JPH0927949A - Av lan system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a terminal equipment to have provision for an external connection request in various ways even during communication between internal AV terminal equipments. SOLUTION: The system is provided with a CODEC section 101 connecting to a public line and plural AV terminal equipments are connected to the CODEC section 101 via a video exchange 102. When a connection request reaches the AV terminal equipment 103 externally via the CODEC section 101, the connection request information is delivered to the AV terminal equipment by means of a VIDS signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an AV / LAN system for constructing a simple videophone system or the like by multiplexing an audio signal and a control signal on a video signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in many videophone / videoconference systems, audio / video and the like are encoded and compressed / decompressed to communicate with each other using a public line. In particular, videophone / videoconference systems using ISDN lines have already begun to spread. However, in these systems, the cost is high because the compression / expansion is performed in real time. It is effective for communication between remote locations, but it is more expensive for communication over a short distance extension.

Therefore, in the case of short-distance extension communication, an AV signal forming a network by multiplexing a video signal with a voice signal and a control signal for making a call when the line is connected and for controlling the camera platform. The LAN is valid.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a frequency band of a signal on an AV / LAN, in which a video band of 4.2 MHz is
The FM-modulated audio signal is multiplexed in the 4.5 MHz band. The control signal is inserted in the vertical blanking period of the video signal and transmitted.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of this vertical blanking period, in which the first field is 10H to 2H.
The control signal can be inserted at 1H and the second field at 273H to 284H.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the horizontal scanning period in which the control signal is inserted. As shown in the figure, the maximum amplitude of the control signal is 70% of the video signal, the format is a binary NRZ code, and up to about 300 bits can be inserted in 1H. This signal is a Vertical I
Since it is an interval data signal, it will be referred to as a VIDS signal hereinafter.

Due to the above, video, audio, and VI are internally used.
By using two lines for sending and receiving signals in which DS signals are multiplexed, bidirectional communication can be performed for simple videophone calls, and videophones / conferences between remote locations can be made via a public line with the outside. The AV / LAN system can be constructed.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing the structure of the AV / LAN system.

This AV / LAN system uses PSTN /
Codec unit 10 connected to the public line of the ISDN line
1, the codec unit 101 includes a video exchange 1
A plurality of AV terminals 103 are connected via 02.

[0010]

However, the above-mentioned conventional AV / LAN system has the following problems.

(1) When a connection request is called to a certain AV terminal 103 via the codec unit 101 from the outside via a public line, the AV terminal is AV.L.
Another AV terminal 1 by the video exchange 102 inside the AN
When communicating with 03, the call is in progress and the connection cannot be established.

(2) The same applies to both terminals for communication.
Communication is not possible unless video input / output devices such as video cameras and monitors and audio input / output devices such as speakers and microphones are available.

In view of the above conventional problems, the present invention makes it possible for a terminal to respond to a connection request from the outside by various methods even during communication between the internal AV terminals.
-The purpose is to provide a LAN system. Also,
An object of the present invention is to provide an AV / LAN system capable of selecting a communication method according to the connection status even if the video signal input / output device and the audio signal input / output device are not provided in both terminals for communication in the same manner. To do.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a signal in which a binary information data signal is superimposed in a vertical erasing period of a video signal and an audio signal is multiplexed with the video signal. In the AV / LAN system for mutual communication, the multiplexing / separation control means for controlling superposition and separation of the binary information data signal with respect to the video signal, and multiplexing and separation of the audio signal with respect to the video signal. And information transmission means for converting the video signal into moving image information data and the audio signal into audio information data, and transmitting the converted data together with the binary information data through one transmission line, A signal switching control for controlling switching of the multiplexed signal via a plurality of terminals provided with a multiplexing / demultiplexing control means and between the terminals and the information transmission means. And a connection request information to the terminal is received from the outside through the information transmission means during communication between the terminals including the multiplexing / separation control means. The AV / LAN system according to claim 1, wherein the binary information data signal is transmitted to the terminal.

The present invention further performs mutual communication by a signal obtained by superimposing a binary information data signal in the vertical erasing period of a video signal and multiplexing an audio signal with the video signal.
In the V / LAN system, a multiplexing / separation control means for controlling superposition and separation of the binary information data signal with respect to the video signal, and multiplexing and separation of an audio signal with respect to the video signal, and the multiplexing / demultiplexing control means. A video signal input / output device detecting means for detecting whether or not a video signal input / output device for inputting / outputting the video signal is connected to a terminal having a separation control means; and the multiplexing / separation control means. A voice signal input / output device for detecting whether or not a voice signal input / output device for inputting / outputting the voice signal to / from the terminal is connected, and the video signal as moving image information data,
A plurality of information transmission means for converting the voice signal into voice information data and transmitting the converted data together with the binary information data signal through one transmission line, and a plurality of multiplexing / separation control means. Signal switching control means for controlling switching of the multiplexed signals between terminals and between the terminals and the information transmission means,
According to the first communication mode by the video signal, the audio signal and the binary information data signal, the second communication mode by the audio signal and the binary information data signal, and the binary information data signal A third communication mode and depending on the connection status of the video signal input / output device and the audio signal input / output device connected to the terminal equipped with the multiplexing / demultiplexing control means, The AV / LAN system according to claim 2, wherein communication is performed by arbitrarily selecting the second and third communication modes.

According to the AV / LAN system of claim 1, when a connection request to the terminal is received from the outside through the information transmission means during communication between the terminals, the connection request information is transmitted to the terminal. A value information data signal is transmitted to the terminal. As a result, even during communication between internal AV terminals, the terminals can respond to connection requests from the outside in various ways.

According to the second aspect of the AV / LAN system, the first, second and third communication modes are set in accordance with the connection status of the video signal input / output device and the audio signal input / output device connected to the terminal. Select arbitrarily to communicate. This allows
Similarly, even if the video signal input / output device and the audio signal input / output device are not provided at both terminals for communication, the communication method can be selected according to the connection status.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an AV / AV system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the AV terminal 103 in the LAN system, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the video exchange 102 in the AV / LAN system of the present embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a codec section 101 in the LAN system.

The AV / LAN system of this embodiment is
The above-described connection configuration shown in FIG. 8 is formed, and each component block (codec unit 101, video exchange 1
02 and the AV terminal 103) have an internal configuration as shown in FIGS.
And shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a video camera with a platform, which has operation functions such as pan, tilt, zoom, and focus under the control of RS232C or the like. 2, 3, and 4 are a microphone, a speaker, and a monitor, respectively. A VIDS encoder 5 converts control signals and data signals into VIDS signals. A VIDS adder 6 inserts the VIDS signal converted by the VIDS encoder 5 into the video signal from the video camera 1. 7 is V
It is an IDS separator and extracts a VIDS signal from a multiplexed signal from the AV / LAN.

Numeral 8 is a VIDS decoder,
The S signal is converted into a control signal or a data signal. Reference numeral 9 denotes a terminal control unit, which manages the AV terminal 103 such as control of a camera by RS232C or the like, control of communication such as calling and receiving when making a videophone call, and the like. An FM modulator 10 frequency-modulates a voice signal in the 4.5 MHz band. An FM demodulator 11 demodulates a 4.5 MHz band signal into a voice signal. 12 is an echo canceller,
An operation unit 13 operates the AV terminal 103.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes an exchange control unit, which controls switching of the switch 22 by a control signal or data signal from the codec unit 101 and a control signal or data signal by VIDS from the AV / LAN. In addition, the VIDS encoder 23, the VIDS adder 24,
The VIDS separator 25, the VIDS decoder 26, the FM modulator 27 and the FM demodulator 28 are the VIs shown in FIG. 1, respectively.
DS encoder 5, VIDS adder 6, VIDS separator 7,
VIDS decoder 8, FM modulator 10, and FM demodulator 1
It has the same function as 1.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 is a video input / output unit,
An interface to video cameras and monitors, including an image processing unit with functions such as screen division. 3
An audio input / output unit 2 is an interface to a microphone and a speaker, and includes an audio processing unit having a function such as an echo canceller. Reference numeral 33 denotes a computer unit for realizing applications such as a computer conference function in addition to the basic video conference function. A still image / drawing control unit 34 is for controlling still image transmission, a drawing function, and the like. Reference numeral 35 is an auxiliary device control unit for controlling the other image processing apparatus, and these are made to communicate via the data port 36.

A communication control unit 37 is an end for establishing a common mode of signal and operation for network access by the interconnection procedure control unit 38 and appropriate operation of the terminal by the network signal control unit 39. -Realize functions such as end control. A video codec unit 40 performs redundancy compression encoding / decoding of a video signal, and
An audio codec unit 1 performs similar processing on an audio signal. The audio path delay circuit 42 is
The delay of the video codec 40 is corrected in order to take ripsing. The multiplexing transmission unit 43 multiplexes and transmits a video signal, an audio signal, and a control signal into one bit string, and separates the received bit string into a multimedia signal, and the network interface unit 44 uses a network and a terminal. Make the necessary adaptations in between. Reference numeral 45 is a network such as a telecommunication line, and 46 is a control unit for connecting a video conference system between multiple points.

As shown in FIG. 8, the codec section 101, the video converter 102, and the AV terminal 103 described above are AV / L.
It is connected as an AN system.

Next, the AV / LA configured as described above
The operation of the N system will be described.

When the simple videophone function is used in a short distance, the video exchange 10 is connected between the AV terminals 103.
2 is communicated. First, in FIG. 1, the operation unit 1
The number of the other party corresponding to the extension number is input from 3 to make a call. Then, the terminal control unit 9 and the VIDS encoder 5 convert the connection request signal and the partner number as transmission information, and the own number into a VIDS signal, and the VIDS adder 6
Is multiplexed with the video signal. Further, the audio signal from the microphone 2 is multiplexed with the audio signal frequency-modulated by the FM modulator 10 and sent to the video exchange 102 through the AV / LAN.

When the video signal in which the VIDS signal is inserted reaches the video exchange 102 in this manner, first, the VIDS separator 25 shown in FIG.
The S signal is taken out, and the VIDS decoder 26 returns the VIDS signal to the connection request signal, the source number, and the partner number, which are transmission information, and inputs them to the converter control unit 21.

The converter control unit 21 controls the switch 22 in response to the request to connect the AV / LAN from the source to the destination. By this connection, the other party's AV terminal 10
The above-mentioned multiplexed signal will arrive at 3. From the arriving signal, the VIDS separator 7 and the VIDS decoder 8 in FIG. 1 will receive the call sign. By displaying the number or name of the caller on the operation unit 13, it is possible to judge whether the call is received or not. By receiving this incoming call, video, audio, and other data using the VIDS signal can be communicated with each other.

On the contrary, when the incoming call is not received, the absence signal can be returned as the VIDS signal. Alternatively, it is possible to leave a message by providing a storage device in the AV terminal 103.

Next, when a video conference is held between the outside and a remote place, the video exchange 102 and the codec section 101.
It will communicate with the outside through. First, similarly to the above, the video exchange 102 receives the connection request signal, the other party's number, and its own number as outgoing information by the VIDS signal.
Send to Here, the converter control unit 21 sends a connection request to the outside to the codec unit 101 to connect the switch 22 to the codec unit 101. Then, the codec section 101 connects to a remote station at a remote place through a public line. If the connection procedure is, for example, an ISDN line, I
TU-H. 243 may be used.

On the contrary, when a connection request is made from an external remote location to the AV terminal 103 inside the AV / LAN, the connection may be basically performed in the reverse order of the above connection procedure. However, at this time, the AV terminal 1 that received the connection request
03 may be in a call with the AV terminal 103 inside the AV / LAN. In this case, first, the video exchange 102 receives the connection request, and the AV terminal 103 in the call is multiplexed with a signal indicating that there is a connection request from the outside and notified.

The notification method may be displayed on the operation unit 13 or may be put on the video as text information. As a result, the AV terminal that has received the notification hangs up the call and inserts into the VIDS signal the fact that the call is being communicated from the outside, or that the call is in progress and that the call is returned. Send to video switch 102. This VIDS
The video exchanges 102 that have received the signals are made to correspond to each other. Also at this time, it is possible to leave the message by providing the video exchange 102 with a storage device.

As described above, in this embodiment, an AV for communicating with a signal in which video, audio, and VIDS signals are multiplexed is used.
In the LAN system, the AV terminal can deal with the connection request from the outside in various ways even during a call between the internal AV terminals.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The AV / LAN system of this embodiment is
Only the configuration of the AV terminal 103 is different from the above embodiment,
The other configurations of the codec unit 101 and the video exchange 102 are the same as those in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows an A according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an AV terminal in the V.LAN system.

The AV terminal 103 includes an audio output detection unit 51 for detecting whether or not an audio output device such as the speaker 3 is connected to the AV terminal 103 in the AV terminal shown in FIG. Device is AV terminal 1
A video output detection unit 52 for detecting whether the video signal, the audio signal and the VID are connected.
First communication mode by S signal, voice signal and VID
A second communication mode based on the S signal and a third communication mode based on the VIDS signal are provided, and the terminal control unit 9A determines whether to connect the video output device and the audio output device connected to the AV terminal, Communication is performed by arbitrarily selecting the first, second and third communication modes.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.

When making a call from the AV terminal 103, one of three communication modes is selected. The first communication mode is a mode in which bidirectional communication is performed for both video and audio, and is a mode for a videophone function. The second communication mode is a mode in which a voice-only two-way call is made. Further, the third mode is a mode in which only a message is sent, and at this time, bidirectional communication is not performed in real time.

When communication is performed inside the AV / LAN,
First, it is assumed that the AV terminal 103 makes a call in the first communication mode. In FIG. 1, the number of the other party corresponding to the extension number is input from the operation unit 13 to make a call. Then, the terminal control unit 9A and the VIDS encoder 5 use the connection request signal, the other party's number, and the own number as the outgoing information as the VID.
It is converted into an S signal and is multiplexed with the video signal by the VIDS adder 6. Further, the audio signal from the microphone 2 is multiplexed with that which is frequency-modulated by the FM modulator 10,
It is sent to the video exchange 102 through N.

When the video signal in which the VIDS signal is inserted reaches the video exchange 102 in this way, first, in the VIDS separator 25 shown in FIG.
The S signal is taken out, the VIDS decoder 26 returns the VIDS signal to the connection request signal, the source number, and the partner number, which are transmission information, and enters the converter control unit 21.

The converter control unit 21 controls the switch 22 in response to the request to connect the AV / LAN from the source to the destination. By this connection, the other party's AV terminal 10
The above-mentioned multiplexed signal will arrive at 3. From the arriving signal, the call sign will be received by the VIDS separator 7 and the VIDS decoder 8 of FIG.

At this time, the AV terminal 103, which has received the call sign, causes the video output device detection unit 52 to monitor the monitor 4.
It detects whether a video output device such as is connected. When the video output device is connected, receiving the incoming call allows the video, audio, and other data using the VIDS signal to be mutually communicated. However, when the video output device is not connected, communication cannot be performed in the first communication mode.
A signal for requesting a call in the communication mode is sent to the originating AV terminal 103 as a VIDS signal. Then, the AV terminal 103 of the transmission source that receives the signal makes a call again in the second or third communication mode.

Next, when making a call in the second communication mode,
Similarly, the AV terminal 103 on the receiving side, which has received the call sign by the VIDS signal, detects whether or not the audio output device such as the speaker 3 is connected by the audio output device detection unit 51. If an audio output device is connected, you can receive voice and VID by receiving this incoming call.
Other data using the S signal can also communicate with each other. However, when the voice output device is not connected, the communication in the second communication mode is impossible, and a signal requesting a call in the third communication mode is transmitted by a VIDS signal from the source A.
Send to V terminal 103. Then, the AV terminal 103 of the transmission source that has received the signal makes a call again in the third communication mode.

When communicating in the third communication mode, the AV terminal 103 which transmits the data information corresponding to the message by the VIDS signal and receives the data information displays the message on the operation unit 13 or the monitor. If 3 is connected, it is displayed on the monitor 3.

A call is made from the AV terminal 103 to the AV / LAN.
When communicating with the outside, the communication is performed with the outside through the video exchange 102 and the codec unit 101. First, in the first communication mode, similarly to the above, the connection request signal, the partner number and the own number are sent to the video exchange 102 by the VIDS signal as outgoing information to the outside.
Here, the exchange control unit 21 sends a connection request to the outside to the codec unit 101, and connects the switch 22 to the codec unit 101. Then, the codec section 101 connects to a remote station at a remote place through a public line.

This connection procedure is, for example, ITU-H. 242 may be used. At this time, if both video and audio can be connected, the videophone can be used as it is. However, if the video cannot be connected by only audio, the communication mode is changed to the AV terminal 103 transmitted by the video exchange 102 in the same manner as above. Make a request. Then, the AV terminal 103 receiving the request,
Re-communicate with the video exchange 102 in the second communication mode.

When receiving a call from the outside of the AV / LAN, the external station is first connected to the video exchange 102 via the codec section 101. Here, if the external station is a videophone terminal, the video exchange 102 makes a connection request to the AV terminal 103 in the first communication mode, and if the external station is a telephone terminal, the video exchange 102 is the first. A connection request is issued to the AV terminal 103 in the second communication mode. When the information data is received from the telephone terminal or another information terminal from the external station, the video exchange 102 operates in the third communication mode.
Information data is sent to the V terminal 103. In these cases as well, similarly to the above, the connection status of the output devices 51 and 52 of the AV terminal 103 may be detected and a communication mode change request may be sent to the video exchange 102.

As described above, in this embodiment, an AV for communicating with a signal in which video, audio, and VIDS signals are multiplexed is used.
-In a LAN system, select a communication method according to the connection status even if there is no video input / output device such as a video camera or monitor and audio input / output device such as a speaker or a microphone on both terminals that perform communication. can do.

[0052]

As described above in detail, according to the AV / LAN system of claim 1, the binary information data signal is superimposed and separated on the video signal, and the audio signal is multiplexed on the video signal. Multiplexing / separation control means for controlling demultiplexing, the video signal into moving image information data, the audio signal into audio information data, and the converted data together with the binary information data into one transmission line. Switching control of the multiplexed signal is performed between an information transmission unit for transmitting via the information transmission unit and a plurality of terminals equipped with the multiplexing / separation control unit, and between the terminal and the information transmission unit. When a connection request to the terminal is received from the outside through the information transmission means during communication between the terminals including the signal switching control means for performing and the multiplexing / separation control means. The information data signals of said binary the connection request information. Thus to transmit to the terminal,
Even during communication between internal AV terminals, the terminal can deal with connection requests from the outside in various ways.

According to the AV / LAN system of claim 2, a multiplexing / separation control for controlling superposition and separation of a binary information data signal with respect to a video signal and multiplexing and separation of an audio signal with respect to the video signal. Means and said multiplexing
Input / output of the video signal to / from a terminal equipped with separation control means
A video signal input / output device detecting means for detecting whether or not a video signal input / output device for output is connected, and an audio signal input / output for inputting / outputting the audio signal to / from a terminal equipped with the multiplexing / separation control means. An audio signal input / output device detection means for detecting whether or not an output device is connected, the video signal is converted into moving image information data, the audio signal is converted into audio information data, and these converted data are converted into the binary value. The information transmission means for transmitting the information data signal through one transmission line, a plurality of terminals equipped with the multiplexing / separation control means, and between the terminals and the information transmission means. Signal switching control means for controlling switching of the multiplexed signals, the first communication mode using the video signal, the audio signal, and the binary information data signal, the audio signal and the front The video signal having a second communication mode based on a binary information data signal and a third communication mode based on the binary information data signal and connected to a terminal equipped with the multiplexing / demultiplexing control means. According to the connection status of the input / output device and the audio signal input / output device, the first and the second
Since the third communication mode is arbitrarily selected and the communication is performed, even if the video signal input / output device and the audio signal input / output device are not the same on both terminals performing the communication, the connection status can be changed. It is possible to select a communication method corresponding to the communication method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an AV terminal in an AV / LAN system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a video exchange 102 in the AV / LAN system of FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a codec section 101 in the AV / LAN system of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an AV terminal in an AV / LAN system according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing frequency bands of signals on AV / LAN.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an inserted portion of a VIDS signal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a VIDS signal.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an AV / LAN system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Video camera with pan head 2, 3, 4 Microphone, speaker, monitor 5 VIDS encoder 6 VIDS adder 7 VIDS separator 8 VIDS decoder 9 Terminal control unit 10 FM modulator 11 FM demodulator 12 Echo canceller 13 Operation unit 21 exchange control unit 22 switch 23 VIDS encoder 24 VIDS adder 25 VIDS separator 26 VIDS decoder 27 FM modulator 31 video input / output unit 32 audio input / output unit 33 computer unit 34 still image / drawing control unit 35 auxiliary equipment Control unit 36 Data port 37 Communication control unit 38 Interconnection procedure control unit 39 Network signal control unit 40 Video codec unit 41 Audio codec unit 42 Delay circuit 43 Multiplexing transmission unit 44 Network interface unit 45 Telecommunications line 46 Control unit 51 Voice output Detector 52 Video output detector 101 Codec 102 Video switch 103 AV terminal

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 7/14

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An AV / LAN system in which a binary information data signal is superimposed in a vertical erasing period of a video signal, and an audio signal is multiplexed with the video signal to perform mutual communication, wherein the video signal Multiplexing / separation control means for controlling superposition and separation of the binary information data signal with respect to, and multiplexing and separation of the audio signal with respect to the video signal; and the video signal as moving image information data and the audio signal. Between each of a plurality of terminals equipped with an information transmission means for converting the audio data into voice information data and transmitting the converted data together with the binary information data via one transmission line; Signal switching control means for controlling switching of the multiplexed signals via the terminal and the information transmission means, and the multiplexing / demultiplexing control means During a communication between terminals, when a connection request to the terminal is received from the outside through the information transmission means, the connection request information is transmitted to the terminal by the binary information data signal. The AV / LAN system characterized by 2. An AV / LAN system for performing mutual communication by a signal obtained by superimposing a binary information data signal in a vertical erasing period of a video signal and multiplexing an audio signal with the video signal, wherein the video signal A multiplexing / separation control means for controlling superposition and separation of the binary information data signal with respect to, and multiplexing and separation of an audio signal with respect to the video signal; and a terminal provided with the multiplexing / separation control means. And a video signal input / output device for inputting / outputting the video signal is detected, and the audio signal is sent to a terminal equipped with the video input / output device detection means and the multiplexing / separation control means. Audio signal input / output device detection means for detecting whether or not an input / output audio signal input / output device is connected, and the video signal as moving image information data and the audio signal as audio information data Information transmission means for respectively converting and transmitting the converted data together with the binary information data signal via one transmission line, between a plurality of terminals equipped with the multiplexing / separation control means, and between the terminal and the terminal A signal switching control means for controlling switching of the multiplexed signal via an information transmission means, the first communication mode using the video signal, the audio signal, and the binary information data signal. And a second communication mode based on the voice signal and the binary information data signal, and a third communication mode based on the binary information data signal, and equipped with the multiplexing / demultiplexing control means. The communication is performed by arbitrarily selecting the first, second and third communication modes according to the connection status of the video signal input / output device and the audio signal input / output device connected to each other. V
-LAN system.