Telephone terminal and control program

Abstract

To provide a telephone terminal that allows participants in an electronic conference to easily sense an incoming notification of the electronic conference.SOLUTION: A telephone terminal 13 according to the present invention is connected to an information processing terminal 12 that conducts an electronic conference by an audio communication cable, receives an audio signal received by the information processing terminal 12 via the audio communication cable, and outputs a ring tone when detecting an incoming call signal for the electronic conference received by the information processing terminal 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing terminal and a telephone terminal used in an electronic conference system. [Background technology]

[0002] Systems that link and function information processing terminals such as personal computers (PCs) and telephone terminals such as business phones have been commercialized (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). In the system of Non-Patent Document 1, when an incoming call is received at the telephone terminal and the telephone terminal rings, an incoming call notification is sent to the information processing terminal, and the information processing terminal can know that an incoming call has been received at the telephone terminal.

[0003] In addition, electronic conference systems that hold video conferences over communication networks such as the Internet are becoming more common. Video conference systems are equipped with a function that displays an incoming call notification on a PC display to notify the start of the conference, and outputs a ringtone to the PC speaker to notify the incoming call. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] “DESKPORT instruction manual”, [searched February 14, 2022], Internet<URL: https: / / www.ntt-west.co.jp / kiki / support / pdf / PAC2_DESK.PDF> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In electronic conference systems, even if an incoming call notification is sent to notify the start of the conference, video conference participants may not notice the incoming call notification. In particular, when a headset is connected to a PC but not worn by a participant, the notification message is simply displayed on the edge of the PC screen and the ringtone cannot be heard, so participants may not notice the incoming call notification. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a telephone terminal according to the present invention is a telephone terminal connected to an information processing terminal that is used for an electronic conference by an audio communication cable, and receives an audio signal received by the information processing terminal via the audio communication cable, via the voice communication cable Received By referring to the audio signal When an incoming call signal for an electronic conference is detected, a ring tone is output.

[0007] A control program according to the present invention is a program executed in a telephone terminal connected to an information processing terminal that is participating in an electronic conference via an audio communication cable, the program receiving an audio signal received by the information processing terminal via the audio communication cable, via the voice communication cable Received By referring to the audio signal When an incoming call signal for an electronic conference is detected, a step of outputting an incoming call tone is executed, thereby causing the computer to function as a telephone terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing terminal that allows participants in an electronic conference to easily sense an incoming call notification in the electronic conference. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication control system equipped with a telephone terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication control system equipped with a telephone terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the communication control system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the telephone terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] <Embodiments of the present invention> A communication control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The present invention can be embodied in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0011] <Communication control system configuration> As shown in FIG. 1, the communication control system 10 according to this embodiment includes an information processing terminal 12 such as a personal computer (PC) for conducting electronic conferences such as TV conferences, and a communication control device 11 to which the information processing terminal 12 and a telephone terminal 13 such as a business phone are connected.

[0012] The communication control device 11 is connected to the communication network 1 and has a router function. By connecting to an electronic conference system on the communication network side, the communication control device 11 can provide electronic conference functions such as a video conference to the information processing terminal 12 and telephone communication functions to the telephone terminal 13. The information processing terminal 12 is associated with the telephone terminal 13, and the user of the information processing terminal 12 is associated with the telephone terminal 13 located near the information processing terminal 12. The telephone terminal 13 in this embodiment is wired to the information processing terminal 12 via a cable for audio communication, such as a 3.5Φ mini audio cable or a pin jack. The information processing terminal 12 may be connected to the electronic conference system on the communication network side via another device (such as a router). In this case, the information processing terminal 12 receives a notification signal for the video conference from the communication network 1 without going through the communication control device 11.

[0013] The information processing terminal 12 that holds a video conference or the like is equipped with a function that, when it receives a signal notifying of an incoming call from another participant in the video conference (hereinafter referred to as an "incoming call signal"), displays the reception of the incoming call signal on the display of the information processing terminal 12 and outputs a ring tone to notify of the incoming call from the speaker of the information processing terminal 12. This allows the participants in the video conference to recognize the incoming call signal by the image on the display of the information processing terminal 12 and the sound from the speaker.

[0014] In this case, the incoming call signal notified to the information processing terminal 12 that is conducting the video conference is input to the information processing terminal 12 via the communication control device 11. If the participants in the video conference are using a headset connected to the information processing terminal 12, the ringtone of the incoming call signal is output to the earphones or headphones of the headset.

[0015] If the headset is not attached to the body of a conference participant, a notification message informing of the incoming call will simply pop up on the edge of the display, and the ringtone of the headphones will not be detected, so the video conference user may not be able to recognize the incoming call signal.

[0016] In the present invention, the information processing terminal 12 that executes the TV conference is connected to the telephone terminal 13 with a cable for voice communication, and is configured to detect an incoming signal of the TV conference and cause the telephone terminal 13 to output a ring tone, thereby making the users of the TV conference aware of the receipt of the incoming signal.

[0017] Specifically, an information processing terminal 12 equipped with a control unit for conducting electronic conferences is configured to be connected to a telephone terminal 13 associated with the information processing terminal 12 via a voice communication cable, and the telephone terminal 13 is configured to receive the voice signal received by the information processing terminal 12 via the voice communication cable and output a ringtone when it detects an incoming call signal for electronic conferences received by the information processing terminal 12.

[0018] With this configuration, even if participants in a video conference are not wearing a headset, they can recognize that they have received an incoming signal for the video conference by the ringing of the telephone terminal 13 connected by wire to the information processing terminal 12.

[0019] <Configuration of information processing terminal> 2, information processing terminal 12 includes a communication interface (I / F) 121, a control unit 122, a display unit (screen) 123, an audio input / output unit (e.g., a microphone and a speaker) 124, a storage unit 125, and an audio interface (I / F) 126 that inputs and outputs audio between the information processing terminal 12 and an external device. A headset equipped with a microphone and headphones can be connected to audio input / output unit 124. An audio communication cable for inputting and outputting audio signals to and from a telephone terminal can be connected to audio interface (I / F) 126. For example, a headset can be connected to a USB terminal of information processing terminal 12, and an audio communication cable can be connected to a pin jack of information processing terminal 12.

[0020] The control unit 122 functions as a control unit for providing the teleconference function, and is configured to display a video signal in the teleconference on the display unit 123, and to output an audio signal in the teleconference to the audio input / output unit 124 and the audio interface (I / F) 126. It is also possible to set whether the audio signal in the teleconference is to be output to the audio input / output unit 124 or the audio interface (I / F) 126.

[0021] The storage unit 125 stores a control program for operating the control unit 122. The control program may be supplied to the information processing terminal 12 via a communication line such as the Internet. The storage unit includes various magnetic recording media, magneto-optical recording media, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and various memories.

[0022] The information processing terminal 12 can be realized by a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, and an I / F, and can be realized by an information processing program that controls these hardware resources.

[0023] <Telephone terminal configuration> The telephone terminal 13 is equipped with a call processing interface (I / F) 131 for sending and receiving call control signals to and from the communication control device 11, a control unit 132, an audio input / output unit 133, a memory unit 134, and an audio interface (I / F) 135 for wired connection to the information processing terminal 12, and is configured to provide telephone communication functions together with the communication control device 11.

[0024] The control unit 132 has a function of providing normal telephone communication functions and a function of controlling audio signals input and output via an audio interface (I / F) 135, and is configured to control the audio output at the audio input / output unit 133 based on the audio signals input via the audio interface (I / F) 135, and to output the audio input at the audio input / output unit 133 to the audio interface (I / F) 135.

[0025] The storage unit 134 stores a control program for operating the control unit 132. The control program may be supplied to the information processing terminal 12 via a communication line such as the Internet. The storage unit includes various magnetic recording media, magneto-optical recording media, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and various memories.

[0026] When an electronic conference is held, the control program is read from the storage unit 125 in the information processing terminal 12 and executed by the control unit 122. At this time, an image to be shared by the participants of the electronic conference is output to the display unit 123 of the information processing terminal 12, and audio is input and output by the audio input / output unit 124. The participants of the electronic conference can input and output audio using a headset connected to the audio input / output unit 124.

[0027] An audio signal input from the communication network 1 passes through the communication control device 11 and is input to the information processing terminal 12 via the communication interface 121, and is then controlled by the control unit 122 and output from the audio input / output unit 124. Here, when the telephone terminal 13 is connected to the information processing terminal 12 using an audio communication cable, the audio signal received by the information processing terminal 12 can be output to the telephone terminal 13 via the audio interface (I / F).

[0028] Furthermore, the audio signal input from the audio input / output unit 124 is output to the communication network 1 via the communication interface 121 and the communication control device 11 .

[0029] Participants in an electronic conference can also participate in the conference using only voice from telephone terminal 13, without using information processing terminal 12. In this case, a voice signal input from communication network 1 is output by voice input / output unit 133 of telephone terminal 13 via communication control device 11, and a voice signal input by voice input / output unit 133 of telephone terminal 13 is output to communication network 1 via communication control device 11.

[0030] <Operation sequence of the communication control system> FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the communication control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] During a video conference, the communication control device 11 transmits a notification signal of the teleconference received from the communication network to the information processing terminal. The information processing terminal 12 controls the teleconference in accordance with the notification signal of the teleconference. For example, if the notification signal of the teleconference is an incoming call signal from a conference participant, the information processing terminal 12 displays the incoming call signal on the display of the information processing terminal 12 and controls the information processing terminal 12 to output a ring tone to notify the incoming call from the speaker of the information processing terminal 12. If the information processing terminal 12 is connected to an electronic conference system on the communication network side via another device (such as a router), the information processing terminal 12 receives the notification signal of the teleconference from the communication network 1 without going through the communication control device 11.

[0032] When the telephone terminal 13 is connected to the information processing terminal 12 using an audio communication cable, the audio signal received by the information processing terminal 12 is output to the telephone terminal 13. The control unit of the telephone terminal 13 refers to the received audio signal and detects an incoming signal for the electronic conference from the received audio signal. For example, the incoming signal for the electronic conference can be detected by identifying the audio signal of the incoming signal for the electronic conference.

[0033] When the control unit of the telephone terminal 13 detects an incoming call signal for a teleconference, it transmits a ring tone to the audio input / output unit. The audio input / output unit of the telephone terminal 13 sounds the ring tone in the same way as for an incoming call for a normal telephone call. Even if a participant of the video conference is not wearing a headset, the participant can recognize the reception of an incoming call signal for a teleconference by the ring tone of the telephone terminal 13. Here, the incoming call signal for a teleconference may be distinguished from an incoming call for a normal telephone communication by changing the ring tone.

[0034] By going off-hook at the telephone terminal 13, the telephone terminal 13 may be used as an audio input / output terminal for the TV conference. In this case, the audio signal at the information processing terminal 12 is input to and output from the audio input / output unit of the telephone terminal 13 via an audio communication cable.

[0035] The control unit of the telephone terminal 13 has the function of providing normal telephone communication functions and the function of controlling the audio signals input and output via the audio interface (I / F) 135, so it can detect an incoming signal for an electronic conference and sound a ringtone, or notify the function that performs normal telephone communication that the line has gone off-hook and is in a busy state in response to the ringtone, thereby performing processing in conjunction with the telephone communication function.

[0036] For example, when a normal telephone call is made at the telephone terminal 13, the voice communication with the information processing terminal 12 may be interrupted or terminated. The voice communication with the information processing terminal 12 may be terminated by putting the telephone terminal 13 on-hook.

[0037] <Operation of the communication control device> The operation of telephone terminal 13 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the telephone terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The telephone terminal 13 receives the audio signal received by the information processing terminal 12 via the audio communication cable (step S1). The telephone terminal refers to the received audio signal, detects an incoming signal for the electronic conference from the received audio signal (step S2), and sounds a ringtone (step S3).

[0039] <Effects of this embodiment> According to the telephone terminal of this embodiment, when an incoming call notification is made to an information processing terminal such as a PC that is used to hold an electronic conference, if the participant is unable to detect the ringtone and does not notice the incoming call display (pop-up display, etc.) on the screen of the information processing terminal, the ringtone is output from the telephone terminal that is associated with the information processing terminal, so that the participants in the electronic conference can easily detect the incoming call notification of the electronic conference.

[0040] In the embodiment of the present invention, an example of the configuration and operation of a telephone terminal that achieves the above-mentioned effects has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any configuration that can achieve the functions and effects of the telephone terminal described above will suffice. [Industrial Applicability]

[0041] The present invention can be applied to an electronic conference system connected to a communication network. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1. Communication Network 10. Communication Control System 11 Communication control device 12 Information processing terminal 13 Telephone terminals

Claims

1. A telephone terminal connected to an information processing terminal for conducting an electronic conference by a voice communication cable, receiving an audio signal received by the information processing terminal via the audio communication cable; When an incoming signal for an electronic conference is detected by referring to the audio signal received via the audio communication cable, a ring tone is output. Telephone terminal.

2. A program executed on a telephone terminal connected to an information processing terminal that conducts an electronic conference by a voice communication cable, receiving an audio signal received by the information processing terminal via the audio communication cable; a step of outputting a ring tone when an incoming signal for an electronic conference is detected by referring to the audio signal received via the audio communication cable; A control program that runs to make a computer function as a telephone terminal.

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