JP2892416B2 - Image interactive communication system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Summary] The present invention relates to a two-way image communication system for displaying images bi-directionally between terminal devices connected to a line, and includes segment data of an image in a terminal device and attribute information of an image in a center machine. The terminal device exchanges commands (segment data ID, position coordinates, operation commands, etc.) between the terminal device and the center machine and displays an image on the terminal device. In order to enable base-based two-way communication, a storage device for storing images in association with unit data IDs is provided in each terminal device, and image attribute information is associated with unit data IDs. The database to be registered is provided in the center machine, and the terminal device that has received the command from the center machine via the line searches the storage device and searches for the image of the unit data ID specified by the command. The information is taken out and displayed at the designated position, and the position coordinates selected from the screen and the selected operation command are collectively transmitted as a command to the center machine via the line. When it is determined that the image of the segment data ID corresponding to the position coordinates in the received command is affected, the command is repeatedly transmitted to the corresponding terminal device, and as a result, a bidirectional image is transmitted between the terminal devices. It is configured to display.

[Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a two-way image communication system that performs two-way image display between terminal devices connected to a line. Intercommunication (hereinafter referred to as personal computer communication) in which a personal computer is connected to a low-speed line such as a telephone line and communicates with each other via a center has become quite common at present. This personal computer communication is not an esoteric system that mainly uses characters, but requires an image two-way communication that allows users to select as many as possible with as few operations as possible, focusing on pictures (images) that are easy for beginners to take. Have been.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention]

With conventional communication technologies, when trying to send and receive images, especially moving images, as it is, the communication speed that is technically possible for the size of the data is low, so it is impossible to perform real-time communication mainly with images. is there. For this reason, communication mainly using texts (characters) has been performed. However, compared to the amount of information contained in images, the amount of information contained in characters is small, and for beginners who are not used to communication, a series of characters and many difficult-to-remember commands can cause fear. Had occurred. Further, in the conventional image processing, a command such as graphic GET / PUT is used, so that there is a problem that display of a moving image is slow. Further, conventional command selection is performed by input from a joystick or a keyboard, and there is a problem that it is complicated for a user to select a command to be executed.

According to the present invention, a terminal device has segment data of an image and attribute information of an image in a center machine, and exchanges commands (segment data ID, position coordinates, operation commands, etc.) between the terminal device and the center machine, and It is an object of the present invention to display an image on a device and reduce the amount of communication to enable image-based two-way communication between terminal devices.

[Means to solve the problem]

 Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, a terminal device 1 is a terminal that is connected to a center machine 11 via a line to transmit and receive commands and, as a result, displays images bidirectionally between the terminal devices 1. And so on.

The storage device 5 stores an image (segment data of an image) in association with a segment data ID.

The center machine 11 connects to the terminal device 1 via a line to transmit and receive commands, and searches the database 15 to send the command to the corresponding terminal device 1 when it is determined that the image of the terminal device 1 is affected. The image is transmitted and displayed.

[Action]

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device 1 which has received a command from the center machine 11 via a line searches the storage device 5 and extracts the image of the unit data ID specified by the command. In addition to displaying at the specified position, the position coordinates selected from the screen and the selected operation command are collectively transmitted as a command to the center machine 11 via the line, and the center machine 11 searches the database 15 When it is determined that the image of the segment data ID corresponding to the position coordinates in the received command is affected, the transmission of the command to the corresponding terminal device 1 is repeatedly performed. Image is displayed.

Therefore, the terminal device 1 has the segment data of the image and the attribute information of the image in the center machine 11, and exchanges commands (segment data ID, position coordinates, operation commands, etc.) between the terminal device and the center machine, and By displaying an image on the device 1, it is possible to perform image-based two-way communication between the terminal devices 1 while reducing the amount of communication.

〔Example〕

Next, the configuration and operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be sequentially described in detail with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, a terminal device 1 exchanges commands with a center machine 11 via a line and, as a result, performs bidirectional image display between the terminal devices 1.
Through 8 are provided.

The communication control device 2 performs transmission and reception with the center machine 11 connected via the same line.

The command analyzer 3-1 analyzes a command transmitted from the center machine 11.

The command generation unit 3-2 generates a command to be transmitted to the center machine 11 based on information such as position coordinates and operation commands selected from the screen of the display device 7 of the terminal device 1.

The image search / display unit 4 searches the storage device 5 in response to the command transmitted from the center machine 11, extracts the unit data of the corresponding unit data ID, and develops the unit data on the frame memory 6. An image (moving image) is displayed on the display device 7.

The storage device 5 stores an image (segment data of an image) in association with a segment data ID.

The frame memory 6 is a memory for expanding the segment data of an image and displaying it on the display device 7 at high speed.

The display device T is a display device that displays an image.

The input device (mouse) 8-1 is an input device for screen instructions, for example, a mouse.

The input device (keyboard) 8-2 is an input device for inputting characters, and is, for example, a keyboard.

The center machine 11 is a computer system provided in a center connected to a number of terminal devices 1 via a line.
Or 15

The communication control device 12 performs transmission and reception with the terminal device 1 connected via a line.

The data interpreting unit 13 refers to the corresponding map 14-1 based on the position coordinates notified by the command from the terminal device 1 to obtain the unit data ID in which the position coordinates exist, and obtains the obtained unit data ID. The database 15 is searched based on the ID and the notified operation command to determine whether or not the image currently displayed on the terminal device 1 is affected, or to reflect when it is determined that the image is affected. The change information to be displayed later is transmitted as a command to all the corresponding terminal devices 1.

The memory 14 is for developing a map 14-1 and the like.

The map 14-1 is for obtaining an area corresponding to each image displayed on the screen of the terminal device 1 and obtaining the correspondence between the position coordinates and the unit data ID. With reference to this map 14-1, it is determined on the basis of the position coordinates in the command transmitted from the terminal device 1 which of the image segment data IDs has been designated.

The database 15 registers attribute information of an image (information such as whether or not to be moved, whether or not it can be held, and whether or not it is classified as a background) in association with the segment data ID.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an image segment data storage file (fixed length) according to the present invention. This shows an example (fixed length) of a fragment data storage file of an image created and stored in advance in the storage device 5 of the terminal device 1 in FIG. Here, one class has a fixed length, and the class includes fixed-length styles 1 to n. Therefore, the segment data of the image is classified by two numbers, ie, a class and a style, and the segment data corresponding to the segment class style ID having these two numbers (corresponding to the segment data ID described above). And extracts its contents (segment data of the image).

Next, the operation of the terminal device 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not data from the center machine 11 has been received. In the case of YES, data analysis is performed to classify commands, and further, image data search and display change are executed to display an image change (moving image display) on the display device 7 (FIGS. 4 to 4). Will be described later). On the other hand, in the case of NO, the process is performed.

Determines whether there is an input from the mouse.
In the case of YES, the command is sent after the command to the center machine is transmitted. This corresponds to, for example, the position coordinate (X, Y) selected on the screen of FIG. 5 (a) by the mouse 8-1, or the operation selected from the operation commands displayed on the screen of FIG. 5 (b). A command (for example, DO) and a command having a terminal ID of the terminal device 1 and the like are created as shown in the lower part of FIG. 3 and transmitted to the center machine 11 via a line (to be described later with reference to FIG. 5). ). On the other hand, in the case of NO,
I do.

Determines whether there is an input from the keyboard. If YES, the command is sent to the center machine, and then the command is executed. This is the keyboard 8-2 in Fig. 1.
Then, character data and the like input on the screen are transmitted to the center machine 11 via the image line.

 The processing in FIG. 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, the unit class style ID of the unit data of the changed image sent from the center machine is obtained (the command in the upper part of FIG. 3 is obtained).

Calculates offset of image data = size of class × number of classes + style size × number of styles. That is, the offset at which the image data is stored in the storage device 5 is obtained from the unit data class style ID acquired in accordance with the above equation.

Is an image data file (for example, CD-ROM5-
1) The data is read from the position of the offset from the top of the existing.

 Registers the image data in the frame memory.

Determines the display position and display order of the images based on the position information included in the data (command) sent from the center machine. This is based on the position information (X, Y) displayed on the screen included in the command shown in the upper part of FIG. 3 sent from the center machine 11 so that images are displayed in order from a far image to a near image, for example. (That is, displayed in order from top to bottom of the screen).

Transfers the image from the frame memory to the display memory in accordance with the display order and position, and displays the image on the display (display device 7). Thereby, in accordance with the image change information sent by the command from the center machine 11, the images are displayed again in the order from the far image to the near image. For example, from the state in which the door of the house described later in FIG.
When the door of the house is open, it is displayed quickly as if it were a video.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a display screen according to the present invention. this is,
4 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device 7 of the terminal device 1.

FIG. 5A shows an example of a display screen displayed on the display device 7 of the terminal device 1. Here, the image display area of
This is an area for displaying images and operation commands according to the present embodiment. In this image display area, as described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4, based on the command transmitted from the center machine 11 via the line (for example, the command in the lower part of FIG. 3). The image of the corresponding unit class style ID is extracted from the storage device 5 and displayed in a predetermined order.

FIG. 5B shows an example of the command menu. This is a command menu that is displayed centering on the pointed position in response to the pointing of one of the images displayed in the image display area of FIG. Is shown. When the mark is moved from the command menu to an area of a desired command (DO for an operation command) and the mouse button is released, the operation command is selected. In summary, FIG. 5 (a) indicates that an arbitrary image in the image display area is pointed to and depressed with a mouse button.
(B) When the command menu appears, select the desired command with the mouse and release the button.
As shown in the command at the bottom of the figure, the selected position information (X, Y) and the selected operation command are determined.

Next, the operation of the center machine 11 in FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In FIG. 6, the terminal device 1 that has issued the command is identified and the command is determined.

Looks at the location specified by the terminal on the map referenced by the terminal that issued the command.

Gets the unit class style ID of the image at the specified position on the map.

Refers to a command. these,,,
Is the position coordinate (X, Y) of the command received by the center machine 11 from the terminal device 1 on the map 14-1 corresponding to the terminal ID in the command, for example, the command in the lower part of FIG. The unit class style ID at the position specified by is extracted, and the operation command “DO” in the command is referred to.

Determines whether information from the DB (database 15 in FIG. 1) is necessary for the determination. If YES, the information is obtained from the database 15. This is performed by searching the database 15 using the terminal ID and the unit class style ID as keys, and entering the attribute class style ID by the operation command “DO” in the attribute information having the corresponding unit class style ID, for example.
If the image specified by (for example, door) is defined in advance to change from a closed image (door) to an open image (door) or vice versa, from an open image (door) to a closed image (door) The change information for displaying the image of the state that will change from the current state is extracted. And do. On the other hand, in the case of NO, the process is performed.

Determines whether the screen map is affected. YE
In the case of S, the screen map is rewritten and the operation is performed. N
If O, do.

Transmits the change information to all of the terminal devices 1 that are referring to the same screen as the terminal that issued the command. this is,
The change information generated by the above processing is converted into a command, for example, a command (terminal ID, unit class style ID, operation command "display ON", position coordinates (X, Y) to be displayed) shown in the upper part of FIG. Is transmitted to all the terminal devices 1 that are referring to the same screen as the terminal device 1 that has issued the command, and the screen is changed.

By the above processing, the center machine 11 that has received the command transmitted from the terminal device 1
Is transmitted as a command to all the corresponding terminal devices 1 by changing the screen, and as a result, an image can be displayed bidirectionally between the terminal devices 1. Become.

 FIG. 7 shows a map explanatory diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 7A shows a display example of the terminal device 1. This shows an example in which an image of a house is displayed on the screen of the display device 7 of the terminal device 1. Here, regarding the image of each part of the house, the unit class style ID (# 11): background image Unit class style ID (# 12): entire image of the house Unit class style ID (# 13): house A door class image style 1D (# 14): Image of the road in front of the house A class class style ID is assigned.
The images of these unit class style IDs are read from the storage device 5 and specified in order, for example, from the farthest one (#
The image shown in FIG. 7 (a) is displayed by expanding the image on the frame memory 6 in a manner of overwriting in the order of (11, # 12, # 13, # 14).

FIG. 7B shows an example of a map of the center machine 11.
This shows an example of an area range in which the unit class style ID is stored on the map 14-1 of the memory 14 of the center machine 11 in correspondence with the image display of the terminal device 1 in FIG. By referring to the map 14-1, it is possible to easily determine which unit class style ID has been selected based on the position coordinates transmitted by the command from the terminal device 1.

FIG. 8 shows a system configuration diagram of the present invention. this is,
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration in which the configuration is actually embodied.

In FIG. 8, the terminal device 1 has a unit class style.
CD-ROM 5-1 (corresponding to the storage device 5 in FIG. 1) storing segment data of an image created in advance in association with 1D, and a display 7-1 (corresponding to the display device 7 in FIG. 1) for displaying an image , A screen instruction mouse 8-1, a character input keyboard 8-2, and the like.

The center machine 11 transmits and receives commands via a telephone line, a line control device 12-1, a map 14-1 developed on a RAM memory 14-2, and interprets a command transmitted from the terminal device 1 to generate an image. It is determined whether or not the data is affected, and when the data is affected, the change information is converted into a command and transmitted to the affected terminal device 1 or the like, and the data is associated with the image unit class style ID. It is composed of a database 15 or the like in which attribute information indicating whether or not the image is affected is stored in a hard disk device in advance.

With the above system configuration, the amount of information passing through the line can be controlled by the command (terminal ID of own terminal device 1, terminal ID,
Only a few bytes or tens of bytes are required for unit data ID (unit class style ID), position information, etc., and it is necessary to exchange hundreds or thousands of bytes of information when transferring conventional images. Absent. By using this system, for example, oneself is represented by the number of strokes (graphics) in the form of a person on one's own terminal device 1 connected to the center machine 11 via a line, and it is as if one is in a world in a network. The effect is displayed on the screen of the own terminal device 1 and the screen of the other terminal device 1, and the user can walk around the substitute graphic in the world of the image on the screen, It is possible to construct a game system that can be taken.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the terminal device 1 has the segment data of the image and the center machine 11 has the attribute information of the image, and commands (segment data ID, position coordinates, Since a configuration in which an image is displayed on the terminal device 1 by exchanging operation commands and the like is adopted, the amount of communication can be reduced and image-based bidirectional communication between the terminal devices can be performed at high speed. This allows
(1) Easy-to-understand two-way image communication using an image, which was impossible in the past, (2) Real-time (real-time) and rapidly changing images using a low-speed telephone line (3) To construct a personal computer communication system that includes easy-to-use, high-speed selection using a mouse, a command menu, and the like, can be reflected in an image, and includes easy-to-understand high-speed image processing using graphics. Is now available.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an example of an image segment data storage file according to the present invention, FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts of processing of a terminal device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is an example of a display screen according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing of the center machine according to the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 8 shows a system configuration diagram of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a terminal device, 2 and 12 are communication control devices, 3-1 is a command analysis unit, 3-2 is a command generation unit, 4 is an image search / display unit, 5 is a storage device, and 5-1 is a CD. -ROM, 6 is a frame memory, 7 is a display device, 7-1 is a display,
8-1 is an input device (mouse), 8-2 is an input device (keyboard), 11 is a center machine, 13 is a data interpreter, 14-
1 is a map, 15 is a database.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image interactive communication system for displaying images bidirectionally between terminal devices connected to a line, wherein a storage device (5) for storing images in association with unit data IDs is provided for each terminal. A database (15) for registering image attribute information in association with the unit data ID is provided in the center machine (11), and a command is received from the center machine (11) via the line. The terminal device (1) searches the storage device (5), retrieves the image of the unit data ID specified by the command, displays the image at the specified position, and displays the position coordinates and selection selected from the screen. The received operation commands are grouped into commands and transmitted to the center machine (11) via the line, and the center machine (11) searches the database (15) and receives the received position coordinates in the command. It repeated sending the command to the terminal device (1) corresponding to when an image effect on the segment data ID is found to out that,
As a result, a bidirectional image communication system is configured to perform bidirectional image display between the terminal devices (1).