JP2000224558A - Image transmitter, image processor, image display system and their method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image processor by requesting still picture information to a host when the still picture information is required and displaying a picture based on received moving picture information or still picture information to cope with requests without deteriorating the response of the image display system even when the requests of the same still picture are concentrated within a short time interval. SOLUTION: A system control section 1212 discriminates whether or not still picture data of a still generating to be displayed are stored in a data buffer 1207. When not stored, the system control section 1212 controls a high speed serial I/F control section 1206 to request transfer of the still picture data to a host. Upon the receipt of the requested still picture data, the high speed serial I/F control section 1206 gives the data to the data buffer 1207. The received still picture data are fed to a display section 13 via a digital video transmission section 1211 similarly to the case with a moving picture, where the requested still picture by a user is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus, an image processing apparatus, an image display system, and a method therefor. Method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called conference in which data and materials are presented and discussed, in consideration of the convenience and efficiency, information in which materials and data are digitized is displayed corresponding to each participant. There is a system called an electronic conferencing system or a presentation system for displaying on a device. Display data in such a system includes materials, still images, moving images, and animations (wipe, resolve, etc.) prepared in advance. In addition, there is a moving image as a real-time processing to show the action to the participants, such as indicating a point of interest of the material or adding data to the data during the discussion.

[0003]

As an electronic conferencing system, a system in which a plurality of personal computers (PCs) are connected by a local area network (LAN) is generally used, but the cost is high because a large number of PCs are used. . In addition, the PC and Ethe used for these systems
In LANs such as rnet, it is difficult to communicate the display screen as it is due to restrictions on the configuration of the PC and the bandwidth of the LAN, and the image quality and expressiveness of the display images in these systems are poor.

By the way, in many cases, these applications only need to be able to connect a plurality of display devices to one host computer that stores and manages materials and data. As one of the methods, there is an apparatus in which a dedicated repeater is connected to a standard display output of a PC to connect a plurality of displays. However, although the display output in this case is a standard but an analog signal, there is a problem that image quality is deteriorated when the resolution is increased or the connection distance is increased.

In the case of a moving image, only one system of images can be transferred, and it is difficult to display different images on a plurality of display devices.

On the other hand, there are systems that display different still images on a plurality of display devices using the memory function and low transfer rate of a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device (FLCD), but the interface is special. It is difficult to transfer moving images and still images simultaneously.

[0007] Still image data can be transmitted to all display devices in advance, but there is a problem that as the data amount increases, the storage capacity of the memory required for the display device increases.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem. Even if requests for the same still image are concentrated in a short time, image transmission which can respond to those requests without deteriorating the response. It is an object to provide an apparatus, an image processing apparatus, an image display system, and a method thereof.

[0009]

The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

[0010] An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit for receiving moving image information from a host, a communication unit for performing communication between the host and another image display device, and a receiving unit for receiving the moving image information via the communication unit. Storage means for storing still image information for a predetermined screen, and requesting means for requesting the still image information to the host via the communication means when still image information not stored in the storage means is required. Display control means for displaying an image based on the received moving image information or the still image information stored in the storage means.

[0011] An image processing method according to the present invention includes a receiving means for receiving moving image information from a host, a communication means for communicating between the host and another image processing apparatus, and a communication means for receiving moving image information from the host. A storage means for storing still image information for a predetermined screen, wherein when still image information not stored in the storage means is required, the still image information is transmitted to the communication means. And controlling display of an image based on moving image information received and requested from the host through the still image information stored in the storage means.

[0012] An image transmitting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a moving image transmitting means for transmitting moving image information to at least one client, a communicating means for communicating with the client, and a still image transmitting still image information via the communicating means. Image transmission means, and when a request for still image information is received from the client via the communication means, instructs all clients to search for the requested still image information via the communication means, and performs the search. Control means for controlling the transfer of the requested still image information based on the result.

[0013] An image transmission method according to the present invention comprises: moving image transmitting means for transmitting moving image information to at least one client; communication means for communicating with the client;
A transmission method for an image transmitting apparatus including a still image transmitting unit that transmits still image information via the communication unit, wherein a request for still image information is received from the client via the communication unit. The search of the requested still image information is instructed to all the clients via the communication means, and the transfer of the requested still image information is controlled based on the search result.

[0014] An image display system according to the present invention transmits a moving image information, a host for transmitting still image information representing at least one image corresponding to the transmitted moving image information, and receives the moving image information. And a plurality of display devices for buffering a predetermined number of screens of the still image information and displaying an image based on the received moving image information or the buffered still image information.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image display system for performing display control according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0016]

[First Embodiment] [System Configuration] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image display system for performing display control according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a display control system applied to, for example, a conference system. .

In FIG. 1, on a host PC (personal computer) 11, application software for realizing a conference system operates. This software generates and outputs image data to be displayed on the display unit 13. Host PC11
Controls the display distribution unit 12, the display unit 13, the touch panel 14, and the keyboard (KB) unit 15, and exchanges data with them.

The display distribution unit 12 receives display data from the bus 10, demodulates the data, and displays an image represented by the display data on the display unit 13 connected to each of the display data. Also, data input from the touch panel 14 and the KB unit 15 is
Relay to the host PC 11 via 10. The display unit 13 is a dot matrix panel type display device having an interface (I / F) for inputting digital video. The display unit 13 has a touch panel 14.

The touch panel 14 is put on or attached to the display surface of the display unit 13. Then, when a dedicated pen or finger or the like is brought into contact with or close to a certain point on the surface, the position on the display surface of the display unit 13 (correctly, the position of the touch panel surface on the display surface of the display unit 13) is detected, The position data is transferred to the display distribution unit 12. There are many detection methods such as a method for detecting a change in resistance or capacitance, a method using ultrasonic waves or electromagnetic induction, and any method can be used, but detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The keyboard section 15 transfers a code generated in response to the pressed key to the display distribution section 12. The display distribution unit 12, the display unit 13, the touch panel 14, and the keyboard unit 15 constitute a set of display devices (clients),
Since this set functions as a conference terminal, this set may be hereinafter referred to as a “conference terminal device”.

Each conference terminal device in the conference system is assigned a unique conference terminal ID when the conference system is started. The conference terminal IDs in a conference system having n conference terminal devices are, for example, TNo.1 to TNo.n. The conference terminal ID is a high-speed serial I /
Since the data is stored in the F control unit 1206 and the system control unit 1212, transfer and control of data specifying the conference terminal can be performed.

On the other hand, the host PC 11 manages the conference terminal ID and the number of conference terminal devices, and dynamically allocates the conference terminal ID as the conference terminal device is turned on and off. In order to perform this management, the main memory 113 of the host PC 11 is assigned a register for storing the number of operating conference terminals and a counter for counting the number of conference terminals. This counter is
Initialized to "1" when the conference system managed by 11 is started.

The distributor 16 is a distributor or a hub (HUB) for branching one bus 10 into, for example, five buses, or for focusing five buses into one bus. Repeater 1
Reference numeral 7 denotes a one-input one-output distributor used to extend the length of the bus 10 beyond the standard.

[Host PC] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the host PC 11. A microprocessor unit (MPU) 111 executes various programs and executes an internal bus.
The internal and external parts of the host PC 11 are controlled via 111a. In addition,
MPU 111 includes a cache memory and its control unit.

The control unit 112 manages the internal bus 111,
Control is performed so that the internal bus 111 is used efficiently.

The main memory 113 is a memory, and is used as a work area when the operation system (OS) and application programs executed by the MPU 111 are executed, and a temporary storage area for various data. The captured still image data transferred in the present embodiment may be temporarily stored in the main storage 113 in some cases.

The hard disk drive (HDD) 114 is an MPU 1
It is a storage device used as a storage area and a backup area for programs executed by 11 and other various data. The captured still image data transferred in the present embodiment is stored in the HDD 114.

The display control unit 115 is controlled by the MPU 111 and outputs digital RGB display data, various synchronization signals, and a dot clock. The digital RGB display data is usually raster scan display bitmap data output from a PC. Therefore, even when the digital RGB display data is not output or the digital RGB display data does not change, the output of the synchronization signal needs to be continued to continue the display.

The digital video transmission unit 116 is an interface for serially transferring a digital video signal for transferring digital RGB display data, a synchronization signal, and a dot clock to an external display device. In the present embodiment, VESA is used as the digital video
(Video Electronics Standards Association) Plug an
A control LSI that uses a transfer method standardized by dDisplay Standard (a transfer method called silicon image panel link) is used. Here, the serialized data is output to the serial video bus 10a via the connector 117.

High-speed serial interface (I / F) controller 1
The connector 18 is connected to the high-speed serial bus 10b via the connector 119, controls the high-speed serial bus 10b, and transmits and receives data. The high-speed serial bus 10b has IEEE1
I / F based on 394 standard is used. The high-speed serial I / F control unit is controlled by the MPU 111, converts parallel data received from the internal bus 111a into serial data and outputs it, converts serial data input from the outside into parallel data, and converts Transfer to The connector
Power is also supplied to 119, and power can be supplied from the host PC 11 to external devices.

The serial video bus 10a and the high-speed serial bus 10b are put together as a bus 10, and
7, connected to the distributor 16 and the display distributor 12.

[Display Distributing Unit] FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the display distributing unit 12.

Reference numeral 1201a denotes an input connector, which is a bus in which the high-speed serial bus 10b and the serial video bus 10a arrived via the host PC 11, the repeater 17, and the distributor 16 are combined.
Connect to 10.

The digital video receiving unit 1202 is the same as that described above.
It is composed of a control LSI for receiving panel link of VESA standard, and demodulates digital RGB display data, various synchronization signals and dot clock sent from the host PC11.
The demodulated data and the dot clock are input to the data control unit 1209, and are transmitted to the transmission data buffer unit 1212.
Transferred to 03.

The transmission data buffer unit 1203 is composed of a FIFO memory and its control unit, and transmits demodulated data input in synchronization with the demodulated dot clock to a clock (CL).
K) Output to the digital video transmission unit 1205 in synchronization with the clock generated by the generation unit 1204.

A clock (CLK) generating unit 1204 receives the data demodulated by the digital video receiving unit 1202,
A clock and control signals required for the transmission data buffer unit 1203 and the digital video transmission unit 1205 are generated.

The digital video transmission unit 1205 modulates the RGB data, various synchronization signals and clocks input from the transmission data buffer unit 1203 by a panel link system according to the VESA standard, and outputs the modulated data to the bus 10 via the connector 1201b. I do.

The high-speed serial bus I / F control unit 1206 is an IEEE1
Consists of 394 LSIs that control the physical and link layers,
The signal input to the connector 1201a is branched to the connector 1201b. Further, the high-speed serial bus I / F control unit 1206 is controlled by the system control unit 1212 via the control bus 1212a, and transmits and receives data (data on the data bus 1212b) necessary for the display distribution unit 12.

Of the data received by the display distribution unit 12,
The compressed still image data used in this embodiment is
The data is stored in the data buffer 1207 via the data bus 1212b and the buffer control unit 1207a. The data buffer 1207 for temporarily storing the compressed still image data is a random accessible memory having a storage capacity of at least five still image screens. A buffer control unit 1207a controlled by the system control unit 1212 controls reading and writing of compressed still image data from and to the data buffer 1207.

The still image decompression unit 1208 includes a system control unit 1212
And decompresses the compressed image data stored in the data buffer 1207 into bitmap data. The decompressed bitmap data is stored in the frame buffer 1210 via the data control unit 1209.

The data control unit 1209 includes a system control unit 1212
To control writing and reading of the frame buffer 1210. That is, the RGB bitmap moving image data input from the digital video receiving unit 1202 and the still image bitmap image data input from the still image decompressing unit 1208 are written into the frame buffer 1210, and the digital video transmitting unit 1205 Reading of image data from the frame buffer 1210 for transmitting image data is controlled by the data control unit 1209.

The digital video transmission unit 1211 has the same function as the digital video transmission unit 1205,
The display digital data input from 09 is output to the display unit 13.

The system control unit 1212 sends coordinate data and key codes input from the touch panel 14 and the keyboard unit 15 to the high-speed serial bus I / F control unit 1206 via the control bus 1212a.
A control signal is input from the / F control unit 1206, and the data buffer 12
07, the still image decompression unit 1208 and the data control unit 1209 are generally controlled. The system control unit 1212 and the touch panel
RS232C, RS422
And a serial interface such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) is used.

The system control unit 1212 has various tables and registers necessary for control. Of these, those directly related to the present embodiment are shown in FIG. 3B.

The moving image / still image display flag is a flag indicating whether the display unit 13 of the conference terminal device controlled by the system control unit 1212 is currently displaying a moving image or a still image.
Each time the display is switched, it is rewritten by the system control unit 1212.

The corresponding still image ID register is
Indicates the ID of the still image corresponding to the ID of the moving image data sent from 11. Note that these IDs will be described later.

In the display still image ID register, when a still image is displayed on the display unit 13 of the conference terminal device, the ID of the still image is stored. When a moving image is displayed on the display unit 13, the display still image ID register is invalid.

The last still picture ID register stores an ID indicating the last still picture used in the conference system. This final still image ID is sent from the host PC 11 when the conference system is started.

Each of the stored still image ID registers 0 to 4 is for managing the still image data stored in the data buffer 1207, and stores those still image IDs.
The still image ID is included in the header portion of the transmitted still image data. These registers are
, Ie, the number of still images that can be stored.

[Keyboard Unit] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the keyboard unit 15. The keyboard unit 15 is different from a normal alphanumeric keyboard and is composed of several keys having specific functions.

A key 601 is a key for requesting that the first page be displayed from a still image file stored as a part of the presentation file and stored in the host PC 11. Key 602 is a key for requesting display of a page before the currently displayed screen (corresponding still image). Key 603 is a key for requesting display of a page after the currently displayed screen (corresponding still image). The key 604 is a key for requesting to display the last page from a still image file captured and stored in the host PC 11.

A key 605 is used to switch the display content of the screen to presentation moving image data commonly displayed in a conference or presentation, regardless of the content currently displayed. A key 606 is a key for requesting start / end of writing to the touch panel 14.
When the lamp incorporated in the key 606 is turned on and used for a rewriting request, it indicates that the rewriting is permitted, and the initial state is a light-off (writing is not permitted) state.

By pressing the key 606, the host PC 11
When the request is made and the request is permitted, the lamp is turned on, and the operation of the touch panel 14 connected to the display distribution unit 12 together with the keyboard unit 15 is enabled. When the key 606 is pressed again with the lamp turned on, the writing to the touch panel 14 ends, and the lamp is turned off.

[Distributor] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the distributor 16. Six connectors 16 for inputting and outputting signals
5, the outer shape is the same, but five connectors 165 connected to the digital video transmitting unit 164 for input and five connectors 165 connected to the digital video receiving unit 161 at the left end of the figure are used for input. is there.

The input / output here relates to the direction in which the digital video signal flows through the serial video bus 10a. The upstream side is the input and the downstream side is the output. On the other hand, the signal flowing through the high-speed serial bus 10b is transmitted bidirectionally.

The digital video receiving section 161 has the same function as the display distribution section 1202, and demodulates the modulated digital video data input via the bus 10 into RGB data, a synchronization signal, and a dot clock. Data buffer section
162 is composed of a FIFO and its control unit, and synchronizes the demodulated data input in synchronization with the demodulated dot clock with the clock generated by the clock (CLK) generation unit 163, thereby forming six digital video Output to transmitting section 164.

The clock generator 163 receives the demodulated data from the digital video receiver 161 and outputs the data to the data buffer 1.
A clock and a control signal required for the digital video transmitter 62 and the digital video transmission unit 164 are generated.

The digital video transmission section 164 modulates the RGB data, the synchronization signal and the clock input from the data buffer section 162 by a panel link system conforming to the VESA standard, and transmits the modulated data to the bus 10 via the connector 165. .

[Repeater] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the repeater 17, which has a single digital video transmission unit in the distributor 16 shown in FIG. Accordingly, the connector 171 is connected to the connector 161, the digital video receiving unit 172 is connected to the digital video receiving unit 161, the data buffer unit 173 is connected to the data buffer unit 162, and the CLK generating unit 174 is connected to the CLK generating unit 163.
The digital video transmission unit 175 is connected to the digital video transmission unit 164, and the high-speed serial I / F control unit 177 is connected to the high-speed serial I / F.
Since they correspond to the / F control units 166 and have the same functions, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[Data] Next, display data including a moving image for presentation in this embodiment and a still image file captured therefrom will be described.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show examples of special effects of slide display in presentations.

Slide A shown in FIG. 7 is a slide for comparing a plurality of graphs, and shows a state in which a plurality of graphs are sequentially displayed. Slide B shown in FIG. 8 shows a state in which a line graph is sequentially displayed with time. Figure 9
The slide C shown in FIG. 3 is one in which items are added one by one and sequentially displayed.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining an example of a presentation file created for presentation and for displaying moving images.

This file includes not only video data composed of a series of moving images from the beginning to the end, but also a still image file, special effects, a still image base data file capable of performing an animation operation, a video data file, and the like. This file has a unique ID number,
The file example shown in 10 is composed of display data having ID numbers from No. 1 to No. 30. No.11, No.15 and No. of the displayed data Figure 29 shows Figure 7 to Figure 9
The moving image (slide) of the special effect described above is displayed. No. 14 and No. 22 are video moving image files.

These presentation files are updated or switched as needed by the presenter of the presentation, and the moving image portion is displayed on the display unit of the conference terminal device.
Displayed as a movie on 13. Also, special effects such as gradual updating or switching, and wiping are displayed as moving images.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a configuration example of a still image file in which a necessary portion is captured from the moving image of the file shown in FIG.

The presenter at the conference or the creator of the material should read the host PC prior to the actual presentation.
On 11, a capture operation of a display screen to be output as data or data of a still image is performed from the presentation file shown in FIG. 10. In FIG.11A, No.
1, No.2, No.3, No.10, No.11, No.12, No.15, No.22,
In this example, No. 23, No. 24 and No. 29 are selected and captured, and new ascending ID numbers No. 1 to No. 11 are given. These still image data are compressed, registered and stored in the HDD 114 as a still image file.

At this time, in order to indicate to which of the moving image files the captured still image data corresponds, FIG.
Is created, registered and stored in the HDD 114. In other words, the still image ID management table is
It shows the correspondence between the ID of the still image newly set in ascending order and the ID of the original moving image.

Each row of the still image ID management table is provided with a forced transfer flag. Although details will be described later, it is indicated that the still image data of the still image ID for which this flag is set has been forcibly transferred to any conference terminal device in the conference system. Note that the forced transfer flag is reset when the conference system is activated.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a data format for transferring still picture data. In this example, the format includes a data section and a header section, and the data section stores compressed still image data. The header section includes various types of control information, a still image ID corresponding to still image data in the data section, original bits, and other information. The original bit is a control bit that can be set only by the host PC 11 when transferring still image data, and is cleared when transferring between conference terminal devices.

It should be noted that the still image data is transferred to the high-speed serial bus 10.
When transferred by b, the still image data in the format shown in FIG. 12 is reorganized into packets according to the protocol of the high-speed serial bus 10b.

[Correction Correction] FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams showing a state in which a participant of the conference has added or modified the image displayed by the presentation file.
Such revisions can be made by touching the touch panel 14
This is performed by bringing a pen or a finger into contact with and moving the pen or a finger. The trajectory of the pen or finger is displayed so as to be superimposed on the display image for presentation, as shown in FIGS.

[Flow of Moving Image Data] Next, the flow of display data in this embodiment will be described.

The moving image data included in the presentation file shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display unit 13 in the following procedure.

As the presentation progresses, the host PC 11 controls the moving image file of the moving image that the presenter wants to display on the display unit 13 of the conference terminal device in the order shown in FIG. 10 to the conference terminal device. In this way, presentation moving images ordered as shown in FIG. 10 are sequentially displayed on the display unit 13 of the conference terminal device.

That is, the presentation file is opened by application software executed by the MPU 111 of the host PC 11, and the moving image data of the moving image ID to be displayed is displayed in the RGB bitmap format raster for the moving image display by the display control unit 115. The data is converted to data and output to the bus 10 as a digital video signal via the digital video transmission unit 116 and the connector 117.

The digital video signal output to the bus 10 is demodulated by the digital video receiving unit 1202 in the display distributing unit 12 via the repeater 17 and the distributor 16, and is written to the frame buffer 1210 by the data control unit 1209. Read out, and read out via the digital video transmission unit 1211 to the display unit.
The video is sent to 13 and displayed.

At this time, when switching to moving image data with a different moving image ID occurs, the MPU 111 checks whether a still image ID corresponding to the moving image ID exists in the still image ID management table shown in FIG. 11B. . Then, when it is confirmed that the corresponding still image ID exists in the still image ID management table, each still image ID is set as a still image ID corresponding to the moving image being displayed via the high-speed serial bus 10b. Send to terminal device. The still image ID corresponding to the moving image being displayed is received by the high-speed serial I / F control unit 1206 of the conference terminal device, and stored in the register shown in FIG. 3B in the system control unit 1212 via the control bus 1212a. You. This allows each conference terminal device to know the still image ID corresponding to the currently displayed moving image.

[Flow of Still Image Data] Next, a method of transferring still image data will be described.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process for forcibly transferring still image data from the host PC 11 to each conference terminal device.
This is a process executed by the PC 11.

When the conference system is started, the host PC 11
Refers to the still image ID management table shown in FIG. 11B before the presenter updates the video, and changes the last (maximum) ID (hereinafter, the value is referred to as “LAST”) to the last (last) ID. Still image ID
To all conference terminal devices (S601). The still image ID of the value LAST is stored in the final still image ID register shown in FIG. 3B.

Subsequently, before the presenter updates the moving image, the still image data of the still image IDs "1" and "2" is transmitted. The host PC 11 transmits the still image data of the still image ID “1” with the original bit set to the conference terminal device of TNo. “1”, and sets the forced transfer flag of the still image ID “1” in the still image ID management table. It is set (S602). Then, step S603
If the value of the counter allocated to the main memory 113 is smaller than the number of active conference terminal devices by the process of S605 to S605, the counter is incremented (in this case, TNo.
2), otherwise reset the counter (T
No.1). Note that the number of active conference terminal devices is stored in the register allocated to the main storage 113 as described above.

Subsequently, the host PC 11 performs the same transfer processing for the still picture data of the still picture ID “2” in step S606.
From S609. When the still image ID of the transmitted still image data exceeds the number of active conference terminal devices, the still image data is sent to TNo. 1, which is the first conference terminal device. In other words, if there is only one conference terminal,
The still image data of ID “2” is also sent to the conference terminal device of TNo.

As will be described later in detail, the transfer operation of the still image data between the conference terminal devices is completed before the conference is started (before the presenter updates the moving image), and the still image data is transferred to all the conference terminal devices. Still image data of image IDs “1” and “2” are supplied. The above is the initial operation before the conference is started.

When the initial operation ends and the conference starts, the presenter updates the moving image and the conference proceeds. Host PC11
When the moving image file is changed (S610), the moving image ID of the changed moving image file is
It is determined whether or not a still image ID corresponding to is present (S611).
If there is a corresponding still image ID, the host PC 11 adds the still image ID to the still image ID (hereinafter, “still image ID +
2) is checked (S6).
12). If the flag is not set, the still image data having the still image ID + 2 is transmitted to the conference terminal corresponding to the counter value indicating the number of conference terminals, and the forced transfer flag of the still image ID + 2 is set. Set (S613). Of course, there is no change in the video ID, there is no still image ID corresponding to the video ID, and
If the forced transfer flag of still image ID + 2 is set, still image data is not transferred.

If the value of the counter is smaller than the number of operating conference terminals by the processing of steps S614 to S616, the counter is incremented, and if not, the counter is reset (TNo. 1).

The process of forcibly transferring still image data in steps S610 to S616 is repeated until it is determined in step S617 that all the forced transfer flags in the still image ID management table have been set.

The system control unit 1212 of the conference terminal device that has received the still image data by the forced transfer stores the received still image data in the data buffer 1207 and stores the still image ID in the register shown in FIG. 3B. Write. As described above, since the data buffer 1207 has only five screens of memory, the system control unit 1212 receives the still image data having the smallest still image ID when it receives the still image data of six or more screens. Overwriting the written still image data.

Further, if the original bit is set when the still image data is received, the system control unit 1212 resets the original bit and then transmits the still image data to all other conference terminal devices. However,
When receiving new still image data with the original bit set during transmission of the still image data, the system control unit 1212 stops transmission of the still image data being transmitted,
The transmission of the new still image data with the original bit reset to all other conference terminal devices is started.

The above-described forced transfer of still image data occurs when the conference system is started (still image IDs “1” and “2” are transmitted) and as the presentation progresses. The host PC 11 transmits each still image data only once by the forced transfer, and the still image data is stored in the data buffers 1207 of all the conference terminal devices. Further, since the forced transfer is not based on a request from the conference terminal device, the host PC 11 can execute the forced transfer at a timing with a small processing load.

Determination of Still Image to Display When any one of the keys 601 to 604 of the keyboard 15 of the conference terminal device is pressed, the system control unit 1212 causes the pressed key,
The still image ID to be displayed is determined from the relationship between the moving image / still image display flag, the moving image ID, and the still image ID. This procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

When the key 604 for requesting the display of the first still image is pressed, the system control unit 1212 determines that the still image ID to be displayed is "1" regardless of the moving image ID and the still image ID (S701). And S702). Similarly, when the key 601 for requesting the display of the last still image is pressed, the still image ID to be displayed is determined to be “LAST” regardless of the moving image ID and the still image ID (S703 and S704).

When the key 602 for requesting the display of the previous still image is pressed, the system control unit 1212 uses the moving image / still image flag shown in FIG. Is a moving image or a still image (S705 and S70
6). If a moving image is displayed, “ID-1”, which is one smaller than the still image ID corresponding to the moving image ID of the moving image, is determined as the still image ID to be displayed (S707). If a still image is displayed, “ID-1” which is one smaller than the still image ID of the still image is determined as the still image ID to be displayed (S708).

When the key 603 for requesting the display of the next still picture is pressed, the system
It is determined whether the image displayed on the display unit 13 is a moving image or a still image from the moving image / still image flag shown in (1) and (2).
0). If a moving image is displayed, “ID + 1” which is one larger than the still image ID corresponding to the moving image ID of the moving image is determined as the still image ID to be displayed (S711). If a still image is displayed, “ID + 1” which is one larger than the still image ID of the still image is determined as the still image ID to be displayed (S712).

After the still image ID to be displayed is determined, the value of the display still image ID register shown in FIG. 3B is rewritten in step S713. Also, the moving image / still image display flag is rewritten as necessary.

The transaction requesting the transfer of the still image data.
It is determined whether still image data of a still image to be displayed is stored in the data buffer 1207 with reference to the stored still image ID register shown in FIG. When still image data of a still image to be displayed is stored in the data buffer 1207, the system control unit 1212 controls the data buffer control unit 1207a to read the still image data from the data buffer 1207.

On the other hand, when the still image data of the still image to be displayed is not stored in the data buffer 1207, the system control unit 1212 controls the high-speed serial I / F control unit 1206 to stop the still image with respect to the host PC 11. Request transfer of image data. Upon receiving this request, the host PC 11 starts a still image data transfer request transaction. The still image data transfer request transaction will be described below in detail with reference to FIG.

The host PC 11 sends a still image ID of the requested still image data to all the conference terminal devices and performs a search (S80).
1). The system control unit 1212 of each conference terminal device that has received the search request checks whether or not the search-requested still image ID is stored in the storage still image register illustrated in FIG. 3B. Ready ”, if not remembered,“ N
"ot Found" is returned to the host PC 11 (S802).

The host PC 11 sends “Transfer Re” from the conference terminal device.
ady ”is received (S803). "Transfer Read
When receiving `` y '', it instructs the conference terminal device that has returned `` Transfer Ready '' to directly transfer still image data (S80
Four). The conference terminal device for which direct transfer was instructed is the host
The still image data having the still image ID specified by the PC 11 is transmitted to the conference terminal device specified by the host PC 11. If “Transfer Ready” is received from a plurality of conference terminal devices, direct transfer is instructed to the conference terminal device that first returned “Transfer Ready”.

On the other hand, “Not Fo” is sent from all conference terminals.
When “und” is received, the host PC 11 transmits the requested still image data to the requesting conference terminal device.

The conference terminal device requesting the still image data is
When the still image data is received, “Receive
d "is returned. The host PC 11 that has received “Received” ends the transaction requesting the transfer of the still image data (S806 or S808).

The above-described request, response to the request, and transfer of the still image data are performed, for example, in an asynchronous transfer mode in IEEE1394.

When the high-speed serial I / F control unit 1206 of the conference terminal device requesting the transfer of the still image data receives the requested still image data, the high-speed serial I / F control unit 1206 transmits the received still image data via the data buffer control unit 1207a. Send to data buffer 1207. At this time, when the data buffer 1207 having the storage capacity for five screens is already full, unlike the above-described forced transfer, the storage corresponding to the pressed key, that is, the key based on which the request for still image data is made The operation is performed.

When the pressed key is the key 602 or 601 for requesting the display of the previous or leading still image, the data buffer
The still image data with the largest still image ID stored in 1207 is overwritten with the received still image data.
On the other hand, if the pressed key is the key 603 or 604 requesting the display of the last or last still image, the data buffer 1207
Is overwritten with the received still image data.

The received still image data is stored in the data buffer 1207, expanded by the still image expansion unit 1208, and expanded into RGB bitmap data. The expanded RGB bitmap data is written to the frame buffer 1210 by the data control unit 1209, read from the frame buffer 1210, and sent to the display unit 13 via the digital video transmission unit 1211 in the same manner as a moving image. ,
The still image requested by the user is displayed.

It should be noted that a still image expanded by the still image expansion unit 1208 is displayed on the display unit 13, a moving image received by the digital video reception unit is displayed, or the screen of the display unit 13 is divided. Whether to display a still image and a moving image is controlled by the system control unit 1212. That is, the system control unit 1212 includes the keyboard unit 15 and the touch panel 14
Based on the information received from the high-speed serial I / F control unit 1209, the display mode is determined, and based on the result, the data control unit 1209 is controlled to control data writing to the frame buffer 1210.

[Flow of Retouched Data] The rewritten data as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is transferred and displayed as follows.

A participant in the conference who wants to make corrections to the displayed image points to the area on the still image where he wants to make corrections.
An operation of bringing a pen or the like into contact with the touch panel 14 and, if necessary, moving the pen on the touch panel 14 is performed. The coordinate data indicating the retouching request and the position touched by the pen is stored in the system controller 1212, the control bus 1212a, and the high-speed serial I / O.
It is transmitted to the host PC 11 via the / F control unit 1206. Coordinate data that changes as the pen moves, that is, data indicating the locus of the pen, is also sequentially transmitted to the host PC 11.

The host PC 11 has a high-speed serial I / F control unit 118
Receives the rewriting request and the coordinate data, and
Converts the received coordinate data into overlay display coordinates and temporarily stores it in the main storage 113. Next, the MPU 111
The display control unit 115 is controlled, and based on the overlay display coordinates sequentially stored in the main memory 113, a point or line of a predetermined color and size is displayed on the image represented by the currently displayed presentation data. Overwrite The display data representing the image overwritten in this way is
The image is sent to the display unit 13 of each conference terminal device via the digital video transmission unit 116, and the corrected image is displayed. By successively performing this process, it is as if the trajectory of a pen or the like on the display unit 13 was added to the original presentation image.

[Progress of Presentation] Next, FIG.
The outline of the progress of the presentation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 18 and 19 show an example in which the number of conference terminal devices is five, but any number of conference terminal devices may be used as long as they are within the standard of the high-speed serial bus 10b. Figure 1
In FIG. 8 and FIG. 19, only the display unit 13 and the data buffer 1207 of each conference terminal device are shown to show the state.

The numbers shown in the frame of the display unit 13 are
This is the ID of the moving image or still image displayed in 13, and in the case of a moving image, is distinguished by hatching the frame. The number shown in the frame of the data buffer 1207 is the still image ID of the still image data stored in the data buffer 1207.

The conference system is started, and in the above-described initial operation, the still image data of the still image ID “1” is sent from the host PC 11 to the conference terminal device TNo. 1, and the still image data of the still image ID “2” is sent to the conference terminal device. It is sent to device TNo.2. Since the above-mentioned original bits are set in these still image data, the conference terminal devices TNo. 1 and TNo. 2 transfer the received still image data to another conference terminal device. FIG. 18A shows a state after the initial operation.

Subsequently, a presentation is started,
Video IDs "1" and "2" are displayed,
The corresponding still images with still image IDs “3” and “4” are
11 to the conference terminal devices TNo.3 and TNo.4. Since the original bits are also set in these still image data, the conference terminal devices TNo. 3 and TNo. 4 transfer the received still image data to another conference terminal device. FIGS. 18 (b) and 18 (c) show this state.

18 (d) to 18 (h) Thus, the moving image can be displayed without pressing the key of the keyboard 15.
Assume that the presentation has progressed to ID "12". At this point, in the data buffer 1207 of each conference terminal device, the still image ID “6” corresponding to the moving image ID “12” and the two preceding and following “4”, “5”, “7” and “8” Still image data is stored (FIG. 18D). Here, the conference terminal TN
In o.1, it is assumed that the key 602 for requesting the display of the previous still image is pressed. However, when the key is pressed, the video ID
Update and transfer of still image data.

System control unit 1212 of conference terminal device TNo.
Determines the still image to be displayed according to the procedure shown in FIG. At this point, the moving image with the moving image ID “12” is displayed on the display unit 13 of the conference terminal device TNo. Therefore, the video ID
The still image with the still image ID-1 “5”, which is one smaller than the still image ID “6” corresponding to “12”, is determined to be displayed. The system control unit 1212 searches the storage still image ID register illustrated in FIG.3B and confirms that the still image data with the still image ID “5” is stored in the data buffer 1207. , Still image decompression unit 120
8.Data control unit 1209 and digital video transmission unit 121
1 to display a still image corresponding to the still image data read from the data buffer 1207 on the display unit 13 (see FIG.
18 (e)).

Subsequently, it is assumed that key 602 for requesting the display of the previous still image is pressed at conference terminal device TNo.
The system control unit 1212 examines the display still image register of FIG. 3B, recognizes that the still image ID of the still image currently displayed is “5”, and Decide that the image should be displayed. At this point still image ID
Since the still image data of “4” is stored in the data buffer 1207, the still image ID is displayed on the display unit 13 by the above procedure.
The still image “4” is displayed (FIG. 18 (f)).

Subsequently, the moving image ID is updated from "12" to "13". However, since there is no still image ID corresponding to the moving image ID "13" in the still image ID management table shown in FIG. No data transfer occurs. Here, again the conference terminal device TNo.1
, It is assumed that the key 602 for requesting the display of the previous still image is pressed. The system control unit 1212 examines the display still image register of FIG. 3B, and determines the still image of the currently displayed still image.
Recognizes that the ID is "4", and the next smaller still image ID
It is determined that the still image of “3” should be displayed. At this point, the still image data with the still image ID “3” is stored in the data buffer 1207.
Not stored in Therefore, the system control unit 1212
As described above, it requests the host PC 11 to transfer the still image data with the still image ID “3”.

Host PC requested to transfer still image data
11 requests all the conference terminal devices to search for the still image data with the still image ID “3” by the procedure shown in FIG. However, as shown in FIG.
There is no conference terminal device that stores the still image data, so "Not Found" is returned from all the conference terminal devices. Therefore, the host PC 11 itself transmits still image data of the still image ID “3” to the conference terminal device TNo. Upon receiving the still image data, the conference terminal device TNo.
The received still image data is overwritten on the still image data having the largest still image ID stored in 7 and the still image is displayed on the display unit 13 (FIG. 18 (g)).

Here, it is assumed that the key 602 for requesting the display of the previous still image is pressed in the conference terminal device TNo. The system control unit 1212 examines the display still image register in FIG. 3B, recognizes that the still image ID of the still image currently displayed is “3”, and determines the still image ID of the smaller still image “2”. Decide that the image should be displayed. At this point the still image
The still image data with the ID “2” is not stored in the data buffer 1207. Therefore, the still image ID
The still image data “2” is transferred (FIG. 18 (h)).

19 (i) to (j) Next, it is assumed that the key 602 requesting the display of the previous still image is pressed three times in the conference terminal device TNo. The system control unit 1212 of the conference terminal device TNo. 2 determines a still image to be displayed according to the procedure shown in FIG. At this point, the display unit 13 of the conference terminal device TNo. 1 displays the moving image with the moving image ID “13” having no corresponding still image ID. Therefore, the video ID
The still image with the still image ID-1 “3” that is three times smaller than the still image ID “6” corresponding to “12” is determined to be displayed. At this point, the still image data with the still image ID “3” is not stored in the data buffer 1207. Therefore, the system control unit 1212 requests the host PC 11 to transfer the still image data with the still image ID “3” as described above.

Host PC requested to transfer still image data
11 requests all the conference terminal devices to search for the still image data with the still image ID “3” by the procedure shown in FIG. At this point, as shown in FIG. 19 (i), the conference terminal device TNo.
Stores the still image data of still image ID "3",
“Transfer Ready” is returned from the conference terminal device TNo. Therefore, the host PC 11 sends the still image ID “3” to the conference terminal device TNo.
Direct transfer of the still image data is performed. The conference terminal device TNo.2 that has received the direct transfer of the still image data from the conference terminal device TNo.1 converts the received still image data into the still image data having the largest still image ID stored in the data buffer 1207. Overwriting is performed, and the still image is displayed on the display unit 13 (FIG. 19 (i)).

Here, it is assumed that the key 602 for requesting the display of the previous still image is pressed in the conference terminal device TNo. The system control unit 1212 examines the display still image register in FIG. 3B, recognizes that the still image ID of the still image currently displayed is “3”, and determines the still image ID of the smaller still image “2”. Decide that the image should be displayed. At this point the still image
The still image data with the ID “2” is not stored in the data buffer 1207. Therefore, the still image ID
Direct transfer of still image data of "2" is performed (Fig. 1
9 (j)).

19 (k) to (l) After that, it is assumed that the key 605 requesting the return to the screen display currently in progress is pressed in the conference terminal device TNo.
The system control unit 1212 controls the data control unit 1209,
The data sent to the digital video data transmitting unit 1211 is switched to the moving image data received by the digital video receiving unit 1202, and the moving image with the moving image ID “13” is displayed on the display unit 13 (FIG. 19 (k)). . At this point, there is no change in the storage content of the data buffer 1207.

When the moving image ID is updated from “14” to “15”, the host PC 11 stores the moving image ID “1” in the still image ID management table.
For example, there is a still image ID “9” corresponding to “5”, and it is recognized that the forced transfer flag is not set. Therefore, the host PC 11 forcibly transfers the still image data with the still image ID “9” to, for example, the conference terminal device TNo. Conference terminal device T
In No. 4, the received still image data is overwritten on the still image data with the smallest still image ID in the data buffer 1207, and the still image data is transferred to another conference terminal device (FIG. 19 (l)). ).

19 (m) to (n) Next, it is assumed that the key 601 for requesting the display of the leading still image is pressed in the conference terminal device TNo. Conference terminal device T
The No. 3 system control unit 1212 determines the still image ID “1” to be displayed according to the procedure shown in FIG. At this point, the still image data with the still image ID “1” is not stored in the data buffer 1207. Therefore, as described above, the system control unit 1212 requests the host PC 11 to transfer the still image data with the still image ID “1”. However, as shown in FIG. 19 (m), since there is no conference terminal device that stores the still image data of the still image ID “1” at this time, “Not Found” is returned from all the conference terminal devices. . Therefore, the host PC 11 itself transmits the still image data of the still image ID “1” to the conference terminal device TNo.
Send to Conference terminal device TNo.
3 overwrites the still image data having the largest still image ID stored in the data buffer 1207 with the received still image data, and displays the still image on the display unit 13 (FIG. 18).
(m)).

Here, it is further assumed that key 603 for requesting the display of a still image at the back is pressed in conference terminal device TNo. The system control unit 1212 examines the display still image register of FIG. 3B, recognizes that the still image ID of the still image currently displayed is “1”, and Decide that the image should be displayed. At this point the still image
The still image data with the ID “2” is not stored in the data buffer 1207. Therefore, the still image data with the still image ID “2” is directly transferred from the conference terminal device TNo.1 or TNo.2 to TNo.3 by the above-described procedure (FIG. 19 (n)).

Note that a request for transferring still image data accompanying a request for displaying a still image is issued from a plurality of conference terminal devices, which are arbitrated by the high-speed serial I / F control units 118, 166, 177 and 1206. Are sequentially received by the host PC 11 and processed.

As described above, by storing the still image data in the conference terminal device in advance by the forced transfer, it is not necessary to transfer the still image data every time a request for the still image data is generated. Transfer of still image data to the terminal device can be reduced. Further, if the requested still image data is stored in any one of the conference terminal devices, the still image data is directly transferred from the conference terminal device to the requesting conference terminal device. The load on transfer of data is greatly reduced. In particular,
During a presentation or a meeting, a greater effect is exhibited when the still images referred to are concentrated on a specific one.

As described above, in a conference or presentation using the conference system of the present embodiment, the participant moves away from the flow of the presentation, and any of a plurality of still images prepared as representative materials in the presentation is used. , Can be arbitrarily referenced at any time.

[Retouch] Key for requesting or ending retouch
When 606 is pressed, the system control unit 1212 controls the data control unit 1206 to forcibly switch the display on the display unit 13 to the moving image from the digital video reception unit 1202, and also controls the high-speed serial I / F control unit. By controlling 1206, a request is made to the host PC 11 for retouching.

When the host PC 11 that has received the rewrite request confirms that no other conference terminal device is in the process of rewriting, the request source also issues a rewrite permission to the conference terminal device. The system control unit 1212 that has received the rewriting permission turns on a lamp incorporated in the key 606 and notifies the user of the rewriting permission. The user who has been notified of the addition is made, for example, by using the touch panel 15 as shown in FIG. 13 or FIG.
Pressing 6 informs the system control unit 1212 of the end of the retouching.

System control unit receiving notice of completion of rewriting
The unit 1212 controls the high-speed serial I / F control unit 1206 to notify the host PC 11 of the end of rewriting.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of display units are connected to one host PC via the display distribution unit, and a moving image output from the host PC is displayed on the plurality of display units. To be displayed. Furthermore, in a system in which a still image obtained by capturing a moving image is transferred according to a request, and the moving image and the still image are switched and displayed, a still image expected to be concentrated in a large number of requests is transferred to a transmission line band having an appropriate capacity. And broadcast so that all conference terminals can receive the conference. Therefore, there are many participants in the conference, and
Even when requests for displaying the same still image according to the topic of a conference are concentrated in a short time, a display control system and a conference system that do not rapidly increase the load on the host PC can be provided.

That is, a display capable of achieving a high level of compatibility between conflicting demands for improving appealing power in a presentation such as a conference and improving the understanding of conference participants without increasing the load on the system. It can be a control system and a conference system.

[0135]

Second Embodiment Hereinafter, an image display system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conference system according to the second embodiment. Unlike the conference system of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a moving image transfer interface such as the panel link described above is not used between the host PC 11 and the conference terminal device. Instead, a synthesizing unit 18 is arranged immediately after the host PC 11 to provide an interface 10 such as a panel link.
The moving image data transferred by a is transferred in the synchronous transfer mode of the high-speed serial bus 10b such as IEEE1934. High-speed serial bus for still image data
Transfer in asynchronous transfer mode of 10b, high-speed serial bus 10b
The transfer of moving image and still image data is realized by one system.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the synthesizing unit 18. As shown in FIG.

The connectors 120 and 121 are respectively connected to the host PC.
Connected to eleven connectors 117 and 119. The moving image data is input to the digital video receiving unit 121 having the same configuration as the digital video receiving unit 1202 in FIG. 3A via the connector 120, demodulated, and stored in the data buffer unit 122 in various synchronization modes including the RGB moving image data and the dot clock. It is temporarily stored as a signal. The data conversion unit 123 includes a data buffer 122
Is converted into packet data for synchronous transfer via a high-speed serial bus.

The packet data output from the data converter 123 is synchronously transferred to the high-speed serial bus 10b connected to the connector 125 by the high-speed serial I / F controller 124 having the same configuration as the digital video receiver 1206 in FIG. 3A. Broadcast by mode. Therefore, all the conference terminal devices connected to the conference system can receive the broadcasted video data packet and reproduce and display the video.

FIG. 22 shows a display distribution unit 12 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of FIG. The difference from the configuration of the display distribution unit 12 shown in FIG.
Second, instead of having a transmission data buffer unit 1203, a CLK generation unit 1204, and a digital video transmission unit 1205, it has a data buffer unit 1213 and a moving image data reproduction unit 1214. The data buffer unit 1213 and the moving image data reproducing unit 1214 are connected to each other via the moving image data bus 1212c, and the data control unit 1209 and the high-speed serial I / O
Connected to F control unit 1206.

The moving image data packet received by the high-speed serial I / F control unit 1206 is temporarily stored in the data buffer unit 1213. The moving image data reproducing unit 1214 reproduces RGB moving image data and various synchronization signals including a dot clock from the data packets stored in the data buffer unit 1213, and sends them to the data control unit 1209. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the display unit 13 displays a moving image and / or a still image.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show configuration examples of the distributor 16 and the repeater 17 in the second embodiment. Each of them has only a configuration relating to the high-speed serial bus 10b, and has a simple configuration in which the configuration relating to the distribution and relay of digital video is deleted as compared with the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

Note that the transfer of still image data is performed in the
The description is omitted because it is the same as the first embodiment.

[0144]

[Modification] In the first embodiment, V is used to transfer moving image data.
IEEE1 panel link for transferring still image data
Each of the 934 serial buses has been taken as an example,
It is not limited to this. That is, any interface can be used as long as it can satisfy the transmission band and the transmission distance. For example, the transfer of moving image data may be an interface using Low Voltage Differential Signal (LVDS) technology, and the transfer of still image data may be performed using a LAN such as Ethernet.

In the example of the configuration of the conference system shown in FIG. 1, the host PC 11, the repeater 18, the distributor 16, and the display distributor
Although an example of connection in the order of 12 is shown, connection may be made in the order shown in FIG. 25, for example, and the high-speed serial bus 10b
May be connected in any order as long as the standard can be observed.

In the present embodiment, the number of conference terminal devices is not specified. However, the standard of the bus 10 used, particularly the high-speed serial bus 10b, will define the upper limit of the conference terminal device.

The entity of the image source is not limited to the host PC 11. For example, a digital video camera, a digital video device such as a digital VTR or a digital video disc (DVD), or a second or later personal computer may be used. That is, No. 1 shown in FIG.
The moving image file such as No. 6 or No. 25 may be a control file for an entity other than the host PC 11 instead of the moving image file itself.

Although the buffer capacity of the data buffer 1207 is set to five screens, the present invention is not limited to this. The buffer capacity may be three, four, six, or seven or more. When the buffer capacity of the data buffer 1207 is changed, it is desirable to adjust the number of still image data forcibly transferred in the initial operation. That is, in the above description, in the initial operation, two still image data (IDs “1” and “2”) are forcibly transferred, and after the end of the initial operation, the still image ID corresponding to the moving image ID
The example in which still image data of still image ID + 2 obtained by adding 2 to the above is transferred has been described. This is because the buffer capacity of the data buffer 1207 is equivalent to five screens, and the still image data corresponding to the moving image ID and the still image data of two screens before and after it are buffered. Therefore, when the buffer capacity of the data buffer 1207 is changed, an appropriate forced transfer procedure is set accordingly.

According to the above embodiments, a still image file is created by extracting still image data for a material from a moving image file, and the moving image and the still image are supplied from one host PC to a plurality of conference terminal devices. In a conference system in which a conference participant who is a user of the conference terminal device requests the still image data, the conference terminal device manages the still image data stored in the data buffer provided in the conference terminal device. In this case, if there is still image data requested by another conference terminal device, the still image data can be directly transferred from the conference terminal device to the requesting conference terminal device, and the still image data is not necessarily transferred from the host PC. There is no need to supply.

Therefore, the load on the host PC for transferring still image data can be reduced by using a buffer memory having a small storage capacity (for example, five screens) for storing the still image data. In this case, the rate at which the host PC is busy waiting is reduced, so that quick transfer of requested still image data and higher-speed still image display are realized.

[0151]

[Other Embodiments] The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), and can be applied to a single device (for example, a copying machine). Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It is needless to say that a case in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing part or all of the actual processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.

[0155]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if requests for the same still image are concentrated in a short time, it is possible to provide an image transmission device, an image processing device, an image display system, and a method thereof that can respond to such requests without deteriorating the response. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a display control system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of a host PC shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a display distribution unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of a register existing in the system control unit shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a keyboard unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the distributor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the repeater shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a special effect of a slide display in a presentation.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a special effect of a slide display in a presentation;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a special effect of a slide display in a presentation;

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining an example of a presentation file created for presentation and for displaying a moving image;

11A is a diagram showing a configuration example of a still image file in which a necessary part is captured from the moving image of the file shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an example of a still image ID management table.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a data format for transferring still image data;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a participant of the conference has added or modified the image displayed by the presentation file;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state where a participant of a conference has added or modified an image displayed by a presentation file;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing for forcibly transferring still image data from a host PC to each conference terminal device;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for determining a still image ID to be displayed,

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a still image data transfer request transaction;

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the progress of a presentation.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the progress of a presentation.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conference system according to a second embodiment;

21 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a synthesis unit illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a display distribution unit illustrated in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the distributor illustrated in FIG. 20,

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the repeater shown in FIG. 20,

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating another connection example of the display control system illustrated in FIG. 1;

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. A receiving unit for receiving moving image information from a host, a communicating unit for communicating between the host and another image display device, and a still image information received via the communicating unit on a predetermined screen. Requesting means for requesting the still image information from the host via the communication means when still image information not stored in the storage means is required; and receiving moving image information or An image processing apparatus comprising: display control means for displaying an image based on the still image information stored in the storage means. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein when a specific bit of the still image information received from the host is set, the communication unit transfers the still image information with the bit reset to another image processing apparatus. 2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein 3. When a search for specific still image information is requested from the host via the communication unit, the storage unit searches for whether or not the specific still image information is present. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a search unit that notifies a result to the host via the communication unit. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transfers specific still image information stored in the storage unit to a specific image processing device in accordance with an instruction from the host.
4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The transmission path for the moving picture information and the transmission path for the still picture information are different from each other.
The image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the transmission path of the still image information is a high-speed serial bus. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the high-speed serial bus conforms to or conforms to IEEE1394. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transfer mode of the moving image information and a transfer mode of the still image information are different from each other. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the moving image information is broadcast in a synchronous transfer mode. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the still image information is transferred in an asynchronous transfer mode. 11. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the image represented by the still image information is obtained by capturing an arbitrary moving image frame represented by the moving image information. apparatus. 12. A receiving means for receiving moving image information from a host, a communicating means for communicating between the host and another image display device, and a still picture information received via the communicating means on a predetermined screen. An image processing method for an image processing apparatus having a storage unit for storing image data, wherein when still image information not stored in the storage unit is required, the still image information is requested from the host via the communication unit. And controlling display of an image based on the received moving image information or the still image information stored in the storage means. 13. A moving image transmitting unit for transmitting moving image information to at least one client; a communicating unit for communicating with the client; a still image transmitting unit for transmitting still image information via the communicating unit; When a request for still image information is received from the client via the means, the search for the requested still image information is instructed to all the clients via the communication means, and based on the search result, the requested An image transmission device comprising: a control unit that controls transfer of still image information. 14. The still image information according to claim 13, wherein the still image information includes information for causing a client receiving the still image information to transfer the still image information to another client. Image transmission device. 15. The method according to claim 15, wherein, as a result of the search, when there is a client having the requested still image information, the control unit instructs the client to transfer the requested still image information. 15. The image transmitting device according to claim 13 or 14. 16. The transmission path for the moving picture information and the transmission path for the still picture information are different from each other.
16. The image transmitting device according to claim 13, wherein: 17. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the transmission path of the still image information is a high-speed serial bus. 18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the high-speed serial bus conforms to or conforms to IEEE1394.
An image transmission device according to claim 1. 19. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a transfer mode of the moving image information and a transfer mode of the still image information are different from each other. 20. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the moving image information is broadcast in a synchronous transfer mode. 21. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said still image information is transferred in an asynchronous transfer mode. 22. The image according to claim 13, wherein the image represented by the still image information is obtained by capturing an arbitrary moving image frame represented by the moving image information. Transmission device. 23. An image comprising: moving picture transmitting means for transmitting moving picture information to at least one client; communication means for communicating with the client; and still picture transmitting means for transmitting still picture information via the communicating means. A transmission method of a transmission device, wherein when a request for still image information is received from the client via the communication unit, all clients are instructed to search for the requested still image information via the communication unit. And transmitting the requested still image information based on the search result. 24. A host for transmitting moving image information and transmitting still image information representing at least one image corresponding to the transmitted moving image information, and receiving the moving image information and displaying the received still image information on a predetermined screen. A plurality of display devices, each of which displays a number of buffers and displays an image based on the received moving image information or the buffered still image information. 25. A receiving means for receiving moving picture information from a host, a communicating means for communicating between the host and another image display device, and a still picture information received via the communicating means on a predetermined screen. A recording medium on which a program code for image processing of an image processing apparatus having a storage unit for storing the image data is recorded, wherein the program code is at least when still image information not stored in the storage unit is required. A code for requesting still image information to the host via the communication unit; and a code for controlling display of an image based on received moving image information or still image information stored in the storage unit. A recording medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 26. An apparatus comprising: moving image transmitting means for transmitting moving image information to at least one client; communication means for communicating with the client; and still image transmitting means for transmitting still image information via the communicating means. A recording medium on which a program code for image transmission is recorded, wherein at least a request for still image information is received when a request for still image information is received from the client via the communication unit. A code for instructing all clients via the communication means, and a code for controlling transfer of the requested still image information based on the search result.