JPH07221866A - Store and forward communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the store and forward communication equipment with a small size sending stored data to send stored data even when a communication mode of the equipment differs from that of various terminal equipments without deterioration due to distortion or the like even after plural time reproduction of the stored data. CONSTITUTION:The miniaturization of the equipment and plural number of times of reproduction without deterioration are attained by storing compressed transmission image and voice information or the like into a coded data storage section 107 as coded data. When the stored coded data are sent to a communication destination, the coded data are once decoded at a decoding section of the equipment and the decoded signal is given to a coding section 104 of the terminal equipment, in which the signal is coded in matching with a current communication mode, and the resulting signal is sent.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage communication device such as an answering machine with images and voice information, an image and voice information database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As means for accumulating images and sounds, a video tape recorder or the like is arranged and accumulated as an analog signal, and when transmitting to a communication partner terminal, the analog which is accumulated in the video tape recorder or the like is used. It is conceivable to reproduce the signal, encode it, and transmit it.

Further, in a videophone, a video conference, etc., it is customary to have a plurality of communication modes having different communication speeds, image formats, etc., but the encoded data is stored as a digital signal. When transmitting the accumulated encoded data, it is possible to limit the same communication mode. In addition, it is also conceivable to accumulate digital signals that are not encoded, encode them, and transmit them.

[0004]

However, the video tape recorder or the like used in the prior art by accumulating analog signals is not a small one, but has a drawback that the device itself becomes large and a plurality of devices are required. When the reproduction is repeated, the video tape recorder itself is distorted, and the quality of images, sounds, etc. is deteriorated.

Further, in the conventional example in which the encoded digital signal is accumulated, the communication mode is limited, so that the accumulated encoded data cannot be transmitted in the communication mode different from the accumulated encoded data. There was a problem.

Further, in the case of storing digital signals which are not encoded, there is a problem that the memory capacity becomes huge and the apparatus becomes expensive and large.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned problems,
Compact and transmits accumulated encoded data even if the accumulated data is reproduced multiple times without deterioration due to distortion, etc., and even if the communication mode is different so that it can be commonly accessed from various terminals. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage communication device that can be used.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the storage communication device of the present invention stores the analog signal as encoded data which is encoded and compressed, and decodes the accumulated encoded data. Means, means for encoding the decoded signal, and means for transmitting the signal encoded by the encoding means are provided.

The means for accumulating the encoded data having the above configuration can be applied as a database.

When applied to a general communication terminal or the like, an analog signal encoding section, a decoding section, and an accumulating section for accumulating analog signals as encoded data obtained by encoding and compressing the analog signals,
In a storage communication device having a transmission means for transmitting to a communication partner, a decoding switching means for inputting the encoded data stored in the storage section to the decoding section, and a decoding switch section for decoding the decoded data by the decoding section. Code switching means for inputting a signal to a transmission side including a coding section, and when transmitting the coded data accumulated in the accumulating section to a communication partner, the decoding switching means is operated to cause the accumulating section to operate. The accumulated encoded data is input to the decoding unit to be decoded, then the code switching unit is operated, the decoded signal is input to the transmitting side and encoded, and is transmitted via the transmitting unit. And a control means for transmitting the data to a communication partner.

Further, in addition to the configuration applied to the general communication terminal, etc., means for switching the stored encoded data to the output of the encoding unit, and a unit for storing the encoded data in the storage unit The control means has means for recording the communication mode in which the encoded data is encoded, and means for comparing the communication mode with a communication partner with the recorded communication mode, and the control means stores in the storage section. When transmitting the accumulated encoded data to the communication partner, the communication mode recorded by the communication mode is compared with the communication mode with the communication partner by the comparing means, When the communication modes are the same, the stored encoded data is transmitted to the other party of the communication through the transmitting means by means for switching the accumulated encoded data from the output of the decoding section. That configuration and or, or, also,
In the configuration when applied to the above general communication terminals,
The code switching means may be provided in front of the encoding unit.

Further, such a storage communication device can be incorporated in a video telephone.

[0013]

In the storage and communication device of the present invention, analog information such as image and audio information is stored in a compressed state as encoded data, so that the storage capacity can be reduced and the device can be downsized without deterioration. When the coded data that is stored is transmitted to a communication partner while it can be reproduced a plurality of times, the coded data is once decoded by the decoding means, and the decoded signal is coded by the coding means. By encoding in accordance with the current communication mode, the data can be transmitted after being encoded, and the accumulated encoded data can be transmitted even in different communication modes.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The block diagram of FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes an image / sound input unit including a camera or the like. A format conversion unit 103 converts an analog signal captured by the input unit 101 and input through the analog switch 102 into a digital signal in a format to be encoded by the encoding unit 104. The encoded data encoded by the encoding unit 104 is multiplexed by the demultiplexing unit 105 so that the image and the voice can be simultaneously transmitted through the communication line, and the data is communicated through the network interface 106. Sent to the other terminal. The above is the configuration of the transmitting side. On the other hand, the information from the partner terminal received by the network interface unit 106 is demultiplexed by the demultiplexing unit 105 and sent to the decoding unit 109 through the selector 108. The decoding unit 109 decodes encoded data such as images and audio, and the digital signal decoded here is subjected to inverse format conversion by the format conversion unit 103 and converted into an analog signal output to the image and audio output unit 111. The converted data is output to the output unit 111 including a monitor and the like. The above is the configuration on the receiving side.

In the present embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned configuration, the analog switch 102 provided between the input unit 101 on the transmission side and the format conversion unit 103, data such as image and audio signals are encoded and compressed. Stored communication is performed by including an encoded data storage unit 107 for storing in a format, and a selector 108 provided between the receiving-side demultiplexing unit 105 and the decoding unit 109. A control unit 110 controls storage communication. As the encoded data storage unit 107,
For example, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, DAT, etc. can be used.

An operation of transmitting the coded data stored in the coded data storage unit 107 to the communication partner terminal in the above configuration will be described. First, the control unit 110
In response to the instruction from, the encoded data of the encoded data storage unit 107 is read out, and the selector 108 operates so as to select the output of the encoded data storage unit 107. After that, the output signal of the encoded data storage unit 107 is
The format is converted by the decoding unit 109 and converted by the format conversion unit 10.
After being converted into an analog signal in 3, the signal is sent to the output unit 111 and the analog switch 102. Under the control of the control unit 110, the analog switch 102 selects the decoded signal of the encoded data storage unit 107 as an input,
The decoded signal of the encoded data storage unit 107 is format-converted by the format conversion unit 103, and then the encoding unit 10
4 is encoded according to the current communication mode, and is transmitted to the other party of communication via the demultiplexing unit 105 and the network interface unit 106. The accumulation of the encoded data in the encoded data storage unit 107 is performed from the input unit 101 to the encoding unit 10.
Up to 4 can be used locally or coded data created externally can be used.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration. In the figure, those given the same numbers as those in FIG. 1 perform the same operations as those in FIG. In this embodiment, the analog switch 102 of FIG. 1 is omitted, and the selector 201 is provided between the format conversion unit 201 and the encoding unit 104,
By the control of the control unit 202 that controls the storage communication, the decoded signal of the encoded data storage unit 107 from the decoding unit 109 can be input to the encoding unit 104.

In FIG. 2, the encoded data storage unit 10
The decoded signal obtained through 7, the selector 108, and the decoding unit 109 is input to the selector 201. Selector 2
01 is controlled by the control unit 202 and selects the decoded signal when transmitting the stored encoded data to the other party of communication, and the selected decoded signal is set by the encoding unit 104 in the current communication mode. The data is encoded and transmitted to the other party of communication via the demultiplexing unit 105 and the network interface unit 106.

In the case of the present embodiment, since it is folded back to the encoding side by the digital signal, there is no distortion due to being converted into an analog signal and folded back in the format conversion section 103 as in the case of the first embodiment. Less distortion.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing its configuration. In the figure, those given the same numbers as those in FIG. 2 perform the same operations as those in FIG. In this embodiment, in addition to the configuration of FIG. 2, a selector 301 is provided between the encoding unit 104 and the demultiplexing unit 105 to control the storage communication.
By the control of 02, the encoded data of the encoded data storage unit 107 can be directly sent to the demultiplexing unit 105. 303
Is a communication mode recording / comparing unit for the control.

In FIG. 3, the encoded data storage unit 107
When the encoded data is stored in the communication mode recording / comparison unit 30
Accumulated in 3. Next, when transmitting the encoded data accumulated in the encoded data accumulating unit 107 to the other party of communication, it is accumulated in the communication mode and communication mode record comparing unit 303 set in the demultiplexing unit 105. The communication modes are compared, and if the communication modes are the same, the control unit 302
The encoded data read from the encoded data storage unit 107 is selected by the selector 301 according to the instruction from, and is transmitted to the other party of communication via the demultiplexing unit 105 and the network interface unit 106. The communication mode set in the demultiplexing unit 105 is compared with the communication mode stored in the communication mode record comparing unit 303. If the communication modes are different, the selector 108 is instructed by the control unit 302.
The coded data read out from the coded data storage unit 107 is selected by, and decoded by the decoding unit 109, and the decoded signal is instructed by the control unit 302, and the selector 201
Is selected by the selector 30 and encoded by the encoding unit 104.
1 is selected and transmitted to the other party of communication via the demultiplexing unit 105 and the network interface unit 106.

In the case of the present embodiment, when the communication mode is the same, the accumulated coded data can be transmitted to the other party of communication without re-decoding / encoding, and therefore occurs in decoding / encoding. It is possible to eliminate distortion with respect to accumulated encoded data.

The third embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has been described based on the configuration of the second embodiment by switching the digital signals shown in FIG. 2, but of course it is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. It may be a combination. The present invention can be applied to a database accessible from a communication terminal. In that case, the encoded data storage unit is composed of a database, and the input unit 101, the analog switch 102, the format conversion unit 103, the selector 201, etc. in the above-mentioned embodiment can be omitted, and transmitted to the communication terminal. If dedicated, the selector 108, the monitor 111 and the like can be omitted. That is, as the present invention, at least,
Means for accumulating analog signals as encoded data that has been encoded and compressed in a predetermined communication mode (encoded data storage unit)
And means for decoding the accumulated encoded data (decoding section), means for encoding the decoded signal in an arbitrary communication mode (encoding section), and signal encoded by this encoding means And a means for transmitting (demultiplexing unit, network interface unit). Furthermore, the above-described embodiment can be incorporated in a videophone or the like, and the answering machine function can be easily realized in the videophone or the like.

[0025]

As described above, by using the storage communication device of the present invention, it is possible to store analog information such as images and audio information by encoded data which is a digital signal, and therefore, it is possible to store the information multiple times. There is no deterioration of the signal during playback,
In addition, since the encoded data is obtained by encoding and compressing images, audio information, etc., the storage capacity is small and the device can be downsized. In addition, when transmitting the stored encoded data to the communication partner, it is decoded once, returned to the encoding side, encoded in the communication mode used with the communication partner, and then transmitted. Therefore, it is possible to perform transmission in a communication mode different from that of the stored encoded data.

By using the storage / communication device of the present invention as defined in claim 2, it is possible to reduce the storage capacity of the database for communication with the terminal, and to make the database small-scaled. .

If the storage communication device of the present invention as defined in claim 3 is used, it can be used particularly preferably for a communication terminal.

According to the storage and communication device of the present invention as defined in claim 4, particularly when the decoded signal is returned to the transmitting side, the stored encoded data is transmitted to the communication partner without analog conversion. Therefore, it is possible to perform transmission from the accumulated encoded data with little deterioration.

By using the storage communication apparatus according to the present invention as defined in claim 5, particularly when the communication is performed with the other party using the same communication mode as the stored encoded data, the stored encoding is performed. Accumulated encoded data that can be transmitted to the other party of communication without converting data into analog images, voice signals or digital images, voice signals, digital signals in the format used in the encoding unit, etc. Can be transmitted without deterioration.

By using the storage communication device of the present invention as defined in claim 6, an answering machine can be easily constructed especially in a videophone.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numeral 101 ... Input unit 102 ... Analog switch 103 ... Format conversion unit 104 ... Encoding unit 105 ... Demultiplexing unit 106 ... Network interface unit 107 ... Encoded data storage unit 108 ... Selector 109 ... Decoding unit 110 ... Control unit 111 ... Output Part 201 ... Selector 202 ... Control part 301 ... Selector 302 ... Control part 303 ... Communication mode record comparison part

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location H04L 13/08 9371-5K H04N 5/92 7/24 7/14 (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Matsui Tokyo 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Tsutomu Irishima 1-1-6, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A means for accumulating an analog signal as encoded data which is encoded and compressed, a means for decoding the accumulated encoded data, a means for encoding the decoded signal, and an encoding means. And a means for transmitting an encoded signal. 2. The storage and communication device according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing the encoded data is a database. 3. Storage and communication having an analog signal coding unit, a decoding unit, a storage unit that stores the analog signal as coded data that has been coded and compressed, and a transmission unit that transmits the data to a communication partner. A device, which is a decoding switching unit for inputting the encoded data accumulated in the accumulating unit to the decoding unit, and a code for inputting a signal decoded by the decoding unit to a transmitting side including the encoding unit. Switching means and, when transmitting the encoded data stored in the storage section to a communication partner, operate the decoding switching means to transfer the encoded data stored in the storage section to the decoding section. Control means for inputting and decoding, then operating the code switching means, inputting the decoded signal to the transmitting side to encode it, and transmitting it to the other party of communication via the transmitting means. Stored communication characterized by having Location. 4. The storage communication device according to claim 3, further comprising means for switching the stored coded data to the output of the coding section, and the coded data being stored when the coded data is stored in the storage section. The control means stores the coded communication mode, and means for comparing the communication mode with a communication partner with the recorded communication mode, and the control means stores the communication mode in the storage section. When transmitting the encoded data to the communication partner, the communication mode recorded by the communication mode is compared with the communication mode with the communication partner by the comparing unit, and the communication mode is In the case of being the same, the means for switching the stored encoded data from the output of the decoding section transmits the stored encoded data to the other party of the communication via a transmitting means. When That storage communication device. 5. The storage communication device according to claim 3, wherein the code switching means is provided in front of the encoding unit. 6. The storage communication device according to claim 3, wherein the storage communication device is incorporated in a videophone.