JPH04265088A - Visual telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the operation for simultaneous display of the same picture information on both visual telephone equipments to smoothly advance the previous arrangement. CONSTITUTION:The same picture information (external picture information in one party and reception picture information from the other party) is preliminarily recorded in recording and reproducing devices 22 of visual telephone equipments of one and the other parties after addition of the same retrieval information. Pertinent picture information is reproduced and displayed on the visual telephone equipment of one party from its recording and reproducing device 22 based on arbitrary retrieval information. The same retrieval information is transmitted to the visual telephone equipment of the other party, and pertinent picture information is reproduced and displayed from its recording and reproducing device 22. Thus, the same picture information is simultaneously displayed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video telephone system in which a plurality of video telephone devices are connected via digital communication lines and audio information and image information are transmitted and received between the video telephone devices.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventional videophone devices temporarily store image information such as a self-portrait or materials (documents) to be transmitted from one party to the other party, read it out, and transmit it to the other party via a digital communication line. It has a filing function that temporarily stores the image information sent to the videophone device or received from the other party's videophone device, and then reads and displays it. A system has been proposed that has the function of reading and reproducing the data at the time of .

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] When a meeting is held between us and the other party using the above-mentioned videophone system, it is difficult for both parties to display the same image information on the monitor and conduct the meeting while viewing it at the same time. many. In order for both sides to display the same image information on the monitor, first,
One party must transmit the image information to the other party, and the other party must temporarily store the image information and then read it and display it. Alternatively, if the image information has already been transmitted and stored on the other party, it is necessary for the other party to instruct the other party to read and display the image information.

[0004] However, when holding a meeting using materials, there are cases where the meeting is conducted using only one material;
Meetings are often held with multiple materials. When holding a meeting using multiple materials, it is often the case that multiple materials are used or used multiple times one after the other.

[0005] In such a case, in the conventional videophone system, each time the material to be used changes randomly, the material is transmitted to the videophone device of the other party.

[0006]Alternatively, even if the material has already been transmitted and stored in the video telephone device of the other party, and the same material is also stored in the video telephone device of our party, it is difficult for both parties to read out which material from each other. They must take the necessary steps while checking with each other via voice whether they should do so or not. Moreover, each time the materials change (the materials used are often replaced), the above steps must be repeated.

[0007] For the reasons mentioned above, there has been a problem in that meetings through the video telephone system have become quite troublesome and it has been difficult to have smooth meetings.

[0008] The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to display the same image information on both videophone devices at the same time with a simple operation, thereby smoothing the progress of the meeting. The purpose is to

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A videophone system according to the present invention includes a plurality of videophone devices connected via a digital communication line, and each videophone device has a recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing image information. This recording and reproducing device is configured to record external image information of the party and image information received from the other party along with the search information, and one videophone device can search for the corresponding image information based on arbitrary search information. The image information is played back and displayed from the recording/playback device, and the same search information is transmitted to the other videophone device, and the image information corresponding to the search information is played back from the recording/playback device on the other videophone device. This feature is characterized in that it is displayed.

0010

[Operation] Our external image information and the received image information from the other party are recorded in the recording/reproducing device together with the search information. Using the search information, one videophone device reproduces and displays image information corresponding to the search information from its recording and reproducing device, and at the same time, transmits the search information to the other videophone device and does the same from the other recording and reproducing device. to play and display the image information.

[0011] Since the image information recorded in the recording/reproducing device is the same in both videophone devices, and the search information added to each image information is also the same, the image information recorded in the recording/reproducing device is the same, so that the image information is reproduced and displayed based on one search information. The image information provided will be the same on both videophone devices.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of one video telephone device used in a video telephone system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a videophone device is connected to the other party's videophone device via a digital communication line.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a line interface, through which connection with a digital communication line is established. As a digital communication line, two information channels (B1
, B2) and one control channel (D) is used.

In the line interface 1, information channels and control channels are demultiplexed. That is, information is multiplexed when it is sent to a digital communication line and separated when it is received from the digital communication line.

The information taken in by the line interface 1 is a combination of compressed and encoded image information and audio information. This audio/image synthesis information is sent to the system control section 2, where it is separated into audio information and image information. The system control section 2 controls all the functional sections, analyzes what kind of information is taken in, and controls each section based on the analysis.

First, image information will be explained.

The received compressed and encoded image information is sent to the image decoding section 4, where decoding and reproduction processing is performed. The image signal restored in this way is sent to the display image storage unit 7 (VR
AM).

Then, the image signal read out again from the display image storage section 7 by the display control section 6 is sent to the signal switching section 8.
is sent to the display section 9 and displayed. As the display section 9, a CRT or a liquid crystal display (LCD) is used.

The self-portrait image signal from the built-in television camera 10 or the VT via the image external input terminal 23
When a mode in which an external image signal input from a TV receiver or a television receiver is selected on the operation section 19, the signal switching section 8, the capture control section 11, and the image processing section 5
, displayed on the display section 9 via the display control section 6 and the signal switching section 8.

When the mode for transmitting a self-portrait image signal or an external image signal to the other party's video telephone device is selected in the operation section 19, the image signal is transmitted to the capture control section 11.
The image data is temporarily stored in the captured image storage section 12 and then sent from the image processing section 5 to the image encoding section 3 by the capturing control section 11 again. The image encoding unit 3 compresses and encodes the image signal, sends it to the system control unit 2, multiplexes it with the audio signal at the line interface 1, and then transmits it to the other party's videophone device via the digital communication line. .

Next, audio information will be explained.

The received compression-encoded audio information is sent to the audio decoding section 16, where it is decoded and reproduced. The audio signal restored in this manner is stored in the audio storage unit 14 (RAM) via the audio processing unit 13. Then, the audio signal read out again from the audio storage unit 14 by the audio processing unit 13 is emitted from the receiver section of the handset 15.

[0023] Also, the audio signal input from the transmitter section of the handset/receiver 15 is temporarily stored in the audio storage section 14 via the audio processing section 13, and then sent again from the audio processing section 13 to the audio encoding section 17. . The audio encoder 17 compresses and encodes the audio signal and sends it to the system controller 2.

The compressed and encoded image information and audio information sent to the system control unit 2 as described above are sent to the line interface 1, where they are multiplexed and then sent to the other party via the digital communication line. The message is sent to the videophone device at the end of the call.

[0025] The system control unit 2 also includes a call control unit 20.
Output information on outgoing and incoming calls to the operating interface 18, and output information such as telephone numbers input from the operating unit 19
and control each part based on the input information.

[0026] The above signal switching section 8 is connected to the television camera 10.
image signal from V connected to the image external input terminal 23
It is used to switch between image signals from external equipment such as a TR and a television receiver, and the switching is performed by the system control unit 2. In addition, the handset 15
The audio signal from the external audio input terminal 24 and the audio signal from the audio external input terminal 24 can be switched in the audio processing section 13.

The above configuration is almost the same as the conventional example.

Now, a recording/reproducing device 22 is connected to the system control section 2 via a recording/reproducing interface 21 . As the recording/reproducing device 22, an information recording medium that is easy to search, such as a floppy disk or a hard disk, is used. Various operation modes for the recording/reproducing device 22 are controlled by mode control signals issued from the system control section 2 based on input commands from the operation section 19, or transmitted using a control channel or an information channel. It is controlled by the control signal that comes.

The recording and reproducing device 22 stores and reproduces image data to be transmitted to the other party's video telephone device with search information added thereto, and also stores and reproduces image data to be transmitted to the other party's video telephone device, and also stores and reproduces image data to be transmitted to the other party's video telephone device. This is to add a function to record and play back image data with information. In order to add such functions, a control program is stored in the system control unit 2 in addition to the hardware such as the recording/reproducing interface 21 and the recording/reproducing device 22.

First, the recording operation of the recording/reproducing device 22 will be explained.

When the operator selects the recording mode on the operation section 19, the system control section 2 generates information on an index addition screen as shown in FIG. 2 using its built-in program. This information consists of a search input number and image attributes. Information on this index addition screen is displayed on the display section 9 via the image processing section 5, the display control section 6, and the signal switching section 8. As search information, image attributes such as friend,
There are items such as relatives, photographed images, and dishes, which can be inserted, deleted, and selected by key operations from the operation unit 19.

The storage area of the recording medium in the recording/reproducing device 22 is divided into an index information area a and an image area b, as shown in FIG. The index information created in the system control unit 2 is sent to the recording/reproducing device 22 and recorded in the index information area a shown in FIG. 3. At this time, the vacant address of the image area b that stores the compressed image information is also recorded. In the example of FIG. 3, the index information area a is expressed in hexadecimal (hexadecimal) from 00000H to X7FFFH.

For example, if a friend "Ichiro Aigami" is specified as index information on the operation unit 19, the address "X8000H" corresponding to the file is automatically assigned. Then, image area b starting from this address "X8000H"
In contrast, the received compression-encoded image information, the self-portrait information from the television camera 10 selected by the signal switching section 8, or the VTR-generated image information or television image information from 23 to the outside of the image should be transmitted. External image information that you want to record or record in advance is recorded.

[0034] Among these recorded image information, the received image information is directly recorded from the system control unit 2 to the recording/reproducing device 22 via the recording/reproducing interface 21, so the image information remains compressed and encoded. It is. Then, search information is added in advance to this received image information, and recording in the index information area a as described above is performed based on this received search information.

On the other hand, if you want to record the transmitted image information in advance, you can record it as image data directly input from the image processing section 5, or if you want to record what is being transmitted, It is also possible to record the image compressed and encoded by the image encoding unit 3.

Next, the reproducing operation from the recording/reproducing device 22 will be explained.

When the operator selects the search mode on the operation unit 19, the system control unit 2 generates search screen information as shown in FIG. 4 using its built-in program.

Information on this search screen is displayed on the display section 9 via the image processing section 5, the display control section 6, and the signal switching section 8. The operator specifies the image information to be reproduced on the operation unit 19, and then specifies whether the selected image information is to be restored and reproduced and displayed on the display unit 9, or whether to be transmitted to the other party's videophone device. The recording and reproducing device 22 is put into the reproducing mode.

When restoring and reproducing is selected, the selected image information reproduced by the recording and reproducing device 22 is transmitted from the recording and reproducing interface 21 to the display section 9 via the image processing section 5, display control section 6, and signal switching section 8. will be displayed.

When the mode of transmitting to the other party is selected, the selected and reproduced image information is displayed on the display section 9 in the same manner as described above, and is also digitally communicated via the system control section 2 and the line interface 1. The message is sent to the other party's videophone device via the line. In this case, the search information is added to the image information and transmitted.

[0041] In the same way as described above, the video telephone device of the other party records the received compressed and encoded image information together with the search information in its recording/reproducing device. Also,
By selecting an appropriate mode, it is also possible to display the received and decoded image signal on the display unit.

Next, the operation when the same image information is displayed simultaneously on the video telephone device of the party and the video telephone device of the other party will be explained. This is the gist of the present invention.

[0043] If the same image information that has already been transmitted to the other party's video telephone device is present in both the recording and reproducing device 22 of the video telephone device of the party and the recording and reproducing device of the video telephone device of the other party, Consider the recorded state. Or, in the same way, the same image information has already been received from the other party's video telephone device, and the same image information is stored in both the recording and reproducing device of the other party's video telephone device and the recording and reproducing device 22 of our video telephone device. Consider a situation in which .

When the playback mode is specified on the operation section 19, screen information shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display section 9. Then, by operating the operation unit 19, you can select whether to play only on your own terminal.
Select whether to play on both devices simultaneously. The operation in the case of playback only on the own terminal is as described above.

[0045] When simultaneous reproduction on both terminals is selected, search information is then input on the operation section 19. Then, our videophone device sends the search information to the recording/reproducing interface 21 and the recording/reproducing device 22 via the operation interface 18 and the system control unit 2, and at the same time sends the search information to the other party via the line interface 1 and the digital communication line. The same search information is also sent to the videophone device.

[0046] In our video telephone device, the image information corresponding to the number corresponding to the specified search information is read out from the recording/reproducing device 22, and the corresponding image information is displayed on the display unit 9 through the same processing as described above.

[0047] In the other party's video telephone device, the same image information has already been recorded in its recording/reproducing device. Therefore, when search information is input, the recording/reproducing device is searched and read out according to the search information, and corresponding image information is similarly displayed on the display section.

[0048] As a result of the above, the image information displayed on our own videophone device and the image information simultaneously displayed on the other party's videophone device are the same. Then, the party and the other party have a meeting based on the same image information. When it is desired to switch to different image information, the new image information is displayed as the same on both video telephone devices by specifying search information from either video telephone device. This operation of simultaneously displaying the same image information requires only specifying the search information, and switching can be performed extremely quickly.

That is, unlike the conventional example, there is no need to transmit the necessary images to the other party each time when the same image information is displayed simultaneously. Furthermore, there is no need to go through the troublesome procedure of confirming the next required image information with the other party through voice.

[0050] Therefore, when holding a meeting over multiple materials or using materials multiple times back and forth, when randomly switching materials, the extremely simple operation of specifying search information can be used. The operation of simultaneously displaying the same image information on both the video telephone devices of the party and the other party can be performed very quickly, and the progress of the meeting itself can be made smoother.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, the same image information and the same search information are added and recorded in the recording and reproducing devices of both videophone devices, and the same search information is added and recorded in the recording and reproducing devices of both videophone devices. When reproducing and displaying image information based on search information, the same search information is transmitted to the other videophone device and the image information is reproduced and displayed based on it. The same image information can be displayed at the same time. therefore,
When holding a meeting while randomly changing multiple materials, when both parties use the same image information, only the simple operation of specifying the search information is required, which greatly reduces the burden on the operator and speeds up the progress of the meeting. It can be smoothed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of one videophone device used in a videophone system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram of a search addition screen in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a format of a storage area of the recording/reproducing device in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a state diagram of a search screen in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a state diagram of a display screen for selecting a playback mode in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Line interface 2 System control section 3 Image encoding section 4 Image decoding section 5 Image processing section 6 Display control section 7 Display image storage section 8 Signal switching section 9 Display section 10 Television camera 11 Capture control section 12 Captured image storage section 13 Audio processing unit 14 Audio storage unit 15 Handset 16 Audio decoding unit 17 Audio encoding unit 18 Operation interface 19 Operation unit 20 Call control unit 21 Recording and playback interface 22 Recording and playback device 23 Image external input terminal 24 Audio external input terminal

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A plurality of videophone devices are connected via a digital communication line, and each videophone device is provided with a recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing image information. The system is configured to record the image information and the image information received from the other party along with the search information, and plays and displays the corresponding image information from the recording and playback device based on the arbitrary search information in one videophone device, and A videophone system characterized in that the same search information is transmitted to the other videophone device, and image information corresponding to the search information is reproduced and displayed on the other videophone device from its recording and reproducing device. .