JPH0349492A - Still picture video telephone equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid a state such as a room in disorder, after a bath or on waking from being transferred to an opposite party as it is by selecting a memory picture as to a background picture stored in advance, synthesizing the picture with a picture picked up by a television camera and transferring the resulting picture. CONSTITUTION:A picture control section 4 is provided with a memory section 18 storing a background pattern and a picture in advance, a picture synthesis means 18 synthesizing a memory picture read out of the memory section 18 with a picture from a picture memory 5, and a switching control section 20 generating a timing switching the picture and the memory picture. Thus, a memory picture as to a background picture stored in the memory section 18 is selected in advance and it is synthesized with a current picture picked up by a television camera and the resulting picture is transferred. Thus, a state such as a room in disorder, after a bath or on waking is not transferred to an opposite party as it is.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a still image videophone device that transmits and receives still images using a telephone communication line.

[Prior Art] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a conventional still image video telephone device shown in, for example, the September 1988 issue of TV Technology.
In the figure, (1) is a network control unit, and (2) is a modulation/demodulation unit that demodulates the image transferred from the other party and modulates the image to be transferred to the other party. is connected to a tape playback/telephone selector switch terminal and a network control section (1), (3) is a central control section connected to each operation button group (11) and a modem section (2), and (4) is a central control section connected to each operation button group (11) and a modem section (2). is an image control unit connected to a central control unit (3) and an image memory unit (5), and (7) is an analog/digital (
A television camera (9) is connected to the image control unit (4) via a converter (6) (hereinafter abbreviated as A/D), and a digital/analog (hereinafter abbreviated as D/A) converter (9). 8)
A CRT (10) connected to the image control unit (4) via
) is a power switch and a power source connected to an AC adapter terminal, (11) is a group of operation buttons that input signals such as transmission, confirmation, screen switching, and screen brightness to the central control unit (3), (
12) is a group of terminals for connecting an external telephone, telephone communication line, and tape recording/playback to the network control section (1).

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the image control section (4) in detail. In FIG. 4, (14) is the central control section (3).
A command discrimination processing unit (15) receives a command from the command discrimination processing unit (14) and generates an appropriate address for the image memory unit (5). 16> receives a command from the command discrimination processing section (14) and outputs the image memory section (
5) is a read data processing unit that selects whether to output the read data to the CRT for display or to the central control unit (3) for transmission; (17) is a command discrimination processing unit (14); The command is received from the image memory section (
5) is a write data processing section which selects whether the data to be written is data from the camera or received data sent from the central control section (3).

Next, the operation of audio and image signal transmission in the conventional still picture video telephone device will be explained based on FIG. First, a voice call is sent from an external telephone to a telephone communication line terminal via an external telephone terminal and a network control unit (1).

In addition, the voice signal from the other party is routed through a route opposite to the above-mentioned signal route, that is, a telephone communication line terminal, a network control unit (1),
The signal is sent to an external telephone via the external telephone terminal.

On the other hand, when transmitting an image signal, each operation button group (11
), the central control unit (3) detects this. Then, the central control unit (3) sends the image data stored in the image memory unit (5) to the modulation/demodulation unit (2) according to the internally stored program, and transmits the image data via the network control unit (1) to telephone communication. Send to line terminal.

Further, when receiving an image signal, the signal is sent to the modulation/demodulation section (2) via a path opposite to that described above. Modulation/demodulation section (
In 2), the sent image data of the other party is demodulated and sent to the image memory section (5) via the central control section (3) and the image control section (4).
〉. The image read out from the image memory section (5) via the image control section (4) and the D/A conversion section (8) is displayed on the CRT (9).

In addition, the image captured by the television camera (7) is
After being quantized by the D converter (6) and stored in the image memory section (5) via the image control section (4), it is sequentially derived and displayed on the CRT (9) in the same manner as above.

Note that when the image transmission/reception is completed, the network control unit (1) restores voice communication.

In the case of recording, image data sent from the telephone communication line terminal is sent to the network control section (1) and the tape recording terminal. When the image signal is stored in the image memory section (5), it is sent to the network control section (1>) via the same route as the above-mentioned image signal transmission, and is sent out via the tape recording terminal.

In the case of reproduction, use the telephone/reproduction changeover switch to set the modem section (2) for reproduction. The reproduced image data is sent to the network control section (1) via the reproduction terminal. From here,
The CRT (9
) is displayed.

In the above operation, the image control section (4) performs the following four types of functions, which will be explained with reference to FIG.

The first is a reading function from the image memory section (5) for display. That is, when the command discrimination processing section (14) receives a command to display an image from the central control section (3), it issues an instruction to generate an address for the display image. The address generating section (15) receives the above command and generates an address for the image memory section (5). At the same time, the command discrimination processing section (14) sends the data output from the image memory section (5) to the CRT (9) to the read data processing section (16).
command to set the data path so that it is displayed on the screen.

The second function is to write data from the television camera (7) into the image memory section (5). That is, when the command discrimination processing section (14) receives a command to capture a camera image from the central control section (3), it issues an instruction to generate an address for capturing the image. The address generating section (15) receives the above command and generates an address for the image memory section (5).

At the same time, the command discrimination processing section (14) instructs the write data processing section (17) to set a data path so as to write the data from the television camera (7) into the image memory section (5).

The third is a function of reading data from the image memory unit (5) during transmission. That is, when the command discrimination processing section (14) receives a command from the central control section (3) to read a transmission image from the image memory section (5), it commands generation of an address for the transmission image. The address generating section (15) receives the above command and generates an address for the image memory section (5). At the same time, the command discrimination processing unit (14) instructs the read data processing unit (16) to set a data path to output the data output from the image memory unit (5) to the central control unit (3). do.

The fourth is a data writing function to the image memory section (5) at the time of reception. That is, when the command discrimination processing unit (14) receives a command from the central control unit (3) to write the received image into the image memory unit (5), it commands the generation of an address for the received image.Address generation unit (15) receives the above command and generates an address for the image memory section (5).

At the same time, the command discrimination processing section (14) instructs the write data processing section (17) to set a data path so as to write the data output from the central control section (3) into the image memory section (5). Command.

Images are sent and received using the four types of functions mentioned above.For example, when transmitting a self-portrait to the other party, the second and third functions are used, and when receiving the other party's image, the fourth and first functions are used. used.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional still image videophone device is configured as described above, the image of one's own appearance and the situation of the room captured by the television camera is transferred to the other party as is. Become.

Therefore, there is a problem in that users feel reluctant to use the videophone device when they wake up from bed, after taking a bath, or when their room is cluttered.

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 allows a user to select a background image, combine it with a self-portrait, and transfer the image.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A still image videophone device according to the present invention includes a memory section in which various background image patterns and images are stored in advance, and a memory image read from the memory section and an image from the image memory. The image control section is provided with image combining means for compositing, and a switching control section that generates timing for switching between the image and the memory image.

[Function] The still image videophone device according to the present invention is capable of selecting a memory image of a background image stored in the memory section in advance, combining it with a self-portrait taken with a television camera, and then transferring it. To prevent the situation from being transferred to the other party as it is even when the room is chaotic, such as after taking a bath or taking a bath, and to make it possible to transfer a well-designed image.

[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. 3 are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations are omitted, (13) is a background image selection button for manually inputting a background image selection signal.

Also, in FIG. 2, in which the same parts as in FIG. (5) A changeover switch as an image synthesis means for synthesizing the captured image from the television camera (7) or the received image from the central control unit (3) and the background image as an image to be written to the television camera (20) This is a switching control unit that generates timing for switching the changeover switch (19) based on the captured image from (7) or the received image and background image from the central control unit (3).

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained. The outline of the voice communication operation and image transmission/reception operation is the same as that of the prior art.

Furthermore, among the four types of functions of the image control section (4) described above,
The first function of reading data from the image memory section (5) for display and the third function of reading data from the image memory section (5) during transmission are also the same as in the conventional example.

The second and fourth functions that characterize the present invention will be explained below. First, in the second function of writing the photographed image from the television camera (7) into the image memory section (5), the command discrimination processing section (14) receives the image from the television camera (7) from the central control section (3). When it receives a command to import an image, it instructs the generation of an address to import the image.

The address generating section (15) receives the above command and generates an address for the image memory section (5).

At the same time, the command discrimination processing section (14) instructs the write data processing section (17) to set a data path so as to write the captured image from the television camera (7) into the image memory section (5).

At this time, the user presses the background image selection button (13) in Figure 1.
By pressing , the command discrimination processing section (14) receives a command to synthesize a background image from the central control section (3), and sends the television camera (7) to the switching control section (2o).
command to combine the captured image with the background image.

Upon receiving this command, the switching control unit (20) judges the content of the photographed image from the television camera (7) and the background image, captures the background image, generates switching timing for each pixel, and switches the changeover switch (19). control.

The changeover switch (19) transfers the composite image composed of the photographed image from the television camera (7) and the background image to the image memory section (
5) Output.

Next, in the fourth function of writing the received image transferred from the other party via the telephone line into the image memory section (5), the command discrimination processing section (14) is connected to the central control section (3).
When receiving a command to write a received image into the image memory section (5), it instructs generation of an address for the received image.

The address generating section (15) receives the above command and generates an address for the image memory section (5).

At the same time, the command discrimination processing section (14) instructs the write data processing section (17) to set a data path so as to write the received image output from the central control section (3) into the image memory section (5). do.

At this time, the user presses the background image selection button (13) in Figure 1.
By pressing , the command discrimination processing section (14) receives a command to synthesize a background image from the central control section (3), and instructs the switching control section (20) to synthesize the received image and the background image.

Upon receiving this command, the switching control section (20) judges the contents of the received image and the background image, generates switching timing for each pixel for capturing the background image, and controls the changeover switch (19). The changeover switch (19) outputs a composite image composed of the received image and the background image to the image memory section (5).

By doing the above, the background image stored in advance and the self-portrait taken with the TV camera (7) or the image received from the other party can be combined and stored in the image memory section (5). . Therefore, by displaying the image read from the image memory section (5) on the CRT (9), an elaborate image display is performed.

Note that it is preferable to determine whether or not it is a background by comparing it with image data stored as a background. This background may be captured by a television camera (7) when the device is placed, or may be automatically captured when the power is turned on.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to select a memory image of a background image stored in advance, combine it with a self-portrait taken with a television camera, and then transfer it. Even if the room is cluttered after taking a bath, the situation will not be transferred to the other party as it is, and a well-designed image can be transferred.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a still image video telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image control section in FIG. 1, and FIG. A block diagram of the telephone device, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image control section in FIG. 3. In the figure, (3) is the central control unit, (4) is the image control unit, (5) is the image memory unit, (7) is the television camera, and (9) is the image control unit.
) is the CRT, (13) is the background image selection button, (14) is the command discrimination processing section, (15) is the address generation section, (1
6) is a read data processing section, (17) is a write data processing section, (18) is a background image memory section, (19) is a changeover switch (image combining means), and (20) is a switching control section. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A modulation/demodulation unit that demodulates an image transferred from the other party and modulates the image to be transferred to the other party; and a modem/demodulation unit that receives signals from various operation buttons and controls the modulation/demodulation unit. a central control unit; and an image control unit that is controlled by the central control unit and stores images captured by the television camera and images demodulated by the modulation/demodulation unit in an image memory, and displays images read from the image memory on a CRT. A still image videophone device comprising: a memory section in which a background image pattern and an image are stored in advance; an image synthesis means for synthesizing the memory image read from the memory section with an image from the image memory; 1. A still image videophone apparatus, characterized in that said image control section includes a switching control section that generates switching timing.