Transmission terminal, transmission method, and recording medium storing transmission control program

1. A transmission terminal that communicates with a counterpart transmission terminal, the transmission terminal comprising:

a network interface configured to receive first content data from the counterpart transmission terminal, the first content data including first image data and first sound data, and to transmit second content data to the counterpart transmission terminal, the second content data including second image data and second sound data; and

a processor configured to detect a delay time indicating a delay in receiving the first content data from the counterpart transmission terminal,

wherein, upon the detected delay time exceeding a predetermined value, the processor causes an imaging unit to interrupt capturing of the image of the object and further causes the network interface to transmit, of the second content data, only the second sound data, to the counterpart transmission terminal.

2. The transmission terminal of claim 1 , wherein the processor causes the network interface to interrupt transmission of the second image data included in the second content data.

3. The transmission terminal of claim 2 , further comprising:

an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object at the transmission terminal, wherein the image captured by the imaging unit is included in the second content data for transmission to the counterpart transmission terminal.

4. A method of controlling communication with a counterpart transmission terminal, performed by a transmission terminal, the method comprising:

receiving first content data from the counterpart transmission terminal, the first content data including first image data and first sound data;

detecting a delay time indicating a delay in receiving the first content data from the counterpart transmission terminal;

determining whether the detected delay time exceeds a predetermined value, wherein, upon determining that the detected delay time exceeds the predetermined value, a processor causes an imaging unit to interrupt capturing of an image of an object; and

transmitting, of second content data, the second content data including second image data and second sound data, only the second sound data, to the counterpart transmission terminal.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the transmitting step comprises interrupting transmission of the second image data included in the second content data.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

capturing an image of an object at the transmission terminal, wherein the captured image is included in the second content data for transmission to the counterpart transmission terminal.

7. A non-transitory recording medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a transmission terminal, cause the processor to perform a method of controlling communication with a counterpart transmission terminal, the method comprising:

receiving first content data from the counterpart transmission terminal, the first content data including first image data and first sound data;

detecting a delay time indicating a delay in receiving the first content data from the counterpart transmission terminal;

determining whether the detected delay time exceeds a predetermined value, wherein upon determining that the detected delay time exceeds the predetermined value, a processor causes the imaging unit to interrupt capturing of an image of an object; and

transmitting, of second content data, the second content data including second image data and second sound data, only the second sound data, to the counterpart transmission terminal.

8. A transmission system, comprising:

the transmission terminal of claim 1 ; and

a management apparatus including processing circuitry configured to

generate a message indicating that the second image data was not received, when determining that the transmission terminal detected the delay time exceeding the predetermined value, and

transmit the generated message to the counterpart transmission terminal for display.

9. A transmission management system, comprising:

a transmission terminal that communicates with a counterpart terminal and includes first processing circuitry configured to detect a delay time in receiving content data from the counterpart terminal, and a transmitter configured to transmit the detected delay to a management apparatus;

the management apparatus including a receiver to receive the detected delay, and second processing circuitry configured to determine an image data quality using the received detected delay, and a transmitter configured to transmit the determined image quality to a relay device; and

a relay device including a receiver to receive the determined image data quality from the management apparatus and to receive content data from the counterpart terminal, the content data including a plurality of content data at a corresponding plurality of quality levels, and third processing circuitry configured to determine which of the received plurality of content data to relay to the transmission terminal, based on the received image quality data.