JP2012178621A - Video telephone apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically switch between a speech mode and a holding mode in a video telephone apparatus without requiring user's operation or intentional operation.SOLUTION: A video telephone apparatus 100A which transmits a voice inputted from a microphone 120 and an image taken by a camera 140 to a telephone call destination by communication control means 111 is provided with: human body detection means 170 which detects the presence of a user during communication; and telephone call mode control means 115 which when the human body detection means detects change in presence or absence of the user, performs switch control between the speech mode of transmitting the voice and image to the telephone call destination and the holding mode of not transmitting the voice and image to the telephone call destination.

Description

  The present invention relates to a videophone device that is connected to an IP telephone network or the like and transmits and receives audio and video, and in particular, a call mode that transmits audio input from a microphone and video captured by a camera to a call partner, The present invention relates to a videophone device having a hold mode in which audio and video are not transmitted to a call partner.

  In general, a video phone apparatus employs a function for holding a call during communication, that is, a voice hold function and a video hold function. The voice hold function stops sending voice input from the microphone to the call partner when a user performs a hold operation during communication, and sends a predetermined voice message to the call partner instead. It is. In addition, the video hold function stops sending the video captured by the camera to the call partner when the user performs a hold operation during communication, and instead sends a predetermined video or image message to the call partner. To send to.

  For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-27418) described below downloads an image by connecting to a predetermined service provider when the user sets the hold mode by operating the operation unit of the apparatus. In addition, a videophone device is disclosed that is stored in a memory as a call hold image and transmitted to a call partner.

  In the videophone device of Patent Document 1 below, the user needs to operate the operation unit to switch from the call mode to the hold mode, and the user can also cancel the hold mode and switch to the call mode. It was necessary to operate the operation unit.

  Therefore, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-277780) described below detects that the camera is covered with a hand or the like by comparing the brightness of an image captured by the camera with a predetermined value, and a call mode. Discloses a videophone device for switching to a hold mode. According to this videophone device, it is not necessary for the user to operate an operation button or the like to switch to the hold mode, and it is possible to shift to the hold mode simply by covering the camera with a hand.

  Further, the following Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-191174) obtains a surrounding image surrounding a communication device by an imaging unit including a CCD element, and detects other changes in ambient brightness. A communication device that switches a call with a videophone device to a hold mode is disclosed.

JP 2002-27418 A JP 2005-277780 A JP 2006-191174 A

  As described above, in the videophone device of Patent Document 1, it is necessary for the user to operate the operation unit in order to switch from the call mode to the hold mode. In the videophone device of Patent Document 2, the user does not need to operate the operation unit in order to switch from the call mode to the hold mode, but on the other hand, an intentional operation such as covering the camera with a hand must be taken. There wasn't. Further, in the videophone device disclosed in Patent Document 3, since the room is automatically switched to the hold mode when the room illumination becomes dark, the user does not need to operate the operation unit, but the room illumination becomes dark. In order to switch to the hold mode during a normal call that does not occur, it is still necessary for the user to operate the operation unit in some way.

  That is, in any of the videophone devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, it is necessary for the user to perform some operation or intentional operation in order to switch from the call mode to the hold mode. If you leave the front of the videophone without performing such operations or actions, the surrounding audio input from the microphone and the surrounding video captured by the camera are sent to the other party. There was a problem that the information around the video phone was leaked and the user was disadvantaged.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to use switching between a call mode in which audio input from a microphone or video captured by a camera is transmitted to a call partner and a hold mode in which the sound or video is not transmitted to the call partner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a videophone device that can be automatically performed without requiring a user's operation or intentional operation.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a videophone device according to the present invention is a videophone device that transmits audio input from a microphone and video captured by a camera to a communication partner by means of communication control means, and the videophone The apparatus transmits the voice and the video to the call partner when the human body detecting means for detecting the presence of the user during communication and a change in presence or absence of the user by the human body detecting means are detected. Call mode control means for switching and controlling a call mode and a hold mode in which the voice and the video are not transmitted to the call partner.

  In addition, according to an aspect of the invention of the videophone device, when the human body detection unit detects the absence of a user during the call mode, the call mode control unit performs switching control from the call mode to the hold mode. When the human body detecting means detects the presence of a user during the hold mode, the call mode control means controls to switch from the hold mode to the call mode.

  In addition, according to an aspect of the invention of the videophone device, the call mode control unit may include a predetermined hold message instead of the voice input from the microphone and a video shot by the camera during the hold mode. Instead, at least one of a predetermined hold video or hold image is transmitted to the call partner by the communication control means.

  In the videophone device according to the aspect of the invention, the videophone device further includes a video determination unit that determines whether or not a human face is included in the video shot by the camera, and the human body detection unit includes: , Comprising the camera and the video determination means, and when the video determination means determines that a human face is included in the video taken by the camera, the presence of the user is detected and the human face is detected. The absence of the user is detected when it is determined that it is not included.

  In the videophone device according to the aspect of the invention, the videophone device may include a storage unit, and the video determination unit may acquire information about a user's face from video captured by the camera during the call mode. If the video determination means determines that a human face is included in the video shot by the camera during the hold mode, the video is shot during the hold mode. It is determined whether or not they are the same user by comparing the face information included in the recorded video and the face information registered in the storage unit, and in the case of the same user, the call mode The control means controls switching from the hold mode to the call mode.

  In the video phone device according to the aspect of the invention, the video phone device includes an input unit, and the call mode control unit is configured not to accept the operation of the input unit during the hold mode. And

  In the aspect of the invention of the videophone device, the human body detecting means is a human sensor.

  The present invention exhibits the excellent effects described below. In other words, the videophone device of the present invention switches between a call mode in which audio input from a microphone or video captured by a camera is transmitted to a call partner and a hold mode in which the sound or video is not transmitted to the call partner. The switching timing to be performed can be performed based on the change in the presence or absence of the user by the human body detection means. As a result, the user can automatically switch the call mode without performing a switching operation such as holding or resuming the call, and the operation is simplified. Furthermore, since the call mode is switched based on the presence / absence of the user, it does not depend on the surrounding environment (for example, it does not depend on changes such as darkening of the surroundings) The call mode can be switched according to the intention.

  Further, according to one aspect of the videophone device of the present invention, when the absence of a user is detected during the call mode, the control is switched from the call mode to the hold mode, and the presence of the user is detected during the hold mode. The control is switched from the hold mode to the call mode. In this way, when the user leaves the videophone device, it automatically enters the hold mode, so surrounding information can be obtained from the video captured by the camera and the audio input from the microphone while the user is away from the desk. It is possible to prevent information from being leaked by being transmitted to the other party and causing a disadvantage to the user.

  Further, according to one aspect of the videophone device of the present invention, a predetermined hold message (sound, video, image) is transmitted during the hold mode, so that the other party is notified that the user is away. I can inform you.

  Further, according to one aspect of the videophone device of the present invention, the human body detection means is constituted by the camera and the video determination means. The video judging means detects whether or not a human face is included in the video shot by the camera (face detection). If a face is detected, it is assumed that the user is present, and if no face is detected, it is used. The call mode control means performs switching control from the call mode to the hold mode and from the hold mode to the call mode according to each situation. As a result, it is possible to perform call mode switching control based on the state in which the user is trying to talk to the camera of the videophone and the state in which it is not.

  Also, according to one aspect of the videophone device of the present invention, the user's face is photographed with the camera during the call mode and registered in the storage unit, and a person comes in front of the camera during the hold mode. When the person's face is photographed by the camera, it is possible to determine whether or not the person has been using the videophone in the previous call mode. If it is a person, the call mode switching control is performed from the hold mode, and if it is a person other than the person, the hold mode is not released. As a result, the call mode is switched only when only a predetermined user moves to the camera. For example, another person passes in front of the camera, or the face of a nearby person is captured by the camera. It is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the call mode is switched only by shooting.

  Also, according to one aspect of the videophone device of the present invention, the operation from the input unit is not accepted during the hold mode, so that a person other than the user in the previous call mode operates the phone. It is possible to prevent personal information such as a phone book, incoming call history, and mail from being seen.

  In addition, according to one aspect of the videophone device of the present invention, the human body detecting means takes the form of a human sensor, so that the call mode and the hold are determined not by a change in the surrounding situation but by a change in whether or not a user exists. It becomes possible to perform mode switching control.

1 is an internal block diagram of a videophone device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a call mode switching operation of the videophone device according to the first embodiment. The internal block diagram of the video telephone apparatus of Example 2 is shown. The internal block diagram of the video telephone apparatus of Example 3 is shown. 12 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the call mode switching operation of the videophone device according to the third embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the following embodiments are described by exemplifying a videophone device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and are not intended to specify the present invention as this videophone device. The present invention is equally applicable to other videophone devices without departing from the technical idea described in the claims.

  FIG. 1 is an internal block diagram of the videophone device 100A according to the first embodiment. The videophone device 100A according to the first embodiment includes a control unit 110, a microphone 120, a speaker 130, a camera 140, a display unit 150, an input unit 160, a human sensor 170, and a memory 180.

  The control unit 110 is a microprocessor including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM (each not shown), and each means described below is executed by executing a control program stored in the RAM or ROM in the CPU. Control and control the operation of

  The control unit 110 has the following functions. That is, the communication control unit 111, the audio signal control unit 112, the image / video signal processing unit 113, the display control unit 114, and the call mode control unit 115 are provided.

  The communication control means 111 is for performing communication control when the videophone device 100A communicates with another videophone device or another voice phone device. This includes control related to signaling and data transmission / reception. Signaling includes the creation, establishment and disconnection of communication sessions. Specifically, when the user operates the input unit 160 to input a telephone number or the like, the video telephone device of the other party of the call is connected to a SIP server (not shown) connected to the IP telephone network. Is acquired, and a call signal is transmitted to the videophone device of the other party of call, and a communication path is established when the callee answers. Also, the session is terminated by transmitting a session disconnect message or the like when the call is terminated.

  For control related to data transmission / reception, IP packetization that divides audio data, video data, and image data into packets, transmission of IP packets, packets received via wired LAN are rearranged in the correct order and actual Receiving and assembling IP packets that extract and assemble the data portion.

  When transmitting data as a packet, a header indicating the transmission source, destination, order, transmission time, and usage (IP phone audio data, video data, image data) is added to each data divided into predetermined data lengths. . The received packet is assembled in the correct order for each of the audio, video, and image by referring to the header portion, and is output to the audio signal processing means 112 and the image / video signal processing means 113.

  The audio signal processing unit 112 performs A / D conversion on the audio input from the microphone 120, and then compresses the audio using an audio codec (not shown), and outputs the compressed data to the communication control unit 111. Also, the audio data assembled in the communication control unit 111 is decompressed by the audio codec, and then D / A converted and output from the speaker 130.

  The image / video signal processing unit 113 includes a video codec (not shown), compresses the video captured by the camera 140, and outputs the compressed data to the communication control unit 111. Further, the video data assembled by the communication control unit 111 is expanded and output to the display control unit 114. The image / video signal processing unit 113 includes an image codec (not shown), expands the image data assembled by the communication control unit 111, and expands the image data in a memory (RAM of the control unit 110).

  The display control unit 114 converts the video data output from the camera 140 and the image / video signal processing unit 113 into a predetermined mode that can be displayed on the display unit 150 (enlargement, reduction, arranging the images side by side, etc.), and displays them. The data is developed on a video memory (not shown) of the unit 150 and displayed on the display unit 150.

  The display control means 114 also generates an image of a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number at the time of outgoing call, a dialing number during outgoing call, etc., and outputs it to the display unit.

  The call mode control means 115 switches between the call mode and the hold mode based on the output of the human sensor 170. In the call mode, audio input from the microphone 120 and video captured by the camera 140 are transmitted to the call partner via the communication control means 111, and the audio signal and video signal transmitted from the call partner are communicated. This is a normal call mode that is received by the control unit 111 and output as audio from the speaker 130 via the audio signal control unit 112 and as video from the display unit 150 via the image / video signal processing unit 113.

  In the hold mode, the communication control unit 111 does not cut off the communication with the other party of the call, and the voice input from the microphone 120 and the video photographed by the camera 140 are talked while maintaining the communication in the connected state. This mode is a call holding state in which transmission to the other party is stopped. In this hold mode, transmission of both audio and video may be stopped as described above, but transmission of only audio may be stopped, or transmission of only video may be stopped.

  Furthermore, the call mode control unit 115 transmits the hold message stored in the hold message storage unit 181 of the memory 180 to the call partner via the communication control unit 111 in the hold mode. The hold message may be a predetermined voice message, video message, or image message, or may be a combination thereof.

  In this embodiment, the hold message is stored in the hold message storage unit 181 of the memory 180 and transmitted to the call partner. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the call mode control means 115 is connected via the communication control means 111. The server may be instructed to send a hold message to various servers connected to the IP telephone network, and the hold message may be sent from the server to the other party.

  The microphone 120 converts the collected sound into an audio signal. The speaker 130 converts the audio signal into sound and outputs it. The audio signal input / converted by the microphone 120 is output to the audio signal processing means 112. Also, the audio signal output from the audio signal processing means 112 is converted into audio at the speaker 130 and output. The microphone 120 and the speaker 130 may be fixedly provided on the videophone device 100A, but may be a headset.

  The camera 140 is for photographing a subject in front of the videophone device 100A during a call. The camera 140 is fixedly or movably incorporated in the casing of the videophone device 100A. In the case of a movable camera, the orientation of the camera 140 can be finely adjusted manually or automatically. Usually, since the user is positioned in front of the videophone device 100A, the camera 140 captures the user as a subject. The captured video is output to the image / video signal processing means 113.

  The display unit 150 is a liquid crystal display unit, and displays video and images developed on the video memory of the display unit 150 by the display control unit 114.

  The input unit 160 takes the form of a touch panel formed integrally with the display unit 150. The user performs an input operation by touching the part of the input icon displayed on the display unit 150. For example, when making a call, a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number is displayed on the input unit 160, and the user can input the number by pressing the corresponding part of the numeric keypad with a finger. Note that the input unit 160 is not limited to the above, and may be a key or button formed in a part of a casing constituting the videophone device 100A.

  The human sensor 170 is a sensor that detects the location of a person. The human sensor 170 takes the form of an infrared sensor, for example. Human sensor 170 is incorporated together with camera 140 in the casing of videophone device 100A. The human sensor 170 detects that the person has approached the sensor within a predetermined angle range and a predetermined distance range, and outputs the presence of the person to the call mode control means 115. When the camera 140 is a movable camera whose direction can be finely adjusted manually or automatically, when the direction of the camera 140 is changed, the direction of the human sensor 170 coincides with the direction of the camera 140 accordingly. It becomes possible to always detect the location of a person within the shooting range of the camera. The human sensor 170 is not limited to an infrared sensor, and may be a sensor using ultrasonic waves.

  The memory 180 is a flash memory or a hard disk. The memory 180 includes a hold message storage unit 181. The hold message storage unit 181 stores a hold message to be transmitted to the call partner via the communication control unit 111 when the call mode control unit 115 switches to the hold mode. The hold message is a voice message, a video message, or an image message. A plurality of these hold messages are stored, and the user can select in advance which message is to be transmitted as the hold message.

  Next, an example of the call mode switching operation of the videophone device 100A according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a call mode switching operation of the videophone device 100A according to the first embodiment.

  In step S201 in FIG. 2, the user operates the input unit 160 of the videophone device 100A to input the telephone number of the other party, and the communication control unit 111 transmits a calling signal to the other party. When the other party answers the call, a communication path is established and the call is started. Alternatively, the voice signal control means 112 outputs a ringing sound from the speaker 130 in response to a calling signal from the other party, and the user responds to this to establish a communication path and start a call.

  In step S202, the communication control unit 111 determines whether or not the call has ended. If an instruction to end the call is input from the input unit 160 by the user, the communication control unit 111 sends a session disconnect message to the call partner. Send to end communication. Alternatively, even when a session disconnect message is received from the call partner, the communication control unit 111 performs communication disconnection processing, and the call ends.

  In step S <b> 203, the call mode control unit 115 determines the presence / absence of the user based on the output of the human sensor 170, that is, the absence determination. When the human sensor 170 determines that the user is not away, the call state is continued, and the process returns to step S202 to determine whether or not to end the call.

  If it is determined in step S203 that the user has left, the process proceeds to step S204, and the call mode control means 115 uses the voice input from the microphone 120 and the video taken by the camera 140 as the other party. Switch to hold mode that does not send. This is because the call mode control means 115 outputs a predetermined instruction to the voice signal control means 112 so that the voice signal input from the microphone 120 is not subjected to digital conversion / sound compression, and the communication control means 111. This is done by avoiding output. Furthermore, it is performed by not compressing the video imaged by the camera 140 and not outputting the compressed data to the communication control unit 111.

  In this hold mode, both audio and video may be stopped, but only either audio or video may be stopped.

  In step S205, the call mode control unit 115 extracts the hold message from the hold message storage unit 181 of the memory 180 and outputs the hold message to the communication control unit 111, whereby a predetermined hold message is transmitted to the call partner during the hold mode. To be. Each hold message is selected by the user from a plurality of voice messages, video messages, and image messages.

  When only the voice is stopped, the hold message is selected and transmitted to the other party, and when only the video is stopped, the video message or the image message is selected and sent to the other party. When both voice and video are transmitted, the voice message and video message or image message are combined and sent to the other party.

  In step S <b> 206, the call mode control unit 115 determines the presence / absence of the user, that is, the presence determination based on the output of the human sensor 170. When the human sensor 170 determines that the user is not present, the hold mode is continued by continuing the transmission of the hold message in step S205.

  When the human sensor 170 determines that the user is present, the call mode control means 115 controls to switch from the hold mode to the call mode. This is performed in step S207 by stopping the call mode control means 115 outputting the hold message extracted from the hold message storage unit 181 of the memory 180 to the communication control means 111 and transmitting it to the call partner. .

  In addition, in step S 208, the call mode control unit 115 outputs an instruction to the communication control unit 111 for digitally converting and compressing the audio signal input from the microphone 120 and outputting the instruction to the audio signal control unit 112. The transmission of the audio signal input from the terminal is resumed. Further, the call mode control means 115 compresses the video imaged by the camera 140, outputs an instruction to output the compressed data to the communication control means 111 to the image / video signal processing means 113, and is captured by the camera 140. Resume sending video signals to the other party. When the call is resumed, the process returns to step S202, and the end of the call is determined.

  As described above, by adopting the human sensor 170 as the human body detecting means of the present invention, the presence / absence of the user who uses the videophone device 100A is detected, and when the user leaves the seat, the call mode is started. When switching to the hold mode is performed and the user is present again, the switch from the hold mode to the call mode can be controlled. According to the videophone device 100A of the first embodiment, the user can automatically perform a call mode without performing a switching operation such as holding or resuming a call on the input unit 160 or without performing an intentional operation. Can be switched.

  The videophone device 100B according to the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the videophone device 100A according to the first embodiment, but does not use the human sensor 170, and instead includes a video determination unit 116 in the control unit 110. Is different. In the videophone device 100B of the second embodiment, the human body detecting means of the present invention takes the form of a camera 140 and a video determining means 116. In the following description, the description of the same components as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different points will be described.

  The video determination unit 116 detects whether a human face is included in the video shot by the camera 140 (face detection).

  In the first embodiment, the call mode control means 115 determines the presence / absence of a user based on the output of the human sensor 170. However, in the second embodiment, the call mode control unit 115 determines the presence / absence of the user, that is, the presence / absence of the user based on the output of the video determination unit 116. That is, when the image determination unit 116 detects that a human face is included in the camera image captured by the camera 140, it is determined that the user is present, and the image determination unit 116 includes the camera image. When it is determined that the face is not included, it is determined that the user is away.

  That is, in the second embodiment, when the video determination unit 116 determines whether or not a human face is included in the video captured by the camera 140 during the call mode, and the user's face is not included. Assuming that the user has left his / her seat, the call mode control means 115 controls to switch from the call mode to the hold mode.

  Further, during the hold mode, when the video captured by the camera 140 is set not to be transmitted to the other party, the camera 140 is not transmitted to the other party via the communication control unit 111. When the user's face is reflected in the video, the video determination unit 116 detects the person's face in the video and the user is present. Then, the call mode control means 115 controls to switch from the hold mode to the call mode.

  The videophone device 100C according to the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the videophone device 100B according to the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, but a user registration image storage unit is added to the memory 180 in addition to the hold message storage unit 181. The difference is that 182 is provided. In the following description, description of the same components as those in the second embodiment will be omitted, and only different points will be described.

  In the first and second embodiments, the call mode control unit 115 stops transmitting the voice input from the microphone 120 and the video captured by the camera 140 to the other party in the hold mode, and instead of the memory 180. The predetermined hold message stored in the hold message storage unit 181 is transmitted to the call partner. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the call mode control means 115 provides a lock function of the videophone device 100C in the hold mode. In other words, the lock function is to stop other users from operating the videophone device 100C in addition to stopping the microphone voice and camera video transmission in the hold mode and transmitting the hold message.

  That is, when the call mode is changed to the hold mode, the call mode control unit 115 does not accept the input from the input unit 160. Specifically, even if someone other than the user who is talking on the input unit 160 in the call mode operates, those operations are ignored. Further, the call mode control means 115 switches from the hold mode to the call mode when the original user returns, but releases the lock and allows the operation of the input unit 160 to be accepted.

  In the second embodiment, the video determination unit 116 determines whether or not a person's face is reflected in the video shot by the camera 140. In the third embodiment, the video determination unit 116 was shot at the start of the call or during the call. A face image or face data is extracted from the video and is registered in the user registration image storage unit 182 of the memory 180 as still image data. Further, face detection is performed to determine whether or not a person's face is captured in the camera 140 during the hold mode. If a face is detected, the face is registered in the user registration image storage unit 182 of the memory 180. It is determined whether or not it is the same as the face of the image data (face determination).

  The memory 180 includes a user registration image storage unit 182 in addition to the hold message storage unit 181. The user registration image storage unit 182 registers a face image or face data extracted from a video photographed by the camera 140 at the start of a call.

  Next, an example of the call mode switching operation of the videophone device 100C according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a call mode switching operation of the videophone device 100C according to the third embodiment.

  In step S501 of FIG. 5, a call is started and shooting from the camera 140 is started. The captured video is transmitted to the other party via the image / video signal processing unit 113 and the communication control unit 111.

  In step S <b> 502, the video determination unit 116 extracts a face image or face data from the video shot by the camera 140 and registers it in the user registration image storage unit 182 of the memory 180.

  In step S503, the communication control unit 111 determines whether or not the call has ended. If an instruction to end the call is input from the input unit 160 by the user, the communication control unit 111 sends a session disconnect message to the call partner. Send to end communication. Alternatively, even when a session disconnect message is received from the call partner, the communication control unit 111 performs communication disconnection processing, and the call ends.

  In step S504, the call mode control unit 115 determines the presence / absence of the user, that is, the absence determination based on the output of the video determination unit 116. When the video determination unit 116 detects that a human face is included in the camera video captured by the camera 140, the video determination unit 116 determines that the user is not away and returns to the process of step S503 to end the call. A determination is made.

  In step S504, when the video determination unit 116 detects that the human face is no longer included in the camera video captured by the camera 140, it is determined that the user has left, and the process proceeds to step S505.

  In step S505, the call mode control means 115 controls to switch to a hold mode in which the audio input from the microphone 120 and the video imaged by the camera 140 are not transmitted to the call partner. This is because the call mode control means 115 outputs a predetermined instruction to the voice signal control means 112 so that the voice signal input from the microphone 120 is not subjected to digital conversion / sound compression, and the communication control means 111. This is done by avoiding output.

  In the hold mode, shooting by the camera 140 is continuously performed. This is to perform face determination, and the shot video is not compressed and is not output to the communication control unit 111. , Never sent to the other party.

  In step S506, the call mode control means 115 locks so as not to accept an input operation from the input unit 160 of the videophone device 100C. Specifically, when someone operates the input unit 160, the input unit 160 outputs an operation signal, but the operation signal is ignored in the videophone device 100.

  Since the lock function works during the hold mode, even if another person comes and operates the videophone device 100C during the hold mode, it cannot be operated. I can't do that.

  In step S507, the call mode control unit 115 extracts the hold message from the hold message storage unit 181 of the memory 180 and outputs the hold message to the communication control unit 111, whereby a predetermined hold message is transmitted to the call partner during the hold mode. To be. Each hold message is selected by the user from a plurality of voice messages, video messages, and image messages.

  When both voice and video are stopped, the hold message is transmitted to the call partner by combining the voice message with the video message or the image message.

  In step S508, the video determination unit 116 detects whether or not a human face is included in the video captured by the camera 140 (face detection). If no face is included, the process proceeds to step S507. Return and continue hold mode.

  In step S508, if the video determination unit 116 determines that the video captured by the camera 140 includes a human face, the process proceeds to step S509. The video determination unit 116 determines whether the face registered in the user registration image storage unit 182 of the memory 180 is the same as the face included in the video captured by the camera 140. Assuming that the user is not a user, the process returns to step S507 to continue the hold mode.

  When it is determined that the face registered in the user registration image storage unit 182 of the memory 180 and the face included in the video taken by the camera 140 are the same, the user is regarded as the same user, and the call mode control means 115 terminates the hold mode and controls to switch to the call mode.

  In step S510, the call mode control means 115 stops outputting the hold message extracted from the hold message storage unit 181 of the memory 180 to the communication control means 111 and transmitting it to the call partner.

  In step S511, the call mode control unit 115 releases the lock so as to accept an input operation from the input unit 160 of the videophone device 100C. Specifically, the control unit 110 acquires an operation signal input to the input unit 160 when operating the input unit 160, and the operation of each unit can be performed based on the operation signal.

  In step S 512, a predetermined instruction is output to the audio signal control unit 112, and the audio signal input from the microphone 120 is digitally converted / compressed and output to the communication control unit 111, so that the call is resumed. Further, the call mode control unit 115 outputs a predetermined instruction to the image / video signal processing unit 113, thereby compressing the video captured by the camera 140 and causing the communication control unit 111 to output the compressed data. When the call is resumed, the process returns to step S503, and the end of the call is determined.

  As described above, in the videophone devices according to the first to third embodiments, the human sensor 170 or the camera 140 and the image determination unit 116 are employed as the human body detection unit of the present invention. The presence / absence of a user, that is, absence or presence is detected. Then, when the user is away from the seated state during the call, the call mode control means 115 controls to switch from the call mode to the hold mode, and stays in the seated state from the state in which the user is away during the hold mode. When the state is changed to the switched state, the control is switched from the hold mode to the call mode.

  In this way, the user can automatically switch between the call mode and the hold mode without operating the input unit 160 such as the hold button. In addition, in order to switch from the call mode to the hold mode, any intentional operation such as covering the camera is not required.

  Furthermore, in the videophone device according to the third embodiment, the return from the hold mode to the call mode is performed only after the user who has made a call before switching to the hold mode returns. It is possible to avoid the danger that the device is operated without permission.

100A, 100B, 100C Videophone device 110 Control unit 111 Communication control unit 112 Audio signal control unit 113 Image / video signal processing unit 114 Display control unit 115 Call mode control unit 116 Video determination unit 120 Microphone 130 Speaker 140 Camera 150 Display unit 160 Input unit 170 Human sensor 180 Memory 181 On-hold message storage unit 182 User registration image storage unit

Claims (7)

A videophone device that transmits audio input from a microphone and video captured by a camera to a communication partner by communication control means,
The videophone device includes:
Human body detection means for detecting the presence of a user during communication;
A call mode for transmitting the audio and the video to the call partner when the human body detecting means detects a change in the presence or absence of a user, and a hold for not transmitting the audio and the video to the call partner And a telephone mode control means for switching and controlling the mode. When the human body detecting means detects the absence of a user during the call mode, the call mode control means controls the switching from the call mode to the hold mode,
2. The videophone according to claim 1, wherein, when the human body detection unit detects the presence of a user during the hold mode, the call mode control unit performs switching control from the hold mode to the call mode. apparatus.   In the call mode control means, during the hold mode, at least one of a predetermined hold message instead of the voice input from the microphone and a predetermined hold video or hold image instead of the video photographed by the camera. 3. The videophone apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication control means transmits the message to the other party.   The videophone device includes a video determination unit that determines whether or not a human face is included in a video shot by the camera, and the human body detection unit includes the camera and the video determination unit, The presence of the user is detected when the video determination means determines that the image taken by the camera includes a human face, and the absence of the user when it is determined that the human face is not included The videophone device according to claim 1, wherein the videophone device is detected.   The videophone device includes a storage unit, and the video determination unit acquires information on a user's face from video captured by the camera during the call mode, registers the information on the storage unit, and stores the information in the hold mode. If the video determination means determines that a human face is included in the video shot by the camera, information on the face included in the video shot during the hold mode and the storage It is determined whether or not the user is the same user by comparing the face information registered in the section, and in the case of the same user, the call mode control means controls switching from the hold mode to the call mode. The videophone apparatus according to claim 4.   6. The videophone apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the videophone apparatus includes an input unit, and the call mode control unit is configured not to accept an operation of the input unit during the hold mode.   The videophone device according to claim 1, wherein the human body detecting means is a human sensor.

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