Patent Publication Number: US-2022222035-A1

Title: Information processing apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium storing program, and information processing method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-002676 filed Jan. 12, 2021. 
     BACKGROUND 
     (i) Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program, and an information processing method. 
     (ii) Related Art 
     JP2000-20683A discloses a communication conference system in which reception terminals have a conversation with each other via a communication network. 
     JP2011-66467A discloses a television conference terminal device that is connected to a network and communicates with a partner terminal through images and voices. 
     JP2011-193392A discloses an apparatus that automatically sets the sound collection of a microphone in accordance with the arrangement of conference attendees. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an information processing apparatus, a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program, and an information processing method for preventing an occurrence of a situation in which a sound which is not to be transmitted to a communication partner during a communication of transmitting a sound. 
     Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure address the above advantages and/or other advantages not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to address the advantages described above, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not address advantages described above. 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a processor configured to change control of sound collection in accordance with a state of an upper body region of a user who is photographed, during a communication of transmitting a sound. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device according to the present exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a screen; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a positional relation between a display and a user; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a screen; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the screen; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a positional relation between a display and a user; 
         FIG. 9  is a view in a case where a user is viewed from the front; 
         FIG. 10  is a view in a case where the user is viewed from the top of a head; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a positional relation between a display and a user; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a sight line of a user; and 
         FIG. 13  is a view in a case where a face of a user is viewed from the front. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An information processing system according to an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a configuration of the information processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
     The information processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment includes, for example, a server  10  and N (N is an integer of 1 or more) terminal devices. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the information processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment includes terminal devices  12 A,  12 B,  12 C, . . . , and  12 N. The number of terminal devices illustrated in  FIG. 1  is just an example. One or a plurality of terminal devices may be provided in the information processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment. In a case where it is not necessary to distinguish the terminal devices  12 A,  12 B,  12 C, . . . , and  12 N from each other, the terminal devices are referred to as a “terminal device  12 ” below. The information processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment may include devices other than the server  10  and the terminal device  12 . 
     The server  10  and each terminal device  12  have a function of communicating with other devices. The communication may be a wired communication using a cable or a wireless communication. That is, each device may be physically connected to another device by the cable to transmit and receive information, or may transmit and receive information by a wireless communication. A wireless communication includes, for example, a short-range wireless communication, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and the like. The short-range wireless communication includes, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), the radio frequency identifier (RFID), NFC, and the like. For example, each device may communicate with another device via a communication path N such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet. Each device may communicate with another device via a telephone line. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, at least a sound is transmitted to a communication partner by communication. An image, a moving image, a text string, control data, and the like may be transmitted to a communication partner together with the sound. For example, the sound may be transmitted to the partner via the communication path N, or the sound may be transmitted to the partner via the telephone line. As one situation to which the present exemplary embodiment is applied, at least a sound is transmitted to the partner in an online conference held via the communication path N. In another situation, the sound is transmitted to the partner via the telephone line. The present exemplary embodiment may be applied to situations other than the above situations. 
     The server  10  transmits at least a sound to the communication partner. For example, the server  10  provides an online service via the communication path N. A user can use the online service by using the terminal device  12 . For example, the user can transmit at least a sound to the partner by using the online service. Abase station forming a telephone line maybe included in the information processing system, and the user may transmit a sound to the partner via the telephone line by using the terminal device  12 . 
     Examples of the online service include an online conference, a service for providing contents online, an online game, an online shopping, a social network services (SNS), and combinations thereof. The online conference may be referred to as a web conference, a remote conference, a video conference, and the like. The user can use an online conference to transmit at least a sound to another user. Examples of the contents include entertainment (for example, concerts, plays, movies, moving images, music, and the like), sports, and e-sports. For example, a moving-image distribution service and a music distribution service are examples of the service for providing contents online. The user can watch entertainment online or watch sports and e-sports. 
     The online service may be a service using a virtual space or a service of not using the virtual space. The virtual space has a concept that contrasts with the real space. Examples of the virtual space include a virtual space realized by a computer, a virtual space formed on a network such as the Internet, a virtual space realized by the virtual reality (VR) technology, and a cyber space. For example, a virtual three-dimensional space or a two-dimensional space corresponds to an example of the virtual space. 
     The server  10  stores and manages account information of a user who uses the online service. The account information is information for logging in to the online service to use the online service, and is, for example, information including a user ID and a password. For example, by transmitting the account information to the server  10  and logging in to the online service, the user associated with the account information is permitted to participate in the online service and use the online service. The user may be able to use the online service without registering the own account information in the online service. 
     Examples of the terminal device  12  include a personal computer (referred to as a “PC” below), a tablet PC, a smartphone, a wearable device (for example, augmented reality (AR) glasses, virtual reality (VR) glasses, and bearable device) or a portable phone. The user can transmit a sound to the communication partner by using the terminal device  12 . 
     An automatic response partner such as a chatbot may participate in the online service. For example, the automatic response partner functions as a response assistant that responds to an inquiry of the user. The automatic response partner receives an utterance of the user, analyzes the content of the utterance, creates a response and the like to the utterance, and notifies the user of the created response. The automatic response partner is realized, for example, by executing a program. The program is stored in, for example, the server  10  or another device (for example, another server or terminal device  12 ). The automatic response partner may be realized by artificial intelligence (AI). Any algorithm used for the artificial intelligence may be used. 
     In the following description, as an example, it is assumed that an online conference is used by a user, and a sound is transmitted to the communication partner by the online conference. The online conference is just an example of transmitting the sound to a communication partner. In an example other than the online conference, sound collection described later is controlled similar to the online conference. 
     The hardware configuration of the server  10  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an example of the hardware configuration of the server  10 . 
     The server  10  includes, for example, a communication device  14 , a UI  16 , a memory  18 , and a processor  20 . 
     The communication device  14  is a communication interface having a communication chip, a communication circuit, and the like. The communication device has a function of transmitting information to another device and a function of receiving information from the other device. The communication device  14  may have a wireless communication function or a wired communication function. The communication device  14  may communicate with another device by using, for example, short-range wireless communication, or may communicate with another device via the communication path N. 
     The UI  16  is a user interface and includes at least one of a display or an operation device. The display is a liquid crystal display, an EL display, or the like. The operation device is a keyboard, a mouse, an input key, an operation panel, or the like. The UI  16  maybe a UI such as a touch panel having both the display and the operation device. 
     The memory  18  is a device that forms one or a plurality of storage regions for storing various types of information. Examples of the memory  18  include a hard disk drive, various types of memories (for example, RAM, DRAM, and ROM), other storage devices (for example, optical disk), and a combination thereof. One or a plurality of memories  18  are included in the server  10 . 
     The processor  20  is configured to control the operation of the units in the server  10 . The processor  20  may include a memory. For example, the processor  20  provides the online service for the user. 
     The hardware configuration of the terminal device  12  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal device  12 . 
     The terminal device  12  includes, for example, a communication device  22 , a UI  24 , a memory  26 , and a processor  28 . 
     The communication device  22  is a communication interface having a communication chip, a communication circuit, and the like. The communication device has a function of transmitting information to another device and a function of receiving information transmitted from the other device. The communication device  22  may have a wireless communication function or a wired communication function. The communication device  22  may communicate with another device by using, for example, short-range wireless communication, or may communicate with another device via the communication path N. 
     The UI  24  is a user interface and includes at least one of a display or an operation device. The display is a liquid crystal display, an EL display, or the like. The operation device is a keyboard, a mouse, an input key, an operation panel, or the like. The UI  24  may be a UI such as a touch panel having both the display and the operation device. 
     The terminal device  12  may include an image pickup device such as a camera, a microphone, and a speaker. All or some of the above devices may be connected to the terminal device  12 . Earphones or headphones may be connected to the terminal device  12 . 
     The memory  26  is a device that forms one or a plurality of storage regions for storing various types of information. Examples of the memory  26  include a hard disk drive, various types of memories (for example, RAM, DRAM, and ROM), other storage devices (for example, optical disk) , and a combination thereof. One or a plurality of memories  26  are included in the terminal device  12 . 
     The processor  28  is configured to control the operation of the units in the terminal device  12 . The processor  28  may include a memory. 
     For example, the processor  28  displays an image, a moving image, a text, and the like transmitted by an online conference, on the display of the terminal device  12 , outputs a sound transmitted by the online conference, from a speaker, transmits an image, a moving image, and the like generated by image pickup of the camera, to the partner by the online conference, or transmits a sound collected by the microphone to the partner by the online conference. 
     The terminal device  12  may include at least one of various sensors such as a sensor (for example, global positioning system (GPS) sensor) that acquires position information of the terminal device  12 , a gyro sensor that detects the orientation and the posture, or an acceleration sensor. 
     Examples of the present exemplary embodiment will be described below. The processor  20  of the server  10  or the processor  28  of the terminal device  12  may perform processing according to each example. The processor  20  and the processor cooperate with each other to perform the processing according to each example. The processor  20  may perform a portion of certain processing, and the processor  28  may perform other portions of the processing. The server  10 , the terminal device  12 , or a combination thereof corresponds to an example of the information processing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. 
     In the following description, as an example, users A, B, C, and D are participating in the same online conference. The user A logs in to the online conference using a terminal device  12 A to participate in the online conference. The user B logs in to the online conference using a terminal device  12 B to participate in the online conference. The user C logs in to the online conference using a terminal device  12 C to participate in the online conference. The user D logs in to the online conference using a terminal device  12 D to participate in the online conference. A plurality of users may log in to the online conference using the same terminal device  12  to participate in the online conference. The users may be able to participate in the online conference without logging in to the online conference. 
     An image and a moving image of each user participating in the online conference are displayed on the display of the terminal device  12  of each user. A text string for identifying the user may be displayed on the display with or without displaying the image or the moving image of the user. An authorized user or an administrator may permit or may not permit participation of each user in the online conference. In this case, the user of which the participation is permitted can participate in the online conference. Ina case where the user invites another user to the online conference and this user indicates the intention to participate, this user may be able to participate in the online conference. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a screen  32  displayed on a display  30 A. The display  30 A is a display of the terminal device  12 A of the user A. A screen similar to the screen  32  is displayed on the display of each of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a camera  34 , a microphone  36 , and a speaker  38  are provided on the display  30 A. The camera  34  maybe a camera referred to as an in-camera, a front camera, or the like. The location where the camera  34 , the microphone  36 , and the speaker  38  are provided is not limited to the display  30 A, and may be a location other than the display  30 A in the terminal device  12 A. All or some of the camera  34 , the microphone  36 , and the speaker  38  may be provided in the terminal device  12 A (for example, all or some may be built in the terminal device  12 A). Alternatively, all or some may be not provided in the terminal device  12 A (for example, all or some may not be built in the terminal device  12 A), but provided around the terminal device  12 A, and be connected to the terminal device  12 A. A plurality of cameras  34 , a plurality of microphones  36 , and a plurality of speakers  38  maybe connected to the terminal device  12 A. The microphone may be attached to the user A, or earphones or headphones may be attached to the user A. In a case where the terminal device  12 A is a wearable device such as AR glasses or VR glasses, a microphone and a speaker may be provided in the wearable device. 
     In the following description, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the camera  34  provided in the terminal device  12 A (that is, built-in camera) and a camera connected to the terminal device  12 A without being provided in the terminal device  12 A (that is, an external camera) are referred to as a camera of the terminal device  12 A. That is, the category of the concept of the camera of the terminal device  12 A includes not only the camera  34  provided in the terminal device  12 A but also the camera connected to the terminal device  12 A without being provided in the terminal device  12 A. This is similarly applied to the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. The category of the concept of the camera of each of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D includes a built-in camera and an external camera. 
     Similarly, it is assumed that the microphone  36  provided in the terminal device  12 A (that is, built-in microphone) and a microphone connected to the terminal device  12 A without being provided in the terminal device  12 A (that is, external microphone) are referred to as a microphone of the terminal device  12 A. That is, the category of the concept of the microphone of the terminal device  12 A includes not only the microphone  36  provided in the terminal device  12 A but also the microphone connected to the terminal device  12 A without being provided in the terminal device  12 A. This is similarly applied to the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. The category of the concept of the microphone of each of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D includes a built-in microphone and an external microphone. 
     Similarly, it is assumed that the speaker  38  provided in the terminal device  12 A (that is, built-in speaker) and a speaker connected to the terminal device  12 A without being provided in the terminal device  12 A (that is, external speaker) are referred to as a speaker of the terminal device  12 A. That is, the category of the concept of the speaker of the terminal device  12 A includes not only the speaker  38  provided in the terminal device  12 A but also the speaker connected to the terminal device  12 A without being provided in the terminal device  12 A. This is similarly applied to the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. The category of the concept of the speaker of each of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D includes a built-in speaker and an external speaker. 
     An image or a moving image representing each user participating in the online conference is displayed on the screen  32 . It is assumed that the image or the moving image representing a user is referred to as a “user image”. The user images of all users participating in the online conference may be displayed, or the user images of some users maybe displayed. The user image to be displayed may be designated by the user A, or the user may designate the display or non-display of the own user image. The user image may be an image or a moving image generated by photographing the user with the camera, or may be a schematic image (for example, icon and avatar) representing the user. The user image may be a still image or a moving image. Data of the user image generated by the photographing of the camera is transmitted to the terminal device  12  of another user from the terminal device  12  of the user via the server  10 , and then the user image is displayed on the display of the terminal device  12  of each user. The microphone collects a sound such as a voice of the user. Data of the sound is transmitted to the terminal device  12  of another user from the terminal device  12  of the user via the server  10 , and then is output from the speaker of the terminal device  12  of each user. The utterance of the user may be displayed as a text string. Each user can transmit and receive information such as sounds, images, moving images, and text strings, to and from other users by the online conference. 
     For example, display regions corresponding to the number of users participating in the online conference are formed on the screen  32 , and user images are displayed in the respective display regions. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the users A, B, C, and D participate in the same online conference by using the own terminal devices  12 , and display regions  32 A,  32 B,  32 C, and  32 D are formed on the screen  32 . The user image of the user A is displayed in the display region  32 A. The user image of the user B is displayed in the display region  32 B. The user image of the user C is displayed in the display region  32 C. The user image of the user D is displayed in the display region  32 D. 
     For example, an image or a moving image generated by photographing with the camera of the terminal device  12 A is displayed in the display region  32 A. In a case where the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, the user image representing the user A is displayed in the display region  32 A. Similarly, an image or a moving image generated by photographing with the camera of the terminal device  12 B is displayed in the display region  32 B. An image or a moving image generated by photographing with the camera of the terminal device  12 C is displayed in the display region  32 C. An image or a moving image generated by photographing with the camera of the terminal device  12 D is displayed in the display region  32 D. 
     Even in a case where the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, an icon, an avatar, or the like schematically representing the user A may be displayed in the display region  32 A, instead of the user image generated by the photographing. This is similarly applied to the users B, C, and D. 
     Similar to the screen  32 , on the screens of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D, the display regions  32 A,  32 B,  32 C, and  32 D are formed, and images and moving images generated by photographing with the cameras of the terminal devices  12  are displayed. 
     The size of each display region may be changed in accordance with the user or may be changed in accordance with whether or not each user speaks. For example, the display region of the user who is speaking may be large, and the display region of the user who is not speaking may be small. Information (for example, account information, name, and ID) for identifying each user participating in the online conference may be displayed on the screen  32 . 
     In a case where the microphone of the terminal device  12 A collects a sound, the collected sound is output from the respective speakers  38  of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. For example, in a case where the user A speaks, the voice of the user A is collected by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A and output from the respective speakers of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. Similarly, in a case where sounds are collected by the respective microphones of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D, the collected sounds are output from the speakers of the other terminal devices  12 . 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A changes the control of sound collection by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A, in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user A being photographed. Similar processing is performed in the terminal device  12  of another user. That is, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 B changes the control of sound collection by the microphone of the terminal device  12 B, in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user B being photographed. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 C changes the control of sound collection by the microphone of the terminal device  12 C, in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user C being photographed. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 D changes the control of sound collection by the microphone of the terminal device  12 D, in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user D being photographed. 
     All the terminal devices  12 A,  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D may change the control of sound collection in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user being photographed. Some of the terminal devices  12 A,  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D may change the control of sound collection in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user being photographed. 
     The user may set whether or not to perform a function of changing the control of sound collection in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user. For example, in a case where the user A turns on the function, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A changes the control of sound collection in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user A being photographed. In a case where the user A turns off the function, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not change the control of sound collection in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user A being photographed. This is similarly applied to other terminal devices  12 . 
     The processor  20  of the server  10  may control the sound collection of the microphone in each terminal device  12 . In the following description, it is assumed that the processor of the terminal device  12  controls the sound collection of the microphone in the terminal device  12 . 
     Examples of the upper body region of the user include a region above the shoulders of the user, a region above the neck of the user, and a region (referred to as a “face region” below) of the face of the user. Examples of the state of the upper body region of the user include the direction, the inclination, the shape, the movement, the sight line, and combinations thereof of the upper body region of the user. Examples of the face region of the user include the face of the user who does not wear an object such as a mask, and the face of the user who wears an object such as a mask. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A detects the state of the upper body region of the user A, for example, based on an image representing the upper body region of the user A (for example, user image generated by the camera of the terminal device  12 A photographing the user A), detection results of various sensors (for example, gyro sensor and acceleration sensor), or combinations thereof. This is similarly applied to other terminal devices  12 . 
     Specifically, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the direction, the inclination, and the shape of the face region of the user A based on an image representing the face region of the user A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the direction, the inclination, the shape, the movement, and the sight line of a region above the neck of the user A based on an image representing the region above the neck of the user A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the direction, the inclination, the movement, and the sight line of the face region of the user or the region above the neck of the user by various sensors (for example, gyro sensor and acceleration sensor) worn by the user A. For example, a hearable device including various sensors may be worn on the ear of the user, or AR glasses or VR glasses including various sensors may be worn on the user. The direction, the inclination, and the movement of the face of the user are detected by various sensors provided in the hearable device, the AR glasses, and the VR glasses. This is similarly applied to other terminal devices  12 . 
     Processing according to the exemplary embodiment will be described below focusing on the terminal device  12 A of the user A, but similar processing is performed in the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs or does not perform sound collection in accordance with the state of the upper body region of the user A. 
     For example, in a case where the direction of the upper body region of the user A corresponds to a specific direction, the inclination of the upper body region of the user A corresponds to a specific inclination, the shape of the upper body region of the user A corresponds to a specific shape, or the movement of the upper body region of the user A corresponds to a specific movement, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. Specifically, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A turns on the microphone of the terminal device  12 A to perform sound collection. The sound collected by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A is output from the respective speakers of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. For example, in a case where the user A speaks, the voice of the user A is output from the respective speakers of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. 
     For example, in a case where the direction of the upper body region of the user A does not correspond to the specific direction, the inclination of the upper body region of the user A does not correspond to the specific inclination, the shape of the upper body region of the user A does not correspond to the specific shape, or the movement of the upper body region of the user A does not correspond to the specific movement, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. In this case, even though the user A speaks, the voice of the user A is not output from the respective speakers of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. 
     The category of the concept of not performing sound collection includes a case where the microphone of the terminal device  12 A is turned off, a case where the sound collection by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A is muted, and a case where the sound collected by the microphone is cut (for example, deleted). 
     Similarly, the processors  28  of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D perform or do not perform sound collection in accordance with the state of the upper body region of each of the users B, C, and D. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12  may not prevent an output of data of a sound although sound collection is performed, instead of not performing sound collection. For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12  may not transmit data of the sound to other terminal devices  12 . As another example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12  may transmit the data of the sound to the server  10 , but the server  10  may not transmit the data of the sound to other terminal devices  12 . As yet another example, even though the data of the sound is transmitted to other terminal devices  12 , the processor  28  of the other terminal device  12  may not output the sound from the speaker. The above aspects may also be included in one aspect of not performing sound collection. 
     A specific example will be described below with reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a positional relation between the display  30 A of the terminal device  12 A and the user A.  FIG. 5  illustrates the display  30 A and the user A in a case of being viewed from the top of the head  40 A of the user A. In the specific example, as an example, the state of the upper body region of the user A means the direction of the face region of the user A, more specifically, the direction of the face of the user A. 
     For example, in a case where the front of the face of the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. In a case where the front of the face of the user A is not photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection. Describing the example illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the front of the face of the user A is photographed by the camera  34  provided on the display  30 A, and does not perform sound collection in a case where the front of the face of the user A is not photographed by the camera  34 . For example, in a case where the user A sees the screen  32  of the display  30 A, the front of the face of the user A is photographed by the camera  34 . In this case, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. 
     For example, the face of the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, and the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A analyzes the user image generated by the photographing, so as to determine whether or not the front of the face of the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A. That is, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A determines whether or not the front of the face of the user A is represented in the user image. As a technique for analyzing an image, for example, a known technique is used. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the front of the face of the user A is represented in the user image, and does not perform the sound collection in a case where the front of the face of the user A is not represented in the user image. 
     This will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 5 . The reference sign of  42 F in  FIG. 5  indicates a forward direction of the user A. The reference sign of  42 R in  FIG. 5  indicates a rightward direction of the user A. The reference sign of  42 L in  FIG. 5  indicates a leftward direction of the user A. The direction indicated by the reference sign of  42 F is perpendicular to the screen  32 . The directions indicated by the reference signs of  42 R and  42 L are parallel to the screen  32 . 
     In a case where the user A sees the screen  32 , the direction of the user A coincides with the direction indicated by the reference sign of  42 F, and the front of the face of the user A is photographed by the camera  34 . In this case, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. 
     The direction indicated by the reference sign of  42 F may be defined as a reference direction, a direction inclined by an angle θ 1  from the reference direction to the right or left may be defined, and a range of 2×angle θ 1  may be defined as a front range. In a case where the direction of the face of the user A is included in the front range, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. That is, even in a case where the right front of the face of the user A is not photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, and the face of the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A in a state where the face of the user A is shifted by an angle θ 1  from the right front, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a user image  44  of the user A.  FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the display region  32 A being a portion of the screen  32 . In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , illustrations of portions other than the display region  32 A are omitted. The user image  44  may be a still image or a moving image. 
     The user image  44  illustrated in  FIG. 6  is a user image generated in a case where the front of the face of the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A. In a case where the front of the face of the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, the front of the face of the user A is displayed in the display region  32 A as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this case, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. For example, in a case where the user A speaks, the voice of the user A is collected by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A and is output from the respective speakers of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. 
     The user image  44  illustrated in  FIG. 7  is a user image generated in a case where the left side of the face of the user is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A. In a case where the user A looks in the direction indicated by the reference sign of  42 R in  FIG. 5  (that is, in a case where the user A looks to the right) , the left side of the face of the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A. Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the left side of the face of the user A is displayed in the display region  32 A. In this case, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection. Similarly, in a case where the user A looks to the left, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection. 
     The control of sound collection may be changed by focusing on a region of the mouth of the user. For example, in a case where the front of the mouth of the user A is photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. In a case where the front of the mouth of the user A is not photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the direction of the face of the user A with various sensors (for example, gyro sensor and acceleration sensor) . In a case where the face of the user A is directed to the screen  32 , the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. In a case where the face of the user A is not directed to the screen  32 , the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may not perform sound collection. For example, the terminal device  12 A is a wearable device including various sensors (for example, bearable device, AR glasses, and VR glasses) . The terminal device  12 A is attached to the user A, and the direction of the face of the user A is detected by the various sensors. 
     In a case where the front of the face of the user A is photographed (for example, in a case where the user A sees the screen  32 ) , it is supposed that the user A has a conversation with another user who is participating in the online conference or tries to have a conversation with another user. Therefore, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A so that the utterance of the user A can be picked up in a case where the user A speaks. 
     In a case where the front of the face of the user A is not photographed (for example, in a case where the user A does not see the screen  32 ), and the user A speaks, the utterance may not be sent to each user participating in the online conference. For example, an event may occur around the place where the user A is, and the user A may speak about the event. Specifically, the user A may be called, an intercom may ring, a telephone may ring, and then the user A may respond and speak. For example, it is considered that, in a case where the user A is participating in the online conference at the home of the user A, the family member of the user A says “User A, xxx.” to initiate a conversation with the user A at the home of the user A. In this case, it is considered that the user A is directed to the family member of the user A (for example, directed to the back of the user A), and says “wait a minute”. The utterance of the user A is not sent to other users participating in the online conference and is required not to be transmitted to other users. In this case, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection, and thus the utterance of the user A is not collected. Thus, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation in which the utterance of the user A is transmitted to other users participating in the online conference. As described above, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation where, in a case where the front of the face of the user A is not photographed, the utterance of the user A, which is required not to be transmitted to other users participating in the online conference is transmitted to the other users. Thus, for example, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation where information required not to be transmitted is transmitted to other users, and thus to prevent leakage of such information. That is, it is possible to improve the security of information. 
     In a case where the front of the face of the user A is photographed and the mouth of the user A is moving, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A analyzes the user image representing the user A to determine whether or not the mouth of the user A is moving. In a case where the front of the face of the user A is photographed and the mouth of the user A is moving, it is supposed that the user A speaks to other users participating in the online conference. In this case, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A, so that it is possible to transmit the utterance of the user A to other users participating in the online conference. 
     In a case where the front of the face of the user A is photographed, but the mouth of the user A is not moving, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may not perform sound collection. In a case where the mouth of the user A is not moving, it is supposed that the user A does not speak. In this case, because sound collection is not performed, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a situation in which a sound other than the utterance of the user A is transmitted to other users participating in the online conference. 
     In a case where the sound is collected by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A and the output of the collected sound is permitted by the user A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may transmit data of the collected sound to the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C,  12 D of other users participating in the online conference. In this case, the sound collected by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A is output from the respective speakers of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D. 
     For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A stores the data of the collected sound for each predetermined period (for example, every minute). In a case where the output of the sound is permitted by the user A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A transmits data of the sound collected for a period for which the output is permitted, to the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D of other users participating in the online conference. Thus, the sound collected for the period for which the output is permitted is output from the respective speakers of the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D later than a time point at which the sound collection has been performed. For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A requests the user for permission of an output every period (for example, every minute), and transmits data of the sound collected for the permitted period to the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C, and  12 D of other users. 
     In a case where the sound is collected by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A, but the output of the collected sound is not permitted, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not transmit data of the collected sound to the terminal devices  12 B,  12 C,  12 D of other users participating in the online conference. 
     For example, a button for instructing permission to output a sound may be displayed on the display  30 A of the terminal device  12 A. In a case where the user A presses the button, the output of the sound may be permitted. The user A may permit the output of the sound by voice. 
     For example, the user A may or may not permit the output of the sound after confirming the collected sound. In a case where the collected sound is a sound required to be transmitted to other users participating in the online conference, it is possible to transmit the sound to other users by permitting the output of the sound. In a case where the collected sound is a sound required not to be transmitted to other users participating in the online conference, it is possible to prevent transmission of the sound to other users by not permitting the output of the sound. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may not collect sounds other than the registered sound. For example, the voice of the user A is registered in the terminal device  12 A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A collects the voice of the user A with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A and does not collect a sound other than the voice of the user A. For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A recognizes the voice of the registered user by using a voice recognition technology. Then, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A collects the voice of the registered user and does not collect the voice of the unregistered user. A timing of registering the voice may be before the start of the online conference, during the online conference, or designated by the user A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may remove sounds other than the registered sound with a voice filter function. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may collect the sounds of users of which the number is within the registered number of persons. For example, the number of persons is registered in the terminal device  12 A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A collects the voices of users within the registered number of persons, with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not collect voices of users of which the number exceeds the registered number of persons. A timing of registering the number of persons may be before the start of the online conference, during the online conference, or designated by the user. 
     For example, in a case where three persons are registered in the terminal device  12 A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A collects the voices of three or less users, and does not collect the voices of the fourth and subsequent users. More specifically, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A detects the voice of a user A 1 , which is first collected with the microphone of the terminal device  12 , as the voice of the first user, detects the voice of a user A 2 , which is collected next, as the voice of the second user, and detects the voice of a user A 3 , which is collected next, as the voice of the third user. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A identifies the voices of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 , respectively, and manages the voices of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  separately. After that, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A collects the voices of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 , and does not collect voices of users other than the users A 1 , A 2 , andA 3 . For example, even though a user A 4  speaks, the user A 4  is identified as the fourth user, and thus the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not collect the voice of the user A 4 . The voices of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  may be registered in the terminal device  12 A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may collect the registered voices of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 , and may not collect voices of users other than the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 . 
     In a case where a plurality of users are photographed and the mouths of all the users are not moving, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may not perform sound collection. This processing will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating the positional relation between the display  30 A and the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 .  FIG. 8  illustrates the display  30 A and the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  in a case of being viewed from the top of the respective heads  40 A 1 ,  40 A 2 , and  40 A 3  of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  are within a photographing range  46  of the camera  34  provided on the display  30 A, and the faces of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  are photographed by the camera  34 . The user image of each of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  is displayed in the display region  32 A of the screen  32 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , in a case where the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  are photographed and the mouths of all the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  are not moving, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection. In a case where the mouths of all the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  are not moving, it is supposed that none of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  speaks. Thus, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection. 
     In a case where the mouth of at least one of the user A 1 , A 2 , or A 3  is moving, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. 
     In a case where the mouth of the specific user among the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3  is moving, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. The specific user is, for example, a user who is logged in to the online conference on behalf of the users A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 , or a user designated in advance. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may control the sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A, based on the movement habit (that is, habit) of the upper body region of the user A. Examples of the movement habit of the upper body region include a habit of moving the neck or the face, and a habit by illness. The movement habit of the upper body region of the user A is registered in the terminal device  12 A. A timing of registering the movement habit may be before the start of the online conference, during the online conference, or designated by the user A. 
     For example, in a case where the front of the face of the user A is photographed and the sound is collected by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A even though the front of the face of the user A is not photographed due to the habit of moving the neck or the face of the user A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the habit of moving the neck or the face of the user A based on the user image generated by the camera of the terminal device  12 A photographing the user A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the habit with various sensors (for example, gyro sensor and acceleration sensor). For example, a wearable device including various sensors (for example, bearable device, AR glasses, and VR glasses) is worn by the user A, and the habit of the user A is detected by the various sensors. In a case where the habit is detected, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A even though the front of the face of the user A is not photographed. That is, even though the front of the face of the user A is not photographed, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A continuously performs the sound collection without turning off the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. 
     The control based on the habit will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  FIG. 9  is a view in a case where the user A is viewed from the front.  FIG. 10  is a view in a case where the user A is viewed from the top of the head. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate the heads  48  and  50  of the user A. It is assumed that the user A has a habit of moving the neck (for example, a habit of twisting the neck). In a case where the user A twists the neck of the user A, the head of the user A is inclined, and the direction of the front of the face of the user changes. The head  48  is a head in a state where the user A does not twist the neck due to the habit. The head  50  is a head in a state where the user A twists the neck due to the habit. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , in a case where the user A twists the neck, the head of the user A is inclined laterally by an angle θ 2 . That is, the head  50  is inclined laterally by the angle θ 2  from the position of the head  48 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the direction of the face of the user A. A direction  48 A is a direction of the face before the user A twists the neck. A direction  50 A is a direction of the face after the user A twists the neck. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , after the user A twists the neck due to the habit, the direction of the face changes. Thus, the front of the face of the user A may not be photographed. Even in this case, in a case where the action of the user A twisting the neck is registered as the habit of the user A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. For example, in a case where the user A speaks while twisting the neck, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A even in a case where the front of the face of the user A is not photographed. Thus, the voice of the user A is collected by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A and transmitted to the users B, C, and D participating in the online conference. 
     An allowable range of an action by the habit may be defined. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the action of the user A is within the allowable range, and may not perform sound collection in a case where the action of the user A is out of the allowable range. For example, in a case where the action of twisting the neck is registered as the habit of the user A, the allowable range of the turning angle of the neck of the user A is defined, and the turning angle of the neck of the user A is within the allowable range, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. 
     The state of the face region of the user may be a sight line of the user. For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A changes the control of sound collection in accordance with the sight line of the user A with respect to the display used in the online conference (for example, the display of the terminal device  12 A). Specifically, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the user A sees the display (that is, in a case where the display is in front of the sight line of the user A), and does not perform sound collection in a case where the user A does not see the display (that is, in a case where the display is not in front of the sight line of the user A). In a case where the user A speaks toward the display (that is, in a case where the user A speaks while seeing the display), the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. In a case where the user A does not speak toward the display (that is, in a case where the user A speaks without seeing the display), the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may not perform sound collection. 
     An example of controlling sound collection in accordance with the sight line of a user will be described below with reference to  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a positional relation between the display and the user. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a user A and a plurality of displays (for example, six displays). Here, as an example, it is assumed that the user A participates in an online conference by using six displays. The number of displays is just an example, and one display may be used, or a plurality of displays other than six may be used. 
     For example, displays  30 CU and  30 CL are provided at the center. Displays  30 LU and  30 LL are provided on the left side, and displays  30 RU and  30 RL are provided on the right side. The displays  30 CU,  30 LU, and  30 RU are provided on the upper side, and the displays  30 CL,  30 LL, and  30 RL are provided on the lower side. The arrangement of the displays is just an example, and the position of each of the displays may be changed by the user. User images of other users participating in the online conference are displayed on the displays, respectively. 
     Information indicating the position of each of the displays is stored in the memory  26  of the terminal device  12 A, and the position of each of the displays is registered in the terminal device  12 A. For example, a screen for setting the position of each of the displays is displayed on the display of the terminal device  12 A. The user A designates the display to be used on the screen and sets the position of each of the displays. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the displays  30 CU,  30 CL,  30 LU,  30 LL,  30 RU, and  30 RL are designated as the displays used in the online conference, and the positions of the displays are set. That is, the position on the upper side of the center is designated as the position of the display  30 CU. It is registered, in the terminal device  12 A, that the position of the display  30 CL is a position on the lower side of the center. This is similarly applied to other displays. 
     For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect a sight line  52  of the user A based on the user image generated by the camera of the terminal device  12 A photographing the user A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the sight line  52  of the user A with various sensors (for example, gyro sensor and acceleration sensor). 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the position of the user A by photographing the user A with the camera of the terminal device  12 A, or detect the position of the user based on the user image generated by the photographing. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the position of the user A by using the GPS, or define a predetermined position (for example, position facing the central displays  30 CU and  30 CL) as the position of the user A. For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A photographs the user A with one or a plurality of cameras installed at predetermined positions, and specifies the position of the user A based on the result of the photographing (for example, result indicating the camera that photographs the user A, or result indicating the manner that the user A is photographed). 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A determines whether or not the user A sees the display, based on the position of the user A, the sight line  52  of the user A, and the position of each of the displays. In a case where the display is in front of the sight line  52  of the user A with reference to the position of the user A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A determines that the user A sees the display. In a case where the display is not in front of the sight line  52  of the user A with reference to the position of the user A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A determines that the user A does not see the display. 
     Based on the above determination result, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the user A sees the display and speaks, and does not perform sound collection in a case where the user A does not see the display. In this manner, in a case where the user A sees the display and speaks, the voice of the user A is transmitted to the users B, C, and D participating in the online conference. In a case where the user A does not see the display, even though the user A speaks, the voice of the user A is not transmitted to the users B, C, and D participating in the online conference. 
     In a case where the user A sees the display and speaks, it is supposed that the user A speaks to another user participating in the online conference. In this case, it is possible to transmit the voice of the user A to the other user by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A collecting the sound. In a case where the user A speaks without seeing the display, it is supposed that the utterance is not sent to the other user participating in the online conference. In this case, because sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A is not performed, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which a sound required not to be transmitted to the other user is transmitted to the other user. 
     In a case where the display provided in front of the sight line  52  of the user A is not set as the display used in the online conference, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may change the control of sound collection in accordance with the angle of the sight line of the user A. For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may or may not perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the sight line of the user A is lowered. Whether or not to perform sound collection may be set by the user. 
     For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the sight line of the user A is included within a predetermined range, and does not perform sound collection in a case where the sight line of the user A is not included within the predetermined range. 
     More specifically, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A defines the horizon (that is, direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity) as the reference direction. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the angle of the sight line of the user A is included within a predetermined angle range from the reference direction, and does not perform sound collection in a case where the angle of the sight line of the user A is not included within a predetermined angle range from the reference direction. 
     Another example of controlling sound collection in accordance with the sight line of a user will be described below with reference to  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating the sight line of the user A.  FIG. 12  schematically illustrates the user A, the display  30 A, and a keyboard  54 A. The display  30 A and the keyboard  54 A are provided in the terminal device  12 A. 
     For example, in a case where the user A operates the keyboard  54 A (for example, pressing a key) or sees an image displayed on the display  30 A, the sight line of the user A is lowered. Describing the example illustrated in  FIG. 12 , a sight line  56  of the user A is lowered below the horizon  58 . In this case, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. For example, in a case where the user A speaks while inputting text by the keyboard  54 A, the voice of the user A is collected, and the voice of the user A is transmitted to the other user participating in the online conference. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the sight line  56  of the user A is included in a range of an angle θ 3  (within a range below the horizon  58 ) with reference to the horizon  58 , and may not perform sound collection in a case where the sight line  56  of the user A is not included in the above range. 
     As another example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may change the control of sound collection in accordance with whether or not the keyboard  54 A is operated. That is, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may detect the operation of the keyboard  54 A and change the control of sound collection in accordance with the detection result. For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the keyboard  54 A is operated (for example, in a case where the user A types using the keyboard  54 A), and may not perform sound collection in a case where the keyboard  54 A is not operated. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 12 , an example in which the keyboard  54 A is operated has been described, but a mouse, a touch panel, or the like may be used as an operation device other than the keyboard  54 A. 
     In a case where a plurality of users are photographed by the camera of the terminal device  12 A, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may not perform sound collection even though the sight line of at least one user among the plurality of users is lowered. In this case, in a case where at least one user speaks, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the speaking user is registered in the terminal device  12 A, and may not perform sound collection in a case where the speaking user is not registered in the terminal device  12 A. 
     The state of the face region of the user may be the movement of a mask worn by the user. For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A changes the control of sound collection in accordance with the movement of the mask worn by the user A. Specifically, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the mask is moving (for example, in a case where the shape of the mask changes), and does not perform sound collection in a case where the mask is not moving (for example, in a case where the shape of the mask does not change). 
     In a case where the mask is moving, it is supposed that the mouth of the user A is moving. That is, it is supposed that the mask is moving by the user A speaking. In this case, the sound collection is performed. Thus, in a case where the user A speaks, the voice of the user A is transmitted to other users participating in the online conference. 
     In a case where the mask is not moving, it is supposed that the mouth of the user A is not moving. That is, it is supposed that the user A does not speak. In this case, sound collection is not performed. In this manner, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which a sound required not to be transmitted to the other user participating in the online conference (for example, sound other than the voice of the user A) is transmitted to the other user. 
     An example of controlling sound collection in accordance with the movement of the mask will be described below with reference to  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 13  is a view in a case where the face of the user A is viewed from the front.  FIG. 13  illustrates the head  40 A and a mask  60  of the user A. The user A wears the mask  60 , and the mouth of the user A and the surroundings are covered with the mask  60 . 
     For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A detects a change in the shape of the surface of the mask  60 . The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the change in the shape of the surface of the mask  60  is detected, and does not perform sound collection in a case where the change in the shape of the surface of the mask  60  is not detected. For example, in a case where the unevenness  62  is formed on the surface of the mask  60  and the shape of the unevenness  62  changes, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A. In a case where the shape of the unevenness  62  does not change, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A does not perform sound collection. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the amount (for example, magnitude of the change) of the change (for example, change in shape of the unevenness  62 ) in the shape of the surface of the mask  60  is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, and may not perform sound collection in a case where the amount of the change is less than the predetermined threshold value. The threshold value may be changed by the user. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may change the control of sound collection in accordance with the change of the shadow formed on the surface of the mask  60 . That is, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the shadow formed on the surface of the mask  60  changes or the amount of the change is equal to or more than a threshold value, and may not perform sound collection in a case where the shadow does not change or the amount of the change is less than the threshold value. 
     An image  64  may be formed on the surface of the mask  60 . In this case, the state of the face region of the user A may be a change of the image  64 . For example, the image  64  is printed on the surface of the mask  60 , or the image  64  is expressed by the fabric of the mask  60 . 
     For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A performs sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the image  64  changes, and does not perform sound collection in a case where the image  64  does not change. In a case where the image  64  changes, it is supposed that the mouth of the user A is moving. That is, it is supposed that the user A speaks. In this case, the sound collection is performed. Thus, it is possible to transmit the voice of the user A to the other user participating in the online conference in a case where the user A speaks. In a case where the image  64  does not change, it is supposed that the mouth of user A is not moving. That is, it is supposed that the user A does not speak. In this case, the sound collection is not performed. Thus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which a sound required not to be transmitted to the other user (for example, sound other than the voice of the user A) is transmitted to the other user. 
     The processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may perform sound collection with the microphone of the terminal device  12 A in a case where the amount of change of the image  64  is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value, and may not perform sound collection in a case where the amount of the change is less than the threshold value. 
     For example, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A analyzes the user image generated by the camera photographing the face of the user A, so as to detect the change in the shape of the surface of the mask  60 , the change in the shadow formed on the surface of the mask  60 , or the change of the image  64 . 
     In a case where the sound is collected by the microphone of the terminal device  12 A regardless of the shape of the surface of the mask  60  and the image  64  not changing, the processor  28  of the terminal device  12 A may cut (for example, delete) the collected sound. In this case, the collected sound is not transmitted to other users participating in the online conference. 
     In the above-described exemplary embodiment, various types of processing have been described by using an online conference as an example. The processing according to the present exemplary embodiment may be applied to situations other than the online conference. For example, in a case where a user distributes a moving image with the terminal device  12 , the moving image may be distributed in a case where the face of the user is photographed, and the moving image may not be distributed, for example, by stopping the distribution of the moving image, in a case where the face of the user is not photographed. For example, the distribution of the moving image may be stopped in a case where the user turns to the back, and the moving image may be distributed in a case where the user turns to the front. In a case where the distribution of the moving image is stopped, and then the user presses a button (for example, button displayed on the display) for instructing the start of the distribution, the distribution of the moving image may be resumed. 
     The functions of the units of the server  10  and the terminal device  12  are realized by the cooperation of hardware and software as an example. For example, the processor of each device reads and executes the program stored in the memory of each device to realize the functions of each device. The program is stored in the memory via a recording medium such as a CD or a DVD, or via a communication path such as a network. 
     In the embodiments above, the term “processor” refers to hardware in abroad sense. Examples of the processor include general processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, and programmable logic device). In the embodiments above, the term “processor” is broad enough to encompass one processor or plural processors in collaboration which are located physically apart from each other but may work cooperatively. The order of operations of the processor is not limited to one described in the embodiments above, and may be changed. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.