JPH02104182A - Still picture video telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten transmission time by dividing image data into an available part and an unavailable part in case of resending image data photographed by a TV camera or received image data, and transmitting only the available part. CONSTITUTION:A speaker informs the division specification of image data such as a favorite self-portrait to a CPU 11 by operating a key pad 9 while observing the self-portrait displayed on a display device 17. The CPU 11 decodes the contents of division specification and commands an image control part 15 to store image data photographed by the TV camera 14. While storing the image data such as the self-portrait sent from the TV camera 14 in a previously set specific area of an image memory 16, the image control part 15 successively reads out the stored data, displays the read data on the display device 17 and sends the image data as they are. Thus, the transmission time can be shortened.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a still image video telephone device that transmits and receives audio or image data captured by a television camera to and from the other party via a telephone line. be.

[Prior Art] There is a demand for a videophone that uses a telephone line to transmit audio and images simultaneously, but in reality, current telephone lines cannot continuously transmit and receive dynamic images that require a huge amount of data. Still image videophone devices that transmit still images to the other party during a call are being put into practical use.

This still image videophone device temporarily interrupts a normal voice call and displays a desired still image taken by a TV camera, such as the caller's face, a photo screen corresponding to the content of the call, or It is possible to arbitrarily send image data such as pictures.

Therefore, with such a still image videophone device, it is possible to send and receive images over a telephone line, which was previously impossible, and the amount of data processing is also limited because only one still image is sent each time. This has the advantage that it is easy to put the videophone device into practical use.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating a still image video telephone device capable of transmitting such still images.

In Fig. 5, (1) is the connection terminal of the external telephone, (2
) is an external telephone handset, (6) is a telephone interface circuit (telephone 1/F circuit), (7) is a telephone line connection terminal, (9) is a keypad, (10) is an input/output board, (1
1) is a CPU as a control device, (12) is a program memory, (13) is a modem circuit, (14) is a television camera, (15) is an image control unit, (16) is an image memory, (
17) is a display device.

Next, the transmission operation of audio and image data of this conventional still image video telephone device will be explained based on FIGS. 5 and 6.

In Fig. 5, voice calls are made using an external telephone (2),
The electric power is sent to the telephone line connection terminal (7) via the tongue interface circuit (6).

Here, when transmitting image data, as shown in Figure 6, the still image videophone device of the communication partner (caller) has the same data format image data communication capability as the caller (caller). In order to confirm whether or not there is, a header containing an ID code such as confirmation data regarding capabilities is sent.

Then, after receiving the header back from the other party and confirming that it has the same capabilities, the image data is transmitted.

In FIG. 5, when the keypad (9) is used to instruct image data transmission, the CP is sent via the input/output port (10).
U (11) detects this and programs memory (12)
The header is sent to the modulation/demodulation circuit (13) according to a program stored in advance.

Then, this header is modulated into an analog signal and then sent out from the telephone line connection terminal (7°). The header from the other party is sent to the CPU (11
), so this code etc. is checked by the CPU (11).

Meanwhile, the image data taken by the television camera (14) during this period is quantized by the image control unit (15), stored in the image memory (16), and sequentially derived and displayed on the display device (17). 11), the image memory (
16) to the telephone line connection terminal (7).

In addition, when a header is input from the other party, the telephone interface circuit (6) recognizes that this will start receiving image data, and uses the received carrier signal to send a message to the telephone interface circuit (6).
is switched from the external telephone (2) to the modulation/demodulation circuit (13).

After the received signal from the telephone interface circuit (6) is demodulated by the modulation/demodulation circuit (13), the CPU (
11), the image memory (1) via the image control unit (15)
6) stores the received image data. Further, the image control unit (15) sequentially reads out the self-portrait data and the other party's image data and displays them on the display device (17).

Usually, a simple header containing an indicator that the image data begins is placed at the beginning of the image data.

Furthermore, when the transmission and reception of images is completed and the carrier signal from the modulation/demodulation circuit (13) disappears, the telephone interface circuit (6) is switched from the modulation/demodulation circuit (13) to the external telephone [(2), and the telephone interface circuit (6) is connected to the external telephone [(2)]. Restore call.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional still image videophone device is configured as described above, header data is synthesized in front of one screen worth of image data taken with a television camera and transmitted. ing. Therefore, unnecessary portions of the image data, that is, unnecessary portions of the screen, must be stored as image data, reproduced, and transmitted, resulting in the problem that the transmission time for one screen itself cannot be shortened.

This invention was made to solve these problems, and it is possible to divide image data into a moving part and an ineffective part, and to transmit only the effective part, thereby shortening the transmission time. The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a still image videophone device that is capable of producing still images.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the still image videophone device according to the present invention, when retransmitting image data photographed by a television camera or image data transmitted and received from the other party, the effective portion, for example, the head portion. The apparatus is equipped with a division extraction means for dividing and extracting only the image data, and a division extraction image data sending means for transmitting the image data divided and extracted by the division extraction means.

[Function] The still image videophone device according to the present invention is capable of dividing and specifying the effective portion displayed on the display screen of the display device when retransmitting image data taken with a television camera or received image data. By doing so, unnecessary image data is not transmitted, and the transmission time for one screen can be shortened.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, in which the same parts as in FIG. A D/A conversion circuit (3a) that performs D/A conversion (hereinafter abbreviated as D/A conversion) and a transmitting device (3
b), a receiving device (3d) that receives image data from this telephone 1/F circuit (6), and an analog/digital conversion (hereinafter referred to as A/D) of the output data of this receiving device (3d).
(abbreviated as conversion) and supplies it to the CPU (11)
It has a conversion circuit (3C).

Next, the operation will be explained. When there is a call from the telephone line, the telephone connected to the terminal (1) sounds a ring tone to notify the called party on the called side that there is a call.

In addition, when transmitting and receiving image data, in order to cut the voice from the telephone and the sound noise coming from the transmitter, it is necessary to control the line to the telephone and physically control the transmission and reception of image data.
This is done electrically.

The image transmission section (3) modulates and demodulates still image data to transmit and receive image data, and receives image data to be transmitted from the CPU (11), and transmits it to the D/A conversion circuit (3a). It is modulated by the device (3b) and transmitted to the telephone line. On the other hand, image data received from the telephone line is demodulated by the receiving device (3d) and then supplied to the CPU (11) via the A/D conversion circuit (3C).

An image control unit (15) displays image data taken by a television camera (14) on a display device (17) and simultaneously stores it in an image memory (16). Also, the received image data sent from the CPU (11) is stored in the image memory (16).
) and displayed on the display device (17).

Typically, the CPU (11) operates according to the contents of the program memory (12). Therefore, by receiving a signal indicating the start of receiving image data from the telephone line through the image transmission section (3), the read address of the program memory (12) is changed and an instruction is issued to the input/output board (10).
In order to cut the audio etc. from the telephone (mute function), a command signal is sent from the input/output board (10) to the telephone 1/F circuit (6).

phone! /F circuit (6) operates the mute function section,
Thereafter, the image data is sent to the CPU via the image transmission section (3).
Transfer to (11). The above image data that has been transferred (
The received image data) is sent to the image control unit (15), stored in the image memory, and simultaneously displayed on the display device (17).
) is displayed.

The CPU (11) decodes input information from the keypad (9) via the input/output port (10).

As a result of the decoding, if a switch (not shown) in the keypad (9) serving as a division designation means is ON, the read address of the program memory (12) is changed and the process is performed.

The main process is to divide the image data displayed on the display device (17), edit it again, and then divide the image data displayed on the display device (17).
) and simultaneously send the edited data.

Next, the division designation of image data and display and transmission operations will be explained. While looking at the self-portrait on the display device (17), the caller selects a self-portrait that he or she likes and operates the keypad (9) to notify the CPU (11) of the division designation of the image data.

The CPU (11) decodes the contents of the division designation made by the keypad (9) and instructs the image control section (15) to store the image data taken by the television camera (14).

Therefore, in the image control section (15), the television camera (14
) is stored in a specific area of the image memory (16) set in advance, and the stored data is sequentially read out and displayed on the display device (17). That is, for example, moving image data from a television camera is sequentially stored in the transmission data "1" area of the image memory configuration diagram shown in FIG. 2, and the data is rewritten and stored in real time.

If image data is sent from the other party, call 1/F.
The image data is received by the image transmission section (3) via the circuit (6). Then, the received image data is demodulated, and the demodulated data is sequentially converted to C through the A/D conversion circuit (3c).
The image data is sent to the PU (11), and the CPU (11) sends the sent image data to the image control unit (15).

The image control unit (15) sequentially stores the received image data in a specific area of the image memory (16).

That is, for example, if the received image data is the first data, the received data "" in the image memory configuration diagram in FIG.
1” area, if it is the second data, the received data “
2" area and sequential image data are stored in a predetermined area.

Here, when displaying or transmitting a divided image, the flowchart diagrams shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are used for the case where the self-portrait or received image data is stored in each area of the image memory configuration diagram in FIG. 2. I will explain based on this.

First, the case of transmitting divided images of a self-portrait will be explained based on FIG. 3. When sending a divided image to the other party, switch the division designation switch in the keypad (9) to the division side and press the transmission switch (step 5T3-1). )(10)
It is determined by the CPU (11) via the CPU (11).

In response to a command from the CPU (11) based on the i11 disconnection result, the image control section (15) writes image data from the television camera (14) into the transmission side storage memory rnJ (step 5T3-2).

Then, in the next step 5T3-3, the input information of the division designation switch in the keypad (9) is determined. If division is specified, go to step 5T3-4; if not specified,
Proceeding to step 5T3-7, the image data displayed on the display device (17) is transmitted as is.

In step 5T3-4, the image data written in the sending side storage memory rnJ in step 5T3-2 is transferred to the work area of the image memory configuration diagram in FIG.

The transferred image data is partially divided into spatial paths using a predetermined division method (step 5T3-5).
For example, there are images of two people in the image data to be displayed and transmitted, and in order to display and transmit only one person in the valid image by dividing the image, specify the division range (position) of the valid screen and divide the data of the invalid part. drop.

The designation of this divided gA area displays a cursor on the 0 screen, for example. ■Keypad r2J, r4J, "6", "8"
” correspond to “↑”, “←”, “→”, and “↓”, respectively, and move the cursor to a predetermined position. (2) Specify the range by pressing one point on the upper left and one point on the lower right, for example, "5" times.

In this way, the divided image data is transferred from the work area to the original transmission side storage memory rnJ (step 5T3-6).

When the image data processing is completed, if the transmit switch in the keypad (9) is pressed, the display device (17
) and transmits the divided image data, that is, the image data in the transmitting side storage memory rnJ (step 5T3-7).

Further, if the transmission switch is not pressed, only the divided image data is displayed on the display device (17).

The fourth step is when transmitting the next divided image of the received image data.
This will be explained based on the diagram. Select the image data you want to send from among the several pieces of image data you have received, switch the division designation switch to the division side in the same way as for self-portraits, and press the transmission switch (step 5T4-1). The input information of the division designation switch is determined by the CPU (11) via the input/output port (10) (step 5T4-2). If there is no division designation, the process moves to step 5T4-6 and the image data displayed on the display device (17) is transmitted as is.

If there is a division specification, the image data in the receiving side storage memory rnJ in which the selected image data (image data selected in step 5T4-1) is stored is placed in the work area of the image memory configuration diagram in FIG. Transfer (Step 5T4
-3).

The transferred image data is divided according to a predetermined division method in the same way as the self-portrait (step 5T4-4). The divided image data is transferred from the work area to the original receiving side storage memory r.
nJ (step 5T4-5). When the processing of the image data is completed, the contents of the receiving side storage memory rnJ are displayed on the display device (17) and at the same time, the image data is transmitted over the telephone line (step 5T4-6).

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the pre-stored self-portrait and received image data are divided according to the destination of the call, and only the necessary parts are transmitted. There are effects such as shortening the transmission time and being able to enjoy transmitting only the image data that one likes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overview of a still image TV/video telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image memory, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing when transmitting a self-image. , FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing when transmitting received image data, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional still image video telephone device, and FIG. FIG. In the figure, (3) is an image transmission section, (12) is a control device (CPU), (14) is a television camera, (16) is an image memory, and (17) is a display device. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent: Patent Attorney Masuo Oiwa (2 others) Flowchart of self-portrait sending process C Figure 3 Flowchart of trust statue sending process Figure 4 Jimo QQ iil

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A control device that stores image data taken by a television camera in an image memory and displays it on a display device; and a control device that sends the image data supplied from the control device to a telephone line and transmits the image data from the telephone line. A still image videophone comprising an image transmission section that supplies received image data to the control device, further comprising: a division extraction means for spatially dividing and extracting a portion of the image data read from the image memory; A still picture video telephone device comprising: a divided extracted image data sending means provided in the control device so as to send the divided extracted image data to the telephone line.