MULTI-LOCATION VIDEO CONFERENCING SYSTEM

A video conferencing system uses video conferencing terminals at a number of locations to allow each of participants in a video conference to watch other participants he or she wants to watch in a desired array using a small amount of hardware. The system comprises first image reduction and storage units for reducing images from the terminals at a reduction ratio for speaker's image and storing the reduced images, second image reduction and storage units for reducing the images from the terminals at a reduction ratio for non-speaker's image and storing the reduced images, image readout control units for reading the reduced image stored in a corresponding one of the second image reduction and storage units in such a way that a plurality of reduced images identical to that reduced image can be displayed on one display screen, and an image selecting and combining unit for generating a composite image and outputting it to receiving terminals.