JPH0738666A - Picture communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To notify the time up to transmission end of still picture data to a terminal equipment user by calculating a communication time up to transmission end of the still picture data based on a communication speed and a data quantity and displaying the calculated communication time when the still picture data are sent. CONSTITUTION:A still picture is read from a scanner 4, a still picture control section 8 compresses the picture and stores the result, and when transmission is selected, it is notified to a BAS control section 14 via a terminal equipment control section 9. A control section 14 assigns communication speed of high speed data based on a bit rate assignation (BAS) code and assigns the communication speed of low speed data for transmission of time data. Then a communication time calculation detection section 11 calculates the communication speed of sending still picture data based on a bit location assigned by the BAS code and the communication time based on a data quantity stored in the control section 8. Thus, the time till the end of transmission is displayed on both terminal equipment via an LSD control section 12 and a display control section 10.

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, and in particular,
The present invention relates to a device configured to display the communication time of a still image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the International Telegraph and Telephone Advisory Committee (CCI
TT) formally recommends a video encoding method, a multiplexing method, and a communication procedure for audio-visual services, and in accordance with that, video communication terminal devices such as video conference systems and video-phones conforming to CCITT recommendations from each company. Has been released.

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

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a conventional image communication terminal device. In FIG. 6, 1 is a handset, 2 is a camera for taking a self-portrait, 3 is a monitor for displaying an image sent from the other side or self-portrait, 4 is a scanner for capturing a still image, and 5 is a It is a key operation unit for inputting a telephone number and selecting various functions.
6 is a voice control unit that compresses / encodes voice data and decompresses / decodes conversely, 7 is a moving image control unit that compresses / encodes moving picture data and decompresses / decodes conversely, and 8 compresses still image data A still image control unit for encoding and inversely expanding / decoding, and a terminal control unit 9 for controlling the entire terminal device based on the settings from the key operation unit 5.

Reference numeral 13 denotes CCITT Recommendation H.264 for moving images, still images, and audio data. 221 (audio visual
64 kbit / s to 1920 kbit / s in service
This is a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit that multiplexes in a frame format of the s channel (frame structure) or separates a frame sent from the other side into a moving image, a still image, and audio data.

Numeral 14 is CCITT Recommendation H.264. 242 (19
A BAS control unit (BAS: Bi) that executes a communication procedure based on a method for setting communication between audio-visual terminals using digital channels up to 20 kbit / s.
t-rate Allocation Signal).

Reference numeral 15 is a call control processing unit for managing calls such as incoming and outgoing calls and disconnection, 16 is a line interface unit for connecting a terminal to an integrated service digital network (ISDN), and 17 is an ISDN.

Further, FIG. 5 shows CCITT Recommendation H.264. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a multiplex frame structure defined by H.221.
FAS is a frame synchronization signal. Regarding the BAS (bit rate allocation) code transmitted by this frame, CCITT Recommendation H.264 is used. 221 defines as in Table 1.

[0009]

[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 unit 5 and the call key is pushed down, the terminal control unit 9 notifies the call control processing unit 15, and the call control processing unit 15 causes the line interface unit 16 to operate. B with the other terminal via
Make channel connections. After the connection is completed, H.264 is used by using the B channel. Based on H.242, the frame synchronization shown in FIG.
Among the AS codes, audio / transfer rate capability and data / video capability are used to exchange terminal capability information with the partner terminal.

Next, 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.

Thereafter, in order to transmit the still image data to the partner terminal, the still image data is read in from the scanner 4,
The still image control unit 8 compresses and saves the data. And
When the transmission request key is pressed by the key operation unit 5, the terminal control unit 9 notifies the still image control unit 8 and the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 13 is notified.
After multiplexing still image data with HSD (High Speed
Data: High-speed data) line interface unit 16
To transmit through.

[0014]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image communication terminal device, when transmitting still image data, the number of bits assigned by the BAS code (bit rate assignment code) and the data after the still image compression are transmitted. Since the transmission time is not constant depending on the amount, the sending side terminal user and the receiving side terminal user could not know the time until the end of the transmission of the still image data.

When the transmission end time of the still image data is unknown, the image communication terminal device of the type that temporarily stores the received still image data and then displays the still image on the monitor according to the operator's instruction, There is the inconvenience of not knowing whether to give instructions. Further, even when the transmission side terminal continuously transmits still image data, there is a problem that the operator does not know when the next still image data may be transmitted.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image communication terminal device capable of informing the operator of the time required to transmit still image data.

[0017]

An image communication terminal device according to the present invention has a function of multiplex-transmitting video, audio and data and transmitting still image data by high speed data (HSD data). In the device, the transmission side terminal grasps the communication speed for transmitting the still image data from the bit position allocated to the bit rate allocation signal (BAS code), and the still image data is calculated based on the communication speed and the compressed data amount. The communication time calculation detection unit that calculates the communication time of the device and the sending side terminal notify the partner terminal by inserting the calculated time into the low-speed data (LSD data), and the receiving side terminal inserts the communication time. Equipped with an LSD control unit that determines whether or not there is a communication time, and a display control unit that sequentially displays the time until the end of transmission on a monitor or LED if communication time is inserted It is characterized in.

[0018]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, when transmitting still image data by high speed data (HSD data), the communication time for transmitting still image data is calculated from the communication speed and the amount of data after compression. Then, by displaying the calculated communication time using the low-speed data (LSD data), it is possible to notify the partner terminal and the own terminal of the time until the end of the transmission of the still image data.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image communication terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the image communication terminal device of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is a handset,
2 is a camera, 3 is a monitor, 4 is a scanner, 5 is a key operation unit, 6 is a voice control unit, 7 is a moving image control unit, 8 is a still image control unit, 9 is a terminal control unit, 13 is a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit, 14 is BA
The S control unit, 15 is a call control processing unit, 16 is a line interface unit, and 17 is an ISDN. Since these configurations are the same as those in the conventional example (FIG. 6), description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a display control unit for displaying the time until the end of transmission of still image data on the monitor 3 (or LED), and 11 is communication based on the communication speed and the amount of data after compression. The communication time calculation detecting unit 12 for calculating and detecting time inserts the calculated communication time into the LSD data (low speed data) according to a predetermined format, and also inserts the communication time into the received data. This is an LSD control unit that determines whether or not there is.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which the communication time and the data amount in this embodiment are inserted into the LSD data. Figure 2
2A shows LSD data when the communication time is 15 seconds and the data amount is 105 kbytes, and FIG. 2B shows LSD data when the communication time is 6 seconds and the data amount is 42 kbytes.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which the communication time until the end of transmission of still image data in this embodiment is displayed on the monitor 3, and FIG. 4 shows the communication time until the end of transmission of still image data on the LED 3a. It is a figure which shows the example.

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

When still image data is transmitted using this image communication terminal device, an operation mode for transmission between terminals is set in the same procedure as in the conventional device.

The operator reads a still image from the scanner 4 for transmission of the still image data, compresses and saves the still image data in the still image control unit 8, and then transmits the still image data from the key operation unit 5. Is selected, the terminal control unit 9
Detects it and notifies it to the BAS control unit 14, and allocates the communication speed of HSD data (high speed data) by the BAS code (bit rate allocation code), and at the same time, LSD data (low speed data) for time data transmission. Allocate the communication speed of.

Next, the communication time calculation detector 11
The communication speed for transmitting still image data is grasped from the bit position allocated to the BAS code (bit rate allocation code), and the communication speed and the amount of data compressed and stored in the still image control unit 8 are also recorded. Then, the communication time of the still image data is calculated. The calculated communication time and data amount are sent to the LSD control unit 12, and the LSD control unit 12 notifies the partner terminal of the time and data amount in the format shown in FIG.

After that, the BAS control unit 14 cancels the allocation of the communication speed of the LSD data (low speed data), and the display control unit 10 of the transmitting side terminal monitors the monitor 3 as shown in FIG.
The remaining communication time is sequentially displayed on the top. In the receiving side terminal, the LSD control unit 12 determines whether the communication time and the data amount of the still image data are inserted in the LSD data, and if the communication time is inserted, the communication time calculation detection unit 11 ends the transmission. By displaying the remaining communication time on the monitor 3 by the display control unit 10 as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to notify the user. Moreover, the capacity can be grasped in advance based on the data amount of the still image data notified by the LSD data (low speed data), and it is possible to check whether or not the transmitted still image data has data loss. it can.

To display the communication time, as shown in FIG. 4, it is also possible to arrange the LEDs 3a in a line and turn on the LEDs 3a sequentially from one end according to the time until the end of transmission.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, when transmitting still image data, the communication time until the end of the still image data transmission is calculated from the communication speed and the amount of data, and is visually confirmed by a monitor or an LED. Users can be notified. Therefore, when the still image data is continuously transmitted at the transmitting terminal, or when the still image data transmitted at the receiving terminal is temporarily stored and then the still image is displayed on the monitor according to the operator's instruction. In such a case, since the time until the end of transmission can be seen at a glance, the instruction to the next step can be accurately given, and a user-friendly image communication terminal device can be provided.

[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 is a diagram showing a format of LSD data (low-speed data) in which communication time is inserted in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a communication time until the end of transmission of still image data on a monitor in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example on a LED of a communication time until the end of transmission of still image data in the embodiment.

FIG. 5: CCITT Recommendation H. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a multiplex frame structure defined by H.221.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a conventional image communication terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Handset 2 ... Camera 3 ... Monitor 3a ... LED 4 ... Scanner 5 ... Key operation part 6 ... Voice control part 7 ... Video control part 8 ... Still image control part 9 ... Terminal control part 10 ... Display control unit 11 ... Communication time calculation detection unit 12 ... LSD control unit 13 ... Multiplex / separation unit 14 ... BAS control unit 15 ... Call control processing unit 16 ... Line interface unit 17 ... ISDN (Integrated service / Digital network)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an image communication terminal device having a function of multiplex-transmitting video, audio and data, and transmitting still image data at high speed data, a bit position assigned to a bit rate assignment signal at a transmission side terminal. The communication time calculation detection unit that grasps the communication speed for transmitting still image data and calculates the communication time of still image data based on the communication speed and the amount of data after compression, and the calculated time at the sending terminal. By inserting into the low-speed data, the LSD control unit that notifies the other terminal to determine whether the communication time has been inserted at the receiving terminal, and if the communication time has been inserted, the time until the end of transmission is sequentially monitored. An image communication terminal device, comprising: a display control unit for displaying on or on an LED or the like.