JPH02222392A - Still picture video telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To clearly display character information by transmitting character code data, which are composed of a binary data string, separately from picture information. CONSTITUTION:The still picture information inputted from a television camera 14 are converted to the picture data and stored to a picture information memory 16 and the character information are stored to a character information memory 18 as the character code data, which are composed of the binary data string, respectively and separately. When the character information are displayed, display character data are generated from the character code data stored in the character information memory 18 and synthesized with the picture data. When the data are transmitted, the character code data are transmitted in succession to the picture data. Thus, the data can be exchanged and displayed without limiting the size of the picture element in the character data, etc., and the character can be clearly displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a still image video telephone device capable of transmitting and receiving still images during a call, and particularly to improvements in the transmission of text information.

[Prior Art] In recent years, a still image taken with a television camera is modulated into an audio frequency signal, converted into image data, and the image data is sent to a public telephone line, thereby transmitting the image to the other party. Many still image videophone devices capable of transmitting still images have been put into practical use.

As an example of such a still image videophone device, one shown in the October 1986 issue of Foreign Communication Technology will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

In the figure, (61) is a telephone line, (62) is a display that shows a self-portrait and the other party's image, (63) is a television camera, (64) is a handset for making calls, (65) is a
) is a keypad for inputting selection signals such as dialing, (66) is a send button that commands the other party to send a still image, (67) is a telephone interface unit that connects to a line, and (68) is a call button. (69) is a modulation/demodulation circuit that performs modulation and demodulation for transmitting image data onto a telephone line; (70) is a communication circuit (68) and a modulation/demodulation circuit (69) that connects signals to the telephone line; ), a switch circuit (71) stores images taken by a television camera (63) for transmission as image data, and an image information memory (72) stores image data from a communication partner; The video signal from 63) is A/D converted into still image data, and is stored in the image information memory (
The image controller (71) performs D/A conversion of the signal from 71) and converts it into a video signal, as well as creates synchronization signals and performs image storage write/read processing, etc., and (73) is a microcomputer that includes ROM and RAM. This is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU).

Next, the operation of this device will be explained.

Pick up the handset (64) and press the keypad (65)
dial, connect the telephone line with the other party, and establish communication. At this time, the switch circuit (70) enters a voice communication state, that is, a call state. Therefore, signals on the telephone line (61) are transmitted and received via the communication circuit (68). Furthermore, images taken by the television camera (63) are displayed on the right side of the screen of the display (62) via the image controller (72).

If you want to send the still image to the other party in this state, press the send button (66). Then, the CPU (73) detects that the send button has been pressed. CPU
(73) drives the image controller (71) to store one field of image data from the television camera (63) in the image information memory (71). Further, image data is sequentially taken out from the image information memory (71) and a signal is given to the modulation/demodulation circuit (69). When the switch (70) completes transmission, the CPU (73) switches the switch circuit (7
0) to the original calling party.

Next, the modem circuit (69) receives the still image from the other party.
is demodulated by the image controller (73)
The image information is stored in the image information memory (71) via the image information memory (71), and is also displayed on the left side of the screen of the display (62).

Note that the image data in this conventional example is modulated into an image signal as follows. In other words, in the example shown in FIG. 8, there is a first phase of SIN curve type and a second phase of 18 inch type which differs in phase by 180 degrees, and each phase is a signal of multiple amplitudes. It is formed of. Each of these one-cycle signals of a specific phase and a specific amplitude is made to correspond to a specific color. In this example, each phase has 8 cycles, and there are 16 cycles in total, and the maximum amplitude signal "0°" of the first phase corresponds to black.The intermediate signals "14" to "1°" each correspond to black. Gray of each brightness corresponds.

Further, since such still image videophone devices have a small amount of image data, devices having a function of storing information on a plurality of still images are widely put into practical use.

Accordingly, the title of the still image information, the name of the sender,
There is a still image videophone device that can transmit text information accompanying each still image information such as a telephone number, sending or receiving port, etc.

For example, "
As shown in FIG. 9, the "TV telephone set" transmits the image data after overwriting the image data stored in the image information memory with character information.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In conventional still image videophone devices, character information accompanying image information is combined with image information and then transmitted as image information. Therefore, there is a problem in that part of the still image information is lost.

In addition, in still image videophones, image processing is performed on a pixel-by-pixel basis, so the resolution of the processed images is relatively low, leading to problems such as text being too large relative to the image and text being difficult to read due to line quality. there were.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a still image videophone device that can clearly display text information accompanying image information in an easy-to-see manner. shall be.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a still image videophone device according to the present invention includes an image information memory for storing image data and character code data consisting of a binary data string. a character information memory that outputs a character code, a character generator that generates display character data in response to character code data output from the character information memory, and a composite signal that synthesizes the image data and the display character data, and sends a composite signal to a display device. An image synthesis device for transmitting image data, a transmitting means for transmitting character code data from a character information memory after transmitting image data to a telephone line, and a means for receiving character information as character code data after receiving image information. It is something.

[Function] The still image videophone device according to the present invention converts still image information input from a television camera into image data, and stores the character information in the image information memory as character code data consisting of a binary data string. They are stored separately in memory, and when displaying character information, display character data is generated from the character code data stored in the character information memory and combined with image data.When transmitting one data, character code data is added following the image data. Send.

Therefore, character data can be transmitted, received, and displayed without being limited by the pixel size, etc., and characters can be displayed clearly.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the still picture video telephone device according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Figure 1 shows the device of this embodiment! 11103 is a configuration diagram.

(1) is a handset, (2) is a microphone, (3) is an audio input/output circuit, (4) is an analog circuit, (5) is a matrix switch, and (6) is a telephone interface circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as telephone 17F circuit). ), (7) is a telephone line terminal, (8) is a speaker, and (9) is a keypad, and the above-mentioned parts (1) to (9) constitute a normal telephone function part.

In addition, (10) is the input/output board, (11) is the CPU, (
12) is a program memory, (13) is a modulation/demodulation circuit, (14) is a television camera, (15) is an image controller, (16) is an image information memory, (17) is a display, and each of the above parts (10) to (17) constitutes a normal image transmission processing function section.

The features of this embodiment are a CPU (11), a modulation/demodulation circuit (13), a character information memory (18), a character signal generation circuit (19), and an image synthesis circuit (20).

In other words, the CPU (11) is the CPU in the conventional example.
In addition to the same functions as (73), it has a character generator function that mutually converts character code data consisting of binary data of "0" and "1" and character information, and controls the character code data. conduct.

The character information memory (18) is a circuit that stores character code data consisting of a binary data string, and the writing and reading of the character code data stored in the character information memory (18) is controlled by the CPU (1° 1).

The character signal generation circuit (19) is a circuit that generates display character data in response to character code data input via the CPU (11), and the image synthesis circuit (20) generates image data and display character data. This is a circuit that synthesizes the images and displays them on a display (17 screens).

Therefore, according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, image data and character code data are transmitted separately when transmitting data, and are stored in the image memory (16) immediately before being displayed on the display (17). Image data and character generation circuit (1
9) It is possible to synthesize and display the signals output from.

Further, the modulation/demodulation circuit (13) performs the same function as the modulation/demodulation circuit (69) of the conventional device when modulating and demodulating image data, and performs the same function as the modulation/demodulation circuit (69) of the conventional device when modulating and demodulating character code data, and performs the same function as the modulation/demodulation circuit (69) when modulating and demodulating character code data.
As shown in Figure 3 for J and rlJ, "0" is the first
The configuration is such that "1" corresponds to a signal in which the maximum amplitude of the second phase continues for three cycles with a signal in which the maximum amplitude of the second phase continues for three cycles.

Next, the operation of the device of this embodiment will be explained.

In this embodiment, the method of making calls and the method of transmitting and receiving only still image information are the same as those of the conventional device, so the explanation will be omitted. Only the transmission and reception of the attached image information (character information attached to the image) will be explained.

First, the processing procedure at the time of transmission will be explained based on FIG.

First, (Sl) is the image information memory (
16) and the character code data to the character information memory (18).

At this time, the CPU (
11) is performed by displaying a character string such as alphabets and numbers on the display (17), moving the cursor on the display (17) using the keypad 9, and selecting - characters one by one. Then, the CPU (11) writes and stores character code data corresponding to the selected character in the transmission information memory (18a).

On the other hand, images taken by a television camera (14) are sent to a display (17) via an image controller (15).
) is displayed. When a transmission instruction is input from the keypad (9), the CPU (11) stores one field's worth of image data in the transmission memory of the image information memory (16).

Next, in (Sl) and (S3), when a transmission start instruction is input using the keypad (9), the CPU (11) performs a synchronization signal transmission process for transmitting a synchronization signal and control information, and a synchronization signal transmission step for transmitting a synchronization signal and control information. This is the sending process.

Next, in (S4), the CPU (11) sequentially sends the image data from the image information memory (16) to the telephone line via the modulation/demodulation circuit (13). At this time, the modem circuit (
13) modulates image data in the same way as the conventional device.

(S5) is a character data transmission step of sequentially transmitting the character code data stored in the transmission character information memory (18a) to the telephone line via the modulation/demodulation circuit (13) after the transmission of the image data is completed. .

At this time, the character code data is "0" as described above.
" is the first phase maximum amplitude signal of 3 cycles, "1" is the 3-cycle first phase maximum amplitude signal,
The second phase of the cycle is modulated into a maximum amplitude signal and transmitted.

Finally, in (S6), the transmission of the still image information is ended, and transmission end processing such as switching the matrix switch (5) to the talking state is performed.

Next, the flow of the reception process will be explained based on FIG.

First, at (Sl), synchronization establishment processing is performed based on the frame synchronization signal included in the received control information.

After performing control information reception processing (S1), image information is received (S3-34).

Next, in (S5), the character data is received, and after demodulating into character code data, the character data is stored in the reception character information memory (1ab).
Write to and store.

Finally, in (S6), a reception end process is performed and the receiving side device is placed in a callable state.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the image data obtained by capturing an image with the television camera (13) is transmitted in the same way as in the conventional device, and character information is subsequently transmitted as character code data (binarized data string). ). Therefore, even on a line with low reception quality, accurate transmission and reception of text information on the receiving side is possible.

Further, since the text information is transmitted separately from the image data, it has the advantage that the receiving side can select whether to display the text information or not, and can specify the display position of the text information at a desired location.

Furthermore, since the system is configured to send text information after sending still image information, even if text information is sent to a TA type videophone device that does not have a function to receive character code data, the text data will be ignored. , the image data is advantageously undamaged.

In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which character information was input by displaying a character string on the screen and selecting it with a cursor or the like, but the same effect can be achieved even if a full keyboard is used for character input.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the still image videophone device according to the present invention is configured to transmit character code data consisting of a binary data string separately from image information, so that clear characters can be transmitted. This has the effect of allowing information to be transmitted.

In addition, since the still image information and text information are transmitted separately, the receiving side can select whether to display or hide the text information, and the text information can be displayed in any position, making it an easy-to-use still image TV. You can get a telephone device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an embodiment of a still image videophone device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of binarized data and modulation/demodulation signals of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an illustration of the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the transmission processing procedure of the device, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the reception processing procedure of the same embodiment device, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the display device and memory by the same embodiment device, and FIGS. 6 to 9 are FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional still image videophone device. In the figure, (11) is the CPU, (13) is the modulation/demodulation circuit, (1
6) is the image information memory, (17) is the display, (1
8) is character information memory, (19) is character generation circuit, (2
0) is a composite circuit. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent: Patent Attorney Masuo Oiwa (2 others) (α) 3. Transmission processing procedure according to this embodiment 4. Reception processing procedure of the device of this embodiment 5. Correspondence between drawing image data and image signal 8. Figure External appearance of conventional example Figure 6 Overall configuration of conventional example Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A still image videophone device that transmits and receives image data input from a television camera via a telephone line and displays the image data during a call, comprising: an image information memory that stores image data; and a binary image information memory. a character information memory that stores character code data consisting of a converted data string; a character generator that generates display character data corresponding to the character code data output from the character information memory; and the image data and the display character data. an image synthesizing device that synthesizes the image data and sends the synthesized signal to the display device; a transmitter that sends the image data to the telephone line and then sends character code data from the character information memory; and after receiving the image information, transmits the character code data. 1. A still image video telephone device, comprising: receiving means for receiving character code data as character code data, and transmitting and receiving the character code data divided from character information image data as character code data consisting of a binary data string.