JP2000115730A - Video telephone set and its mode setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance connection performance in mutual connection between different other companies by providing an analysis means and a mode detection means for compressed image data and compressed audio data received from an opposite terminal and setting an image and an audio compressor in its own terminal within a range of a mode obtained by the mode detection means. SOLUTION: A terminal controller 10 of a video telephone set 1 and a terminal controller 10 of an opposite terminal exchange respectively capability information of their own terminals. The terminal controller 10 outputs image expanding capability information of the opposite terminal to an image compressor 3. An audio system is processed similarly. When an operating mode is set, transmission of image and audio data is started. A multiplexer demultiplexer 11 performs multiplexing/demultiplexing processing to the multiplexed data received from the opposite terminal via a line interface 12 and outputs the result to an image expander 17 and an audio expander 9. The image expander 7 analyzes the mode of the image compression data and outputs the discriminated mode setting information to the image compressor 3. The audio system is processed similarly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video telephone apparatus which can be used for video conference, multimedia communication, and the like, and a mode setting method for the video telephone apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of video telephone, the operation mode of an image and audio compression device is set in the range of the image and audio expansion capability of the other terminal obtained as a result of the capability exchange with the other terminal. Was set within.

[0003] For example, the TTC of the 23rd Standardization Conference
As shown in the standard (draft) H.324, a technology for exchanging capabilities between terminals is described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a videophone apparatus disclosed in JT-H324 as a prior art. The videophone device 100 conforming to the conventional ITU-T recommendation, H324, has an MCU (Multipoint Control Unit) 1
15 is connected to a GSTN (General Switched Telephone Network) 114 such as a telephone line or a dedicated line controlled by a modem, and a modem control (ITU-T Recommendation,
V. Modem (V.34 / 25ter) 113
V. 8) Transmission / reception communication with the outside is executed via 112, and multiplexing / demultiplexing unit (ITU-T recommendation, H.223: channel multiplexing / synchronization transmission system) 111 multiplexes a plurality of signals in the case of transmission. , Into a plurality of signals for reception. In the present videophone device 100, images, sound, and data are exchanged with the corresponding videophone device.

When the physical line is established, first, the system control unit 108 communicates with a partner terminal that performs videophone communication by using a control protocol (ITU-T recommendation, H.245: image coding / communication system) 109. Perform the capacity exchange procedure between As a result of this capacity exchange, the system controller 10
8 obtains information on the image and voice expansion capabilities of the partner terminal. Regarding the video I / O device 101, the video encoding (ITU-T recommendation H.263 / H.261) 102 is performed as a result of the capability exchange, and as a result, the system control unit 108
4 / V. 8) Perform image compression processing within the range of the image expansion capability of the partner terminal obtained via 112.

[0006] Similarly, the audio I / O device 1
03, audio coding (ITU-T Recommendation, G.
723.1) 104 is the system control 1 as a result of the capability exchange.
08 performs audio compression processing within the range of the audio decompression capability of the partner terminal acquired, and receives the video signal via the delay circuit 105 on the reception path at the same timing as the video. For the user data application 106, a data protocol (V.14, LAPM, etc.) 107 obtains a data rate and exchanges data at a corresponding rate if the capability can be exchanged with a communication partner. Also, the system control unit 108
Is the control protocol section (ITU-T Recommendation, H.245)
109 and SRP / LAPM Procedure Section (SimpleRetransmissi
On Protocol / Link Access Procedures for Modem 110 and the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 111, control system data and capacity exchange are communicated.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of operation in the conventional videophone device 100.

When a videophone is started (step S10)
1) First, a physical line is established (step S102).
Next, the system control 108 transmits the capability information of the own terminal to the partner terminal (step S103). At the same time, the system control 108 receives the capability information of the partner terminal from the partner terminal (step S104). The video encoding 102 sets the image compression mode within the range of the image expansion capability of the partner terminal (step S105). At the same time, the audio encoder 104 sets the audio compression mode within the range of the audio expansion capability of the partner terminal (step S106).

The video encoding 102 is performed in step S105.
Video I / O device 101 in the image compression mode set in
Starts the compression processing of the image signal input from (step S107). At the same time, the audio encoding unit 104 starts the compression processing of the audio signal input from the audio I / O device 103 in the audio compression mode set in step S106 (step S108).

The multiplexing / demultiplexing 111 is used for the video encoding 102
Image data and audio encoding 10 input from
Multiplexed with the compressed audio data input from the terminal 4, and transmits the obtained multiplexed data to the partner terminal (step S
109) Then, the image / voice communication of the videophone is started (step S110).

An image transmission apparatus for transmitting and receiving image data in spread spectrum communication is disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. -70641 discloses a technique for solving the limitations of spread spectrum communication with respect to the display capability, display resolution, transmission speed, and the like of a partner terminal. Not listed.

Further, a video conference call is disclosed in
As described in JP-A-1989302, this publication intends to use a cartridge in which a main part of a communication control processing means based on a predetermined procedure can be attached and detached, which is different from the subject of the present invention. It is.

[0013] Further, a video telephone apparatus and a data transmission method are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-195947, but this publication discloses a method of transmitting voice even when using a communication line having a low transmission rate and easily causing transmission errors. It is intended to prevent image interruption and to transmit image data accurately, and is characterized by transmitting data in which a transfer error has occurred again according to the frequency of occurrence of a transfer error, which is different from the problem according to the present invention. is there.

[0014]

However, the prior art described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 has a problem in the performance of interconnection between videophones and terminals of other companies.

That is, as a result of the capability information exchange procedure,
In accordance with only the acquired image expansion capability and audio expansion capability of the partner terminal, the setting of the image and audio compression operations of the own terminal has been performed. Therefore, if the partner terminal presents an erroneous image expansion and audio expansion capability at the time of the capability exchange, set the image compression mode and audio compression mode of the own terminal within the range of the image expansion capability and audio expansion capability of the partner terminal. However, in spite of operating the image compression device and the audio compression device, there is a possibility that the other terminal cannot normally perform the image expansion or the audio expansion process.

The present invention provides a video telephone apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems, and which responds to the image expansion capability and audio expansion capability of the partner terminal obtained by exchanging the capability information with the partner terminal immediately after the start of communication. In addition to setting the image compression mode and audio compression mode, know the image and audio compression mode setting of the other terminal from the compressed image data and compressed audio data actually received from the other terminal, and within this mode setting It is an object to perform image compression and audio compression.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a video telephone apparatus for transmitting and receiving images and voices, comprising: an analyzing means for analyzing compressed image data and compressed voice data actually received from a partner terminal; And a mode detecting means for acquiring an audio compression mode, wherein the setting of the image and audio compression apparatus of the own terminal is performed within the range of the mode obtained by the mode detecting means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video telephone for transmitting and receiving an image, comprising: an analyzing means for analyzing compressed image data actually received from a partner terminal; and a mode setting mode for image compression within a compression setting range of the partner terminal. And setting means for performing the setting.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video telephone for transmitting and receiving audio, comprising: analyzing means for analyzing compressed audio data actually received from a partner terminal; and setting a mode of audio compression within a compression setting range of the partner terminal. And setting means for performing the setting.

Further, the present invention relates to a video telephone apparatus for transmitting and receiving images and voices, a terminal control for outputting image expansion capability information and voice expansion capability information of a communication partner terminal obtained by capability exchange with the partner terminal. Apparatus, analysis means for analyzing the compressed image data and compressed sound data received by the own terminal, and the image compression apparatus and sound of the own terminal according to the image compression mode and the sound compression mode of the partner terminal obtained by the analysis means Setting means for setting an operation mode of the compression device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a mode setting method of a videophone device for setting an operation mode of an image compression device of the terminal, wherein after starting videophone communication, image capability information of the partner terminal received from the partner terminal is transmitted. Detecting, at the same time expanding the received compressed image data received from the partner terminal by the image decompression device, detecting the operation mode information of the image compression device of the partner terminal at that time from the received compressed image data,
Image compression is performed by the image compression device of the own terminal within the range of the image capability information and the operation mode information.

According to the present invention, there is provided a mode setting method for a videophone device for setting an operation mode of a voice compression device of the terminal, wherein after starting videophone communication, voice capability information of the partner terminal received from the partner terminal is transmitted. Detecting and expanding the voice compression data received from the partner terminal by a voice decompression device, and simultaneously detecting the operation mode information of the voice compression device of the partner terminal at that time, within the range of the voice capability information and the operation mode information. And performs audio compression with the audio compression device of the terminal itself.

[0023]

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

[Configuration of the Present Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the videophone device according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a video telephone device connected to a telephone public line, a dedicated line, or an Internet line, etc., 2 denotes a video camera for photographing a conference hall, a person talking, and the like; An image compression device for compressing the video signal and the photographed image signal of the camera, 4 is a microphone for collecting the voice of the conference hall and the voice of the speaker, and 5 is a microphone 4.
6 is a sound compression device for compressing the sound signal from the other, 6 is a display such as a cathode ray tube, a flat panel, a liquid crystal device, etc., which displays a photographed image signal of the other party, 7 is a compressed image signal of the other party and an image of the other party An image decompression device for outputting the compression mode setting information to the augmenting compression device 3, a speaker 8 including earphones and headphones for outputting a voice signal of the other party, and a decompression device 9 for expanding the compressed audio signal of the other party and the other party This is an audio decompression device that outputs the compression mode setting information of the compressed audio signal to the audio compression device.

A reference numeral 10 matches the image compression device 3 and the audio compression device 5 according to the capability information of the other party.
A terminal control device 11 for controlling the entire video telephone apparatus multiplexes and transmits the compressed signals of the image compression device 3 and the audio compression device 5, and multiplexes the multiplexed image compression signal and audio compression of the other side from the line. A multiplexing / restoring device 12 for separating and restoring a signal is a line interface such as a modem, a terminal adapter, and a router connected to a public line network or a dedicated line network.

Although not shown in this configuration, data and facsimile data and the like are generated and transmitted, and data from the other party is obtained, and an image transmitted by connecting to the facsimile is output. Alternatively, the videophone conference may be activated by utilizing not only voices and images but also multimedia such as various types of data.

Referring to FIG. 1, a video camera 2 outputs a photographed image signal. The image compression device 3 is a terminal control device 1
From 0, the image expansion capability information of the partner terminal, the image compression mode setting information of the partner terminal from the image expander 7, and the captured image signal from the video camera 2 are input, and the compressed image signal is output.

The microphone 4 outputs an audio signal. The voice compression device 5 inputs voice expansion capability information of the partner terminal from the terminal control device 10, voice compression mode setting information of the partner terminal from the voice expansion device 9, and a voice signal from the microphone 4, and outputs a compressed voice signal. . The image decompression device 7 receives the compressed image signal of the partner terminal from the multiplexing / decompression device 11, outputs the decompressed image signal to the display 6, and simultaneously converts the image compression mode setting information obtained from the compressed image signal of the partner terminal into an image. Output to the compression device 3. The display 6 displays an expanded image signal output from the image expansion device 7.

The audio decompression device 9 receives the compressed audio signal of the partner terminal from the multiplexing / decompression device 11, outputs the decompressed audio signal to the speaker 8, and simultaneously compresses the audio obtained from the compressed audio signal of the partner terminal. The mode setting information is output to the audio compression device 5. The speaker 7 reproduces an expanded audio signal output from the audio expansion device 9.

The multiplexing / decompressing device 11 includes a compressed image signal input from the image compressing device 3 and an audio compressing device 5.
And multiplexes the compressed audio signal input from the terminal control information and the terminal control information including the own terminal capability information input from the terminal control device 10, and outputs multiplexed data to the line interface 12. The multiplexed data of the partner terminal input from the line interface 12 is multiplexed and restored, and the compressed image data is transmitted to the image decompression device 7, the compressed audio data is transmitted to the audio decompression device 9, and the capability information of the destination terminal is transmitted. The included terminal control information is output to the terminal control device 10.

The line interface 12 is multiplexed
The multiplexed data is input from the restoration device 11 and the multiplexed data is output to the partner terminal via the line, and simultaneously, the multiplexed data is input from the partner terminal via the line and the multiplexed data is output to the multiplexing / restoring device 11. I do. The terminal control device 10
The terminal control information including the capability information of the own terminal is output to the multiplexing / restoring device 11 and, at the same time, the partner terminal control information including the capability information of the partner terminal is input from the multiplexing / restoring device 11. Further, based on the input capability information of the partner terminal, the image expansion capability information of the partner terminal is transmitted to the image compression device 3.
The voice expansion capability information of the partner terminal is output to the voice compression device 5.

[Explanation of Operation of the Present Embodiment] Next, the operation of the block diagram of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, a physical line connection is established between the videophone device 1 and a partner terminal via a line to establish a data line. Next, the terminal control device 1 of the videophone device 1
0 and the terminal control device of the partner terminal exchange the capability information of the own terminal respectively. The terminal control device 10 outputs to the multiplexing / restoring device 11 terminal control information including information on the image expansion capability of the terminal itself and information on the audio expansion capability. The multiplexing / restoring device 11 outputs the terminal control information output from the terminal control device 10 to the line interface 12, and the line interface 12 transmits the multiplexed data including the terminal control information of the own terminal to the partner terminal via the line. Send At the same time, the line interface 12 receives the multiplexed data including the terminal control information of the partner terminal received from the partner terminal, and
Output to 1. The multiplexing / restoring device 11 transmits multiplexed data including terminal control information of the partner terminal to the line interface 1.
When receiving from the terminal 2, the multiplex restoration processing is performed, and the terminal control information of the partner terminal is output to the terminal control device 10. Thus, the terminal control device 10 can know the capability information of the partner terminal.

The terminal control device 10 outputs the image expansion capability information of the partner terminal to the image compression device 3 based on the input capability information of the partner terminal. The image compression device 3 sets an operation mode of image compression based on the image expansion capability information of the partner terminal output by the terminal control device 10. Here, the operation mode of the image compression is set within the range of the image expansion capability information of the partner terminal. At the same time, the terminal control device 10 outputs the voice expansion capability information of the partner terminal to the voice compression device 5 based on the input capability information of the partner terminal. The voice compression device 5 sets an operation mode of voice compression based on the voice expansion capability information of the partner terminal output from the terminal control device 10.
Here, the operation mode of the audio compression is set within the range of the audio expansion capability information of the partner terminal.

As described above, when the capabilities are exchanged with the partner terminal and the operation mode is set to the image compression device 3 and the audio compression device 5 of the own terminal, the transmission of the image and the audio is started. . The image compression device 3 performs a compression process on a captured image signal input from the video camera 2 and starts outputting compressed image data to the multiplexing / decompression device 11. Similarly, the audio compression device 5 performs a compression process on an audio signal input from the microphone 4 and starts outputting compressed audio data to the multiplexing / decompression device 11. The compressed image data and the compressed audio data input to the multiplexing / decompressing device 11 are subjected to multiplexing processing and transmitted to the partner terminal via the line interface 12.

Next, the line interface 1 is sent from the partner terminal.
The multiplexed data received via the communication terminal 2 is subjected to multiplexing / decompression processing by the multiplexing / decompressing device 11 to obtain compressed image data and compressed audio data transmitted from the partner terminal. The obtained compressed image data is output to the image expansion device 7, and the compressed audio data is output to the audio expansion device 9. The image decompression device 7 decompresses the input compressed image data of the partner terminal, draws the obtained decompressed image signal on the display 6, and displays the video of the partner terminal. Further, the audio decompression device 9 expands the input compressed audio data of the partner terminal, and the obtained decompressed audio signal is reproduced and output by the speaker 8 to reproduce the voice of the partner terminal.

Here, when expanding the compressed image data received from the partner terminal, the image expansion device 7 analyzes the mode of the image compression data. That is, the mode setting such as the extension setting in the image compression device of the partner terminal is known from the received image compression data. The image decompression device 7 outputs the determined image compression mode setting information of the partner terminal to the image compression device 3. The image compression device 3 includes: a counterpart terminal image decompression capability information obtained by the terminal control device 10 through the capability exchange with the counterpart terminal;
The image compression mode is set within the range of the image compression mode setting information of the partner terminal obtained by the image decompression device 7, and the image signal is compressed.

Similarly, when expanding the compressed audio data received from the partner terminal, the audio expansion device 9 analyzes the mode of the audio compressed data. That is, the mode setting such as the extension setting in the voice compression device of the partner terminal is known from the received voice compression data. The determined voice compression mode setting information of the partner terminal is output to the voice compression device 5 of the terminal itself. The voice compression device 5 includes a partner terminal voice expansion capability information obtained by the terminal control device 10 through a capability exchange with the partner terminal,
The voice compression mode is set within the range of the voice compression mode setting information of the partner terminal obtained by the voice decompression device 9, and the voice signal is compressed.

By performing these operations, the image compression device and the audio compression device of the own terminal can control the image expansion capability and the audio expansion capability of the other terminal and the image compression mode and the audio compression mode of the other terminal. Compression processing will be performed. Generally, at least connectivity is established between the videophone devices of the company, so that the image and audio compression capability is not set to exceed the image and audio expansion capability. Therefore, by setting the compression mode setting of image and audio within the range of the mode analyzed from the compressed image data and compressed audio data of the partner terminal, the compressed image data and compressed audio data are always You can draw and play.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation mode setting of image compression in the videophone terminal 1.

In FIG. 2, the image compression mode 23 finally set in the image compression device of the terminal itself is known by the terminal control device 10 through the image compression capability 20 originally possessed by the terminal and the capability exchange between terminals. Image expansion capability 21 of partner terminal
Is set based on the wrapped portion (the shaded portion in FIG. 2) of the image compression capability 22 of the partner terminal known from the received compressed image data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of operation in the videophone terminal 1. The operation of the videophone device will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when a videophone is started (step S1), a physical line is first established (step S2). Next, the terminal control device 10 transmits the capability information of the own terminal to the partner terminal via the multiplexing / restoring device 11 and the line interface 12 (step S3). Terminal control device 10
Receives the capability information of the partner terminal from the partner terminal via the line interface 12 and the multiplexing / restoring device 11 (step S4). The image compression device 3 sets the image compression mode within the range of the image expansion capability of the partner terminal input from the terminal control device 10 (Step S5). At the same time, the voice compression device 5 sets the voice compression mode within the range of the voice expansion capability of the partner terminal input from the terminal control device 10 (step S6).

Next, the multiplexing / decompressing device 11 receives the multiplexed data of the partner terminal via the line interface 12, and performs multiplexing / demultiplexing processing on the compressed image data and the compressed audio data, respectively (step S7). The image decompression device 7 decompresses the demultiplexed compressed image data and, at the same time, acquires the image compression mode setting of the partner terminal by analyzing the compressed image data (step S8). Also, the audio decompression device 9 expands the demultiplexed compressed audio data and, at the same time, acquires the audio compression mode setting of the partner terminal by analyzing the compressed audio data (Step S).
9).

The image compression device 3 newly sets an image compression mode within the range between the image compression mode set in step S5 and the image compression mode of the partner terminal acquired in step S8 (step S10). Similarly, the voice compression device 5 newly sets a voice compression mode within the range of the voice compression mode set in step S6 and the voice compression mode of the partner terminal acquired in step S9 (step S11). . Then, the image compression device 3 starts compression processing of the image signal input from the video camera 2 (Step S12), and similarly, the audio compression device 5 starts compression processing of the audio signal input from the microphone 4. (Step S13).

Next, the multiplexing / decompressing device 11 multiplexes the compressed image data input from the image compressing device 3 and the compressed audio data input from the audio compressing device 5 to obtain the multiplexed data. Is transmitted to the partner terminal via the line interface 12 (step S14), thereby starting the image / voice communication of the videophone (step S1).
5). Thereafter, a communication system such as a video telephone apparatus operates realistically, a user can utilize a smooth video conference without any inconvenience, and the connection performance in the interconnection between other companies can be improved.

A specific example of the image compression mode 23 set in the image compression apparatus of the terminal shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In the operation mode setting of the image compression in the videophone terminal 1, the image compression and expansion (ITU-T recommendation,
H. 263) include, for example, the following. (A) Extended prediction mode: a mode using overlap block motion compensation (OBMC) for a luminance signal of a P picture; (b) arithmetic coding mode: also called a sync tack arithmetic coding mode, instead of variable coding (C) Unrestricted motion vector mode: a mode that is effective when there is motion in the camera, and in which a motion vector is allowed to point outside the picture. (D) PB frame mode: the previous P picture and There is a mode in which a B picture to be interpolated from the next P picture is generated and the picture rate can be increased without increasing the bit rate much.

Therefore, in the framework shown in FIG. 2, the image compression capability 20 of the own terminal, which can be known by the own terminal, is defined by
(A) to (c), and the image compression capability of the partner terminal known from the received compressed image data is (a) ((a) to (c)). b) and (d), as indicated by the hatched portion in FIG. 2, the image compression mode 23 set in the image compression device of the own terminal includes the extended prediction mode in (a), the arithmetic encoding mode in (b) Become. In this way, the capability of the own device and the capability of the partner device are mutually communicated, and communication can be performed with mutually optimal, that is, with the maximum value of the mutual ability.

In each of the above embodiments, the compression / expansion mode using images and voices has been described. However, for multimedia such as data transmission and facsimile transmission, data transmission rates and facsimile G3 and G4 modes can be set. The present invention can be applied.

[0050]

According to the present invention, the image compression mode and the audio compression mode are set according to the image expansion capability and the audio expansion capability of the partner terminal obtained by exchanging the capability with the partner terminal immediately after the start of communication. In addition to performing this, the user knows the image and audio compression mode setting of the other terminal from the compressed image data and compressed audio data actually received from the other terminal, and performs image compression and audio compression within the range of this mode setting. The connection performance in the interconnection of the device between other companies is improved.

The image and sound compression mode of the partner terminal is as follows.
Generally, the connectivity between the other terminals is guaranteed,
It does not exceed the image and sound expansion capabilities of the partner terminal. Therefore, if the image and sound compression mode of the own terminal is set within the range of the image and sound compression mode of the partner terminal, the interconnectivity between the own terminal and the partner terminal is compensated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation mode setting of the image compression apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional videophone device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional videophone device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1,100 Videophone device 2 Video camera 3 Image compression device 4 Microphone 5 Audio compression device 6 Display 7 Image expansion device 8 Speaker 9 Audio expansion device 10 Terminal control device 11 Multiplexing / restoring device 12 Line interface 20 Image compression of own terminal Capability 21 Image compression capability of partner terminal learned from capability exchange between terminals 22 Image compression capability of partner terminal learned from received compressed image data 23 Image compression mode set in image compression device of own terminal 101 Video I / O device 102 Video code 103 Audio I / O device 104 Audio encoding 105 Reception path delay circuit 106 User data application 107 Data protocol 108 System control 109 Control protocol 110 SRP / LAPM procedure 111 Multiplexing / demultiplexing circuit 112 Modem 113 Modem control unit 114 GSTN network 115 MCU

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A video telephone for transmitting and receiving images and sounds, an analysis means for analyzing compressed image data and compressed audio data actually received from a partner terminal, and a mode for acquiring an image and sound compression mode of the partner terminal. A video phone device comprising: a detection unit; and setting of the image and voice compression device of the own terminal within a range of the mode obtained by the mode detection unit. 2. A video telephone for transmitting and receiving images, an analyzing means for analyzing compressed image data actually received from a partner terminal, and a setting means for setting an image compression mode within a range of the compression setting of the partner terminal. A videophone device comprising: 3. A video telephone apparatus for transmitting and receiving voice, wherein: an analyzing means for analyzing compressed voice data actually received from a partner terminal; and a setting means for setting a mode of voice compression within a compression setting range of the partner terminal. A videophone device comprising: 4. A videophone device for transmitting and receiving images and voices, comprising: a terminal control device for outputting image expansion capability information and voice expansion capability information of a communication partner terminal obtained by capability exchange with a partner terminal; Analysis means for analyzing the compressed image data and compressed audio data received by the terminal, and operation of the image compression apparatus and the audio compression apparatus of the own terminal according to the image compression mode and the audio compression mode of the partner terminal obtained by the analysis means A videophone device comprising: a setting means for setting a mode. 5. A videophone mode setting method for setting an operation mode of an image compression device of a terminal, comprising: starting videophone communication, detecting image capability information of the partner terminal received from the partner terminal, At the same time as expanding the received compressed image data received from the partner terminal by the image decompression device, the operation mode information of the image compression device of the partner terminal at that time is detected from the received compressed image data, and the image capability information and the operation mode information are A mode setting method for a videophone device, wherein image compression is performed by the image compression device of the terminal within the range of (1). 6. A videophone device mode setting method for setting an operation mode of a voice compression device of a terminal device, wherein after starting videophone communication, voice capability information of the partner terminal received from the partner terminal is detected. At the same time as the voice compression data received from the partner terminal is expanded by the voice decompression device, the operation mode information of the voice compression device of the partner terminal at that time is detected, and the own terminal within the range of the voice capability information and the operation mode information. A mode setting method for a videophone device, characterized in that audio compression is performed by an audio compression device.