JPH0698328A - Visitor recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the visitor recording system realized even for a household use by integrating a facsimile equipment and a television receiver. CONSTITUTION:When a visitor depresses a call switch 12, a telecamera 11 picks up a video image of the visitor. The video image of the visitor to be picked up is displayed on a television receiver 21 at a video audio output section 20 through a line 10. The video image of the visitor is also inputted to a facsimile equipment 30 and printed out on recording paper 36 by a printer means 32. Moreover, the video image of the visitor is also sent to another facsimile equipment via a line 50.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a visitor recording system constructed by integrating a facsimile device and a television device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is a means for transmitting image information on a document to a remote place, and is composed of a transmitter, a receiver and a line connecting them. The transmitter reads image information, converts it into an electric signal (hereinafter referred to as an image signal), and transmits the image signal to a receiver installed at a remote place through a line. The receiver stores the received image signal in the storage means, converts the image signal into image information, and reproduces image information similar to the transmitted original document.

On the other hand, the television apparatus is a means for broadcasting a video signal captured by a camera in the form of radio waves and reproducing it by a video receiver to transmit a moving image.

The above facsimile device and television device are
The principle of scanning image information, converting it into an image signal, transmitting the converted image signal, and reproducing the received image signal into image information is exactly the same.

However, the reason that the facsimile apparatus and the television apparatus have been developed separately is that the television apparatus and the facsimile apparatus have different image signal characteristics. For example, the frequency of the image signal (video signal) of the television device is about 6 MHz, which is 10 times or more that of the image signal of the facsimile device. Further, while the video signal can reproduce the halftone of the image, the image signal of the facsimile apparatus is binary and cannot transmit the halftone.

A known example of the integration of the facsimile device and the television device is shown, for example, in "Configuration of full-color codec for communication conference terminal" announced on September 19, 1989 by the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers.

In this "configuration of full-color codec for communication conference terminal", a television image input means and a facsimile are transmitted and received to and from a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC), a workstation (hereinafter referred to as WS), and the like. Means, document reading means, and
It is realized by combining a recording device or the like that stores input, transmitted, received, or read data.

Further, as another publicly known example relating to the integration of a facsimile device and a television device, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 34674/1993.
And Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-39693. this is,
The image information obtained from the image pickup means such as a video camera can be displayed on a monitor by a television device or can be transmitted by a facsimile device.

Further, as another publicly known example relating to the integration of a facsimile apparatus and a television apparatus, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2972/1993.
63 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-94565. These can be transmitted by facsimile by inputting an image from a separately installed television device to a facsimile device.

[0010]

In the above-mentioned "configuration of full-color codec for communication conference terminal", a PC or WS is used.
It is realized on a large scale by combining various special devices. In such an example, the configuration of the device is complicated, and handling of the device requires specialized knowledge and skill. Because of this, it is not in a situation where it is widely used by the general public.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 3-34674, 2-39693, 3-297263, and 3-94565 disclose a facsimile apparatus and a television which can be realized in a general household. Although this is a technology relating to device integration, it does not disclose a system for recording visitors in a general home.

The object of the present invention can be realized in a general home by integrating a facsimile device and a television device.
To provide a visitor record system. Specifically, the video signal of the TV device is used as the video signal from the surveillance camera device attached to the doorphone, and the facsimile device is activated in synchronization with the use of the doorphone, and the facsimile device is recorded on the doorphone monitor in a general house. It is intended to apply to.

Another object of the present invention is to apply various functions of the facsimile apparatus to the handling of television image signals to simplify the configuration of the apparatus in which the television apparatus and the facsimile apparatus are integrated. To do.

Another object of the present invention is to simplify the structure by using the processing of the video signal of the television apparatus as the reading processing of the image signal of the facsimile apparatus.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an image pickup means for photographing a visitor, and a call notifying means for notifying that the visitor has visited.
Upon receiving the notification from the call notifying means, the image pickup means is activated to image the visitor for a certain period of time, the binarizing means for binarizing the video signal taken by the image pickup means, and the call notifying means. When the notification is received, a time information creating unit that creates time information that is the date and time when the visitor visited, a time information adding unit that adds time information to the binarized video signal, and a binarized time information. There is provided a visitor recording system including a printer for outputting a video signal added with.

In the visitor recording system, storage means for storing the video signal binarized and added with journal information, a monitor for displaying the video signal stored in the recording means, and a monitor for displaying the video signal. An instruction unit for instructing to output the video signal to the printer may be provided.

Further, the printer is provided with a cutter for outputting the video signal to the roll paper and separating the roll paper at a constant length each time the video signal is output, and a cutter control means for controlling the drive of the cutter. It is also possible to provide a suppressing means for suppressing the drive of the cutter, output the video signal without separating the roll paper, and save and output the order of the visitors.

Further, a storage means for storing a video signal which is binarized and to which journal information is added is provided, and the storage means is used as an integrated circuit (IC) memory, FD (floppy disk), HDD (magnetic disk). And at least one of the optical discs.

Further, image signal processing means for performing processing for matching the video signal with the size and pixel density of the image of the transmission destination device, the encoding means for encoding the video signal, and the encoded signal The transmission device includes a transmission unit that transmits to another device via a line, an instruction unit that instructs the transmission unit to perform transmission, and a transmission control unit that causes the transmission unit to start transmission when the transmission is instructed by the instruction unit. You can also

It is also possible to provide an image signal processing means for performing processing for matching the video signal with a predetermined image size and pixel density.

Further, the printer is provided with a receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted from another device through a line, and a decoding means for decoding the received signal, and the signal decoded by the printer is provided. A binarizing means, time information creating means, time information adding means, image signal processing means, encoding means, transmitting means, instructing means, transmission control means, printer,
It is also possible to construct a facsimile machine by the receiving means and the decoding means.

[0022]

The television image signal is input from the surveillance camera, especially in the general household, from the surveillance camera attached to the doorphone.

The intercom is composed of a slave unit installed at the door and a master unit installed indoors. A call switch is installed in the child machine to notify that there is a visitor, which is pressed by the visitor. In addition, a talk switch that controls a call from the child device is installed in the parent device. This call switch performs the input switching of the television image signal and the function of the input start switch of the television image signal. When the customer presses the call switch,
Television images are input to the facsimile machine and recorded by the printer of the facsimile machine. Even if there are a plurality of visitors at different times, it is possible to save the history of the customers unless roll paper is used as the recording paper and the recorded paper is cut.

At this time, the operating frequency of the reading sensor of the facsimile device is adjusted to the frequency of the video signal (television video signal) of the television device. In addition, the facsimile device has a built-in means for extracting the synchronization signal from the television image signal,
This synchronous output is matched with the drive timing of the document reading sensor inside the facsimile apparatus. When performing this matching, in order to match the pixel configuration of the screen, the screen size is converted and the corresponding interpolation processing is performed. Also, the television video signal is switched to the image signal read by the document reading means of the facsimile device and input. With these configurations, the signal processing means is shared when the image signal is input and processed. For example, various distortion correction processing,
The image sharpening processing means can be shared. In addition to this, in a facsimile apparatus that transmits a binary image, when a signal is input, the signal is binarized by a method such as pseudo halftone expression. In this way, image input to the facsimile machine is unified.

Of course, when the television image signal is input, journal information such as sender information normally used in a facsimile machine is added.

Further, since the inputted television video signal is converted into the image signal for the facsimile machine, it can be transmitted as it is by the facsimile machine. Further, the input TV video signal can be output from the recording unit of the facsimile device.

As described above, when recording (printing out) in the facsimile apparatus or transmitting from the facsimile apparatus, the size conversion according to the screen size of the output apparatus, the accompanying interpolation processing, the recording time or the reception time, etc. The process of recording or transmitting the journal signal together can be performed by the function of the facsimile device.

Since the television image is a moving image, the timing of storing the image is important. The point of the present invention is also in the timing of storing this image. In the fax machine itself, it is better to have a video monitor to determine the photo opportunity. For this purpose, a means for displaying a moving image may be provided on the operation panel.

It is also possible to store and store in a storage means generally used by the facsimile, for example, IC memory, FD, HD or CD. Further, the image signal may be any of binary image pseudo halftone, real halftone, full color, etc., but it is a binary image transmission facsimile which can be widely used at present.

The television image input means may be any of a broadcast reception signal, a television camera, and a storage device. Further, at the time of recording, it may be recorded together with other media such as voice. It is also considered in the home telephone itself to install a tamper-proof mechanism for the call switch. These are things normally considered by the manufacturer.

[0031]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows the overall construction of a visitor recording system which is an embodiment of the present invention.

The visitor recording system of FIG. 1 comprises a visitor unit 1 and a reception unit 2 connected by a signal line 10.

The visitor unit 1 is installed at the door of the house, and has a TV camera 11 and a speaker microphone (SP) 1.
2. It is composed of a call switch (SW) 13.

The TV camera 11 photographs a visitor standing in front of the door. The speaker microphone 12 inputs the voice of the visitor. Also, the voice of the respondent input from the corresponding unit 2 via the signal line 10 is output. The call switch 13 is pressed by a visitor and notifies the visitor unit 2 of the visit of the visitor.

The reception unit 2 is installed inside the house and comprises a video / audio output unit 20 and a facsimile unit 30.

The video / audio output unit 20 is a television (TV).
21, a chime 22, a speaker microphone 23, a talk switch 24, and a switch 25.

The TV 21 displays an image taken by the TV camera 11. Since the TV image is a moving image, the timing of storing the image is important. The gist of the present invention is also
It is time to store this image. The recording unit (printer) records the image displayed on the TV 21 in order to determine the shutter chance in the fax machine body.
Means may be provided for giving an instruction to output to.

When the call switch 13 is pressed down, the chime 22 makes a ping-pong sound and notifies the visitor of the visit.

The speaker microphone 23 inputs the voice of the visitor input from the speaker microphone 13 through the signal line 10 and outputs the voice of the visitor. In addition, the voice of the person inside the house is input and transmitted to the speaker / microphone 13 via the signal line 10 to inform the visitor.

The talk switch 24 is pressed by the respondent when the respondent speaks. The switch 25 is pressed in advance (before going out) when the respondent cannot go to the visitor due to going out or the like.

The facsimile unit 3 has a reading means 3
1, a recording means (printer) 32, a switch 33, a display 34, a handset 35, a recording paper 36, and a line 50.

The switch 33 comprises a numeric keypad for selecting the destination of the facsimile. The display unit 34 is an LCD (Iquid Crystal Di) that responds to the operation.
spray) and the like.

The reading means 31 is installed and reads a document or the like to be transmitted when performing facsimile transmission. The recording unit 32 records the image of the visitor, which is input from the camera 11 and is input to the facsimile unit 30 via the signal line 10, on the recording paper 36. In addition, an image transmitted from another facsimile device via the line 50 is recorded on the recording paper 3
Record at 6. The handset 35 has the same function as that of a normal facsimile machine.

When the visitor presses the call switch 12, the television camera 11 captures an image of the visitor. The captured image of the visitor is displayed on the TV 21 of the video / audio output unit 20 via the line 10. The image of the visitor can also be input to the facsimile unit 30 and output to the recording paper 36 by the recording unit 32. Further, the image of the visitor can be transmitted to another facsimile device via the line 50.

FIG. 2 shows the visitor unit 1 shown in FIG.
The block diagram of an electric circuit is shown. The numbers and names of the respective parts in FIG. 2 are the same as those in FIG.

The television camera 11, which is supplied with power from a cable, projects a visitor and outputs it as a composite video signal. The call switch 12 is a switch (SW) that a customer pushes to announce a visit. When the customer presses the switch 12, a call timing signal is output as contact information. The speaker / microphone 13 operates as a speaker or a microphone by changing the talk switch of the respondent.

FIG. 3 shows the video / audio output unit 2 shown in FIG.
0 shows an electrical circuit block diagram of 0.

In FIG. 3, the TV 21 inputs the composite video signal output from the TV camera 11 through the signal line 10 to display the face of the visitor. The chime 22 pings in response to the call timing signal output from the call switch 12. The speaker microphone 23 is
The voice of the visitor input from the speaker microphone 13 is received via the signal line 10, and the voice of the visitor is output. In addition, the voice of the respondent is input and transmitted to the signal line 10. The speaker microphone 23 includes an amplifier 26 and switches 27, 2
8 is connected. The switches 27 and 28 are controlled by the talk timing signal output from the talk switch 24, and switch the amplifier 26 in a voice transmitting direction.

The switch 25 is a switch for notifying the facsimile unit 30 whether the respondent is at home or absent. When the switch 25 informs the facsimile unit 30 whether the respondent is at home or absent, the facsimile unit 30 activates the function of recording the visitor in the facsimile unit 3 only when the respondent is absent. Can be controlled. The switch 25 may be installed on the side of the facsimile unit 30.

The upper part of FIG. 4 shows the facsimile unit 30.
2 is a typical electric circuit block diagram of FIG.

The facsimile unit 30 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a reading means 31, a recording means 32, a switch 33, a display 34,
Transmission means 35, clock 36, microprocessor (hereinafter M
PU) 37, DMAC (Direct Memo)
It is composed of a ry access controller 38 and a memory 39.

The switch 33 is composed of a ten-key pad for selecting the destination of the facsimile, and the selected destination is
Tell MPU37. The display 34 is an LCD (Iquid Crystal Display) that displays an operation response.
ay) and the like. The transmission means 35 comprises a modem and a network control unit. The clock 36 is for knowing the current time.

The MPU 37 is hardware for controlling the above. The DMAC 38 is for controlling the data transfer between the memory, the input / output unit and the like at high speed instead of the MPU. The memory 39 is a memory that stores a control program and data. The operation of this control program will be described later.

The lower part of FIG. 4 shows, of the audio / video output section 20, a circuit having a function of inputting a video (video input section 20).
0) is shown. The video input unit 200 includes the input circuit 4
0, timing extraction circuit 41, video frame memory 4
2. The write enable control unit (WE control unit) 43.

The input circuit 40 is a circuit for inputting digital signals such as the call SW timing signal 401, the talk SW timing signal 403, and the absent SW signal 404. When the call SW timing signal 401 is input, the MPU 37 is interrupted.

Further, the timing extraction circuit 41 uses the vertical synchronizing signal (V
S), a horizontal synchronizing signal (H
S), the sample timing signal (PS) which is the set synchronization signal for each pixel is extracted.

The video frame memory 42 uses the timing of these synchronizing signals (VS, HS, PS) to
According to the storage command (WE) of the control unit 43, one screen of data is stored from the video signal. This video input unit 200 is
It is connected to the data bus of the MPU 37 and receives the same control as the input / output unit of the facsimile unit.

FIG. 5 shows that when the image input from the camera 11 is recorded in the facsimile unit, the MP
It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of operation | movement of the control program performed in U37.

Prior to the visit of the visitor, the attendant presses (turns on) the absence SW 25 before leaving the house.

When the call SW12 is pressed by the visitor,
The call SW signal 401 is input to the digital signal input unit 40 of the video input unit 200 via the signal line 10. When this signal 401 is input, the input unit 40 interrupts the MPU 37 of the facsimile unit 30. From the occurrence of this interrupt, control of the operation of recording the image of the visitor captured by the camera 11 by facsimile is started. (In the present embodiment, when the call SW 12 is pressed, the visitor is considered to be in front of the visitor unit 1. Therefore, the camera 11 is considered to capture the appearance of the visitor.) When an interrupt occurs, the control program first determines whether or not the absent SW 25 is pressed (step S100). If the absent SW 25 is not pressed, the operation ends. When the absent SW 25 is pressed, the WE control unit 43 receives the instruction from the MPU 37 and turns on the WE signal in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal VS. When the WE signal is turned on, the video signal 400 for one screen is stored in the video frame memory 42 (step S110). The output of the camera 11 is standard NTS
In the C method, the time required to store the video signal 400 for one frame is about 33 ms. When the video signal 400 for one frame is stored, the WE control unit 43 automatically turns off the WE signal.

Next, it is confirmed that the facsimile apparatus is not using the recording portion for facsimile transmission (step S120).

When the facsimile apparatus uses the recording portion for facsimile transmission, the confirmation operation of step S120 is repeated until the use of the recording portion is completed. That is, the waiting state is maintained until the recording portion of the facsimile apparatus becomes empty.

When the facsimile device does not use the recording portion for facsimile transmission, first, the present time is known from the facsimile clock 36, and information on the time when the visitor is present is obtained. In addition, information such as a video serial number (a number indicating the number of visitors) is obtained. These pieces of information are developed into a bitmap raster image with a predetermined arrangement (step S130). As a result, these pieces of information have the same format as the recording signal of the facsimile. The journal information can be recorded by outputting the information thus developed from the recording unit (step S140).

Next, it is determined whether or not all the journal information has been recorded (step S150). If there is still journal information to be recorded, the processing from steps S130 to 140 is repeated. If all the journal information to be recorded has been recorded, the process proceeds to step S160.

In step S160, the data stored in the video memory 42 is read out, and the image size of the television and the facsimile or the pixel density conversion is performed. Further, the pseudo halftone expression is binarized in accordance with the specifications of the facsimile recording means called binary image recording.

The binarized signal is temporarily stored in a line memory (not shown) and is output from the recording unit of the facsimile for each scanning line (line) (step S17).
0). It is checked whether or not recording of all lines of one screen (one frame) has been completed (step S180), and recording is performed line by line until recording of all lines is completed. When the output of one frame ends, a blank line and a cutoff line of a certain length are recorded and output, and the recording process for one visit of the customer is completed. If roll paper is used as the recording paper and the recorded paper is not cut, the history of the visitor can be saved.

Instead of outputting these pieces of recording information to the recording section, they may be stored in a tape or a disk device and extracted together later. Alternatively, it may be transmitted to another facsimile. Further, the information once stored in the storage device may be retrieved to an external device by using a facsimile procedure or other method. Further, in this embodiment, the example in which the television video signal stored in the memory 42 is binarized by the processing of the software (control program) is shown. However, a dedicated hardware circuit is provided and this circuit is used. It may be processed at high speed.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the video input section 200. The image input unit 200 of FIG.
The signal processing portion for reading X) is shared as an input portion of a television image.

The image input section 200 of FIG. 6 includes a timing extraction circuit 41, a FAX sensor reading timing circuit 310,
It is composed of an image processing timing circuit 311, a binarization circuit 312, changeover switches 313, 314, 315, 316, and interfaces 317, 318, 319.

The timing extraction circuit 41 extracts timing from the television video signal. The circuit 41 of FIG. 4 has the same name and the same function. Sensor reading timing circuit 310
Is a circuit for generating VS, HS, and PS for facsimile.

The image processing timing circuit 311 gives a timing signal to the binarization circuit 312. Binarization circuit 31
2 receives the signal from the circuit 311, and binarizes the analog television video signal by signal processing to convert it into a digital signal.

Changeover switches 313, 314, 31
5, 316, when operating as a facsimile,
The MPU 37 switches between the case of recording the image of the visitor. Interfaces 317, 318, 319
Is an interface for controlling the above-mentioned part from the MPU 37 and for loading the binarized image signal into the line memory.

With the above configuration, the reading processing portion of the facsimile and the television image input portion are
The binarization circuit and the image processing timing circuit can be shared.

The image signal is a binary image pseudo halftone,
Although it may be real halftone or full color, it is a binary image transmission facsimile currently widely used.

Further, the television image input means may be any of a broadcast reception signal, a television camera and a storage device. Further, at the time of recording, it may be recorded together with other media such as voice. It is also considered for the home telephone itself to include a tamper-proof mechanism for the call switch (though it is considered that the call switch is pressed only once even if the call switch is pressed multiple times within a certain period of time). That is. These are things normally considered by the manufacturer.

[0077]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a visitor recording system in which a facsimile apparatus and a television apparatus are integrated and which can be realized even in a general home. Specifically, the video signal of the TV device is used as the video signal from the surveillance camera device attached to the doorphone, and the facsimile device is activated in synchronization with the use of the doorphone, and the facsimile device is recorded on the doorphone monitor in a general house. Can be applied to.

The various functions of the facsimile device can also be applied to the handling of television image signals to simplify the configuration of the device in which the television device and the facsimile device are integrated.

Further, the processing of the video signal of the television apparatus can be combined with the reading processing of the image signal of the facsimile apparatus to simplify the construction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a visitor unit of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a video / audio input unit of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a facsimile unit and a video input unit according to the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a video input unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 visitor unit 2 reception unit 11 TV camera 12 call switch 13 speaker microphone 20 video / audio output unit 21 TV device 22 chime 23 speaker microphone 24 talk switch 25 switch 30 facsimile unit 31 facsimile reading unit 32 facsimile recording unit 33 facsimile Operation switch 34 Facsimile response indicator 35 Handset 36 Facsimile recording output (recording paper) 50 lines

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for photographing a visitor, a call notification means for notifying that a visitor has visited, and, when receiving a notification by the call notification means, activates the image pickup means to visit for a certain period of time. Image pickup control means for photographing the person, binarization means for binarizing the video signal photographed by the image pickup means, and time information that is the date and time when the visitor receives the notification by the call notification means And a time information adding means for adding the time information to the binarized video signal, and a printer for outputting the binarized video signal to which the time information is added. A visitor recording system, comprising: 2. The storage device according to claim 1, which stores the binarized video signal to which journal information is added, a monitor for displaying the video signal stored in the recording device, and a monitor for displaying on the monitor. A visitor recording system, further comprising: an instruction means for instructing to output the generated video signal to a printer. 3. The cutter according to claim 1, wherein the printer outputs the video signal to roll paper, and a cutter that cuts the roll paper at a constant length each time the video signal is output, A printer having cutter control means for controlling driving, further comprising restraining means for restraining driving of the cutter, outputting a video signal without separating the roll paper, and preserving the order of visitors. Visitor recording system characterized by outputting as 4. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the binarized video signal to which journal information is added, the storage means being an integrated circuit (IC) memory, an FD (floppy disk). , At least one of a HDD (magnetic disk) and an optical disk. 5. The image signal processing means according to claim 1, which performs processing for matching the video signal with the size and pixel density of an image of a transmission destination device, and an encoding means for encoding the video signal. Transmitting means for transmitting the coded signal to another device via a line, instructing means for instructing the transmitting means to transmit, and transmitting means for instructing transmission by the instructing means. A visitor recording system, further comprising: transmission control means for starting transmission to the. 6. The visitor recording system according to claim 1, further comprising image signal processing means for performing processing for matching the video signal with a predetermined image size and pixel density. . 7. The receiving device according to claim 5, further comprising: receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted from another device via a line; and decoding means for decoding the received signal. The printer further has a function of outputting the decoded signal, and includes the binarizing unit, the time information creating unit, the time information adding unit, the image signal processing unit, the encoding unit, A visitor recording system comprising a facsimile device comprising the transmitting means, the instructing means, the transmission control means, the printer, the receiving means and the decoding means.