JPH05300505A - Image communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image communication terminal equipment which can flexibly deal with various applications to the opposite party terminal just by adding the simple hardware and a control procedure. CONSTITUTION:A remote control part 16 is provided in addition to a means which transmits and receives the data having a frame structure of the CCITT recommendation H.221 and performs the multiplex control with use of a BAS(bit rate allocation signal) code based on the CCITT recommendation. The part 16 transfers the information for control a camera, etc., of the opposite party terminal by means of an ECS(encoded control signal) channel prepared by the H.221 for encoding. Furthermore a data area division control part 17 is added to transfer the information for control how to divide a data area together with a multiplexing/demultiplexing part 10 which divides the data area based on the control information and performs the transmission/reception of plural pieces of data, a BAS control part 13, and an ECS channel application part 19 which transmits and receives the data on the ECS channel prepared for encoding.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication terminal device having a multiplex transmission function for video, audio and data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the International Telegraph and Telephone Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred to as
CCITT) formally recommends video coding method, multiplexing method, and communication procedure for audiovisual services, and CCIT from each company accordingly.
An image communication terminal device such as a TV conference system and a moving image TV phone that comply with the T recommendation has been developed.

A conventional image communication terminal device which performs processing in accordance with the CCITT recommendation will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a conventional image communication terminal device. In FIG. 3, 1 is a camera for taking a self-portrait, 2 is a monitor for displaying a picture or self-portrait from the other party, and 3 is a monitor. Microphone, 4 speaker, 5 tablet for telewriting, 6 key input section for inputting telephone number, function selection, 7 compression / encoding (decompression / decoding) of video data and audio data ) A codec section, 8 a telewriting control section for converting data from the tablet 5 so that the data can be displayed on the monitor 2, 9 a display control section for controlling switching of display of an image on the monitor 2, and 10 an image. , Voice, tablet (telewriting) data to CCITT Recommendation H. 221 (from 64 kb / s in audiovisual teleservice to 1920
kb / s channel frame structure) or a multiplexing / separating unit that separates the frame sent from the other party into video, audio, and tablet data. 11 is based on the setting from the key operation unit 6. , A terminal control unit for controlling the entire terminal device, 12 a line interface unit for connecting the terminal to an integrated service digital network (ISDN) 20, and 13 a CCITT Recommendation H.264. 242 (1920
A bit rate allocation signal (BAS: Bit-ra) that executes a communication procedure based on a method of setting communication between audiovisual terminals using digital channels up to kb / s.
te Allocation Signal) control unit.

Further, FIG. 4 shows the CCITT Recommendation H.264. 22
1 is a diagram showing a multiplex frame structure defined in H. 1 in relation to time T. Table 1 below shows CCITT Recommendation H.264. 22 is a numerical table of BAS codes defined in 221.

[0006]

[Table 1]

The operation of the conventional image communication terminal device configured as described above will be described below.

When the telephone number of the other terminal is set by the key operation section 6 and the call key is pressed, the terminal control section 11 communicates with the other terminal via the line interface section 12 to the B-channel usable by the user on the ISDN 20. Make a connection. In ISDN 20, the D channel is used for switching connection. After the connection is completed, BAS control unit 13 using B channel
By CCITT Recommendation H. The mode initialization procedure is activated by the communication procedure based on 242. In this mode initialization procedure, first, frame synchronization is established by using a frame synchronization signal (FAS: Frame Aligment Signal) as shown in FIG. The terminal capability is exchanged with the partner terminal by using the transfer rate capability and the data / video capability. Then, the command BAS code is used to switch to an appropriate operation mode in consideration of the capabilities of the own terminal and the partner terminal.

A combination of two frames (a) and (a) in FIG. 4 is called a sub-multiframe (multiplexed frame structure), and BAS is represented by 8 bits of the first frame (a). It is composed of a BAS code and an error correction code represented by 8 bits of the second frame (a). Further, the switching of the operation mode becomes effective from the next sub-multiframe upon receiving the command BAS code.

FIG. 2A shows CC when two B channels are used.
ITT Recommendation H. An example of division within 221 frames is shown. At this time, in the first B channel, voice (A) is 16 kb / s, low speed data (LSD) is 40 kb / s, and video (V) is first B,
It is transmitted at 68.8 kb / s on the second B channel.

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image communication terminal device, there are two areas that can be allocated for data using the BAS code, a low speed data area and a high speed data area. When it was necessary to send the coordinate data at the time of telewriting using, the accumulated still image data, the control data of the camera of the partner terminal, etc. at once, it could not be sent.

The high-speed data area can be used only when communicating with a plurality of B channels or H0 channels, but since it can only be allocated in units of 64 kb / s, 64
When data is transmitted at a low speed of less than kb / s, it is inefficient to allocate to data, and the transmission capacity of the entire communication is small.
(For example, during 2B transmission), there is a problem in that the area for sending video cannot be taken up.

In order to solve this, when the transmission rate of each data is low, it is possible to divide the low-speed data area or the high-speed data area into a plurality of areas, and use the BAS code defined in the recommendation. The procedure could not be realized.

The present invention solves the above problems,
The purpose is to be able to flexibly support various applications.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is directed to CCITT Recommendation H.264. An encryption control signal (ECS: Enclai) prepared for encryption at 221.
r Control Signal) means for exchanging information for controlling the camera or the like of the partner terminal with the partner terminal, also CCITT Recommendation H.264. A means for exchanging information for controlling the division method in the data area with the other terminal using the ECS channel prepared for encryption in 221 and dividing the data area based on the control information. Then, a means for transmitting / receiving a plurality of data and an ECS channel utilizing means for transmitting / receiving the ECS channel data prepared for encryption are provided.

[0016]

According to the present invention, when it is necessary to send still image data and tablet (telewriting) data at the same time while performing video and audio communication, the ECS channel prepared for encryption by the recommendation is used. By using this to notify the other terminal that the data area is divided into two, two types of data can be sent in either one of the low speed and high speed areas without using the two areas of low speed data and high speed data. It can be sent.

Further, when it becomes necessary to control the camera or the like of the partner terminal, the low speed / current transmission / reception of other data is in use.
It is possible to notify the other terminal by using the ECS channel prepared for encryption in the recommendation without using the high speed data area.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image communication terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a camera, 2 is a monitor, 3 is a microphone, 4 is a speaker, 5 is a tablet, and 6 is a key operation unit. , 7 is a codec section, 8 is a telewriting control section, 9 is a display control section, 10 is a multiplexing / demultiplexing section,
11 is a terminal control unit, 12 is a line interface unit, 13 is a BA
The S control unit has the same configuration as that of the conventional example.

Next, 14 is a scanner for taking in still picture data, 15 is a still picture control section for compressing / decompressing still picture data, and 16 is a partner terminal using an ECS channel prepared for encryption. A remote control unit for controlling the camera, 17 is a data area division control unit for performing control for dividing the low speed data area and the high speed data area into a plurality of areas using the ECS channel prepared for encryption by the recommendation, and 18 is Based on an instruction from the data area division control unit 17, the data area is divided to multiplex / separate a plurality of data.
Separation part, 19 is an EC prepared for encryption by recommendation
This is an ECS channel utilization unit for transmitting and receiving S channel data. Table 2 below is a numerical table of BAS codes used when controlling the division of the data area and controlling the camera of the partner terminal in this embodiment.

[0020]

[Table 2]

The operation of the image communication terminal device configured as described above will be described below.

A case where the low speed data area is divided into two in the case of communicating using two B channels will be described. At present, as shown in Fig. 2 (a), voice (A) is multiplexed at 16 kb / s, tablet data (low-speed data: LSD) is multiplexed at 40 kb / s, and video (V) is multiplexed at 68.8 kb / s, and communication with the other terminal is performed. Suppose At this time, consider a case where the still image data (SD) is sent using 32 kb / s in the low speed data area.

When the still image data transmission is selected from the key operation unit 6, the terminal control unit 11 detects it and notifies the data area division control unit 17 of it. In response to this, the data area division control unit 17 first instructs the BAS control unit 13 and then E
It is instructed to send BAS = (010) [6] shown in Table 1 to inform that the CS channel is used. This turns on the ECS channel. At the same time, the data area division control unit 17 notifies the ECS channel utilization unit 19 to the other terminal by dividing the low speed data area into two and allocating 32 kb / s to the still image data.
Instruct to send ECS = 0,0,100,000 shown in FIG.

Upon receiving this, the ECS channel utilization section 19 uses the ECS code designated by the data area division control section 17 as an EC.
Send on S channel. When the transmission of the designated ECS code is completed, the data area division control unit 17 is notified of the completion of transmission.

The data area division control unit 17 which has received the notification of the completion of transmission first informs the BAS control unit 13 that BAS = (010) [7] shown in Table 1 in order to notify the partner terminal to close the ECS channel. Instruct to send. This turns off the ECS channel. At the same time, the low-speed data area is sent to the data area multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 18 as shown in FIG.
(SD), the remaining sub-channel # 7 is tablet data
Then, the data area multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 18 multiplexes the still image data and the tablet data into the low speed data area and sends them to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 10.
Then, the multiplexer / demultiplexer 10 makes ECS = 0 shown in Table 2,
32 kb / s of still image data and 8 kb of tablet data from the next sub-multiframe that sent 0,100,000
/ S is sent to the other terminal.

On the contrary, BAS = (010) shown in Table 1 in order to inform the partner terminal to use the ECS channel.
When the BAS control unit 13 detects the BAS code of [6],
Turn on the ECS channel. After that, the ECS channel utilization unit 19 notifies the data area division control unit 17 of the received data. Receiving this, the data area division control unit 17 switches the data area multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 18 as instructed by the partner terminal and notifies the terminal control unit 11 to switch the internal operation. The terminal controller 13 controls the still image controller 7 and the telewriting controller 8 to prepare for the data sent from the next sub-multiframe.

When the key for zooming up the camera of the partner terminal is pressed, the terminal control unit 11 detects it and notifies the remote control unit 16 of it. Receiving it, the remote controller 16 is B
First, the BAS shown in Table 1 is notified to the AS control unit 13 in order to inform the partner terminal that the ECS channel will be used.
= (010) [6] is sent. This turns on the ECS channel. At the same time, remote control
16 is the EC shown in Table 2 for the ECS channel utilization unit 19.
Instruct to send S = 0, 1,000, 010.

Upon receiving this, the ECS channel utilization unit 19 sends the ECS code instructed by the remote control unit 16 onto the ECS channel. When the transmission of the designated ECS code is completed, the remote control unit 16 is notified of the transmission completion.

Upon receiving the notification of the completion of transmission, the remote controller 16
First, BAS = shown in Table 1 to inform the AS control unit 13 that the ECS channel is closed to the other terminal.
(010) Instruct to send [7]. This makes E
The CS channel is turned off.

On the contrary, in order to inform the partner terminal that the ECS channel will be used, B of BAS = (010) [6]
When the BAS controller 13 detects the AS code, the ECS channel is turned on. After that, if the received data relates to camera control, the ECS channel utilization unit 19 notifies the remote control unit 16. In response to this, the remote control unit 16 analyzes the ECS code and instructs the terminal control unit to control the camera based on the instruction from the partner terminal. Then, the terminal control unit 11 having received the control controls the movement of the camera of the own terminal.

In the above embodiment, only the data area is divided into two and the control of the partner camera is performed. However, by finely defining the ECS code according to the application, fine control becomes possible.

[0032]

As described above, the image communication terminal device according to the present invention is capable of implementing the multiplexing control function based on the CCITT recommendation only by adding simple hardware and a control procedure to the camera of the other terminal. The information that controls the data area can be sent without using a constant data area, and the data area can be easily divided into multiple areas of arbitrary size for effective use of the data area. It can flexibly support various applications.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image communication terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 CC when communicating using two B channels
ITT Recommendation H. It is a figure showing the example of division in 221 frames.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a conventional image communication terminal device.

FIG. 4 CCITT Recommendation H. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a multiplexing frame structure defined by H.221.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Camera, 2 ... Monitor, 3 ... Microphone, 4
... speaker, 5 ... tablet, 6 ... key operation part,
7 ... Codec section, 8 ... Telewriting control section,
9 ... Display control unit, 10 ... Multiplexing / separating unit, 11 ... Terminal control unit, 12 ... Line interface unit, 13 ... BAS control unit, 14 ... Scanner, 15 ... Still image control unit, 16 ... Remote control unit, 17 ... Data area division control unit, 18 ... Data area multiplexing / demultiplexing unit, 19 ... ECS channel utilization unit, 20 ... I
SDN.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee Recommendation H. 221
In the image communication terminal device having the function of multiplex transmission of video, audio and data according to the above, the International Telegraph and Telephone Advisory Committee Recommendation H. A means for exchanging information for controlling the camera and the like of the other terminal with the other terminal by using the encryption control signal channel prepared for encryption in 221. Also recommended by the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee H ． 221 means for exchanging information for controlling the division method in the data area with the other terminal using the encryption control signal channel prepared for encryption in 221; data based on the control information A means for transmitting / receiving a plurality of data by dividing an area, and an encryption control signal channel utilizing means for transmitting / receiving data of an encryption control signal channel prepared for encryption are provided. Image communication terminal device.