JP2000228763A - Video telephone device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain communication allowing a user to utilize a moving picture without being restricted by a position by connecting plural two-way moving picture interface to a master set, judging the position of the user in accordance with the calling radio wave of a cordless receiver and automatically activating a nearest two-way moving picture interface according to the position of the user. SOLUTION: A transmitting person in the middle of using the slave 103 of the video telephone equipment adds a picture signal picked up by the moving picture camera part 106a of a nearest two-way moving picture interface part 104 a to a video/audio separating and composing part 111 thorough an automatic camera switching part 108. The part 108 composes the added telephone voice and the picture signal of the transmitting person to a speaking party through a telephone line. A picture separated by the part 111 is supplied to the display part 105b of the nearest two-way moving picture interface part 104b of a receiving person through the part 108 to display it as a video.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a videophone device, for example, a videophone device that enables a user to make a videophone call while freely moving indoors without being restricted to the location of a telephone terminal. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, wireless telephones have been advanced, and cordless telephones have been widely used in homes, and mobile phones and PHSs have been widely used outdoors. Videophones, on the other hand, have begun to be used, but because of the need for cameras and displays, communication was only possible from fixed locations.

[0003] Therefore, the conventional video telephone apparatus has a fixed position where the terminal is placed, and the user cannot move in front of the video telephone apparatus to make a telephone call. In order to solve this, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-327007, a videophone device as a cordless videophone device, carrying a camera and a display together with a receiver, and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-084328. As mentioned above, there are some which follow a user using a remote control robot equipped with a camera and a microphone.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 6-311508 and Hei 6-31
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5144, an imaging camera, an image monitor, a videophone main body including a communication circuit, and a handset detachable from the main body, the position of the handset is detected to detect the imaging range of the imaging camera. Controls have also been proposed.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As for the cordless videophone device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-327007 as a cordless videophone device, a camera and a display are carried together with the handset. Further, a system in which a remote control robot equipped with a camera and a microphone described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H08-084328 chases a user has a problem that it is difficult to use it in an ordinary household because the indoor modification is large.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 6-311508 and Hei 6
Japanese Patent No. 315144, which controls the imaging range of an imaging camera by detecting the position of a detachable handset from the videophone main body, could not be used outside the room where the videophone device main body was placed. .

[0007] The present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication using a video of a videophone without restricting a user's location.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem, the present invention firstly connects a plurality of bidirectional moving image interfaces each comprising a camera unit and a display unit to a video telephone base unit, It has a cordless handset and has position detection means to determine the position of the user according to the radio wave transmitted from the cordless handset, and automatically activates the nearest bidirectional video interface according to the position of the user. A camera switching means for performing the operation.

With this, the nearest two-way moving image interface is activated as appropriate according to the movement of the user. Particularly, indoors, by arranging the two-way moving image interface unit in each room, the user can walk anywhere. It has the effect of being able to make video calls.

Secondly, a video telephone device is connected to a two-way moving image interface comprising a plurality of video cameras and a display device, and has a cordless handset having a camera switching instruction function. Camera switching means for switching the bidirectional video interface is provided.

[0011] This allows the user to select a two-way moving image interface to be used in accordance with a user's instruction, so that the user can use a videophone call while moving around indoors with a cordless telephone handset.

Third, a video telephone device is connected to a two-way video call interface comprising a plurality of video cameras, a display device, a microphone and a speaker, and has a position detection transmitter. Terminal switching that carries the device and has position detection means that determines the position of the user according to the radio wave of the position detection transmitter, and automatically activates the nearest two-way video call interface according to the position of the user Equipment is provided.

[0013] Thus, the device carried by the user can be made much smaller and lighter, and the user can use a videophone call while moving.

Fourthly, in the videophone device, there is provided a microphone direction changing means for changing the direction of the microphone of the two-way video communication interface to the direction of the user according to the position of the user detected by the position detecting means. ing.

[0015] Thus, it is possible to provide a videophone capable of communicating a clearer voice when the user moves.

Fifth, any one of the plurality of interfaces can be selected according to the position of the portable terminal detected by the position detecting means.
It has means for connecting the telephone line to the telephone line, and the nearest interface is connected to the telephone line as appropriate according to the movement of the user, so that the video telephone device can be used wherever the user goes.

Sixth, a plurality of interfaces are arranged in different rooms, respectively, so that the user can use a videophone anywhere in the plurality of rooms.

[0018]

(Embodiment 1) Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a video telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. The videophone device of the present embodiment has a handset 103 including a telephone handset.
And a position detection unit 107 for detecting the position of the slave unit 103 via the antenna 102, an automatic camera switching unit 108 capable of switching a video camera to be connected, an audio radio wave transmission unit 109 for transmitting audio from a telephone, and receiving audio. Sound radio wave receiving unit 1
10 including base unit 10 and video / audio separation / synthesis unit 111
01, and a plurality of (three in the figure) bidirectional video interface units 104a, 104b, 104c including a display unit 105 and a camera unit 106.

The automatic camera switching unit 108 of the master unit 101 includes a plurality of bidirectional video interface units 104a and 104.
b, 104c, the position detection unit 107 specifies the position of the slave unit 103 from the information of the antenna 102, and notifies the automatic camera switching unit 108 of the information. The automatic camera switching unit 108 activates the nearest two-way moving image interface unit, for example, the two-way moving image interface unit 104a, according to the notified position information of the slave unit 103, and enables two-way communication.

When the sender makes a telephone call using the slave unit 103, the telephone sound of the slave unit 103 is supplied from the antenna 102 to the audio wave transmission unit 109 of the master unit, and is added to the video / audio separation / synthesis unit 111. .

On the other hand, the sender using the slave unit 103 is picked up by the moving image camera unit 106a of the nearest two-way moving image interface unit 104a, and the image signal is transmitted to the video / audio separation unit 108 via the automatic camera switching unit 108. -It is added to the synthesis unit 111. The video / audio separation / synthesis unit 111 synthesizes the added telephone sound and the image signal of the sender, and transmits the synthesized signal to the other party via the telephone line.

The receiver, who is the caller, receives the voice and image of the sender via the telephone line using the same video telephone as in FIG. The received voice and image are separated from the voice and image by the video / voice separation / synthesis unit 111, and the voice is transmitted from the voice radio wave reception unit 107 via the antenna 102 to the receiver 103 of the receiver.
The receiver can listen to the telephone voice of the sender at the slave 103.

On the other hand, the image separated by the video / audio separation / synthesis unit 111 is transmitted to the bidirectional video interface unit nearest to the receiver via the automatic camera switching unit 108, for example,
The image is supplied to the display unit 105b of the interactive video interface unit 104b and is displayed as a video so that the image of the sender can be viewed.

The bidirectional video interface 104a,
If 104b, 104c... Are arranged in each room of the house, the position of the slave unit 103 used by the user in any room of the house is automatically detected by the position detection unit 107. The nearest two-way video interface units 104a, 104b, 104c,...
.. Can be captured and transmitted by selecting / switching, and the image of the other party can be received and displayed.

Although only one antenna 102 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of antennas may be arranged to perform position detection and position detection may be performed based on radio wave intensity.

In the videophone device configured as described above, the nearest two-way video interface units 104a, 104b, 104c,...
Becomes active, and the two-way moving image interface units 104a, 104b, 1
... Can be videophoned wherever the user walks.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the videophone device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The videophone device according to the present embodiment includes a handset 203, a base unit 201 wirelessly connected to the handset 203 via an antenna 202, a bidirectional video interface unit 204 including a display unit 205 and a camera unit 206. It is composed of Base unit 2
Reference numeral 01 includes a camera switching unit 208 that switches according to a camera switching instruction, an audio radio wave transmission unit 209, an audio radio wave reception unit 210, and a video / audio separation / composition unit 211. The child device 203 has a camera switching instruction unit 207.

FIG. 2 differs from FIG.
1 is that there is no position detection unit 107, and that the slave unit 203 has a camera switching instruction unit 207. Other elements are the same as those in FIG.

The camera switching unit 208 of the master unit 201 includes a plurality of bidirectional moving image interface units 204a, 204b,
04c. The user carries the handset 203, and corresponds to the position of the handset 203, that is, the handset 20.
The two-way moving image interface unit 2 activated by using the camera switching instruction unit 207 so as to select the camera unit located at a position where the user who owns the camera 3 can image the user himself / herself
04a, 204b and 204c are selected. When the user operates the camera switching instruction unit 207 of the slave unit 203, the camera switching unit 208 responds to the instruction of the camera switching instruction unit 207 of the user to instruct the specified bidirectional video interface unit 2.
One of 04a, 204b, and 204c is activated to enable two-way communication. The operations of the other units are the same as those in FIG.

In the videophone device configured as described above, the nearest bidirectional video interface unit 204 can be appropriately switched according to the user's movement in accordance with the user's instruction. By arranging the two-way moving image interface unit 204 in each room, it is possible to make a videophone call regardless of where the user walks.

In the above description, the number of bidirectional video interface units connected to the master unit is three, but similar effects can be obtained with other numbers as in the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the videophone device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The videophone apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a base unit 301 including a position detecting unit 309 and an automatic terminal switching unit 310.
, An antenna 302, a transmitter 303 for notifying a user of the position of the user by a signal, and a two-way video communication interface unit 304 including a display unit 305, a camera unit 306, a microphone unit 307, and a speaker unit 308.

The base unit 301 is connected to a plurality of two-way video communication interface units 304a, 304b, 304c, and a position detection unit 309 specifies the position of the transmitter 303, that is, the position of the user from the information of the antenna 302. And
The information is notified to the automatic terminal switching unit 310. The automatic terminal switching unit 310 is operable in accordance with the location information to provide a bidirectional video communication interface unit 304a, 304b, 3
04c is activated to enable two-way communication.

In this embodiment, the two-way video call interface unit 304a has a microphone unit 307a and a speaker unit 308a in addition to the display unit 305a and the camera unit 306a. The other two-way video communication interface units 304b and 304c also have display units 305b and 305c and camera units 306b and 306.
c, microphone units 307b and 307c, and speaker unit 30
8b and 308c.

The microphones 307a, 307b and 307c transmit the telephone voice of the user to the other party,
05a, 305b, and 305c receive the telephone voice of the other party so that the user can hear it.

Although one antenna 302 is shown in the figure, a method of arranging a plurality of antennas for position detection and performing position detection from radio wave intensity is also possible.

In the videophone device configured as described above, the nearest two-way video communication interface units 304a, 304b and 304c are activated as appropriate according to the movement of the user. Direction image communication interface units 304a, 304b, 304
By arranging c, it is possible to make a videophone call wherever the user walks. Further, the microphone unit 307 and the speaker unit 3
08 is added to the two-way video communication interface unit 304, so that the transmitter 303 carried by the user can be significantly smaller than the cordless telephone handset.

(Embodiment 4) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videophone device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The videophone device according to the present embodiment has a position detecting unit 4 for detecting a position of a user.
11, a master unit 401 including an automatic terminal switching unit 412, an antenna 402, a transmitter 403 for notifying the position of the user by a signal, a display unit 405, a camera unit 406, a microphone unit 407, a speaker unit 408, and microphone direction adjustment. A two-way video call interface unit 404 including a unit 409 and a microphone 410 is provided. Master unit 401 and transmitter 4
03 is the same as in FIG.

The automatic terminal switching unit 412 of the master unit 401 includes a plurality of two-way video communication interface units 404a and 404.
b, 404c, the position detection unit 411 specifies the position of the transmitter 403, that is, the position of the user from the information of the antenna 402, and uses the information to transmit the information to the automatic terminal switching unit 41.
Notify 2. The automatic terminal switching unit 412 activates the nearest two-way video communication interface units 404a, 404b, and 404c of the transmitter 403 according to the position information, and enables two-way communication.

Further, the microphone direction adjusting unit 409 adjusts the direction of the microphone 410 according to the position information from the position detecting unit 411, and prepares a communication environment oriented to the user.

The operation of the other parts is the same as that of FIG. 3 and will not be described.

Although only one antenna 402 is shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of antennas may be arranged for position detection and position detection may be performed based on radio field intensity.

As in the case of the microphone, it is also possible to provide a camera direction adjusting unit and direct the camera unit 406 toward the user in accordance with the position information detected by the position detecting unit 411.

In the videophone device configured as described above, the nearest two-way video communication interface units 404a, 404b, and 404c are activated as appropriate according to the movement of the user. Direction image communication interface units 404a, 404b, 404
By arranging c, it is possible to make a videophone call wherever the user walks. Further, the microphone section 407 and the speaker section 4
08 is added to the two-way video call interface unit 404, so that the transmitter 403 carried by the user can be significantly smaller than the cordless telephone handset. Further, since the microphone direction adjusting unit 409 is provided in the two-way moving image communication interface unit 404, it is possible to clearly hear the user's speech from the microphone.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the nearest two-way moving picture interface can be activated in the video telephone apparatus according to the movement of the user. It has the effect of being able to call. In addition, since the user can select a two-way video interface to be used in accordance with a user's instruction, there is an effect that the user can freely use a videophone call while moving with the cordless handset in the room.

Furthermore, since the equipment carried by the user can be much smaller and lighter than the cordless handset, the user can easily and freely perform a video call.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a videophone device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videophone device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videophone device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a videophone device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Video Phone Main Unit 102 Antenna 103 Video Phone Sub Unit 104a, 104b, 104c Bidirectional Video Interface Unit 105a, 105b, 105c Display Unit 106a, 106b, 106c Camera Unit 107 Position Detection Unit 108 Automatic Camera Switching Unit 109 Audio Radio wave transmitting unit 110 Audio radio wave receiving unit 111 Video / audio separating / combining unit 201 Videophone main unit 202 Antenna 203 Videophone subunits 204a, 204b, 204c Bidirectional video interface units 205a, 205b, 205c Display unit 206a, 206b, 206c Camera unit 207 Camera switching instruction unit 208 Camera switching unit 209 Audio radio wave transmission unit 210 Audio radio wave reception unit 211 Video / audio separation / combination unit 301 Videophone base unit 30 2 Antenna 303 Videophone handset 304a, 304b, 304c Two-way video call interface 305a, 305b, 305c Display 306a, 306b, 306c Camera 307a, 307b, 307c Microphone 308a, 308b, 308c Speaker 309 Position Detecting unit 310 Automatic terminal switching unit 401 Video telephone base unit 402 Antenna 403 Video telephone sub unit 404a, 404b, 404c Two-way video call interface unit 405a, 405b, 405c Display unit 406a, 406b, 406c Camera unit 407a, 407b , 407c Microphone section 408a, 408b, 408c Speaker section 409 Microphone direction adjustment section 410 Microphone 411 Position detection section 412 Automatic terminal switching section

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A handset, a plurality of bidirectional video interfaces each including a camera unit and a display unit, position detecting means for detecting a position of the handset in response to radio waves transmitted from the handset, A videophone device comprising: a switching unit that activates the nearest bidirectional video interface according to the position of the handset detected by the detection unit. 2. A handset having a camera switching instruction unit for instructing camera switching, a plurality of bidirectional moving image interfaces each including a camera unit and a display unit, and a bidirectional moving image according to an instruction from the camera switching unit. A videophone device comprising a camera switching means for switching an image interface. 3. A transmitter for transmitting a current position by a signal, a plurality of two-way video communication interfaces each including a camera, a display unit, and a communication unit, and the transmitter according to a signal transmitted by the transmitter. A videophone device comprising: a position detecting unit for detecting the position of the transmitter; and switching means for activating the two-way moving image interface closest to the position of the transmitter. 4. The television according to claim 3, further comprising a microphone direction changing means for changing the direction of the microphone of the two-way video communication interface to the direction of the transmitter according to the position of the transmitter detected by the position detecting device. Telephone equipment. 5. A portable terminal, a plurality of interfaces including at least a camera unit and a display unit, position detecting means for detecting a position of the portable terminal, and a position of the portable terminal detected by the position detecting means. Accordingly, a videophone device having means for coupling any one of the plurality of interfaces to a telephone line. 6. The videophone device according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of interfaces are arranged in different rooms indoors.