JPH08275137A - Image communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain the image communication equipment easily discriminating an image entered by a camera in a window displaying plural video images or still images. CONSTITUTION: When the changeover of a writing and picture camera 114 from a video camera 109 is requested from a CPU 101 to a camera control section 117 via a BUSi/f108, a dynamic image processing section 110 freezes a dynamic image and stores the frozen image to a memory 106 via the BUS i/f. When the writing and picture camera is selected, a still image entered at present is displayed on a still image display window and a stored moving image is displayed on a display section 119, a display image processing section 120 applies image processing to the window entered at present in order to discriminate it by means of coloring means and synthesis of character information. Thus, the image received at present by the camera is easily discriminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multimedia communication device for communicating image information and audio information, and more particularly,
The present invention relates to display of still image information in a multimedia communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the development of video / audio compression coding technology and the widespread use of digital communication lines have been remarkable, and service regulations and protocol regulations for audiovisual services such as TV conference systems, multimedia multiplexing frame configuration regulations, etc. With the improvement of recommendations, various multimedia communication terminals such as a TV telephone device and a TV conference system have been proposed.

In these multimedia communication terminals, not only communication of human images (moving images) of users and voices but also communication of documents and high-definition natural images can be performed, thereby making it more efficient. Communication is realized. The still image information to be transmitted in this case includes a document image or a natural image input by an image input means such as a scanner or a document camera, or a figure,
These are drawings, documents, etc. created by the document creation application. The transmission method is JPEG (Joint Photo), which is an encoding method for still images.
JBIG (Jo), which is a binary image encoding system such as graphic Experts Group) and facsimile.
int Bi-level Image Coding
There are various types such as coded transmission by a compression coding method represented by Experts Group) or file transfer by a file format.

Typical applications for effectively utilizing still image communication include remote conferences and remote presentations. In these remote conferences, it is common to transmit still images such as drawings and materials during communication or in advance, and efficiently communicate information by voice and moving images for proceedings, detailed explanations, and meetings. Target.

With regard to the cameras used, two-mode cameras have been introduced which can switch between still images (document cameras) and images (people etc.), and especially for still images, stereoscopic images can be input. It has become to.

Until now, scanners have been widely used as means for inputting high-resolution still images to be transmitted.
Recently, instead of a scanner, a high-resolution camera has been proposed which has a short capture time and can input an image of a three-dimensional object. As a high-resolution camera, for example, 1536 × 99 effective pixels
8 or about 3072 × 1996 has already been realized. There are already TV conference systems and image input devices provided with such a high-resolution camera and two cameras for inputting images, or realizing these two functions with one camera.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when a high-resolution camera and a video input are switched and input, two display images are displayed at the same time, for example, a TV conference system. Regarding the above, there is a display mode in which a video is displayed in one window and a still image is displayed in the other window, but in this case, there is a problem that the video cannot be input while the still image is being input.

Further, since a still image has a high use for accumulating in the case of a material which is frequently referred to, there is a possibility that a plurality of still image windows are opened in addition to the video. In this case, which window is There is also a problem that it is difficult to identify whether the image is currently input or a still image.

Therefore, an object of the present invention as set forth in claim 1 is to provide an image communication apparatus capable of easily recognizing a video image or a still image input by a camera from a plurality of display images such as a video image and a still image. Especially.

Further, the object of the present invention as set forth in claims 2 and 4 is a TV conference system or the like which can be remotely controlled through a communication line, and a plurality of images such as video or still images can be displayed only by improving the transmitting side. An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device capable of easily recognizing a video input by a camera or a still image from among images.

Further, the object of the present invention as set forth in claims 3 and 5 is to provide a more complex control including identification of a display image by communication of control data in a TV conference system or the like which can be remotely controlled through a communication line. It is to provide an image communication device that enables the above.

Further, the object of the present invention set forth in claim 6 is to:
An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device having a two-mode camera, which can easily recognize a video input by the camera or a still image from a plurality of displayed images.

Further, an object of the present invention as set forth in claim 7 and claim 9 is to provide a plurality of video conferencing systems which have a two-mode camera and can be remotely controlled through a communication line. An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device capable of easily recognizing a video image input by a camera or a still image from displayed images.

Further, an object of the present invention as set forth in claim 8 and claim 10 is to display images by communication of control data in a TV conference system or the like which has a two-mode camera and can be remotely controlled through a communication line. An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device that enables more complicated control including identification of the above.

[0015]

To achieve the above object, the present invention as set forth in claim 1, is an image input device capable of switching and inputting two or more cameras for still images and images. And a means for displaying at least one still image, a means for detecting the switching between the still image camera and the video camera, and a switch for the still image camera when the switching from the video to the still image camera is detected. A means to freeze, store, and display the video before,
A means for accumulating and displaying still images before switching to the video camera when detecting switching from the still image to the video camera, and a video or still image input by the camera among the displayed plurality of images. A display means for identifying the image input by the camera is provided so that the image can be easily recognized.

Further, according to the present invention described in claim 2, in the image communication apparatus according to claim 1, image data for identifying an image input by the camera among a plurality of displayed images is added. And a means for transmitting the information added by the adding means, and a means for receiving and displaying the image information including the added information. Further, according to the present invention described in claim 3, in the image communication device according to claim 1, means for giving control data for identifying an image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images, It is provided with a means for transmitting including the control information added by the adding means, and a means for receiving the information including the added information and performing processing according to the control information.

Furthermore, the present invention as set forth in claim 4 is characterized in that the image data is image data for displaying a display frame in color and character information displayed in the image.

Furthermore, the present invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the control information is control information such as camera control data in remote control.

Further, the present invention according to claim 6 is, in an image input device having two or more functions for a still image and a video, means for displaying a video and at least one still image, and a still image. Means for detecting switching between the video camera and the video camera, and means for freezing, accumulating and displaying the video before switching to the still image camera when detecting switching from the video camera to the still image camera, A means for accumulating and displaying still images before switching to the video camera when detecting switching from the still image to the video camera, and a video or still image input by the camera among the displayed plurality of images. A display means for identifying the image input by the camera is provided so that the image can be easily recognized.

Further, the present invention according to claim 7 is the image communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the means for adding information for identifying the image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images. And means for transmitting the information added by the adding means, and means for receiving and displaying the image information including the added information.

Further, the present invention according to claim 8 is the image communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein control data for identifying an image input by a camera among a plurality of displayed images is added. Means, means for transmitting including the control information added by the means for adding, and means for receiving the information including the added information and performing processing according to the control information.

Furthermore, the present invention as set forth in claim 9 is characterized in that the information for identifying the image inputted by the camera is information such as a coloring display frame, a character display and a voice message.

Furthermore, the present invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that the control information is control information such as camera control data in remote control.

[0024]

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, when the switching between the still image camera and the video camera is detected, the image is switched from the video image to the still image camera before the image is switched to the still image camera. Freeze, accumulate and display
When switching from a still image camera to a video camera, the still images are accumulated and displayed before switching to the video camera, and the video or still image input by the camera can be easily identified from the displayed multiple images. Since the display is possible, it is possible to easily recognize the video or the still image input by the camera among the plurality of display images.

According to the present invention as set forth in claims 2 and 4, in order to identify an image input by the camera among a plurality of display images such as a video image by the video camera and a still image by the still image camera. Image data for displaying a display frame in color or character information is added and transmitted, and image data for a color display frame or image information including character information is received and displayed, so a TV that can be remotely controlled through a communication line In the conference system or the like, it becomes possible to add a color display frame or image data of character information for easy identification of an image input by the camera on the transmitting side for communication.

According to the present invention as set forth in claims 3 and 5, in order to identify an image input by the camera among a plurality of display images such as a video image by the video camera and a still image by the still image camera. Remote camera control data is added and transmitted, and the control data is received and processed according to the control data, so the camera is input in a TV conference system that can be remotely controlled through a communication line. It becomes possible to communicate control data for easily identifying the image from the transmission side.

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 6, in a device using a camera having two modes for still image and video, when switching of input for video and still image is detected,
When switching from video to still images, freezes and stores and displays the video before switching, and when switching from still images to video, stores and displays still images before switching, and the middle camera of the displayed multiple images Since the image input by is displayed so that it can be easily identified, the video or still image input by the camera can be easily recognized from the plurality of display images by the device having the two-mode camera. .

According to the present invention as set forth in claims 7 and 9, a coloring display frame for identifying an image input by the camera among a plurality of display images by the camera having two modes for still image and video. , Such as character display and voice message are added and transmitted, and image information including these added information is received and displayed, so that it can be remotely controlled through a communication line from a 2-mode camera in a TV conference system or the like. 11. The present invention according to claim 8 or 10, wherein information such as a colored display frame, a character display, and a voice message for easily identifying an input image can be added at the transmitting side for communication. For example, in order to identify the image input by the camera among the plurality of display images by the camera having two modes for still image and video, remote camera control data Addition to transmitting, since the process was in control data received including the control data,
In a TV conference system or the like that can be remotely controlled through a communication line, control data for easily identifying an image input from a two-mode camera can be communicated from the transmission side.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram of an image communication apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image communication apparatus of FIG.
1. ROM 102 for accumulating programs, RAM 103 for work area, operation unit 104 having input devices such as keyboard, mouse and tablet, communication control unit 105 for communication control, accumulating and / or accumulating images input from a camera A memory 106 for reading out images, a medium for the memory 106, a hard disk, an optical disk, a large-capacity floppy disk, a CD-ROM,
An 8 mm VTR or the like can be used. CPU bus 107 and CPU bus 1 for transmitting these control signals or data
07 and a BUS i / f unit 108 that takes an i / f (interface) of each block.

Further, a video camera 10 using an 8 mm camera, a still video camera, an HDTV camera, or the like.
9. NTSC signal or SV input from the camera 109
The HS signal and the HDTV signal are accumulated in the memory 106,
Enlargement and reduction, conversion of NTSC system and PAL system, R
A moving image processing unit 110 that performs processes such as color space conversion to GB and scan rate conversion, a CCITT video conference / telephone system for encoding moving images, and a recommendation H. 261, MPEG (Mo
Tionpicture Experts Grou
p), a moving image CODE encoded by MPEG2, etc.
The C unit 111 (in the present embodiment, description will be made based on H.261, which is the encoding of the TV conference system), the moving image, the still image, the control data, and the like are multiplexed and transmitted to the line, and vice versa. A demultiplexing unit 112 for separating data, a modem for digital conversion if the line 121 is PSTN (public telephone network), and a line i / f for which TA (terminal adapter) is used if the line 121 is ISDN
It has a section 113.

Furthermore, a document camera 1 for inputting a still image.
14, particularly when high resolution input is performed, still image processing unit 115 that performs processing such as image enlargement, reduction, thinning, and pixel rearrangement; still image encoding and decoding by a compression method such as JPEG. Still image CODEC unit 11
6. A camera control unit 11 that controls switching between the video camera 109 and the document camera 114 and the zoom of the camera
7. Control information receiving unit 118 that receives the control information separated by the demultiplexing unit 112 and transmits the control information to the camera control unit 117, display unit 119 and display unit that are configured by a display device such as a TV monitor, CRT, or LCD A display image processing unit 120 that performs image processing on the display image 119 is included. In FIG. 1, the block surrounded by the broken line is BU.
It is controlled by a control signal from the CPU 101 via S i / f 108.

Next, the operation will be described.

First, while a moving image is being input from the video camera 109, the CPU 101 causes the BUS i / f1
08 to the camera control unit 117 to the video camera 10
9 is requested to switch to the document camera 114, the video of the video from the video camera 109 is frozen by the video processing unit 110 and stored in the memory 106 via the BUS i / f 108. At this time, a frozen image is displayed on the moving image display screen.

Next, the input from the video camera 109 is switched to the input from the document camera 114. Here, the still image that is currently input is displayed in the still image display window, and the display image processing unit 120 identifies the currently input window by using a color for the window that displays the input image. The image processing is performed so that the currently input display window can be identified by combining the means for changing and the character information. by this,
The user can easily recognize the currently input window.

2 and 3 are diagrams showing the display screen of the image communication apparatus shown in FIG. The window identification will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a case where a plurality of windows are identified by changing the color of a peripheral frame or the like.

The display screen A of FIG. 2 (a) is a screen in which the video camera 109 is selected and a moving image is input, and the input identification display frame 202 of the camera in the monitor screen 201 has a prominent color. Image processing is performed around the currently input moving image display window 203. On the other hand, since a moving image is being input on the monitor screen 201, the accumulated still images are displayed on the still image display windows 204 and 205.

Next, the display screen B of FIG. 2B shows a state in which the still image is input by switching. At this time, the moving image 207 displays the frozen image before switching to the still image input, and the window frame also returns to the normal window frame 206 that is not the coloring identification frame. vice versa,
The still image display window 208 displays the accumulated still image and does not change, but the still image display window 209 displays the currently input still image, and the outer frame is subjected to coloring image processing for identification. There is.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the input window is identified by inserting character information into the input image.

The moving picture window 30 in the monitor screen 301
The character information “camera image” 304 for identification is displayed in the moving image portion 303 in FIG. At the same time, still image 30
Character information “accumulated image” for identifying in 5, 307
306 and 308 are displayed. In this case, a moving image is being input from the camera, but it can be easily recognized because the character information 304 indicating the input of the camera image is displayed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the window being input can be easily identified by adding the image data and displaying the colored display frame and the character information.

Although the identification frame and the character information display have been described separately, it is of course possible to actually use both of them to enhance the identification effect.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image communication device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the first embodiment, the image communication apparatus of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 uses a two-mode camera having both still image and video functions, and uses a CPU 401, a ROM 402 for storing programs, and a work area. RAM
403, an operation unit 404 having an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse and a tablet, a communication control unit 405 for performing communication control, a memory 406 for accumulating an image input from a camera and reading out the accumulated image, for a memory A hard disk, an optical disk, a large-capacity floppy disk, a CD-ROM, an 8 mm VTR, or the like can be used as the medium. It has a CPU bus 407 for transmitting these control signals or data, a CPU bus 407, and a BUS i / f unit 408 for taking the i / f of each block.

Furthermore, a video / still image two-mode camera 409 and a camera 40 capable of switching and inputting a moving image and a still image.
In the case of a moving image based on the image selected in 9, the NTSC signal, S-VHS signal or HD input from the camera
An image processing unit 410 that stores TV signals in the memory 406, performs scaling, performs color space conversion from YUV to RGB, scan rate conversion, and the like, and scales, thins, and rearranges images in the case of a still image. In the moving image, H.264. 26
1. Encode / decode MPEG, MPEG2, etc.,
In the case of a still image, an image CODEC unit 411 that performs encoding / decoding such as JPEG, and in the present embodiment, H.264 which is the encoding of the TV conference system. 261 will be described. A multiplexer / demultiplexer 412 that multiplexes moving images, still images, control data, voice, and the like, and sends them to the line, and conversely separates data from the line. If the line 421 is PSTN, modem ISDN, TA, etc. It has an i / f unit 413.

Further, the control information separated by the camera control unit 417 and the demultiplexing unit 412, which controls switching of video and still image, detection of switching, control of camera zoom, etc., is received by the camera control unit 417. A control information receiving unit 418 for transmitting a display, a display unit 419 composed of a display device such as a TV monitor or a CRT or LCD, a display image processing unit 420 for performing image processing on a display image, a handset, a speaker, a microphone, a headset. Voice input / output unit 4
14, voice processing unit 415 according to Recommendation G, voice COD
It has an EC 416. The block surrounded by a broken line in the figure is controlled by a control signal from the CPU 401 via the BUSi / f 408.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. While the video / still image camera 409 is setting video,
When a camera switching request is sent from the CPU 401 to the camera control unit 417 via the BUS i / f 408, the image processing unit 410 freezes the input video and stores it in the memory 406, and sets the camera input to the setting for still images. Switch. At this time, the display image processing unit 420 switches the display frame (or display character) for identification added to the video display window to the still image display window. When communicating, the image CODEC unit 411 is also switched to the setting for still images. When the setting is completed, the video / still image camera 409 is switched to the still image and the input is started.

Further, although the window identification by switching the image input is displayed and identified by the image processing of the display frame, character information and the like, in the present embodiment, the identification by the voice is also possible. In this case, a voice message is sent when the image input is switched.

When the camera is remotely controlled by communication next time, since it is connected to the line 421 by the line i / f 413, when the multiplexed data including the camera control data is received from the partner terminal during the communication, the demultiplexing unit is performed. Separated at 412, the camera control data is transmitted to the control information receiving unit 418, accumulated, and transmitted to the camera control unit 417. The camera control unit 417 performs camera control including camera switching according to the received control data. Further, the control data transmission method is described as multiplexing in the present embodiment, but other than that, DTMF or a unique mode may be used.

As described above, in the second embodiment, in addition to the display of window identification by the display frame and the image processing of the character information and the like, the identification function by the voice message is added, and a plurality of two-mode camera devices are used. This makes it easier to identify the display screen that is currently being input from the display screen.

Although three window display examples have been shown so far as examples of display screens, the present invention is not limited to this, and naturally various display systems such as a multi-window system are included as necessary. is there.

[0050]

As described above, according to the image communication apparatus of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, in the image input apparatus capable of switching and inputting two or more cameras for still images and images, the image display can be performed. And a means for displaying at least one still image, a means for detecting switching between the still image camera and the video camera, and a means for detecting switching from the video image to the still image camera before switching to the still image camera To freeze and store and display the video, and to store and display the still image before switching to the video camera when switching from the still image to the video camera is detected. A display means for identifying the image input by the camera is provided so that the image input by the camera or the still image among the images can be easily recognized. The video or still image is input camera from a plurality of display images such as an image in which can be easily recognized.

Further, the image communication device of the present invention as defined in claims 2 and 4 is the image communication device according to claim 1 for identifying the image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images. A means for adding image data such as data for displaying the display frame in color or character information, a means for transmitting including the information added by the means for adding the image data, and a means for receiving image information including the image data Since the means for displaying is provided, it is possible to add the identification image of the display image on the transmitting side in a TV conference system or the like that can be remotely controlled through the communication line. The image or still image input by the camera can be easily recognized from the image.

Further, the image communication apparatus of the present invention according to claims 3 and 5 is the image communication apparatus according to claim 1 for identifying the image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images. The communication line is provided with a means for adding control information such as remote camera control data, a means for transmitting including the added information, and a means for receiving the additional information and performing processing according to the control information. A TV conference system or the like that can be remotely controlled through the control side can communicate control data for identifying a display image on the transmission side, thereby enabling more complicated control.

Further, the image communication apparatus of the present invention according to claim 6 is a means for displaying a video image and at least one still image in an image input device having two or more functions for a still image and a video. And a means for detecting the switch between the still image camera and the video camera, and when the switch from the video image to the still image camera is detected, the video is frozen and accumulated and displayed before switching to the still image camera. Means, means for accumulating and displaying still images before switching to the video camera when switching from still image to video camera is detected, and video input by the camera among the displayed images. Alternatively, since a display means for identifying an image input by the camera is provided so that a still image can be easily recognized, one device having a camera having a two-mode function is provided. In which the video or still image can be easily recognized and entered the camera from a plurality of displayed image in.

Furthermore, the image communication apparatus of the present invention as defined in Claims 7 and 9 is the image communication apparatus of Claim 6 for identifying the image input by the camera from the plurality of displayed images. Since a means for giving information such as a colored display frame, character display and voice message, a means for transmitting including the added information, and a means for receiving and displaying image information including the added information are provided. In a device having a two-mode camera, it is possible to add identification information of a display image such as a colored display frame on the transmitting side in a TV conference system or the like that can be remotely controlled through a communication line. The image or the still image input by the camera can be easily recognized from a plurality of displayed images.

Further, the image communication device of the present invention according to claims 8 and 10 is the image communication device according to claim 6, wherein
A means for adding control information such as remote camera control data for identifying an image input by the camera among the displayed plurality of images, a means for transmitting including the added information, and the control information. In order to identify a display image on the transmission side in a TV conference system or the like that can be remotely controlled through a communication line in a device having a two-mode camera, since a means for performing reception and processing according to control information is included. The ability to communicate data allows for more complex control.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the image communication device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the image communication device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101, 401 CPU 102, 402 ROM 103, 403 RAM 104, 404 Operation unit 105, 405 Communication control unit 106, 406 Memory 107, 407 CPU bus 108, 408 BUS i / f 109 Video camera 110 Video processing unit 111 Moving image CODEC 112, 412 demultiplexing unit 113, 413 line i / f unit 114 document camera 115 still image processing unit 116 still image CODEC 117, 417 camera control unit 118, 418 control information receiving unit 119, 419 display unit 120, 420 display Image processing unit 121,421 Line 201,301 Monitor screen 202,209 Coloring display frame 203,207,303 Video window 204,205,208,210,305,307 Still image window 304,306,308 Character display 409 Video / still image camera 410 Image processing unit 411 Image CODEC 414 Audio input / output unit 415 Audio processing unit 416 Audio C0DEC

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image input device capable of switching and inputting two or more cameras for still images and video, comprising means for displaying video and at least one still image, and a camera for still images and a camera for video. Means for detecting switching, means for freezing and accumulating and displaying an image before switching to the still image camera when detecting switching from the image for still image camera, A means for accumulating and displaying still images before switching to the video camera when switching to the camera is detected, and for facilitating recognition of the video or still image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images. An image communication apparatus, comprising: a display unit for identifying an image input by a camera. 2. An image input device capable of switching and inputting two or more cameras for still images and images, wherein a means for displaying an image and at least one still image, and a camera for still images and a camera for images are provided. Means for detecting switching, means for freezing and accumulating and displaying an image before switching to the still image camera when detecting switching from the image for still image camera, A means for accumulating and displaying still images before switching to the video camera when switching to the camera is detected, and for facilitating recognition of the video or still image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images. A display means for identifying the image input by the camera, and an image for identifying the image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images. And means for applying the data,
An image communication apparatus comprising: a means for transmitting the information added by the adding means; and a means for receiving and displaying image information including the added information. 3. An image input device capable of switching and inputting two or more cameras for still images and video, comprising means for displaying video and at least one still image, and a camera for still images and a camera for video. Means for detecting switching, means for freezing and accumulating and displaying an image before switching to the still image camera when detecting switching from the image for still image camera, A means for accumulating and displaying still images before switching to the video camera when switching to the camera is detected, and for facilitating recognition of the video or still image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images. A display means for identifying the image input by the camera, and a control for identifying the image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images. And means for applying the data,
An image communication apparatus comprising: a means for transmitting including the control information added by the adding means; and a means for receiving the information including the added information and performing a process according to the control information. 4. The image communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image data is image data for displaying a display frame in color and character information displayed in the image. 5. The image communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control information is control information such as camera control data in remote control. 6. An image input device having two or more functions for still image and video, video display and means for displaying at least one still image, and detection of switching between still image camera and video camera. Means for freezing and accumulating and displaying the video before switching to the still image camera when switching from the video image to the still image camera is detected, and for switching from the still image to the video camera. When switching is detected, a means for accumulating and displaying still images before switching to the video camera, and a camera for easily recognizing the video or still images input by the camera among the displayed images. An image communication apparatus comprising a display unit for identifying an image being input. 7. An image input device having two or more functions for a still image and a video, a video display and a means for displaying at least one still image, and a switch between the still image camera and the video camera is detected. Means for freezing and accumulating and displaying the video before switching to the still image camera when switching from the video image to the still image camera is detected, and for switching from the still image to the video camera. When switching is detected, a means for accumulating and displaying still images before switching to the video camera, and a camera for easily recognizing the video or still images input by the camera among the displayed images. A unit that includes a display unit for identifying an image that is being input, and that adds information for identifying the image that is input by the camera from among the plurality of displayed images An image communication apparatus characterized by comprising means for transmitting including information added by said means for applying, the means for receiving and displaying image information including the additional information. 8. An image input device having two or more functions for a still image and a video, video display and means for displaying at least one still image, and detection of switching between the still image camera and the video camera. Means for freezing and accumulating and displaying the video before switching to the still image camera when switching from the video image to the still image camera is detected, and for switching from the still image to the video camera. When switching is detected, a means for accumulating and displaying still images before switching to the video camera, and a camera for easily recognizing the video or still images input by the camera among the displayed images. A display unit for identifying the input image is provided, and control data for identifying the image input by the camera among the plurality of displayed images is added. And means,
An image communication apparatus comprising: a means for transmitting including the control information added by the adding means; and a means for receiving the information including the added information and performing a process according to the control information. 9. The image communication device according to claim 7, wherein the information for identifying the image input by the camera is information such as a coloring display frame, a character display, and a voice message. 10. The image communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control information is control information such as camera control data in remote control.