JPH02159188A - Transmission equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability and to prevent an erroneous call by supplying a stored picture from a memory means, in which a transmission destination picture corresponds to a transmission destination number, to a monitor as a visible image, selecting the reproduced visible image, and calling the transmission destination number corresponding to the image. CONSTITUTION:A picture signal outputted from a video camera is produced through a memory 6 to a D/A 9. Thus, for example, an operator can input his face with the use of a video camera 1, and can confirm it on a monitor 11. When the operator determines a picture to be transmitted while observing the picture on the monitor 11, he freezes the picture on a memory 6 by an OK operation by means of an OK/NG switch. After freezing, he switches an NCU 13 from a telephone side 15 to a converter 12 side, and a dual tone signal is generated. Further, the other side is set in a picture receiving mode, the telephone number on a present side is converted into pulses by a CPU 28, sent to the other side, and then the frozen picture is sent to the memory 6. The processing is repeated until the completion of picture sending.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a transmission device.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional transmission device, for example, a video telephone device has recently been put into practical use.

With such devices, when making a call, you can either enter the phone number in the same way as with a normal phone call, or you can store the destination's phone number on a number button, etc., and simply press that button to automatically call the other party. There was a method of dialing the telephone number and making a call.

[Problem that the invention is trying to solve]

However, in the conventional example described above, there is a drawback that when entering a telephone number, the telephone number of the other party is forgotten or entered incorrectly, resulting in the line being connected to a party other than the desired party. Furthermore, these methods have the disadvantage that the user remains fundamentally uncertain as to whether or not the entered telephone number is the one he or she is calling until the other party picks up.

An object of the present invention is to provide a transmission device that can eliminate such drawbacks.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve such an object, the transmission device of the present invention provides a means for supplying a stored image to a monitor in order to reproduce it as a visible image from a storage means capable of storing a plurality of destination images and the destination number in correspondence; and means for placing a call to a destination number corresponding to the selected image.

[For production]

In the above configuration, the calling means makes a call to the destination number in accordance with the image selected by the selecting means.

〔Example〕

In the following embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to a device having an image display monitor, such as a videophone, will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applicable to a device configured as a separate image display monitor. It may be.

Further, the storage section for storing the other party's image may be similarly provided in the main body, or may be configured as a separate body.

Further, although this embodiment discloses an apparatus using a magnetic disk as a storage medium, the medium may be other types of media, or may be a solid state memory such as a semiconductor memory.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, l is a video camera for capturing images, 2 is an amplifier for amplifying the output signal from the video camera l, and 3 is for converting the analog signal of the image amplified by the amplifier 2 into digital data. 4 is a serial-parallel conversion circuit for converting serial data from the A/D converter 3 into parallel data;
5 is a memory controller for controlling data reception and passing; 6 is a memory for storing image data converted to digital data; 7 is an address counter for generating memory addresses; 8 is a memory controller for controlling data transfer. a parallel-to-serial conversion circuit for converting parallel data from the memory 6 into serial data;
10 is a digital-to-analog converter for converting the data from the parallel-to-serial converter 8 into an analog signal, IO is a video buffer for buffering the analog signal from the D/A converter 9, and 11 is a buffered analog signal. This is a motor for reproducing and displaying a visible image.

12 is a modulator for modulating the analog signal from the D/A converter 9 to a frequency of 300 to 3,400 Hz that is compatible with the telephone line, and the modulator 12 is a circuit that directly modulates the output from the P/S 8. Good too. 13 is an NC for connecting the telephone line to the system and to the telephone set 15;
U.

14 is a terminal for connecting to a telephone line.

16 is a demodulator for demodulating the signal input from the telephone line via the terminal 14 and the NCU 13; 17 is an A/D converter for converting the demodulated signal into digital data.

18 is a motor for rotating the still video floppy disk 2o during recording or reproduction; 19 is a motor servo circuit for keeping the motor at a constant speed; and 21 is for recording or reproducing signals on the still video floppy disk 20. 22 is a head access circuit for radially deflecting the head 21; 23 is the head 2;
A changeover switch 24 is used to select whether to supply a recording signal to the head 21 or to output a signal from the head to the amplifier 24;
3, an ID/video processing circuit 25 separates the signal amplified by the amplifier 24 into ID data and a video signal, and processes the signal; It includes a filter that frequency-separates the signals from the image signal, an ID data demodulation circuit, and an image signal demodulation circuit. 26 is an ID for superimposing ID data on a video signal and converting it into a recording format.
-Video recording circuit, 27 is an amplifier for amplifying the signal from the ID/video recording circuit. In addition, when playing, I
D data is sent from the process circuit 25 to the CPU 28,
During recording, ID data is sent from the CPU 28 to the recording circuit 26. 28 is C for controlling the system
The PU 29 is a controller consisting of a group of SWs and a display section for giving instructions.

30, 32, 34, and 35 are switches for instructing the device to operate, and the switch 30 is a switch for setting a mode for reproducing images recorded on the disk 20 and displaying them as visible images on the monitor 11. It is.

The switch 32 is a switch for setting the recording of the received image signal or the image signal generated from the video camera 1 on the disk 20. Switches 34 and 35 are head 2
This is a switch for changing the access position for one disk to the inner circumferential side or the outer circumferential side. The switch 36 controls the image being played on the monitor, for example switch 34.
This is an OK/NG switch for selecting an image reproduced from a track accessed as a result of head movement by 35.

38 is a switch for transmitting the image captured in the image memory 6 to the other party.

In addition, in the search call mode to be described later, by selecting a desired image using the switches 34 and 35 while looking at the monitor and turning on the switch 36, the telephone number of the other party corresponding to the desired image can be dialed. It is also possible to perform a calling operation.

Further, reference numerals 50 and 51 are switching circuits that respectively switch image signals.

Next, the operation of each part of the device will be explained.

When used as a normal videophone, the telephone 15
Make a call to the other party, connect the line, and then talk. In the case of transmission, the image signal from the video camera 1 is amplified by the amplifier 2, converted to digital data by the A/D converter 3, and sent to the address counter via the S/P conversion circuit 4 and memory controller 5. The image is written into the memory 6 at the address. The data written in the memory 6 is sequentially passed through the memory controller 5, the P/S conversion circuit 8, the D/A converter 9, and then buffered in the video buffer 10 according to the address of the address counter 7, and can be monitored on the monitor 11. . When transmitting image data, the CPU 28 controls the NCU 13 according to a command from the controller 29, disconnects the telephone line from the telephone set 15, and connects the transmission line T to the telephone line. Furthermore, memory 6
Prior to transmitting the image data from the memory controller 5, a command indicating that the data to be transmitted is image data is added to the image data, and then the image data is sequentially read from the memory 6 and sent to the memory controller 5 and the P/S. Conversion circuit 8, D
/A converter 9 to modulator 12. Modulator 1
The signal modulated by NCU 13 is output from terminal 14 to the telephone line.

When receiving image data, the image data input from the terminal 14 is demodulated by the demodulator 16 via the NCU 13, and converted into digital data by the A/D converter 17. The converted digital data becomes parallel data in the S/P conversion circuit 4, and the command added to the beginning of the image data is sent to the CPU 2 via the memory controller 5.
8 reads and controls image data reception. Subsequently, the image data is sequentially written into the memory 6. When such writing is completed, the written image data is monitored on the monitor 11 via the memory controller 5, P/S conversion circuit 8, D/A converter 9, and video buffer IO.

After sending and receiving image data, the NCU 13 automatically connects to the telephone line 14.
is switched from the demodulator 16 to the telephone set 15 to make a call.

Next, the operation when ID data is recorded together with the image signal recorded on the still video floppy disk will be explained.

That is, the still video floppy disk used as a storage means in this embodiment has 5o tracks, and a video signal is recorded one screen at a time on each track, and data can be recorded by being superimposed (frequency multiplexed) on an image signal. ID
The data is VSYNC for one track as shown in Figure 2.
After 28H from the start position, the initial bit, followed by the field/frame selection bit, track No. 1 date, and user area are frequency-multiplexed onto the image signal as digital data in this order. In this embodiment, for example, DPSK
It is modulated and superimposed on the low frequency range of the video signal. still,
The area from the initial bit to the date area is represented by 4H (1 bit), and the user area is represented by 2H (1 bit).

The user area has 54 bits, and when displaying numbers, 4 bits (φ~9) are required, so 13
You can enter as many characters as you want. Therefore, for example, when writing a telephone number, it is sufficient to enter about 10 digits including the area code.

Here, bit allocation in this embodiment will be explained using FIG. 4.

In Fig. 4, the first 4 bits are an identification code for identifying the type of information written in the user area.
The 0 bit is assumed to be data indicating a telephone number.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of bits allocated to the telephone number is 50, which is the capacity for 12 digits.

Next, the overall operation of the apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, start the videophone of this embodiment and set the desired mode. The modes include normal videophone mode, search call mode, and partner registration mode. Each mode is set to step 1 (Sl) depending on the state of the switches 30 and 32 mentioned above.
It is determined by First, a mode in which no mode is set by the switches 30 and 32, that is, a normal videophone mode, will be explained.

In such a case, the flow proceeds to Figure 5. In S2, the handset is usually placed and waiting for transmission or reception. Here, if there is a call from the other party, the receiver enters the receiving mode, and a bell rings to prompt the caller to answer the call at S3. If you do not answer the call and the other party hangs up, the line will be disconnected in S4, and ■ in Figure 5 a.
Proceed to the end operation.

If the call is answered, the flow moves from S4 to 85, at which point the line is connected (S5). In this state, you can talk to the other party in the same way as a normal phone call, and even if the other party's phone is a regular phone or videophone, you will not send or receive images, but you will receive a signal from the other party that you want to send images. do not have. Alternatively, if the switch specifying the mode for transmitting images to the other party is not operated, step S6. The flow advances from S7 to S4, and it is determined whether or not the line connection has been severed. If the line is disconnected, proceed to ■ to proceed to the termination operation. Once the user has decided to transmit using the S5 phone, the user sets the transmission status by instructing the image transmission mode switch.
In S6, it is determined that the message is to be sent, and the process advances to S9.

In S9, the image signal output from the video camera is output to the D/A 9 via the memory 6. With this, it is possible, for example, to input one's own face using the video camera 1 and check it on the monitor 11. In SIO, if the image displayed on the monitor 11 is inconvenient in response to an instruction from the OK/NG switch, the flow moves to S9 and another image is input. When the operator determines the image to be transmitted while viewing the image on the monitor 11, the operator freezes the image in the memory 6 in the Sll by operating the OK/NG switch. After freezing, in S12, the NCU 13 is switched from the telephone 15 to the modulator 12 side, a dual tone signal is generated, and the other party is set to image reception mode. First, the CPU 28 converts its own telephone number into a pulse, and the other party's Then, the frozen image is sent to the memory 6. Step S12 is repeated until the image transmission is completed in S13, and when the transmission is completed, the flow moves to S4. In S4, it is determined whether or not the line is connected, and if it is connected, the process returns to S5. If the call is not to be made, the flow moves to ■, the line is disconnected, and the process moves to termination operation (S4).

On the other hand, in the call at S5, if a signal has been obtained from the other party indicating that an arrangement has been made to receive the image, that is, an image will be sent, the flow moves to S6. The process proceeds to S7, where it is determined that the image has been received, and the process proceeds to S15, where the image reception operation begins. This determination is made based on the presence or absence of, for example, a dual tone signal sent from the other party. When receiving such an image, first, N
The CU 13 switches the telephone 15 to the demodulator 16 side, converts the pulses sent from the other party into the telephone number of the other party, and
The image is stored in a register inside the PU and imported into the memory 6. For example, the images stored in the memory 6
It can be viewed on the monitor 11 as shown in the figure.

3 is an example of the display on the monitor 11, the image data is displayed as shown, the numbers imposed on the image are generated by the character generator 41, and A) is the calendar inside the CPU 28. Date data displayed by the circuit, B) is telephone number data corresponding to the image being displayed. If image reception is not completed in S16, repeat S15 (repeat). If completed, switch the line to the handset side so that you can talk to the other party, and then proceed to S4. Also, make a phone call in S2. At this time, the user picks up the handset of the telephone 15 and performs a calling operation, that is, dialing, in S17 to call the other party.

If the other party does not appear in S18, the process proceeds to ■ for the end operation.

If the other party appears, the process advances to S5 and beyond, and calls and images are exchanged.

Next, a description will be given of when the search call mode is determined by Sl. In the search call mode, the image and telephone number of the other party written on the floppy disk are used. When the search call mode is entered, the rotation of the floppy disk 20 set at 321 is controlled by the motor servo circuit 19, and then when the track UP-5W is pressed at S22, the S
At 23, the head 21 is moved by one track by driving the head access circuit 22 in accordance with a command from the CPU 28. If the switch 34 for track UP is not pressed in S22, the process advances to 323, where the track DOWN is pressed.
When the switch 35 is not pressed, the mode switch returns to the state of switch 35, that is, Sl. Track D in S23
If switch 35 for OWN is pressed, S
24, the head 21 is moved by 18972 minutes.

Next, if it is determined in S25 that there are no more tracks to be moved, the process moves to the above-mentioned (2) and the end operation is performed. S2
In step 6, the switch 5W23 is set to the A side, and the signal from the track being accessed by the head 21 is taken into the ID video processing circuit 25, where the playback signal is separated into ID and converted into data, and video signal processing is performed. The video signal is sent to the monitor 11 via the ID and the video via the video buffer lO.
is output to.

Then, in step 327, it is determined whether the operator has given an instruction for a desired image, and if no instruction has been given, the process returns to S22 and an operation is performed to search for the next image. If the video reproduced on the monitor 11 is the video desired to be searched and the operator uses the switch 36 to instruct that the desired image is the desired image, the ID data previously separated and processed by the ID video processing circuit 25 is transferred in step 328. This is read into the CPU 2B and the telephone number in the user area shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is taken out. If the telephone number is not input in the ID data in S29, the character generator 41 is driven to indicate that there is no telephone number on the monitor 11 to warn of this fact in S45. At S46, dialing is performed manually using the telephone set 15, and the process proceeds to S40.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S29 that a telephone number is input as the ID code, in S30 the CPU 28 selects the relay or
Drives TMF etc. and performs dialing.

In S40, if the other party does not appear, the process advances to S41, and the power to the device of this embodiment is turned OFF/terminated, or the process returns to Sl again and the mode reception is turned on. Once the line is connected, procedures are communicated with the other party in S42, and the image communication mode is set. If such a mode has been set, it is determined in S43 whether the communication mode is a mode for communicating images, and the process proceeds to (2), where the above-described image transmission/reception operation is performed. If images are not to be sent or received, a call is made in S42, and if the end of the call is determined in 343, S4
In step 4, the line is disconnected, and the process proceeds to step S41, where a termination operation is performed.

Next, the operation when the registration mode is set in Sl will be explained using FIG. 5(C).

In this registration mode, the other party's image and telephone number are recorded on a floppy disk to create a search disk. First, in S50, image input is selected. For example, if a telephone number is to be added and recorded to an image already sent from the other party and stored in the memory, the memory controller 5 is controlled to read the data from the memory 6 in S51, and the S8. The video signal converted into an analog signal is applied to the ID video recording circuit 26 via the D/A 9 and the switch 51 to perform recording.

In addition, when recording the image data written in the memory 6 to the floppy disk, as explained in 315 above, when receiving image data from the other party, the CPU 2B stores the telephone number of the other party in the internal register. The stored telephone number is DPSK-modulated as shown in the areas of FIGS. 2 and 4, frequency-multiplexed with image data, and recorded.

On the other hand, if input from the video camera l is selected in S50, an image signal obtained by photoelectrically converting an image captured from the video camera l in S52, for example, an image of the other party's face, such as a photograph, to be registered, by the video camera l. is temporarily imported into memory 6.

The image signal taken into the memory 6 is sent to the P/S by the memory controller 5 8. It is read out via the D/A 9 and displayed on the monitor 11. In addition to this display, the character generator 41 is also configured to display on the monitor 11 a display prompting the operator to input an instruction as to whether or not the image being displayed together with the image desired to be registered is an image that may be registered. drive

The operator looks at the display on the monitor 11 and inputs an instruction as to whether or not to register the image using the OK/NG switch. If the input from the switch is NG, the memory is cleared in 552-4, the switch 51 is switched to the amplifier 2 side, and then the flow moves to 552-1, where it is determined whether the capture switch is on or not. , import the image again.

If the input from the OK/NG switch is OK in S53, the switch 51 is switched to the D/A 9 side in S54 to prepare for recording. Furthermore, memory 6 on the monitor
The phone number that should be registered along with the image imported to
No) Display a prompt for input.

Such display is performed by the CPU 28 using the character generator 41.
This is done by driving. Alternatively, it may be performed using the handset 15 or a numeric keypad connected directly or indirectly to the CPU 28. Tel N
If o input is completed, the flow moves from S56 to S57,
The switch 23 is switched to the amplifier 24 side, and the level determination circuit 50 determines whether the track being accessed by the head 21 is an unregistered track (358). If there is no recording, it is determined in S59 whether it is the last track, and if it is not the last track, the head 21 is shifted by one track and the determination is made again (S57).

If the track being accessed by the head 21 is unrecorded, the flow moves from 358 to 359, and the switch 23 is set to B.
At the same time, the image signal is read out from the memory 6 and the process proceeds to step S55. In S56, the input telephone number is frequency-multiplexed onto the image signal and recorded.

Further, when it is determined in S59 that it is the last track, the character generator 41 is driven to display on the monitor 11 that registration is not possible (S60). If the registration mode set by the switch 32 has not been canceled, the flow returns from S62 to S50. On the other hand, if the registration mode is canceled, the flow returns to ■.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in the aforementioned partner search mode, the telephone number and image of the other party are recorded in advance on each track of the disk 20, which is a recording medium, and the recorded images are recorded one track at a time. By playing back and observing the reproduced image, you can select the person you want to call, and by making this selection, you can access the other party without dialing the phone number of the other party.

Therefore, there is no need to dial the telephone number of the other party when making a telephone call, unlike in the past. Furthermore, there is no need to memorize the other party's name or speed dial number, and the user can access the other party simply by observing the image of the other party reproduced on the monitor and selecting the desired party.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, images received from the other party can be recorded on the disk 20. Furthermore, when recording on the disc 20, the telephone number of the other party can also be recorded. Also, depending on this, it is possible to register the telephone number of the other party.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, various displays necessary for videophone calls can be displayed on the monitor 11, so that the configuration can be made very simple. Furthermore, such various displays are displayed on the monitor 11 only when necessary, making it extremely easy to use.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily call a desired party without making any mistakes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing assignment of ID codes recorded together with image signals. FIG. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the data allocation of the user area shown in Figure 2. Figures 5 (a), (b), and (c) are the CPU 28 shown in Figure 1. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of FIG. 6...Memory 11...
...Monitor 20...Disk
28...CPU 2 Figure 3 Figure Neely'''-Ellie 15 Figure (b)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) means for supplying a stored image to a monitor for reproduction as a visible image from a storage means capable of storing a plurality of images of the other party and the number of the other party; means for selecting the reproduced visible image; 1. A transmission device comprising means for making a call to a destination number corresponding to the selected image. (2) The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the image of the other party is an image that has been stored in advance as an image transmitted from the other party.