JPH099228A - Video conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the presence of a video conference with simple constitution by picking up the image of an object by performing compression optically in a lateral direction, sending out the image picked-up result by the format of the aspect ratio, removing one end or both ends of the image picked-up result as needed and sending it to a communication object. CONSTITUTION: The lateral direction of the image of a video conference participant using this video conference equipment 3A is optically compressed by the cylindrical lens 7A of an image pickup device 4A and the image of the aspect ratio 16:9 is picked up by the image pickup device 4A by the aspect ratio 4:3. Video signals SVA composed of the image picked-up result are inputted to a processor 5A, encoding-processed and sent to the communication object. When the communication object at the time is the video conference equipment 3B in the same constitution as the equipment 3A and when it is the video conference equipment formed by the video equipment of the aspect ratio 16:9, the signals SVA are encoding-processed in an encoder 13A applied to the video equipment of the aspect ratio 4:3, stipulated identification data are added and they are sent to the communication object.

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, which optically compresses images in a lateral direction to pick up an image of a subject,
By transmitting the image pickup result in the format of the aspect ratio formed by compression, and by removing one or both ends of the image pickup result as necessary, the image pickup result is transmitted with a simple structure. It is possible to improve the feeling and also to deal with a call target that does not support landscape images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a video conference apparatus, a video signal and a voice signal are transmitted / received to / from a call target so that a face-to-face call with the call target can be made and used in a video conference or the like.

Therefore, in this type of video conference apparatus, for example, an image of the calling party is picked up by a normal television camera,
The resulting video signal is data-compressed and sent to the call target, and conversely, image data obtained from the call target is decompressed and displayed on a specified display device.

[0004]

By the way, when there are a plurality of participants in the video conference, in the video conference apparatus, a plurality of callers arranged in the horizontal direction are imaged by the television camera,
The image pickup result is transmitted to the call target. Therefore, when there are a plurality of participants in the video conference, the aspect ratio is 1 instead of the conventional image having the aspect ratio of 4: 3.
If the image of the attendees can be transmitted by the horizontally long image of 6: 9, it is possible to improve the realism of the conference.

In this case, a method of forming a video conference device with a video device having an aspect ratio of 16: 9 is conceivable. However, the entire configuration is compared with a conventional video conference device formed with a video device having an aspect ratio of 4: 3. There is a problem that becomes complicated. Further, there is a problem in that it is difficult to handle a call in the case of a video conference device formed by a conventional video device having an aspect ratio of 4: 3.

On the other hand, a method of converting an image having an aspect ratio of 4: 3 into an aspect ratio of 16: 9 and displaying the image by removing the upper and lower edges of the image on the receiving side may be considered.
However, in this case, there is a problem that the deterioration of the vertical resolution cannot be avoided. A method of horizontally expanding an image having an aspect ratio of 4: 3 and displaying the image as it is on a display device having an aspect ratio of 16: 9 is possible, but this causes a problem that graphic distortion occurs.

Further, there may be considered a method in which attendees of a video conference are imaged by individual television cameras, and the imaged results are combined and sent. However, in this case, there is a problem that the entire configuration becomes more complicated. A method of enlarging the angle of view of the television camera with a wide-angle lens is also conceivable, but in this case graphic distortion occurs and the angle of view of the entire imaging result is enlarged, which also deteriorates the realism.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is possible to improve the realistic sensation of a video conference with a simple structure, and it is also applicable to a call target that is not compatible with landscape images. The present invention intends to propose a video conferencing device that can be used.

[0009]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, an image pickup means for picking up an image of a desired subject and outputting an image pickup result, a transmitting means for sending the image pickup result to a call target, and And a display means for displaying the image transmitted from the call target of the present invention.
Here, the preceding image pickup means optically has an aspect ratio conversion means for compressing the image of the subject in the horizontal direction, and the aspect ratio conversion means causes the image of the subject to be changed to the first aspect ratio. The image is converted into an image having an aspect ratio of 2, and the imaging result is output, and the transmitting unit transmits the imaging result in the format having the second aspect ratio, in response to the operation of the operator, or in the call. Corresponding to the target, the image at one or both ends in the horizontal direction is removed from the previous imaged result and sent to the call target, and the previous display means displays the image having the first aspect ratio.

[0010]

The image pickup means has an aspect ratio converting means for optically compressing the image of the object in the horizontal direction, and the image of the object having the first aspect ratio is converted into the second image by the aspect ratio converting means. If the image pickup result is output after being converted into the image having the aspect ratio of, the image pickup result having the aspect ratio of 4: 3 can be obtained by compressing the image having the aspect ratio of 16: 9 in the horizontal direction. As a result, the above-mentioned transmission means sends out the above-mentioned image pickup result in the format according to the second aspect ratio, and in response to the operation of the operator or in response to the call target, the image at one or both ends in the horizontal direction is displayed. If it is removed from the previous imaging result and sent to the call target, the transmitting means can be configured by a device with an aspect ratio of 4: 3 corresponding to the above example, and a call target formed by a video device with an aspect ratio of 4: 3. Can also be accommodated. In addition, the above display means,
By displaying the image having the first aspect ratio, the imaging result of the aspect ratio 4: 3 transmitted from the transmission target having the same configuration can be displayed with the aspect ratio 16: 9.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This video conference system 1 is an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital).
Network) A public line 2 is formed by connecting a video conference device 3A with a video conference device 3B to be called.
In the case of this embodiment, the video conference apparatus 3B to be called
Has the same configuration as the video conference device 3A,
The suffix A of the symbol indicating the configuration of the video conference apparatus 3A is added to the suffix B
To each corresponding structure of the video conference apparatus 3B, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

Here, in the video conference apparatus 3A, the image pickup apparatus 4A is formed so as to output a video signal SVA having an aspect ratio of 4: 3, and is mounted on a platform 6A driven by the processor 5A and held at a prescribed position. The caller is imaged. Further, in this embodiment, the imaging device 4A
In the optical system, a cylindrical lens 7A is removably arranged in the optical system, and an image of a subject is laterally compressed by the cylindrical lens 7A to capture an image with an aspect ratio of 4: 3.

That is, in the embodiment, the cylindrical lens 7A has an aspect ratio of 1 on the subject side.
The focal length is set to a specified value so that the 6: 9 angle of view becomes an angle of view of an aspect ratio of 4: 3 on the imaging surface of the imaging device 4A, and the focal length is arranged at a specified position of the optical system of the imaging device 4A. It is done like this. As a result, the imaging device 4A is configured to optically convert the image of the subject having an aspect ratio of 16: 9 into an image having an aspect ratio of 4: 3 by the cylindrical lens 7A to capture the image.

The display device 8A is a so-called high-definition monitor device, and a display screen is formed with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. This display device 8
A is a video signal SVB output from the processor 5A.
By displaying, the image transmitted from the call target is displayed.

At the time of this display, the display device 8A displays the identification signal (that is, EIAJ (Electronic Industries Asso) inserted in the vertical blanking period of the video signal SVB.
The video signal SVB transmitted by the format of the aspect ratio of 4: 3 is selected by switching the display based on the (cid of Japan) standard ID-I signal). The time axis is expanded so that the aspect ratio is 16: 9 and the image is displayed without distortion.

On the other hand, when a normal NTSC format video signal is transmitted in the 4: 3 aspect ratio format, the display device 8A displays an image of the 4: 3 aspect ratio in the center of the display screen. , Display the remaining horizontal edges of the screen in black. As a result, the video conference apparatus 3A can display the image transmitted from the call target even when the call target is formed by the video equipment having the aspect ratio of 4: 3.

The processor 5A is a line terminal device (DS
U: Digital Service Unit) 9A is connected to the ISDN public line 2 and the video signal SVA output from the image pickup device 4A is converted into a prescribed digital signal and then sent to the call target via the line terminating device 9A. In addition, the video signal SVB transmitted from the call target is demodulated and output to the display device 8A.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the processor 5
A is a video signal SVA converted into a digital video signal by an analog-digital conversion circuit (not shown),
It is input to the encoder 13A via the selection circuits 11A and 12A. This encoder 13A has an aspect ratio of 4:
It is an encoder applied when forming a video conference device with the video equipment of No. 3, and encodes a digital video signal with an encoding method suitable for transmission through the ISDN public line 2, and then adds prescribed identification data, Output to the line terminating device 9A via the interface (I / F) 14A.

Further, the processor 5A switches the contacts of the selection circuits 11A and 12A in response to the operation of a prescribed manipulator or in response to a control command output from the call target, and an image is displayed between the selection circuits 11A and 12A. Expansion circuit 1
5A and the aspect ratio conversion circuit 16A are inserted. Here, the image expansion circuit 15A and the aspect ratio conversion circuit 16A
Is formed by a storage means for sequentially storing this digital video signal in a memory and then switching the address and outputting at a specified timing. As shown in FIG. 3, an image with an aspect ratio of 4: 3 is displayed with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. Convert to.

Further, the image decompression circuit 15A and the aspect ratio conversion circuit 16A have a total of about 25% of the image data (areas indicated by hatching in FIG. 3) at both ends in the horizontal direction forming an image having the aspect ratio of 16: 9. ] By throwing away, the cylindrical lens 7A in the imaging device 4A
Image with an aspect ratio of 4: 3 obtained when the image is removed, and the image data of this image is used as the original video signal SVA.
Output at the timing synchronized with.

As a result, the processor 5A removes an extra image from the optically compressed image with an aspect ratio of 4: 3, transmits the image with an aspect ratio of 4: 3, and transmits it to the video conference to be talked. When the device is formed by a conventional video device having an aspect ratio of 4: 3, the video signal SVA is transmitted in a format corresponding to the call target.

On the other hand, the decoder 17A is a decoder that is applied when forming a video conference apparatus with a video equipment having an aspect ratio of 4: 3, and has an interface (I
/ F) 14A, the output signal of the line terminating device 9A is received, and the video signal SVB is demodulated from this output signal and output. As a result, the processor 5A switches the contact points of the selection circuits 11A and 11B and sends out the imaging result in the corresponding aspect ratio 4: 3 when the call target is the video conference apparatus using the conventional video equipment with the aspect ratio 4: 3. At the same time, the video signal SVB obtained from the call target is output to the display device 8A and displayed with an aspect ratio of 4: 3, so that a call can be made with the conventional video conference device.

On the other hand, the decoder 17A adds the ID-I signal of the EIAJ standard and outputs it in the vertical blanking period of the video signal SVB when the specified identification data is added to the demodulated digital video signal. To do.
As a result, the processor 5A transmits the image pickup result of the aspect ratio of 4: 3 which is optically compressed in the horizontal direction when the video conference device of the call target is formed by the video equipment of the aspect ratio of 16: 9, and this transmission is performed. The image pickup result is formed so that it can be displayed by the display system with the aspect ratio of 16: 9 on the call target, and similarly, the image pickup result of the aspect ratio of 4: 3 compressed from the call target in the horizontal direction is transmitted with the aspect ratio of 16: 9. : 9 display modes can be displayed.

Therefore, in the video conference apparatus 3A, the aspect ratio of 1 is obtained by using the conventional image pickup apparatus 4A having the aspect ratio of 4: 3, the encoder 13A and the decoder 17A.
It is possible to secure the same call form as in the case where the whole is configured by the video equipment of 6: 9, and it is possible to improve the realism of the video conference with a simple structure. Further, it is possible to cope with a video conference apparatus using a video device with an aspect ratio of 4: 3 without causing graphic distortion, and it is possible to effectively avoid deterioration of resolution and the like due to missing scanning lines.

In the above-mentioned structure, the image of the conference attendee who uses the video conference unit 3A is optically compressed in the lateral direction by the cylindrical lens 7A arranged in the optical system of the image pickup unit 4A, whereby the aspect ratio is reduced. Ratio 1
The image of 6: 9 has the aspect ratio of 4: 3, and the image pickup apparatus 4A has the aspect ratio of 4: 3.
Is imaged.

The video signal SVA, which is the image pickup result of the image pickup device 4A, is input to the processor 5A, subjected to a prescribed coding process here, and sent to the call target. At this time, when the call target is the video conference device 3B having the same configuration as the video conference device 3A, the aspect ratio 16:
In the case of the video conference device formed by the video equipment of 9,
The video signal SVA (FIG. 2) is coded by the encoder 13A applied to the video equipment having the aspect ratio of 4: 3, and then the specified identification data is added to the video signal SVA to be transmitted to the call target. An image having an aspect ratio of 4: 3 formed by optically compressing the horizontal direction is transmitted to a call target in the format of the aspect ratio of 4: 3.

In the video conference apparatus 3B which is the object of the call, the video signal SVA transmitted from the video conference apparatus 3A is demodulated by the decoder (17A), and ID-I of the EIAJ standard is obtained by the identification data added at the time of transmission.
The signal is added and output to the display device 8B. This allows the cylindrical lens 7A to pass through the display device 8B.
The horizontal direction compressed by is expanded and the aspect ratio is 1
A display image of 6: 9 is formed, and this video conference device 3A
Images of meeting attendees who use are displayed correctly.

On the other hand, similarly, the video signal SVB transmitted by the video conference apparatus 3B having the same configuration as the video conference apparatus 3A or the video signal transmitted by the video conference apparatus formed by the video equipment having the aspect ratio of 16: 9. Signal SV
B is decoded by the decoder 17A, added with an EIAJ standard ID-I signal, and output to the display device 8B.
As a result, the horizontal direction compressed by the cylindrical lens 7B on the call target side is expanded through the display device 8A to form a display image with an aspect ratio of 16: 9, and is sent out by a video device with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. The video signal is displayed with an aspect ratio of 16: 9, and the conference attendees who are talking can be displayed correctly.

On the other hand, the call target has an aspect ratio of 4:
In the case of the video conference device formed by the video equipment of 3,
The video signal SVA, which is the image pickup result, is sent to the image expansion circuit 15
A. An extra image of about 25% at both ends in the horizontal direction is discarded due to the horizontal compression via the aspect ratio conversion circuit 16A, and the cylindrical lens 7 in the imaging device 4A is discarded.
An image having an aspect ratio of 4: 3 obtained when A is removed is input to the encoder 13A. As a result, this video signal is sent to the call target in the format with the aspect ratio of 4: 3, and is effectively displayed on the call target while avoiding graphic distortion.

On the other hand, the video signal transmitted from this communication object in the format of the aspect ratio 4: 3 is demodulated by the decoder 17A and output to the display device 8A, where it is correctly displayed in the aspect ratio 4: 3. It

According to the above configuration, an image having an aspect ratio of 16: 9 is optically converted into an image having an aspect ratio of 4: 3, an image is taken, and the image pickup result is transmitted in a format having an aspect ratio of 4: 3. , Conventional aspect ratio 4:
A video conference device having an aspect ratio of 16: 9 can be formed by using an encoder or the like applied to the video equipment of No. 3. Further, if necessary, the redundant image of the 4: 3 aspect ratio image is removed, and the image is expanded in the horizontal direction and transmitted, so that it is possible to support a video conference apparatus with an aspect ratio of 4: 3.

In the above embodiment, the case where the call is connected to the call target via the ISDN public line has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the call is made using various lines such as the case of using a dedicated line. It can be widely applied when

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image of the object is captured by optically compressing it in the lateral direction, and the image capture result is sent out in the format of the aspect ratio formed by this compression. Also, by removing one or both ends of the imaging result as necessary and sending it to the call target,
With a simple configuration, it is possible to improve the realistic sensation of a video conference, and it is also possible to support call targets that are not compatible with landscape images.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video conference system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a processor of the video conference apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an image pickup result by the video conference apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Video Conference System 3A, 3B Video Conference Device 4A, 4B Imaging Device 5A, 5B Processor 7A, 7B Cylindrical Lens 8A, 8B Display Device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup unit for picking up an image of a desired subject and outputting an image pickup result, a transmitting unit for sending the image pickup result to a call target, and a display unit for displaying an image transmitted from the call target. The image pickup means has an aspect ratio conversion means for optically compressing an image of a subject in a horizontal direction, and the aspect ratio conversion means converts the image of the subject having a first aspect ratio into a second aspect ratio. Ratio image and outputs the imaged result, and the transmission unit sends out the imaged result in a format according to the second aspect ratio, responds to an operation of an operator, or responds to the call target. Then, the image at one or both ends in the horizontal direction is removed from the captured result and sent to the call target, and the display means displays the image having the first aspect ratio. Video conferencing equipment. 2. The aspect ratio conversion means is a cylindrical lens.
The video conferencing device described in.