US 5,003,532 A · Multi-point conference system

Abstract

A multi-point conference system for making a video conference includes a center unit having a controller and an image selector, and three or more stations respectively coupled to the center unit, where each station includes at least one camera for picking up an image to output an image data, a display for displaying an image based on an image data and a request part for making a request. The controller initially sets master, sub and participating stations in conformance with a predetermined rule. The image selector automatically supplies the image data from the master station to the sub and participating stations to be displayed on the display thereof and supplies the image data from the sub station to the master station to be displayed on the display thereof. The controller automatically sets a new master station in response to a request from the request part of an arbitrary station requesting the new master station, sets the master station prior to receiving the request as a new sub station and sets all stations other than the new master and sub stations as new participating stations.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A multi-point conference system for making a video conference comprising:

a center unit including control means and image selector means;
and
three or more stations respectively coupled to said center unit, each of said stations including at least one camera for picking up an image to output an image data, display means for displaying an image based on an image data and request means for making a request,
said control means initially setting master, sub and participating stations inconformance with a predetermined rule,
said image selector means automatically supplying the image data from the master station to the sub and participating stations to be displayed on the display means thereof and supplying the image data from the sub station to the master station to be displayed on the display means thereof,
said control means automatically setting anew master station in response to a first request from the request means of an arbitrary station requesting the new master station, setting the master station prior to receiving the first request as a new sub-station and setting all stations other than the new master and sub stations as new participating stations.

3 more elements

The multi-point conference system for making a video conference comprising:

a plurality of center units, each of said plurality of center units including control means and image selector means;
a plurality of stations respectively coupled to each of said center units, each of said stations including at least one camera for picking up an image to output an image data, display means for displaying an image based on an image data and request means for making a request;
and
circuits which couple said center units in a tandem connection,
said control means initially seting master, sub and participating stations in conformance with a predetermined rule,
said image selector means automatically supplying the image data from the master station to the sub and participating stations to be displayed on the display means thereof and supplying the image data from the sub station to the master station to be displayed on the display means thereof,
said control means automatically setting a new master stationing response to a first request from the request means of an arbitrary station requesting the new master station, setting the master station prior to receiving the first request as a new sub station and setting all stations other than the new master and sub stations as new participating stations.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-point conference system

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Multi-point conference system

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Abstract

Claims26