JPH09214915A - Video telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video telephone system which takes measures for dealing with disturbance caused in a received image when receiving the mixed signal of call-waiting for informing a call incoming from another terminal during speaking through a video telephone. SOLUTION: When this system is set in the speaking state of a video telephone mode as another link and a call-waiting signal is further applied, a detection circuit 18 detects that signal and informs a system control part 3 of it. When that signal is received, the system control part 3 outputs a signal instructing the compression/extension stop of the image to an image processing part 10 and simultaneously, image data previously stored in a memory 20 for image fetching are read out, outputted to a communication line interface part 2, multiplexed there with audio data sent from a voice processing part 7 and sent out to a communication line 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a videophone device provided with means for transmitting and receiving voice and images using a communication line, and input / output (display) means for transmitting and receiving voice and images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional videophone device, a video image input by a video camera and a voice input by a microphone are compressed and encoded, respectively, and then multiplexed and transmitted. Further, on the receiving side, the received data is separated into image data and audio data, decompressed respectively, and then the image data is displayed and the audio data is output from a speaker (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-139987). (See the official gazette). In addition, there is a call waiting service that informs a call-in-progress of the arrival of an incoming call when the call-in-progress is requested by another phone. This is a service in which when a connection request is made, the exchange of the station mixes a call waiting signal with an analog signal and notifies the connection destination as an audible sound. However, these services send a call waiting signal to the connection destination regardless of whether the user is using the videophone. Therefore, while using a videophone, it receives a mixed signal of call waiting signal and communication information (including image) signal,
The transmitted information could not be restored correctly, such as when the image was distorted.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and receives a signal mixed with a call waiting device that notifies an incoming call from another terminal during a videophone call. It is an object of the present invention to provide a videophone device that takes measures against the disturbance that occurs in the received image in such a case.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided means for inputting and outputting voice, means for inputting and outputting video including a camera and a display, and for controlling voice, image and communication. Transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving each data via a communication line, decoding means for decoding each data of audio and video received from the transmitting / receiving means, and inputting to each output means of audio / video, the video / video Encoding means for inputting to the transmitting / receiving means after encoding the audio and video signals transmitted from the respective audio input means, system control means for controlling system operations related to transmission / reception, and audio / videophone modes In a videophone device having an operating means for instructing the system control means to select and make a call, a call waiting signal mixed in a signal transmitted through a communication line. By inputting the detection result of the detection means to the system control means, processing operations such as encoding / decoding of image data are stopped, and an image disturbed by a call waiting signal is displayed. Since the information is not displayed on the display, it is intended to make the call comfortable and prevent misunderstanding between users.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the system control means controls the image data prepared in the memory to be transmitted when the call waiting signal is detected, and the image data is previously stored as the image data. The prepared message can be displayed on the own terminal or the other terminal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the system control means switches the videophone mode from the voice telephone mode to the voice mode at the same time as transmitting the image data when the call waiting signal is detected. When the call waiting signal is detected during a videophone call, the call mode is changed to control the call so that the caller can talk to the caller, switch to the videophone mode again to return to the original call after the call with the caller ends. After switching to voice mode and talking to the called party after causing the call waiting signal, after this ends, it automatically switches to videophone mode and enables communication with the original party. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, each means for inputting and outputting voice, each means for inputting and outputting video including a camera, a display, etc., and each data for voice, image and communication control through a communication line. From the transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving via the transmitting / receiving means, the decoding means for decoding each audio and image data received from the transmitting / receiving means, and inputting to each of the audio / video output means, and each of the video / audio input means After encoding the transmitted audio and video signals, the encoding means for inputting into the transmitting / receiving means, the system control means for controlling system operations related to transmission / reception, the selection of each mode of voice and videophone, and call origination. In a videophone device comprising an operating means for instructing the system control means, a videophone mode is selected by the operating means, and a call waiting signal transmitting station is addressed. A request signal for setting the number of call waiting times to 0 is sent, and after the videophone call ends, a request signal for returning the service of the call waiting signal to the normal setting state is sent to the calling station, and the call waiting mode is set in the videophone mode. It is possible to always carry out a call with a good image by eliminating the signal transmission.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a videophone device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of a videophone device according to the present invention. This videophone device is roughly divided into an audio processing system 5 and a video processing system 6, and the system control unit 3 controls and processes them respectively. The audio information and the video information are both transmitted and received via the communication line interface unit 2 and the communication line 1 (public or dedicated line). The communication line interface section 2 performs a modulation process for converting digital data into analog data and a demodulation process for vice versa, and multiplex / separation of a video signal and an audio signal. When an incoming call is made, that is, when the communication line 1 goes to the image processing unit 10 and the voice processing unit 7, the signals are separated, and when the image processing unit 10 and the voice processing unit 7 go to the communication line 2, Signal multiplexing is performed. Now, in FIG. 1, a voice receiver 7 and a transmitter 8 are connected to the voice processor 7, and voice processing is performed based on a command from the system controller 3. That is, the audio information signal transmitted from the other party is separated from the video signal by the communication line interface unit 2 and then supplied to the audio processing unit 7 where it is subjected to processing such as D / A conversion and converted into an analog audio signal. And is supplied to the handset 9. On the other hand, the analog voice signal supplied from the transmitter 8 is subjected to A / D conversion and other processing in the voice processing unit 7 to form a digital voice information signal, which is supplied to the communication line interface unit 2 for video. After being multiplexed with the information signal, it is sent to the communication line 1.

The video processing system 6 will be described below.
The image processing unit 10 handles the image information supplied to the display 13 and the image information output from the camera 16. Here, the image information from the other party is separated in the communication line interface unit 2 and then supplied to the image processing unit 10 via the system control unit 3. In this image processing unit 10, the control of the system control unit 3 is performed. Thus, the image information at the time of transmission and reception is temporarily stored. Then, in the image processing unit 10, the received serial digital image information is
While being converted into parallel digital image data,
The compressed image data is decompressed and temporarily stored in a buffer image memory (not shown). The image data stored in the buffer image memory is converted into an analog video signal by the D / A conversion / image output unit 12 so as to be output to the display 13, and after being adjusted to an appropriate level,
The image of the other party is displayed by being supplied to the display 13 as a video output.

On the contrary, when transmitting image information, the analog video signal output from the camera 16 is adjusted to an appropriate level by the A / D conversion / image input unit 15,
The image is converted into digital image data by A / D conversion, and is temporarily stored in a buffer image memory (not shown) provided in the image processing unit 10. The image data stored in the image memory for buffer is displayed on the display 13 via the D / A conversion / image output unit 12 and monitored, and is also displayed on the image processing unit 10 under the control of the system control unit 3. Image compression, high-efficiency encoding processing, etc. are performed to form digital image data. And
This is supplied to the communication line interface unit 2, multiplexed with voice data, and sent to the communication line 1. This device is provided with a call control unit 17, and the call control unit 17
Is connected to the system control unit 3, and the call control unit 17 performs calling and receiving processing for line connection. The operation unit 4 is for performing an operation for inputting a dial number at the time of calling, and an operation signal from the operation unit 4 is supplied to the system control unit 3.

When this device is in a call state as another link and an incoming call (call waiting signal) is further applied,
The detection circuit 18 detects the incoming call and notifies the system control unit 3 of the result. Upon receiving the signal, the system control unit 3 outputs a signal instructing the image processing unit 10 to stop the compression / decompression of the image, and at the same time, causes the communication line interface unit 2 to stop the transmission / reception of the image. Give instructions. Therefore, the image is not transmitted and received, and only the sound is transmitted and received.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of another embodiment of the videophone device according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, the video signal output from the camera 16 is level-adjusted by the A / D conversion / image input unit 15, converted into digital data, and then stored in the transmission memory 14. Then, the image processing unit 10 performs compression coding processing on the digitized image data and sends the data to the communication line interface unit 2 and the image temporary memory 19
To be stored. Normally, this process is repeated to send and receive images. When the present apparatus is in a call state as another link and an incoming call (call waiting signal) is further applied, the detection circuit 18 detects the incoming call and notifies the system control unit 3 of the result. The system control unit 3
When the signal is received, a signal for instructing the image processing unit 10 to stop the compression / decompression of the image is output, and at the same time, the image data is read from the temporary image memory 19 and output to the communication line interface unit 2. The communication line interface unit 2 multiplexes the voice data sent from the voice processing unit 7 and the image data read from the temporary image memory 19 and sends the multiplexed data to the communication line 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of still another embodiment of the videophone device according to the present invention. FIG.
The feature is that the work memory 20 for capturing an image is provided. By pressing a capture button (not shown) of the operation unit 4, the video signal output from the camera 16 is converted into digital data by the A / D conversion / image input unit 15 and then stored in the transmission memory 14. To be done. Then, the image processing unit 10 performs compression encoding processing on the digitized image data and stores the image data in the image capturing memory 20. When the present apparatus is in a call state as another link and an incoming call (call waiting signal) is further applied, the detection circuit 18 detects the incoming call and notifies the system control unit 3 of the result.
Upon receiving the signal, the system control unit 3 outputs a signal for instructing the image processing unit 10 to stop the compression / decompression of the image, and at the same time, stores the image stored in advance in the image capturing memory 20 as described above. Read the data,
Output to the communication line interface unit 2. The communication line interface unit 2 multiplexes the voice data sent from the voice processing unit 7 and the image data read from the image capturing memory 20, and sends the multiplexed data to the communication line 1. It is possible to store a plurality of image data in the image capturing memory 20 and read out an arbitrary image.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of still another embodiment of the videophone device according to the present invention. FIG.
In the above, in the read-only memory 22 for storing a message, for example, the message “Catch has entered. Transmission and reception of images will be interrupted.” Is converted into a code and stored. Further, the read-only memory 21 for storing characters stores the character shape in the state of graphic bitmap. The character is displayed by generating a corresponding data address in the character storage read memory 21 from the character code and transferring it to a display memory (not shown). When this device is in a call state as another link and an incoming call (call waiting signal) is further applied, the detection circuit 18 detects the incoming call and notifies the system control unit 3 of the result. Upon receiving the signal, the system control unit 3 outputs a signal instructing the image processing unit 10 to stop the compression / decompression of the image, and at the same time, the message storage read memory 2
For example, the message “Catch has entered. Transmission and reception of images will be interrupted.” Stored in 2 is read. After that, the graphic bitmap data corresponding to each character is read and displayed on the screen. At the same time, the image data is also output to the communication line interface unit 2, multiplexed with the audio data and transmitted to the other party. Therefore, a message "Catch has entered. Transmission and reception of images will be interrupted." Is displayed on the screens of the own terminal and the other terminal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of a videophone device according to another invention of the present application. FIG.
In read memory 2 for storing images
3 is prepared for storing the image transmitted when the call waiting signal is detected. When the present apparatus is in a call state as another link and an incoming call (call waiting signal) is further applied, the detection circuit 18 detects the incoming call and notifies the system control unit 3 of the result. Upon receiving the signal, the system control unit 3 outputs a signal for instructing the image processing unit 10 to stop the compression / decompression of the image, and at the same time, reads the image data from the image storage read memory 23, and the communication line interface unit 2 Transfer to. The system control unit 3 controls the transmission to the other party, and then instructs the communication line interface unit 2 to change from the mode in which the image data and the voice data are multiplexed and transmitted to the mode in which only the voice is transmitted so far. Give out.
The communication line interface unit 2 outputs a hook signal to the line and switches the other party of the call to the second caller who caused the call waiting signal. During this time, the image transmitted from here is displayed on the screen of the first call partner.
Then, when the call ends, the communication line interface unit 2 detects this and notifies the system control unit 3. The system control unit 3 again issues a command to the image processing unit 10 to perform image compression / decompression, and changes to a mode in which image data and audio data are multiplexed and transmitted to the communication line interface unit 2. Control to do. Therefore, after the call with the second caller is completed, it is possible to talk with the original caller by the videophone.

Next, an embodiment of a videophone device according to another invention of the present application will be described. Although not shown, this videophone device has at least a telephone mode for sending only voice and a videophone mode for simultaneously sending voice and image, and operates the operation unit 4 to switch when making a call. After that, the operator makes a call by pressing a numeric button, but when selecting the videophone mode, the operator makes a call to a telephone number of a relay station which manages a service registered in advance or a relay machine. This is a service in which the number of catches can be set to an arbitrary number, and by setting this to 0, the number of call waiting signals during a call can be eliminated. The system control unit 3 issues an instruction for setting the number of times to the call control unit 17, and outputs it to the line. After disconnecting the line
Call the original phone number. When the operator ends the call, the system control unit 3 calls the same number as the number dialed earlier, sets the number of call waiting times to the original number (or a preset number), and ends the call.

[0017]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a distorted image is not displayed even when a call waiting signal is input during a videophone call, and a message prepared in advance can be displayed. Therefore, the call can be made comfortably and without misunderstanding between users. Further, since the image that cannot be decoded correctly is not transmitted, the communication line can be effectively used. According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effects of claims 1 and 2, it is possible to automatically talk to the called party after switching to the voice mode and causing the call waiting signal. Because you can communicate with the other party in the videophone mode,
The burden on the operator can be reduced. According to the invention of claim 4,
When using the existing call waiting service, when selecting the videophone mode, set the number of call waiting signals to 0 before the call and reset the number of call waiting signals to the original number after the call. Since the call is made automatically, the call waiting signal is not input during the call and the image is not disturbed, and the call can be comfortably performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of a videophone device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of another embodiment of the videophone device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of still another embodiment of the videophone device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of still another embodiment of the videophone device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of a videophone device according to another invention of the present application.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Communication line, 2 ... Communication line interface unit, 3 ... System control unit, 4 ... Operation unit, 5 ... Sound processing system, 6 ... Image processing system, 7 ... Sound processing unit, 8 ... Speaker, 9 ... Handset 1
0 ... Image processing unit, 11 ... Reception memory, 12 ... D / A conversion / image output unit, 13 ... Display, 14 ... Transmission memory, 15 ... A / D conversion / image input unit, 16 ... Camera,
17 ... Call control unit, 18 ... Call waiting signal detection circuit, 1
9 ... Temporary memory for images, 20 ... Memory for capturing images,
21 ... ROM for character storage, 22 ... ROM for message storage, 23 ... Read memory for image storage.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transmitter / receiver for transmitting / receiving audio input / output means, video input / output means including a camera, a display, and the like, and audio / image / data for communication control via a communication line. Means, decoding means for decoding each data of the received voice and image from the transmitting and receiving means, and inputting to each output means of the audio and video, and transmission audio and video from each of the video and audio input means After the signal is encoded, the encoding means for inputting to the transmitting / receiving means, the system controlling means for controlling the system operation related to transmission / reception, the selection of each mode of voice and videophone, and the call origination to the system controlling means. In a videophone device provided with an operating means for instructing to, a detection means for detecting a call waiting signal mixed in a signal transmitted via a communication line is provided, and the detection is performed. A videophone device characterized in that processing operations such as encoding / decoding of image data are stopped by inputting a detection result of the means to the system control means. 2. The videophone device according to claim 1, wherein the system control means controls so as to transmit image data prepared in a memory when a call waiting signal is detected. 3. The system control means, upon detection of a call waiting signal, transmits the image data, switches from the videophone mode to a voice mode, and controls so that a call can be made to the calling party of the call waiting signal. 3. The videophone device according to claim 2, wherein after the call with the caller is finished, the videophone mode is switched again to return to the original call. 4. A transmitter / receiver for transmitting / receiving audio input / output means, video input / output means including a camera, a display, etc., and voice / image / data for communication control via a communication line. Means, decoding means for decoding each data of the received voice and image from the transmitting and receiving means, and inputting to each output means of the audio and video, and transmission audio and video from each of the video and audio input means After the signal is encoded, the encoding means for inputting to the transmitting / receiving means, the system controlling means for controlling the system operation related to transmission / reception, the selection of each mode of voice and videophone, and the call origination to the system controlling means. In a videophone device provided with an operating means for issuing a command, the number of times the call is received by the calling station of the call waiting signal as well as the selection of the video phone mode by the operating means. Is sent to the calling station, and a request signal for sending the call waiting signal service back to the normal setting state is sent after the call of the videophone is completed. apparatus.