JP5831014B2 - Conference support system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conference support system, and more particularly to a conference support system including one or more terminals and an information processing device.

Conventionally, various techniques have been disclosed for systems for supporting conferences.
For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-217116), in an electronic conference system, the conference rooms that can be entered are restricted based on the ID of the user who accessed the server and the management information of the user stored in the database server. Techniques to do this are disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-303742), the device of the person in charge of the secretary is specified from the devices of each participant of the conference, and each participant has his / her own device. A technique for transmitting information input to a device is disclosed.

  Also, in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-31316), information such as conference materials is registered in the server in advance, and when a predetermined time arrives, the information can be acquired by a group associated with the conference. A technique to become such is disclosed.

  Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-343761) discloses a technology in which content delivered to a participant is determined by a rating, a region of interest, and / or a trigger event for a conference participant. Is disclosed.

JP 2008-217116 A JP 2006-303742 A JP 2006-31316 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-343761

  Regarding the distribution of meeting materials as described in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4, it is not necessary to distribute materials to those who are absent from the meeting, or to those who do not attend the meeting. It is assumed that the distribution of meeting materials will change depending on the situation, such as when it is necessary to distribute materials for reporting content.

  In such a case, the person who manages the conference material needs to select a transmission destination each time, which is complicated.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a conference support system that does not require a complicated operation to select a transmission destination of distribution materials related to a conference.

Conference support system according to the present invention, there is provided a conference support system comprising an information terminal and an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the information terminal, the information processing apparatus includes a storage means, storage means, meetings Is the first information that is information for specifying whether it is in the pre-start, in-conference, or end state, and the second information that is used to specify the file associated with the conference The information terminal stores the information, and the information terminal receives a display means, a display control means for displaying the icon of the file stored in association with the meeting on the display means, and an instruction for the icon displayed on the display means. A receiving means for receiving and a sending means for sending an instruction received by the receiving means to the information processing apparatus. When the information processing apparatus receives the instruction, the information processing apparatus receives the instruction based on the second information. versus Identify the target file is a file that is a, based on the first information to identify the status of the meeting the target file is associated, based on the status of the identified meeting, determines the transmission destination of the target file And a file control means for transmitting the target file to the determined transmission destination.

  Preferably, the display unit and the reception unit are configured by a touch panel, the display control unit displays one or more file icons on the touch panel, and the reception unit displays on the touch panel based on the first operation on the touch panel. The information for specifying the file to be processed is acquired from the files represented by the displayed icons, and the first operation is performed after two points are touched on the touch panel, and then the touch positions of the two points. Is an operation for releasing the touch of the two points after the movement, and the accepting unit is configured to accept the touch position of the two points in the first operation before and after the movement. A file represented by an icon displayed in a range defined by at least one touch position is specified as a file to be processed.

Preferably, the conference is a conference using a video conference system, and the first information includes information for specifying whether the conference is in a mute state when the conference is in progress.

Preferably, the first information includes information for specifying whether the presentation is in progress or the question-and-answer session is in progress.

Preferably, the storage means further stores third information which is information for identifying a meeting attendee, and the third information is information for identifying a presenter among the meeting attendees. And the file control means stores information for specifying the file or the page in the file when the instruction is received during the period in which the first information is being questioned and answered. After the conference is completed, it is transmitted to a destination that identifies the presenter.

Preferably, the storage means further stores third information that is information for identifying the attendees of the conference, and the third information specifies whether each participant has entered the conference venue. File control means, and the file control means transmits the target file to the determined transmission destination on the condition that the deliberator has entered the meeting venue. To do.

  According to the present invention, when an icon corresponding to a file related to a conference is operated, the file is transmitted to a transmission destination determined accordingly.

  Thereby, it is possible to avoid that the user of the system is bothered by a complicated operation related to selection of the destination of the meeting material file.

It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of the meeting assistance system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral). It is a figure which shows the specific example of the hardware constitutions of an entrance management server. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the hardware constitutions of a portable terminal. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the content of information stored in an MFP. It is a figure for demonstrating the content of the characteristic operation in this Embodiment with respect to the touchscreen of a portable terminal. It is a figure for demonstrating the content of the characteristic operation in this Embodiment with respect to the touchscreen of a portable terminal. It is a figure for demonstrating "pinch" operation. It is a figure for demonstrating "release" operation. It is a figure for demonstrating selection of the icon by "pinch" operation. It is a figure for demonstrating selection of the icon by "pinch" operation. It is a figure for demonstrating selection of the icon by "pinch" operation. It is a figure for demonstrating selection of the icon by "pinch" operation. It is a figure for demonstrating selection of the icon by "pinch" operation. 2 is a flowchart of a material transmission process executed in a portable terminal, an MFP, and an entry management server in order to realize file transmission in the conference support system of FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a material transmission process executed in a portable terminal, an MFP, and an entry management server in order to realize file transmission in the conference support system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of the meeting assistance system concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the hardware constitutions of the computer of FIG. It is a flowchart of the material transmission process performed in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the material transmission process performed in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the material transmission process performed in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the material transmission process performed in 3rd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of processing executed by a CPU of an MFP in a fourth embodiment. 20 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU of the MFP in the background of material transmission processing in the fifth embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same.

[First Embodiment]
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the configuration of the conference support system according to the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the conference support system according to the present embodiment includes MFP 100, room entry management server 200, and portable terminals 300A,... 300N, which are connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Has been. The system according to the present embodiment includes one or more portable terminals. The number of portable terminals is not limited to that shown in FIG. In the present specification, when the configuration of the mobile terminal itself is described, the mobile terminals 300A,... 300N are collectively referred to as “mobile terminal 300” as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, MFP 100 constitutes an information processing apparatus, and portable terminals 300A,... 300N constitute an information terminal.

  The network described above may be wired or wireless. As an example, the MFP 100 and the entrance management server 200 are connected to a wired LAN, the wired LAN further includes a wireless LAN access point (not shown), and the mobile terminals 300A,... 300N are connected to the wireless LAN access point via the wireless LAN. An example is given.

  In the conference support system of the present embodiment, MFP 100 functions as a file server. Further, the mobile terminals 300A,... 300N function as clients in the system.

  Further, in the conference support system of the present embodiment, the room entry management server 200 manages which users have entered and left the room in each of the one or more conference rooms. Such management includes, for example, a sensor provided at the entrance / exit of a conference room, detects a user who enters and exits the sensor, and the entrance management server 200 receives information specifying a user entering / exiting each conference room from the sensor. This is realized.

  In the present embodiment, MFP 100 stores files of materials distributed to meeting attendees for at least some of the meetings held in each meeting room. Then, in response to a request from each portable terminal 300, MFP 100 transmits information specifying a file stored in MFP 100 to portable terminals 300A,. And in portable terminal 300A ... 300N, the icon corresponding to each file is displayed as information which specifies each file, for example. In the present embodiment, when an operation for selecting an icon is performed on any of portable terminals 300A,... 300N, the fact that the operation has been performed is transmitted to MFP 100. In response to this, the MFP 100 identifies a file corresponding to the icon that is the operation target, determines a transmission destination of the file according to a predetermined condition, and sends the determined transmission destination to the determined transmission destination. Send the file. The conditions for determining the transmission destination include conditions such as who the user of the operated terminal is and what state the conference corresponding to the file is in.

  Examples of the state of the conference include 1) before the start of the conference (appropriately labeled “before the conference”), 2) during the conference, and 3) after the end (labeled “after the conference” as appropriate). In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the start time (scheduled start time) and end time (scheduled end time) of each conference are registered. Then, for example, the state of the conference is determined by comparing the current time with the start time and the end time.

<Configuration of MFP>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the hardware configuration of the MFP 100.

  Referring to FIG. 2, MFP 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 that is an arithmetic device for controlling MFP 100 as a whole, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 for storing a program executed by CPU 10. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 12 for functioning as a work area when the CPU 10 executes a program, and a scanner 13 for optically reading a document placed on a document table (not shown) to obtain image data A printer 14 for fixing the image data on the printing paper, an operation panel 15 including a touch panel for displaying information and receiving an operation input to the MFP 100, and a hard disk for storing the image data and the like. (HD) 16 and USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory and other storage media A media controller 17 for controlling communication to a recording medium for reading and writing files from and to a communication device 18 constituted by a modem or the like for controlling communication via a network such as the LAN described above. including.

  The operation panel 15 includes a touch panel (not shown) and an operation key group. The touch panel is configured by overlaying a display device such as a liquid crystal display device and a position indicating device such as an optical touch sensor or a capacitive touch sensor, displaying an operation screen and specifying the indicated position on the operation screen. To do.

  An operation position indicating an instruction position (touched position) on the touch panel or a pressed key is input to the CPU 10. The CPU 10 specifies the operation content from the pressed key or the displayed operation screen and the indicated position, and executes processing based on the operation content.

  The program executed by the CPU 10 may be stored in the storage medium. Storage media include CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk-Read Only Memory), USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, memory card, FD (Flexible Disk), hard disk, magnetic Tape, cassette tape, MO (Magnetic Optical Disc), MD (Mini Disc), IC (Integrated Circuit) card (excluding memory cards), optical card, mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), etc. And a medium for storing the program in a nonvolatile manner.

<Configuration of room entry management server>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the hardware configuration of the room entry management server 200.

  Referring to FIG. 3, room entry management server 200 is a CPU 20 that is an arithmetic device for overall control, a ROM 21 for storing a program executed by CPU 20, and operations when the CPU 20 executes a program. RAM 22 for functioning as a region, a display unit 23 constituted by a liquid crystal display device, etc., an operation unit 25 for receiving an operation input to the room management server 200, and for room entry management input from the various sensors described above A media controller 27 for reading / writing information between the HD 26 for storing the information and the like and a storage medium (USB memory, etc.) removable from the room management server 200, and the LAN. Communication device (modem or the like) 28.

<Configuration of mobile terminal>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 300.

  Referring to FIG. 4, portable terminal 300 includes a CPU 30 that is an arithmetic device for overall control, a ROM 31 for storing a program executed by CPU 30, and a work area when the CPU 30 executes the program. A RAM 32 for functioning as an operation panel, an operation panel 35 including a touch panel for displaying information and receiving an operation input to the portable terminal 300, an HD 36 for storing image data, etc., and a main body of the portable terminal 300 A media controller 37 for reading / writing information from / to a removable storage medium (USB memory or the like), and a communication device 38 for connecting to the LAN.

  Operation panel 35 may have the same configuration as operation panel 15 of MFP 100. That is, as an example, a touch panel configured by overlapping a display device such as a liquid crystal display device and a position indicating device such as an optical touch sensor or a capacitive touch sensor is included. On the touch panel, an indicated position on the operation screen is specified, and an operation signal indicating the position is input to the CPU 30. The CPU 30 specifies the operation content from the displayed operation screen and the indicated position, and executes processing based on the operation content.

  The program executed by the CPU 30 may be stored in the storage medium. Storage media include CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, USB memory, memory card, FD, hard disk, magnetic tape, cassette tape, MO, MD, IC card (excluding memory card), optical card, mask ROM, EPROM, A medium for storing the program in a nonvolatile manner, such as an EEPROM, may be mentioned.

<Information managed in MFP>
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the content of information stored in MFP 100.

  First, in FIG. 5A, an example of the content of information stored for each conference is schematically shown as conference management information.

  The conference management information includes the start time and end time of the conference, the venue, the file name of the file used as the material of the conference (material file), and the attendees. As the material file, it is preferable that not only the file name but also the file storage location is registered. Here, the storage location may be in MFP 100 or may be in a device in which MFP 100 can communicate (directly or via another device).

  In the conference management information, attendees can be registered so that “presenters” who present reports and the like at the conference are identified from the attendees. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, a plurality of users including user A, user B, and user C are registered as attendees. Furthermore, user A is also registered as a presenter.

  In FIG. 5B, information indicating which conference room is entered for each user is stored as entrance management information for each conference room. The CPU 10 of the MFP 100 generates entry management information based on the information received from the entry management server 200 and stores it in the HD 16. The room entry management server 200 may generate room entry management information and transmit it to the MFP 100, and the CPU 10 may store it in the HD 16 as it is. In the room entry management information, when a sensor provided in a certain conference room detects entry of a predetermined user, the conference room is registered as the user's room entry status. When the user's exit in the conference room is detected, the entry status of the user is updated to “−” in the entry management information. That is, when the user has not entered any conference room, the entry status of the user is “−” in the entry management information.

  In such a system, for example, each user carries an item such as an IC card that can recognize the user, and a sensor provided in each conference room detects the item carried by the user, Detect entry / exit of each user into / from the conference room. The sensor may be provided at the entrance / exit of the conference room, or may be provided at a seat or the like of the conference room. That is, a known technique such as a technique that can detect each user's attendance at the conference can be employed for managing the entry / exit of each user.

<Operations performed on the touch panel>
Next, the mode of operation performed on the icon displayed on the mobile terminal 300 will be described. The operation described below is an operation performed to select a file on the touch panel (operation panel 35) of the mobile terminal 300. In the present embodiment, an icon is displayed on the touch panel of the mobile terminal 300. The corresponding file is transmitted when the operation is selected, but the conference support system according to the present embodiment also supports the operation of the icon displayed on the touch panel (operation panel 15) of the MFP 100. You can select the file you want.

  FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are diagrams for explaining the contents of characteristic operations in the present embodiment on the touch panel of portable terminal 300.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which icons of a plurality of files are displayed on the operation panel 35. Then, by performing a “pinch” operation as shown in FIG. 6 on the operation panel 35, an icon corresponding to the position where the operation is performed can be selected.

  Note that an icon can also be selected when the “release” operation as shown in FIG. 7 is performed on the operation panel 35.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the “pinch” operation.
Referring to FIG. 8, “pinch” operation refers to, for example, specifying two points P1 and P2 on operation panel 35 using two fingers or the like, and then linearly or substantially linearly from that position. This refers to an operation in which two fingers are moved away from the operation panel 35 at two points P ′ 1 and P ′ 2 that are close to each other.

  The CPU 10 is instructed at two points P1 and P2 on the operation panel 35 at the same time, and further, the position continuously changes linearly or substantially linearly from each position, and is shorter than the original interval between the two points. When it is detected that the two designations are released almost simultaneously at the two points P′1 and P′2, it is detected that the “pinch” operation has been performed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the “release” operation. Referring to FIG. 9, the “release” operation refers to, for example, specifying two points Q1 and Q2 on operation panel 35 using two fingers and the like, and then linearly or substantially linearly from that position. This refers to an operation of moving two fingers away from the operation panel 35 at two points Q′1 and Q′2 that are located at some distance away from each other.

  The CPU 30 is instructed at two points Q1 and Q2 on the operation panel 35 at the same time, and further, the position is continuously changed linearly or substantially linearly from each position, and the interval is longer than the interval between the original two points. When it is detected that the two designations are canceled at two points Q′1 and Q′2 at the same time, it is detected that the “release” operation has been performed.

<Specifying icons by pinching (selection)>
In the mobile terminal, at least one of the two points specified at the beginning of the pinching operation (two points P1 and P2 in FIG. 8) and the last two points specified (two points P′1 and P′2 in FIG. 8). The icon displayed in the range defined based on the is specified as the icon specified by the pinch operation.

  Note that a method for specifying an icon designated by a pinch operation is not limited to a specific method. 10 to 14 are diagrams for describing a specific example of a method for specifying an icon specified by a pinch operation.

  First, referring to FIG. 10, when a pinch operation is detected in a portable terminal, a range defined by an operation of pinching a rectangle with two points P <b> 1 and P <b> 2 that are designated (touched) first is specified. The Then, an icon that includes at least a part of the specified rectangle is specified as the specified icon. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, a range defined by an operation of pinching a rectangle having two points P1 and P2 designated (touched) at the beginning as diagonal points is specified. And the icon completely contained in the said rectangle is specified as a specified icon. By being specified in this way, the user touches the operation panel 35 with two fingers so as to sandwich an icon representing a file to be moved, and performs an operation for an operation to pinch from that state. You can specify the intended file. Therefore, it is possible to intuitively specify a file to be moved. Also, even when the icon image is small, it can be specified accurately.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, a rectangle having diagonally the two points P′1 and P′2 designated (touched) at the end is specified as a range defined by the pinching operation. An icon including at least part of the rectangle is specified as the designated icon. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, an icon that is completely contained in a rectangle having the two points P′1 and P′2 as a diagonal is specified as the designated icon. By being specified in this way, the user places the two fingers apart on the operation panel 35 so that the icon representing the file to be moved is finally sandwiched between the two fingers. You can specify the intended file by moving it closer after touching it. Therefore, it is possible to intuitively specify a file to be moved. Also, even when the icon image is small, it can be specified accurately.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14, two lines connecting the first designated two points P1 and P2 to the last designated two points P′1 and P′2 are defined by a pinch operation. Identified as a range. Then, an icon that overlaps one of the lines is specified as the designated icon. By being specified in this way, the user can designate an intended file by moving two fingers so as to pinch an icon representing a file to be moved. Therefore, it is possible to intuitively specify a file to be moved. Also, even when the icon image is small, it can be specified accurately.

  In the present embodiment, the icon is specified (selected) by the “pinch” operation, but the icon may be selected by the “release” operation instead of the “pinch” operation. In this case, for example, at least a part is displayed in a rectangle whose diagonals are the positions when two fingers leave the operation panel 35 (two places indicated by white circles in FIG. 7). The icon becomes the selection target.

<Material transmission process>
As described above, in the conference support system of the present embodiment, when an icon corresponding to a conference material file displayed on the mobile terminal 300 is selected, a transmission destination is determined for the file, and the determination is performed. The file is sent to the destination. FIGS. 15 and 16 are flowcharts of a material transmission process executed by the CPU 30 of the portable terminal 300, the CPU 10 of the MFP 100, and the CPU 20 of the room entry management server 200 in order to realize such file transmission. Hereinafter, the contents of the processing will be described with reference to these drawings.

  In the following description, it is assumed that all users who use the mobile terminal 300 are logged in to the system via each mobile terminal 300. That is, the CPU 30 of the mobile terminal 300 can specify the user who is operating the mobile terminal 300 based on information input at the time of login. Further, in the following description, “pinch an icon” means that an icon is selected by a “pinch” operation.

  First, referring to FIG. 15, CPU 10 of MFP 100 first waits at step SB <b> 10 until it receives information from portable terminal 300 that an operation for pinching a file icon has been performed.

  When the CPU 30 of the portable terminal 300 detects that the above-described “pinch” operation has been performed on the icon of the file of the conference material displayed on the operation panel 35, the CPU 100 notifies the MFP 100 in step SA10. Send. At this time, the CPU 30 transmits at least information for specifying the icon to be operated (selected) and information for specifying the user who performed the operation.

  When CPU 10 of MFP 100 receives the above-described information from portable terminal 300, the process proceeds to step SB20.

  In step SB20, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the user who has performed the “pinch” operation is a conference presenter. Here, the CPU 10 specifies a file corresponding to the icon based on the information specifying the operation target icon transmitted from the mobile terminal 300 as described above. Then, in the meeting management information (FIG. 5A), the meeting in which the specified file is a material file is specified. Then, it is determined by referring to the conference management information whether the user who has performed the “pinch” operation is a presenter of the conference. If it is determined that the presenter is a presenter, the process proceeds to step SB30. If it is determined that the presenter is not a presenter but a mere attendant, the process proceeds to step SB80 (see FIG. 16).

  In step SB30, the CPU 10 checks the state of the conference in which the file of the icon to be operated on the portable terminal 300 is used as a material file, and proceeds with the process according to the result of the check. Specifically, if the conference is in progress, the process proceeds to step SB40. If the conference is not yet started, the process proceeds to step SB60. If the conference has ended, the process proceeds to step SB70. To proceed.

  In Step SB40, the CPU 10 acquires the room entry management information at that time from the room entry management server 200, and advances the process to Step SB50.

  When the CPU 20 of the entry management server 200 acquires a request for entry management information from the MFP 100, in response to this, the CPU 20 transmits information for determining the entry situation of each user at that time to the MFP 100.

  In response to this, in the MFP 100, the room entry management information as described with reference to FIG. 5B is stored in the HD 16 or the like. In step SB50, the CPU 10 transmits the file to be operated to the conference room attendee (attendant) specified based on the icon to be operated in step SB30, and returns the process to step SB10.

  Note that the CPU 10 specifies a meeting place based on the meeting management information, and specifies a user who has entered the meeting place as an attendee of the meeting based on the entry management information.

  In step SB60, the CPU 10 transmits the file subjected to the above operation to the prospective attendee of the conference specified in step SB30, and returns the process to step SB10.

  Note that the conference management information (FIG. 5A) of each conference is generated before each start. And CPU10 specifies the user who is registered as an attendee with respect to the meeting management information about the meeting specified by step SB30 as an attendee.

  In step SB70, the CPU 10 transmits the file to be processed to the user who has executed the “pinch” operation, and returns the process to step SB10.

  Referring to FIG. 16, when the user who has performed the “pinch” operation in step SB20 is a mere attendee of the meeting, CPU 10 of MFP 100 operates in step SB80, as in step SB30. Check the status of the meeting with the file as a document file. If the CPU 10 determines that the meeting is in progress, the process proceeds to step SB90. If the meeting is before the start of the meeting or after the end of the meeting, the process proceeds to step SB130.

  In step SB130, as in step SB70, CPU 10 transmits the file to be processed to the user who performed the “pinch” operation, and returns the process to step SB10.

  On the other hand, in step SB90, the CPU 10 requests room entry management information from the room entry management server 200 as in step SB40.

  In response, CPU 20 of room entry management server 200 transmits room entry management information to MFP 100 in step SC20 as in step SC10.

  When CPU 10 of MFP 100 acquires the room entry management information from room entry management server 200, the process proceeds to step SB100.

  In step SB100, the CPU generates a list of destinations for transmission of the processing target file, and transmits the list to the portable terminal 300 on which the “pinch” operation is executed.

  Note that various destination lists may be considered as the destination list generated in step SB100. For example, based on the room management information received from the room management server 200 in step SB90, the attendees of the meeting using the file to be processed as the document file may be listed. When implemented in the workplace, a user with a predetermined affiliation or title may be selected and generated, or a list predetermined for such a case may be used.

  When the destination list is transmitted in step SB100, the CPU 30 of the portable terminal 300 receives the destination list in step SA20 and advances the process to step SA30.

  In step SA30, CPU 30 causes the user of portable terminal 300 to select a destination as a file transmission destination based on the destination list received in step SA20, and transmits the selected destination to MFP 100.

  In response to this, in step SB110, CPU 10 of MFP 100 receives the destination information transmitted from portable terminal 300, and advances the process to step SB120.

  In step SB120, CPU 10 transmits the operation target file to the destination received in step SB110, and returns the process to step SB10.

  According to the file transmission process of the present embodiment described above, when the user executes the process of selecting a file in portable terminal 300, the selected file is transmitted to the destination (transmission destination) determined in MFP 100. Is done.

  Here, as described in step SB30 or step SB80, the transmission destination of the file is determined according to the state of the meeting using the file as a material file.

  Further, the transmission destination of the file is also determined depending on whether the user who has performed the operation of selecting the file on the portable terminal 300 is the presenter of the conference or just the attendee (step SB20).

[Second Embodiment]
<System configuration>
FIG. 17 shows the configuration of the conference support system of the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 17, the conference support system according to the present embodiment further includes a computer 900 that controls the video conference system in addition to the system configuration described with reference to FIG.

The computer 900 is connected to a network to which the MFP 100 or the like is connected.
FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration of the computer 900 of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 18, a computer 900 includes a CPU 90 that is an arithmetic device for controlling the overall operation of the computer 900, a ROM 91 for storing a program executed by the CPU 90, and the CPU 90 executing the program. RAM 92 for functioning as a work area at the time of operation, a display unit 93 configured by a liquid crystal display device, an operation unit 95 for receiving operation input to the computer 900, and a room input from the various sensors described above An HD 96 for storing management information and the like and a communication device (modem or the like) 98 for connecting to the LAN are included.

  The computer 900 includes a microphone 94, a camera 99, and a speaker 97 used in the video conference system. In the video conference system, a display unit 93 is also used.

<Material transmission process>
Next, the contents of the material transmission process executed in the present embodiment will be described.

  19 and 20 are flowcharts of the material transmission process executed in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the contents of the material transmission process executed in the present embodiment will be described with reference to these drawings.

  In the document transmission process, first, the CPU 10 of the MFP 100 stands by until information indicating that the “pinch” operation has been performed from the portable terminal 300 in step SB10, as in the first embodiment.

  On the other hand, when it is detected that the above-described “pinch” operation has been performed on the icon displayed on operation panel 35 in portable terminal 300, CPU 30 transmits that fact to MFP 100 in step SA 10.

  In response, CPU 10 of MFP 100 advances the process to step SB220 (see FIG. 20). In step SB220, CPU 10 requests mute information from computer 900 that controls the video conference system.

  Here, the mute information is information indicating whether or not the computer 900 has been operated with respect to the operation unit 95 so as not to transmit the sound of the microphone 94 to the other party. In the present specification, a state where the sound of the microphone 94 is not transmitted to the other party is referred to as a mute state, and a state where the sound is transmitted to the other party is referred to as a non-mute state.

  Note that the video conference system of the present embodiment is a system for operating a video conference with another computer through a network. That is, the user of the conference support system according to the present embodiment uses the computer 900 to hold a video conference with a user of another system. The mute state means that a user who uses the conference support system stops transmitting the sound he / she utters to the other system side via the microphone 94 to the user of the other system. Suppose that it is in a state.

  Then, when CPU 10 of MFP 100 acquires the mute information from computer 900 in step SB220, the process proceeds to step SB230.

  In step SB230, the CPU 10 requests room entry management server 200 for room entry management information (FIG. 5B).

  In response to this, CPU 20 of room entry management server 200 transmits information for generating room entry management information to MFP 100.

  When CPU 10 of MFP 100 obtains room entry management information in step SB230, the process proceeds to step SB240.

  In step SB240, CPU 10 identifies the conference room in which the user who performed the “pinch” operation currently enters based on the room entry management information, and proceeds to step SB250.

  In step SB250, CPU 10 transmits the file to be processed to the member (user) who has entered the conference room specified in step SB240, and returns the process to step SB10.

  On the other hand, when determining that the mute information acquired in step SB220 is in a non-mute state, the CPU 10 advances the process to step SB20 (see FIG. 19).

  And CPU10 performs the process after step SB20 similarly to 1st Embodiment.

  In the present embodiment described above, the conference support system includes the computer 900 that controls the video conference system. When a file is selected by the “pinch” operation, the mute / non-mute state in the video conference system is confirmed. When the video conference system is in the mute state, the selected file is transmitted only to the user in the same conference room as the user who performed the “pinch” operation (step SB250).

  Thus, in a situation where the audio in the conference room is not transmitted to the other party, the selected file is transmitted only to the user who has entered the conference room.

[Third Embodiment]
<System configuration>
In the conference support system according to the present embodiment, the conference management information as described with reference to FIG. 5A further includes information indicating whether the conference is being announced or being answered. It is.

  Note that the CPU 10 of the MFP 100 can specify whether each meeting is being announced or question-and-answer based on, for example, the operation of a button for switching between these states provided in each meeting room. .

<Material transmission process>
In the material transmission processing of the present embodiment, the contents of the processing described in FIGS. 15 and 16 in the first embodiment are replaced with the processing shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. It will be explained by being replaced.

  21 and 22 are flowcharts of the material transmission process executed in the third embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 21, when it is determined in step SB20 (see FIG. 15) that the user who performed the “pinch” operation is a mere attendee of the conference, CPU 10 of MFP 100 determines the status of the conference in step SB80. Check. If it is determined that the conference is before the start or after the conference is completed, the process proceeds to step SB130. If it is determined that the conference is being performed, the process proceeds to step SB310 (FIG. 22).

  In step SB310, CPU 10 determines whether the meeting is in a meeting or in a question-and-answer session. If CPU 10 determines that a question and answer session is in progress, CPU 10 proceeds to step SB320. If CPU 10 determines that a question is being presented, CPU 10 proceeds to step SB90 (FIG. 21).

  In step S320, CPU 10 transmits the file to be processed to the user who has entered the conference room in which the conference is held, and advances the process to step SB330.

  In step SB330, CPU 10 separately saves the file (or a page in the file) subjected to the “pinch” operation, and returns the process to step SB10.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step SB310 that the presentation is in progress, the CPU 10 executes the processing from step SB90 onward as in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment described above, when an operation for selecting a file (or page) is performed by attendees (excluding the presenter) of the meeting during a question and answer session, the file (or page) is Sent to users attending the meeting.

  If a file (or page) is selected during a question and answer session, the attendee may be in a situation that wants to ask the presenter a question for that file (or page). In the present embodiment, the file that is the subject of the question and answer is held as a common recognition of the users attending the meeting according to such a situation.

  In the present embodiment, it is considered that the file selected by the user by the “pinch” operation includes materials other than the conference distribution materials.

[Fourth Embodiment]
<System configuration>
The conference support system according to the present embodiment is considered as a further modification of the conference support system according to the third embodiment. Therefore, in the conference support system according to the present embodiment, CPU 10 of MFP 100 can specify the state of each conference being presented or question-and-answer.

<Material transmission process>
CPU 10 of MFP 100 according to the present embodiment is further executing the processing shown in FIG. 23 in the background of the material transmission processing.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart of processing executed by CPU 10 of MFP 100 in the fourth embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 23, CPU 10 of MFP 100 determines in step SB410 whether or not any conference has ended, and proceeds to step SB420 when determining that it has ended.

  In step SB420, a list of users who attended the meeting (list of people entering the room) and information that was questioned in the meeting (minutes) is generated for the meeting ended in step SB410, and step SB430 is generated. Proceed to the process.

  The CPU 10 refers to the history of the entry management information, and picks up a user who has entered the conference room where the conference is held at least once between the start and end of the conference, Generate a visitor list.

  Further, the CPU 10 generates the minutes by, for example, synthesizing all the files (or pages) saved in step SB330 (FIG. 22). Note that the minutes are generated so that the minutes further include information (for example, user name) specifying the user who performed the “pinch” operation on the file (or page) saved in step SB330. May be.

  In step SB430, CPU 10 transmits the room occupant list and minutes generated in step SB420 to the user registered as the presenter of the conference determined to have ended in step SB410, and ends the process.

  In the present embodiment described above, it is possible to provide the presenter of the conference with a list of users attending the conference and the contents of the question and answer session.

[Fifth Embodiment]
<System configuration>
The conference support system according to the present embodiment can be additionally applied to any of the conference support systems described in the first to fourth embodiments.

<Material transmission process>
In the conference support system according to the present embodiment, in addition to the presenter, the deliberator is specified among the attendees of the conference management information as described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, in order to avoid a meeting being started without the deliberator present or the meeting material being distributed to the meeting attendees, the meeting material file is awaited after the deliberator enters the room. Is sent to attendees.

<Material transmission process>
FIG. 24 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU 10 of the MFP 100 in the background of the material transmission processing in the fifth embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 24, in step SB510, CPU 10 requests room entry management server 200 for information for specifying room entry management information.

  In response to this, the CPU 20 of the room entry management server 200 transmits room entry management information to the MFP 100.

  When the room management information is acquired from the room management server 200, the CPU 10 advances the process to step SB520.

  In step SB520, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the conference examiner has already entered the conference venue in the conference management information, and if it has not entered yet, returns to step SB510 to enter the room. If it is determined that it is, the process proceeds to step SB530.

  In step SB530, the transmission permission flag of the material file of the conference is turned on, and the process ends.

  In the present embodiment described above, when transmitting the material file in step SB50 or the like, the CPU 10 transmits the file on condition that the file transmission enable flag turned on in step SB530 is turned on.

  Thereby, it is possible to avoid the start of a meeting and the distribution of meeting materials to attendees before a deliberator enters the venue in a meeting that requires deliberation, that is, without the deliberator.

[Other variations]
As a mode of transmitting a file in each embodiment, a known technique for transmitting a file to an individual, such as attaching to an e-mail or transmitting a file to an area of each user of a predetermined server Can be considered.

  In the above description, the file transmission is described as being based on an icon selection operation on portable terminal 300. However, when a file icon is displayed on the touch panel of MFP 100, an operation for selecting the icon is performed. The same processing is performed also when it is made. In this case, the process executed in portable terminal 300 in the above description is replaced with the process executed in MFP 100.

  Each embodiment disclosed this time must be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims. In addition, the invention described in each embodiment is intended to be carried out independently or in combination as much as possible.

  10, 20, 30, 90 CPU, 15, 35 Operation panel, 17, 27, 37 Media controller, 18, 38 Communication device, 21, 31, 91 ROM, 22, 32, 92 RAM, 23, 93 Display unit, 25 , 95 operation unit, 94 microphone, 97 speaker, 99 camera, 200 entrance management server, 300, 300A, 300N portable terminal, 900 computer.

Claims (6)

A conference support system comprising an information terminal and an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the information terminal,
The information processing apparatus includes storage means,
It said storage means,
Conference is before the start, in a meeting, or a first information which is information for identifying whether the one of the state of the termination,
Storing second information which is information for specifying a file associated with the conference;
The information terminal
Display means;
Display control means for causing the display means to display an icon of a file stored in association with the meeting;
Receiving means for receiving an input of an instruction for the icon displayed on the display means;
Transmission means for transmitting the instruction received by the reception means to the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Upon receiving the instruction, based on the second information to identify the target file is a file that is the subject of the instruction, based on the first information, the target file is associated Further comprising a file control means for specifying a meeting state, determining a transmission destination of the target file based on the specified meeting state, and transmitting the target file to the determined transmission destination; Meeting support system. The display means and the reception means are constituted by a touch panel,
The display control means displays one or more icons of the files on the touch panel,
The accepting unit acquires information for specifying a file to be processed from files represented by icons displayed on the touch panel, based on a first operation on the touch panel,
In the first operation, after two points are touched on the touch panel, the touch position of the two points continuously moves in a direction in which the interval becomes shorter, and then the touch of the two points after the movement is released. Operation
The accepting unit converts a file represented by an icon displayed in a range defined by at least one of the touch positions before and after the movement with respect to the two touch positions in the first operation, to the file to be processed The conference support system according to claim 1, specified as: The conference is a conference using a video conference system,
Said first information, when the is in a meeting, including information for the meeting to identify whether mute, conference support system according to claim 1 or claim 2. Said first information, said when it is in a meeting, including information for identifying whether in question or response in presentation, the conference support system according to claim 1 or claim 2. The storage means further stores third information that is information for identifying attendees of the meeting,
The third information includes information for identifying a presenter among attendees of the conference,
The file control means includes
When the instruction is received during the period of question and answer in the first information, the storage unit stores information for specifying the file that is the target of the instruction or a page in the file,
The conference support system according to claim 4, wherein the conference is transmitted to a transmission destination that identifies the presenter after the conference ends. The storage means further stores third information that is information for identifying attendees of the meeting,
The third information includes information for specifying whether or not each participant has entered the meeting venue, and information for specifying a deliberator of the meeting,
3. The conference support system according to claim 1 , wherein the file control unit transmits the target file to the determined transmission destination on condition that the examiner has entered the meeting venue. 4. .

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