JPH04136972A - Remote education system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize and economize the equipment constitution of a remote classroom used many times, in this remote education system by installing the synthesizing means of a video signal and a ROM storing character information in a studio. CONSTITUTION:In the remote classroom 22a, a signal multiprocessed at the video transmitting/receiving part 1a of the studio 21 is received by a video transmitting/receiving part 1b via a communicating circuit (a), and separated into a video signal (d), an audio signal (c), and a control signal (d1). Then, they are outputted to the information output equipments of a TV monitor 12, a speaker 13, and a transmitting control part 3, respectively, and a lecturer lectures to students. On the other hand, the videos of the whole room are transmitted to the studio 21, and received by it. At this time, the character information (i) of the name of the remote classroom is read out from the ROM 6a in the studio 21, the character information (i) is superimposed on a video signal (b1) from the remote classroom 22a, on a synthesizing part 7a, and projecting to the TV monitor 12 of the studio 21 is carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a distance education system for providing television education between remote locations.

[Conventional technology]

The conventional technology will be explained using the block diagram shown in FIG. 3, which shows a conventional example. A conventional distance education system includes one studio 3] and multiple remote classrooms 32a, 32b,
-=, 32n are connected to the studio 31 via a communication line a so that bidirectional multi-point communication can be performed.

The studio 3 receives a video signal of the lecturer's facial expressions and calligraphy and drawings captured by a studio television (TV) camera 10, and sends it to a transmission permission section 5 which outputs an audio signal C from a microphone 11 and a transmission permission signal f. The video transmitter/receiver 1a multiplexes the control signal d from the connected transmission permission controller 2, and
Simultaneous transmission is performed to the classrooms 32a to 32n. Further, the studio 31 separates the multiplexed signal sent from the communication line a by the video transmitting/receiving unit 1a, and the video signal b ] is transmitted from the TV.
The voice signal c1 is input to the monitor 12, the voice signal c1 is input to the speaker 13, and the speech request information e is input to the transmission permission section 5 via the transmission permission control section 2.

A remote classroom, for example, the remote classroom 32a, is equipped with a television (
TV) Remote video j and RO taken by camera 9
The character information j indicating the name of the remote classroom to which the student belongs read from M6 is synthesized by the synthesizing section 7b into the video signal b1, the audio signal C1 from the microphone 14, and the student's position in the seat position storage section 8. The information g and the control signal d1 in which the comment request information e from the comment requesting section 4 is synthesized by the transmission control section 3 are multiplexed by the video transmitting/receiving section 1b, and the control signal d1 is sent to the studio 3.
Send to 1. The video transmitter/receiver 1b also separates the multiplexed signal sent from the communication line a, and outputs the video signal to the TV monitor 12b and the audio signal C to the speaker 13b. Note that the transmission control section 3 controls the television camera 9 using a television camera control signal.

Here, if there is a student's statement from the remote classroom 32a, by pressing the switch on the statement request section 4 in the student's hand, statement request information e that can also identify the remote classroom is output to the transmission permission section 5 of the studio 31. and the lamp attached to it lights up. Then, the instructor knows that the request to speak is generated from the remote control 1 to the classroom 32a. At this time, the instructor presses the switch on the transmission permission section 5 to grant permission to speak to the student who has requested to speak, and the control signal d from the transmission permission control section 2 is output to the transmission control section 3 of the remote classroom 32a. Ru. As a result, transmission from the remote classroom 32a is permitted, and the audio signal C1 and video signal j can be communicated. At this time, the video from the remote classroom 1 to the classroom, which is not permitted to be transmitted, is the video signal b1. (hereinafter also referred to as a reload signal) is output. In addition, if there is no student's request to speak from any of the remote classrooms 1 to 32, the video signal j in the remote classroom captured by the remote classroom TV camera 9 from the plurality of remote classrooms 32 is sent to the studio 3 in order at a constant cycle. ] will be sent to.

Each remote classroom 3 is displayed on the TV monitor 12 of the studio 31.
The video signal j from 2a to 32n is sent at regular intervals, but in order to know which classroom the video is from, in the remote classroom 32 that sends the remote video, j, the video signal j in the classroom is
- The video signal b1 obtained by superimposing the character information j of the classroom name on the video signal j in the synthesis section 7b is output to the studio 31.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] The conventional dual distance education system has a means for synthesizing video signals and an R for storing character information for each remote classroom.
OM was necessary. However, this compositing means and ROM only need to operate in the classroom shown on the TV monitor in the studio, and the compositing means and ROM in other remote classrooms do not need to operate. The drawback is that waste is generated in the components.

[Means to solve the problem]

The distance education system of the present invention includes a first information input device that converts input video information, audio information, and control information into respective signals, and multiplexes the signals from the first information input device and converts the input video information, audio information, and control information into respective signals. a first video transmitting/receiving unit that separates a signal in which signals, audio signals, and control signals are multiplexed; and converting the signals from the first video transmitting/receiving unit into video information, audio information, and control information, respectively, and outputting the signals. One studio including a first information output device, a second information input device that converts input video information, audio information and control information into respective signals, and a studio including a first information output device, a second information input device that converts input video information, audio information and control information into respective signals, a second video transmitter/receiver that multiplexes signals and separates the multiplexed signals from video signals, audio signals, and control signals, and converts the signals from the second video receiver into video information, audio information, and control information, respectively. A plurality of remote classrooms including a second information output device that converts and outputs information, a first video transmitting/receiving section of the studio, and a second video transmitting/receiving section of the plurality of studios are connected at multiple points. In a remote education system having a communication line for two-way communication of multiplexed signals and in which lectures are conducted using video information, audio information, and control information, the studio stores character information about all of the remote classrooms. a ROM for reading character information according to a predetermined control signal separated by the first video transmitting/receiving section; and a ROM reading out character information read from the ROM and a video signal separated from the first video transmitting/receiving section. and a combining means for outputting the combined video signal to the first information output device related to video information and the first video transmitting/receiving section.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. This distance education system has almost the same configuration as the conventional example not shown in FIG. However, the studio 21 is connected to all the remote classrooms 22a, 22b, . . .
A ROM 6a that stores character information i indicating the name of the ROM 6a and outputs specific character information i in response to a control signal d1 from the transmission permission control unit 2, and a ROM 6a that stores character information i indicating the name of the ROM 6a, and a video transmitting/receiving unit]a. It has a combining section 7a that combines the separated video signal b1 and outputs the video signal b2 to the TV monitor 12. This video signal b2 is also output to the video transmitting/receiving section 1a. Meanwhile, each remote classroom 22a~
22n is not equipped with a ROM that stores character information indicating the name of the remote classroom to which the T22n belongs, and therefore T.
The video signal 1]1 from the V-camera 9 is input as is to the video transmitting/receiving section 11].

Next, the operation of the distance education system will be explained. For example, in the remote classroom 22a, a signal multiplexed by the video transmitting/receiving unit 1a of the studio 21 is received by the video transmitting/receiving unit 11) via the communication circuit a, and is separated into the video signal, audio signal C, and control signal d1. After that, TV monitor 12. Speaker 1
3. The information is outputted to the information output device of the transmission control unit 3, and the lecturer gives a lecture to the students. While the lecture was being held in this way, a student from the remote classroom 22a entered the studio 22a.
When a student has a question, etc. to the instructor and wants to make a statement, the student presses a switch on the statement request section 4 at hand. Then, this comment request signal e is sent to the transmission control section 3. The video transmission/reception unit] and the transmission permission control unit 2 are outputted to the transmission permission unit 5. When the instructor sees the lighted lamp and presses the switch on the transmission permission section 5 to permit transmission to the remote classroom 22a where the request has been made, the transmission permission information f is transmitted to the transmission permission control section 22a.
, is transmitted to the transmission control section 3 via the video transmission/reception section 1b. The transmission control unit 3 uses the transmission permission information f from the studio 21, the above-mentioned speaking request information e, and the position information g from the seat position storage unit 8, which stores the positions of students' seats, to determine the location information for the remote classroom. The television camera 9 is controlled. That is, the transmission control unit 3 outputs a TV camera control signal that automatically adjusts the shooting range and focus of the remote classroom TV camera 9 to the student who has requested to speak, and zooms in on the facial expression of the student who is speaking. The TV camera 9 for the remote classroom is controlled so that the remote classroom 2 is sent to the studio 21.
TV camera from 2a9. Image signal 1) from information input equipment such as microphone 141 and speech requesting unit 4], audio signal C1,
control signal d]. Also,
If there is no speech between the instructor and the students, all remote classrooms 22a to 22a are instructed by the transmission permission control unit 2 of the studio 21.
22n is scanned in order at a fixed period, and images of the entire classroom are transmitted to the studio 21. In this case, the studio 21 reads the character information i of the remote classroom base from the ROM 6a so that when it is received in the studio 21 and viewed on the TV monitor 12, it can be seen from where the video is coming from.
2a to the video signal b1 and the classroom-based character information j is synthesized by the synthesizing unit 7.
a and displayed on the TV monitor 12 in the studio 21.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a method for superimposing characters on an image. In the synthesis unit 7a of the studio 21, the character information j read out from the ROM 6a in accordance with the speech request signal e containing information that can identify the classroom is sent to the remote control 1 included in the control signal d], and the character information j read out from the ROM 6a and the image taken by the TV camera 9 are sent to the remote control 1. Video transmission/reception unit 1
The remote video b2 outputted from the ROM 6a is combined with the remote video b2 as a video signal 1]2 according to a predetermined procedure as shown in FIG. 1a and input into the transmission permission control unit 2). Then, the combined remote video b2 is displayed on the TV monitor 12 of the studio 21 and each remote classroom 22a22b, . . . , 22a.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides a means for synthesizing video signals and a ROM for storing character information by installing it in a studio.
It is no longer necessary to install a synthesis means and a ROM in each remote classroom, which has the effect of making the equipment configuration of remote classrooms, which are used in many remote education systems, more compact and economical.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the distance education system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a method for superimposing characters on video, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional example. la, lb...video transmitting/receiving unit, 2...transmission permission control unit,
3... Transmission control unit, 4... Speech request unit, 5... Transmission permission unit, 6a, 6b-ROM, 7a, 7b-combining unit,
8... Seat position memory unit, 9, 10... TV camera, 1
1, ], l=microphone, 1-2...TV monitor,
13...Speaker, 21.31...Studio, 22
a~22nd +, 32a~32n... remote 1~classroom,
a... Communication line, l) , b ], , b 2-
Video signal, c, cl-=audio signal, d, dl,...control signal, e...speech request information, f...transmission permission information, g...location information, 1]...television Camera control signal, j...Text information, j...Remote video.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first information input device that converts input video information, audio information, and control information into respective signals, and a video signal that multiplexes the signals from the first information input device and converts the input video information, audio information, and control information into respective signals. ,
a first video transmitter/receiver that separates a signal in which an audio signal and a control signal are multiplexed; and a first video transmitter/receiver that converts the signals from the first video transmitter/receiver into video information, audio information, and control information, respectively, and outputs the converted signals. one studio including an information output device, a second information input device that converts input video information, audio information, and control information into respective signals, and a second information input device that converts the signals from the second information input device. a second video transmitting/receiving unit that multiplexes and separates the multiplexed video signal, audio signal, and control signal; and converting the signals from the second video transmitting/receiving unit into video information, audio information, and control information, respectively. A plurality of remote classrooms including a second information output device that outputs information, a first video transmitting/receiving unit of the studio, and a second video transmitting/receiving unit of the plurality of studios are connected at multiple points and multiplexed. In a remote education system having a communication line for two-way communication of signals, and in which lectures are conducted using video information, audio information, and control information, the studio stores character information about all the remote classrooms, and stores text information about all the remote classrooms. a ROM for reading character information according to a predetermined control signal separated by the first video transmitting/receiving section; and combining the character information read from the ROM and the video signal separated from the first video transmitting/receiving section. A remote education system comprising: a combining means for outputting a combined video signal to the first information output device related to video information and the first video transmitting/receiving section. 2. The control signal separated from the first video transmitting/receiving unit is:
The second information input device includes a student's statement request signal that includes information for identifying the remote classroom to which the student belongs, and the control information input to the first information input device is transmitted in response to the statement request signal. The distance education system according to claim 1, further comprising permission information. 3. An information input device that converts input video information, audio information, and control information into respective signals, and a signal that multiplexes the signals from the information input device and multiplexes the video signal, audio signal, and control signal. an information output device that converts signals from the video transmitter and receiver into video information, audio information, and control information and outputs them, and a video transmitter and receiver that stores text information about a plurality of remote classrooms. A ROM that reads character information according to a predetermined control signal separated by the ROM, and a ROM that combines the character information read from the ROM and the video signal separated from the video transmitter/receiver, and generates the composite video signal. A studio for a remote education system, comprising the information output device related to video information and a composition means for outputting to the video transmitting/receiving section.