JPH10164532A - Device and method for processing information, storage medium and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system or an image-processing system with good handlingbility by controlling received images from a transmitter based on sound transmitted from the transmitter and displaying the controlled images at a prescribed display means by a receiver. SOLUTION: When the input (s603) of a transmission site is present, one of the buttons of still images, dynamic images and sound is selected by an operator (s604.) When information is selected (s604,) that effect is transmitted to the transmission site, one of the still image, the dynamic image and the sound corresponding to the selection is received from the transmission site which receives it, the received still image or dynamic image is displayed at a monitor and the received sound is outputted from a speaker (s605.) When a sound level is changed (s606), the image corresponding to the one of the highest level of the sound accompanying the image within the three images is emphasized and displayed (s607.) For example, an outer frame is emphasized by a thick line. Thus, interesting images considered as having the largest changes are visually, easily understandably displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method capable of communicating images and sounds, a storage medium, and a communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Images and sounds can be exchanged between a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a conventional communication line. For example, images and sounds can be exchanged between personal computers on a communication line using the Internet or the like.

[0003]

However, the conventional information processing apparatus capable of communicating images and sounds controls the reception of still images, moving images and sounds by manual operation from the side receiving the images and sounds. Was.

Therefore, the importance and the like of each image transmitted from the transmitting side are all determined by the operator, and the image must be received or processed by manual operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and has as its object to provide a user-friendly communication system or image processing system in a communication system capable of communicating images and sounds.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-use communication system and an image processing system using voice to be communicated.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention.
What is claimed is: 1. A communication system comprising: a transmitting device that transmits an image and a sound to be added to the image; and a receiving device that receives the image information and the sound, wherein the transmitting device selectively receives the image and the sound. A transmitting unit capable of transmitting to the device, wherein the receiving device controls an image received from the transmitting device based on sound transmitted from the transmitting device, and outputs the controlled image to a predetermined display unit. It is characterized by having control means for displaying.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an overall block diagram of a communication system which is the basis of the present embodiment.

[0010] 1 is a CP of a personal computer, a workstation or the like.
A computer having a U, 2 a monitor such as a CRT display, 3 a storage device for holding programs and data, 4 a camera for taking images, 5 a microphone for inputting sound, 6 a speaker for outputting sound, 7 is a network, 8 is a transmission site, and 9 is a reception site.

The storage device 3 of the transmission site 8 stores a still image information transmission program 310, a moving image information transmission program 320, and an audio information transmission program 330.

The storage device 3 of the receiving site 9 stores a still image information transmission program 340, a moving image information transmission program 350, an audio information transmission program 360, and an information switching program 370.

The still image information transmission program 310
Is a program for capturing a still image from the camera 4 via the video board into the computer 1 and transmitting the still image information via the network 7.

The above-mentioned moving picture information transmission program 320
This is a program for capturing a moving image from the camera 4 via the video board into the computer 1 and transmitting the moving image information via the network 7.

The voice information transmission program 330 is a program for capturing voice from the microphone 5 through the sound board into the computer 1 and transmitting voice information via the network 7.

The still image display program 340 is a program for receiving still image information via the network 7 and displaying the still image on the monitor 2 of the computer 1.

The moving image display program 350 is a program for receiving moving image information via the network 7 and displaying the moving image on the monitor 2 of the computer 1.

The audio reproduction program 360 receives audio information via the network 7 and uses a speaker to
This is a program for reproducing sound on the computer 1.

The computer 1 at the transmission site 8 and the reception site 9 reads and activates the above-mentioned programs, so that still images, moving images, and audio can be transmitted.

The transmission of a still image is realized by, for example, a flowchart shown in FIG.

When the receiving site 9 wants to receive and display a still image from any of the transmitting sites 8, the receiving site 9
Designates one of the transmission sites 8 and transmits the fact to the specified transmission site (for example, the transmission site 8) (s
301).

When the designated transmission site (for example, the transmission site 8) detects the designation, it starts the still image information transmission program 310 and transmits a still image to the reception site 9 (s302).

The receiving site 9 displays the still image information received via the network 7 on the monitor 2 by activating the still image information display program (s30).
3).

Transmission of a moving image is realized by the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the receiving site 9 wants to receive and display a moving image from any of the transmitting sites 8, the transmitting site is designated and transmitted to the designated transmitting site (for example, the transmitting site 8) (s401). .

When the transmission site receives the designation, the moving image information transmission program starts, and transmits the moving image to the reception site 9 (s402).

The receiving site 9 displays the moving image information received via the network 7 on the monitor 2 by activating the moving image information display program (s403).

The display of the moving image can be continued until the end of the moving image is detected (s404).

The transmission of sound can be performed by the same processing as the transmission of the moving image in FIG.

Next, the information switching program 370 stored in the storage device of the receiving site 9 will be described.

FIG. 5 shows an execution procedure of the information switching program 370.

When the information switching program 370 is started, it waits for an input event such as a key input or a mouse click (s501).

In s502, it is determined whether or not the operator has input to specify a transmission site, and if there is an input, the transmission site is specified (s503). Next, the operator selects information required at the receiving site 9 among the information of the still image, the moving image, and the sound, and transmits the information to the transmitting site 8 (s504).

Since the transmitting site 8 transmits information according to the selection, the transmitting site 8 receives this information from next (s505).

When an end event occurs (s50)
6), terminate the information switching program.

Next, features of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the system configuration of the present invention, there are a plurality of transmission sites 8, and images can be received in parallel from each of these transmission sites 8 and displayed on the monitor 2. When an image and a moving image are received, a still image or a moving image received from each transmission site 8 is simultaneously displayed in three different windows as shown in FIG.

In addition, since sound can be additionally received with the received image at the same time, three normal sounds (each sound received from three transmission sites) are simultaneously output to the speaker 6 in FIG. Will be.

FIG. 1 is obtained by changing the information switching program 370 in the overall block diagram of FIG. 2 described above to an information switching program 371. Since the configuration of FIG. 1 is almost the same as that of FIG. 2, the execution procedure of the changed information switching program 371 will be described in detail.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an execution procedure of the information switching program 371.

When the information switching program 371 is started, it waits for an input event such as a key input or a mouse click (s601).

In s602, when there is the input event,
For example, an image is displayed on the monitor 2 in the form of 10 in FIG. 7, and the process waits until an operator inputs a transmission site from the keyboard of the computer 1 in the transmission site designation unit 10 in FIG. 7 (s603).

When there is an input of the transmission site in s603, any one of the still image, moving image, and voice buttons in FIG. 7 is selected by the operator, and the process waits until the enter button is selected (s604).

Note that the selection of the button is not limited to one, and two buttons may be selected. For example, if an audio button and a still image button or an audio button and a moving image button are selected, the reception site is selected. 9 is a still image with sound,
A video with sound can be received.

When the information is selected in s604, the fact is transmitted to the transmission site 8, and the transmission site 8 receiving the selection is transmitted.
Receives any of a still image, a moving image, and a sound corresponding to the above selection, displays the received still image or the moving image on the monitor 2, and outputs the received sound from the speaker 6 (s
605). For example, when the reception processing of these images is performed at three transmission sites 8, a screen as shown in FIG.

Next, when a still image or a moving image is received and displayed, a sound accompanying these images (this sound is a sound to be added at the time of receiving an image and is taken in from the microphone 5 of the transmission site 8) It is determined whether or not there is a change in the sound level (the sound obtained) (s606).

When there is a change in the audio level in s606, the image corresponding to the image with the highest audio level among the three images shown in FIG. 8 is highlighted and displayed (s607). ).

In FIG. 8, since the sound added to the image of the transmission site B has the highest level, the outer frame of this image is emphasized by a thick line. As a result, an interesting image in which the first audio level is high, that is, the first image is considered to have a change, can be displayed in a visually understandable manner.

The resolution of the image corresponding to the voice having the highest first voice level may be displayed at a high resolution. According to this, only the interesting image which seems to have a change in the first image can be displayed as a high-definition image. In addition, since other images need only be displayed at a low resolution, the load of image processing can be reduced.

Further, only the image corresponding to the audio having the highest first audio level may be displayed in color. According to this, it is possible to display only an interesting image which is considered to have a change in the first image with high image quality. Further, since other images may be displayed in monochrome, the load of image processing can be reduced. Further, only the image corresponding to the audio having the highest audio level is displayed as a 16-bit gradation color image, and the other images are displayed in 8 bits.
The same effect can be obtained by displaying a bit color image.

Further, an image corresponding to a sound having the highest first sound level may be enlarged and displayed. According to this, only an interesting image which seems to have a change in the first image can be displayed as a large image. Further, other images may be displayed as normal or reduced images, so that the load of image processing can be reduced.

By selecting an image corresponding to a sound having the highest sound level of 1 and projecting the image from a separately installed projector or displaying the image on a large screen monitor, it is considered that the first image has a change. Interesting images can be selectively enlarged.

Further, only the voice having the highest voice level may be output from the speaker 6. According to this, it is possible to make it easy to hear only the sound corresponding to the interesting image in which the first image is considered to have a change.

Further, the volume of the sound having the highest sound level may be controlled to be larger than that of the other sounds and output from the speaker 6. With this method, the effects as described above can be obtained.

Finally, when an end event occurs in s608, the information switching program 371 is ended.

In s607, each of the above-described processing is performed on an image corresponding to a sound having the highest audio level. May be performed.

Each of the above-described processes may be performed on an image corresponding to a sound whose sound level has greatly changed. According to this, it is possible to display the image in which the image is expected to largely change due to a large change in the voice so that the operator can easily understand the image.

Further, the above-described processing may be performed on all the images corresponding to the sound whose sound level is equal to or less than the predetermined value. According to this, it is possible to display image information of a transmission site that is considered not so important in an easy-to-understand manner.

(Second Embodiment) A further modification of the first embodiment will be specifically described. In this embodiment, a system in which both moving images and audio are received as an initial setting will be described.

In this embodiment, since the execution procedure of the information switching program 371 in FIG. 1 is slightly different, a detailed description of the system is omitted. The information switching program in the present embodiment is referred to as an information switching program 372, and a flowchart of the information switching program 372 is shown below.

When this program is started, key input,
Wait for an input event such as a mouse click (s90
1).

If there is an input event (s902), a transmission site is designated (s903), and moving image information and audio information are received and displayed from the designated transmission site (s904).

If there is a change in the audio level for each image being received and displayed (s905), and if the audio level is lower than a predetermined value (s906), the transmission site 8
Control to receive a still image from. That is, a transmission command of the still image is transmitted to the transmission site, and the transmitted still image is received and displayed according to this command (s907).

When the audio level is higher than a predetermined value, control is performed so that moving image information is received from the transmission site 8. That is, a moving image transmission instruction is transmitted to the transmission site, and the transmitted moving image is received and displayed according to this instruction (s
907).

In accordance with the sound level of the sound accompanying the displayed image (there are still images and moving images, but the initial image is a moving image), it is determined that a sound having a low sound level is not so important. In this case, a still image is displayed, and a moving image is displayed as being important when the sound level is high. Therefore, an important image can be displayed as a moving image in real time.

Finally, if there is an end event in s608, the program ends.

In this embodiment, both the moving image and the sound are received as the initial setting. However, the same effect can be obtained even if the initial setting is to receive the still image and the sound.

In the above embodiment, the information switching programs 370 to 372 are stored in the receiving site 9, but the steps of this program are divided into steps performed on the transmitting side and steps performed on the receiving side. The processing of the above program may be shared between the transmitting side and the receiving side.

According to the present embodiment, an image considered to be of low importance is received and displayed as a still image, so that the data transfer efficiency can be improved.

(Third Embodiment) In this embodiment, the basic system configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1, and when a still image information is received and displayed, a transmission site having a higher audio level is displayed. Is characterized in that the still image at that time is newly received again.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of the present embodiment, in which the execution procedure of the information switching program 371 is modified. Therefore, description of the system configuration is omitted. Note that the changed information switching program is referred to as an information switching program 373.

FIG. 10 shows an execution procedure of the information switching program 373, which will be described in detail below.

When the information switching program 373 is started, it waits for an input event such as a key input or a mouse click (s1001).

If there is an input event (s1002),
The transmission site is designated by the operator (s1003), and information necessary for a still image, a moving image, and a sound is selected by a button like 11 in FIG. 7, and a determination button is selected (s1003).
4).

Then, similarly to the first and second embodiments,
The still image, the moving image, and the audio selected by the above selection are received by negotiation with the transmission site, and these are displayed on the monitor 2 or output to the speaker 6 (s1).
005).

If the audio level corresponding to each of the received and displayed images (in the present embodiment, a still image) changes (s1006), there is an image whose audio level has changed higher than a predetermined value. If (S1007), a new still image is received again from the transmission site 8 that has received this image (S1008). In this case, the transmission site 8 shoots a new still image from the camera 4 and then transmits the still image to the reception site 9.

When there is no change in the audio level corresponding to each image received and displayed (in the present embodiment, a still image), the still image displayed on the monitor 2 of the reception site 9 is displayed. Never change.

When an end event occurs (s100
9) End the program.

In the above embodiments, the information switching program 373 is stored on the receiving site 9 side.
The above program may be stored in the transmission site 8 and controlled from the transmission site. In addition, the reception site 9 can read out and activate the above program to control the reception site.

According to the present embodiment, a still image having a high audio level, that is, a still image expected to have a high importance is frequently received as a new still image. Image reception and display can be performed. Conversely, for an image with a low audio level, the still image need not be updated almost, so that the amount of transmission data on the network 7 can be reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) In this embodiment, when the sound level of the sound for an image that has not been transmitted (still image, moving image) becomes high, a still image corresponding to this sound, This starts receiving the moving image from the transmission site. That is, in the initial state, only the voice is received from the transmission site.

Note that, like the second and third embodiments, the present embodiment uses a system configured based on the entire block diagram of FIG. 1, and the information switching program 371 of FIG. It is assumed that the program has been changed to the switching program 374.

FIG. 11 shows an execution procedure of the information switching program 374, which will be described in detail below.

When the information switching program 374 is started, it waits for an input event such as a key input or a mouse click (s1101).

If there is an input event (s1102), the operator is caused to specify a transmission site (s1103), and the operator selects one of the sites shown in FIG.
A button such as 1 is used to select necessary information of a still image, a moving image, and audio, and a determination button is selected (s110).
4). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a still image and a sound are selected.

When the above selection is determined in s1104, the receiving site 9 transmits a command to transmit the voice and the moving image to the transmitting site 8, and the transmitting site 8 prepares to transmit the still image and the voice according to the instruction. First, only the sound is received and output to the speaker 6 (s110).
5).

When there is a change in the audio level of the received and output audio (s1106), and when the audio level is higher than a predetermined value (s1007), a still image corresponding to the audio is output (s1008). It negotiates with the transmission site 8 to receive the still image.

When the sound is not higher than the predetermined value,
Until the sound level of the sound becomes higher than a predetermined value, the still image is not received and only the sound is continuously received.

If the audio level becomes higher than the predetermined value and the still image is received and displayed and the audio level becomes lower than the predetermined value in s1007, the monitor 2
The display of the still image displayed above may be stopped (s1010).

If it is not desired to prevent the once displayed still image from being displayed, s1010 may not be performed.

When the end event occurs (s110)
9) End the program.

Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to the case where audio and still images are transmitted, the same applies to the case where audio and moving images are transmitted.

In this manner, image information relating to an important image having an increased audio level is selectively received, so that efficient data reception becomes possible.

(Fifth Embodiment) In this embodiment, image information control is performed for a transmission site having a higher audio level.

In this embodiment, the information switching program 371 in FIG. 1 is changed to an information switching program 375, and the camera is transmitted from the receiving site 9 via the still image information transmitting program 310 or the moving image information transmitting program 320. Swing to change the shooting range of 4,
The difference is that zoom and the like can be controlled.

FIG. 12 shows an execution procedure of the information switching program 375, which will be described in detail below.

When the information switching program 375 is started, it waits for an input event such as a key input or a mouse click (s1201).

If there is an input event (s1202),
The operator designates a transmission site (s1203), allows the user to select information required for a still image, a moving image, and audio with a button as shown in FIG. 7 and selects an enter button (s120).
4).

Next, by negotiating with the transmission site 8 based on the above selection, a still image, a moving image, or a sound is received and displayed on the monitor 2 and the speaker 6
(S1205).

When there is a change in the sound level of the sound corresponding to the image currently displayed on the monitor 2 (s120)
6), and determine the image (transmission site) with the highest audio level among them, and for the image of the determined transmission site,
Via the camera control window 13 of FIG.
The target image to be controlled by the camera is switched so that the camera can be controlled (s1207).

The camera control is, specifically, a pan angle, a tilt angle, and a zoom magnification of the camera 4.
Means to control from.

In the present embodiment, only sound for an image that can be controlled by the camera is output to the speaker 6. This makes it possible to easily grasp the status of the transmission site controlled by the camera. Further, almost the same effect can be obtained by merely increasing the level of the audio of the image corresponding to the transmission site controlled by the camera as compared with the audio of the image corresponding to the other transmission site.

Next, in s1208, the operator controls the image of the transmission site which can be controlled in step s1207 by using the camera control window 13 to control the camera, and the photographing range of the image transmitted from the transmission site is controlled. The magnification is changed (s1209).

When an end event occurs (s121)
0), end the program.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a camera control interface. If the camera can be controlled, numerical values of the pan, tilt angle and zoom magnification may be input.

As a modification of this embodiment, s1207
It is also possible to perform camera control on an image received from a transmission site having the lowest audio level or a transmission site having a large change in the audio level.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to control the photographing state of an image whose voice level is high or whose change in voice level is expected to be important.

Further, if the image received from the transmission site with the lowest audio level is controlled by the camera,
If the photographing range or the like is not appropriate, it can be changed to an appropriate photographing range.

In the above embodiment, s60
6, the following steps s607, s907, s1007, s1107, and s12 when Yes in accordance with whether or not the audio data has changed in s906, s1006, s1106, and s1206.
07, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be possible to proceed to the next step at the time of Yes at regular time intervals. According to this, the effects of the above embodiment can be obtained regardless of whether or not the voice has changed.

For example, when it is considered that an image that does not change even though the audio level is always high is important, an appropriate judgment can be made by adopting such a configuration.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus having the above-described configuration or a system including a plurality of apparatuses. However, a method for performing the above-described processing and a computer-readable method for implementing the above-described method are provided. It goes without saying that a storage medium stored in an appropriate state is also included in the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the receiving site, not the transmitting site, performs control according to the audio level of each image (image enhancement, reception control of moving images, still images, etc.), so that the transmitting sites can communicate with each other. Various controls can be easily performed on the Internet that is far away.

In the above embodiment, various controls are performed in accordance with the audio level (volume) of the audio. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and those which perform various controls in accordance with the content of the audio fall within the scope of the present invention. include.

For example, various controls described in the above embodiments may be performed in accordance with the frequency of voice (high frequency or low frequency), the content recognized by voice recognition, and the like.

[0116]

As described above, according to the present invention, various controls are performed based on the sound to be added to the image as in each embodiment.
An easy-to-use communication method or image processing method can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a system used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall block diagram of a system serving as a basis of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of still image transmission.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of moving image transmission.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an information switching program.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an execution procedure of an information switching program according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows an example of a display used to specify a transmission site and select information to be displayed for reception.

FIG. 8 is an example of displaying moving images and still images received from a plurality of transmission sites simultaneously.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an information switching program according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an information switching program according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an information switching program according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an information switching program according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows an example of a camera control window according to the fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 computer 2 monitor 3 storage device 4 camera 5 microphone 6 speaker 7 network 8 transmission site 9 reception site 310 still image information transmission program 320 moving image information transmission program 330 audio information transmission program 340 still image display program 350 moving image display program 360 audio Playback program 370 Information switching program 371 Information switching program

Claims (52)

[Claims] 1. A communication system comprising: a transmitting device that transmits an image and a sound to be added to the image; and a receiving device that receives the image information and the sound, wherein the transmitting device transmits the image and the sound. A transmitting unit that can selectively transmit to the receiving device, wherein the receiving device controls an image received from the transmitting device based on sound transmitted from the transmitting device, and outputs the controlled image. A communication system having control means for displaying on a predetermined display means. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein one receiving device is connected to a plurality of the transmitting devices and can selectively receive the image or the sound. 3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein said control means enables a predetermined display device to display each image transmitted from the plurality of transmission devices. 4. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said receiving device has said predetermined display means. 5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit emphasizes an image transmitted from the transmitting device according to a content of a voice transmitted from the transmitting device. 6. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the emphasis is to enlarge an image. 7. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the emphasis emphasizes an outer frame of the image. 8. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving device further includes a speaker that outputs the sound. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a sound level of the sound transmitted from a predetermined transmitting device according to contents of the sound transmitted from the plurality of transmitting devices. Communication system. 10. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls the resolution of an image transmitted from said transmitting device according to the content of audio transmitted from said transmitting device. 11. A communication system having a transmitting device for transmitting an image and a sound to be added to the image and a receiving device for receiving the image information and the sound, wherein the transmitting device converts the image and the sound. Control means for controlling reception of an image from the transmitting device based on sound transmitted from the transmitting device; and A communication system having a display control unit for receiving an image transmitted from a personal computer and displaying the image on a predetermined display unit. 12. The control device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit controls to receive different types of images from the transmitting device that has received the audio, according to the content of the audio transmitted from the transmitting device. A communication system according to claim 1. 13. The communication system according to claim 12, wherein the different types are a still image and a moving image. 14. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein said control means selects whether or not to receive an image from said transmitting device according to the content of the voice transmitted from said transmitting device. 15. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein one receiving device is connected to a plurality of the transmitting devices and can selectively receive the image or the sound. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control means controls an audio level of the audio transmitted from a predetermined transmitting apparatus according to the content of the audio transmitted from said plurality of transmitting apparatuses. Communication system. 17. The transmission device according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined transmission device is a transmission device that transmits a voice that most satisfies a predetermined condition among voices transmitted from the plurality of transmission devices. Communications system. 18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control means controls an audio level of audio transmitted from a device other than a predetermined transmitting device according to the content of audio transmitted from said plurality of transmitting devices. A communication system as described. 19. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the receiving device further includes a speaker that outputs the sound. 20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit controls the resolution of an image transmitted from the transmitting device according to the content of the audio transmitted from the transmitting device.
A communication system according to claim 1. 21. A communication system having a transmitting device for transmitting an image and a sound to be added to the image and a receiving device for receiving the image information and the sound, wherein the transmitting device converts the image and the sound. A transmitting unit that can selectively transmit to the receiving device; and an imaging device control unit that controls a predetermined imaging device for capturing the image, wherein the receiving device outputs a voice transmitted from the transmitting device. A communication system comprising: an assigning unit that assigns a control right for controlling an operation of the imaging device based on the assignment. 22. One of the receiving devices can be connected to a plurality of the transmitting devices to selectively receive the image or the sound,
The allocating means allocates the control right so as to be able to control the operation of an imaging device corresponding to a predetermined transmitting device among the plurality of transmitting devices in accordance with the content of audio transmitted from the plurality of transmitting devices. The communication system according to claim 21, wherein: 23. The communication system according to claim 21, wherein said transmission device includes said imaging device. 24. An information processing apparatus capable of receiving an image and a sound to be added to the image from a transmitting device, the receiving means being capable of receiving the image and a sound to be added to the image. An information processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls an image received by the receiving unit based on a voice received by the receiving unit, and displays the controlled image on a predetermined display unit. 25. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the information processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of the transmitting apparatuses and can selectively receive the image or the sound. 26. The information processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said control means enables a predetermined display device to display each image transmitted from a plurality of transmission devices. 27. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said information processing apparatus has said predetermined display means. 28. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said control means emphasizes an image transmitted from said transmission apparatus according to the content of a voice transmitted from said transmission apparatus. 29. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the emphasis is to enlarge an image. 30. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the emphasis emphasizes an outer frame of the image. 31. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a speaker for outputting the sound.
5. The information processing device according to 4. 32. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the control unit controls an audio level of the audio transmitted from a predetermined transmitting apparatus according to the content of the audio transmitted from the plurality of transmitting apparatuses. Information processing device. 33. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the control unit controls the resolution of an image transmitted from the transmitting device according to the content of the voice transmitted from the transmitting device.
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 34. An information processing apparatus capable of receiving an image and sound to be added to the image from a transmitting device, wherein the receiving means is capable of receiving the image and sound to be added to the image. An information processing apparatus comprising: control means for controlling reception of an image from the receiving means based on voice received by the receiving means; and display control means for displaying an image received by the receiving means on a predetermined display means. apparatus. 35. The control device according to claim 34, wherein the control means performs control such that different types of images are received from the transmitting device that has received the voice, according to the content of the voice transmitted from the transmitting device. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 36. The information processing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the different types are a still image and a moving image. 37. The information processing apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said control means selects whether or not to receive an image from said transmitting apparatus in accordance with the content of audio transmitted from said transmitting apparatus. 38. The information processing apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said information processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of said transmission apparatuses and can selectively receive said image or sound. 39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the control unit controls an audio level of the audio transmitted from a predetermined transmitting apparatus according to the content of the audio transmitted from the plurality of transmitting apparatuses. Information processing device. 40. The transmission apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the predetermined transmission device is a transmission device that transmits a voice that most satisfies a predetermined condition among voices transmitted from the plurality of transmission devices. Information processing device. 41. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said control means controls an audio level of audio transmitted from a device other than a predetermined transmitting device according to the content of audio transmitted from said plurality of transmitting devices. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 42. The information processing apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a speaker that outputs the sound. 43. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the control unit controls the resolution of an image transmitted from the transmitting device according to the content of the audio transmitted from the transmitting device.
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 44. An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a transmitting apparatus having a predetermined imaging device for capturing an image, a receiving unit capable of receiving the image and audio to be added to the image, An information processing apparatus, comprising: an assigning unit that assigns a control right for controlling an operation of the imaging device based on audio received by the unit. 45. The information processing apparatus is capable of selectively receiving the image or the sound by connecting to a plurality of the transmitting apparatuses, and the allocating unit is configured to transmit the image or the sound in accordance with the contents of the sound transmitted from the plurality of the transmitting apparatuses. The information processing apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the control right is assigned so that an operation of an imaging device corresponding to a predetermined transmitting apparatus among the plurality of transmitting apparatuses can be controlled. 46. An information processing method capable of receiving an image and audio to be added to the image from a transmitting device, comprising: a receiving step of receiving the image and audio to be added to the image. An information processing method comprising a control step of controlling an image received in the receiving step based on the sound received in the receiving step, and displaying the controlled image on a predetermined display means. 47. An information processing method capable of receiving an image and a sound to be added to the image from a transmitting device, comprising: a receiving step of receiving the image and a sound to be added to the image. An information processing method comprising: a control step of controlling reception of the image in the receiving step based on the voice received in the receiving step; and a display control step of displaying the image received in the receiving step on a predetermined display unit. Method. 48. An information processing method capable of communicating with a transmission device having a predetermined imaging device for capturing an image, the method comprising: a receiving step of receiving the image and a sound to be added to the image. An information processing method comprising: allocating a control right for controlling an operation of the imaging device based on a sound received in the receiving step. 49. A program provided to an apparatus capable of receiving an image and a sound to be added to the image from a transmitting device, wherein the program is to receive the image and the sound to be added to the image. A program that realizes a receiving step and a control step of controlling an image received in the receiving step based on the sound received in the receiving step and displaying the controlled image on a predetermined display means, from a computer. A storage medium that stores the state. 50. A program provided to an apparatus capable of receiving an image and a sound to be added to the image from a transmitting device, wherein the program is to receive the image and the sound to be added to the image. A receiving step, a control step of controlling reception of the image in the receiving step based on the sound received in the receiving step, and a display control step of displaying the image received in the receiving step on a predetermined display means. A storage medium storing a program to be realized in a state readable by a computer. 51. A program provided to an apparatus capable of communicating with a transmission apparatus having a predetermined imaging device for capturing an image, the program being provided for receiving the image and audio to be added to the image. A storage medium storing, in a computer-readable state, a program for implementing a receiving step and an assigning step of assigning a control right for controlling an operation of the imaging device based on audio received in the receiving step. 52. The control according to claim 1, wherein the control by the control means is performed based on a sound level of the sound.
A communication system according to claim 1.