JPH0787169A - Video telephone adapter device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use an already provided analog telephone set as a part of a video telephone set. CONSTITUTION:A video telephone adapter device 1 is provided with a modular jack 1n capable of connection of an analog telephone set 2 so that the already provided analog telephone set 2 can be connected to this device 1. A user not only speaks but also controls a television monitor 3 and a television camera 4 by this analog telephone set 2. That is, when he depresses a prescribed push button of the analog telephone set 2, a filter part If detects the signal, and a control part 1c performs the corresponding control. For example, the operation mode is set when he depresses key '*' three times continuously, and a picture is switched when he depresses key '#1' in the operation mode, and an abbreviated number is registered when he depresses key '#2', and the time is displayed when he depresses key '#3'.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a videophone adapter device utilizing a high speed digital communication network such as an ISDN network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the widespread use of high-speed digital communication networks such as ISDN networks, video telephones and video conferencing systems using them have been developed. Among them, the videophone is required to be small in size and excellent in operability and to be lower in price in order to promote its widespread use at an early stage. FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventional videophone. The illustrated video telephone includes a handset 21, an operation unit 22, a TV monitor 23, and a TV camera 24. The handset 21 and the operation unit 22 constitute a telephone, which is integrated with a device constituting a videophone such as a television monitor 23 and a television camera 24. Such a video telephone is disclosed in, for example, Oki R & D Vol. 5
8, No. 4 pp. 55-58.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional technique has the following problems. That is, in the video telephone having the above-mentioned configuration, since the telephone function such as the handset is integrally incorporated in the device, if such a video telephone is purchased and installed, the existing analog telephone becomes unnecessary and wasteful. Become. Therefore, there is a problem that it may hinder the popularization of videophones. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a videophone adapter device that can be used as a part of a videophone by connecting an existing analog telephone. .

[0004]

A videophone adapter device of the present invention is an adapter device for connecting a television monitor, a television camera, and a telephone to a high-speed digital communication network, and a connection terminal for connecting an analog telephone and the analog terminal. A filter that receives and identifies each push button signal output by the telephone, and outputs each control signal for performing screen display control on the television monitor and image capture control of the television camera when detecting each predetermined push button signal. Section, a control section for performing screen display control of the television monitor and operation control of the television camera according to a control signal output by the filter section, and an analog telephone set when a push button signal is being input from the analog telephone set. Disconnecting the connection with the high-speed digital communication network,
When a push button signal is not being input from the analog telephone, the connection control section for connecting the analog telephone and the high-speed digital communication network is provided.

[0005]

In the videophone adapter device of the present invention,
Equipped with a connection terminal that can connect an analog telephone,
An existing analog telephone can be connected to this.
The analog telephone can control not only a telephone call but also a television monitor and a television camera. That is, by pressing a predetermined push button of this analog telephone, the signal can be detected by the filter section and the control section can perform these controls. For example, you can enter the operation mode by pressing "*" three times in succession, press "# 1" during the operation mode to switch the screen, and press "# 2" to shorten it. Numbers can be registered and the time can be displayed by pressing "# 3".

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a videophone adapter device of the present invention. 3 is an overall configuration diagram in which the analog telephone 2, the television monitor 3, and the television camera 4 are connected to the video telephone adapter device 1 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the telephone line 6 from the central office is
It is connected to the videophone adapter device 1 via the line attachment part 5. The video telephone adapter device 1 is connected to devices such as an analog telephone 2, a television monitor 3, and a television camera 4, which are necessary for constructing a video telephone.

The internal configuration of the videophone adapter device 1 is shown in FIG. The internal connection relationship will be described with reference to FIG. The videophone adapter device 1 is connected to the telephone line by a line connector 1m. The analog telephone 2 is connected to a telephone modular jack (connection terminal) 1n, the television monitor 3 is connected to a connector 1p, and the television camera 4 is connected to a connector 1q. First, the line connector 1m is connected to the line interface unit 1a. Of the signals transmitted and received by the line interface unit 1a, the voice signal is connected to the voice processing unit 1b and further connected to the terminal 10b in the changeover switch (connection control unit) 1e. The terminal 10a in the changeover switch 1e is connected to the analog telephone 2 via the modular jack 1n.

On the other hand, the image signal from the line interface section 1a is connected to the image processing section 1g. Then, the output signal of the image processing unit 1g is connected to the TV monitor 3 through the TV corresponding unit 1h and the connector 1p. An image input signal from the television camera 4 passes through the connector 1q and the image capturing section 1k and is input to the image processing section 1g. Further, the signal line connecting the terminal 10a in the changeover switch 1e and the modular jack 1n is branched on the way and connected to the filter unit 1f. The output of the filter unit 1f is connected to the control unit 1c and the changeover switch 1e. On the other hand, the output of the control unit 1c is connected to the character generation unit 1d, and the output of the character generation unit 1d is connected to the image processing unit 1g. Although not particularly shown, the control unit 1c is connected to each unit of the apparatus and controls each unit.

Next, the functions of the main parts of the above-mentioned apparatus will be described. The line interface unit 1a supports the communication procedure required for connection with the ISDN network. This communication procedure is based on the CCITT standard. In addition, a video codec that determines the encoding method of the image signal, the video format that determines the resolution, the frame rate that is the number of frames per time, and the like, also conforms to the CCITT standard. The voice processing unit 1b converts an analog signal from the analog telephone 2 into a digital signal. On the contrary, the digital voice signal from the ISDN network is converted into an analog signal. In this signal conversion, for example, CCITTG. The 7 kHz voice coding algorithm recommended as 722 is used.

The control unit 1c includes a videophone adapter device 1
Control the whole of. Further, as a feature of the present invention, the control signals output from the filter unit 1f are interpreted, and the character generation unit 1d is controlled so as to generate characters for displaying on a television screen in accordance with these control signals. Character generator 1d
Is generated by the control of the control unit 1c and is sent to the image processing unit 1g. The changeover switch 1e is operated by the terminal 10 according to an instruction from the filter unit 1f.
Turn on and off between a and 10b. The changeover switch 1e is turned on during a call and turned off when a screen operation is performed using a push button. This prevents a signal generated by pressing the push button from being mixed in the voice processing unit 1b. In this way, an unnecessary push button signal that may be offensive to the other party is not transmitted.

The filter unit 1f detects a signal having a specific frequency from the analog signals input from the analog telephone 2 and sends it to the control unit 1c. Further, the changeover switch 1e is turned on and off by a predetermined push button signal input from the analog telephone 2. Image processing unit 1
g is an ISD for outputting image information to the television monitor 3.
Decodes the image signals sent from the N network, and
The image information input from the television camera 4 is encoded. The image processing unit 1g also combines (edits) the character information for television screen display from the character generating unit 1d with the image information from the ISDN network. TV support section 1
The h performs a signal interface with the television monitor 3 by the NTSC system, for example. The image capturing unit 1k performs signal interface with the television camera 4 by the NTSC system, for example.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned device will be described. When calling the other party from the analog telephone 2 to start a call, the terminal 10a and the terminal 10b are connected to the changeover switch 1e. In this case, the analog signal from the analog telephone 2 is the modular jack 1n, the terminal 10a,
It is input to the voice processing unit 1b via 10b, and here,
Converted to digital signal. Then, it is connected to the ISDN network via the line interface unit 1a and the line connector 1m. When the connection with the call partner is established, the voice signal of the caller is modular jack 1n, terminals 10a, 1
0b, the voice processing unit 1b, the line interface unit 1a, and the line connector 1m. In addition, the image signal of the caller includes a connector 1q, an image capturing unit 1k, and an image processing unit 1.
g, the line interface unit 1a, and the line connector 1m in this order. Then, these audio signal and image signal are transmitted to the other party via the ISDN network. on the other hand,
Voice signals from the other party are transmitted to the analog telephone 2 in the reverse order. The image signal from the other party is transmitted to the television monitor 3 in the order of the line connector 1m, the line interface unit 1a, the image processing unit 1g, the television corresponding unit 1h, and the connector 1p.

In the case of such a videophone call,
The image sent to the other party may be modified. For example, a character is superimposed on the image input from the television camera 4. In addition, the received image may be processed. For example, auxiliary information such as the current time is displayed on the received image. Such screen operations may be frequently performed.

In the present invention, these screen operations are performed by the push buttons of the analog telephone 2. When a screen operation is performed during a call, a push button key designated in advance is pressed a predetermined number of times to enter the operation mode.
Setting the push button key multiple times to prevent inadvertently entering the operation mode, and for general push button type telephones, pushing the push button key once It is used to distinguish from this. For simplicity,
Here, it is assumed that the designated key is "*" and the number of times of pressing is three. As a result, the push button signal output from the analog telephone 2 is detected by the filter unit 1f.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the filter section of FIG. First, when the screen operation is performed, the push key designation key “*” is pressed three times. When the filter unit 1f connected to the analog telephone 2 detects the frequency signal corresponding to "*" three times in step S1, it is confirmed that the signal from the analog telephone 2 is a screen operation signal by pressing the push button. recognize.
As a result, the filter unit 1f enters the operation mode, detects the signal from the analog telephone 2, and sends it to the control unit 1c in step S2. At the same time, the filter unit 1f causes the terminal 10a to move to the changeover switch 1e in step S3.
And the terminal 10b are instructed to be separated. This allows
The voice call is temporarily interrupted only during the operating mode. When the control unit 1c receives this signal, the control unit 1c instructs the image processing unit 1g to display the operation guide screen as shown in FIG.

Next, if it is desired to display the current time, the analog telephone 2 presses the "#" and "3" keys in order. The filter unit 1f has steps S4 and S9.
This is detected and the controller 1c is instructed to display the time in step S10. As a result, the control unit 1c
The character generation unit 1d is instructed to generate a time display character and send it to the image processing unit 1g. Then, the image processing unit 1g converts the display characters from the character generation unit 1d into information in a form that can be displayed on the television monitor 3, and displays the information on the television monitor 3 via the television corresponding unit 1h. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the time display character 10 combined with the image of the other party is displayed.

When switching screens, the push button keys "#" and "1" of the analog telephone 2 are pressed to issue a screen switching operation instruction. The filter unit 1f detects this in steps S4 and S5, and instructs the control unit 1c to switch the screen in step S6. As a result,
The image of the caller himself / herself input to the television camera 4 is passed through the connector 1q, the image capturing portion 1k, the image processing portion 1g, the television corresponding portion 1h, and the connector 1p as shown in FIG. Is displayed in.

Further, when registering an abbreviated number corresponding to the telephone number of the other party and an operation number for screen operation, the push button key "#" of the analog telephone 2,
Press “2”. The filter unit 1f includes steps S4 and S4.
This is detected in 7 and the controller 1c is instructed to accept the number registration in step S8. As a result, the caller can register various numbers. When ending such an operation mode, in the example of FIG. 4, "#", "*"
push. When the filter unit 1f detects this in steps S4 and S11, the changeover switch 1e is detected in step S12.
To instruct the terminal 10a and the terminal 10b to be connected. In step S13, the control unit 1c is instructed to exit the screen operation mode. This allows
A call can be made again between the caller and the callee by the analog telephone 2.

In this way, the existing analog telephone 2
Can be used for both videophone calls and screen operations. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the TV monitor 3 and the TV camera 4 as well as the analog phone 2 are detachably connected to the TV phone adapter device 1 via the connectors 1p and 1q, but the TV monitor 3 and the TV camera 4 are connected. Either one or both of them may be integrated with the videophone adapter device 1.

[0020]

As described above, according to the video telephone adapter device of the present invention, the existing analog telephone is detachably connected and the signal output by the push button operation of the analog telephone is detected, Since the television monitor and the television camera are operated in accordance with these signals, the existing analog telephone can be continuously used even when the television telephone corresponding to the high speed digital communication network such as the ISDN network is installed. Therefore, the IS can be economically and reasonably used without wasting existing equipment.
You can receive videophone services such as DN. That is, it is possible to obtain the same function as the screen operation function of the integrated video phone by the push button operation of the analog phone. As a result, the spread of videophones can be promoted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a videophone adapter device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a conventional videophone.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a video phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the filter unit in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a display example of an operation guidance screen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a screen display operation example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Video Telephone Adapter Device 1c Control Unit 1e Changeover Switch (Connection Control Unit) 1f Filter Unit 1n Modular Jack (Connecting Terminal) 2 Analog Telephone 3 TV Monitor 4 TV Camera

Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Satoshi Matsunaga 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An adapter device for connecting a television monitor, a television camera, and a telephone to a high-speed digital communication network, which accepts and identifies a connection terminal for connecting an analog telephone and each push button signal output by the analog telephone. , A filter unit that outputs each control signal for performing screen display control on the TV monitor and image capture control of the TV camera when each predetermined push button signal is detected, and the filter unit according to the control signal output by the filter unit. When a push button signal is being input from the analog telephone, a control unit that controls the screen display of the television monitor and the operation of the television camera, disconnects the analog telephone from the high-speed digital communication network, and If no push button signal is being input from the analog telephone, TV telephone adapter apparatus characterized by comprising a connection control unit for connecting the analog telephone and the high-speed digital communication network.