0060] If the confidentiality determination database 124 determines that the confidentiality of the web conference is high, it transmits confidentiality information indicating that the confidentiality of the web conference is high to the client setting generation means 113.

[0061] The client setting generation means 113 generates client setting information for each of the plurality of web conference terminals 20 , 21 , and 22 based on the confidentiality information received from the confidentiality determination database 124 , and transmits the generated information to the client setting instruction means 114 .

[0062] The client setting instruction means 114 transmits the client setting information of each of the plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, 22 received from the client setting generation means 113 as client setting instruction information to each web conference terminal via the communication means.

[0063] The keyword list in the confidentiality determination database 124 may be weighted by assigning a score to each predetermined keyword, or may be a point-adding system in which the confidentiality level increases with each detection of a keyword.

[0064] Furthermore, the level of confidentiality of a web conference may be set to a plurality of levels according to a predetermined occurrence frequency or a predetermined threshold confidentiality score.

[0065] In this case, the client setting generating means 113 may generate multiple levels of client setting information according to the level of confidentiality.

[0066] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the web conference terminal main body 210 in the web conference system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0067] The web conference terminal main body 210 has a web conference client means 211, a monitor driver means 212, a speaker driver means 213, a microphone driver means 214, a monitor display buffer means 215, a sensor means 216, a device type database 217, a device setting database 218, and a device control means 219. The web conference terminal main body 210 also has a communication means (not shown).

[0068] The web conference client means 211 is, for example, web conference client software. The web conference client means 211 performs real-time communication with the web conference server 10 via the network NW when participating in a web conference.

[0069] The monitor driver means 212 is a means for controlling the monitor 220, and outputs image data acquired by the web conference client means 211 to the monitor 220. The monitor driver means 212 also controls the brightness and polarization degree of the monitor 220 using preset setting values.

[0070] Furthermore, if the web conference server 10 determines that the web conference is highly confidential, the web conference client means 211 receives client setting instruction information via the communication means and transmits it to the device control means 219 .

[0071] That is, the web conference client means 211 functions as a receiving unit that receives client setting instruction information, which is information protection processing information for the audio or video of the web conference.

[0072] The speaker driver means 213 is a means for controlling the speaker 230, and outputs the audio data acquired by the web conference client means 211 to the speaker 230. The speaker driver means 213 also controls the volume of the speaker 230 at a preset setting value.

[0073] The microphone driver means 214 is a means for controlling the microphone 240, and transmits audio data acquired by the microphone 240 to the web conference client means 211. The microphone driver means 214 also controls the sensitivity of the microphone 240 using a preset setting value.

[0074] The monitor display buffer means 215 is a buffer means that accumulates image data acquired by the web conference client means 211 and outputs the image data to the monitor 220 via the monitor driver means 212 at an appropriate time.

[0075] The monitor driver means 212, speaker driver means 213, microphone driver means 214, and monitor display buffer means 215 function as an output unit that outputs audio and video of the web conference.

[0076] The sensor means 216 is a sensor means for acquiring information about the surrounding environment of the web conference terminal 20 .

[0077] The sensor means 216 detects the illuminance around the web conference terminal 20 using, for example, an illuminance sensor (not shown), and adjusts the brightness and polarization setting values ​​of the monitor 220 of the monitor driver means 212 so that web conference participants can properly recognize the monitor 220. Note that the adjustment of the brightness and polarization setting values ​​of the monitor 220 of the sensor means 216 may be performed by detecting the ambient illuminance from image data of the camera 250 connected to the web conference terminal main body 210.

[0078] The sensor means 216 detects ambient noise from, for example, the audio data acquired by the microphone 240, and adjusts the volume setting of the speaker 230 of the speaker driver means 213 so that the web conference participants can properly recognize the audio. The sensor means 216 also adjusts the sensitivity setting of the microphone 240 of the microphone driver means 214 so that the speech of the web conference participants can properly be picked up.

[0079] The sensor unit 216 also detects whether or not there is a person around using, for example, a human presence sensor (not shown). Whether or not there is a person around the web conference terminal 20 may also be detected from image data of a camera 250 connected to the web conference terminal main body 210.

[0080] For example, if the sensor means 216 determines that there is a person around the web conference terminal 20, it can send the determination result to the web conference server 10 via the web conference client means 211, and generate client setting information only for the web conference terminal 20 and send client setting instruction information.

[0081] That is, the sensor means 216 functions as a third party presence determination unit that determines whether or not there are people other than the web conference participants at each of the web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22. Furthermore, the client setting generation means 113 and the client setting instruction means 114 perform information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 based on the result of the sensor means 216's determination of the presence of other people.

[0082] The device type database 217 is a database that stores device information of the web conference terminals 20.

[0083] The device information in the device type database 217 is a database that stores, for example, the OS of the web conference terminal main body 210 and device connection information of devices connected to the web conference terminal main body 210 .

[0084] The devices connected to the web conference terminal main body 210 are information on whether the monitor 220, speaker 230, microphone 240, and camera 250 that display images during the web conference are connected to the web conference terminal main body 210.

[0085] The device type database 217 also stores information as to whether the speaker 230 and microphone 240 connected to the web conference terminal main body 210 are devices such as headsets.

[0086] The device type database 217 may alert the web conference participants by voice or image if any of the monitor 220, speaker 230, microphone 240, and camera 250 is not connected.

[0087] It should be noted that the device type database 217 may not issue a warning regarding the camera 250 if it is not required for participation in a web conference.

[0088] The device setting database 218 acquires device setting value information of devices that are identified as being connected to the web conference terminal main body 210 in the device type database 217 from each driver means.

[0089] Specifically, the device setting database 218 acquires setting value information for the brightness and polarization degree of the monitor 220 from the monitor driver means 212, acquires setting value information for the volume of the speaker 230 from the speaker driver means 213, and acquires setting value information for the sensitivity of the microphone 240 from the microphone driver means 214.

[0090] The web conference client means 211 acquires device connection information from the device type database 217 and device setting value information from the device setting database 218, and transmits them to the web conference server 10 together with audio and image data during the web conference.

[0091] The device control means 219 is a means for controlling the driver means of each device so that, when the web conference client means 211 receives client setting instruction information from the web conference server 10 via a communication means, the setting value information of the audio output or video output of each device is changed to a setting value corresponding to the client setting instruction information.

[0092] Specifically, the device control means 219 controls the monitor driver means 212, the speaker driver means 213, and the microphone driver means 214 to adjust the setting values ​​of the brightness and polarization degree of the monitor 220, the volume of the speaker 230, and the sensitivity of the microphone 240 based on the client setting instruction information received from the web conference server 10 and the information on the surrounding environment acquired by the sensor means 216.

[0093] That is, the device control means 219 functions as an output adjustment unit that adjusts the audio or video output of a web conference based on client setting instruction information, which is information protection processing information.

[0094] If the confidentiality determination means 12 of the web conference server 10 determines that the confidentiality of the web conference is high, the web conference server 10 sends client setting instruction information to the web conference client means 211, such as lowering the brightness of the monitor 220, narrowing the polarization degree of the monitor 220, lowering the volume of the speaker 230, and increasing the sensitivity of the microphone 240.

[0095] Based on the client setting instruction information, which is the information protection process received from the web conference server 10, the web conference client means 211 causes the device control means 219 to perform the information protection process.

[0096] This makes it possible for the web conference system 1 to prevent confidential information from being leaked to a third party from the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 during a web conference.

[0097] The processing flow of a web conference in the web conference system 1 will be described below.

[0098] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overall processing flow FC1 of the web conference system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0099] 4, a case will be described in which a web conference is held between a web conference terminal 20 and a web conference terminal 21. Also, in FIG. 4, only a case in which the level of confidentiality of the web conference is high will be described.

[0100] In FIG. 4, it is assumed that the web conference terminals 20 and 21 perform the same processing, and only the processing of the web conference terminal 20 will be explained.

[0101] First, the web conference terminals 20 and 21 are connected to the web conference server 10 via the network NW, and the web conference begins (step S11).

[0102] It is assumed that before the start of the web conference, the setting values ​​of the monitor 220, speaker 230, and microphone 240 of each web conference terminal 20 are set by the sensor means 216 to within an appropriate setting value range.

[0103] Next, when the web conference starts, the types of devices connected to the web conference terminal 20, connection information, and device setting value information are transmitted from the web conference terminal 20 to the web conference server 10 (step S12).

[0104] As the web conference progresses, the web conference server 10 determines that the level of confidentiality of the web conference is high (step S13).

[0105] The web conference server 10 generates client setting information for the web conference terminal 20 based on the device setting value information for the web conference terminal 20 (step S14).

[0106] The web conference server 10 transmits the generated client setting information as client setting instruction information to the web conference terminals 20 and 21 (step S15).

[0107] The web conference terminal 20 changes the setting values ​​of each device based on the received client setting instruction information (step S16).

[0108] The web conference terminal 20 displays a warning on the monitor 220 to encourage the web conference participants to keep their voices down (step S17).

[0109] The detailed processing flow of the web conference server 10 and the web conference terminal 20 of the web conference system 1 will be described below.

[0110] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a process flow FC2 of the web conference server 10 in the web conference system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0111] The process flow FC2 of the web conference server 10 is repeatedly executed during the web conference.

[0112] When a web conference is held, the web conference server means 11 acquires device setting information from each of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 via communication means (step S21). The web conference server means 11 also stores the acquired device setting information in storage means.

[0113] The web conference server means 11 acquires conference attribute setting information from the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 via the communication means (step S22). The web conference server means 11 also transmits the acquired conference attribute setting information to the conference attribute management means 121, causing the conference attribute management means 121 to set the attributes of the held web conference.

[0114] The web conference server means 11 acquires voice data from each of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 via the communication means (step S23). The web conference server means 11 also transmits the acquired voice data to the text conversion means 122 of the confidentiality level determination means 12, and converts the voice data into text data.

[0115] The web conference server means 11 acquires image data of the screen shared by any of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 via the communication means (step S24). The web conference server means 11 also transmits the acquired image data of the screen to the text conversion means 122 of the confidentiality level determination means 12, which recognizes characters contained in the image data and converts the characters into text data.

[0116] The web conference server means 11 acquires the file shared by one of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, 22 via the communication means (step S25). The web conference server means 11 also transmits the acquired shared file to the text conversion means 122 of the confidentiality level determination means 12, and converts the characters included in the shared file into text data.

[0117] Next, the keyword extraction means 123 of the confidentiality level determination means 12 extracts keywords based on the conference attributes set by the conference attribute management means 121 from the text converted into text data in steps S23 to S26 (step S26).

[0118] In steps S23 to S25, the text conversion means 122 may convert the data into text data sequentially in each step, or may convert the data into text data and extract keywords all at once in step S26.

[0119] Next, the confidentiality determination database 124 of the confidentiality determination means 12 determines whether the confidentiality of the web conference is high based on the keywords extracted by the keyword extraction means 123 (step S27). In this description, as described above, the confidentiality determination database 124 determines that the confidentiality of the web conference is high when the keywords matching the keyword list based on the conference attributes are of a predetermined type or exceed a predetermined frequency of occurrence.

[0120] If the web conference is determined to be highly confidential (step S27: Yes), the client setting generation means 113 generates setting information for the monitor brightness and polarization degree, speaker volume and microphone sensitivity of each of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, 22 (step S28).

[0121] Specifically, the confidentiality determination database 124 transmits confidentiality information indicating that the confidentiality of the web conference is high to the client setting generation means 113. Based on the confidentiality information and the client setting information of each of the multiple web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22, the client setting generation means 113 generates client setting information such as lowering the brightness of the monitor, narrowing the degree of polarization of the monitor, lowering the speaker volume, and increasing the microphone sensitivity.

[0122] Next, the client setting instruction means 114 transmits the client setting information generated by the client setting generation means 113 as client setting instruction information to each of the plurality of web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 via the communication means (step S29).

[0123] Thereafter, the web conference server 10 ends the process flow FC2 and executes the process again from step S21.

[0124] If the web conference is not determined to be highly confidential (step S27: No), the web conference server 10 ends the process flow FC2 and executes the process again from step S21.

[0125] In the above explanation, the client setting information is generated when it is determined in step S27 that the confidentiality of the web conference is high. However, the client setting information may also be generated when it is determined that the confidentiality of the web conference has changed. In other words, the client setting information may be changed both to a higher level of confidentiality and to a lower level of confidentiality. To be on the safe side in terms of preventing confidential information from leaking, it is preferable to change the client setting information only to a higher level of confidentiality, as in FC2 shown in Figure 5.

[0126] FIG. 6 shows a process flow FC3 of the web conference terminal 20 in the web conference system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0127] The process flow FC3 of the web conference terminal 20 is repeatedly executed while the web conference is being held.

[0128] In addition, in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 are performing the same processing, and only the processing of the web conference terminal 20 will be explained.

[0129] When a web conference is held, the web conference client means 211 transmits the device information and device setting value information of the web conference terminal 20 to the web conference server 10 via the communication means (step S31).

[0130] Next, the web conference client means 211 transmits the conference attribute definition information to the web conference server 10 via the communication means (step S32). In this description, as described above, the web conference participants of the web conference terminals 20, 21, and 22 set the conference attributes.

[0131] Next, the web conference client means 211 determines whether client setting instruction information has been received from the web conference server 10 (step S33).

[0132] If it is determined that the client setting instruction information has not been received from the web conference server 10 (step S33: No), the web conference client means 211 repeatedly executes the process of step S33 while continuing the web conference.

[0133] If it is determined that client setting instruction information has been received from the web conference server 10 (step S33: Yes), the sensor means 216 acquires ambient environment information of the web conference terminal 20 (step S34). As described above, the sensor means 216 acquires information on the ambient illuminance of the web conference terminal 20, ambient noise, and surrounding third parties.

[0134] Next, the device control means 219 determines whether the setting values ​​of the monitor 220, speaker 230, and microphone 240 can be set to the setting values ​​indicated in the client setting instruction information (step S35).

[0135] The device control means 219 determines whether the setting values ​​of each device indicated in the client setting instruction information are within the range of setting values ​​of each device set by the sensor means 216 .

[0136] Specifically, the device control means 219 determines whether the setting values ​​of each device indicated in the client setting instruction information are within a range of setting values ​​that allows the web conference participants to properly recognize the audio and images.

[0137] If it is determined that the setting values ​​of each device can be set to the setting values ​​indicated in the client setting instruction information (step S35: Yes), the device control means 219 controls the monitor driver means 212, speaker driver means 213, and microphone driver means 214 to change their setting values ​​to the setting values ​​indicated in the client setting instruction information (step S36).

[0138] Next, the web conference client means 211 issues a notice on a monitor or the like to the web conference participants to remind them to reduce the volume of their speech (step S37).

[0139] After that, the web conference terminal 20 ends the process flow FC3 and executes the process again from step S31.

[0140] If it is not determined that the setting value of each device can be set to the setting value indicated in the client setting instruction information (step S35: No), the device control means 219 does not change the setting value of each device. After that, the web conference terminal 20 ends the process flow FC3 and executes the process again from step S31.

[0141] In this description, in step S35, it is determined whether or not the setting values ​​of all of the plurality of devices can be changed, but it may also be determined whether or not the setting values ​​can be changed individually for each device.

[0142] By performing the above process flows FC1, FC2, and FC3, the web conference system 1 can determine the confidentiality level of a web conference from the contents of the web conference.

[0143] Furthermore, the web conference system 1 can prevent third parties around the web conference terminal 20 from peeking or eavesdropping by changing the settings of the monitor 220, speaker 230, and microphone 240 of the web conference terminal 20 based on the judgment result of the confidentiality of the web conference, and by issuing a warning to web conference participants to reduce the volume of their speech.

[0144] This makes it possible to prevent the leakage of confidential information from web conference terminals participating in web conferences and protect the information.

[0145] In this explanation, the web conference server 10 has the confidentiality determination means 12, the client setting generation means 113, and the client setting instruction means 114. However, these means may be implemented by web conference client software installed in the web conference terminal main body 210 of the web conference terminal 20. In this case, the definition settings of the conference attribute management means 121 and the keyword list settings of the keyword extraction means 123 and the confidentiality determination database 124 can be set at each web conference terminal. Furthermore, the above settings may be shared when a web conference is held.

[0146] Furthermore, all of the functions of the web conference server means 11 and the confidentiality level determination means 12 may be performed by web conference client software installed in the web conference terminal main body 210 of the web conference terminal 20. In that case, it can also be used for P2P (Peer to Peer) web conferences in which terminals are connected to each other via a network, without going through the web conference server 10.

[0147] As described above, the described embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodiments can be implemented in various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These modifications are also included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0148] 1. Web conferencing system 10 Web conferencing servers 11 Web conferencing server means 111 Screen sharing method 112 File Sharing Methods 113 Client Configuration Generation Method 114 Client setting instruction means 12 Confidentiality level determination means 121 Meeting attribute management method 122 Text Conversion Methods 123 Keyword Extraction Methods 124 Privacy Density Assessment Database 20, 21, 22 Web conferencing terminals 210 Web conferencing terminal 211 web conferencing client tools 212 monitor driver means 213 speaker driver means 214 Microphone driver means 215 Monitor display buffer means 216 Sensor means 217 Device Type Database 218 Device Settings Database 219 Device Control Means 220 monitors 230 Speaker 240 Mike 250 cameras

Claims

1. A web conference system in which a plurality of web conference terminals are connected to each other so that a web conference can be held by real-time communication of audio or video, a confidentiality information generation unit that generates confidentiality information indicating a confidentiality level of the web conference based on the audio or video of the web conference; A web conference system characterized by having an information protection control unit that performs information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the multiple web conference terminals in a manner based on the confidentiality information.

2. The web conferencing system described in claim 1, characterized in that, as the information protection processing, the information protection control unit adjusts the brightness or polarization degree of the monitor equipped on each of the multiple web conferencing terminals, or adjusts the volume of the audio output, based on the confidentiality level information.

3. The web conferencing system described in claim 1, characterized in that, as part of the information protection processing, the information protection control unit issues a notification to each user of the multiple web conferencing terminals to lower their voices via the video output or audio output of the multiple web conferencing terminals based on the confidentiality information.

4. The web conference system described in claim 3 further includes an other person presence determination unit that determines whether there are people other than the users of each of the multiple web conference terminals around the multiple web conference terminals, and the information protection control unit performs the information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the multiple web conference terminals based on the determination result of the other person presence determination unit.

5. A web conference system in which a plurality of web conference terminals are connected to each other so that a web conference can be held by real-time communication of audio or video, generating confidentiality information indicating a confidentiality level of the web conference based on the audio or video of the web conference; and performing information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the plurality of web conference terminals in a manner based on the confidentiality information.

6. A web conference terminal that can be connected to each other to hold a web conference by real-time communication of audio or video, a receiving unit that receives information protection processing information indicating that information protection processing is to be performed on the audio or video of the web conference output from the web conference terminal in a manner based on confidentiality information indicating the confidentiality of the web conference; an output adjustment unit that adjusts the output of the audio or video of the web conference based on the information protection processing information; an output unit that outputs the adjusted audio and video of the web conference.

7. A web conference terminal is connected to enable a web conference by real-time communication of audio or video with each other, receiving information protection processing information indicating that information protection processing is to be performed on the audio or video of the web conference output from the plurality of web conference terminals in a manner based on confidentiality information indicating the confidentiality of the web conference; adjusting the audio or video output of the web conference based on the information protection processing information; and outputting the adjusted audio and video.

8. A web conference server in which a plurality of web conference terminals are connected to each other so that a web conference can be held by real-time communication of audio or video, a confidentiality information generation unit that generates confidentiality information indicating a confidentiality level of the web conference based on the audio or video of the web conference; A web conference server characterized by having an information protection control unit that performs information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the multiple web conference terminals in a manner based on the confidentiality information.

9. A web conference server to which a plurality of web conference terminals are connected so that they can hold a web conference by real-time audio or video communication with each other, generating confidentiality information indicating a confidentiality level of the web conference based on the audio or video of the web conference; and a step of performing information protection processing on the audio or video of the web conference output from each of the plurality of web conference terminals in a manner based on the confidentiality information.

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