JP2000069447A - Image communication device, video telephone terminal, terminal system and program recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize communication by adding video information and audio information to an electronic mail even when one of communication parties does not use the video telephone terminal. SOLUTION: The image communication device converts image information and audio information from the video telephone terminal 10 into an image code and an audio code decodable by a personal computer and also converts the codes into data added to an electronic mail and transmits the electronic mail to a prescribed communication opposite party 31. The image information and the audio information, transmitted from the personal computer, as data added to the electronic mail are converted into image and audio codes decodable by the video telephone terminal and then converted into a communication protocol that is used by the video telephone terminal for communication.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a video telephone terminal,
The present invention relates to a terminal system capable of transmitting and receiving e-mail, and an image communication device that mediates between the videophone terminal and the terminal system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, videophones equipped with a television function have become widespread, and it is expected that communication involving not only voice but also images will be performed more and more in the future. Also, with the spread of the Internet, communication means using e-mail has been widely used.

At present, the most widespread videophone is Phoenix, which uses an NTT company's ISDN line.
mini. This corresponds to INS Net 64,
TA (short for terminal adapter: ISDN for communication equipment)
A direct connection can be made without using a repeater for connecting to a line, etc., color video (CIF, QCIF) and voice can be simultaneously communicated, and a multipoint connection service by a plurality of users is possible. Also, Phoenix mini is described in H.E.
320 compliant.

[0004] At present, InterCom's Live
There are e-mail systems with moving images such as ePhone and LiveMail of MACNICA. LiveM
The e-mail sends the e-mail with the compressed moving image attached to it, and when the e-mail is received, the attached message uses moving image reproduction software (for example, Microsoft Net).
Show). FIG. 3 shows LiveMail.
FIG. Reference numeral 72 denotes a transmission terminal that attaches a moving image to an e-mail and transmits the e-mail; 73, a first provider that connects the transmission terminal to the Internet; 74, an Internet; 75, a second provider that connects the Internet to the reception terminal 76; Is a receiving terminal that receives an e-mail. The e-mail attached with the moving image sent from the transmission terminal 72 is sent to the Internet 74 via the first provider 73. Further, the moving image is received by the receiving terminal 76 via the second provider 75, and the moving image is reproduced by moving image reproducing software. The above is Live
This is an e-mail exchange between the transmission terminal 72 and the reception terminal 76 of the mail.

[0005] In the case of LivePhone, a compressed moving image or sound is attached to an electronic mail and transmitted. Live
In the case of ephone, data is registered in a dedicated server, and functions such as two-way moving image communication and an answering machine mode using moving images are also provided. FIG. 4 shows the Livephone.
FIG. 77 is a transmitting terminal for transmitting e-mail, 78 is a first provider connecting the transmitting terminal 77 and the Internet 79, 79 is the Internet, 80
Is a dedicated server of LivePhone for registering data, 82 is a second provider that connects the Internet 79 and the receiving terminal 83, and 83 is a receiving terminal that receives the sent e-mail. The e-mail attached with the moving image and the sound sent from the transmission terminal 77 is sent to the Internet 79 via the first provider 78. Further, the data is sent from the Internet 79 to the dedicated server 80, where the data of the e-mail is registered. The registered e-mail data is again transmitted via the Internet 79 via the second provider 82 to the receiving terminal 83
Sent to The receiving terminal 83 can view the moving image and the sound attached to the e-mail. The above is LiveP
This is an e-mail exchange between the transmitting terminal 77 and the receiving terminal 83 of the phone.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the invention] Phoenix mi
Communication by videophone using ni requires an ISDN line and cannot be used unless both parties have videophone terminals. In addition, communication using LivePhone or LiveMail cannot be used unless both environments can use e-mail.

As described above, in the conventional configuration, it was impossible to transmit / receive an image to / from the videophone terminal using electronic mail.

[0008] In order to transmit image information and voice information in a videophone terminal, it is necessary that the data be compliant with image code decoding, voice code decoding, and a communication protocol used by each communicating terminal.

For example, a personal computer connected to a private network has a different communication protocol from a videophone terminal.
There is a problem that image information and audio information cannot be transmitted to and from the videophone terminal.

The present invention has a problem that such a conventional videophone can exchange voice information and image information only between videophone terminals, and a conventional electronic mail is an electronic mail using voice information and image information only between personal computers. In consideration of the problem that communication cannot be performed, an image communication device and a videophone that realize communication by attaching video information and audio information to an e-mail even if one of the communication sides does not use a videophone terminal It is an object to provide a terminal, a terminal system, and a program recording medium.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, an image communication apparatus according to the present invention has a first invention (corresponding to claim 1) in which a video telephone is provided. An image communication device that mediates image information and audio information between a terminal and a terminal system, and communicates the image information and the audio information transmitted in a videophone format that the videophone terminal can process. A first communication unit that receives the image information and the audio information sent to the first communication unit via a line, an image storage unit that stores the image information and the audio information, and the image information and the audio information of the information storage unit. An information conversion unit that converts the electronic mail into a format that can be processed by the terminal system, and a destination address based on the destination information received from the videophone terminal via the first communication unit;
An e-mail creating unit that combines the output information from the information converting unit to create an e-mail, and the predetermined destination via a communication line using the destination address created by the e-mail creating unit. And a second communication unit for transmitting the electronic mail.

[0012] The second invention (corresponding to claim 2) provides:
An image communication device that mediates so that image information and voice information can be communicated between a videophone terminal and a terminal system,
A second communication unit that receives, via a communication line, the image information and the voice information sent in an e-mail format that can be processed by the terminal system; and the image information sent to the second communication unit and An information storage unit for storing voice information;
An information conversion unit that converts the image information and the audio information stored in the information storage unit into a videophone format compatible with a destination videophone terminal, and receives the information from the terminal system via the second communication unit A telephone number to the predetermined destination based on the obtained destination information, and a videophone data generating unit for converting the image information and the audio information converted by the information conversion unit into videophone information, And a first communication unit that transmits the image information and the voice information data to a telephone number partner created by the videophone data creation unit.

A third aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 3) is:
A video telephone terminal that sends the image information and the audio information to an image communication device that mediates the image information and the audio information from the video telephone terminal to a terminal system, and a destination of the image information and the audio information. Input means for inputting the image information and the audio information transmitted through a video telephone format which can be processed by the video telephone terminal. An information storage unit that stores the image information and the audio information sent to the first communication unit; and an e-mail format in which the terminal system can process the image information and the audio information of the information storage unit. An information conversion unit for converting, and a destination address created based on the destination information received from the videophone terminal via the first communication unit; An e-mail creating unit that combines the output information from the units into an e-mail, and sends the e-mail to the predetermined destination via a communication line using the destination address created by the e-mail creating unit. And a second communication unit for transmitting.

A fourth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 4) is:
A terminal system that sends the image information and the audio information to an image communication device that mediates so that image information and audio information can be communicated from a terminal system to a videophone terminal,
Input means for inputting a telephone number of the destination of the image information and the audio information, wherein the image communication device communicates the image information and the audio information sent in an e-mail format that the terminal system can process. A second communication unit that receives the image information and the audio information sent to the second communication unit, an information storage unit that stores the image information and the audio information, and the image information that is stored in the information storage unit. An information conversion unit for converting the audio information into a videophone format corresponding to the videophone terminal of the transmission destination; and a destination to the predetermined destination based on the destination information received from the terminal system via the second communication unit. A videophone data creation unit that creates a telephone number and combines the image information and the audio information converted by the information conversion unit into videophone information; First of transmitting the image information to the phone number the other party that was created with the data of the audio information at creation unit
And a communication unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 5), the terminal system includes an information processing terminal and a client terminal capable of accessing the information processing terminal. An image communication device according to any one of the first to third aspects.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 6), in the videophone terminal according to the third aspect, the terminal system has an information processing terminal and a client terminal capable of accessing the information processing terminal. is there.

A seventh aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 7) is the terminal system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the terminal system has an information processing terminal and a client terminal capable of accessing the information processing terminal. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 8), the first aspect
A program for realizing all or some of the functions of each component of the image communication device, the videophone terminal, or the terminal system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention. This is a program recording medium to be executed.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image communication apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a video telephone terminal for providing image information and audio information;
An image communication device that attaches image information and voice information sent from a videophone terminal to an e-mail and converts the data format so that it can be sent to a predetermined communication partner, and a terminal that receives data sent from the image communication device The videophone terminal is configured with a system, and stores in advance image information and audio information to be transmitted, and sends the stored data to the image communication device together with a destination electronic mail address. The image communication device extracts image information and audio information from the bit stream transmitted from the videophone terminal, converts the information into a format that can be attached to an e-mail, and converts the converted data into an e-mail address of the transmission destination. Is attached to the e-mail and sent. The e-mail transmitted from the image communication device is received by the terminal system, and the information transmitted from the videophone terminal can be obtained by extracting the image information and the sound information attached to the received e-mail.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image communication apparatus, comprising: a terminal system for providing image information and voice information in a form attached to an electronic mail; A video communication device that converts data into a bit stream corresponding to the video phone terminal on the side of the mobile phone, and a video phone terminal that receives data transmitted from the video communication device. The information is attached to the e-mail, and the attached data is sent to the image communication device together with the destination telephone number. The image communication device extracts image information and audio information from the e-mail transmitted from the terminal system, converts the data into a bit stream corresponding to a videophone of a predetermined communication partner, and converts the data into a bit stream corresponding to a destination telephone number. Then, the converted data is transmitted. The data transmitted from the image communication device is received by the videophone terminal, and the received bit stream is extracted as image information and audio information by the videophone terminal, and the information transmitted from the terminal system can be obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image communication apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a video telephone terminal;
Reference numeral 0 denotes an image communication device that communicates moving image information and audio information with the videophone terminal 10 via a communication line, 21 denotes a first communication unit that communicates with the videophone terminal 10, 2
2 is an information storage unit for storing moving image information and audio information received from the videophone terminal 10, and 23 is an information converter for converting the moving image information and audio information of the information storage unit 22 into a data format that can be attached to an e-mail. , 24 is the videophone terminal 1
An e-mail creating unit that creates an e-mail to a predetermined destination based on the destination information received from 0, 25 transmits the e-mail created by the e-mail generating unit 24 to the predetermined destination via a communication line. The second communication unit 30 for transmitting to the terminal is a terminal system. The terminal system 30 is configured as follows. That is, 31 is an information processing terminal, and 32 to 34 are client terminals that can access the information processing terminal 31.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

First, a call is made from the video telephone terminal 10 to the image communication device 20, and at the same time, the e-mail address of the terminal system is input from the video telephone terminal. At this time, for example, it is assumed that a character input device is provided on the videophone terminal 10 side. The videophone terminal 10 has a moving image recording start and end button. By pressing a recording start button, recording of a moving image to be transmitted is started. The voice can be input by raising the receiver of the videophone terminal 10 and speaking. When the user wants to end the recording, the user presses the recording end button, and the recorded moving image and the recorded audio are stored in the memory of the videophone terminal 10 together with the recording date and time information. If a subject (Subject) is required, an alphabet button on the videophone terminal 10
Alternatively, an input is made using the open and close buttons, and the input is also stored in a memory. Videophone terminal 10
Can record and hold some messages as long as the memory capacity allows. A message number for recognizing the recorded message is attached to the message and stored in the memory. The sender uses the videophone terminal 10 to select data to be transmitted by designating a business number. Further, the sender inputs the mail address of the transmission destination by using an alphabet button which is a character input device. Further, the sender inputs the telephone number of the image communication device and makes a call to the image communication device 20. Here, the information sent to the image communication device 20 is a bit stream. This bit stream is composed of the mail address of the transmission partner, moving image data, audio data,
ct, sender name, sender telephone number, date and time, and the like. The image communication device 20 recognizes that the data is data transmitted from the videophone terminal 10 based on the header information of the bit stream and the like, and transmits information on who the sender or the transmission destination is in advance. Interpret according to the data format determined in.

The image communication device 20 is a video telephone terminal 10
E-mail address of the other party via the communication line from
The moving image information and the audio information are received by the first communication unit 21, and the information received by the first communication unit 21 is stored in the information storage unit 2.
2 stored. The moving image information and the audio information among the stored information are converted by the information conversion unit 23 into a data format that can be attached to an electronic mail. On the other hand, the e-mail address stored in the information storage unit 22 is created as an e-mail to a predetermined partner by the e-mail creation unit 24, and the moving image information converted by the information conversion unit 23 is converted into this e-mail. The one with the audio information attached is sent to the second communication unit 25. The second communication unit 25 transmits the e-mail attached with the moving image information and the sound information to the information processing terminal 31 via a communication line such as the Internet. However, the terminal system 30 has an e-mail transmission / reception function, and can receive moving image information and audio information of the videophone terminal 10 by receiving an e-mail from the second communication unit 25. That is, the e-mail sent from the second communication unit 25 is stored in the mailbox of the information processing terminal 31 included in the terminal system 30. The transmission destination is a client terminal 32 constituting the terminal system 30
To the information processing terminal 31 from any one of the client terminals No. to 34. Here, it is assumed that the client terminal 32 accesses the information processing terminal 31. The transmission partner accesses the information processing terminal 31 from the client terminal 32 and obtains the e-mail stored in the mailbox of the information processing terminal 31 in this manner, so that the data transmitted from the videophone terminal 10 can be transmitted. You can watch. In other words, the receiving side does not need to receive the videophone and video information of the other party's videophone by the same videophone, and has a function of sending and receiving e-mail, such as a commonly used personal computer. Can be received by the terminal system.

The character input device according to the present embodiment is an example of the input means of the present invention.

Furthermore, the number of client terminals according to the present invention is not limited to three in the above-described embodiment, but may be any number such as two or four or more as long as the information processing terminal can process the data.

Further, the above-mentioned Internet is not limited to this, and may use, for example, personal computer communication.

Furthermore, the image of the present invention is not limited to the moving image in the above-described embodiment, but may be a still image, an image using a combination of a moving image and a still image, that is, an image using a still image and a moving image arbitrarily. You only have to.

The present invention further stores a program for storing a program for realizing all or a part of the functions of each component of the image communication apparatus, the videophone terminal or the terminal system. It is also a medium.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image communication apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 40 denotes a terminal system; 50, an image communication device for communicating moving image information and audio information with a videophone terminal 60 via a communication line; A second communication unit for communicating between the two; 52, an information storage unit for storing the e-mail received from the terminal system 40; 53, data attached to the e-mail stored in the information storage unit 52; An information conversion unit that converts video telephone data into voice information, a video telephone data generation unit that generates video telephone data to a predetermined destination based on the destination information received from the terminal system 40, and a video telephone data generation unit 55 A first communication unit 60 for transmitting the videophone data created in the above to a predetermined party is a videophone terminal. The terminal system 40 is configured as follows. That is, 41 is an information processing terminal, and 42 to 44 are client terminals that can access the information processing terminal.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

First, the sender of the e-mail is the terminal system 4
In this case, any one of the client terminals 42 to 44 constituting the terminal system 40 accesses the information processing terminal 41 constituting the terminal system 40. Here, it is assumed that the client terminal 42 accesses the information processing terminal 41. The client terminals 42 to 44 have input means for inputting the telephone number of the videophone terminal 60,
The sender inputs the telephone number of the other party from this input means. Further, since the video telephone terminal 60 does not have an e-mail address, it is not possible to send an e-mail to the video telephone terminal 60. Therefore, an e-mail address indicating that the e-mail is not a general e-mail but an e-mail for a videophone terminal is determined in advance, and an e-mail with moving image information and audio information attached is sent to the e-mail address. When the e-mail sender accesses the information processing terminal 41 from the client terminal 42 and sends the e-mail, the e-mail is temporarily stored in the mailbox of the information processing terminal 41. Here, the information processing terminal 41 checks the e-mail sent from the client terminal 42, and sends the e-mail to the image communication device 50 when the e-mail address for the videophone terminal is used. That is, the information processing terminal 41 transmits an e-mail attached with moving image information and audio information to the image communication device 50 via the Internet or the like. The information sent to the image communication device 50 includes the other party's telephone number, audio data, moving image data, Subject, sender name, sender mail address, transmission date and time, and the like. The image communication device 50 that has received the e-mail transmitted by the terminal system 40 is an e-mail to which the data described in the e-mail is attached with audio information and moving image information transmitted from the terminal system 40. And interprets information on who the sender or the other party is, according to a predetermined data format. That is, the second communication unit 51 receives the telephone number of the transmission destination, moving image information, and audio information from the terminal system 40 via a communication line such as the Internet,
The e-mail received by the second communication unit 51 is stored in the information storage unit 52. The moving image information and the audio information among the stored information are converted by the information conversion unit 53 into a bit stream corresponding to the videophone terminal 60 of the transmission destination. On the other hand, the telephone number of the communication partner stored in the information storage unit 22 becomes a telephone number to a predetermined partner by the videophone data creating unit 54, and the moving image converted by the information converting unit 53 to the telephone number partner. The bit stream of the image information and the audio information is sent to the first communication unit 55. First communication unit 55
Converts the bit stream of video and audio information into
Call a predetermined party via a communication line. The videophone terminal 60 converts the bit stream received from the first communication unit 55 into an electronic mail or a normal telephone attached with the audio information and the moving image information transmitted from the client terminal 42 according to a predetermined format. Please interpret.
If the email is from the client terminal 42,
The answering machine function is activated, data is stored in the memory of the videophone terminal 60, and when the play button is pressed, the voice information and the moving picture information attached to the e-mail are reproduced. In this manner, moving image information and audio information from the terminal system 40 can be obtained.

The number of client terminals according to the present invention is not limited to three in the above-described embodiment, but may be any number such as two or four or more as long as the information processing terminal can process the data.

Further, the above-mentioned Internet is not limited to this, and may use, for example, personal computer communication.

Further, the image of the present invention is not limited to the moving image in the above-described embodiment, but may be a still image, an image using a combination of a moving image and a still image, and the like. You only have to.

The present invention further stores a program for storing a program for realizing all or a part of the functions of each component of the image communication apparatus, the videophone terminal or the terminal system. It is also a medium.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides an image communication apparatus and a videophone terminal capable of transmitting image information and voice information from a videophone terminal to a party having no videophone terminal. And a program recording medium.

Further, the present invention provides an image communication apparatus, a terminal system, and a program which can send image information and voice information to a partner videophone terminal by using an electronic mail from a sender who does not have a videophone terminal. A recording medium can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional electronic mail system with a moving image, L
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an liveMail.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a LivePhone, which is a conventional electronic mail system with audio / video.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Video telephone terminal 20 Image communication apparatus 21 1st communication part 22 Information storage part 23 Information conversion part 24 E-mail preparation part 25 2nd communication part 30 Terminal system 31 Information processing terminal 32-34 Client terminal 40 Terminal system 41 Information processing terminal 42 to 44 Client terminal 50 Image communication device 51 Second communication unit 52 Information storage unit 53 Information conversion unit 54 Videophone data creation unit 55 First communication unit 60 Videophone terminal

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masatomo Hori 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5C064 AA01 AB04 AC01 AC11 AC22 AD02 AD06 AD08 5K030 GA18 HA06 HB01 HB02 HC02 JT02 JT10 KA06 LA07 LB15 LB16

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image communication apparatus that mediates image information and voice information between a videophone terminal and a terminal system so that the videophone terminal can process the image information and the voice information. A first communication unit that receives information and the audio information via a communication line; an information storage unit that stores the image information and the audio information sent to the first communication unit; An information conversion unit that converts the image information and the audio information into an e-mail format that can be processed by the terminal system; and creates a destination address based on the destination information received from the videophone terminal via the first communication unit. And an e-mail creating unit that combines the output information from the information converting unit into an e-mail, and using the destination address created by the e-mail creating unit. Image communication apparatus characterized by comprising: a second communication unit that transmits the e-mail via the communication line to the predetermined destination in the terminal system, the. 2. An image communication apparatus that mediates image information and voice information between a videophone terminal and a terminal system so that the image information and the voice information can be communicated, wherein the image information transmitted in an e-mail format that can be processed by the terminal system. And a second communication unit that receives the audio information via a communication line; an information storage unit that stores the image information and the audio information sent to the second communication unit; An information conversion unit that converts the image information and the audio information into a videophone format corresponding to a transmission destination videophone terminal, based on the destination information received from the terminal system via the second communication unit. A telephone number to the predetermined destination is created, and the image information and the audio information converted by the information conversion unit are combined into a videophone information to form a videophone information. Parts and the image communication apparatus characterized by comprising a first communication unit that transmits the image information to the phone number the other party that was created with the data of the audio information in the video telephone data creation unit. 3. A video telephone terminal for transmitting said image information and said audio information to an image communication device which mediates image information and audio information from a video telephone terminal to a terminal system, wherein said image information and Input means for inputting a destination address of the audio information, wherein the image communication device receives the image information and the audio information transmitted in a video telephone format that can be processed by the video telephone terminal via a communication line. A first communication unit, an information storage unit that stores the image information and the audio information sent to the first communication unit, and the terminal system processes the image information and the audio information of the information storage unit. An information conversion unit for converting the electronic mail into a possible e-mail format, and creating a destination address based on the destination information received from the videophone terminal via the first communication unit, An e-mail creating unit that combines the information with the output information from the information converting unit to create an e-mail, and the terminal system in the terminal system via a communication line using the destination address created by the e-mail creating unit. A second communication unit for transmitting the e-mail to a predetermined destination. 4. A terminal system for transmitting said image information and said audio information to an image communication apparatus which mediates so that image information and audio information can be communicated from a terminal system to a videophone terminal, Input means for inputting a telephone number of a destination of voice information, wherein the image communication device receives the image information and the voice information transmitted in an e-mail format that can be processed by the terminal system via a communication line. A second communication unit;
An information storage unit for storing the image information and the voice information sent to the communication unit; and a videophone corresponding to the destination videophone terminal transmitting the image information and the voice information stored in the information storage unit. An information conversion unit for converting to a format, a telephone number to the predetermined destination is created based on the destination information received from the terminal system via the second communication unit, and the telephone number is converted by the information conversion unit. A videophone data creating unit that combines the image information and the audio information into videophone information, and transmits the data of the image information and the audio information to a telephone number partner created by the videophone data creating unit And a first communication unit. 5. The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal system includes an information processing terminal and a client terminal capable of accessing the information processing terminal. 6. The videophone terminal according to claim 3, wherein the terminal system includes an information processing terminal and a client terminal capable of accessing the information processing terminal. 7. The terminal system according to claim 4, wherein the terminal system includes an information processing terminal and a client terminal capable of accessing the information processing terminal. 8. A program for realizing all or a part of the functions of each component of the image communication device, the videophone terminal or the terminal system according to claim 1. A program recording medium characterized in that: