JPH0638205A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smooth the transmission reception of information of a large capacity by providing plural interfaces and implementing the transmission reception of information with other information source via each interface in time division or real time. CONSTITUTION:A video signal of its own station picked up by a video camera 111, a sound signal of its own station outputted from a microphone 108 and data of its own station from a CPU 101 are multiplexed by a multiplexer 114. Then the multiplexed data are sent to an information source of other information processing unit via an ISDN interface 115 and an ISDN line. Furthermore, multiplexed data from other information source received via the interface 115 from the ISDN line are demultiplexed by a demultiplexer 116, the video signal is displayed on a monitor 122 and the sound signal is outputted from a speaker 119. Moreover, the transmission reception of information is implemented with the other information source via a LAN interface. Then the information of large capacity is properly and quickly processed and information processing with high quality is smoothed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing system which is connected to a plurality of other information processing systems and processes information while exchanging information with each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In today's information-oriented society, in a situation where various information is overflowing, information sharing, high-speed processing, and accompanying information using a network are used in order to utilize information efficiently. High-speed transfer is required. Furthermore, there is a demand for smooth communication by transmitting moving images and voice in real time using a network. As a communication method between information processing systems that use conventional networks,
A LAN system is adopted in which information is transferred between a plurality of information processing systems arranged on the network by using one transmission line in a time division manner. On the other hand, as a method of transmitting moving images and audio data in real time, a line connection device such as a switchboard is used like a video conference system, and information processing systems are connected one to one.
Is used to connect to and communicate with.

There is a video conference system as this type of information processing system. In this conventional system,
Power supplies for peripheral devices such as a camera, a speaker, and a microphone are provided separately, and when remotely communicating with other terminal devices, the power is turned on separately.
Further, when the power of each peripheral device is turned on, when receiving a communication from the partner terminal device and going off-hook, the audio signal and the video signal are automatically transmitted to the partner terminal device.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned LAN, the transmission lines are used in a time-division manner. Therefore, when a large amount of data is transferred such as moving image or voice data is transferred in real time, the transmission is performed. There is a problem that the line is occupied and other information processing systems cannot use the network. On the other hand, in a system that uses a line connection device such as a switchboard to connect information processing systems to each other in a one-to-one manner and communicates with another information processing system during communication with a certain information processing system. I can't
There was a problem that a separate line had to be prepared to enable communication.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional information processing system, it is necessary to turn on the power supply of each peripheral device after receiving the communication from the partner terminal device, which makes the power-on operation complicated and gives a voice message to the partner. It takes a long time to send an image, and if there is a communication from the other terminal device while the power is on, the audio signal or the video signal is carelessly sent to the other terminal device without confirming the other party. There was a problem that it ended up.

The present invention has been made in view of the current state of the information processing system of this type described above, and the first object of the present invention is to eliminate the monopoly of the transmission line and to smoothly transfer a large amount of information. It is to provide an information processing system that can perform high-quality information processing quickly. A second object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system in which an audio signal and a video signal are not carelessly transmitted to a partner terminal device, and a peripheral device can be easily turned on. Especially.

[0007]

In order to solve the first object, the present invention relates to an audio signal output means for outputting an audio signal, a video signal output means for outputting a video signal, and a connection to a line. An information processing system, comprising: a first interface and a second interface for connection with a transmission line, for transmitting and receiving information and for processing information, and a compression means for compressing the audio signal and the video signal, and at least the compression means. The multiplexing means for multiplexing the audio signal and the video signal compressed by the compression means, the separating means for separating the multiplexed signal input from the second interface, and the signal separated by the separating means are expanded. The expansion unit; a monitor connected to the expansion unit for displaying an expanded video signal; and a speaker connected to the expansion unit for outputting an expanded audio signal. Information is exchanged with other information sources through an interface in a time division manner, and information is exchanged with other information sources in real time through the second interface to perform information processing. ing.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the present invention is an information processing which is connected to a line and exchanges at least an audio signal and a video signal with another terminal device via the line. In the system, audio input means for inputting an audio signal, video input means for inputting a video signal, audio output means for outputting an audio signal from a partner terminal input via the line, and via the line A video display unit for displaying a video signal input from the partner terminal and a detection unit for detecting a communication request signal input from the line, and based on the detection signal of the detection unit, the voice input unit; It is configured to control power-on of the video input unit and the audio output unit.

[0009] Similarly, in order to achieve the second object, the present invention is information connected to a line and transmitting / receiving at least an audio signal and a video signal to / from another terminal device via the line. In the processing system, a voice input means for inputting a voice signal, a video input means for inputting a video signal, a video display means for displaying a video signal from a partner terminal input via the line, and a line via the line. A voice output means for outputting a voice signal from a partner terminal that is input by a user, an output means for outputting at least one of the output signal of the voice input means and the output signal of the video input means to the line, and the terminal device. At least one of a first switch for selecting the output of the audio signal to the line and a second switch for selecting the output of the video signal from the terminal device to the line is provided. Were are the configuration.

[0010]

With such a structure, in the present invention, the audio signal from the audio signal output means and the video signal from the video signal output means are compressed by the compression means, and the audio signal and the video signal compressed by this compression means. Are multiplexed by the multiplexing means. Then, the multiplexed audio signal and video signal are transmitted to another information source via the second interface. The multiplexed signal from the other information source received by the second interface is decompressed by the decompressing means and then decompressed by the decompressing means. A monitor that displays the expanded video signal and a speaker that outputs the expanded audio signal are connected to the expansion means, the video signal is displayed on the monitor, and the audio signal is output as audio from the speaker. . In this way, the information processing system of the present invention time-divisionally exchanges information with other information processing systems via the first interface and other information processing systems via the second interface. And exchange information in real time to process information.

Further, according to the present invention, at least an audio signal and a video signal can be exchanged with another terminal device via a line, and a communication request signal inputted from the line can be detected. The voice signal of the partner terminal detected by the means and input from the line is output by the voice output means, and the video signal of the partner terminal input from the line is displayed by the video display means. When the communication request signal input from the line is detected by the detection means, the audio input means for inputting the audio signal, the video input means for inputting the video signal, and the audio signal are output based on the detection signal of the detection means. The power-on of the audio output means is controlled.

Further, according to the present invention, at least a voice signal and a video signal can be transmitted and received to and from another terminal device via the line, and the video signal transmitted from the partner terminal is a video signal. The voice signal displayed on the display means and transmitted from the partner terminal is output to the voice output means. The audio signal is input to the audio input unit, the video signal is input to the video input unit, and at least one of the output signal of the audio input unit and the output signal of the video input unit selects the output of the audio signal. The switch and the second switch for selecting the output of the video signal are output to the line by the output means.

[0013]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. First,
A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the first embodiment,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the connection state of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the first embodiment, a plurality of information processing systems 21a-29a share a common LAN.
The information processing systems 21a to 29a are connected to each other via the ISDN line 21b.
29b to 29b, a specific other information processing system can be connected. Therefore, the information processing system 21a-
29a can exchange information with other information processing systems via a local area network (hereinafter referred to as LAN) 20 in a time division manner. ISDN circuit 2
Information can be exchanged with other information processing systems in real time by the compressed voice data and moving image data via 1b to 29b.

In FIG. 1, B is a system bus,
A CPU 101 that controls the entire system and processes information via the system bus B is provided, and the system bus B stores a RAM 102 that temporarily stores information handled by the CPU 101 and a program for information processing of the CPU 101. A hard disk 103, a keyboard 104 for inputting information to the CPU 101, a video RAM (hereinafter referred to as VRAM) 105 for storing video data for information processing are connected, and a monitor 106 for displaying a video signal is connected to the VRAM 105.

Similarly, a LAN interface 107 for communicating with an information source such as another information processing system is connected to the system bus B via the LAN 20 as a first interface. , The video camera 111 that outputs the video signal is the A / D converter 112.
It is connected to a moving picture compressor 113 for compressing a video signal via, and the moving picture compressor 113 is connected to the system bus B. Furthermore, the microphone 10 that outputs a voice signal
8 is connected to an audio compressor 110 for compressing an audio signal via an A / D converter 109, and this audio compressor 11
0 is connected to the system bus B. The output terminal of the moving picture compressor 113 and the output terminal of the audio compressor 110 are connected to the multiplexer 114, and the multiplexed video signal and audio signal and the data from the CPU 101 are multiplexed. The parser 114 is connected to the system bus B.

An ISDN interface 115, to which the output terminal of the multiplexer 114 is connected, is connected to the system bus B. The ISDN interface 115 allows the information processing system to identify information such as other specific information processing systems. The source can be connected. Furthermore, IS
A separator 116 is connected to the DN interface 115, and the separator 116 is connected to the system bus B. The separator 116 includes a moving image expander 120 for expanding a video signal and an audio expander 1 for expanding an audio signal.
17, and the moving picture decompressor 120 is connected to the D / A
The audio expander 117 is connected to the monitor 122 via the converter 121, and the audio expander 117 is connected to the speaker 119 via the D / A converter 118.

In the first embodiment having such a structure,
The CPU 101 includes a keyboard 104, a VRAM 105, and a VRAM 105 based on the operating system and application software of the hard disk 103.
The monitor 106 connected to is used as a man-machine interface to input data, display menu screens, data, etc., and use the RAM 102 to execute information processing such as arithmetic processing. Further, the CPU 101 communicates with other information sources such as information processing systems, computers, and printers on the LAN 20 via the LAN interface 107, and commonly uses these information sources. The audio signal from the microphone 108 is AD-converted by the A / D converter 109,
The audio signal is compressed by the audio compressor 110 and input to the multiplexer 114. The video signal from the video camera 111 is AD-converted by the A / D converter 112, compressed by the moving image compressor 113, and then multiplexed by the multiplexer 114. Is entered. Therefore, the multiplexer 1
Reference numeral 14 denotes the compressed audio signal and video signal, and the CPU 1.
The data signal from 01 is multiplexed, and the data signal multiplexed by the multiplexer 114 is the ISDN interface 115.
Sent to other sources via.

Further, the multiplexed data received from the ISDN interface 115 from another information source is separated by the separator 116.
And the audio signal is expanded by the audio expander 117.
After the DA conversion by the D / A converter 118, the speaker 1
The audio signal is input to the speaker 19, and the audio signal is output by the speaker 119. On the other hand, the video signal is the moving picture decompressor 120.
After being decompressed by, and DA-converted by the D / A converter 121, the video signal is input to the monitor 122 and displayed on the monitor 122.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the video signal of the local station photographed by the video camera 111, the audio signal of the local station output from the microphone 108, and the data of the local station from the CPU 101 are multiplexed. ISD
It is transmitted to an information source such as another information processing apparatus via the N interface 115 and the ISDN line. Also, IS
Multiplexed data from an information source such as another information processing device input from the DN line through the ISDN interface 115 is separated by the separator 116, and the video signal is displayed on the monitor 1.
22 is displayed, and the audio signal is output as audio from the speaker 119. On the other hand, in the first embodiment, information is exchanged with other information sources such as other information processing devices on the LAN via the LAN interface 107 in a time division manner. In the first embodiment, by exchanging information with other information sources, a large amount of information is processed appropriately and promptly, and high-quality information processing is performed.

As described above, in the first embodiment, information is exchanged with other information sources in real time via the ISDN line, and information is exchanged with other information sources in a time division manner via the LAN line. Then, high-quality information processing can be performed by exchanging high-quality information including a large amount of real-time information without monopolizing the LAN.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the second embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection state to a line of the second embodiment.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 is an ISDN line (digital line), and a LAN 3 is connected to this ISDN line 1 via a bridge 2, and the bridge 2 connects the signal of the ISDN line 1 and the signal of LAN 3 to each other. Mutual conversion and reverse conversion are performed. A workstation 4 of a terminal device is connected to the LAN 3, and a video camera 5 for inputting a video signal, a microphone 6 for inputting an audio signal, and a speaker 7 for outputting an audio are connected to the workstation 4.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes an interface circuit for controlling the interface between the workstation 4 and the LAN 3, which is a bus line 20 of the workstation 4.
Is connected to this interface circuit 11 via LAN
Communication request signal input from 3 (hereinafter called call signal)
Is connected to the detection circuit 12 for detecting the other terminal and identifying the partner terminal. A power supply control circuit 13 is connected to this detection circuit 12, and a camera 5, a microphone 6 and a speaker 7 are connected to the power supply control circuit 13, and the power supply control circuit 13 is based on the detection signal of the detection circuit 12. Then, a power supply signal for powering on the camera 5, the microphone 6, and the speaker 7 is output.

A codec device 14 is connected to the camera 5, the microphone 6 and the speaker 7, and the output signals of the camera 5 and the microphone 6 are compressed by the codec device 14 and output to the interface circuit 11. The codec device 14 expands the audio signal input from the LAN 3 and outputs the expanded audio signal to the speaker 7, and expands the video signal input from the LAN 3 and inputs the expanded video signal to the monitor display controller 16. This monitor display controller 16
The expanded video signal is fitted into the monitor output signal of the workstation 4, and the output signal of the monitor display controller 16 is displayed on the monitor 17 connected to the monitor display controller 16. Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 is a monitor signal input terminal of the workstation 4, and 22 is a control signal input terminal for instructing where in the monitor signal of the workstation the video signal from the codec device 14 is fitted. Further, the transmission output of the audio signal compressed by the codec device 14 is turned on to the codec device 14.
Switch terminal 18 for turning on / off, cordic device 14
A switch terminal 19 for turning on / off the transmission output of the video signal compressed by is connected.

In the second embodiment, when a user is running some software on the terminal device and a call signal is input from another terminal device via the LAN 3, the interface circuit 11 makes the call. When it is identified that the signal is a call signal to the terminal device, the call signal is input to the detection circuit 12 and the codec device 14. Therefore, the detection circuit 12 discriminates whether the call signal is a communication of an electronic file or the like, a communication of only an audio signal, or a communication of an audio signal and a video signal, and the identification signal is the power supply control circuit 13 To enter.

Therefore, the power supply control circuit 13 supplies power to the microphone 6 and the speaker 7 based on the inputted identification signal if only the voice signal is communicated, and if the voice signal and the video signal are communicated. Power is supplied to the camera 5, the microphone 6, and the speaker 7. When power is supplied to the camera 5, the camera 5 outputs the captured video signal to the codec device 1.
4 and the power is supplied to the microphone 6, the microphone 6
Inputs the picked-up audio signal to the codec device 14. When power is supplied to the speaker 7, the speaker 7 receives the audio signal output from the codec device 14 and outputs it as an audible signal.

On the other hand, the signal input from the LAN 3 is transmitted through the interface circuit 11 to the codec device 14
The audio signal is output to the speaker 7, and the video signal is output to the monitor display controller 16. The data signal is output, and the data signal is output to the interface of the workstation 4. When the video signal is input to the monitor display controller 16, the video signal is displayed at a predetermined position of the monitor display video signal of the workstation 4. This display position is the control signal input terminal 22
It is possible to control by a control signal from the workstation 4 input to the terminal, and it is also possible to display the telephone number of the partner terminal device, the terminal number, etc. simultaneously with the video signal.

In the second embodiment, the user of the terminal device operates the voice signal ON / OFF signal, which is input to the codec device 14 to receive the telephone call, at the switch terminal 18 so as to be the voice signal ON. . When it is confirmed that the voice signal ON / OFF signal is changed to the voice signal ON, the codec device 14 processes the voice signal input from the microphone 6, adds the identification number of the terminal or the like to the interface circuit 11. Output. The interface circuit 11 adds the terminal identification number and the partner terminal number to the signal and outputs the signal to the LAN 3. Next, when the user confirms the voice signal and the video signal of the partner terminal by communication and determines that the video signal may be transmitted, the cordic device 1
The switch terminal 19 is operated so that the image sending ON / OFF signal input to the switch 4 is turned ON. In this way, when the codec device 14 confirms that the image sending ON / OFF signal has changed to image sending ON, the image signal input from the camera 5 is subjected to processing such as compression, and the audio signal and the identification signal. It is also output to the interface circuit 11. Therefore, the interface circuit 11 outputs the signal input from the codec device 14 to the LAN 3.

In the second embodiment, it is also possible to immediately send out only the audio signal as the call signal and put the video signal in the standby state. Alternatively, the transmission of the video signal can be temporarily interrupted during the transmission, or the transmission of the audio signal can be temporarily muted.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, LA is used.
Real-time information is sent without exchanging lines because it exchanges information with a plurality of information sources on the LAN via the N interface in a time-sharing manner and exchanges information with other information sources via the ISDN interface in real time. It becomes possible to obtain high quality information accurately and quickly by processing a large amount of information including

Further, according to the present invention, the power input to the audio input means and the video input means is automatically controlled based on the detection signal of the detection means for detecting the communication request signal input from the line. Since it is not necessary to perform a troublesome power source operation on the video input means and the video input means, and the output of the audio signal and the video signal from the terminal device to the line is selected by the first switch and the second switch, the other terminal device can be selected. It is possible to prevent the audio signal and the video signal from being carelessly transmitted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a connection state of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection state of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ISDN circuit 2 bridge 3 LAN 4 workstation 5 camera 6 microphone 7 speaker 11 interface circuit 12 detection circuit 13 power supply control circuit 14 codec device 16 monitor display controller 17 monitor 18, 19 switch terminal 20 LAN 21a to 29a information processing system 21b to 29b ISDN circuit 101 CPU 105 VRAM 107 LAN interface 108 Microphone 110 Audio compressor 111 Video camera 113 Video image compressor 114 Multiplexer 115 ISDN interface 116 Separator 117 Audio expander 119 Speaker 120 Video image expander 122 Monitor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An audio signal output means for outputting an audio signal,
An information processing system that includes a video signal output unit that outputs a video signal, a first interface that connects with a line, and a second interface that connects with a transmission line, and that exchanges information and processes information. A compression means for compressing the audio signal and the video signal, a multiplexing means for multiplexing at least the audio signal and the video signal compressed by the compression means, and a multiplexed signal input from the second interface. Separating means for separating the signal, expanding means for expanding the signal separated by the separating means, a monitor connected to the expanding means for displaying an expanded video signal, and an expanded audio signal connected to the expanding means. And a speaker for outputting the information, and time-divisionally exchanges information with other plural information sources via the first interface, and via the second interface. The information processing system characterized by being configured to perform an information processing performed in the information source and real-time exchange of information. 2. An audio input unit for inputting an audio signal, and an image in an information processing system, which is connected to a line and exchanges at least an audio signal and a video signal with another terminal device via the line. Video input means for inputting a signal, audio output means for outputting a voice signal from the partner terminal input through the line, and video display for displaying a video signal from the partner terminal input through the line Means and a detection means for detecting a communication request signal input from the line, and control the power-on of the audio input means, the video input means and the audio output means based on the detection signal of the detection means. An information processing system characterized by being configured to: 3. An audio input unit for inputting an audio signal, and an image in an information processing system, which is connected to a line and exchanges at least an audio signal and a video signal with another terminal device via the line. Video input means for inputting a signal, video display means for displaying a video signal from the partner terminal input through the line, and audio output for outputting a voice signal from the partner terminal input through the line First output means for outputting at least one of the output signal of the audio input means and the output signal of the video input means to the line, and selecting the output of the audio signal from the terminal device to the line. An information processing system comprising: a switch and at least one of a second switch that selects output of the video signal from the terminal device to the line.