JP2008131296A - Image transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a time required for completely transferring a plurality of images to be transferred from being lengthened. <P>SOLUTION: A control section 44 in a video recording transfer device 4 allows a sound signal processing section 41 and a video signal processing section 42 to compress a data file waiting for transfer in a group of data files transferred at a relatively high compression ratio, when a group of data file to be transferred newly is generated before a set of groups of data files is transferred completely (for example, when a new visitor visits and operates a call button of an intercom 2). When the compression ratio is increased, the capacity of the data file waiting for transfer is reduced for shortening a time to the completion of transfer, thus starting the transfer of a new (later) group of data files earlier, and thus preventing the transfer time of all groups of data files from being lengthened when there are a plurality of sets of groups of data files to be transferred. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transfer apparatus that captures an image captured by an image capturing apparatus installed inside or outside a house and transfers a data file of the image to a terminal apparatus having an image reproduction function through a general-purpose network. Is.

Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, an image of a visitor captured by a camera-equipped doorphone slave unit (imaging device) is captured, and a data file of the image is stored in a mobile phone or the like having an image reproduction function. There is provided an interphone master (image transfer device) that transfers data to a terminal device through a general-purpose network (for example, the Internet). That is, when a visitor who is away is photographed with a doorphone with a camera, an image (still image or moving image) of the visitor is transferred to the cellular phone carried by the householder via the Internet, and the liquid crystal of the cellular phone By displaying the transferred image on the display, it is possible to remotely confirm a visitor who has been away.
JP 2004-135197 A

  By the way, the transfer speed of a general-purpose network (for example, the Internet) used for image transfer by the image transfer apparatus is the type of transmission medium (phone line, optical fiber, CATV) used to connect to the Internet in each dwelling unit. Depending on the degree of congestion of the transmission path from the image transfer device to the terminal device on the Internet or the like. Therefore, when the network transfer rate is slow, the transfer time becomes longer, which hinders the reproduction of images and sounds on the mobile phone, and gives the user anxiety that the image transfer device may have failed. If a new visitor arrives before the transfer of the image data of the previous visitor is completed, and the image is captured by the door phone with a camera, the image of the previous visitor is transferred. There is a possibility that an image obtained by imaging a subsequent visitor is not transferred until completion, and it takes a long time to complete the transfer of the image. In addition, when a new visitor visits before the transfer of the image data that captured the previous visitor is completed and is imaged by the door phone with the camera, instead of transferring the image captured by the subsequent visitor, If you notify the mobile phone only that a new visitor has visited, there is no risk of taking a long time to transfer the image. However, if you just notified that the visitor visited in this way, Since it cannot be confirmed, it cannot be a practical solution.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image transfer apparatus that can prevent the time until transfer of all images from being prolonged when there are a plurality of images to be transferred. It is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention captures an image captured by an imaging device installed inside or outside the house, and stores the data file of the image for a terminal device having an image reproduction function. An image transfer device that transfers data through a general-purpose network, and generates image data files of one or more still images and moving images by performing signal processing including compression on a video signal output from an imaging device Means, data transmission means for transmitting data through the network, and a plurality of image data files generated by the image data generation means from one video signal output by the imaging device as one set, the set of image data Control means for transferring the file group to the terminal device by the data transmission means, and the control means includes a set of image data files. When a video signal is newly output from the imaging device before the transfer of the image data is completed, the image data generation unit re-compresses the image data file waiting for transfer in the image data file group at a relatively high compression rate. It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means starts counting for a predetermined time at the start of transfer of a set of image data file groups, and a new video from the imaging device is counted during the predetermined time counting. When the signal is output, the image data file that is not transferred within the predetermined time in the image data file group is recompressed by the image data generating means at a relatively high compression rate and is recompressed after the predetermined time is counted. The image data file is transferred to a data transmission means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the control means estimates the transfer speed in the network by causing the data transmission means to transmit dummy data before starting the transfer of the image data file group, and The compression rate in the image data generation means is set according to the estimation result.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the control means causes the data transmission means to transmit the estimation result of the transfer rate in the network to the terminal device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control means stores history information of transfer time required for transferring the image data file group, and the history information is stored in the data transmission means. It is characterized by transmitting to a terminal device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a video signal is newly output from the imaging device before the transfer of a set of image data file groups is completed, the control means waits for transfer in the image data file group. Image data files are re-compressed by the image data generation means at a relatively high compression rate, so that the time to transfer completion can be shortened by reducing the capacity of the image data files waiting to be transferred. The start of transfer can be accelerated, and as a result, when there are a plurality of images to be transferred, it is possible to prevent an increase in the time until transfer of all images is completed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image data file is recompressed during the predetermined time count, and the recompressed image data file is transferred after the predetermined time count ends. It can be suppressed that the time until the transfer is completed becomes longer depending on the time required.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the transfer speed in the network is estimated in advance by the control means before the start of transfer of the image data file group, and the compression rate of the image data file is set according to the estimation result. The possibility that the image data file needs to be recompressed is reduced, and as a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the time until the image transfer is completed.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the control means causes the data transmission means to transmit the estimation result of the transfer rate in the network to the terminal device, the user using the terminal device can be informed of the transfer rate in the network, As a result, it becomes difficult for the user to feel uncomfortable when the image compression rate increases and the image quality deteriorates.

  According to the invention of claim 5, since the control means stores the history information of the transfer time required for transferring the image data file group and causes the data transmission means to transmit the history information to the terminal device, the terminal device is used. The user can be informed of the past transfer time, and as a result, the user is less likely to feel uncomfortable when the image compression rate increases and the image quality deteriorates.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the technical idea of the present invention is applied to a recording / transferring apparatus used in an intercom system for a detached house will be described.

  First, the basic configuration of the intercom system will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, this intercom system is a door phone with a camera that is installed outside a dwelling unit (for example, an outside entrance) and transmits a video (video signal) and a voice (audio signal) that image a visitor via a signal line Ls. Interphone master unit (hereinafter referred to as “door phone slave unit”) 2 and the intercom master unit (hereinafter referred to as “door phone slave unit”) 2 that is installed in the dwelling unit and exchanges video signals and audio signals via the signal line Ls. 1) and one or more (one unit in the illustrated example) camera slave unit 3 that transmits a video image of the monitoring area to the master unit 1 via the signal line Ls. The That is, in the present embodiment, the door phone slave unit 2 and the camera slave unit 3 correspond to an imaging device.

  The intercom unit 2 includes a microphone 20a and a speaker 20b, an audio processing unit 21 that processes an audio signal for a loud call with the main unit 1, a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or CMOS, and an optical system such as a lens. A camera unit 22, a modulation unit 23 that frequency-modulates a video signal output from the camera unit 22, and a two-wire / four-wire conversion circuit, and an audio signal output from the microphone 20 a and processed by the audio processing unit 21 The video signal frequency-modulated by the unit 23 (hereinafter referred to as “FM video signal”) is frequency-multiplexed and transmitted to the parent device 1 via the signal line Ls, and at the same time, the parent device 1 via the signal line Ls. Demultiplexing unit 24 that separates the audio signal transmitted from the terminal, operation input receiving unit 25 that receives an operation input of a call button (not shown) by a visitor, and operation of the call button by the operation input receiving unit 25 And a call signal transmission unit 26 for transmitting a call signal to the main unit 1 via the signal line Ls when the reception power. In addition, the operation power supply of each part of the door phone sub unit 2 is supplied from the main unit 1 through the signal line Ls, and the call signal transmission unit 26 changes the line voltage of the signal line Ls. The ringing signal is being transmitted.

  The camera sub unit 3 includes a human body detection unit 30 that detects the presence of a person in the monitoring area, a camera unit 31 that includes a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or CMOS, and an optical system such as a lens, and a video signal that is output from the camera unit 31. And a control unit 33 for controlling the operation of the modulation unit 32 according to the detection result of the human body detection unit 30. The human body detection unit 30 detects the presence of a person in the monitoring region by detecting a heat ray emitted from the human body with a pyroelectric element, and outputs a human body detection signal when the presence of the person is detected. The control unit 33 includes a microcomputer as a main component, and activates the camera unit 31 and the modulation unit 32 when a human body detection signal is output from the human body detection unit 30, and modulates the video of the monitoring area captured by the camera unit 31. The frequency is modulated at 32 and transmitted to the base unit 1 through the signal line Ls. Moreover, the operating power supply of each part of the camera subunit 3 is created from a commercial power supply by a power supply circuit (not shown).

  Base unit 1 includes a voice processing unit 11 that processes a voice signal for loudspeaking communication between microphone 10a and speaker 10b, and door phone slave unit 2, and a two-wire / four-wire conversion circuit. The audio signal processed by the processing unit 11 is transmitted to the intercom unit 2 through the signal line Ls, and the audio signal and the FM video signal that are frequency-multiplexed and transmitted from the intercom unit 2 through the signal line Ls are separated. In addition, a demultiplexing unit 12 that separates the FM video signal transmitted from the camera unit 3, a monitor unit 13 having a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and the FM video signal separated by the demultiplexing unit 12 are demodulated. A video processing unit 14 that processes the demodulated video signal and displays it on the monitor unit 13, and a call signal transmitted from the intercom unit 2 via the signal line Ls A call signal receiving unit 15 that receives the control signal, a control unit 16 that controls the operation of each unit using a microcomputer as a main component, and a control signal transmitting / receiving unit 17 that transmits and receives control signals to and from the recording / transferring device 4 as will be described later. It has.

  By the way, in this embodiment, since the door phone slave unit 2 and the camera slave unit 3 are commonly connected to the demultiplexing unit 12 of the master unit 1, in order to avoid collision of video signals transmitted from the respective slave units, The division multiplexing transmission system is adopted. That is, each handset (door phone handset 2 and camera handset 3) is individually assigned to a plurality of time slots defined by a synchronization signal transmitted from the base unit 1 via the signal line Ls, and each handset is assigned to itself. The video signal is transmitted in the time slot assigned to the device, the original video is reconstructed from the video signal received and demodulated in each time slot in the video processing unit 14 of the base unit 1 and displayed on the monitor unit 13. Yes. The video processing unit 14 also performs a process of reducing the reconstructed video and simultaneously displaying a plurality of videos in a divided manner. However, the details of the time division multiplex transmission are well known in the art and will not be described.

  Next, the basic operation of the intercom system will be described.

  When a visitor presses the call button of the door phone cordless handset 2, the operation input receiving unit 25 receives an operation input, and the call signal transmitting unit 26 transmits a call signal to the parent device 1 via the signal line Ls. In the base unit 1, when the call signal is received by the call signal receiving unit 15, the control unit 16 is necessary for operating the audio processing unit 21, the camera unit 22, and the modulation unit 23 to the door phone slave unit 2 through the signal line Ls. An operating power is supplied and the voice processing unit 11 is controlled to ring a ringing tone from the speaker 10b. The door phone sub unit 2 receives power from the main unit 1 and activates the camera unit 22 and the modulation unit 23 to store the visitor's video (FM video signal) in the time slot assigned to the unit. Send to base unit 1.

  In the base unit 1, the FM video signal transmitted from the door phone slave unit 2 is received and demodulated by the video processing unit 14, and the video of the door phone slave unit 2 is reconstructed and displayed on the monitor unit 13. When a householder who hears the ringing tone operates a response button (not shown), the control unit 16 that has received the operation input activates the voice processing unit 11 and can communicate with the intercom sub unit 2. And

  Here, the main unit 1 has a function (recording / recording function) for recording video and audio transmitted from the doorphone sub unit 2 and video transmitted from the camera sub unit 3, and an operation switch (not shown). An operation switch (recording switch) (not shown) when the (answering machine setting switch) is operated and set to the answering machine mode, or when video or video and audio are received from the doorphone slave unit 2 or the camera slave unit 3 ) Is recorded, the video and audio data received by the control unit 16 is recorded in a non-volatile memory (not shown). When an operation switch (reproduction switch) (not shown) is operated, the control unit 16 reads out the video (still image or moving image) recorded in the memory and displays the video on the monitor unit 13 by the video processing unit 14. Is read out and is sounded from the speaker 10b by the sound processing unit 11.

  On the other hand, the video recording and transferring apparatus 4 of the present embodiment separates the audio signal and the FM video signal that are frequency-multiplexed and transmitted from the intercom unit 2 through the communication line Lx branched from the signal line Ls in the base unit 1 and the camera. A signal separation unit 40 that separates the FM video signal transmitted from the slave unit 3, and an audio signal processing unit 41 that converts the audio signal separated by the signal separation unit 40 into a digital signal and compresses it to generate an audio data file. The video signal processing unit 42 that demodulates the FM video signal separated by the signal separation unit 40, converts it into a digital signal, compresses it, and generates a video data file, and controls the parent device 1 via the communication line Lx A control signal for transmitting / receiving a control signal to / from the signal transmitting / receiving unit 17 is connected to the transmitting / receiving unit 43, a control unit 44 having a microcomputer as a main component, and an Internet connection via a communication line Ln. And a LAN interface unit 45 for interfacing the data transfer performed with the location 5 and the control unit 44. The audio signal processing unit 41 generates an audio data file by compressing an audio signal converted into a digital signal by a predetermined compression method, for example, an ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) method. The video signal processing unit 42 compresses the video signal converted into the digital signal by a predetermined compression method, for example, a compression method such as JPEG or GIF for still images and MPEG for moving images. Generate.

  The control signal transmission / reception unit 43 communicates with the control signal transmission / reception unit 17 of the base unit 1 via the communication line Lx in a frequency shift keying (FSK) method using a carrier wave having a frequency different from that of either the audio signal or the FM video signal. The control signal is transmitted and received. The LAN interface unit 45 conforms to a standard LAN standard such as 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX, and is connected to the control unit 44 via the communication line Ln formed of a twisted pair cable (LAN cable). Data communication with the device 5 is interfaced.

  The Internet connection device 5 is, for example, an ADSL modem, an ONU, or a cable modem, and a communication device (such as a recording / transfer device 4 or a personal computer) connected to the communication line Ln is connected to a telephone line or optical line. It is connected to the Internet 100 through a subscriber communication network using a fiber or a CATV coaxial line as a communication medium. However, since this type of Internet connection device 5 is well known in the art, detailed illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

  Here, the control unit 44 of the recording / transferring device 4 has a function of transferring a video data file and an audio data file to the center device 6 connected to the Internet 100 via the Internet connection device 5. The center device 6 corresponds to a so-called file server, stores the video data file and the audio data file transferred from the recording / transferring device 4, and associates the video data file and the audio data file with the recording / transferring device 4 in advance. A service for transferring to a registered mobile terminal (for example, a mobile phone having an Internet connection function) 7 is provided. That is, if the base unit 1 is set to the absence recording mode when going out, the video and audio of a visitor who has visited while absent is transferred from the recording / transferring device 4 to the center device 6, and further from the center device 6 Since it is transferred to the mobile phone 7 carried by the householder of the dwelling unit, it is possible to check the video and audio of the visitor who is visiting while using the mobile phone 7.

  The transfer operation of the recording / transfer apparatus 4 will be described in more detail. As described above, when the base unit 1 is set to the answering machine mode, when a call signal is received by the call signal receiving unit 15 of the base unit 1 by a visitor operating the call button of the intercom handset 2. The control unit 16 of the base unit 1 executes the answering processing described above, and the control signal transmission / reception unit 17 calls the recording / transfer apparatus 4 from the doorphone sub unit 2 via the communication line Lx. Notify (call event occurrence). When the control signal transmission / reception unit 43 receives the call event occurrence notification based on the control signal, the control unit 44 of the recording / transferring device 4 notifies the center device 6 of the occurrence of the call event through the Internet from the LAN interface unit 45 and the voice. The signal processing unit 41 and the video signal processing unit 42 are caused to generate an audio data file and a video data file. Here, in the intercom system according to the present embodiment, the FM video signal and the audio signal are continuously transmitted from the doorphone slave unit 2 for a certain time after the call button is operated. A plurality (for example, three) of still picture video data files (hereinafter referred to as still picture files SF1, SF2, and SF3) and one moving picture video data from the FM video signal and the audio signal received within the predetermined time. A file (hereinafter referred to as a moving image file MF) is generated by the video signal processing unit 42 and one audio data file (hereinafter referred to as an audio file EF) is generated by the audio signal processing unit 41. The control unit 44 transfers a data file group including three still image files SF1, SF2, and SF3, one audio file EF, and one moving image file MF from the LAN interface unit 45 to the center device 6 through the Internet 100.

  At this time, the time (transfer time) required to complete the transfer of a set of data files from the recording / transfer apparatus 4 to the center apparatus 6 depends on the upstream transmission speed in the Internet connection apparatus 5, and the center apparatus When access to 6 is concentrated, the transfer time becomes long. Therefore, the transfer time from the recording / transferring device 4 to the center device 6 becomes longer, which causes troubles in the reproduction of still images, moving images, and audio on the mobile phone 7, and the recording / transferring device 4 fails for the user. There is a risk of anxiety about whether or not it exists. In addition, when a new visitor visits and the call button of the doorphone cordless handset 2 is operated before the transfer of one set of data file group is completed, the transfer of the data file group corresponding to the previous visitor is not completed. Therefore, the data file group corresponding to the subsequent visitor cannot be transferred, and there is a possibility that the transfer time until the transfer of all the data file groups is completed becomes long.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the control unit 44 of the recording / transferring device 4 generates a new data file group to be transferred before the transfer of one set of data file group is completed (for example, a new visitor visits). When the call button of the intercom unit 2 is operated), the data files waiting to be transferred among the data file groups being transferred are relatively high in compression rate, that is, the audio signal processing unit 41 and the video signal processing unit 42. Are compressed by the audio signal processing unit 41 and the video signal processing unit 42 at a compression rate higher than the default compression rate (referred to as a reference compression rate). If the compression rate is increased in this way, the time to transfer completion can be shortened by reducing the capacity of the data file waiting for transfer, and the start of transfer of a new (later) data file group can be accelerated. As a result, when there are a plurality of data file groups to be transferred, it is possible to prevent an increase in the transfer time of all the data file groups.

  Here, a certain amount of processing time is required to recompress the audio data EF, the still image file SFn, and the moving image file MF. However, if the processing time becomes too long, the effect of shortening the time due to the increase in the compression rate is offset. It will be done. Therefore, when the control unit 44 starts counting a predetermined time at the start of transfer of a set of data files, and a new data file group to be transferred is generated during the counting of the predetermined time, the data file being transferred The data file that is estimated not to be transferred within a predetermined time within the group is recompressed at a compression rate higher than the reference compression rate by the audio signal processing unit 41 or the video signal processing unit 42, and the counting of the predetermined time is completed. The data file that is recompressed later may be transferred. By processing in this way, the untransferred data file is recompressed during the predetermined time count, and the recompressed data file is transferred after the predetermined time count ends. It can be used for the compression processing time, and an increase in transfer time due to the time required for recompression can be suppressed.

(Embodiment 2)
Since the configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, common components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the reference compression rate in the audio signal processing unit 41 and the video signal processing unit 42 of the recording / transferring device 4 is fixed, and when a large difference occurs in the transfer speed due to a change in the communication environment, the recompression is frequently performed. May become necessary, and transfer time may become longer.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 44 of the recording / transferring apparatus 4 estimates the transfer speed in the network (Internet) in advance before starting the transfer of the data file group, and in accordance with the estimation result, that is, estimated. The reference compression rate is set to a higher value as the transfer speed is lower. In this way, the probability that a new data file group to be transferred before the transfer of a set of data file groups is completed decreases, and as a result, the data file may need to be recompressed. It is possible to more reliably prevent the transfer time from becoming lower.

  The transfer rate estimation by the control unit 44 may be performed using “ping (Packet Internet Groper)”, which is a TCP / IP network diagnosis program implemented by the control unit 44. For example, if the control unit 44 designates the IP address of the center device 6 and executes ping, data of usually about 32 bytes is transmitted using ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), and a response is returned from the center device 6. Since the time until response (response time) is measured, the transfer rate in the network (Internet) can be estimated from the measured response time.

  In addition, the transfer rate estimated as described above is transmitted from the control unit 44 to the mobile phone 7 via the center device 6, and the transfer rate received from the control unit 44 of the recording transfer device 4 is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the mobile phone 7. If displayed, the user using the mobile phone 7 can be informed of the transfer speed in the network (Internet). That is, when the compression rate of a still image or a moving image transferred from the recording / transferring device 4 via the center device 6 increases, the image quality naturally decreases, but the compression rate can be obtained by informing the user in advance of the transfer rate. There is an advantage that it is difficult for the user to feel uncomfortable with image quality deterioration due to change.

  Alternatively, the control unit 44 of the recording / transferring apparatus 4 stores history information of the transfer time required for transferring the data file group, and for example, transmits the history information to the mobile phone 7 before starting the transfer of the data file group. If the transfer time history information is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the mobile phone 7, the user who uses the mobile phone 7 can be notified of the past transfer time. As a result, by letting the user know the past transfer time in advance, it becomes difficult for the user to feel uncomfortable with respect to image quality deterioration due to a change in compression rate.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the video signal transmitted from the doorphone slave unit 2 to the master unit 1 and the recording / transferring device 4 is an FM video signal subjected to frequency modulation. However, multi-level modulation is used instead of frequency modulation. The transmitted video signal may be transmitted. Further, instead of frequency multiplexing the video signal, the audio signal, and the control signal, time division multiplexing transmission may be performed. Furthermore, the recording / transferring device 4 may be built in the parent device 1.

It is a block diagram which shows embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Intercom master unit 2 Door phone slave unit with camera (imaging device)
3 Camera subunit (imaging device)
4 Record transfer device 5 Internet connection device 6 Center device 7 Mobile phone (terminal device)
41 Audio signal processing unit (audio data generating means)
42 Video signal processing unit (image data generating means)
44 Control unit (control means)
45 LAN interface (data transmission means)

Claims (5)

An image transfer device that captures an image captured by an image capturing device installed inside or outside a home and transfers a data file of the image to a terminal device having an image playback function through a general-purpose network,
Image data generating means for generating one or more still image and moving image data files by performing signal processing including compression on the video signal output from the imaging apparatus; and data transmitting means for transmitting data through the network; Control means for transferring a set of image data files to a terminal device by means of data transmission means, with a plurality of image data files generated by the image data generation means from one video signal output by the imaging device as one set And
When a video signal is newly output from the imaging device before the transfer of a set of image data file groups is completed, the control means sets a relatively high image data file waiting for transfer in the image data file group. An image transfer apparatus that causes an image data generation means to recompress at a compression rate.   The control means starts counting a predetermined time at the start of transfer of a set of image data file groups, and when a video signal is newly output from the imaging device during the predetermined time counting, The image data file that is not transferred within a predetermined time is recompressed by the image data generation means at a relatively high compression rate, and the recompressed image data file is transferred to the data transmission means after the predetermined time is counted. The image transfer apparatus according to claim 1.   The control means estimates the transfer speed in the network by transmitting dummy data from the data transmission means before starting the transfer of the image data file group, and sets the compression rate in the image data generation means according to the estimation result. The image transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   4. The image transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means causes the data transmission means to transmit the estimation result of the transfer speed in the network to the terminal device.   5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stores history information of a transfer time required for transferring the image data file group, and causes the data transmission unit to transmit the history information to the terminal device. The image transfer device described in 1.

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