JPH04156084A - Multiple video conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a system and to reduce the production cost of the system by successively synthesizing analog video signal outputs and displaying a synthesized image on the screen of one monitor television by a multiple image synthesizer, converting the displayed data into digital data by a video signal coder/ decoder(CODEC) and then distributing the digital data to respective communication network control units(NCUs). CONSTITUTION:In the system, n data subscriber equipments(DSUs) (b) and n NCUs (c) are connected to a digital communication line network (a). The digital signals of image information on n points are inputted to the CODEC (e) while being successively selected by a selector (d) and analog video signal outputs from the CODEC (e) are successively synthesized and displayed as a synthesized image on one monitor television (g) by the multiple image synthesizer (f) having image storing and synthesizing functions. Since the image synthesized and displayed on the monitor television (g) is converted into digital data by the CODEC (e) and the digital data are distributed to respective NCUs (c) and transmitted to the monitor televisions of local devices through the line network (a), all conference attendants advance the conference while observing mutual screens.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a multi-component video conference system using image transmission, and more particularly to a multi-component video conference system having multiple image compositing functions using image storage and compositing image processing techniques. It is something.

(Prior Art) FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional multi-way video conference system.

In the drawings, (A) is a center device where a conference organizer or facilitator is located, and (B) is a local device installed at a location where conference participants in each region are located.

Local devices (B) include a DSU (41) and an ICU (
The number of TV cameras is DSU (32), NCU (33), and GODEC (34) through CODEC (42) and CODEC (43).
) and a local device (B), a monitor television (35), a television camera (38), and a switch (37) are installed. Then, the conference organizer operates the switching device (37) while looking at the screen of the monitor TV (35) of the center device (Mu) to distribute the image of the speaker to the local device (B) and proceed with the conference. do.

(Problem to be solved) In the conventional multi-way video conferencing system described above, the center device is equipped with an expensive CODE corresponding to the number of local devices.
Since it requires C, it has the drawback of becoming a large-scale and expensive system.

Moreover, since only the image of the speaker can be obtained on the monitor TV screen of the local device, it is difficult to grasp the mood of all the conference attendees.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a multi-source video conference system that uses image processing technology for image storage and synthesis to realize system simplification and cost reduction. The feature is that n DSUs and ICUs are connected to a digital communication network, the digital signals of n-point image information are input to the CODEC while being switched by a selector, and the analog video signal output is sequentially output by a multiplex image synthesis device. - The goal is to realize a conference of n+1 yuan by displaying screens on two monitor televisions in a composite manner, converting the composite image into digital data using a CODEC, and distributing it to each 11cU.

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a center device in a multi-source video conference system of the present invention. Note that the local device is the same as that shown in FIG.

As shown in the drawing, n DSUs (in-house line termination units) corresponding to local devices are installed in the digital communication network (a).
(0) and NCU (communication network control device (c)) are connected.

Then, while sequentially switching the digital signals of n-point image information using a selector (d), they are input to a CODEC (video signal encoding/decoding device) (n), and the analog video signal output is outputted from a CODEC that has image storage and synthesis functions. A multiple image synthesis device (f) sequentially synthesizes and displays images on one monitor television (f). The image displayed on the monitor TV (G) in this way is converted into digital data using GODEC (N),
The information is distributed to each NCU (c) and transmitted to the monitor television of the local device via the digital communication network (b), so that all conference attendees can proceed with the conference while looking at each other's screens.

(Embodiment) FIG. 2(a) is a block diagram of a specific example of the center device in the multi-source video conference system of the present invention.

The digital communication network (IO) includes n DSUs (9) corresponding to the number of local devices and ? Connect the ICU (8). (6) and (7) are two selectors that select digital data, which select digital data from NCtl (8) and connect to CODEC (main) (4) and CODEC (sub) (5), respectively. . Each of these analog outputs is connected to a different input of the multiple image synthesizer (3).

At this time, the CODEC (maln) (4) is connected to CH, and the output of the CODEC (sub) (s) is connected in parallel to each input of CH2 to CHn of the multiple image synthesis device (3). The output of this multiple image composition device (3) is connected to a monitor television (1). In addition, the output image selection switch (14) is connected to the analog input of the COpEC (gala) (4), and the output of the multiplex image composition device (3) or the GODEC (m
(13) is a personal computer for control, which controls the switching of selector A (6) and selector B (7), and the multiplex image composition device (3). control and read the pressed position of the speaker selection switch (12). (11) is the sound level display of the Otowa conference system (separate system) for speaker recognition, and the speaker selection switch (1
2) Have them press. (2) uses a television camera to take images of the inside of the center, and inputs CHn+ to the multiplex image composition device (3).
1, and is synthesized on the screen of the monitor television (1) as one of the participants in the conference.

(Operation) In the conference system having the above configuration, NC[1(
8), the center device calls the local devices in advance and connects all the digital communication network (10). The software of the personal computer (13) automatically switches the selector B (7) in sequence, and the digital data is composited into an analog video signal by the GODEC (sub) (5). This analog video signal enters the inputs am, -CHn of the multiplex image synthesis device (3), where the video signal is processed, the image is reduced and displayed on the monitor television (1). After the image is displayed, a command is sent from the personal computer (13) to the multiple image composition device (3) to switch the reduced screen to a still image. Next, the selector B (7) is automatically switched again to the video data of the next conference member, the display position within the screen is changed, and the video of that attendee is displayed on the screen of the monitor television (1).

By repeating the above operations, all attendees can be displayed on the screen of the monitor television (1). Furthermore, selector A (6) is switched to the ICU connected to the speaker's line, and the digital data is sent to CODEC (maIn) (4).
) and then decoded into a video signal by C of the multiplex image synthesis device (3).
A realistic image can be created by inputting a continuous image (moving image) into a portion of the previously configured screen of the monitor television (1), for example, in the center. By operating the multiple image synthesis device (3), two speakers can be displayed simultaneously as continuous images (moving images) as shown in FIG. 2 (b).

By converting the video signal of the screen of the monitor TV (1) configured in this way into a digital signal using the CODEC (main) (4) and connecting it to all N(:Ll(8)) corresponding to all conference attendees, , everyone can proceed with the meeting while looking at everyone's screen.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the multi-component video conference system of the present invention, the system can be configured using only one or two CODECs, making it simpler and cheaper than before. It is possible to realize multi-way video conferencing and is expected to be widely used by the general public.

Furthermore, since the number of CODECs and monitor televisions in the center device can be reduced, the entire device can be downsized and a large room is not required as a conference room.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a center device of a multi-dimensional video conference system according to the present invention. FIG. 2(a) is a block diagram of a specific example of the center device of the multi-dimensional video conference system of the present invention, and FIG. 2(b) is an explanatory diagram of another example of the monitor television screen. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a conventional multi-way video conference system. A...Digital communication network, Port...DSU, C...
・NCU, 2...Selector, H...CODEC,
To...Multiple image composition device, To...Monitor television, 1
...Monitor TV, 2...TV camera, 3...
Multiple image synthesis device, 4... CODEC (Peng aln),
5... CODEC (sub), 6.7... Selector, 8 ・NCU19... DSU, 10... Digital communication network, 11... Sound roof level display, 12...
- Speaker selection switch, 13... personal computer, 14... output image selection switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In-house line termination equipment (DSU) for digital communication network
) and communication network control unit (NCU) are connected, and the digital signal of n-point image information is input to a video signal encoding/decoding device (CODEC) while being switched by a selector, and the analog video signal output is stored in image memory. By sequentially synthesizing and displaying images on a single monitor TV using a multiplex image synthesis device with a synthesis function, and further converting the synthesized images into digital data using a CODEC and distributing it to each NCU, n+
A multi-source video conference system characterized by realizing a 1-source video conference.