JP2001333398A - Information transmitter and video conference/telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the transmission and reception of a still picture and sound information in a video conference/telephone system with a simple configuration at a low cost. SOLUTION: A DTC board 13 for encoding and transmitting moving image data of an NTSC system is externally provided with a video overlay board 11 for converting a still picture file into image data of the NTSC system and a sound board 31 for converting a sound file that corresponds to the still picture file to analog signals. Thus, it is made possible to simplify a system configuration through the configuration simplification of the DTC board 13 and to realize the video conference/telephone system at a low cost.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information transmitting apparatus and a transmitting apparatus which can transmit and receive a still image with a simple and inexpensive configuration.
V conference / telephone system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a TV conference / conference that enables a person to talk while seeing the face of another party while being away from each other or to hold a conference.
Telephone systems are known. In this TV conference / telephone system, a dedicated terminal device is installed in a conference room or the like of each home or company, and video captured by a camera device and audio collected by a microphone device are transmitted via a communication network. Send and receive from each other. Thus, it is possible to talk while seeing the other party's face or to hold a conference or the like while staying away from each other.

Here, the conventional TV conference / telephone system is provided with an information transmitting device as shown in FIG. 4 for transmitting image information and audio information. This information transmitting apparatus transmits NTSC moving image data from the camera device 50 to a moving image encoder 53 of a DTC board 52, for example, in accordance with H.264. 261 and H.E. H.262x (H.26x) and the like. Three
20 and H. In addition to transmitting the audio data corresponding to the sound collected by the microphone device 51 to the terminal device of the other party via the interface 55 conforming to H.322 (H.32x), the sound encoder 54 of the DTC board 52
For example, G. 722 and G. 728 etc. (G.7x
x) is converted into information in a form conforming to the communication protocol,
This is transmitted to the terminal device of the other party through the interface 55.

The DTC board 52 is also provided with a function of transmitting a still image. The DTC board 52 transfers still image data from a still image database 56 storing still image files to a still image encoder 57 of the DTC board 52. For example, H. 261 and H.E. 262, etc. (H.26x), is converted into information conforming to a communication protocol, and is supplied to the interface 55 via a special (dedicated) bus line 60. The audio data from the audio database 58, which stores the audio files and the like attached to the transmitted still images, is transmitted to the DTC board 52 by the audio encoder 59 of the DTC board 52. 722 and G. 72
8 (G.7xx), etc., and converts the information into a form conforming to a communication protocol, and converts this into a special (dedicated) bus line 61.
Is supplied to the interface 55 via the interface 55, and is transmitted to the terminal device on the other side via the interface 55.

[0005]

However, in the conventional TV conference / telephone system, each encoder 57, DTC board 52 of the information transmitting apparatus is required to transmit the still image data and the audio data attached thereto. Special bus lines 60 and 61 were required between 59 and interface 55. For this reason, there have been problems that the number of parts increases, the configuration becomes complicated, and the cost of the system increases.

Further, such a special bus line 6 is used to configure an information transmitting apparatus of a TV conference / telephone system.
It is necessary to use the DTC board 52 having 0, 61, and there is a problem that the degree of freedom of design is limited.

Further, encoders 53 and 54 for a moving image system
In addition, it is necessary to separately provide the encoders 57 and 59 of the still image system, and the number of parts is increased, the configuration is complicated, and the system is expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides an information transmitting apparatus and a TV conference / telephone system capable of transmitting and receiving a still image and audio information at a low cost with a simple configuration. With the goal.

[0009]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information transmitting apparatus, comprising: a transmitting unit that performs predetermined encoding processing on image information and transmits the image information; And a still image conversion means for converting the still image information into image information of a predetermined video system and supplying the image information to the transmission means.

The information transmitting apparatus according to the present invention includes, as means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a transmitting means for performing predetermined encoding processing on audio information and transmitting the same, and an external means for the transmitting means. And audio conversion means for converting the digitized audio information into an analog signal and supplying it to the transmission means.

The information transmitting apparatus according to the present invention includes, as means for solving the above-mentioned problems, transmitting means for performing predetermined encoding processing on image information and audio information and transmitting the encoded information, A still image conversion means for converting the still image information into image information of a predetermined video system and supplying the image information to the transmission means; And audio converting means for converting the digitized audio information into an analog signal and supplying it to the transmitting means.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the information transmitting apparatus according to the present invention may be arranged such that, when the moving image information is supplied, the still image converting means passes through the moving image information and outputs the moving image information. Supply to transmission means.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the information transmitting apparatus according to the present invention may be arranged such that, when the analog audio signal is supplied, the audio converting means passes through the analog audio information. And supplies it to the transmitting means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information transmitting apparatus which stores a plurality of pieces of still image information and supplies designated still image information to the still image converting means. It has image storage means.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the information transmitting apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the transmitting means performs predetermined encoding processing on NTSC image information and transmits the same, The means converts the still image information to NTS
It is converted into image information of the C system.

The TV conference / telephone system according to the present invention has any one of these information transmitting devices as means for solving the above-mentioned problems.

In such an information transmitting apparatus and the TV conference / telephone system, a still image converting means and / or a sound converting means are provided externally to the transmitting means. If a conversion function for converting a still image into a predetermined video format is added to the transmission means, complicated programming is required in terms of software, and a complicated configuration is also required in terms of hardware. However, if the still image converting means and / or the sound converting means are provided externally to the transmitting means as described above, it can be realized without any change in the software configuration and the hardware configuration such as the encoding process. . Also, any existing transmission means can be used. Accordingly, transmission of a still image and audio information accompanying the still image can be performed with a simple configuration and at low cost.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an information transmitting apparatus and a TV conference / telephone system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a desktop type TV conference / telephone system provided in a TV conference / telephone system of an embodiment to which an information transmitting apparatus and a TV conference / telephone system according to the present invention are applied. Telephone device 1 (DTC device)
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a TV conference / telephone system according to this embodiment, which is configured by mutually connecting a DTC device 1 and a TV telephone terminal device 3 via an ISDN communication network 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part of the DTC device 1 shown in FIG.

First, referring to FIG.
DTC device 1 provided in V conference / telephone system
Is a bitmap (bmp), JPEG or G
A still image database 10 in which a still image file of a predetermined data format such as an IF is stored, and still image data read from the still image database 10 are converted into data of a predetermined video format such as the NTSC format, for example. It has a video overlay board 11 for output and a camera device 12 for capturing images of persons participating in conversations, conferences and the like.

The TV conference / telephone system includes an audio database 30 in which audio files and the like corresponding to still image files stored in the still image database 10 are stored, and a digital database read from the audio database 30. A predetermined encoding process is performed on the still image data from the video overlay board 11, the moving image data from the camera device 12, and the audio data from the sound board 31, and a sound board 31 that converts the audio data of the form into analog and outputs the data. And a DTC board 13 for transmitting to the TV telephone terminal device 3 via the ISDN communication network 2.

The DTC board 13 has a first image input terminal 21 to which moving image data from the camera device 12 is supplied.
(CAM1) and a second image input terminal 22 to which still image data from the video overlay board 11 is supplied.
(CAM2), and an audio input terminal 23 to which audio data from the audio database 30 is supplied.

The DTC board 13 is connected to each input terminal 2.
An encoding block 24 for encoding the moving image data, the still image data and the audio data supplied through 1 to 23 into a predetermined data format and transmitting the encoded data to the TV telephone terminal device 3 side; A decoding block 25 for decoding the transmitted moving image data, still image data, and audio data into a predetermined data format; displaying a moving image corresponding to the moving image data to be transmitted and a still image corresponding to the still image data; A display unit 2 for displaying a moving image corresponding to the moving image data transmitted from the TV telephone terminal device 3 and a still image corresponding to the still image data
6.

The encoding block 24 includes a video encoding unit 27 for performing a predetermined compression encoding process on the moving image data and the still image data supplied via the first and second image input terminals 21 and 22. An audio encoding unit 28 for performing predetermined compression encoding processing on audio data supplied via the audio input terminal 23; moving image data compressed and encoded by the encoding units 27 and 28; A transmission processing unit 29 for transmitting image data and audio data in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol.

[Operation of Embodiment] Next, the operation of the TV conference / telephone system according to the embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described. In the TV conference / telephone system, D
The moving image data and the still image data can be transmitted from the TC device 1 to the TV telephone terminal device 3 together with the audio data.

(Moving Image Data Transmission Operation) First, when transmitting moving image data together with audio data, the camera device 1
2 captures an image of a person or the like who is attending the conference, for example, the NTSC method (PAL method or SECA method).
M method is also possible. It depends on the video system used by the system. )) To form moving image data of the video system,
The data is supplied to the video encoding unit 27 of the encoding block 24 via the first image input terminal 21 of the C board 13 and to the display unit 26. Thereby, the display unit 26 displays
The person image or the like currently captured by the camera device 12 is displayed, and the operator of the DTC device 1 can check the moving image to be currently transmitted through the display screen of the display unit 26. .

When the sound board 31 is supplied with the digitized audio data from the audio database 30, the sound board 31 converts the digitized audio data into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal. The analog audio data is supplied from a microphone device or the like. Then, this is output as it is (through-out).

For this reason, the sound board 31 transmits the audio data stored in the audio database 30 along with the moving image data to be transmitted.
The audio data read from the audio database 30 is converted into an analog signal and supplied to the audio encoding unit 28 of the encoding block 24 via the audio input terminal 23.

Further, in the case of transmitting a sound such as a speech of a person who is attending a conference, which is collected by a microphone device or the like, accompanying the moving image data to be transmitted, for example, Analog audio data,
The signal is supplied to the audio encoding unit 28 of the encode block 24 via the audio input terminal 23 in the analog form.

The video encoding unit 27 of the encoding block 24 converts the supplied moving image data into, for example, H.264 data. 261
And H. H. 262 (H.26x) and the like, and encodes the data into a form conforming to the communication protocol, and supplies this to the transmission processing unit 29.

The audio encoding unit 28 of the encoding block 24 converts the supplied audio data into, for example, 72
2 and G. The data is encoded into audio data conforming to a communication protocol such as G.728 (G.7xx) and supplied to the transmission processing unit 29.

The transmission processing unit 29 converts the moving image data and audio data into, for example, H.264 data. 320 and H.E. 322 etc. (H.
32x) to the terminal device of the other party through an interface conforming to 32x).

As a result, the moving image captured by the DTC device 1 can be displayed on the display unit of the TV telephone terminal device 3 and the sound output corresponding to the voice from the DTC device 1 can be displayed on the TV telephone. It can be obtained via a speaker device or the like provided on the terminal device 3 side.

Next, in the case where the moving image and the voice picked up and collected by the TV telephone terminal device 3 are transmitted to the DTC device 1, the moving image captured by the camera device provided on the TV telephone terminal device 3 side. The image and the sound or the like collected by the microphone device provided on the TV telephone terminal device 3 side are encoded in the same manner as described above, and are encoded by the DT through the ISDN communication network 2.
It is transmitted to the C device 1 side.

Each data transmitted from the TV telephone terminal 3 is supplied to a decoding block 25 shown in FIG. 1 and is decoded by the decoding block 25 into a predetermined data format. The moving image data is converted into an analog signal and supplied to the display unit 26, and the audio data is converted into an analog signal and supplied to a speaker device (not shown).

Thus, the moving image and the voice picked up and picked up by the TV telephone terminal device 3 can be displayed on the display unit 26 of the DTC device 1 and the speaker provided on the DTC device 1 side An audio output corresponding to the moving image can be obtained via the device.

The display screen of the display unit 26 is, for example, divided into two equal parts. In one display area, a moving image transmitted from the DTC device 1 to the TV telephone terminal device 3 side is displayed. In the display area, D is displayed from the TV phone terminal 3 side.
The moving images transmitted to the TC device 1 are respectively displayed.

(Operation for transmitting still image data) Next, the DT
When a still image is transmitted from the C device 1 to the TV phone terminal device 3, a still image file of the still image to be transmitted is read from the still image database 10 and supplied to the video overlay board 11.

When the video overlay board 11 is supplied with still image data in a data format such as a bitmap or JPEG, the video overlay board 11 can convert the still image data into an NTSC system (PAL system or SECAM system, depending on the video system employed by the system). ), And converts this to the second
Is supplied to the video encoding unit 27 of the encoding block 24 of the DTC board 13 through the image input terminal 22 of the DTC board 13 and to the display unit 26.

Also, the video overlay board 11
For example, if a camera device or a video tape recorder device
When the image data of the TSC system is supplied,
The data is directly supplied to the video encoding unit 27 of the encoding block 24 of the DTC board 13 via the second image input terminal 22 (through-out), and is also supplied to the display unit 26.

That is, the video overlay board 11
Is provided with a changeover switch 33 for switching between the output from the NTSC conversion unit 32 and the output to be passed through as shown in FIG. The changeover switch 33 is
When selecting the output from the NTSC conversion unit 32, the selected terminal 33a is selected by the selection terminal 33c, and this NTS
The output from the C conversion unit 32 is supplied to the video encoding unit 27 and the display unit 26. In addition, for example, when an output to be through-out from the camera device 34 or the like (original NTSC video output) is selected, the selected terminal 33b is selected by the selection terminal 33c and the through-out from the camera device 34 or the like is performed. The output is output to the video encoding unit 27 and the display unit 2
6

By supplying each output to the display unit 26, a still image to be currently transmitted or an image from the camera device 34 can be displayed on the display unit 26. The operator of the DTC device 1 The still image or the like currently being transmitted can be confirmed through the display screen of the display unit 26.

When transmitting sound data stored in the sound database 30 along with the still image data to be transmitted, the sound board 31 transmits the sound data read from the sound database 30. Is converted to an analog signal and supplied to the audio encoding unit 28 of the encoding block 24 via the audio input terminal 23.

In the case where a sound such as a description of a still image collected by a microphone device or the like is transmitted along with the still image data to be transmitted, analog voice data from the microphone device or the like is transmitted. Encode block 2 via audio input terminal 23 in analog form
4 to the audio encoding unit 28.

That is, FIG.
As shown in (1), a changeover switch 36 for switching between the output from the analog conversion unit 37 and the output to be passed through is provided. The changeover switch 36 has a selection terminal 36c when selecting an output from the analog conversion unit 37.
To select the selected terminal 36a, and
7 is supplied to the audio encoding unit 28. For example, when selecting an output to output through the microphone device 35 or the like (originally an analog audio output), the selected terminal 36b is selected by the selection terminal 36c.
The through output from the microphone device 35 and the like is supplied to the audio encoding unit 28.

The video encoding unit 27 of the encoding block 24 uses the NTSC
The image data of a still image converted into image data of the H.264 method is, for example, H.264. 261 and H.E. H. 262 (H.26x) and the like, and encodes the data into a form conforming to the communication protocol, and supplies this to the transmission processing unit 29. Further, the audio encoding unit 28 of the encoding block 24 converts the supplied audio data into, for example, 722 and G. The data is encoded into audio data conforming to a communication protocol such as G.728 (G.7xx) and supplied to the transmission processing unit 29.

The transmission processing unit 29 converts the image data and the audio data of the still image and the audio data into, for example, H.264 data. 320 and H.E. 32
2 (H.32x) and the like to an opposite terminal device.

As a result, a still image or the like stored in the still image database 10 of the DTC device 1 can be displayed on the display unit of the TV telephone terminal device 3.
A sound output corresponding to the sound collected by the microphone device 35 of the C device 1 can be obtained via a speaker device provided on the TV phone terminal device 3 side.

Next, when transmitting the still image and the collected sound from the TV telephone terminal device 3 to the DTC device 1, a desired still image can be obtained from a still image database provided in the TV telephone terminal device 3. Is read and supplied to the video overlay board provided on the TV telephone terminal device 3 side.

The video overlay board converts the still image data and the like into image data of a video system such as the NTSC system in the same manner as described above,
It is supplied to the TC board 13. The DTC board 13 encodes the image data of the still image converted into the NTSC image data in the same manner as described above,
The data is transmitted to the DTC device 1 via the N communication network 2.

The data transmitted from the TV telephone terminal 3 is supplied to a decoding block 25 shown in FIG. 1 and is decoded by the decoding block 25 into a predetermined data format. Then, the image data of the still image is converted to analog and supplied to the display unit 26, and the audio data is converted to analog and supplied to a speaker device (not shown).

Thus, the still images and the like stored in the still image database on the TV telephone terminal device 3 side can be displayed on the display section 26 on the DTC device 1 side.
The sound collected by the microphone device on the telephone terminal device 3 side can be obtained via the speaker device provided on the DTC device 1 side.

As is apparent from the above description, the TV conference / telephone system according to the present embodiment has the DTC board 13
A video overlay board 11 and a sound board 31 are provided externally, and the video overlay board 11 converts the still image data stored in the still image database 10 into image data of a predetermined video format, and The audio data stored in the audio database 30 is converted into an analog signal by the board 31, and the image data and audio data of the still image converted into the image data of the predetermined video format are encoded by the DTC board 13 and transmitted. ing.

For this reason, the still image data and the audio data accompanying the still image data are supplied to the transmission processing unit 24 together with the encoder for the still image data and the encoder for the audio data accompanying the still image data in the DTC board 13. There is no need to provide a special bus line (see reference numerals 60 and 61 in FIG. 4). For this reason, the number of components of the DTC board 13 can be reduced and the configuration thereof can be simplified.
The V conference / telephone system can be configured at low cost.

Further, as the DTC board 13, an existing inexpensive board having no special configuration can be selected to form the system, and the degree of freedom in system design can be increased. Further, by selecting an inexpensive DTC board 13, the system can be formed at a lower cost.

Further, H. 26x communication protocol and G.26.
An inexpensive video overlay board 11 or sound board 31 can be used instead of an expensive encoder conforming to the 7xx communication protocol, and the system cost can be further reduced.

Further, as the still image file and the audio file, still image files and audio files of various file formats supported by the video overlay board 11 and the sound board 31 can be used.

Finally, each of the above embodiments is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and even in a form other than such an embodiment, as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated. It goes without saying that various changes can be made according to the design and the like.

[0059]

The information transmitting apparatus and the TV conference / telephone system according to the present invention can transmit and receive still image information and audio information at a low cost with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a desktop TV conference / telephone device (DTC device) provided in a TV conference / telephone system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a TV conference / telephone system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part of a DTC device provided in the TV conference / telephone system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an information transmission device provided in a conventional TV conference / telephone system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 TV conference / telephone device (DTC device) 2 ISDN communication network 3 TV telephone terminal device 10 Still image database 11 Video overlay board 12 Camera device 13 DTC board 21 First image input terminal 22 Second image input terminal 23 Audio Input terminal 24 Encoding block 25 Decoding block 26 Display unit 27 Video encoding unit 28 Audio encoding unit 29 Transmission processing unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Ishii 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo East Japan Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Masao Nihei 3-19 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 2 East Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Toshio Konan 3-15 Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Daisuke Tatsumi Osaka, Osaka 3-15, Baba-cho, Ward Nishi-Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Takahiro Kamihara 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term in Mitsubishi Electric Corporation 5C062 AA12 AA34 AB17 AB38 AB46 AC25 AC28 AC29 AE05 AE11 BA01 BD07 5C064 AA01 AA02 AB03 AB04 AC04 AC06 AC22 AD02 AD08 AD14 5K101 KK04 KK07 UU19

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A transmitting means for performing predetermined encoding processing on image information and transmitting the same, and provided externally to the transmitting means.
An information transmitting apparatus comprising: a still image converting unit that converts still image information into image information of a predetermined video format and supplies the image information to the transmitting unit. 2. A transmitting means for performing predetermined encoding processing on audio information and transmitting the same, and provided externally to the transmitting means.
An information transmitting apparatus comprising: audio converting means for converting digitized audio information into analog data and supplying the analog data to the transmitting means. 3. A transmitting means for performing predetermined encoding processing on image information and audio information and transmitting the same, and provided externally to the transmitting means.
Still image conversion means for converting the still image information into image information of a predetermined video system and supplying this image information to the transmission means, provided in a form external to the transmission means,
An information transmitting apparatus comprising: audio converting means for converting digitized audio information into analog data and supplying the analog data to the transmitting means. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when moving image information is supplied, the still image converting unit supplies the moving image information to the transmitting unit by passing out the moving image information. Information transmission device. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the audio information is supplied in an analog form, the audio conversion means passes through the analog form of the audio information and supplies the analog information to the transmission means. Item 3. The information transmitting device according to Item 3. 6. A still image storing means for storing a plurality of pieces of still image information and supplying designated still image information to the still image converting means. 4. The information transmission device according to any one of the items 4. 7. The transmitting means performs a predetermined encoding process on NTSC image information and transmits the same, and the still image converting means converts the still image information into NTSC image information. The information transmitting apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, and 6. 8. A TV conference / telephone system having the information transmitting device according to claim 1. Description: