JPH10164394A - Information transmission method, information recording method and device for executing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform efficient transmission by connecting a control means to a common transmission line. SOLUTION: A control part 51 incorporates a system controller and a bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit and sends out control data for setting the functions of respective photographing camera parts 11-16 and video/audio monitoring parts 31-33 to a common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. The respective photographing camera parts 11-16 fetch the control data and perform function setting for setting the necessity of the transmission of video and audio information data and a transmission timing. Also, video/audio monitoring parts 31-33 fetch the control data and perform the function setting for performing setting so as to selectively obtain and display the information data generated and transmitted in a prescribed photographing camera part from the video and audio information data sent out from the photographing camera parts 11-16 to the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission circuit 21. Thus, the combination of a transmission side and a reception side is freely set or changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to information for transmitting information data including different video data from a plurality of transmitting means to a plurality of receiving means, and displaying or recording this information data as necessary. The present invention relates to a transmission method, an information recording method, and an apparatus for performing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information data individually generated in a plurality of information generating devices installed at a plurality of positions are transmitted to a plurality of information display devices for display, and transmitted to an information recording / reproducing device for recording. The information processing apparatus that saves and reproduces the information is used in various systems.

For example, in a monitoring system, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
The recording / reproducing device disclosed in Japanese Patent No.
A method is proposed in which a semiconductor memory for recording and reproducing compressed data in a ring shape is provided, and video data recorded at a point in time that is retroactive to a desired time from the present point is instantaneously reproduced.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 322186 discloses that in recording moving image data transmitted via a digital transmission line, if the recordable time of a VTR for recording the moving image data is insufficient, the moving image data is converted into a continuous image (still image) of still images (data). And a method of recording the data on the HDD.

However, these methods and devices are:
In order to transmit individual information data generated by a plurality of information generating devices to a plurality of information display devices and information recording / reproducing devices, a plurality of independent dedicated transmission lines are required, and
In order to display or record / reproduce these pieces of information data, a dedicated display device and a recording / reproducing device corresponding to each information generating device are required.

[0005]

A surveillance system for observing and recording video information data generated by a plurality of photographing camera units at one central surveillance station by utilizing the conventional method and apparatus as described above. In this case, a dedicated data transmission line is required for each shooting camera unit to transmit the video information data generated by each shooting camera unit to the central monitoring station. Since it is necessary to install a display device and a recording / reproducing device corresponding to the above, there is a disadvantage that the equipment becomes large.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information transmission method and an apparatus for efficiently transmitting information data generated by a plurality of information generating devices to a plurality of information receiving devices. . Specifically, it is to realize efficient transmission of information using a common data transmission line between a plurality of information generation devices and information reception devices, and furthermore, information data generated by a large number of information generation devices. Is efficiently transmitted to a few information receiving apparatuses.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information transmitting method and an apparatus for efficiently transmitting and displaying (monitoring) information data generated by a plurality of information generating apparatuses to an information receiving apparatus. It is in. Specifically, it is to realize efficient transmission of information data by using a common data transmission line between a plurality of information generating devices and information receiving devices, and furthermore, information generated by a large number of information generating devices. An object of the present invention is to enable efficient transmission and display (monitoring) of data to a few information receiving apparatuses.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an information recording / reproducing method capable of efficiently transmitting and recording information data generated by a plurality of information generating devices to an information receiving device, and an apparatus therefor. is there. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to enable information data generated by a plurality of information generating devices to be efficiently transmitted to an information receiving device and recorded using a common data transmission line.

Still another object of the present invention is to transmit different information data from a plurality of information generating devices to a plurality of information receiving devices using a common digital line having a limited data transmission capacity. An object of the present invention is to provide an information recording / reproducing method capable of displaying and recording / reproducing, and an apparatus therefor.

[0010]

One feature of the present invention is that:
In an information transmission method for transmitting information data including different video information data from a plurality of transmission means to a plurality of reception means using a common transmission line, the transmission means being connected to the transmission line and A control means for managing an information transmission function of each receiving means is provided, and the control means sets which transmitting means transmits information data to which receiving means.

Another feature of the present invention is an information transmission method for transmitting information data including separate video information data from N transmission means to M reception means using a common transmission line. A control means connected to the transmission line for managing the information transmission function of each of the transmitting means and each of the receiving means. When the number N is greater than M (N> M), some control means are provided. The output of at least the video information data in the transmission information data of the transmission means is stopped.

Another feature of the present invention is an information transmission apparatus for transmitting information data including different video information data from a plurality of transmitting means to a plurality of receiving means using a common transmission line. A control unit is connected to the transmission line and manages the information transmission function of each of the transmitting unit and each of the receiving units, and the control unit sets which transmitting unit transmits information data to which receiving unit. is there.

Another feature of the present invention is that a transmission line for transmitting information data including separate video information data from a plurality of transmission means including a photographing camera for photographing an area to be monitored to a plurality of reception means including a video monitor. In the monitoring device for transmitting and displaying the data through the transmission means, the transmission means, the reception means, and the control means for managing these information transmission functions are connected to a common transmission line. Is set to which receiving means.

Another feature of the present invention is that a plurality of transmitting means including a photographing camera for photographing a person to be interacted with and a plurality of receiving means including a video and audio monitor are separately provided from a plurality of transmitting means including a voice information acquiring means for acquiring audio information. In a videophone / conference apparatus for transmitting and displaying information data including video and audio information data via a transmission line, a control means for managing the transmission means, the reception means and the information transmission function on a common transmission line And the control means sets which information means of which transmitting means is to be transmitted to which receiving means.

Another feature of the present invention resides in that information data respectively generated by a plurality of transmission means are transmitted to a common transmission line via a common transmission line.
In the information recording method of transmitting and recording to two recording means, provided is a control means connected to the common transmission line to manage an information transmission function of each transmission means and an information recording function of the recording means, and the control means The purpose of the present invention is to set which transmission means is to be used to record information data by the recording means.

Another feature of the present invention is an information recording apparatus for recording information data generated by a plurality of transmission means and transmitted through a common transmission line by one recording means, wherein the recording means comprises: Based on control data from a control unit connected to a common transmission line with the recording unit and managing an information recording function of the recording unit, recording is performed by the recording unit from information data transmitted from the plurality of transmission units. It has a separating means for separating information data.

Another feature of the present invention resides in a transmission information generating apparatus including a camera for photographing a target area and signal processing means for processing a video information signal output from the camera to generate information data to be transmitted. , The signal processing means,
Video data compression means for converting the video information signal into digital video information data in a compressed form; and interface means for transmitting video information data output from the video data compression means to a common transmission line in a time-division manner. Have prepared.

Another feature of the present invention is that a camera for photographing a target area and outputting a video information signal, audio information input means for inputting audio and outputting an audio information signal, the video information signal and the audio information A transmission information generating apparatus comprising signal processing means for processing a signal to generate information data to be transmitted, wherein the signal processing means converts the video information signal into compressed digital format video information data. And audio data compression means for converting the audio information signal into digital audio information data in a compressed form, and interface means for transmitting the video information data and audio information data to a common transmission line in a time-division manner. It is in.

More specifically, the control means compares the total amount of information data transmitted by each transmission means with the transmittable capacity of the common transmission line to determine whether normal information data transmission is possible. When it is determined that the transmission cannot be performed normally, the output is stopped from at least the video information data in the transmission information data of the transmission means set in advance.

Alternatively, the control means compares the total amount of transmission information data of each transmission means with the transmittable capacity of the common transmission line to determine whether or not the information data can be transmitted normally. When it is determined that the transmission cannot be performed, the output of at least the video information data in the transmission information data of the low-priority transmission means is stopped by referring to the control data of the priority.

Each of the plurality of transmission units includes a camera unit, an emergency detection unit for detecting an emergency state in a shooting area of the camera unit, and the priority based on emergency data generated by the emergency detection unit. And a control unit for generating control data for changing the priority. The control unit transmits the control data of the priority in a time-division manner to transmission information data to the control unit.

Assuming that the number of transmitting means is N and the number of receiving means is M, when N is larger than M (N> M), the control means controls some of the transmission information data of the transmitting means. Of at least the video information data is stopped.

When the number of the transmitting means is N and the number of the receiving means is M and N is larger than M (N> M), the control means uses the control data of the priority to transmit the high-priority transmitting means. The information data is transmitted to the receiving means, and the output of at least the video information data in the information data of the low-priority transmitting means is stopped.

[0024] The recording means separates the information data generated by the specific transmitting means set by the control means from the plurality of information data, and sets a predetermined amount of information data for each separated specific transmitting means as a unit. And sequentially records the specific transmission source information.

The recording means acquires and records M types of information data (where M is 2 or more and M <N) from N types of information data transmitted from the N transmission means. .

Further, the control means compares the total of the transmission information data amounts of the transmission means and the recording data transmission capacity of the recording means to determine whether or not normal information data recording is possible, and determines that recording is not possible. At times, recording of information data from some transmitting means is stopped.

Further, the control means compares the total amount of transmission information data of each of the transmitting means with the recording data transmission capacity of the recording means to determine whether or not normal information data recording is possible, and determines that recording is not possible. At times, the recording of the information data from the low-priority transmitting means is stopped.

Reference information for setting the priority of information data to be recorded by transmitting time-division emergency data detected by the emergency detection means provided in each transmission means to the common transmission line and transmitting the emergency data to the control means, and I do.

Detecting means provided in an area photographed by the camera; and detecting means for detecting a control signal inputted from the interface means, wherein the video data is output based on the output signals of the detecting means and the detecting means. The necessity of the output signal of the compression means is set. The output signal of the detection means has priority over the output signal of the detection means.

[0030]

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

Transmission / transmission of video / audio information data according to the present invention
A display / recording / reproducing method and an apparatus therefor will be described with reference to FIGS. This method and apparatus adopt a bidirectional high-speed serial transmission method. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the entire apparatus, FIG. 2 is a time chart showing a method of outputting data from a camera group, and FIG. 6 is a time chart illustrating an operation of the playback device.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 11 to 15 denote a photographing camera unit, 21 denotes a common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line, 31 to 33 denote video / audio monitoring units, 41 denotes a video / audio recording / reproducing unit, and 51 denotes a control unit. .

Each of the photographing camera sections 11 (to 15) has a video camera 11 for generating video information data.
1 and a microphone 112 for generating voice generation data
An emergency detection means 113 for detecting an emergency and generating emergency data, a system controller 114 for controlling the inside of each monitoring camera unit, and an encoder 115 for digitally processing the data and converting it into a data string which can be easily transmitted. , A decoder 116 for converting (decoding) received data, and a bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 117 connected to the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21
Is provided.

The video / audio monitoring units 31 to 33 are respectively a bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 311 connected to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21, and a bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 311. A decoder 312 for receiving the data from the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 via the interface for digital processing, and a monitor 313 for displaying video information data.

The video / audio recording / reproducing section 41 is provided with a data recording processing circuit 411 for performing processing for inputting and temporarily storing information data transmitted to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21, A secondary recording / reproducing device 412 including a recording tape or the like is provided. The data recording processing circuit 411 includes a bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 4111 connected to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21;
It includes a data processing circuit 4112 and a primary recording / reproducing device 4113 composed of, for example, an HDD or the like.

The control unit 51 is connected to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21, although its internal configuration will be described later, and refers to the data transmitted through the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 while referring to the data. It controls the photographing camera sections 11 to 15, the video / audio monitoring sections 31 to 33, and the video / audio recording / reproduction section 41.

Next, the operation of this apparatus will be described with reference to time charts shown in FIGS.

In each of the photographing camera sections 11 to 15, as shown in FIG.
The encoder 115 converts 25 to 30 pieces of video information data per second.
For example, MPEG (moving picture experts grou
The video signals are converted into I, P, and B picture coded signals by the video signal coding (compression) method of the p) system. The encoder 115 converts audio information data input from the microphone 112, for example, into ADPCM data, in addition to such video information data.
(Adaptive Differential PCM = Adaptive Prediction Differential Coding)
These data may be converted into a digital audio signal compressed by a system, or may include data such as a system control signal from a system controller 114 in the photographing camera unit 11 (to 15) including emergency data detected by the emergency detection unit 113. All data signals are converted in time division into a signal form that can be transferred as high-speed serial data to a digital transmission line. The bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 117 supplies the information data thus processed from the encoder 5 to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21.

The common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 uses, for example, a system standardized by IEEE 1394 or the like. The bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 has a fixed period of isochronous (Is
ochronous) Asynchronous (Asynchroun) generated when necessary to send transfer signals and system control data
ous) There is a transfer signal. Information data such as video information data and audio information data which need to be continuously transmitted without interruption is used as an isochronous transfer signal as shown in the signal on the line shown in FIG.
.mu.S), the necessary headers are added, and the data is transferred in a time division manner. Then, each of the photographing camera units 11 to 15 converts the information data into a packet of an appropriate length (So-byte of 188 bytes).
urce Packet data). It should be noted that the information data transmission pattern is set for each cycle in accordance with the setting by the control data from the control unit 51, and includes an isochronous packet header, a bus packet header, and a source packet header. header), source packet data (Source Packet data), packet cyclic redundancy check (Packet CRC), and other Source Packet headers and Source Packet data that follow this
a, Packet CRC is repeated.

These information data are transmitted to the video / audio monitoring units 31 to 33 via the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. Each video / audio monitor 31 to
Reference numeral 33 selectively acquires and displays information data transmitted from the pre-designated photographing camera unit 11 (to 15). This selection is performed by decoding the discrimination signal (Source Packet header) provided at the head of the information packet data and separating the corresponding data.

Next, the operation of the data recording processing circuit 411 and the secondary recording device 412 in the video / audio recording / reproducing section 41 will be described with reference to FIG. Data processing circuit 411
2 is a common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21
The desired information data obtained by inputting and separating the above signal (1) through the high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 4111 is converted into a disk (HD, MO, PC, DVD-RAM, etc.) having a capacity of about 1 Gbyte, for example. ) Is temporarily stored in the primary recording / reproducing device 4113 provided. When a predetermined amount of information data is accumulated in the primary recording / reproducing device 4113, the information recording device reproduces the information data and has a sufficiently large recording capacity with respect to the primary recording device 4113.
For example, the data is transferred to and recorded on a secondary recording / reproducing device 412 composed of a magnetic recording tape or the like having a recording capacity of about 40 Gbytes.

FIG. 4 shows a monitoring system according to the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. In the monitoring system shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the same components as those in the system shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a duplicated description of the specific internal configuration is omitted.

This monitoring system includes six photographing camera units 11 to 16 for acquiring information data of a monitoring target area.
Is installed, and three video and audio monitor units 31 to 33 are installed. The photographing camera unit 16 is similar to the photographing camera unit 11 described above.

Each of the photographing camera sections 11 to 16 is provided with a video camera so as to generate video data by capturing an image of the monitoring target area, and to collect audio generated in the monitoring target area to generate audio data. An emergency detection means is installed to detect emergency situations such as intruders or fires in the monitoring target area and generate emergency data. Then, the system controller controls generation of transmission information data based on the control data acquired from the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21.

The control section 51 has a built-in system controller and a bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit, which will be described in detail later.
Each camera unit 11-1 by Asynchrounous transfer signal
6 and the control data for setting the functions of the video / audio monitoring units 31 to 33 are transmitted to a common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. The control data includes data for designating (setting) the photographing camera units 11 to 16 that transmit video and audio information data and emergency data to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 and the video and audio information data. Video and audio monitor units 31 to 31 to capture and display
33 is included (data).

Then, each of the photographing camera sections 11 to 16 takes in the control data from the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 and performs a function setting for setting the necessity of transmission of video and audio information data and the transmission timing. . Also,
The video / audio monitoring units 31 to 33 take in the control data from the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21,
From the video and audio information data transmitted from the photographing camera units 11 to 16 to the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21, information data generated and transmitted by a predetermined photographing camera unit is selectively acquired and displayed. Function settings to be set as follows.

That is, as shown in detail in FIG. 5, the control unit 51 includes the photographing camera units 11 to 16 connected to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21.
The number N is checked (step S501). Next, the number M of the video / audio monitoring units 31 to 33 connected to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 is confirmed (step S502). Next, each photographing camera unit 11-1
6 and the necessity of changing the function state initially set in the video / audio monitor units 31 to 33 (step S50).
3) When the setting is changed, each photographing camera unit 11 to
It is confirmed whether or not to monitor the information data for the 16 (step S504), and if it is to be monitored, it is set which of the video and audio monitor units 31 to 33 is to be displayed (step S505). Such a setting change process is performed through all the photographing camera units 11 through S506 and S507.
16 is performed.

In this setting (change) method, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a connection menu is displayed on the monitor 511 of the control unit 51, and the correspondence between the two is set (changed) on the connection menu. I just need. In FIG. 6, information data of the camera (1) as the photographing camera unit 11 is displayed on the monitor (1) as the video / audio monitor unit 31, and information data of the camera (3) as the photographing camera unit 13 is displayed on the video / audio monitor. This shows a state in which the setting is made so that the data is displayed on the monitor (3) which is the unit 33 and the information data of the camera (6) which is the photographing camera unit 16 is displayed on the monitor (2) which is the video and audio monitor unit 32. These settings are controlled by the control unit 51 on the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital line 21 by the Asynchrounous transfer signal.
This can be realized by setting (changing) the designation of the reception source packet of the information data received and displayed in 1-33.

The photographing camera units 11 to 16 to be monitored
Can be changed by the control data transmitted from the control unit 51 via the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. The plurality of photographing camera units 11 (to 16) Can be displayed and monitored on a single video / audio monitor 31 (-33) in a time-division manner.

Next, referring to FIG.
1 will be described in detail. In the control unit 51,
All information data is input via a common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. Here, for example, when the total amount of information data to be transmitted from each of the photographing camera units (1 to 6) 11 to 16 to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 increases, the transmittable capacity of this transmission line 21 The relationship between the amount of data transmitted from the photographing camera units (1 to 6) 11 to 16 may be such that all information data cannot be transmitted within the cycle of the isochronous transfer signal. The control unit 51 detects such a state, and in such a case, stops transmission of some information data of some of the photographing camera units (1 to 6) 11 to 16. To do. Therefore, priorities are assigned to the information of the photographing camera units (1 to 6) 11 to 16 in advance, and the priority data is stored in the control unit 51, and the information data having the higher priority is designated. In order to ensure transmission to the video / audio monitor units 31 to 33, the control unit 51 controls the transmission capacity of the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 and the transmission capacity of each photographing camera unit 11 to 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, only the information data of the three photographing camera units (1), (3), (6) 11, 13, and 16 is used as the priority data according to the total amount of information data to be processed. Control is performed so as to select and transmit according to. At this time, the remaining three photographing camera units (2), (4), (5) 12, 14, and 16 transmit the common bidirectional signal from the control unit 51 so as to stop at least the transmission of the video information data. These photographing camera units (2), through the high-speed serial digital transmission line 21,
(4), (5) Control data to be set in the system controllers 12, 14, and 15 is transmitted by an Asynchrounous transfer signal. As a result, the transmission information data from the three photographing camera units (2), (4), (5) 12, 14, and 15 can be greatly reduced. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the remaining three photographing camera units (2), (4), (5) 12, 14, and 15 also
For example, other various data and control data signals continue to be transmitted. In this example, the photographing camera unit (1),
Although (3), (6) 11, 13 and 16 generate information data with high priority, it goes without saying that these settings can be freely changed. Also,
The priority (data) is determined not only by the input operation in the control unit 51 but also by each photographing camera unit (1 to 1).
6) Emergency data obtained by the emergency detection means built in 11 to 16 is transferred to the system controller, video / audio / data encoder, bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit and the common bidirectional Isochr via high-speed serial digital transmission line 21
It may be automatically changed according to the information data transmitted to the control unit 51 as an onous transfer signal or an asynchronous transfer signal. Especially in a surveillance system, if an emergency occurs in a certain monitored area,
All information data generated by the photographing camera unit 11 (to 16) for photographing this area is preferentially transferred to the central monitoring station (video / audio monitor units 31 to 33) via the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. ) Must be transmitted. Thus, for the priority data set in advance,
When the emergency detection means of each of the photographing camera units (1 to 6) 11 to 16 detects an emergency, the photographing camera unit 11
It is also possible to set the control unit 51 so as to increase the priority of the information data generated in (〜16). This emergency detection means is provided in each photographing camera section (1-6) 11-1.
A light sensor for emergency detection mounted in the area where 6 is photographing is suitable. This is because, in the case of an emergency that can be detected by the optical sensor, the emergency state is transmitted as an image using video information data generated by shooting with a video camera and displayed on the video / audio monitor units (1 to 3) 31 to 33. Because it can be confirmed.

Next, the functions of the data recording processing circuit 411 and the secondary recording / reproducing device 412 in the video / audio recording / reproducing section 41 connected via such a common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 will be described. 8 to 11
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 specifically shows a part of the data recording processing circuit 411. The bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 4111 includes an isochronous transfer (transmission / reception) unit 4111a and an asynchronous transfer (transmission / reception).
Means 4111b and an input terminal 4111c. Then, the data processing circuit 4112 includes a header separating unit 411.
2a, a data separating unit 4112b, a data serial-parallel data converting unit 4112c, an AV / C command processing unit 4112d, and a system controller 4.
112e.

Here, the bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 4111 which mediates transmission and reception of various data between the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 and the data processing circuit 4112 is input to the input terminal 4111c. Isochronous transfer (transmission / reception) means 4 for signals
Asynchrounous transfer (transmission / reception) means 4111
b, the Isochronous transfer signal and Asynchrounous
Separate into transfer signals. The header separation means 4112a
The photographing camera units (1-6) 11-1 that generate and transmit the information data from the information data from the photographing camera units (1-6) 11-16 transmitted by the isochronous transfer signal.
6 to separate the source packet header signal. The data separation unit 4112b separates the information data generated by each of the camera units (1-6) 11-16 with reference to the source packet header separated by the header separation unit 4112a. The serial-parallel data conversion unit 4112c converts the output data of the data separation unit 4112b into a parallel signal of an appropriate length and sends it to the first and second recording / reproducing devices 4113 and 412. Is recorded in a predetermined area according to the source packet header signal. AV /
The C command processing unit 4112d is an asynchronous transfer (transmission / reception) unit 4111b.
Various control data (commands) are extracted from the transfer signal and output to the system controller 4112e. These commands include various commands, and include at least information data set by the control unit 51 and specifying a photographing camera unit that generates information data to be recorded. The system controller 4112e performs control so that the first and second recording devices 4113 and 412 record only the information data generated and transmitted by the photographing camera unit designated by the information data.

FIG. 9 shows details of such an information data recording operation. On the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21, a photographing camera unit (1, 3, 6) 1
Information data including the video data generated in 1, 13, and 16 is transmitted in a time-division manner. When it is desired to record only the information data generated by the photographing camera unit (1) 11 among them, a control condition (control data) for that is set in the control unit 51, and this control unit The control data 51 is transmitted as an Asynchrounous transfer signal on the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 and input to the bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 4111 of the video / audio recording / reproducing apparatus 41. The bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 4111 receives the Asynchroun
Asynchrounous transfer (transmission / reception) means 411 for the ous transfer signal
The signal is separated at 1b and input to the data processing circuit 4112. The data processing circuit 4112 extracts various control data from the input asynchronous transfer signal by the AV / C command processing unit 4112d, and
Input to 112e. Then, according to the control data, when the information data generated by the predetermined photographing camera unit (1) 11 is separated by the header separation unit 4112a, the system control unit 4112e stores only the information data in the first and second recording devices. These are controlled so as to be recorded by 4113 and 412. In particular, a magnetic recording medium or the like used as a recording medium of the secondary recording device 412 often cannot have a very high data transfer speed.
As shown in (1), it is also effective to incorporate a buffer memory so that the transfer rate of only the separated signal (5) can be sufficiently reduced by the serial-parallel data conversion means 4112c. This makes it possible to create a recording signal (6) converted into a low transfer rate parallel signal for the recording apparatus.

Next, a plurality of photographing camera units (1, 6) 1
FIG. 1 shows a method of recording the information data generated in steps 1 and 16.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Basically, the recording method is the same as the recording method described with reference to FIG. 9, but when the data transfer capability of the recording device is large, it is possible to record information data generated simultaneously by a plurality of photographing camera units. In particular, various types of disks (HD, MO, PD, DVD-RAM) considered as storage media of the primary recording device 4113
Etc.) and some semiconductor memories have a sufficiently high speed. Although illustration is omitted in FIG. 8, naturally, not only the input means but also the first and second recording devices 4113 and 4113
It is necessary to reproduce (read) the information data recorded in the recording device 12, and an output means therefor is also required. Although the details will be described later, the video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41
Can transmit control data including information indicating the capability of the equipped recording / reproducing apparatus from the asynchronous transfer (transmission / reception) unit 4111b to the control unit 51 via the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. It can be so. By referring to the control data, the control unit 51 can recognize how many image information data of the photographing camera units can be recorded, and thereby, the information generated by the plurality of photographing camera units can be recognized. It is possible to set a recording mode suitable for data.

Two photographing camera units (1, 6) 11, 16
In order to record the information data including the video data generated in step (1), the control unit 51 causes the video / audio recording / reproduction unit 41 to record the information data generated in the photographing camera units (1, 6) 11, 16. The control data to be commanded is generated and transmitted to the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. The video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41 includes a data recording processing circuit 4
11, the command is separated by the AV / C command processing means 4112d of the data processing circuit 4112, and the command is separated by the system controller 4112e according to the command.
A signal (5) obtained by separating a desired signal from the signal (4) on the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 is taken out, and this is separated into first and second recording / reproducing devices 4113 and 412.
A signal (6) converted into a data string of a predetermined format is created and the first and second recording / reproducing apparatuses 4113 and 412 perform control to record the signal (6).

Next, the first and second recording / reproducing devices 411, 411
A detailed example of a method for recording information data using the 412 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, in a system for recording information data generated by a plurality of photographing camera units 11 to 16, information data (camera 1) generated by a photographing camera unit (1) and information data (camera The case of recording 2) will be exemplified. The primary recording / reproducing device 4113 has a role of integrating information data of each photographing camera unit into a predetermined frame unit or a longer time unit of several minutes. Are transferred and recorded when a predetermined amount is collected. Such division of functions is
This is particularly effective when a magnetic recording medium or the like in which access to the recording medium in the secondary recording / reproducing device 412 is slow is used.
In other words, by recording information data for each photographing camera, when reading access of the secondary recording / reproducing apparatus 4113 is slow, only the portion where desired photographing camera information data is recorded is scanned and read out. There is a merit that the place does not need to be changed frequently.

In FIG. 11, at the time of recording, the information data of the photographing camera (1) and the information data of the photographing camera (6) are separated from the separated signal (5), and the information data group of the photographing camera (1) is separated. And a group of information data of the photographing camera (6) are created as a group of signals (7) in the primary recording / reproducing device 4113, and the signal (8) to the secondary recording / reproducing device 412 using a magnetic recording tape is Recording is performed in units of the signal group (7) of the primary recording / reproducing device 4113. This makes it easy to reproduce only one signal group from the magnetic recording tape during reproduction.

When recording information data transmitted from a plurality of photographing camera units, the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line is used in the same manner as the information transmission management to the video / audio monitor unit. When a plurality of photographing camera units transmit and record information data including different video information data to one video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41 using the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21, Connected to the bidirectional high-speed serial digital line 2
The control unit 51 that manages the video information data is normally recorded by comparing the total amount of information transmitted from the camera units 11 to 16 with the recording transmission rate of the video / audio recording / reproducing device 41. Determine if you can. Then, when it is determined that the recording cannot be performed normally, the control unit 23 can be set in advance from the video information data of the information data generated by which photographing camera unit in the control unit 23.
As a result, the priority of each of the camera units 11 to 16 to be recorded in the first and second recording / reproducing devices 4113 and 412 can be set in the same manner as in the case of the monitor. Also, the priority of the information data can be changed by the emergency data sent from the photographing camera unit. These processes can be performed in the same manner as the monitoring process. Details of these will be further described later.

Next, as described above, the photographing camera unit 11 (〜16) and the video / audio monitor unit 31 (〜) connected to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21.
33), video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41 and control unit 5
A more specific circuit configuration and an information processing method will be described. FIG. 12 is an overall circuit diagram, and FIGS. 13 to 15 show each information processing method of the control unit 51. The same circuits and functions as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a part of the overlapping description will be omitted. Since the audio information data can be handled in the same manner as the video information data, here, the audio information data is included in the video information data and is referred to as the data video information data including the audio information data.

In FIG. 12, each photographing camera unit 11 (to
16), the encoder 115 includes a video compression data supply source 115a, a switch circuit 115b, a parallel-serial data conversion circuit 115c, a time stamp addition circuit 115d, a block division / header addition circuit 115e, a control data generator 115f, and an AV / C command. An issue processing circuit 115g and a frame generation circuit 115h are provided. The decoder 116 includes an AV / C command processing circuit 116a and a frame analysis processing circuit 116b. The bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 117 is connected to the Isoc
hronous transfer (transmission) means 117a, Asynchrounous transfer (reception) means 117b1, Asynchrounous transfer (reception)
Means 117b2, and a time-division addition processing circuit 117c for digital data.

The bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 311 in each of the video / audio monitoring units 31 (to 33).
Means the isochronous transfer (reception) means 311a, Asynchrou
It includes a nous transfer (reception) means 311b1, an asynchronous transfer (reception) means 311b2, and a time-division addition processing circuit 311c for digital data. The decoder 312 includes a header separation / block integration circuit 312a, a time stamp separation circuit 312b, and a serial-parallel data conversion circuit 31.
2c, video compression data receiving circuit 312d, frame analysis processing circuit 312e, AV / C command processing circuit 312
f, an AV / C command issuance processing circuit 312g and a frame generation circuit 312h. Further, a system controller 314 is provided.

The control data processing circuit 512 in the control unit 51 includes a header separation circuit 512a, a data amount determination processing circuit 512b, a frame analysis processing circuit 512c,
An AV / C command processing circuit 512d, an AV / C command issuing processing circuit 512e, and a frame generation circuit 512f are provided. Bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 5
13 is an isochronous transfer (reception) means 513a, Async
hrounous transfer (reception) means 513b1, Asynchrounous
A transfer (transmission) unit 513b2 and a digital data time-division addition processing circuit 513c are provided. Further, a system controller 514 and an input unit 514 are provided.

The bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 4111 in the video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41
It includes a hronous transfer (reception) unit 4111a1, an isochronous transfer (transmission) unit 4111a2, an asynchronous transfer (reception) unit 4111b1, an asynchrounous transfer (transmission) unit 4111b2, and a digital data time division addition processing circuit 4111c. The data processing circuit 4112 includes a header separation / block integration circuit 4112a1, a time stamp separation circuit 4112f, a serial-parallel data conversion circuit 4112c, a video compression data reception circuit 4112g,
Video compressed data transmission circuit 4112h, parallel-serial data conversion circuit 4112i, time stamp addition circuit 4112j, block division / header addition circuit 4112
k, frame analysis processing circuit 4112m, AV / C command processing circuit 4112d, system controller 4112
e, an AV / C command issuance processing circuit 4112n and a frame generation circuit 4112o. The first and second recording / reproducing devices are collectively indicated by reference numerals 4113 and 412.

Each photographing camera unit 1 on the information data transmitting side
1 (〜16) are video compressed data supply sources 11
5a, processes information input from the video camera 111 and the microphone 112 and outputs the processed information as compressed video data;
The data is supplied to the parallel-serial data conversion circuit 115c via the switch circuit 115b. The parallel-serial data conversion circuit 115c converts the compressed video data into a serial data string. At this time, the data from the control data generator 115f is also converted into a serial data sequence in a time division manner and superimposed. Time stamp adding circuit 115
“d” adds transmission timing time information to the serial data string output from the parallel-serial data conversion circuit 115c. Block division / header addition circuit 115e
Adds the block division information and the header information to the serial data string output from the time stamp addition circuit 115d. The isochronous transfer (transmission) means 117a and the time-division addition processing circuit 117c in the bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 117 transmit the information data thus processed to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21.

Further, the system controller 114 transmits information indicating the state of the photographing camera unit 11 (to 16) to the AV
AV / C command issuance processing circuit 11 as / C command
5g to issue an AV / C command signal. The frame generation circuit 115h transmits the AV / C command signal to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 via the asynchronous transfer (transmission) means 117b2 and the time division addition processing circuit 117c.

On the other hand, in receiving a signal from the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21, the signal on the bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 is converted into a time-division addition circuit 117c in the bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 117. The data is fetched through the asynchronous transfer (reception) means 117b1, restored by the frame analysis processing circuit 116b of the decoder 116, and supplied to the AV / C command processing circuit 116a to obtain an AV / C command (control data) signal. The switch circuit 115b is connected to the AV
For example, by interrupting the video compression data signal output from the video compression data supply source 115a by the / C command signal, the video compression data is transmitted to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. Stop.

Further, the system controller 114 receives the AV / C command signal, and the camera controller 11 (-
16) Various modes are set and changed. The system controller 114 includes a control data generator 115
For f, the emergency information data detected by the emergency detection means 113 described above and the photographing camera unit 11 (to 16) are identified (different information is provided to each photographing camera (1 to 6). ) Is also supplied.

Each of the video / audio monitoring sections 31 (-33) on the information data receiving side respectively converts various data signals transmitted through the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 into a bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit. 311c and Isocht in 311
Input via the ronous transfer (reception) means 311a. Then, the header information is separated by a header separation / block integration circuit 312a in the decoder 312 to obtain only predetermined information data (video information data generated by a predetermined photographing camera unit). A block integration process for restoring in accordance with the block division in is performed. Then, after the time stamp signal is separated by the time stamp separation circuit 312b, it is converted into a parallel data signal by the serial-parallel data conversion circuit 312c and supplied to the video compression data reception circuit 312d.
The video compressed data receiving circuit 312d restores the compressed parallel data to the original video information data and
13 is displayed.

The system controller 314 not only controls the inside of the video / audio monitor 31 (.about.33), but also identifies various types of information (AV) indicating the identification of the video / audio monitor 31 (.about.33) and the current state. / C command = control data) in the same manner as the photographing camera unit 11 (to 16).
Asynchrounous transfer (transmission) means 31 from the AV / C command issuance processing circuit 312g and the frame generation circuit 312h.
The signal is transmitted to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 via 1b2 and the time division addition processing circuit 311c. On the other hand, in receiving the control data (AV / C command) signal from the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21, the bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit 311 uses the asynchronous transfer (reception) means 3.
11b1 supplies a signal input via the time-division addition processing circuit 311b1 to a frame analysis processing circuit 312e to restore the signal, and supplies the restored signal to an AV / C command processing circuit 312f to output an AV / C command (control data)
Get the signal. The AV / C command signal includes any one of the photographing camera units 1 transmitted from the control unit 51.
The information includes information for specifying whether to display the information data generated in 1 (to 16) on a monitor. The system controller 314 controls the header separation / block integration circuit 312a according to the AV / C command signal, and specifies the header information of the information data of the photographing camera unit 11 (（16) to be separated. Thereby, the desired photographing camera unit 11
The video shot in (〜16) is displayed on the monitor 313.

The control unit 51 is provided for each photographing camera unit 1
1 (to 16) through the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 for bidirectional high-speed serial transmission of information data (including, in some cases, reproduction information data from the video / audio recording / reproducing device 41). The time-division addition processing circuit 513c of the interface circuit 513 and the Isochr
The data is input via the onous transfer (reception) unit 513a, and the header information is separated by the header separation circuit 512a of the control data processing circuit 512 and supplied to the data amount determination processing circuit 512b. The data amount determination processing circuit 512b grasps from this header information how many types of information data are currently being transmitted from the photographing camera unit 11 (（16) and the video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41.

By comparing the transmission information data amount and the transmittable capacity of the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21, the number of the photographing camera units 11 (to 1) can be determined.
6) It is possible to determine whether the video information data of the video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41 can be transmitted. And
Based on the result of the determination, the transmission availability control (transmission) of the video information data generated by the photographing camera unit 11 (to 16) and the video information data reproduced by the video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41 is performed in descending order of the predetermined priority. By performing (data amount management), normal information data transmission can be realized within the data transmission allowable range of the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. For this purpose, the system controller 514 sets the data amount determination processing circuit 51
The transmission information data amount information is obtained from 2b, and control data for setting whether or not to transmit information data to each of the camera units 11 (to 16) and the video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41 is generated. The system controller 514 uses the control data as an AV / C command and issues an AV / C command issuance processing circuit 5512e.
To issue an AV / C command signal. This AV
The / C command signal is output via the frame generation circuit 512f.
The signal is transmitted to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 via the asynchrounous transfer (transmission) means 513b2 and the time-division addition processing circuit 513c, and is transmitted to each photographing camera unit 11 (to 16) and the video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41 Transmit.

The system controller 514
Is, for example, as described above, each photographing camera unit 11
It also receives a control data signal and the like from the emergency detection means 113 provided in (〜16). This signal is input from the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 via the time-division addition processing circuit 513c and the asynchronous transfer (reception) means 513b1, and is restored by the frame analysis processing circuit 512c to reproduce the AV / AV. C command processing circuit 5
12d, AV / C command (control information data)
The signal is input to the system controller 514 as a signal.
The system controller 514 responds to the emergency data signal from the emergency detecting means 3 by transmitting each of the photographing camera units 11 (to 16) on the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 and video / audio recording / reproduction. Processing such as changing the priority of the information data from the unit 41 is performed. Similarly, information such as the connection status from each of the video / audio monitoring units 31 to 33 is obtained from this circuit means.

Next, the video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41 on the transmission / reception side transmits data to the system controller 4112e during recording.
The information data signal specified by the header separation circuit 41
By finding it at 12a1, only the designated information data (video signal) is separated and supplied to the video compression data receiving circuit 4112g, which is recorded in the primary and / or secondary playback devices 4113 and 412. I do. The photographing camera unit 11 (to 16) that generates the video signal to be recorded is
The system controller 514 of the control unit 51
And transmitted to the system controller 4112e as the Asynchrounous transfer signal and set. At the time of reproduction, the video data generated by the primary and / or secondary recording / reproducing devices 4113 and 412 is
Video compressed data transmission circuit 4112h, parallel-serial data conversion circuit 4112i, time stamp addition circuit 4112j, block division / header addition circuit 4112k
Via isochronous transfer (transmission) means 4111a2
And the time-division addition processing circuit 4111c outputs the Is
The signal is transmitted to the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 as an ochronous transfer signal. This regeneration command also
This is performed by the control unit 51 using an AV / C command.

Next, the detailed operation of the control section 51 will be described. FIG. 13 to FIG.
1 shows an operation example of the system controller 514 in FIG. FIG. 13 predicts the total amount N of the transmission information data on the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21 based on the transmission information data information obtained from the data amount determination processing circuit 512b (step S1301).
Are the primary and / or secondary recording / reproducing devices 4113, 41
It is determined whether the data amount is larger or smaller than the recordable data amount in the camera 2 (step S1302). (Step S130) by controlling the header separation / block integration circuit 4112a1 to adjust the recording video information data to be obtained.
3) Set so that the total amount of video information data to be recorded falls within the data amount recordable in the recording device.

At this time, the photographing camera units 11 to 11
The priority of 16 is set in advance by the user using a priority setting menu as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, when emergency data (control data signal) or the like is received from the emergency detection means 113 provided in each of the photographing camera sections 11 to 16, this is detected as an alarm input. (Step S150
1) Which of the photographing camera units 11 to 16 is the emergency data signal from the emergency detection unit 113 (this signal is transmitted by either the Asynchrounous transfer signal or the Isochtronous transfer signal) Is detected (step S1502). In the example of FIG. 15, when it is detected that the camera unit (5) 15 is selected, the priority information (step S1503) set in advance is set so that the priority of the camera unit 15 is set to the highest. This is changed (step S1504), so that the video information data from the photographing camera unit 15 for photographing the photographing target area in which the emergency has occurred can be preferentially recorded in the recording and reproducing devices 4113 and 412. Such a priority control process can be applied to the control of the video and audio monitor units 31 to 33 described above so that a video having a high priority is reliably displayed on the monitor by substantially the same process.

Next, an embodiment of the videophone / conference system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the same functional units as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals. It will be easily understood that the same thing as described above can be considered in such a system.

In this embodiment, 3
Camera cameras 11 to 13 and video / audio monitor 31
33, a video / audio recording / reproducing unit 41, and a control unit 51. Camera 1
1 to 13 generate and transmit video and audio information data by photographing and collecting a conversation target person and transmit the video and audio information data;
33 displays and emits the received video and audio information data and presents it to the conversation target person. Each video / audio monitor 3
Each of 1 to 33 simultaneously displays video information data transmitted from the other two photographing camera units in a divided screen.

In such a videophone / conference system as well, a common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 2
1 if the data transmission capacity is small or if the number of connected camera units and video / audio monitor units increases,
It is conceivable that all the information data cannot be transmitted through the common bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line 21. In such a case, the control unit 51
In this case, applications such as transmission of information data having high priority, and generation of emergency data by operating the detecting means 3 by a speaker to secure transmission priority can be considered. Furthermore, it is also possible to control the display position on the video / audio monitor units 31 to 33, whether or not to perform display, and the like according to these priorities. In addition, these videophones /
It becomes necessary to record and save information data of the conference. Even in such a case, it is necessary to limit information data to be recorded according to the recording data transfer capacity of the video / audio recording / reproducing device 41. At this time, as described above, the problem can be solved by adopting the respective priority processes.

The present invention is suitable for information data transmission using a bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line, but can also be carried out using an analog transmission line. Also,
A transmission line is used by laying a dedicated transmission line in a building or a premises monitoring system, but a plurality of building monitoring and videophone / conference systems use a public communication line.

[0082]

According to the information transmission / recording method and the apparatus therefor according to the present invention, a plurality of different types of video information (reproduction mode functions in the photographing camera section group and the information recording / reproducing apparatus) are transmitted from a plurality of transmission means. (May include audio information)
Can be simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of receiving means (monitor and recording function of the recording / reproducing apparatus) by using a common transmission line for transmitting / receiving an information data sequence including the information data in a time-division manner.
Further, the control means connected to such a common transmission line also transmits signals for controlling devices of various transmission means and various reception means connected to the transmission line by using the transmission line to transmit the signals. To freely set or change the combination of data and the receiving side, monitor the amount of data on the transmission line and control the amount of data on the transmitting side, and send information to the transmission line according to the priority. By controlling a transmission-side device that transmits the video data, at least the transmission of the video information is stopped (blocked), and the data transmission according to the data transmission capability of the transmission line can be realized. Furthermore, for the priority of the transmission information, for information having a high priority such as an emergency due to the control data of each photographing camera unit, this control data is transmitted from each photographing camera unit to the control means, and the priority is set. By making the change, it is possible to reliably transmit / display / record the information required especially when used in a monitoring system or the like, and to exhibit an extremely effective effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a video / audio information data transmission / display / recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation of time-division multiplexing digital compressed information data from a plurality of photographing camera units and transmitting the data over the same transmission line.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of recording data on a transmission line in a recording / reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing one embodiment of a monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing one control operation of control means for controlling data on a digital transmission line.

FIG. 6 is a menu display screen showing one setting operation of control means for controlling data on a digital transmission line.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of control of data on a digital transmission line by a control means.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration of a data recording processing circuit.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a data recording / reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view showing another embodiment of the data recording / reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a primary and secondary recording / reproducing device in the data recording / reproducing device.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a specific circuit configuration of a device connected to a common bidirectional digital transmission line for realizing the video information transmission / recording / reproducing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a priority control operation in control means connected to a common bidirectional digital transmission line for realizing the video information transmission / recording / reproducing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a menu display screen illustrating a priority setting operation in control means connected to a common bidirectional digital transmission line for realizing the video information transmission / recording / reproducing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a priority change control operation of control means connected to a common bidirectional digital transmission line for implementing the video information transmission / recording / reproduction method according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a system block diagram showing one embodiment of a videophone / videoconference system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 to 15: camera unit, 111: video camera, 1
12 microphone, 113 detecting means, 114 system controller, 115 encoder, 116 decoder
117: bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit, 21: bidirectional high-speed serial digital transmission line, 31
33: video / audio monitor unit, 311: bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit, 312: decoder, 31
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Monitor, 41 ... Video-audio recording / reproducing part, 411 ... Data recording processing circuit, 412 ... Second recording / reproducing apparatus, 411
1: Bidirectional high-speed serial transmission interface circuit, 4
112: Data processing circuit, 4113: Secondary recording / reproducing device, 51: Control unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 Z 5/7826 7/15 5/765 7/18 D 7/08 5/782 J 7/081 K 7/24 5/91 L 7/15 7/08 Z 7/18 7/13 Z (72) Inventor Koichi Ono 1410 Inada, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Pref. Hitachi, Ltd. Multimedia System Development Division

Claims (33)

[Claims] 1. An information transmission method for transmitting information data including different video information data from a plurality of transmission means to a plurality of reception means using a common transmission line, wherein the information transmission means is connected to the transmission line. An information transmission method comprising: providing control means for managing an information transmission function of each of the transmission means and each of the reception means, and setting which information data of which transmission means is to be transmitted to which reception means by the control means. . 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means compares the total amount of information data transmitted by each transmission means with the transmittable capacity of the common transmission line, thereby enabling normal transmission of video information data. An information transmission method comprising: determining whether or not transmission cannot be performed normally; and stopping output from at least video information data in transmission information data set in advance by a transmission unit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means compares the total amount of transmission information data of each transmission means with the transmittable capacity of said common transmission line to transmit normal video information data. Determining whether the transmission cannot be performed normally, and stopping the output of at least the video information data in the transmission information data of the low-priority transmission means with reference to the control data of the priority when it is determined that the transmission cannot be performed normally. Method. 4. An emergency detecting means according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of transmitting means include a camera section, an emergency detecting means for detecting an emergency state in a photographing area of said camera section, and an emergency detecting means generated by said emergency detecting means. A control unit for generating control data for changing the priority based on data, wherein the control unit transmits the control data of the priority to the control unit by time-divisionally superimposing the control data on the transmission information data. Characteristic information transmission method. 5. An information transmission method for transmitting information data including different video information data from N transmission means to M reception means using a common transmission line, comprising: And control means for managing the information transmission function of each of the transmitting means and each of the receiving means. When the number N is greater than M (N> M), the control means transmits some of the transmitting means. An information transmission method, wherein output of at least video information data in information data is stopped. 6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the number of the transmitting means is N,
When the number of the receiving units is M and N is larger than M (N> M), the control unit causes the receiving unit to transmit the information data of the transmitting unit with the high priority by the control data of the priority, An information transmission method characterized by stopping output of at least video information data in information data of a transmission unit having a low priority. 7. An information transmission apparatus for transmitting information data including different video information data from a plurality of transmission means to a plurality of reception means using a common transmission line, wherein the information transmission device is connected to the transmission line. An information transmission apparatus comprising: a control unit for managing an information transmission function of each of the transmission units and each of the reception units; and the control unit sets which transmission unit transmits information data to which of the reception units. . 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control means compares the total amount of information data transmitted by each transmission means with the transmittable capacity of the common transmission line to enable normal transmission of video information data. An information transmission apparatus characterized in that the output is stopped from at least video information data in transmission information data set in advance by the transmission means when it is determined whether or not transmission is impossible. 9. The system according to claim 7, wherein said control means compares the total amount of transmission information data of each transmission means with the transmittable capacity of said common transmission line to determine whether normal video information data can be transmitted. Determining whether the transmission cannot be performed normally, and stopping the output of at least the video information data in the transmission information data of the low-priority transmission means with reference to the control data of the priority when it is determined that the transmission cannot be performed normally. apparatus. 10. An emergency detecting means according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of transmitting means are respectively a camera section, an emergency detecting section for detecting an emergency state in a photographing area of said camera section, and an emergency data generated by said emergency detecting section. A control unit for generating control data for changing the priority based on the control information, wherein the control unit transmits the control data of the priority to the control unit by superimposing the control data of the priority on transmission information data in a time-division manner. Information transmission device. 11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said transmitting means is N
, The number of the receiving means is M, and N is larger than M (N> M)
At this time, the control means causes the receiving means to transmit the information data of the high-priority transmitting means by the control data of the priority, and outputs at least the video information data in the information data of the low-priority transmitting means. An information transmission device characterized by being stopped. 12. Transmission and display of information data including separate video information data from a plurality of transmission means including a photographing camera for photographing a monitoring target area to a plurality of reception means including a video monitor via a transmission line. In the monitoring device to be connected, the transmission means, the reception means, and control means for managing these information transmission functions are connected to a common transmission line,
A monitoring apparatus, wherein the control means sets which transmitting means transmits information data to which receiving means. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a comparison is made between the total amount of information data transmitted by each transmission means and the transmittable capacity of the common transmission line to determine whether normal information data transmission is possible, A monitoring device characterized in that when it is determined that transmission cannot be performed normally, output is stopped from at least video information data in transmission information data of a preset transmission unit. 14. A system according to claim 12, wherein a comparison is made between the total amount of information data transmitted by each transmission means and the transmittable capacity of said common transmission line to determine whether normal information data transmission is possible. A monitoring apparatus characterized in that when it is determined that transmission cannot be performed normally, output is stopped from at least video information data in transmission information data of a low-priority transmission unit by referring to control data of a priority. 15. The transmitting device according to claim 13, wherein:
Emergency detection means for detecting an emergency state in the shooting area of the shooting camera, and a control unit for generating control data for changing the priority based on the emergency data of the emergency detection means, the control unit A monitoring device, wherein the control data of the priority is time-divisionally superimposed on transmission information data and transmitted to the control means. 16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the number of transmitting means is N.
When N is greater than M (N> M), where M is the number of receivers and receivers, output of at least video information data in some transmission information data of the transmitter is stopped by the controller. A monitoring device characterized in that the monitoring is performed. 17. Separate video and audio information data is transmitted from a plurality of transmitting means including a photographing camera for photographing a person to be interacted with and an audio information acquiring means for acquiring audio information to a plurality of receiving means including a video and audio monitor. In a videophone / conference apparatus for transmitting and displaying information data including the data via a transmission line, the transmission means, the reception means, and the control means for managing the information transmission function are connected to a common transmission line, and the control means is provided. A videophone / conference apparatus wherein the means sets which transmitting means transmits information data to which receiving means. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means compares the total amount of information data transmitted by each transmission means with the transmittable capacity of said common transmission line to determine whether normal information data transmission is possible. A videophone / conference apparatus characterized in that the output is stopped from at least the video information data in the transmission information data set in advance by the transmission means when it is determined that the transmission cannot be performed normally. 19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means compares the total amount of information data transmitted by each transmission means with the transmittable capacity of said common transmission line to determine whether normal information data transmission is possible. Monitoring, characterized in that when it is determined that the transmission cannot be performed normally, the output is stopped from at least the video information data in the transmission information data of the low priority transmission means by referring to the control data of the priority. apparatus. 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein:
Emergency detection means for detecting an emergency state in the shooting area of the shooting camera, and a control unit for generating control data for changing the priority based on the emergency data of the emergency detection means, the control unit A monitoring device, wherein the control data of the priority is time-divisionally superimposed on transmission information data and transmitted to the control means. 21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the number of transmitting means is N.
When N is greater than M (N> M), where M is the number of receivers and receivers, output of at least video information data in some transmission information data of the transmitter is stopped by the controller. A monitoring device characterized in that the monitoring is performed. 22. An information recording method for transmitting and recording information data respectively generated by a plurality of transmission means to one recording means via a common transmission line, wherein said transmission means is connected to said common transmission line to transmit said information data. Control means for managing the information transmission function of the means and the information recording function of the recording means, and the control means sets which transmission means from which information data is to be recorded by the recording means. Method. 23. The recording medium according to claim 22, wherein:
The information data generated by the specific transmitting means set by the control means is separated from the plurality of information data, and the specific transmitting source information is sequentially added to the separated specific transmitting means in units of a predetermined information data amount. An information recording method, characterized in that the information is recorded by recording. 24. The recording medium according to claim 22, wherein:
An information recording method characterized by acquiring and recording M types (where M is 2 or more and M <N) of information data from N types of information data transmitted from N transmission means. 25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control means compares the total amount of transmission information data of each of the transmission means with the recording data transmission capacity of the recording means to determine whether or not normal information data recording is possible. An information recording method, wherein when it is determined that recording cannot be performed, recording of information data from some transmission means is stopped. 26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control means compares the total amount of transmission information data of each of said transmission means with the recording data transmission capacity of said recording means to determine whether or not normal information data recording is possible. An information recording method, wherein when it is determined that recording cannot be performed, recording of information data from a transmission unit having a low priority is stopped. 27. The information data to be recorded according to claim 22, wherein emergency data detected by emergency detection means provided in each of said transmission means is time-divisionally transmitted to said common transmission line and transmitted to said control means. An information recording method characterized by using reference information for setting a degree. 28. An information recording apparatus in which information data generated by a plurality of transmission means and transmitted through a common transmission line is recorded by a single recording means, wherein the recording means has a common function with the recording means. Separation for separating information data to be recorded by the recording means from information data transmitted from the plurality of transmission means, based on control data from a control means connected to a transmission line and managing an information recording function of the recording means; An information recording device comprising means. 29. The recording medium according to claim 28, wherein:
An information recording apparatus characterized in that specific transmission source information is sequentially added and recorded in units of a predetermined information data amount for each separated specific transmission unit. 30. A transmission information generating apparatus comprising: a camera for photographing a target area; and a signal processing means for processing a video information signal output from the camera to generate information data to be transmitted. Video data compression means for converting the video information signal into digital video information data in a compressed form; and interface means for transmitting video information data output from the video data compression means to a common transmission line in a time-division manner. A transmission information generation device comprising: 31. An apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising detecting means provided in an area photographed by said camera, and detecting means for detecting a control signal inputted from said interface means, wherein said detecting means and an output of said detecting means are provided. A transmission information generation device, wherein the necessity of an output signal of the video data compression means is set based on a signal. 32. A transmission information generating apparatus according to claim 31, wherein an output signal of said detecting means has priority over an output signal of said detecting means. 33. A camera for photographing a target area and outputting a video information signal, audio information input means for inputting audio and outputting an audio information signal, and processing and transmitting the video information signal and the audio information signal. A transmission information generating apparatus including signal processing means for generating information data to be transmitted, wherein the signal processing means converts the video information signal into compressed video information data in digital format; and the audio information signal. And audio data compressing means for converting the video information data and audio information data to a common transmission line in a time-division manner. Information generation device.