| 摘要 |
<p>A multipoint-conference connection system constructed by interconnecting a number of multipoint-conference control units each including a large number of conference-participating terminals, which can conduct the conference by using the multipoint-conference control unit with a lightened distributed load, thus eliminating the need for a top-level information control unit provided with a large capacity database enough to conduct centralized control of a whole system. Multipoint-conference connection units (MCU) (1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 111, 21, 22, 31, 32) are distributed to part-sets which are represented by sets 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The representative MCUs (1, 2, 3) conduct management of information within respective part-sets and, if necessary, send an information accessing request to other representative MCUs (1, 2, 3) of respective part-sets. In each part-set, the component MCUs are hierarchically connected with one another by respective hierarchical connection lines (A11, A12, ....). The part-sets are connected with one another by using respective peer-connection lines (1A2, 1A3, 2A3). This realizes easy management of information within each part-set and a simplified communication procedure for a whole conference domain. Furthermore, request signals and response signals are transferred upwards and downwards over hierarchical connection lines within the respective part-sets and exchanged between the part-sets over a peer-connection line. This allows the system to maintain the consistency and unification of information through the conference and have the interchangeability with existing prior art hierarchical connection systems. <IMAGE></p> |
