JP3359065B2 - Image communication apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus and method , and more particularly, to an image communication apparatus and method such as a video telephone in a video telephone system and a terminal in a video conference system. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCI)
(TT) has studied the communication standard of the videophone system, and research has been conducted on image communication via a public digital line, a dedicated digital line, a computer-to-computer network system, and the like.

[0003] Even in such a videophone system, the use of an answering function similar to the answering function of a conventional voice telephone is considered. As the image recording device, for example, a video tape recorder (VTR) is used.

[0004]

In the conventional example, there is no function of pointing to an arbitrary portion of a received image and returning it to the transmitting side during normal communication, and therefore, when talking while viewing the same image, this is pointed out. There was no choice but to explain verbally, and it was very inconvenient.

In the conventional example, in the answering machine mode, the received image is recorded on the video tape of the VTR 22 as it is. Therefore, if the communication partner does not have a function to superimpose the character image of the date and time,
The date and time of reception are not recorded, and the date and time of reception cannot be confirmed during playback.

[0006] The answering machine of the answering machine cannot confirm how its own transmission image is recorded. For example, it is simply returned in the same way as a remote loopback, and the other party cannot judge the operation status of the other party. In particular, I do not know the remaining time that can be stored when answering
And it becomes impossible to remember before the requirements can be completely communicated
There was a possibility.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication apparatus and method which do not cause such inconvenience.

[0008]

Image communication apparatus according to the present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION includes a storage means for storing image information, a receiving means for receiving image information sent from the partner terminal, the received in the receiving means A synthesizing unit for synthesizing information indicating the storable remaining time of the image information and the current time with the image received by the receiving unit, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the image synthesized by the synthesizing unit to the partner terminal. , Answering machine communication mode
The image after being synthesized by the synthesis means
And send it to the hand terminal.
Control means for controlling an image to be stored in the storage means
And characterized in that:

[0009] In the image communication method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the communication terminal
Receiving the image information sent from the
A storage step of storing the received image information in storage means;
The remaining storage time of the received image information and the current time
Compositing the information indicating the image with the received image
And the image after being combined in the combining step
Sending step to send to terminal, and in answering machine communication mode
The image after being synthesized by the synthesis step
After transmission to the partner terminal and the combination
Control means for controlling the storage means to store the image in the storage means.
And a step.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a signal line and a signal on this signal line are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The video camera 30 captures an image of a speaker or the like and outputs a video signal thereof. The output of the video camera 30 is input to the contact a of the switch 32,
The output (received image) of the decompression decoding circuit 42 is applied to the contact point. The switch 32 is normally connected to the a contact, and supplies the output of the video camera 30 to the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34.

The graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 has an A / D
A video decoder, a graphic memory, a memory control circuit of the graphic memory, a pixel data selection circuit, a video encoder, and a D / A converter.
The image stored in the memory is synthesized and output. Of course, when there is no signal from the switch 32, the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 outputs an image stored in the graphic memory. In the former case, the graphic image data stored in the graphic memory is read out in synchronization with the horizontal / vertical synchronization signal included in the video signal from the switch 32 (external synchronization mode). Readout according to the signal (internal synchronous mode).

The graphic image data stored in the graphic memory is in a bit map format.
These are character information, illustrations, and natural still images developed by bit map. This graphic image data is drawn and stored by the CPU 54.

The output of the graphic image synthesis circuit 34 is
The voltage is applied to the contact a of the switch 36, the selection combining circuit 50, and the contact b of the switch 44. The output of the expansion decoding circuit 42 is applied to the contact b of the switch 36, and the selected output of the switch 36 is applied to the compression encoding circuit 38. The compression encoding circuit 38 compresses and encodes the image from the switch 36 and supplies the image to the communication control circuit 40. The communication control circuit 40 transmits the compressed image information from the compression encoding circuit 38 to the communication partner via the communication line, and outputs the compressed image information received from the communication partner to the decompression decoding circuit 42. The decompression decoding circuit 42 decompresses and decodes the compressed image information from the communication control circuit 40 and restores the received image.

The output of the decompression and decoding circuit 42 is the switch 3
It is supplied to the b contacts 2 and 36 and the a contacts of the switches 44 and 48. The reproduction output of the VTR 46 is applied to the contact b of the switch 48.

The switches 32 and 44 allow the user to select whether to record the received image as it is or to combine the received image with the date and time information of the receiving area by the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 before recording. is there. That is, when the switch 44 is connected to the contact a, the received image (output of the decompression decoding circuit 42) is applied to the VTR 46, and when the switches 32 and 44 are connected to the contact b, the decompression decoding circuit 4
The output of the VTR 4 via the b-contact of the switch 32, the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 and the b-contact of the switch 44
6 is applied.

The switch 48 selects a received image (the output of the decompression decoding circuit 42) or the reproduced output of the VTR 46 and supplies it to the selection / combination circuit 50. That is, the switch 48 selects either the current received image or the past received image recorded by the VTR 46.

The selecting / combining circuit 50 selects or combines the output image of the graphic image combining circuit 34 and the image from the switch 48 and applies them to the monitor 52. Selective synthesis circuit 5
For 0, for example, a commercially available picture-in-picture IC is used.

The CPU 54, which will be described later in detail, includes a graphic image synthesizing circuit 34, a compression encoding circuit 38, a communication control circuit 40, and a decompression decoding circuit 4 according to a user's instruction.
2. Selective synthesis circuit 50 and switches 32, 36, 44,
48 is controlled. The CPU 54 has a function of counting the recording time of the VTR 46.

The normal operation of this embodiment will be described. The input image output from the video camera 30 is
Is input to the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 through. The switch 32 is normally connected to the a-contact, but is connected to the b-contact when it is desired to return the received image as it is or to combine and return a graphic image (for example, a pointing cursor pointing to an arbitrary position of the received image). The graphic image combining circuit 34 combines the graphic image stored in the internal graphic memory with the image from the switch 32 in pixel units.

The graphic image synthesized by the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 includes, in addition to a response message image at the time of answering machine communication, a message image during recording of a received image, and an image of date / time and recording time information, a received image at the time of normal communication. There is an image including a pointing cursor when the user wants to return an arbitrary part of the document.

The image synthesized by the graphic image synthesis circuit 34 is sent to a compression encoding circuit 38 via a switch 36.
And the selection synthesis circuit 50. The switch 36 is normally connected to the a contact, and is connected to the b contact at the time of a remote loopback of a communication test or the like. Compression encoding circuit 38
Compresses and encodes an image from the switch 36 (usually, an image obtained by combining a graphic image with an input image from the video camera 30) and supplies it to the communication control circuit 40, which communicates via the communication line. Send to the other party.

The communication control circuit 40 converts the compressed image data received from the communication partner via the communication line into a decompression decoding circuit 4.
Feed to 2. The decompression decoding circuit 42 performs decompression decoding,
Restore the received image. The received image signal output from the decompression decoding circuit 42 is applied to the switches 32, 36, 44 and 48. As described above, the switch 36 is connected to the contact b for remote loopback of the communication test, and supplies the received image to the compression encoding circuit 38. The switch 48 is normally connected to the contact a, and the output of the decompression decoding circuit 42 is applied to the selection / combination circuit 50.

The selection and synthesis circuit 50 performs synthesis processing for displaying the image received from the switch 48 on the main screen and the output (input image) of the graphic image synthesis circuit 34 on the child screen, and outputs the result to the monitor 52.

During this time, when it is desired to record the received image on the VTR 46, the switch 44 is connected to the contact a. As a result, the output (received image) of the decompression decoding circuit 42 is
46 is applied. When recording of the VTR 46 is started, a received image is recorded.

Next, the operation at the time of answering machine will be described. FIG.
Shows an example of an image at the time of a response message transmission operation in answering machine communication, and FIG. 3 shows an example of an image of a received image to be recorded. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show an operation flowchart at the time of answering machine as a whole.

When the answering mode is set and the communication control circuit 40 notifies the CPU 54 of the incoming call, C
The PU 54 starts a series of control operations shown in FIGS.

The CPU 54 loads the graphic image data of the response message in the answering machine communication into the graphic memory in the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 (S1). In the example shown in FIG. 2, character information such as “recording mode during answering machine / after signal” is developed into a bit map at the center of the screen. Of course, it may be loaded in the graphic memory in advance according to the setting operation in the answering machine mode.

Next, the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 is operated in the internal synchronous mode to output a response message image stored in the graphic memory (S2). The output of the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 is applied to a compression encoding circuit 38 via a switch 36, and the compression encoding circuit 38
Supplies the communication message to the communication control circuit 40 after compressing and encoding the response message image. The communication control circuit 40 is a compression encoding circuit 3
The output of 8 is transmitted to the communication partner via the communication line. As a result, the response message image is displayed on the monitor of the communication partner.

After a certain period of time has elapsed after the transmission of the response message (S3), the CPU 54 connects the switch 32 to the contact b (S4), and the received image signal (output of the decompression decoding circuit 42) is sent to the graphic image synthesis circuit 34. To be applied. The CPU 54 loads the graphic image data of the receiving and recording message indicating that the received image is being recorded in the graphic memory of the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 (S5), and sets the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 to the external synchronization mode (S6). ). In the example shown in FIG. 3, the character information "recording received message" is bit-mapped at the lower left position on the screen.

As a result, an image obtained by synthesizing the received image with the message being received and recorded is converted into the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34.
To the compression / encoding circuit 38 via the switch 36 and to the switch 44. The compression encoding circuit 38 compresses and encodes the output image of the circuit 34, and the output is transmitted to the communication partner via the communication control circuit 40. That is, on the monitor of the communication partner, an image in which the received image recording message is combined with the transmission image of the communication partner itself is displayed. Can be confirmed.

The CPU 54 loads the graphic memory of the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 with graphic data representing the current date and time and the recordable time (predetermined value or the remaining recording time of the VTR 46) (S).
7). In the example shown in FIG. 3, the character information representing the date and time is bitmap-developed at the upper right of the screen, and the character information representing the recordable time is bitmap-developed at the lower right of the screen.

The graphic image data at this stage is:
A message indicating that a received image is being recorded, information on the current date and time, and a recordable time are included. An image obtained by synthesizing the graphic image with the received image includes a switch 36, a compression encoding circuit 38, a communication control circuit 40, The data is transmitted to the communication partner via the line and displayed on the monitor of the communication partner.
As a result, the contact person can see the date and time in the receiving area,
You can know the recordable time.

The CPU 54 connects the switch 44 to the contact b and outputs the output of the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 to the VTR 4
6 (S8). As a result, the same image returned to the communication partner is applied to VTR 46.

The CPU 54 resets the recording operation time counter to 0, and instructs the VTR 46 to start recording (S9). Thus, the VTR 46 sequentially records the image from the switch 44.

During the recording operation of the VTR 46, the CPU 54 increments the count counter of the recording operation time and updates the information on the current date and time and the recordable time (remaining time) on the graphic memory (S1).
0). That is, graphic image data of information on the current date and time, and the remaining recording time is displayed in a graphic format.
Load into memory. The current remaining recording time can be obtained by subtracting the count value of the recording operation time counter from the recordable time at the start of recording.

When the count value of the counter reaches a predetermined value or when the communication partner interrupts the call (S11),
A series of operations ends.

In the above-described embodiment, at the time of normal communication, the switch 32 is connected to the contact b while the switch 36 is connected to the contact a so that an arbitrary graphic image can be synthesized with the received image and returned to the communication partner. Can be. At this time, the graphic image to be synthesized includes a pointing cursor, and by controlling the cursor position, it is possible to indicate an arbitrary position of the received image and notify a communication partner. That is, it is possible to point to an arbitrary position of the received image without using sound. The explanation becomes easy.

Also, in the answering machine mode, the message being received and recorded in the received image and the current date and time information in the receiving apparatus are combined with the received image and returned, so that the communicating party can reliably record the image transmitted by itself. You can check that the information has been updated and you can know the local date and time. Furthermore, since information on the remaining time that can be recorded is combined with the image and notified to the communication partner, the communication partner can transmit the image while checking the remaining time.

In this embodiment, the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 is exemplified as a means for synthesizing predetermined information with an input image or a received image. However, it is needless to say that a character synthesizing means may be used. Of course, since the graphic image synthesizing circuit 34 can also handle a natural still image and the like, there is an advantage that it can be used for general purposes.

As means for recording a received image, a VTR
It is needless to say that various storage or recording devices such as a hard disk device, a solid-state memory device, an optical disk device, and a magneto-optical disk device can be used.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, the answering machine
During the communication mode, the image after being combined by the combining means
Transmitting the image to the partner terminal, and
Control to store the image after the
This allows the other party to
And what kind of images are stored
We can also recognize. Can store received images
By displaying the remaining time, the user of the partner terminal
Can send images and messages while checking the remaining time.
Can be. In addition, for the terminal itself,
The image after information synthesis displayed on the partner terminal
So, when you check the image later,
Not only can it be consistent with the information received by the correspondent
Information can be stored.

[0046]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an image example of a response message transmission operation in answering machine communication.

FIG. 3 is an image example of a received image to be recorded.

FIG. 4 is a part of an operation flowchart at the time of answering machine.

FIG. 5 is the remainder of the operation flow chart at the time of answering machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

30: Video camera 32: Switch 34: Graphic image synthesis circuit 36: Switch 38: Compression coding circuit 40: Communication control circuit 42: Decompression decoding circuit
44: switch 46: VTR 48: switch 5
0: Selective synthesis circuit 52: Monitor 54: CPU

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N ^7/ 14-7/15 H04M 11/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] (1)Storage means for storing image information;  Sent from the other terminalcomeReceiving means for receiving image information
And received by the receiving meansTheImage informationRemaining memory available
Information indicating the time and the current time is received by the receiving means.
Combining means for combining with the image,  TheThe image after being synthesized by the synthesis meansThe other party terminalToSending
Transmission means, During answering machine communication mode, the
The subsequent image is sent to the other party's terminal,
The combined image is stored in the storage unit.
Control means for controlling Image communication characterized by having
apparatus. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesizing unit includes a character indicating that an image is being recorded.
The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information is synthesized . (3)Receives image information sent from the partner terminal
Receiving step, Storage step of storing received image information in storage means
When, The remaining storage time of the received image information and the current time
Compositing the information indicating the image with the received image
When,  TheThe image after being synthesized in the synthesis stepThe other party terminal
ToSending step to send and, During answering machine communication mode, the
Send the image after the
Then, the combined image is stored in the storage means.
Control step to control Characterized by having
Image communication method. 4. The synthesizing step indicates that an image is being recorded.
4. The image communication method according to claim 3, wherein character information is synthesized.