JPH0991188A - Equipment and method for picture communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire linkage data in a short time when an operator desires it in a picture communication equipment for burying an object corresponding to the linkage data present in an external device in a document and managing it. SOLUTION: This picture communication equipment capable of buring the object corresponding to the linkage data present in the external device in the document and managing it is provided with a first display means 13 for displaying the document, a storage means 18 for fetching the linkage data corresponding to the object of the document displayed in the first display means 13 from the external device and storing it and a second display means 13 for displaying the linkage data corresponding to object data by selecting the object of the document displayed in the first display means 13. Before the object is selected in the second display means 13, the linkage data corresponding to the object are stored.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication device and method capable of communicating image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a data management method called hypertext. This is a data management method in which objects corresponding to a plurality of different media such as characters, voices, still images, and moving pictures are embedded in one document and managed in a unified format.

The hypertext has a function of managing the above-mentioned individual objects of each medium and data existing in another external device in association with each other.
This associated data is called link data.

The above-mentioned image communication device using hypertext (referred to as its own device) internally stores link information indicating which device on the network each piece of link data has the data.

When the hypertext is displayed, the link information is not added and displayed on the screen, and the associated object is marked up (changing the color of the character, adding a frame to the image). Etc.) to inform the user that link information corresponding to the object exists, that is, link data corresponding to the object exists.

[0006] The user positions the cursor within a predetermined range in which an object for which link information exists and is displayed,
The link data can be displayed by giving an instruction.

When there is an instruction as described above, the link data is transmitted in accordance with the link information stored in advance by linking the link data in the data form such as text, voice, still image, moving image, and hypertext to another external device. Display from the device.

[0008]

Conventionally, when ordering link data from an external device, communication was performed after receiving a link data display request from a user and stored in the image communication device of the device itself.

However, there is a problem that it takes time because the above-described communication operation is inserted after the user makes a request to display the link data and before the link data is actually displayed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, an object corresponding to link data stored in an external device is embedded in one document, and in an image communication device managing this document, when the operator wants these link data. In addition, the purpose is to be able to acquire link data in a short time.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the image communication device of claim 1 of the present invention, an object corresponding to link data stored in an external device via a communication line is created. Embed in one document,
In an image communication device capable of managing the document, first communication means for displaying the document and link data corresponding to an object embedded in the document displayed by the first display means are communicated. By selecting a storage means to be fetched from an external device via a line and storing the same, and an object in the document displayed by the display means, the link data stored by the storage means corresponding to the object data is displayed. A second display unit, wherein the storage unit stores the link data corresponding to the object before the object is selected on the second display unit.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an image communication apparatus used in the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU control circuit for controlling the entire apparatus, which has a client program for displaying hypertext and a RAM 11a for reading and writing variables and control flags necessary for executing the program. In addition, a ROM for storing other control programs
It also has 11b.

Further, it has a touch panel type input device 12 for a user to instruct various image display controls, and a display device 13 for displaying a hypertext document and link data. In the present embodiment, the input device 12 and the display device 13 are installed so as to overlap with each other in the vertical direction, and a so-called touch panel display capable of executing the input operation of the input device 12 by touching an image on the display device 13 is provided. There is.

Data exchange between the input device 12, the display device 13, and the CPU control circuit 11 is performed by the I / O control unit 1.
4, via the system bus 15. Hard disk 1
Reference numeral 8 is for storing data (link data and the like) obtained from another external device, and is connected to each device via a hard disk interface 17.

A procedure for displaying hypertext data on the display device 13 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, at 41, the contents of a hypertext document written by a description method such as HTML is analyzed by using a hypertext display program (stored in the RAM 11a). Then, at 42, each object is displayed in a format determined according to the content of the document. At this time, if an object having link information is found in the hypertext data, 4
3 corresponds to each object via the communication line 19 connected to the communication control unit 16 according to the link information indicating the storage location of the link data (which external device among the plurality of external devices stores the link data). Get the link data. Here, the CPU control circuit 11 issues communication requests for the number of link data existing in the document,
Multiple communications can be performed in parallel. Also, the link data can be received in an order different from the order in which the communication requests are issued.

When the reception of each link data is successful, the communication control unit 16 notifies the CPU control circuit 11 that the communication is successful for each link data, and the process proceeds to 45.
The CPU control circuit 11 which received the notification at 45 saves the link data received by the communication control unit 16 on the hard disk, and changes the display form of the object corresponding to the hypertext link data displayed at 46 in real time. . For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the object is text data, the color of the character is changed,
As shown in FIG. 3, in the case of a still image or a moving image, an outer frame is attached to the image.

The user knows that there is link data corresponding to the object due to the change in the display form of the object, and the link data can be displayed at any time. Then, at 47, it waits for a request to display the link data.

Next, the procedure for displaying the link data will be described with reference to FIG.

At 501, when the displayed object is clicked with the mouse to request the display of the link data, the CPU control circuit 11 calls at 502 the corresponding link data among the link data stored in the hard disk 18, The display device 13 is controlled so as to immediately display it.

Next, in step 503, if the link data is again in the hypertext format, 41 to 41 in FIG.
The same process as 47 is repeated (505 to 511). That is, the hypertext is analyzed in the same manner as the above-mentioned method, the communication request is issued by the number of the link data existing in the document, and the above-mentioned operation of receiving the link data in the hypertext is repeated. Then, the display form of the object corresponding to the hypertext link data being displayed is changed in real time. The user knows that there is link data corresponding to the object due to the change in the display form of the object, and the link data can be displayed at any time.

(Second Embodiment) The image communication apparatus used in the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 used in the first embodiment.
It is the same as the block diagram of.

Reference numeral 11 is a CPU control circuit for controlling the entire image communication apparatus of the present embodiment, and 11a and 11b are C
A ROM that stores a RAM used as a work area of the PU, a boot program, and the like.

18 is an operating system (OS)
And a storage unit (mainly a hard disk device) that stores various application programs, and can also store data created by each application as a file.

The OS and applications stored in the hard disk 18 are loaded into the RAM 11a as appropriate,
Processing is performed by the CPU control circuit 11.

Reference numeral 12 is an input device such as a keyboard, pointing device, and touch panel, 13 is a display unit such as a display, and 16 is communication control for performing data communication with a device having a function similar to that of its own image communication device. Part, 1
9 is a communication line.

The hard disk 18, the input device 12, the display device 13, and the communication control unit 16 can be made to execute the respective processings performed in the first embodiment by other external equipment which can be connected to the system bus 15. is there.

Further, if it conforms to the configuration of the block diagram, it may be applied to a general computer such as a personal computer or a workstation.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram related to changing the display mode of the object described in the first embodiment.

In the following description, the presence or absence of a frame line of an object (still image) such as 61 and 63 will be described in detail, but a colored mark instead of the frame line such as 64 is attached to the lower right. Even if a part of the object blinks, 6
Even when a frame line is displayed around the text as in 2, the display may be such that the information of the link data can be shown to the user with a certain regularity.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a work for adding a frame line to an object.

The operation of loading the hypertext data described in the HTML description method into the WWW server as an external device and displaying the object having the link information will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

However, a description method other than HTML as described above or a link method between an object and link data may be used.

In the case of the WWW server, http is used as the protocol, but another protocol may be used.

First, FIG. 8 will be described in detail. The instruction to take in the hypertext data managed by the image communication device of the own machine is automatic (instruction via the CPU control circuit 11 at the time of starting the program while the program for the hypertext stored in the RAM 11a is started), or manually (user. Is instructed via the input device 12), S301
Then, the necessary program is read from the ROM 11b or the hard disk 18 into the RAM 11a, and the CPU control circuit 1
1 starts a procedure for fetching data from a WWW server which is an external device.

In step S302, the communication control unit 16 connects to a communication line such as Ethernet or ATM to access a device such as a personal computer or a workstation having a WWW server function.

When the WWW server is accessed in S302, the necessary files including the file (HTML source) described in the HTML description method are directly read into the RAM 11a or copied into the hard disk 18 and then stored in the RAM 11a in S303. Read.

In step S304, the HTML source is analyzed to obtain the link information such as the required file name, data type, display position and URL for the data to be displayed on the display device 13. In step S305, it is determined whether a file (link data or the like) of the external device is necessary. If it is necessary, the process proceeds to step S306.
Go to 09.

In step S306, it is determined whether or not the required file is anchor data (still image, moving image, data having no further link data composed of audio only data), and is not anchor data (hypertext format data). In the case of (data), S302 to S304 are repeatedly executed to import a file from another server,
Continue to analyze HTML and import necessary files. If the required file is the anchor data, the process proceeds to S307 and the WW in which the required file exists.
The W server is accessed, the necessary files are fetched in S308, and the process ends without HTML analysis. When all the necessary files are imported, the process is S3
Move to 09.

In S309, the image data to be displayed on the display device 13 is expanded in the RAM 11a.

For example, in the case of the OS controlling the image communication apparatus of the present embodiment, the device context is used in the RAM 11a based on the data such as the file name and display coordinates obtained by analyzing the HTML source in S304. The image for display on the
Drawing is performed by setting parameters in a function such as t ().

Next, in S310, it is determined whether or not an object with link information exists in the image for display.

For example, when a still image is displayed as an object having link information in the display image as shown by 31 in FIG. 3, the previously acquired HTML source has its image file (eg, gif file, JPEG file). , Bit map file, etc.) and the information of the linked data in addition to the display coordinates are obtained. Therefore, the object having the link information exists in the image of the device context on the RAM 11a before being displayed on the display. Whether to do it can be determined for each still image representing the object, or for each data such as text.

In S310, if there is an object having link information, the process proceeds to S311. If not, the process proceeds to S315.

In step S311, the type of linked data (for example, moving image, still image, sound, etc.) is determined from the file information such as the file name of the link data corresponding to each object and the file extension. . As a result of the determination, if the link data is a moving image, the process proceeds to S312, if it is a still image, the process proceeds to S313, and if it is a voice, the process proceeds to S314.

In S312, a blue frame line (10-dot thick frame line in this embodiment) is written around the object portion drawn in the device context on the RAM 11a. Further, at this time, another still image file in which a blue frame line is written on the still image representing the object (may be the first screen of the moving image) itself may be created and displayed.

In S313, a red frame line is written around the still image representing the object having the link data of the still image as in the case of the moving image.

Similarly to the above, in S314, a yellow frame line is written around the still image having the audio link data.
Every time the drawing of the frame line for each object is completed, the process returns to S310 to search for the object having the next link information, and when the frame lines have been written to all the objects having the link information, the process proceeds to S315.

In S315, the image data created in the device context on the RAM 11a is displayed on the display device 13 (display), and the process is terminated.

By the above processing, the display 61 in FIG.
Is displayed. Here, the frame line is displayed in a color corresponding to the link data such as the moving image, the still image, and the sound.

With the above method, it is possible to identify at a glance the type of linked data of the object having the link information.

In the above embodiments, the OS used in the image communication apparatus may be of any other type as long as it is for realizing the present embodiment. Further, the image forming method up to displaying on the display device 13 may be different from that in the present embodiment.

Further, in S303 of FIG. 8, the flow of reading the files all at once has been described, but since the file type can be determined from the HTML source, the file itself may be loaded after the object is executed.

Further, in addition to the type of data (moving image, still image, sound, etc.) that has been taken in, the number of types of display may be increased by information regarding files that can be recognized from the HTML source. In addition, we will add a frame around the object, once RAM
An example in which a standard display image is developed on 11a and then new framed image data is overwritten has been shown. However, after all the image data necessary for display is prepared, the RAM 11
It may be expanded on a and displayed on the display.

Next, the display of a still image to which a moving image is linked as link data will be described in detail.

First, in the procedure described above, S31 of FIG.
Go to 1. If it is determined in S311 that the link data is moving image data, the process proceeds to S401 in FIG. 7 to edit the moving image file. The first frame of the moving image is taken out as still image data and developed as another still image in the RAM 11a.

Next, in step S402, the still image of the first frame of the moving image data extracted in step S401 is already RA.
The position of the object of the display image in the device context on M11a is drawn.

Then, in S403, the image drawn above is displayed on the display of the display device 13. When objects of a plurality of media are mixed as in the present embodiment, they can be realized simultaneously by inserting S401 and S402 of FIG. 7 in the step of S312 of FIG.

With the above method, one frame of a moving image linked to a certain object can be used as a still image when the object is displayed. Therefore, the content of the moving image data can be identified at a glance. Although the first frame of the moving image is displayed here as an example, a frame that represents the moving image data or another frame that is a still image that allows the user to recognize the features of the moving image data at a glance. May be

In the present embodiment, when the corresponding link data when the object on the document is selected is a moving image or a still image, it is attached to the position of the object (with the same size as the object). ) Link data is displayed. By this display control, it is possible to display the document and the link data as if they were integrally present.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, the object corresponding to the link data stored in the external device is embedded in one document, and in the image communication device managing this document, these link data are stored. When the operator wants, the link data can be acquired in a short time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment and a second embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a display method indicating that communication of link data associated with an object in a text format has ended.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display method indicating that communication of link data associated with a still image or a moving image format object has ended.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for displaying hypertext data on an image.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for displaying hypertext when the link data is hypertext.

FIG. 6 is an example of a method for informing an object that link data exists.

FIG. 7 shows a moving image as a still image displaying an object.
Flowchart for using frames

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for performing control for changing the display method of the presence / absence of link data according to the object of each medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 CPU control circuit 11a RAM 11b ROM 12 input device 13 display device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 5/445 9466-5K H04L 11/00 7/08 H04N 7/08 Z 7/081

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image communication device capable of embedding an object corresponding to link data stored in an external device via a communication line into one document and managing the document, and displaying the document. A first display unit; a storage unit that captures link data corresponding to an object embedded in the document displayed by the first display unit from an external device via the communication line and stores the link data; A second display unit for displaying the link data corresponding to the object data and stored by the storage unit by selecting an object in the document displayed by the display unit; Corresponding to the object by the storage means before the selection of the object in Image communication apparatus characterized by storing the link data have been made that. 2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies in real time a storage result of the link data stored by the storage unit. 3. The image communication device according to claim 2, wherein the notification by the notification means is performed in a display by the first display means. 4. The storage result is informed by the informing means,
3. The image communication device according to claim 2, wherein the display of the object corresponding to the stored link data is performed by changing the display of the first display unit. 5. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of objects corresponding to the link data can be embedded in each of the documents. 6. The link data stored in the external device includes link data of a plurality of media, and objects corresponding to the link data of different media can be embedded in one document. The image communication device according to claim 6. 7. The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of external devices for capturing the link data in the storage by the storage means. 8. An image communication method capable of embedding an object corresponding to link data stored in an external device via a communication line into one document and managing the document, wherein the document is displayed. A first display step; a storage step of capturing link data corresponding to an object embedded in the document displayed in the first display step from an external device via the communication line and storing the link data; A second display step of displaying the link data corresponding to the object data and stored by the storage means by selecting an object in the document displayed in the display step, the second display step Before the selection of an object in Image communication method characterized in that storage of link data corresponding to the object is performed.