JPH01270473A - Still picture video telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To store plural destination pictures to improve the convenience for use by controlling picture memory input/output of plural picture information based on memory area information which sets areas in a user's own picture memory part and a destination picture memory part. CONSTITUTION:When the user's own picture rewrite indication is inputted through an input/output port 10, a picture memory control circuit 21 writes picture information stored in a camera picture memory part at present to the user's own picture memory. Plural destination picture information are stored in a picture memory 20 in order from the start position of the destination picture memory part through the picture memory control circuit 21. By this constitution, a desired picture can be preliminarily stored in the user's own picture memory part as the transmission picture. The destination picture memory part is so allocated that plural pictures can be stored, and it is unnecessary to transmit the same picture information repeatedly during talking.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a transmission method for a still picture video telephone device, and particularly to an improvement in an automatic transmission method.

[Prior Art] Television cameras capable of transmitting still images have been known for a long time. FIG. 5 is a circuit configuration diagram of a simple still picture video telephone shown in, for example, the October 1986 issue of Foreign Communication Technology.

In the figure, (1) is the transmitter/receiver 5, (2) is the microphone, (3) is the audio input/output circuit, (4) is the analog circuit, (
5) is a matrix switch, (6) is a telephone interface circuit, (7) is a telephone line connection terminal, (8) is a speaker, (9) is a keypad, (10) is an input/output board, (1)
1) is the CPU.

(12) is a program memory, (13) is a modulation/demodulation circuit,
(14) is a television camera, (15) is an image controller, (16) is an image memory, and (17) is a display.

Further, FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an image transmission procedure of the video telephone.

Next, the operation of audio and image signal transmission in the conventional video telephone will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In Figure 6, voice calls are made using the handset (1) or the microphone (2).
) is sent to the telephone line connection terminal (7) via the audio input/output circuit (3), the analog circuit (4), the matrix switch (5), and the '4-talk interface circuit (6).

Further, an audio signal from the other party is reproduced by the handset (1) or the speaker (8) via a path opposite to the above-mentioned signal path.

When transmitting the Ichinoj1 image signal, as shown in Figure 6, an ID code is sent to confirm whether the other party is a videophone with the same data format, and the ID code from the other party is sent.
After confirming that the code has been returned, both image data will be sent. In other words, in FIG. 5, when the keypad (9) is used to instruct 7 to send an image, the CP is sent via the input/output capo (10).
U (11) detects this and stores the program memory (12).
) sends the ID code to the modulation/demodulation circuit (13) according to a program stored in advance. After modulating this ID code into an analog signal, a matrix switch (5
) from the telephone line connection terminal (7).

The ID code from the communication partner passes through a path opposite to the above signal path, and the CPU (11) confirms the code.

During this period, the image captured by the television camera (14) is quantized by the image controller (15), and the image is quantized by the image memory (14).
6) and are sequentially derived and displayed on the display (17), and are stored in the image memory (1
6) to the telephone line connection terminal (7).

Also, when an ID code or image data is input from the other party, the matrix switch (5) uses the carrier signal received to send the destination to the telephone interface circuit (6).
The received signal from the analog circuit (4) is switched to the variable tjl tone circuit (13).

After the received signal is demodulated by the modulation/demodulation circuit (13), the CPU (11) returns the ID code or stores the data in the image memory (16), and the image controller (15) converts the self-image data and the other party's image data. It is derived one by one and displayed on the display (17).

Note that when the transmission and reception of images is completed and the carrier signal from the modulation/demodulation circuit (13) disappears, the matrix switch (5
) is the telephone interface circuit (6) and the analog circuit (4).
) to restore voice calls.

The image memory (16) in this conventional example includes a camera image memory section that updates and stores image information input from the television camera (14) at a predetermined cycle (for example, 1/30 seconds), and a camera image memory section that updates and stores image information input from the television camera (14), and stores still images received during a call. and a destination image memory section for storing image information obtained by demodulating the information, and each memory section of the image memory (16) has a storage capacity for one piece of image information.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As explained above, according to the conventional still image videophone device, the storage areas of the television camera image memory section and the other party's image memory section in the image memory are respectively used for image information 1.
There was a problem in that the image information could not be stored in advance of image transmission.

Also, when you want to talk about multiple images during a call, the image memory is updated, so you have to resend the images you sent last time, and each time the conversation is interrupted. There was a problem with this.

The still image videophone device according to the present invention has been developed with the aim of solving the problems mentioned above, and is capable of storing a desired self-image in advance, as well as storing a plurality of images of the other party. The object of the present invention is to obtain a still image videophone device that can store still images.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a still image video telephone device according to the present invention rewrites still image information input from the television camera at a predetermined period. A camera image memory unit, a self-image memory unit that stores desired image information until a rewriting instruction is read, and a memory that stores received image information, and when the storage area of the memory is full when image information is received, sequentially an image memory for storing a plurality of image information, and a memory area information input means for setting areas for the self-image memory section and the opponent's image memory section in the image memory; and an image control circuit that controls input/output of image information to the image memory based on the input memory area information.

[Function] By configuring the still image television magazine device according to the present invention as described above, it is possible to store a plurality of pieces of image information, and the memory area allocation of the self-image memory section and the other party's image memory section can be made variable.

Further, according to the still image videophone device, desired image information can be stored in the self-image memory section of the image memory, and the image information stored in the self-image memory section can be transferred via the image memory $II control circuit. It is held until the erase signal is input.

By specifying the number of stages in the storage area of the other party's image memory, it is not necessary to send the same image information again from the first move as long as the number is within the set number.

Further, the storage areas of the self-image memory section and the other party's image memory section in the image memory can be arbitrarily set according to the user's convenience.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the still picture video telephone device according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, and the same parts as those in the conventional example shown in FIG.

The features of this embodiment include an image memory (2o) that stores image information for a plurality of images, an image memory control circuit (21) that controls input and output of image information to the image memory (20),
A memory backup power supply (22) that supplies current to the image memory (20).

Furthermore, memory area information input means for setting areas between the self-image memory section and the other party's image memory section in the image memory (20) is provided on the keypad (9).

Next, the image memory (20), as shown in FIG.
), and a memory section (c) for the other party's image.

If the number of screens stored in the self-image memory is 1, then
The number m of screens stored in the other party's image memory section is N-j! -1.

In addition, the television camera image memory section (a) rewrites the image R report every predetermined period (1/30 seconds),
The image information stored in the self-image memory section (b) is retained until a deletion instruction is read.

The other party's image memory unit (C) is a memory that stores the received image information, and if the storage area of the memory is full at the time of receiving the image information, it is sequentially rewritten.

Then, as memory area information of the image memory (20),
Number of screens stored in self-image memory section (b)! (However, 0≦
l≦N-2) is input via the keypad (9), the memory area information is input to the image memory control circuit (21) via the input/output port (10).

The image memory control circuit (21) then allocates the memory area of the image memory (20) based on the memory area information.

First, the method of storing images in the self-image memory section (b) will be explained using FIG.

First, image information of a desired image is read from a television camera (14), and a LIVE image is displayed on the display (17) at a rate of one screen every 1/30 seconds.

At this time, the image information captured by the television camera (14) is stored in the camera image memory section (a) of the image memory (20).
) is updated and stored.

When the user obtains the desired image, the user uses the keypad (9) to input a signal instructing the display (17) to be displayed statically.

When this static instruction signal is input, the image memory control circuit (
21) Update f! of camera image memory (a)! interrupt the change.

Then, the user uses the keypad (9) to select and input a memory number indicating the storage location of the image information to be stored in the self-image memory unit.

Then, when the image memory board 111 control circuit (21) reads the memory number via the input/output board (10),
The image information currently stored in the self-image memory corresponding to the memory number is displayed on the display (17).

The user confirms the image displayed on the display (17) and, if it is OK to delete it, inputs an instruction to rewrite the self-image information using the keypad (9) (confirmation step).

Then, when the image memory control circuit (21) receives a self-image rewriting instruction via the input/output port (10),
The image information currently stored in the camera image memory section (a) is written into the self-image memory where the displayed image information is stored.

Furthermore, when it is desired to retain the image information of the selected memory number during the confirmation step, by re-entering the memory number, it is possible to avoid the mistake of erasing the necessary image information.

Next, writing of image information into the other party's image memory will be explained.

First, an image signal is received via a communication line and demodulated to generate image information of the other party.

The image information of the other party is sent to the image memory control circuit (21).
, the other party's image memory section (C
) are stored in order from the first position.

If the other party's image information is stored in the entire area of the other party's image memory (c) at the time of receiving the other party's image, the newly received opponent's image information is moved to the beginning position of the other party's image memory (C).

Therefore, according to this embodiment, a desired image can be stored in advance in the self-image memory section (c) of the image memory (20) as a transmission image.

In addition, the other party's image memory section (c) can be allocated to store a plurality of images, eliminating the need to send the same image information over and over again during a call, improving usability.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 shows a block configuration of this embodiment, and the same parts as in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted.

In the same figure, (23) is used to detect the end of a call.
This is a detection circuit that detects loop-off, and when the image memory control circuit (21) reads the detection signal, it erases the image information in the other party's image memory (c) of the image memory (20).

The storage of the other party's image information and the self-image information in the image memory (20) of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The characteristic operation of the device of this embodiment will be explained.

First, a detection signal whose loop-off is detected by the detection circuit (23) is input to the image memory control circuit (21) via the input/output port (10).

When the image memory control circuit (21) receives the detection signal, it erases the image information stored in the other party's image memory section (c) of the image memory (20).

According to this embodiment, when there are a plurality of users, the image information of the other party is deleted after the end of the call, so the privacy of the users can be protected.

In addition, in the second embodiment, the image information stored in the image memory of the other party is erased at the end of the call. (detection), erase the other party's image information, and supply backup power to the self-image memory section (b), the same effects as in the above embodiment can be achieved.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the still image videophone device according to the present invention, in addition to the camera image, it is possible to store r1 self-image information as well as the other party's image information as image information for transmission. To obtain a still image videophone device which is easy to use since it has an image memory and allows a user to arbitrarily set the memory area allocation of a self-image memory section and a second-image memory section.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a still picture television magazine apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an image memory according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a self-image memory section of the image memory according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the still image videophone device according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional still picture video telephone device, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a communication procedure of the conventional still picture video telephone device. In the figure, (9) is the operation pad, and (11) is the CPU.
, (20) is an image memory, (22) is a memory backup power supply, and (23) is a detection circuit. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A still image video telephone device that transmits and receives still image information input from a television camera or the like during a call via a telephone line, comprising: a camera that rewrites the still image information input from the television camera at a predetermined cycle; an image memory section; a self-image memory section that stores desired image information until a rewriting instruction is read;
A memory for storing received image information, and an image memory section for sequentially rewriting when the storage area of the memory is full at the time of image information reception; , memory area information input means for setting areas between a self-image memory section and an opponent's image memory section in the image memory; and controlling input/output of image information to the image memory based on the inputted memory area information. What is claimed is: 1. A still image video telephone device comprising: an image memory control circuit for storing a plurality of images; and the still image videophone device is capable of storing information on a plurality of images, and is characterized in that memory area allocation of a self-image memory section and a called party's image memory section is made variable.