JP2779658B2 - Image communication apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus and method for transmitting a standardized video signal.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various devices have been proposed as still image transmission devices for transmitting a reproduced image of a still video camera, for example, but a device capable of transmitting a facsimile device has not yet been proposed.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing a configuration for transmitting an image by the still image transmission device.

In this still image transmission apparatus, an image reproduced from a disk of a still video camera is converted into compressed data by a predetermined method, and is transmitted to a still image transmission apparatus on the other side according to a predetermined procedure. Further, the still image transmission apparatus on the other end expands the received image and stores it on the disk of the still video camera. Also, in each still image transmission device,
A display for displaying a still video screen to be transmitted is provided.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, conventionally, since the procedure at the time of transmission and the compression method of image information are not unified, and there are various output methods such as a monitor television and a video printer,
Unless it is the same model of the company, there is no communication and there is a problem of lack of versatility. This point occurs not only in still video but also in, for example, high definition television.

According to the present invention, for example, an image standardized by a first standard such as an image of a still video camera standardized by a broadcast standard is standardized by a standard different from the first standard such as a facsimile communication system. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a configuration capable of transmitting data to a device which has been standardized according to the first standard and reducing the time and cost required for the transmission when a plurality of screens are present.

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object, an image communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
An input means for inputting a video signal standardized by the first standard for a plurality of screens; and a multi-screen image and a single-color margin image indicated by the video signal input by the input means, thereby forming a second standard. Generating means for generating an image for one screen having a size conforming to the above, and transmitting means for transmitting image data representing the image generated by the generating means by a communication method based on a second standard. And

[Operation] In the present invention, an image of one screen having a size conforming to the second standard is generated by combining images of a plurality of screens and a single-color margin image indicated by a video signal standardized by the first standard. ,
By transmitting this image by a communication method based on the second standard, for example, an image standardized by the first standard, such as an image of a still video camera standardized by a broadcast standard, can be converted to a facsimile communication system. As described above, it is possible to transmit even to a device standardized by a second standard different from the first standard.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

A still video player (SVP) 1 reproduces an image such as a floppy taken by a still video camera. Still video interface (SVi / f) 2
Performs conversion of the video signal (here, three color signals of R, G, and B) from the SVP1 into a digital signal and controls the SVP1.

The buffer memory 3 temporarily stores the digital video signal from the SVi / f2, and stores the capacity of two still video frames (768 × 480 = 360 Kbit) in three colors of R, G, and B, respectively. In addition to the above, when the image is read, the read address is adjusted based on the read timing from the simultaneous signal generation circuit 8 described later to enlarge the image.

When reading an image from the buffer memory 3, the masking section 4 reproduces the enlarged image in an image area of the facsimile standard according to the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal generation circuit 8, and turns the margin of the image white. It is masking.

The codec 5 converts the image reproduced in the facsimile standard by the masking unit 4 into a facsimile code (MH, MR, MMR)
Is converted to

The video memory 6 stores video signals converted into facsimile codes, and is a memory for three colors of R, G, and B.

The scanner / printer interface (S / Pi / f) 9
Interface between scanner and printer. The scanner / printer 11 includes a scanner for reading a document and a printer for outputting recording paper.

The synchronization signal generation circuit 8 synchronizes when reading from the buffer memory 3 and generates a synchronization signal to the masking unit 4 and the codec 5.

The communication control unit (CCU) 10 interfaces with the line 12 and transmits an image in the video memory 6.

The CPU 7 has a ROM, a RAM, and the like, executes various processes based on a program in the ROM, manages operations of the above-described elements, and controls the entire apparatus. The main bus (MBUS) 13 is under the control of the CPU 7.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of this embodiment.

First, it is started by the program of the CPU 7, and the operator issues an operation instruction from an operation panel (not shown).
If you choose to send a still video screen, the program
Set a command to activate SVP1 in i / f2 (S1).
As a result, SVP1 is activated and the still video screen is read (S2). This screen information becomes an RGB signal of the video interface, is A / D converted by SVi / f2, and stored in the buffer memory 3 (S3).

Here, the CPU 7 determines whether or not the input is a two-screen input (S4).
In the case of screen input, the buffer memory 3 is set to the second image (S5), the next screen read command is set in SVi / f2, and the next image is stored in the second image of the buffer memory 3 (S6).

When the storing of the screen is completed, the program sets the synchronizing signal generating circuit 8 so as to have a timing corresponding to a desired facsimile standard paper size (S7), and sets the codec 5 to a predetermined encoding method. (S
8). Further, the address counter of the buffer memory 3 is set to 4
Set to double (S9). As a result, the readout screen is enlarged four times. Further, the address of the transmission area is set in the video memory 6 (S10).

Then, the masking unit 4 and the codec 5 are activated (S1
1) The quadruple image of the still video screen is read from the buffer memory 3 (S12), and the encoded image is stored in the video memory 6 (S13). Then, in the case of a two-screen input (S14), the buffer memory 3 is set to the second one (S1).
5) Return to S11 and repeat the read operation.

Next, it is checked whether or not the input of the still video screen has been completed (S16). If the input has not been completed, a command is set in SVi / f2 so that the next screen can be input (S17), and S
Return to 2.

When the input of the still video screen is completed,
Move on to transmission operation. Also, a transmission instruction command is set in the CCU 10 (S18), and the CCU 10 is activated to start communication (S19), whereby the image stored in the video memory 6 is transmitted to the line 1
2 and a predetermined number of sheets are transmitted (S20), and the operation is completed.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing details of the SVi / f2, the buffer memory 3, and the masking unit 4 described above.

The SVi / f2 exchanges commands / status with the CPU 7 via the CPU bus 13 via the RS232Ci / f322,
Controls SVP1. The still video screen reproduced by SVP1 is converted from analog to digital RGB signals by the A / D converter 320 by the video i / f, and the speed is matched by the line buffer 321.

In the buffer memory 3, the RGB signals from the line buffer 321 are stored in the memory 331 via the data buffer 330.

The address of the memory 331 is managed by the address controller 332, and as described above, 768 × 480 = 360K for one frame.
It has three times the capacity of a bit. The address of the memory 331 is managed every 480 lines in units of 768 bits.
One address is updated every pulse, the main scanning direction is quadrupled, and one line is updated every four lines of the synchronization signal VEnable, thereby quadrupling in the sub-scanning direction. The memory 331 has a two-buffer configuration and buffers two still video screens.

When reading one frame of the screen stored in the memory 331, the masking section 4 masks the main scanning and the sub-scanning by the gates 340 and 341 and processes the blank portion to be white or another single color. Taking the A4 size as an example, the screen of the memory 331 is main-scan 768 × 4 = 3072
The bit or more is counted by the bit counter 342, gated, and the sub-scanning 480 × 4 = 1920 lines, half of A4, 2
Count up to 376 lines and gate. In addition, data masking is similarly performed on the next screen.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, two still video screens, which are four times enlarged and conform to the facsimile standard, are obtained.
It will be played above and below the ISOA4 size.

Further, the synchronization control unit 344 includes the synchronization signal generation circuit 8 described above.
Each part is controlled by a synchronization signal (VSync, VEnable, VClock) from the controller.

As described above, a quadruple image signal (Video) conforming to the facsimile standard is obtained, and is encoded into a facsimile code by the above-described codec 5 together with each of the synchronization signals.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the timing of each synchronization signal.

The synchronization signal VSync indicates a page break.
One pulse is generated for each page.

The synchronization signal VEnable indicates a line-by-line delimiter, defines the effective width of the Video signal,
t x 4752 lines.

The Video signal is a still video image signal, which is masked to white or another color in the line and at the middle and rear ends of the page.

The synchronization signal VClock is a sampling pulse of the Video signal.

As described above, in this embodiment, a video signal of a still video camera is input, and a still video screen is stored in a transmission area of a video memory by masking and a synchronizing signal. You can get communication with.

Also, since the still video screen is enlarged, an image with good recognizability can be obtained.

Further, since two still video screens are transmitted as one image, transmission time and cost can be saved.

Further, by making the blank portion of the image white, the image can be transmitted as a facsimile image with a highly-compressed coded signal, and transmission time and cost can be saved.

Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be further modified.

For example, instead of using an RGB color signal as a video signal, a single-color signal may be used. In this case, the A / D converter 320, the line buffer 321, the memory 331, and the data buffer 330 can be constituted by a single circuit.

In the SVP, what is digitally recorded on a memory card or the like may be reproduced and used as an RGB signal. In this case, a configuration without the above-described A / D converter 320 can be adopted.

Further, the same effect can be obtained even when the blank portion of the image is made a single color other than white.

Also, in the codec, it is possible to adopt a unique high-efficiency compression encoding method such as ADCT instead of the above-described facsimile encoding.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration for processing a still video image has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to a device that samples moving image data on a screen, for example, for each field. In addition, it may be a video signal of a new standard such as high definition.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a video signal standardized by the first standard for a plurality of screens is input, and a plurality of screen images and a single-color image indicated by the input video signal are input. Combine margin image and size 1 conforming to the second standard
By providing a configuration for generating an image for a screen and transmitting the image by a communication method based on the second standard, an image standardized by the first standard can be converted to a second standard different from the first standard. It is also possible to transmit to standardized devices.

In particular, since transmission for one screen in the second standard is performed by combining a plurality of screens in the first standard, the transmission time cost can be reduced. Furthermore, in the above synthesis, a single color margin is used to match the second standard size.
When run-length coding or the like is performed on the synthesized image, the code amount can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing details of an SVi / f, a buffer memory, and a masking unit in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a specific example when a still video screen is reproduced in a facsimile image area in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the timing of each synchronization signal in the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing a configuration for transmitting an image by a conventional still image transmission device. 1 ... Still video player, 2 ... Still video interface, 3 ... Buffer memory, 4 ... Masking section, 5 ... Codec, 6 ... Video memory, 7 ... CPU, 8 ... Synchronization signal generation circuit, 9: Scanner / printer interface, 10: CCU, 11: Scanner / printer, 12: Line.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] An input means for inputting a video signal standardized by a first standard for a plurality of screens, and synthesizing a plurality of screen images and a single-color blank image indicated by the video signal input by the input means. Generating means for generating an image for one screen having a size conforming to the second standard, and transmitting means for transmitting image data representing the image generated by the generating means by a communication method based on the second standard. An image communication device comprising: 2. The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first standard is a broadcast standard. 3. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second standard is a standard for facsimile communication. 4. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an encoding unit that encodes said image data by run-length encoding. 5. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generating means includes an enlarging means for enlarging each of a plurality of screen images indicated by said video signal to a predetermined size. 6. A video signal standardized according to a first standard is input for a plurality of screens, and a plurality of screen images indicated by the video signal and a single-color margin image are combined to obtain a size conforming to a second standard. Generating an image for one screen, and transmitting image data indicating the generated image by a communication method based on a second standard.