JP2012105142A - Video telephone device, and method of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video telephone device capable of resolving a problem that the communication is likely to be disconnected in a 3D video telephone.SOLUTION: A wireless circuit 201 performs transmission and reception of communication data. Cameras 204 and 205 take two motion picture images having different parallaxes from each other and output two motion picture image data. A sound input/output part 202 acquires a sound to output sound data. A CPU 206 transmits the plurality of motion picture image data and the sound data via the wireless circuit 201. When a reception quality of the communication data becomes a reference value or less, the CPU 206 stops at least one of the cameras 204 and 205 to stop the transmission of at least one of the plurality of motion picture image data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a videophone device and a control method for the same that can make a call while watching a video of a call partner by transmitting audio data and video data in real time.

  A general videophone device requires a higher data transmission speed because the amount of transmission during a call is larger than a conventional voice phone device that performs only a voice call. In addition, when a sufficient data transmission speed cannot be obtained due to the radio wave condition, problems such as disturbance of the display image of the videophone device or disconnection of the call occur.

  On the other hand, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a technique in which transmission / reception of video data is stopped and only a voice call using voice data is performed when a data transmission rate is lower than a predetermined value.

  In recent years, 3D video technologies such as a 3D camera that captures 3D stereoscopic video (hereinafter referred to as 3D video) and a 3D display that displays tertiary D video have attracted attention.

  The 3D display sequentially displays a plurality of videos with different parallaxes, or simultaneously displays a plurality of videos with different parallaxes at different display angles, thereby allowing the viewer to visually recognize a three-dimensional stereoscopic video. The 3D camera includes a plurality of imaging units, and uses each imaging unit to capture a plurality of videos with different parallaxes as 3D videos.

  As a technique in which 3D video technology is applied to a videophone device, there is a portable information terminal with a camera described in Patent Document 3. In this portable information terminal with a camera, 3D video data indicating 3D video captured by a 3D camera is transmitted in real time together with audio data, so that it is possible to make a call while watching the 3D video with the other party.

JP 2001-274742 A JP 2004-32804 A JP 2010-141447 A

  In a 3D videophone device that transmits 3D video data, such as a portable information terminal with a camera described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of imaging units are operated simultaneously, video processing is performed on a plurality of video signals, It is necessary to increase the frame speed of the display image.

  For this reason, in the 3D videophone device, operations of internal devices such as a camera, a display, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) are compared with a conventional 2D videophone device that transmits a two-dimensional planar video (hereinafter referred to as 2D video). Since the amount increases, the noise generated in the internal device increases.

  Since the transmission speed during a call is affected by noise, if the noise generated by the internal device becomes large, the data transmission speed cannot be obtained sufficiently, especially in an environment where the radio wave condition is bad, and the call is likely to be disconnected. appear.

  In the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the increase in noise caused by the 3D videophone device is not considered, and the above problem cannot be solved.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a videophone device and a control method thereof that can solve the problem that communication is easily disconnected.

  A videophone device according to the present invention includes a communication unit that transmits and receives communication data, a plurality of imaging units that capture a plurality of moving images with different parallaxes, and output a plurality of moving image data, and obtain sound and sound. When the voice input unit that outputs data, the plurality of moving image data and the voice data are transmitted via the communication unit, and the reception quality of the communication data is equal to or lower than the reference value, the plurality of imaging units A control unit that stops at least one and stops transmission of at least one of the plurality of moving image data.

  The control method according to the present invention includes a communication unit that transmits and receives communication data, a plurality of imaging units that capture a plurality of moving images with different parallaxes, and output a plurality of moving image data, and acquire sound and sound data A plurality of moving image data and the audio data are transmitted via the communication unit, and the reception quality of the communication data is the reference When the value is less than or equal to the value, at least one of the plurality of imaging units is stopped, and transmission of at least one of the plurality of moving image data is stopped.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to make it difficult to disconnect communication.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone terminal which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of operation | movement of a mobile telephone terminal. It is a time chart for demonstrating an example of the transition of the telephone system of a mobile telephone terminal. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the transition of the telephone system of a mobile telephone terminal. It is a time chart for demonstrating the other example of the transition of the telephone system of a mobile telephone terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone terminal which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a time chart for demonstrating the other example of the transition of the telephone system of a mobile telephone terminal. It is a time chart for demonstrating the other example of the transition of the telephone system of a mobile telephone terminal.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same function may be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof may be omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone terminal 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone terminal 101 is a mobile terminal with a 3D videophone function, and includes an antenna 200, a radio circuit 201, a voice input / output unit 202, a display unit 203, cameras 204 and 205, and a CPU 206.

  The antenna 200 transmits and receives radio waves to and from a radio base station (not shown).

  The wireless circuit 201 is a communication unit that wirelessly transmits and receives communication data via the antenna 200. More specifically, the radio circuit 201 demodulates received data that is communication data received via the antenna 200 and outputs the demodulated data to the CPU 206, or modulates transmission data that is communication data from the CPU 206 to modulate the antenna 200. And the like.

  The communication data includes at least audio data. Further, the communication data may include video data. Video data includes 3D video data indicating 3D video and 2D video data indicating 2D plane video. The 3D video data includes a plurality of moving image data indicating a plurality of moving images having different parallaxes, and the 2D video data includes a single moving image data.

  The voice input / output unit 202 has a function as a voice input unit that acquires voice and outputs it to the CPU 206 as voice data, and a function as a voice output unit that outputs voice data from the CPU 206 as voice.

  The display unit 203 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), for example, and displays various information.

  Each of the cameras 204 and 205 is an imaging unit that captures moving images having different parallaxes and outputs moving image data to the CPU 206. Although the number of cameras is only two in FIG. 1, in reality, a plurality of cameras may be used.

  The CPU 206 is a control unit that reads a program from a computer-readable recording medium (not shown) and executes the read program to realize the following functions.

  When CPU 206 receives reception data from wireless circuit 201, CPU 206 outputs audio data included in the reception data to audio input / output unit 202, and outputs audio indicated by the audio data from audio input / output unit 202. Then, the CPU 206 outputs the video data included in the received data to the display unit 203 and displays the video indicated by the video data on the display unit 203.

  Here, the CPU 206 displays 3D video when the video data is 3D video data, and displays 2D video when the video data is 2D video data. As a display method for displaying 3D video, a plurality of moving image data in 3D video data is displayed in order, and a user wears glasses for 3D images such as liquid crystal shutter glasses so that the user can view 3D stereoscopic video. However, other display methods may be used.

  Further, the CPU 206 measures the reception quality of the reception data received from the radio circuit 201 and determines whether the reception quality is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value. Hereinafter, the reception level is used as the reception quality. The reception level is RSCP (Received Signal Code Power) or RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). The reception quality is not limited to the reception level, and may be a CN ratio (Carrier to Noise ratio), MER (Modulation Error Ratio), or the like.

  When the reception level exceeds the reference value, the CPU 206 operates the audio input / output unit 202 and the cameras 204 and 205 to receive audio data from the audio input / output unit 202, and consists of two moving image data from the cameras 204 and 205. Accept 3D video data. Then, the CPU 206 transmits communication data including audio data and 3D video data to the telephone device of the other party of communication via the radio circuit 201 and the antenna 200. In this case, a 3D videophone call is performed in which a call is made while watching 3D video.

  On the other hand, when the reception level is equal to or lower than the reference value, the CPU 206 stops at least one of the cameras 204 and 205 and stops transmission of at least one of the two moving image data.

  In the present embodiment, when the reception level is equal to or lower than the reference value, the CPU 206 stops the operation of one of the cameras 204 and 205 and stops the transmission of one of the two moving image data. In this case, since the audio data and the 2D video data which is a single moving image data are transmitted to the telephone device of the other party, a 2D videophone system call that makes a call while watching the 2D video is performed. Will be.

  Note that the CPU 206 may perform image processing such as resolution conversion on the moving image data before transmitting the audio data and the moving image data.

  Next, the operation of the mobile phone terminal 101 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the mobile phone terminal 101.

  First, when the user responds to an incoming call from the other party or when the other party answers the user's call, a 3D videophone call is started (step S01). In the 3D videophone system, The CPU 206 operates the audio input / output unit 202 and the cameras 204 and 205, receives audio data from the audio input / output unit 202, and receives moving image data from the cameras 204 and 205, respectively. The CPU 206 creates communication data having the 3D video data composed of the two moving image data and the audio data, and transmits the communication data to the telephone terminal of the call partner via the radio circuit 201 and the antenna 200.

  Subsequently, the CPU 206 measures the reception level of the reception data received from the wireless circuit 201, and determines whether or not the reception level is equal to or less than a reference value (step S02).

  If the reception level exceeds the reference value, the CPU 206 maintains the 3D videophone call (step S03), and returns to the process of step S02 after a predetermined period.

  On the other hand, when the reception level is equal to or lower than the reference value, the CPU 206 switches the call system from the 3D videophone system to the 2D videophone system (step S04). More specifically, the CPU 206 stops one operation of the cameras 204 and 205 and receives only one moving image data from the camera 204 or 205. The CPU 206 creates communication data including the received 2D video data that is the moving image data and the audio data, and transmits the communication data to the telephone terminal of the other party via the radio circuit 201 and the antenna 200.

  If the received data received by the wireless circuit 201 includes a plurality of moving image data after switching to the 2D videophone system, the CPU 206 displays only one of the plurality of moving image data on the display unit 203. It may be output to display a 2D planar image, and other moving image data may be discarded.

  When a predetermined period elapses after the call method is switched to the 2D videophone method, the CPU 206 measures the reception level of the received data received from the wireless circuit 201 and determines whether the reception level is equal to or less than a reference value ( Step S05).

  When the reception level is equal to or lower than the reference value, the CPU 206 maintains the 2D videophone call (step S06), and returns to the process of step S05 after a predetermined period.

  On the other hand, if the reception level exceeds the reference value, the CPU 206 activates the camera 204 or 205 whose operation is stopped in step S04, and switches the call mode from the 2D videophone mode to the 3D videophone mode (step S07). After a predetermined period, the process returns to step S02.

  FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining an example of the transition of the calling method of the mobile phone terminal 101. In FIG. 3, it is assumed that a 3D videophone call is performed, the reception level decreases with the passage of time, and then the reception level increases.

  At a time t1 when the 3D videophone call is performed and the reception level is below the reference value, the CPU 206 switches the call method from the 3D videophone method to the 2D videophone method. Thereafter, the reception level increases with time, and at time t2 when the reception level exceeds the reference value, the CPU 206 switches the call system from the 2D videophone system to the 3D videophone system.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the radio circuit 201 transmits and receives communication data. The cameras 204 and 205 capture two moving images with different parallaxes and output two moving image data. The voice input / output unit 202 acquires voice and outputs voice data. The CPU 206 transmits a plurality of moving image data and audio data via the wireless circuit 201. When the reception level of the communication data becomes equal to or lower than the reference value, the CPU 206 stops at least one of the cameras 204 and 205 and Stop sending at least one of the data.

  In this case, when the reception level becomes equal to or lower than the reference value, at least one of the cameras 204 and 205 is stopped, and transmission of at least one of the plurality of moving image data is stopped. For this reason, when the reception level is less than or equal to the reference value, the number of operating cameras and the number of moving image data to be subjected to image processing are reduced, thereby reducing the amount of operation of an internal device such as a camera or CPU 206. It becomes possible. Therefore, since noise generated in the internal device is reduced, it is possible to make it difficult to disconnect communication. Further, since the operation amount of the internal device can be reduced, the power consumption can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, when the reception level is equal to or lower than the reference value, the CPU 206 stops the operation of one of the cameras 204 and 205 and transmits one of the two moving image data output from the cameras 204 and 205. Stop. In other words, the CPU 206 stops except for one of the cameras 204 and 205, and stops transmission of moving image data except for one of the two moving image data. For this reason, when the reception level is equal to or lower than the reference value, the call system can be switched from the 3D videophone system to the 2D videophone system, and it becomes difficult to disconnect the communication.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the first embodiment, the 3D videophone system and the 2D videophone system are used as the call system, but in this embodiment, in addition to the 3D videophone system and the 2D videophone system, A voice call system is further used.

  More specifically, when the reception level exceeds a reference value (referred to as the first reference value P1 in this embodiment), the CPU 206 transmits communication data including audio data and two moving image data to the wireless circuit 201. And transmitted via the antenna 200. In this case, a 3D videophone call is performed.

  When the reception level is equal to or lower than the first reference value P1 and exceeds the second reference value P2, the CPU 206 stops one operation of the cameras 204 and 205 and stops transmission of one of the two moving image data. In this case, a 2D videophone call is performed. The second reference value P2 is a value smaller than the first reference value P1.

  When the reception level is less than the second reference value P2, the CPU 206 stops the operations of both the cameras 204 and 205 and stops the transmission of both of the two moving image data. In this case, the CPU 206 transmits only voice data as communication data via the wireless circuit 201 and the antenna 200, and a voice telephone system call is performed in which a call is made without watching a video.

  FIG. 4 is a transition diagram of the call system when the 3D videophone system, the 2D videophone system, and the voice call system are switched according to the reception level. In the present embodiment, the CPU 206 switches the call method by comparing the reception level of the reception data received by the wireless circuit 201 with each of the first reference value and the second reference value for each predetermined period. Specifically, when the reception level is greater than the first reference value P1, the call system is a 3D television system, and when the reception level is equal to or less than the first reference value P1 and greater than the second reference value P2, the call system is a 2D television system. When the reception level is equal to or lower than the second reference value P2, the call method is a voice call method.

  FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining an example of the transition of the call method of the mobile phone terminal 101 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, as in the case of FIG. 3, it is assumed that a 3D videophone call is performed, the reception level decreases with time, and then the reception level increases.

  At a time t1 when the 3D videophone call is performed and the reception level is below the reference value, the CPU 206 switches the call method from the 3D videophone method to the 2D videophone method. Thereafter, the reception level further decreases with the passage of time, and at time t1 'when the reception level becomes equal to or lower than the second reference value P2, the CPU 206 switches the call mode from the 2D videophone mode to the voice call mode.

  Thereafter, the reception level rises with time, and at time t2 'when the reception level exceeds the second reference value P2, the CPU 206 switches the call method from the voice call method to the 2D videophone method. Then, the reception level further increases with the passage of time, and at time t2 when the reception level exceeds the first reference value P1, the CPU 206 switches the call system from the 2D videophone system to the 3D videophone system.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since it becomes possible to switch the call method in detail according to the reception level, it is possible to make communication more difficult to disconnect while taking into account user convenience. become.

  4 and 5 show a case where the reception level fluctuates relatively slowly, but the reception level changes suddenly and exceeds the first reference value P1 to the second reference value P2 or less within a predetermined period. Or when the second reference value P2 or less is exceeded and the first reference value P1 is exceeded, the CPU 206 does not switch to the 2D videophone system and switches the call system between the 3D telephone system and the voice call system. It may be switched with. In this case, it is possible to make it difficult to disconnect the communication even when the reception level changes abruptly.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 206 switches transmission of moving image data to transmission of still image data when the reception level is equal to or lower than a reference value. In this embodiment, the 3D videophone system is called a 3D video system.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone terminal 101 of this embodiment. 6, the mobile phone terminal 101 includes a memory 207 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG.

  The memory 207 is a recording unit that records various information. Note that the memory 207 may be used as a recording medium that records a program that defines the operation of the CPU 206.

  When the reception level of the reception data received by the wireless circuit 201 is equal to or lower than the reference value, the CPU 206 stops both the operations of the cameras 204 and 205, and each of the moving image data output from the cameras 204 and 205 before the stop. Still image data is extracted from. For example, the CPU 206 extracts a predetermined frame in the moving image data as still image data. The predetermined frame is preferably the last frame in the moving image data.

  The CPU 206 records each still image data extracted from each moving image data in the memory 207.

  The CPU 206 transmits the still image data recorded in the memory 207 together with the audio data repeatedly at the frame rate of the moving image data as communication data via the wireless circuit 201 and the antenna 200.

  FIG. 7 is a time chart for explaining an example of a call system of the mobile phone terminal 101 and a transition of operation states of the cameras 204 and 205. In FIG. 7, as in FIG. 3, it is assumed that a 3D video call is performed, the reception level decreases with time, and then the reception level increases.

  At a time t1 when a 3D video call is performed and the reception level falls below the reference value, the CPU 206 stops the operation of the cameras 204 and 205, extracts still image data from each moving image data, and records it in the memory 207. Then, the call method is switched from the 3D moving image method to the 3D still image method in which the still image data in the memory 207 is transmitted. Thereafter, at time t2 when the reception level becomes equal to or higher than the reference value, the CPU 206 activates the cameras 204 and 205 to switch the call method from the 3D still image method to the 3D moving image method.

  In addition, when the cameras 204 and 205 have a still image mode in which still images with different parallax are captured and output still image data, the CPU 206 receives a reception level of a reference value or less as shown in FIG. Sometimes, the cameras 204 and 205 may be activated in the still image mode at regular intervals to capture still images. In this case, the CPU 206 updates the still image data transmitted to the other party by updating the still image data in the memory 207 according to the still image data output from the cameras 204 and 205 at the time of activation. At this time, the CPU 206 may convert the number of pixels of still image data output from the cameras 204 and 205 into the number of pixels of moving image data.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the reception level falls below the reference value, the display image of the telephone device only changes from the 3D moving image to the 3D still image, so the display image changes from 3D video to 2D video. It becomes possible to eliminate a sense of incongruity such as disappearance of the display image.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the reception level is equal to or lower than the reference value, the still image transmitted to the call partner is periodically updated, so that the 3D video call has a reduced moving image frame rate. You can pretend to the other party as if you were continuing.

  Note that since the cameras 204 and 205 are activated when updating a still image, the amount of noise generated from the internal device increases momentarily, but since the time for increasing the amount of noise is short, the influence on the communication state is small. It is possible to maintain a state in which communication is not easily disconnected.

  In each embodiment described above, the illustrated configuration is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration.

  For example, in each embodiment, the 3D videophone terminal of the present invention is realized by a mobile phone terminal, but the 3D videophone terminal of the present invention may be realized by a fixed telephone terminal, an IP telephone terminal, or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Mobile phone terminal 200 Antenna 201 Wireless circuit 202 Voice input / output unit 203 Display unit 204, 205 Camera 206 CPU
207 memory

Claims (7)

A communication unit for transmitting and receiving communication data; and
A plurality of imaging units that capture a plurality of moving images having different parallaxes and output a plurality of moving image data;
An audio input unit for acquiring audio and outputting audio data;
The plurality of moving image data and the audio data are transmitted via the communication unit, and when the reception quality of the communication data is equal to or lower than the reference value, at least one of the plurality of imaging units is stopped, And a control unit that stops transmission of at least one of the plurality of moving image data.   When the reception quality is less than or equal to the reference value, the control unit stops other than one of the plurality of imaging units and stops transmission of moving image data other than one of the plurality of moving image data. The videophone device according to claim 1   When the reception quality is equal to or lower than the reference value and greater than a second reference value that is smaller than the reference value, the control unit stops all but one of the plurality of imaging units, and the plurality of moving image data If the reception quality is equal to or lower than the second reference value, the transmission of all of the plurality of moving image data is stopped by stopping all of the plurality of imaging units. The videophone device according to claim 2, wherein the videophone device is stopped.   2. The videophone according to claim 1, wherein when the reception quality is equal to or lower than the reference value, the control unit stops all of the plurality of imaging units and stops transmission of all of the plurality of moving image data. apparatus. A recording unit;
When the reception quality is less than or equal to the reference value, the control unit extracts still image data from each moving image data output from each imaging unit before stopping, records the still image data in the recording unit, and records the recorded data. The videophone apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each still image data is repeatedly transmitted via the communication unit. The imaging unit has a still image mode in which a plurality of still images with different parallaxes are captured and output as a plurality of second still image data,
When the reception quality is less than or equal to the reference value, the control unit periodically activates the imaging unit in the still image mode, and in accordance with each second still image data output at the time of activation, The videophone apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of the still image data is updated. A communication unit that transmits and receives communication data; a plurality of imaging units that capture a plurality of moving images with different parallaxes and output a plurality of moving image data; and an audio input unit that acquires sound and outputs audio data; A method of controlling a videophone device, comprising:
The plurality of moving image data and the audio data are transmitted via the communication unit,
When the reception quality of the communication data becomes equal to or lower than the reference value, at least one of the plurality of imaging units is stopped and transmission of at least one of the plurality of moving image data is stopped.

Images