JP2006333165A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display device capable of receiving a video telephone call, only when the call is significant when a person receives the telephone call, while watching television broadcasting. <P>SOLUTION: The image display device 1a switches display to video telephone and simultaneously video-records the television broadcasting, when it is determined that the video telephone call takes priority over the television broadcasting, when receiving a video telephone signal through an interface 19 during displaying an image, based on a television broadcast signal received from a television broadcast receiving part 18 on an image displaying part 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device, and more particularly to an image display device capable of receiving a TV broadcast and making a videophone call with a single unit.

  In recent years, videophones are spreading in fixed telephones and mobile phones. This is because a large amount of data can be sent and received at once due to the broadband network, and video signals with a large amount of data compared to audio signals, and high-resolution video with smooth motion, can be sent and received. It is.

  In recent years, with the development of home appliances, the integration of multiple types of home appliances has also been seen. This is considered to be due to the fact that different home appliances have multiple functions, so that they have the same or similar functions as other home appliances.

  For example, TVs and personal computers have been sold in quite different fields, but many personal computers with TV functions are now on sale.

  As for a videophone, in order to share many of the configurations with a conventional television such as a monitor and a speaker, it is considered that the television is provided with a videophone function (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Space can be reduced by using a TV and a videophone as one system, and costs can be reduced by using high-performance components in common.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-30872

  However, handling when receiving a videophone call while watching TV is difficult. If the received phone call is an important requirement, it should be given priority over watching TV, but it is the user's interest to watch TV broadcasts that are interrupted by sales calls. It is cruel.

  Even if the information on the videophone transmission source is displayed on the screen to notify the other party of the incoming call, as in the invention of Patent Document 1, the call from the less important party is concentrated when watching TV. When an incoming call is notified, it is a frightening.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image display device that can receive a telephone only when there is an important requirement when a videophone is received during viewing of a television broadcast.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a TV broadcast receiving unit that receives a TV broadcast signal, a TV phone transmitting / receiving unit that transmits and receives a video phone signal composed of audio and video, and the TV broadcast signal or the video phone signal. An image display unit that displays an image based on the image, a rank storage unit that stores a predetermined rank for each of the reception sources of the TV broadcast signal and the videophone signal, and a rank stored in the rank storage unit A priority signal selection unit that selects which of the television broadcast signal and the videophone signal is to be prioritized, and the priority signal selection unit in a state where an image based on the television broadcast signal is displayed on the image display unit. When it is determined that the videophone signal has priority, an image based on the videophone signal is displayed on the image display unit. A display image switching unit that provides an image display apparatus comprising: a.

  According to the present invention, when a videophone call is received while watching a TV broadcast, it is determined whether to switch to the videophone or to answer the videophone with an answering machine according to the importance of the video broadcast and the videophone. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the viewing of the television broadcast from being hindered by the reception of the video phone having the non-important requirement, and to reliably connect the video phone having the important requirement.

  The priority signal selection unit selects which of the first videophone signal during a call and the second videophone signal received later is prioritized based on the order stored in the order storage unit. The display image switching unit determines that the priority signal selection unit gives priority to the second videophone signal in a state where an image based on the first videophone signal is displayed on the image display unit. In such a case, an image based on the second videophone signal may be displayed on the image display unit.

  By adopting such a configuration, when another videophone call is received during a videophone call, depending on the importance of the other party, the callee is switched to the videophone received later or the call is kept as it is. Since it is determined whether or not to continue, it is possible to prevent an important videophone call from being disturbed by receiving a videophone having a non-critical requirement, and to reliably connect the videophone having a critical requirement.

  The image display device may include an image storage unit that stores an image based on a signal that is not selected by the priority signal selection unit.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to record a video broadcast interrupted by a video phone or a video phone that is not connected, so that information can be prevented from being missed.

  The image display unit may display an image based on a signal not selected by the priority signal selection unit by being incorporated in a part of an image based on the signal selected by the priority signal selection unit. Good.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to display an image of a television broadcast interrupted by a videophone on a part of the display screen, so that the status of the television broadcast can be grasped even during the videophone.

  In addition, the present invention provides a signal transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives signals between an image display device that includes a television broadcast reception unit that receives a television broadcast signal and an image display unit that displays an image based on the television broadcast signal. A videophone transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives a videophone signal composed of audio and video, a ranking storage unit that stores a ranking assigned in advance to each of the video broadcast signal and the videophone signal reception source, A priority signal selection unit that selects which of the television broadcast signal and the videophone signal is to be prioritized based on the rank stored in the rank storage unit, and an image based on the television broadcast signal is displayed on the image display unit. If the video signal is determined to be prioritized by the priority signal selector, the image based on the video phone signal is displayed in advance. Also it provides a picture display apparatus comprising: the display image switching unit to be displayed on the image display unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to construct an image display system according to the present invention using an existing television system without replacing with a new television.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the viewing of a television broadcast from being hindered by the reception of a videophone with an unimportant requirement, and to reliably connect the videophone with an important requirement.

  Hereinafter, an image display device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
The image display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is an integrated two-way communication television in which the television phone function is built in the television.

(Configuration of image display device)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image display apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image display device 1a according to the first embodiment includes a control unit 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a recorded image storage unit 14, a database 15, and a rank determination. Unit 16, connection switching unit 17, television broadcast receiving unit 18, interface 19, sound generation unit 20, image display unit 21, image photographing unit 22, sound collecting unit 23, operation unit 24, It consists of a main internal bus 25.

  The control unit 11 controls the image display device 1a. Specifically, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like is used.

  The ROM 12 stores a program and the like executed by the control unit 11 to drive the image display device 1a, and the RAM 13 stores parameters and the like necessary for the control unit 11 when driving the image display device 1a. Temporary storage.

  The recorded image storage unit 14 stores a television image received by the image display device 1a and an answering machine image by the other party of the videophone call. The HDD (Hard Disk Drive), semiconductor memory, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) An optical disk such as -R is used.

  The database 15 stores information related to a video phone call destination and information related to a received TV program, and each information also stores its priority.

  The order determination unit 16 displays either a video broadcast or a videophone when a videophone is received when a video broadcast is displayed, or if a different videophone is received when a videophone is displayed. The priority order is determined based on the information stored in the database 15 as to whether to display the image. The determination method will be described later.

  The connection switching unit 17 displays a display image when the rank determining unit 16 determines that the received videophone call destination has a higher priority than the currently displayed video broadcast or videophone call destination. It is to switch. The order determining unit 16 and the connection switching unit 17 are configured as hardware in FIG. 1, but may be configured as software.

  The television broadcast receiver 18 receives a television broadcast via the antenna 4 configured outside the image display device 1a. The interface 19 transmits and receives a videophone image via the network 5 configured outside the image display device 1a.

  The sound generation unit 20 generates sound of a received television broadcast or videophone, and corresponds to a speaker or a headphone terminal. The image display unit 21 displays the received TV broadcast or videophone image, and corresponds to an image display device such as a CRT, LCD, or PDP.

  The image capturing unit 22 captures an image of a user to be transmitted to a call destination in a videophone, and corresponds to a CCD camera or the like. The sound collection unit 23 collects a user's voice to be transmitted to a callee in a videophone call, and corresponds to a microphone.

  The operation unit 24 is for performing operations such as start / stop of the image display device 1a, switching of reception channels, videophone call transmission / reception, video broadcast / videophone reception switching, etc., and the image display device 1a main body Even if it is directly provided in the image display device 1a, it may be composed of a remote controller separated from the image display device 1a and a receiver for receiving signals from the remote controller.

  The main internal bus 25 electrically connects each component of the image display device 1a, and is used for the control unit 11 to access other components and for data movement between the components. Specifically, PCI (Peripheral Components Interconnect), PCI express, and the like.

  At the time of receiving a television program, the television broadcast receiving unit 18 receives a television broadcast radio wave, emits sound from the sound generation unit 20, and displays an image on the image display unit 21, so that the user can view the television program on the image display device 1a. Can be watched.

  On the other hand, at the time of video-phone call transmission / reception, a signal is received via the network 27 and the interface 19, sound is emitted from the sound generation unit 20, and the other party image of the call destination is displayed on the image display unit 21. On the other hand, the image capturing unit 22 captures the user's image, and the sound collecting unit 23 collects the user's voice and transmits it to the call destination via the interface 19 and the network 27. As a result, the user can make a videophone call on the image display device 1a.

(Rank determination part)
The order determination unit 16 determines the priority order based on the information stored in the database 15 regarding whether to display a video broadcast or a videophone, or to display an image of a call destination of two videophones. To do. An example of information stored in the database 15 is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is an example of information stored in the database 15, where (a) is a television program list and (b) is a telephone directory list.

  In the TV program list 31 of FIG. 2A, ranks corresponding to the respective TV programs are displayed together with several TV program names. Further, in the telephone directory list 32 of FIG. 2B, a corresponding rank is displayed together with a plurality of personal names, company names, and respective telephone numbers.

  The order determination unit 16 refers to the rank data in each list, and gives priority to the other party of the video broadcast and the videophone, or the other party of the videophone that is currently in a call Determine what to do.

(Connection switching part)
As a result of the priority determination by the method as described above, if the videophone received later should be given priority, the connection switching unit 17 sends a signal connected to the image display unit 21 or the sound generation unit 20 to The signal that has been connected so far is switched to the videophone signal received later.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of processing when a videophone call is received during viewing of a television broadcast in the image display device 1a according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 3A, the image display device 1 a receives a television broadcast signal 41 and displays an image based on the signal on the display screen 211. Assume that a videophone signal 42 is received in this state.

  At this time, for example, as shown in the list of FIG. 2 described above, it is assumed that A, B, C,... Are ranked in order from the highest priority. If the TV broadcast being watched is rank B and the destination of the received video call is rank A, the video call is prioritized as shown in FIG. While recording the broadcast, the connection switching unit 17 switches the image displayed on the display screen 211 to an image based on the videophone signal 42.

  At this time, an image of the other party of the videophone is displayed on the display screen 211, but a so-called two-screen display in which an image of the television broadcast is displayed on a part of the display screen 211 may be used.

  Further, when the TV broadcast being viewed is rank A and the other party of the received videophone is rank C, the TV broadcast is given priority as shown in FIG. The image is not switched by 17 and the display of the TV broadcast image is continued, and the videophone is answered by the answering machine and the image is recorded.

  At this time, it may be configured to display on the display screen 211 or the like that an answering machine has been recorded and notify the user.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of processing when another videophone is received during a videophone call in the image display device 1a according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 4A, the image display device 1 a receives the first videophone signal 43 and displays an image based on the signal on the display screen 211. In this state, it is assumed that the second videophone signal 44 is received.

  At this time, when the destination of the first videophone call is rank B and the destination of the received second videophone is rank A, it is shown in FIG. As described above, the second videophone is prioritized and recording is started for the first videophone currently in a call, and the image displayed on the display screen 211 is displayed as the second videophone signal 44 by the connection switching unit 17. Switch to an image based on.

  Further, when the destination of the first videophone call is rank B and the destination of the received second videophone is rank C, as shown in FIG. The first videophone is prioritized, the image is not switched by the connection switching unit 17, the display of the first videophone is continued, the second videophone is answered by the answering machine, and the image is recorded. .

  At this time, it may be configured to display on the display screen 211 or the like that an answering machine has been recorded and notify the user.

(Operation when receiving a videophone call during TV broadcast reception)
The operation when a videophone call is received at the time of receiving a television broadcast in the image display device 1a according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart. Hereinafter, unless otherwise indicated, the operation in each step is performed in the control unit 11.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image display device 1a when receiving a videophone call when receiving a TV broadcast.

  First, reception of a television broadcast is started (step S101). Then, it is determined whether or not a videophone call has been received during the TV broadcast reception (step S102). If it is determined that a videophone call has not been received (S102: NO), the process proceeds to step S116 without any processing, and if it is determined that a videophone call has been received (S102: YES), the database 15 The other party's rank is searched from the telephone directory list 32 stored in (step S103).

  Next, it is determined whether the rank of the other party of the received videophone is higher than the rank of the currently displayed TV broadcast, that is, whether the priority is higher (step S104). If it is determined that the priority is higher (S104: YES), recording of the currently received TV broadcast is started (step S105), the display image is switched from the TV broadcast to the videophone, and the call is started. (Step S106).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the videophone call has ended (step S107). If it is determined that the videophone call has not ended yet (S107: NO), this process is repeated. If it is determined that the videophone call has ended (S107: YES), the telephone line is disconnected. Then, the display image is switched to the television broadcast image (step S109). The TV broadcast image displayed at this time is a recorded image from the time when the image is switched from the TV broadcast to the videophone. The TV broadcast image received at this time continues to be recorded and dates back to the past. Recorded images will be played back.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the program being recorded has ended (step S110). If it is determined that the program being recorded is still being broadcast (S110: NO), this process is repeated. If it is determined that the program has ended (S110: YES), the recording of the program is terminated (S110: YES). Step S111). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S116.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 described above that the destination of the received videophone call has a lower priority than the TV program being broadcast (S104: NO), the display of the TV program is continued, Recording of the answering machine is started (step S112).

  Then, a determination is made as to whether the videophone call has ended (step S113). If it is determined that the videophone call has not ended yet (S113: NO), this process is repeated. If it is determined that the videophone call has ended (S113: YES), the recording of the answering machine is performed. (Step S114), and the recorded answering machine image is stored in the recorded image storage unit 14 (step S115). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S116.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the program being displayed has ended (step S116). If it is determined that the program being displayed has not ended yet (S116: NO), the process returns to step S102, and if it is determined that the program being displayed has ended (S116: YES), this program Exit.

  By configuring the program in this way and causing the image display device 1a to execute the program, when a videophone is received during the viewing of the television broadcast, the program is switched to the videophone depending on the importance of the video broadcast and the videophone, or Since it is determined whether the videophone is answered by the answering machine, it is possible to prevent the video broadcast viewing from being disturbed by the reception of the videophone having an unimportant requirement and to connect the videophone having the important requirement with certainty.

(Operation when receiving another videophone call during a videophone call)
Next, an operation when receiving another videophone call during a videophone call in the image display device 1a according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image display device 1a when another videophone is received during a videophone call.

  First, a videophone call is started (step S121). Then, it is determined whether another videophone call is received during the videophone call (step S122). If it is determined that a videophone call has not been received (S122: NO), the process proceeds to step S132 without any processing, and if it is determined that a videophone call has been received (S122: YES), the database 15 The other party's rank is searched from the telephone directory list 32 stored in (step S123).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the rank of the other party of the received videophone is higher than the rank of the other party of the videophone that is currently talking, that is, the priority is higher (step S124). If it is determined that the priority is higher (S124: YES), recording of the answering machine is started for the videophone call with the other party who is currently calling (first callee) (step S125). Is switched from the first call destination to the other party (second call destination) received later, and the call is started (step S126).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the recording of the answering machine of the first call destination has been completed (step S127). If it is determined that the answering machine is busy and the recording has not yet ended (S127: NO), this process is repeated, and if it is determined that the answering machine has ended and the recording has ended (S127). : YES), the recorded answering machine image is stored in the recorded image storage unit 14 (step S128).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S124 that the second call destination has a lower priority than the first call destination (S124: NO), the call with the first call destination is continued and the second call destination is determined. Starts recording the answering machine (step S129).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the recording of the answering machine by the second call destination is finished (step S130). If it is determined that the recording of the answering machine has not ended yet (S130: NO), this process is repeated. If it is determined that the recording of the answering machine has ended (S130: YES), the recorded answering machine is recorded. The telephone image is stored in the recorded image storage unit 14 (step S131). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S132.

  Next, a determination is made as to whether or not the videophone call with the other party who has been talking directly has ended (step S132). If it is determined that the videophone call has not yet ended (S132: NO), the process returns to step S122, and if it is determined that the videophone call has ended (S132: YES), the telephone line Is cut (step S133).

  Next, it is determined whether or not to reproduce the recorded message of the answering machine (step S134). When it is determined that the user does not wish to reproduce the message (S134: NO), the process ends as it is, and when it is determined that the user desires to reproduce the message (S134: YES), the recorded image storage unit 14 The answering machine image stored in is called and reproduced (step S135). Thereafter, this program is terminated.

  By configuring the program in this way and causing the image display device 1a to execute it, when another videophone call is received during a videophone call, a call is made to the videophone received later according to the importance of the other party. Since it is determined whether videophone calls that are switched or received later will be answered by an answering machine, receiving important videophone calls with less important requirements prevents important videophone calls from being interrupted. The required videophone can be securely connected.

[Second Embodiment]
The image display system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is an image display system in which a set-top box for adding a videophone function or the like is added to an existing television.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an image display system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  An image display system 1b according to the second embodiment includes a television 2 that receives and displays a television broadcast, and a set-top box 3 having a videophone function, an image recording function, and the like.

  The television 2 includes a television broadcast receiver 18, an audio generator 20, an image display unit 21, an input / output terminal 26, and a main internal bus 27.

  The set top box 3 includes a control unit 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an image storage unit 14, a database 15, a rank determination unit 16, a connection switching unit 17, an interface 19, and an image photographing unit 22. The sound collecting unit 23, the operation unit 24, the main internal bus 25, and the television connection unit 28.

  The input / output terminal 26 is used for transmission of television broadcast information and image data received by the television broadcast receiver 18 to the set top box 3, reception of a videophone image or recorded image received in the set top box 3, and the like. To do.

  The TV connection unit 28 is used for transmitting the TV phone image received by the interface 19 and the image stored in the recorded image storage unit 14 to the TV 2 and receiving the TV broadcast image received by the TV 2. Is done. The functions of the other components are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  By configuring the image display system 1b in this way, the image display system according to the present invention can be constructed using the existing television system without replacing with a new television, and the system according to the first embodiment The same effect can be obtained.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the image display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the information stored in the database 15, (a) is a television program list, (b) is a telephone directory list. It is an example of the process at the time of receiving a videophone in the image display apparatus 1a according to the present invention during the viewing of a television broadcast. It is an example of processing when another videophone is received during a videophone call in the image display device 1a according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the image display apparatus 1a at the time of receiving a videophone at the time of television broadcast reception. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the image display apparatus 1a when another videophone is received at the time of a videophone call. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the image display system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a, Image display apparatus 1b, Image display system 2, Television 3, Set top box 4, Antenna 5, Network 11, Control part 12, ROM 13, RAM
14, recorded image storage unit 15, database 16, ranking determination unit 17, connection switching unit 18, television broadcast reception unit 19, interface 20, sound generation unit 21, image display unit 22, image capturing unit 23, sound collection unit 24, Operation units 25 and 27, main internal bus 26, input / output terminal 28, TV connection unit 31, TV program list 32, telephone directory list 41, TV broadcast signal 42, video phone signal 43, first video phone signal 44, first 2 videophone signal 211, display screen

Claims (5)

A TV broadcast receiver for receiving TV broadcast signals;
A videophone transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receiving a videophone signal composed of audio and video;
An image display unit for displaying an image based on the TV broadcast signal or the TV phone signal;
A rank storage unit for storing a rank assigned in advance to each of the reception sources of the video broadcast signal and the video phone signal;
A priority signal selection unit that selects which of the video broadcast signal and the videophone signal is to be prioritized based on the rank stored in the rank storage unit;
When the image display unit displays an image based on the video broadcast signal, and the priority signal selection unit determines that the video phone signal has priority, the image based on the video phone signal is displayed. An image display device comprising: a display image switching unit to be displayed on the image display unit.   The priority signal selection unit selects which of the first videophone signal during a call and the second videophone signal received later is to be given priority based on the order stored in the order storage unit, and the display When the image switching unit determines that the second videophone signal is prioritized by the priority signal selection unit in a state where an image based on the first videophone signal is displayed on the image display unit The image display device according to claim 1, wherein an image based on the second videophone signal is displayed on the image display unit.   The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising an image storage unit that stores an image based on a signal that is not selected by the priority signal selection unit.   The image display unit is configured to display an image based on a signal not selected by the priority signal selection unit by being incorporated into a part of an image based on the signal selected by the priority signal selection unit. The image display device according to any one of 1 to 3. A signal transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives a signal to / from an image display device that includes a television broadcast reception unit that receives a television broadcast signal and an image display unit that displays an image based on the television broadcast signal;
A videophone transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receiving a videophone signal composed of audio and video;
A rank storage unit for storing a rank assigned in advance to each of the reception sources of the TV broadcast signal and the TV phone signal;
A priority signal selection unit for selecting which of the video broadcast signal and the videophone signal is to be prioritized based on the rank stored in the rank storage unit;
In a state where an image based on the TV broadcast signal is displayed on the image display unit, if the priority signal selection unit determines that the video phone signal is given priority, an image based on the TV phone signal is displayed. An image display device comprising: a display image switching unit to be displayed on the image display unit.

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