JPH114308A - Video telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video telephone system where the need for an interconnection cable between a terminal equipment and an output device is eliminated and the convenience is improved so that the trouble of limitation of the number of the output devices and the installed position due to a complicated cable installation is avoided in the case of the output device connecting to a terminal through a cable and outputting a received image and a received voice similarly to those of the terminal. SOLUTION: A terminal 10 that is connected a global switched telephone network(GSTN) channel 40 and transmits and receives multiplexed image and audio data in this system is provided with a radio transmission section, that transmits the multiplexed data received from the GSTN channel 40 via a radio channel. An output device 20 is provided with a radio reception section to receive the multiplexed data sent from the terminal 10 through a radio channel, with a demultiplexer section that demultiplexes the multiplexed data into image data and audio data, with a video output section 21 to provide an output of an image, and with an audio output section 22 to provide an output of audio data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to transmitting and receiving multiplexed data including voice and image via a line, and outputting an image and voice input at one terminal to another terminal and a plurality of output devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a video phone system capable of improving convenience by connecting a plurality of output devices to a terminal device without using a cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, using an analog line,
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a videophone system that enables a videophone between distant points by transmitting and receiving multiplexed data including voice and image.

An example of a system configuration of a conventional video telephone system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a system configuration block diagram of a conventional videophone system. FIG. 1 shows a configuration on one side connected by a line of the videophone system, and the other has the same configuration.

As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional video telephone system includes a terminal 10 'for inputting / outputting images and sounds and transmitting / receiving multiplexed data, and a terminal G' for transmitting / receiving multiplexed data.
STN line (Global Switched Telephone Network) 4
0, and exchanges multiplexed data including images and voices between the terminals 10 ′ via the GSTN line 40.

The configuration of the terminal 10 'will be described with reference to FIG. The terminal 10 'includes a video input / output unit 1 including a camera and a monitor, a video codec unit 2 including a video encoder for compressing an image and a video decoder for expanding a compressed image, and an audio input / output unit including a microphone and a speaker. An output unit 3, an audio codec unit 4 including an audio encoder for compressing audio and an audio decoder for expanding compressed audio, a delay unit 5 for synchronizing audio with images, and other data such as user data. A user data application unit 6 for inputting / outputting application data (other data), a data protocol unit 7 for controlling communication of other data, a voice, an image, and other data are multiplexed. Multiplex / separate received data
A demultiplexing unit 8, a control protocol unit 9 for controlling the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 8, and a GSTN line 4 for modulating and demodulating the multiplexed data.
It comprises a modem unit 11 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the control unit 0, a control protocol unit 9 and a system control unit 12 for controlling the modem unit 11.

[0006] This video telephone system is an ITU-
It is standardized in H.324 of the T Recommendation (recommendation by the Telecommunication Standardization Division of the International Telecommunication Union).

[0007] One terminal 10 'of the conventional video telephone system inputs an image and a sound, performs image compression and sound compression, and multiplexes the multiplexed data including the compressed image and sound into the other terminal (Fig. 1). (Not shown)
The multiplexed data including the compressed image and sound is received from the other terminal, the image and sound are expanded, and the image and sound are output.

More specifically, the video input / output unit 1 of the terminal 10 'inputs an image, and the video codec unit 2 outputs H.263.
Alternatively, the data is compressed according to the H.261 system,
Output to At the same time, the audio input / output unit 3 inputs audio, the audio codec unit 4 compresses the input audio data according to the G.723 system, and the delay unit 5 multiplexes / demultiplexes the image data with the simultaneously input image data.
Output to the separation unit 8.

Next, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 8 multiplexes the coded image and the sound having the same timing and outputs the multiplexed image to the modem unit 11, and the modem unit 11 outputs the multiplexed data to the G unit.
The data is transmitted to the other terminal via the STN line 40.

In the terminal 10 ', in parallel with the above operation, the modem unit 11 receives the multiplexed data transmitted from the other terminal via the GSTN line 40, and multiplexes the received multiplexed data. / Separation unit 8 separates image data and audio data. Next, the video codec unit 2 expands the separated image data, and the video input / output unit 1 displays an image according to the expanded image signal.

The audio data separated by the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 8 is transmitted to the audio codec unit 4 by the delay unit 5 in synchronization with the image data, and the audio codec unit 4 converts the audio data into an audio signal. Then, the audio input / output unit 3 outputs sound.

In the above-mentioned conventional video telephone system, the terminal 10 'may be used in a large space such as a living room or a conference hall, and it is difficult to view an image from a position far from the terminal 10' and to listen to voice. There was a problem that it was difficult to take.

For this reason, conventionally, there has been a system using a plurality of output devices as a system for a large venue. FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of a conventional system using a plurality of output devices. As shown in FIG. 5, a system using a plurality of output devices is provided with a distributor 30 connected to one terminal 10 ′ connected to the GSTN line 40, and further connected to the distributor 30 to provide a plurality of output devices. An output device 20 'is provided.

The distributor 30 receives the image signal and the audio signal which the terminal 10 'receives, separates and decompresses, and outputs them to the plurality of output devices 2.
0 '. Also, the output device 20 '
Is for outputting an image and a sound based on the image signal and the sound signal transmitted from the distributor, and has a video output unit equivalent to that provided in the video input / output unit 1 of the terminal 10 ', An audio output unit equivalent to that provided in the input / output unit 3 is provided.

The operation of a conventional video telephone system having a plurality of output devices 20 'will be described. When the multiplexed data is received from the GSTN line 40 at the terminal 10 ', the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 8 separates the multiplexed data into image data and audio data in the same manner as described above. The audio data is converted into a signal, the audio data is expanded in the audio codec unit 4 and converted into an audio signal, and output to the distributor 30 at the same timing.

The distributor 30 outputs a video signal and an audio signal to a plurality of output devices 20 'connected by cables. Then, in the output device 20 ', an image is output from the video output unit based on the received image signal, and audio is output from the audio output unit based on the received audio signal.

Thus, even in a large venue, if a plurality of output devices 20 'are provided for one terminal 10',
Each output device 20 'can output the same image and sound as the image and sound output from the terminal 10', and can receive received information even at a position distant from the terminal 10 '.

[0018]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional video telephone system, the number of connection cables increases as the number of output devices increases, and the cable length increases as the distance between the output device and the terminal device increases. Because of the length, the cable installation work is complicated, and there is a problem that the number of installed output devices and the installation locations are limited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and eliminates the need for a connection cable to be connected to an output device, eliminates the trouble of cable installation, and reduces the number of installations and installation locations, thereby improving convenience. It is an object of the present invention to provide a videophone system that can be operated.

[0020]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system comprising: a line for transmitting data including image information and audio information; Transmitting and receiving, and a terminal that outputs an image and sound based on the data received from the line, a video phone system, provided with an output device connected to the terminal by a wireless transmission path, the terminal, the terminal, A terminal that transmits data received from a line to the output device via the wireless transmission path, wherein the output apparatus receives data transmitted from the terminal via the wireless transmission path,
It is characterized in that it is an output device that outputs images and sounds based on the data, and when you want to install a plurality of output devices that can obtain the same images and sounds as the terminals, such as when using one terminal in a large venue In addition, since a cable for connecting the terminal and the output device is not required, the trouble of installing the cable can be eliminated, and the limitation on the installation place and the number of output devices can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circuit for transmitting multiplexed data including image information and audio information, and transmission and reception of the multiplexed data via the line. And a terminal that separates the multiplexed data received from the line into image information and audio information and outputs an image and audio.
An output device that is connected to the terminal via a wireless transmission path, wherein the terminal includes a wireless transmission unit that transmits multiplexed data received from the line via a wireless transmission path; However, a wireless receiving unit that receives multiplexed data transmitted from the terminal via the wireless transmission path, a separating unit that separates the multiplexed data into image information and audio information, and based on the image information An image output unit that outputs an image, and an output device that includes an audio output unit that outputs audio based on the audio information, wherein the output device can output the same image and audio as the terminal. If one terminal is used in a large venue,
When you want to install multiple output devices that can obtain the same image and sound as the terminal, the cable connecting the terminal and the output device is unnecessary, eliminating the trouble of cable installation, and limiting the installation location and number of output devices. Can be reduced.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A videophone system (this system) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a terminal connected to a communication line provided with a wireless transmission unit, an output device dedicated to output provided with a wireless reception unit, and a multiplex received by the terminal. Data is transmitted wirelessly to the output device, and the output device receives and separates and decompresses it to output the same video and audio as the terminal, eliminating the need for a cable connecting the terminal and the output device And the convenience can be improved.

First, a schematic configuration of a videophone system (this system) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of the present system. As in the case of FIG. 4, a system including one of the two terminals connected by the GSTN line will be described, and the other will be omitted because it is the same.

As shown in FIG. 1, the basic configuration of the present system is the same as the conventional one, and the terminal 10 and the GSTN line 40
Is provided, and as a feature of this system,
A plurality of output devices 20 connected by wireless (wireless transmission path) are provided. The output device 20 is provided with a video output unit 21 and an audio output unit 22.
The configurations of the terminal 10 and the output device 20 will be specifically described later.

The operation of the present system will be briefly described. The present system exchanges multiplexed image and audio data between terminals 10 connected via a GSTN line 40 and receives them from each other as in the conventional case. The image and the sound are output based on the data, and the multiplexed data received by the terminal 10 is wirelessly transmitted to the output device 20 as a feature of the present device, and the output device 20 receives the multiplexed data and separates it. , And outputs images and sounds.

Thus, images and sounds output from the terminal 10 can be output from the plurality of output devices 20 in the same manner, and a cable for connecting the terminal 10 and the output device 20 is not required. Can be improved.

Next, each component of the system shown in FIG. 1 will be specifically described. First, the terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of the terminal 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal 10 includes a video input / output unit 1, a video codec unit 2, an audio input / output unit 3, an audio codec unit 4, a delay unit 5, a user Data application section 6
, A data protocol unit 7, a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 8, a control protocol unit 9, a modem unit 11, and a system control unit 1.
And a wireless transmission unit 13 that transmits multiplexed data via a wireless transmission path as a characteristic part of the present invention.

Further, the radio transmission unit 13 includes a radio control unit 13
a and a radio unit 13b. The radio control unit 13a receives the multiplex / demultiplex unit 8
The same multiplexed data as the multiplexed data to be sent to is input.

The radio control section 13a of the radio transmission section 13 converts the multiplexed data received by the modem section 11 into a data format for a radio transmission path and outputs it to the radio section 13b. The wireless section 13b is controlled in accordance with a predetermined procedure, and a code for synchronization at the time of communication, an error correction code, and the like are added when data is converted.

The radio section 13b is provided with a radio control section 13a.
In accordance with the instruction, the data for the wireless transmission path including the image and the sound is transmitted to the wireless transmission path.

Next, the output device 20, which is a feature of the present system, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of the output device 20 of the present system. As shown in FIG. 3, the output device 20 of the present system includes a wireless receiving unit 27 that receives the multiplexed data transmitted from the wireless transmitting unit 13 of the terminal 10, and outputs the received multiplexed data to image data and audio data. , A delay unit 25 for synchronizing images and audio, a video decoder unit 23 for expanding image data, an audio decoder unit 24 for expanding audio data, and a video output for outputting images. It comprises a unit 21 and an audio output unit 22 for outputting sound.

Each component of the output device 20 will be specifically described. The wireless receiving unit 27 includes a wireless control unit 27a,
And a wireless unit 27b. The wireless unit 27b receives data for wireless transmission from a wireless transmission path and
7a.

The radio control unit 27a controls the radio unit 27b according to a procedure prescribed in advance by the radio system,
The multiplexed data is extracted from the data received by the wireless unit 27b and output to the demultiplexing unit 26. At that time, the radio control unit 27a, based on the error correction code,
Error correction is performed on the received data.

The radio receiving unit 2 in the output device 20
Components other than 7 are the same as those of the terminal 10 for processing the received signal. The separation unit 26 separates the multiplexed data into image data and audio data. The image data is output to the video decoder unit 23, and the audio data is output to the delay unit 25.

The delay unit 25 delays the audio data in order to synchronize the image data with the audio data. The delay unit 25 outputs the audio data so that the output timings of the video decoder unit 23 and the audio decoder unit 24 match. Is output to the audio decoder unit 24.

The video decoder section 23 expands the image data and outputs it to the video output section 21.
The audio decoder section 24 expands the audio data and outputs it to the audio output section 22.

Next, the operation of the present system will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the basic operation in transmission and reception as a videophone is the same as that in the conventional art, and a description thereof will be omitted. First, the terminal 10 of this system is GS
When the multiplexed data is received from the TN line 40, the modem unit 11 outputs the received data to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 8 and outputs the same data to the wireless transmission unit 13, and the wireless control unit 13a transmits the data to the wireless transmission path. The data is converted into data
b is output to the wireless transmission path. In parallel with the operation of wireless transmission to the output device 20, the terminal 10 outputs an image and a sound by the same operation as in the related art.

In the output device 20, the multiplexed data for the wireless transmission path transmitted from the terminal 10 is received and demodulated in the wireless receiving unit 27, and the separating unit 26 separates the data into image data and audio data, and The unit 23 decompresses the image data and outputs it to the video output unit 21, and the audio decoder unit 24 decompresses the audio data input via the delay unit 25 and outputs it to the audio output unit 22.

As a result, as long as the wireless transmission path can be secured, there is no need to connect the terminal 10 and the output device 20 with a cable, and it is possible to improve the convenience by saving the labor of installation. By outputting the same image and sound as those output at the output device 20, the same image and sound can be used without difficulty even in a large venue.

The wireless transmission between the terminal 10 and the output device 20 is performed by, for example, a spread spectrum system or a PHS (Personal
al Handy Phone System), PDC (Personal Digi)
(talCellular) system.

The transmission speed required for the above-mentioned wireless transmission path is determined by the following: the multiplexed data is image data compressed by the H.263 or H.261 system. Considering the addition of overhead such as synchronization code and error detection code required for wireless transmission,
Any device that can secure a high transmission speed may be used.

According to the video telephone system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the wireless terminal for transmitting the multiplexed data received from the GSTN line 40 to the terminal 10 connected to the GSTN line 40 for transmission and reception via the wireless line. A transmission unit 13 is provided, and a radio reception unit 27 that receives multiplexed data transmitted from the terminal 10 via a radio line to the output device 20 is provided.
And a separating unit 26 for separating the received multiplexed data into image data and audio data, a video output unit 21 for outputting an image, and an audio output unit 22 for outputting an audio. There is no need to connect the device 20 with a cable, eliminating the complexity of cable installation,
In addition, there is an effect that the limitation on the number of output devices and the installation place can be reduced to improve convenience.

Further, the plurality of output devices 20 can output the same image and sound as the received image and the received sound output from the terminal 10, and when one terminal 10 is used in a large venue, If the output device 20 is installed, a person who is away from the terminal 10
Has the effect of obtaining the same information as the terminal.

[0044]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a terminal and an output device are connected by a wireless transmission path, the terminal transmits data received from a line via the wireless transmission path, and A video phone system that receives data transmitted from a terminal and outputs an image and a sound based on the data. Therefore, when one terminal is used in a large venue, an output device that can obtain the same image and sound as the terminal. When multiple units need to be installed, the cable connecting the terminal and the output device is unnecessary, eliminating the need for cable installation, and reducing the restrictions on the installation location and number of output devices.
There is an effect that convenience can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal and the output device are connected by a radio transmission path, and the terminal transmits multiplexed data received from the line from the radio transmission section via the radio transmission path, The output device receives the multiplexed data transmitted from the terminal by the wireless reception unit, separates the multiplexed data into image information and audio information by the separation unit, outputs the image by the image output unit, and outputs the audio by the audio output unit Video terminal system, so that the output device can output the same image and sound as the terminal, when one terminal is used in a large venue,
When you want to install multiple output devices that can obtain the same image and sound as the terminal, the cable connecting the terminal and the output device is unnecessary, eliminating the trouble of cable installation, and limiting the installation location and number of output devices. And the convenience can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a videophone system (this system) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a terminal 10 of the present system.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of an output device 20 of the present system.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration block diagram of a conventional videophone system.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of a videophone system using a plurality of conventional output devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Video input / output unit 2. Video codec unit 3.
... Audio input / output unit, 4 ... Audio codec unit, 5
... Delay section 6 User data application section
7 data protocol section 8 multiplexing / demultiplexing section 9
Control protocol section, 10 terminal, 11 modem section,
12: system control unit, 13: wireless transmission unit, 20
... output device, 21 ... video output unit, 22 ... audio output unit, 23 ... video decoder unit, 24 ... audio decoder unit, 25 ... delay unit, 26 ... separation unit, 27 ...
Radio receiving unit, 30: distributor, 40: GSTN line

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A line for transmitting data including image information and sound information, and a terminal for transmitting and receiving the data via the line and outputting an image and a sound based on data received from the line. In the videophone system provided, an output device connected to the terminal by a wireless transmission path is provided, and the terminal is a terminal that transmits data received from the line to the output device via the wireless transmission path, The videophone system, wherein the output device is an output device that receives data transmitted from the terminal via the wireless transmission path and outputs an image and a sound based on the data. 2. A line for transmitting multiplexed data including image information and audio information, and transmission / reception of the multiplexed data via the line, and the multiplexed data received from the line is converted into image information and audio information. And a terminal that outputs an image and a voice separately from the terminal. An output device connected to the terminal via a wireless transmission path is provided, and the terminal transmits multiplexed data received from the line. A terminal including a wireless transmission unit that transmits the multiplexed data via a wireless transmission path, wherein the output device receives multiplexed data transmitted from the terminal via the wireless transmission path; An output device comprising: a separation unit that separates data into image information and audio information; an image output unit that outputs an image based on the image information; and an audio output unit that outputs audio based on the audio information. Video phone system characterized by the fact that