JPH0686277A - Video conference device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a video conference device in which an entire ground video on which entire conference participants are projected can be displayed at a video display so as to be suited to a longitudinal conference configuration. CONSTITUTION:One of video signals from a camera 1 for an entire ground and an electric camera 2 is outputted through a switching means 72 of a controller 7 to a band compressor 8. The band compressor 8 band-compresses the video signal, and transmits it through a line 9 to the other local side. The band compressor 8 which receives the other local side video signal transmitted from the other local side through the line 9 turns it into the original other local side video signal, and transmits it through the controller 7 to a video display 3. At that time, when the other side video signal is the video signal whose aspect rate is 3:4 from the camera for the entire ground having a wide angle lens, the participant sets the video display 3 to be 9:16 mode by a remote controller 4, the video display 3 converts the other side video information whose aspect rate is 3:4 into the video information whose aspect rate is 9:16 whose upper and edges in a vertical direction are cut, and displays it on the screen whose aspect rate is 9:16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video conference apparatus capable of connecting a conference room at a remote location at a remote place by a television image line and a voice line to hold a conference with a partner in a conference room at a remote location. In particular, image information from a camera that outputs image information with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 is displayed with an aspect ratio of 9:
The present invention relates to a video conference device for displaying on a screen of a video display having 16 screens.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a conventional video conference apparatus. In the figure, (1) is a panoramic camera fixed in the video conference room for displaying the whole view of the video conference room. (Aspect ratio) 3: 4 image information is output. (2) is an electric camera for zooming up and displaying the participants in the video conference room, with an aspect ratio of 3: 4.
The video information of is output. (3) is placed in the video conference room and displays an image of the conference content in the conference room of the other party (hereinafter referred to as the image of the other station).
An image display consisting of a TV monitor that can display an image of the content of the meeting (hereinafter referred to as the image on the own station side) in the own meeting room together with the image on the opposite station side, with an aspect ratio of 3:
It has four screens.

Reference numeral (4) is a video display remote controller for operating the video display apparatus, (5) is a remote controller for operating the video conference apparatus, and (6) is an operation signal from the remote controller (5). Is a light receiving means for converting into an operation signal composed of an electric signal.

Controlled by a processor (CPU) (7), which receives an operation signal from the light receiving means, outputs a control signal for controlling the electric camera (2) and a control signal for controlling each function. Section (71) and a first section for receiving a control signal from the control section (71) and outputting one of a video signal from the panoramic camera (1) and a video signal from the electric camera (2). The first switching means (72), the video signal output from the first switching means (72) (hereinafter referred to as the local station side video signal) and the partner station side video signal (moving image), Depending on the control signal from the control unit (71), the video signal of the partner station can be output as it is, or the video signal of the local station can be multiplexed with the video signal of the partner station to create a composite video signal for picture-in-picture display. Picture-in-picture unit (73) for output as Second switching means (74) for receiving a control signal from the picture-in-picture unit (73) and outputting either the composite video signal or the still picture video signal to the video display (3). And a controller having and.

(8) band compresses the local station side video signal from the first switching means (72) of the controller (7) and transmits it to the line (9), and the band compressed side station side video signal Is received via the line (9), and the video signal of the other station is restored and output to the picture-in-picture unit (73) of the controller (7) as the video signal of the other station, and the video signal of the other station is sent. Is temporarily stored in a still image memory, and the stored video signal is output as a still image video signal to the second switching means (74) of the controller (7).
C). Although only the own station side is shown in FIG. 4, a video conference apparatus having the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 4 is also arranged on the other station side.

Next, the operation of the video conference apparatus thus configured will be described. The images captured by the panoramic camera (1) and the electric camera (2) are sent as video signals to the first switching means (72) of the controller (7). Participants in the video conference room use the remote control (5) to take a panoramic camera (1)
When instructing whether to send the image from the camera or the image from the electric camera (2), the light receiving means (6) receives an operation signal based on the content of this instruction and the control unit (71) of the controller (7) receives it. send.

The controller (71) of the controller (7), based on the operation signal received from the light receiving means (6), the first switching means (7)
2) is controlled so that one of the video signal from the panoramic camera (1) or the video signal from the electric camera (2) is output from the first switching means (72) as a local station side video signal.
The band compressing device (8) which has received the video signal of the local station side from the first switching means (72) compresses the band and transmits it to the partner station side via the line (9).

On the other hand, the band compression device (8) which receives the video signal of the partner station transmitted from the partner station via the line (9)
Sends the original partner station video signal to the picture-in-picture unit (73) of the controller (7), temporarily stores the partner station video signal in the still image memory, and stores the stored partner station video signal. It is sent to the second switching means (74) of the controller (7) as a still image video signal. The picture-in-picture unit (73) that received the video signal from the other station from the band compression device (8) is operated from the light receiving means (6) according to the operation of the remote controller (5) by the participants in the video conference room. The partner station side video signal is output to the second switching means (74) as it is according to the control signal from the control section (71) based on the signal, or the partner station side video signal is sent from the first switching means (72). The composite video signal obtained by combining the video signals on the local station side is output to the second switching means (74).

The second switching means (74) is a light receiving means according to the operation of the remote controller (5) by the participants in the video conference room.
The control unit (71) based on the operation signal from (6) outputs the partner station side video signal or the composite video signal from the picture-in-picture unit (73) to the video display (3), or The still image video signal from the band compression device (8) is output to the video display (3). The video display (3) displays a video on the screen based on the video signal output from the second switching means (74).

[0010]

However, in the video conference apparatus configured as described above, the image display device is used.
Since (3) is displaying on the screen with the aspect ratio of 3: 4 based on the image information from the panoramic camera (1) that outputs the image information with the aspect ratio of 3: 4, it is generally arranged in a horizontal row. When the panoramic video of all the participants in the conference is displayed on the video display (3), the upper and lower spaces on the screen of the video display (3) are not effectively used, and the video of the conference participants is displayed sufficiently. It had a problem that it could not be put out. In addition, if there are three or more conference participants and all of the conference participants are displayed on one screen, the image of the conference participants becomes small and the image between the panoramic camera (1) and the conference participants is reduced. There is a problem in that it is necessary to sufficiently separate the distance and a large conference room and a space for installing a video conference device are required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to obtain a video conference apparatus capable of displaying a panoramic image showing all the participants in a conference on a video display suitable for a horizontally long conference mode. To do.

[0012]

A video conference apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention receives video information from a camera that outputs video information with an aspect ratio of 3: 4, and horizontally receives the received video information. The video information is converted into video information having an aspect ratio of 9:16, which is composed of the entire area as a direction and a central portion in which the upper and lower ends are cut as a vertical direction.
The image display device for displaying on the screen of No. 6 is provided.

A video conference apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a camera for outputting video information having an aspect ratio of 3: 4,
Video information converting means for converting the video information from this camera into video information in which the upper and lower ends are fixed data and the central portion data having an aspect ratio of 9:16, and the video information converted by the video information converting means are provided. A band compression device for band-compressing and transmitting to the line is provided.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image display comprises the image information from the camera having an aspect ratio of 3: 4 in the horizontal direction in the whole area and in the vertical direction in the central portion with the upper and lower ends cut off. It is converted into video information with an aspect ratio of 9:16 and displayed on a screen with an aspect ratio of 9:16.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image information converting means uses image information from a camera having an aspect ratio of 3: 4, image data having upper and lower ends as fixed data and central portion data having an aspect ratio of 9:16. And output to the band compression device.

[0016]

EXAMPLES Example 1. Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, (1) is a panoramic camera fixed in the video conference room and having a wide-angle lens for projecting a panoramic view of the video conference room, which outputs image information with an aspect ratio (aspest ratio) of 3: 4. Is.
(2) is an electric camera that electrically zooms and rotates to zoom in and display the participants in the video conference room, and outputs video information with an aspect ratio of 3: 4.

(3) is placed in the video conference room, and displays a video of the conference content in the conference room of the other party (hereinafter referred to as the video of the partner station) and a video of the conference content in the conference room of the other party (hereinafter , Which is referred to as the local station's video) together with the video of the other station.
When the 6: 9 mode is set, the input video information with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 is converted into video information with an aspect ratio of 9:16, which is composed of the entire area in the horizontal direction and the central portion with the upper and lower ends cut in the vertical direction. After conversion, this converted video information is displayed on a screen (wide vision) with an aspect ratio of 9:16, and is input when the 4: 3 mode (normal mode) is set by the video display remote control (4). The video information with the aspect ratio of 3: 4 is displayed as it is at the vertical center portion on the screen with the aspect ratio of 9:16. When the picture-out-picture mode is set by the remote control for video display (4), A screen with a ratio of 9:16 is divided into a large screen 1 and a small screen 3 each having an aspect ratio of 3: 4 to display an image. Or, on the large screen, display the still image of the partner station on the small screen. The partner station video to the (video)
And the image on the local station side, for example, MUS
Equipped with the ability to input an E signal to display an image with an aspect ratio of 9:16, and to input an NTSC signal to cut out the entire horizontal direction and the central portion in the vertical direction to display an image with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. A wide vision television monitor manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (model name 36c-WA1) can be used.

Reference numeral (7) denotes a processor (CPU) which receives an operation signal from the light receiving means (6) and outputs a control signal for controlling the electric camera (2) and a control signal for controlling each function. In order to output either the video signal from the panoramic camera (1) or the video signal from the electric camera (2) in response to a control signal from the control unit (71) And a switching means (72) for transmitting the still station video signal based on the video signal of the partner station and the video signal of the partner station to the video display (3).

(8) is a switching means (72) of this controller (7)
Band-compressed the local station's video signal from, and transmitted to the line (9), received the band-compressed partner station's video signal via the line (9), and returned this partner station's video signal to the original. Bandwidth that is output to the controller (7) as the partner station's video signal, and that the partner station's video signal is temporarily stored in the still image memory and the stored video signal is output to the controller (7) as the still image video signal. It is a compression device (CODEC). Although only the own station side is shown in FIG. 1, a video conference apparatus having the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 1 is also arranged on the other station side.

Next, the operation of the video conference apparatus thus configured will be described. Images captured by the panoramic camera (1) and the electric camera (2) are sent to the switching means (72) of the controller (7) as video signals. Participants in the video conference room send images from the panoramic camera (1) (for example, as shown in Fig. 2 (a)) using the remote control (5), or use an electric camera.
When instructing whether to send an image from (2) (for example, shown in (b) of FIG. 2), an operation signal based on the content of this instruction is received by the light receiving means.
(6) receives and sends to the controller (71) of the controller (7).

The control unit (71) of the controller (7) controls the switching unit (72) based on the operation signal received from the light receiving unit (6), and the video signal from the panoramic camera (1) or the electric camera. One of the video signals from (2) is output from the switching means (72) as a local station video signal. This switching means
Band compression device (8) that received the video signal from the local station from (72)
Will be band-compressed and transmitted to the partner station via the line (9).

On the other hand, the band compression device (8) which receives the video signal of the partner station transmitted from the partner station via the line (9)
Sends the video signal to the controller (7) to the original partner station side video signal, stores the partner station side video signal in the still image memory once, and stores the stored partner station side video signal as a still image video signal in the controller (7). ) To.

At this time, for example, the video signal of the remote station transmitted from the remote station via the line (9) is a video signal from a panoramic camera having a wide-angle lens, for example, as shown in FIG.
If the video signal has an aspect ratio of 3: 4 as shown in (a),
When the conference participant sets the video display (3) to 9:16 mode by the video display remote control (4), the video received by the video signal from the partner station via the controller (72) from the band compression device (8) The display device (3) has an aspect ratio of 9: 1, which is made up of the center portion of the input side video information with an aspect ratio of 3: 4, which consists of the entire area in the horizontal direction and the upper and lower ends cut in the vertical direction.
6 video information, for example converted to the video shown in FIG. 2 (c),
The converted video information is displayed on a screen (wide vision) having an aspect ratio of 9:16.

The video signal transmitted from the remote station via the line (9) is a video signal from the electric camera, for example, an aspect ratio of 3: 4 as shown in FIG. 2 (b). If it is a video signal, the conference participants can use the remote control for the video display.
When the video display (3) is set to 3: 4 mode by (4), the video display (3) which receives the video signal from the partner station via the controller (7) from the band compression device (8) The displayed video information with the aspect ratio of 3: 4 is displayed as it is at the vertical center portion on the screen with the aspect ratio of 9:16, for example, as shown in (d) of FIG.

Further, the video signal of the remote station transmitted from the remote station via the line (9) is a video signal from the electric camera, for example, an aspect ratio of 3: 4 as shown in FIG. 2 (b). If it is a video signal, the conference participants can use the remote control for the video display.
When the video display unit (3) is set to the picture-out-picture mode by (4), the video display unit (3) converts the screen with the aspect ratio of 9:16 into the large screen (1) and the small screen (3: 4). The image is divided into 3) and the image is displayed, for example, as shown in (e) of FIG. 2, the other station receiving the image signal of the other station via the controller (7) from the band compression device (8) on the large screen. Display the side image on a small screen based on the image signal from the panoramic camera (1) or the image signal from the electric camera (2) output from the switching means (72) of the controller (7), Alternatively, on the large screen, the remote station side still image video that received the remote station side still image video signal via the controller (7) from the band compression device (8) is displayed on the small screen. Display the video on the station side.

In the video conference apparatus configured as described above, since the panoramic camera (1) has the wide-angle lens, the distance between the panoramic camera (1) and the participant who is the subject is small. It is possible to capture all the participants lined up in a horizontal row at the shortest, and it is possible to transmit a highly realistic image in a space-saving installation. Furthermore, the image display (3) has an aspect ratio of 9:
Since a video signal from a panoramic camera with an aspect ratio of 3: 4 is converted into a video signal with an aspect ratio of 9:16 and displayed on a 16 screen, all the participants can be efficiently displayed in a large copy.

Example 2. FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 transmits video signals from the panoramic camera (1) and the electric camera (2) with an aspect ratio of 3: 4. , The controller moves up and down the video information with aspect ratio of 3: 4 from the camera to what is transmitted to the line (9) through the controller (7) and the band compression device (8) with the same amount of information. The end is fixed data, and the aspect ratio is 9:16
Band compression device by converting to video information as the central data
The transmission is made from (8) to the line (9).
In FIG. 1, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same or corresponding parts, and (10) shows the whole view of the video conference room and also zooms / rotates electrically for zooming up the participants in the conference room. The electric camera outputs image information with an aspect ratio of 3: 4.

[0028] (11) is a document stand arranged in the video conference room for photographing document materials and outputting a video signal, (1
2) receives a control signal from the light receiving means (6), outputs a control signal for controlling the electric camera (10) and outputs a control signal for controlling each function. 121) and a switching means (122) for receiving a control signal from the control section (121) and outputting one of a video signal from the electric camera (10) and a video signal from the document stand (11). ) And the video signal from this switching means (122) is shown in FIG.
When the video signal is from the electric camera (10) showing the whole view as shown in (a), the control signal from the control unit (121) is received and the video with the aspect ratio of 3: 4 is received from the electric camera (1). The information is converted into video information in which the upper and lower ends are fixed data and the central part data having an aspect ratio of 9:16 (a video signal in which dotted lines at the upper and lower ends are fixed data as shown in (c) of FIG. 2). Means comprising a frame memory which is a video information converting means for
(123), and a video signal of the other station side and a still image video signal based on the other station side video signal
It is a controller transmitting to (3).

Next, the operation of the video conference apparatus thus configured will be described. Electric camera (10) and writing stand
The video shot in (11) is the controller as a video signal
It is sent to the switching means (122) of (7). Participants in the video conference room use the remote control (5) to send images from the electric camera (10) (for example, as shown in (a) or (c) of Figure 2), or to the writing stand.
When instructing whether to send an image from (11), the light receiving means (6) receives an operation signal based on the content of this instruction and the controller receives it.
It is sent to the control unit (121) of (12).

The control unit (121) of the controller (12) controls the switching unit (122) based on the operation signal received from the light receiving unit (6), and the video signal from the electric camera (10) or the writing table ( One of the video signals from 11) is output from the switching means (122) to the storage means (123) as a local station video signal. At this time, if the video signal from the electric camera (10) is selected and the video signal is the video signal shown in (b) of FIG. 2 or the video signal from the writing stand (11), the conference Participants can use the remote control (5) to store (12
When an operation signal is output to the 3) without any conversion and is output as it is, the control unit (121) causes the storage unit (123) to operate according to the operation signal input through the light receiving unit (6).
2B from the electric camera (10) or the video signal from the writing stand (11) from the storage means (123) to the band compression device (8) as it is.

If a video signal from the electric camera (10) is selected and this video signal is the video signal shown in FIG. 2 (a), the conference participants can use the remote controller (5) to operate the controller (12). When an operation signal for converting and outputting a video signal is output to the storage unit (123), the control unit (121) causes the storage unit (12) to receive the operation signal input via the light receiving unit (6).
3) is controlled, and the storage means (123) uses the video signal from the electric camera (10) shown in FIG.
The video data is converted to video information having a central part with an aspect ratio of 9:16 and output to the band compression device (8). The band compression device (8) which has received the video signal from the storage means (123) on the local station side compresses the band and transmits it to the partner station side via the line (9).

On the other hand, the band compressing device (8) receives the video signal of the remote station side transmitted from the remote station via the line (9) and displays it on the 9:16 screen of the video display (3). The operation to be performed is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

In the video conference apparatus shown as the second embodiment having the above-described structure, the same effect as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained, and the coding compression efficiency of the band compression device (8) can be improved. This has the effect of improving the transmission of a panoramic video image that can be reproduced more smoothly.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the video information from the camera that outputs the video information with the aspect ratio of 3: 4 is received, and the received video information is set in the horizontal direction from the entire area. Therefore, a video display device is provided which converts the video information having an aspect ratio of 9:16 composed of a central portion with the upper and lower edges cut in the vertical direction and displays the converted video information on a screen having an aspect ratio of 9:16. Since all the participants are arranged side by side in a row, it is possible to efficiently display a large copy of the participants.

A second aspect of the present invention is a camera for outputting video information with an aspect ratio of 3: 4, and video information from this camera, whose upper and lower ends are fixed data, and whose aspect ratio is 9: 1.
6, video information converting means for converting the video information into central part data, and a band compressing device for band-compressing the converted video information from the video information converting means and transmitting it to the line. As a result, the coding compression efficiency of the band compression device is improved, and it is possible to transmit a panoramic video image that can reproduce smoother movements, and it is possible to efficiently display all participants in a horizontal row in a large copy. Is to have.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a transmission image in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional video conference apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 panoramic camera 2, 10 electric camera 3 video display 8 band compression device 123 video information conversion means of controller 12

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Received video information from a camera that outputs video information with an aspect ratio of 3: 4, and the received video information consists of the entire area in the horizontal direction and the central part with the upper and lower ends cut in the vertical direction. A video conference device equipped with a video display device for converting video information having an aspect ratio of 9:16 and displaying the converted video information on a screen having an aspect ratio of 9:16. 2. A camera which outputs video information with an aspect ratio of 3: 4, and video information which is converted from this camera into video information having upper and lower ends as fixed data and central portion data having an aspect ratio of 9:16. A video conferencing apparatus equipped with an information converting means and a band compressing device for band-compressing the video information converted by the video information converting means and transmitting the band-compressed video information to a line.