JPS6226993A - Picture communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit and receive a desired video signal to a specific reception station only by providing a transmission means of a control signal, a receiving means extracting the control signal and a control means controlling a video output means such as a monitor television set at the reception side and a video recording/reproducing means. CONSTITUTION:In order to select a video signal input desired to be sent to a reception station Rn, a relevant input number button of an input select button 14 on a switch panel 2 is depressed to change over a switch 21 of a transmission control circuit 1. In designating the reception station Rn desired to be controlled, a relevant reception station number button of a reception station designatio button 16 of reception station select or all set button 17 for all station designation is depressed. After input select, mode select and reception station select, a transmission button 19 is depressed to apply an enable signal to a RF converter 4 from the switch panel 2 to send the selected video signal to the station Rn.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image communication system for transmitting video signals and the like from a transmitting station to a receiving station.

[Prior Art] In an image communication system for transmitting a video signal or the like from a transmitting station to a receiving station, a system for controlling video output means on the receiving station side is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1986-196672. In this conventional technology, the video signal is grounded on the transmitting station side or a different type of signal is superimposed on the video signal, and the video signal disappears or the image is A different type of signal is detected in the signal, and the detected signal is used as a print command to start operating the printer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned prior art system, the transmitting station can only control one printer as the video output means, and cannot control the other video output means and video recording/playback means. could not. Furthermore, it was not possible to control both of the above-mentioned means of a plurality of receiving stations.

- - Video equipment that transmits and plays back image information in the form of video signals include standard television equipment, video cameras, video playback equipment, video tape recorders (hereinafter referred to as VTRs), and video disc devices. , personal computer monitor devices, fax machines, and the like are in practical use.

When transmitting and receiving video information using, for example, the CΔ′r■ system for this type of video equipment, there may be cases where it is required to send predetermined image information only to a specific recipient, and the It is required to identify the video equipment that operates according to the information. However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, it is not possible to specify the receiving station or to select any video equipment, so the above-mentioned conventional technology cannot be applied to an image communication system such as a "duplex".

[Object of the Invention] An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to enable a transmitting station to select a specific receiving station from among a plurality of receiving stations, and to enable a video signal to be received by a certain receiving station. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image communication system in which the control means can control the video output means and the video recording and reproducing means only when the video output means and the video recording and reproducing means are present.

[Structure of the Invention] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention provides an image communication method for transmitting a video signal, etc. from a transmitting station to a receiving station. means for generating a control signal for controlling a video output means such as a monitor television and a video recording and reproducing means on the receiving station side;
a transmitting means for inserting the generated control signal into the video signal in accordance with the timing of the video signal and transmitting it; a receiving means for receiving the video signal into which the control signal has been inserted and extracting the control signal; and the receiving means control means for controlling the video output means and the video recording and reproducing means of a monitor television or the like on the receiving station side based on the control signal extracted in the control means, and only when the video signal is being received by the control means. F
The present invention is characterized in that the video output means and the video recording and playback means are controlled.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a cable television broadcasting system called 0ATV, which is an embodiment of the present invention.

This system consists of 16 stations connected in parallel with one transmitting station.
receiving stations R1 to R16 (hereinafter R represents one receiving station)
The transmitting station and the receiving station Rn are connected by a coaxial cable 8.

At the transmitting station, there is a transmitting control circuit I that inserts into the video signal a code signal for controlling the transmitting output and controlling the receiving station Rn, a switch panel 2 for giving instructions from an operator, and a monitor for monitoring the video signal output. an RF converter 4 that modulates the video signal into a TV modulation signal, an antenna 5 that receives the TV broadcast signal, and a mixer 6 that mixes the TV broadcast signal and the TV modulation signal. A transmission amplifier circuit 7 for amplifying the output of the mixer 6 is provided.

On the other hand, each receiving station Rn includes an RF tuner 9 that demodulates the television modulated signal transmitted via the coaxial cable 8 into a video signal, a monitor television 11 for monitoring or recording the video signal at the receiving station Rn, It includes a video disc device 12, a facsimile 13, and a reception control circuit IO for controlling three reception devices that monitor or record the video signals.

In FIG. 1, a transmission control circuit 1 includes a video camera, a television tuner, a VTR, a video disc device,
Video signals from six video signal output devices, including a personal computer and a fax machine, are input. The operator selects one of the six input video signals using the switch panel 2.
A monitor television for monitoring the video signal, and R
It is output to F' converter 4.

- The switch panel 2 includes an input select button 14 for selecting the video signal input to be output to the receiving station Rn, and for controlling each of the monitor television 11, video disc device 12, and facsimile 13 provided at the receiving station Rn. Mode select button MONI 5a, RECl
5b and FAX] 5c (hereinafter collectively referred to as 15), and a receiving station select button 16 for selecting a receiving station Rn to be controlled. The switch panel 2 further includes an all center button 17 used to control all receiving stations RI to RI6, and a button for resetting the receiving station selection made using the receiving station select button 16 or all set button 17. All clear button 18
and a transmit button I9 for transmitting the video signal selected by the input select button 14 to the receiving station Rn. Here, by the operator specifying a receiving station using the receiving station select button 16 and specifying the receiving device of the receiving station to be controlled using the mode select button 15, the monitor television 11 on the receiving station Rn side, A code signal for controlling the video disc device 12 and the fax machine 13 is inserted in the send=1 control circuit 1 into the output video signal as described below. On the designated receiving station Rn side, the control code signal is identified and the designated receiving device can be activated.

The video signal input to the RP converter 4 is subjected to residual sideband modulation into a TV modulation signal, and the operator selects whether or not to output the TV modulation signal using the switch panel 2.
R from switch panel 2 by operating using
An enable signal is issued to the F converter 4 so that it can be controlled. The TV modulated signal output from the RF converter 4 is mixed with the TV broadcast signal received by the antenna 5 in the mixer 6, then amplified in the transmission amplifier circuit 7, and sent to each receiving station Rn through the coaxial cable 8.
sent to.

The television modulated signal received at the receiving station Rn is first
The signal is input to the RF tuner 9, demodulated, and made into a video signal. The video signal is input to the reception control circuit 10, and the control code signal inserted into the video signal is separated. Separated control code signals allow
A monitor television 11, a video disc device 12 and a facsimile 13 are controlled.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the transmission control circuit l of FIG. 1.

Video signals from video signal output devices such as a video camera, television tuner, VTR, video disc device, personal computer, and fax are input to input terminals 20a, 20b, 20c, 120d, 20e, and 2Of, respectively, and each video signal is controlled by an input control terminal. The signal is outputted to the synchronization separation circuit 23 and switch 28 via the switch 21 controlled by the circuit 22 .

The video signal input to the synchronization separation circuit 23 is separated into a horizontal synchronization signal 7' (sync) and a vertical synchronization signal V5sync. This horizontal synchronization signal Hsy positive is input to a clock generation circuit 24 and a gate pulse generation circuit 25. , the vertical synchronization signal V5ync is input to the gate pulse generation circuit 25. In the clock generation circuit 24, a clock is generated based on the horizontal synchronization signal W1 positive, and the clock is supplied to the code signal generation circuit 26. Gate pulse In the generating circuit 25, based on the horizontal synchronizing signal (sync) and the vertical synchronizing signal V5sync, a gate pulse is generated that specifies one horizontal period 2H of the vertical retrace period of the video signal into which the control signal is inserted. Gate pulse is switch 2
9 and is also applied to the code signal generating circuit 26 and controls the switch 28 via the inverter 27. The switch 28 is always on, turns off when the gate pulse is output, and controls the video signal output to the buffer circuit 30.

The operator can control the video output equipment of the receiving station Rn by operating the switch panel 2 shown in FIG. The information is input to the input control circuit 22, and information for controlling the receiving station is input to the code signal generation circuit 26.

The code signal generating circuit 26 generates a code signal for controlling the receiving station based on the input information for controlling the receiving station and the clock generated by the clock generating circuit 24. Generation circuit 2
5, it is output to the buffer circuit 30 via the switch 29. This switch 29 is normally off and turned on when a gate pulse is applied.

The video signal or code signal input to the buffer circuit 30 is output to a video signal output terminal 31.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control code signal at the video signal output terminal 31 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3(a) shows each pulse of the code signal, and as mentioned above, 1 horizontal period 2H of the vertical retrace period of the video signal.
, 3 mode specification bits specifying the equipment to be controlled on the receiving station side, that is, monitor television (MON), video disc device (RFC), and facsimile (FAX), and receiving station specification bits that specify the receiving station Rn to be controlled. 16 bits are arranged and can be specified by outputting each pulse.

FIG. 3(b) shows the configuration of a code signal that controls the video signal transmitted from the transmitting station to be output to the monitor televisions of all the receiving stations R1 to RI6.

Further, FIG. 3(C) shows the structure of a code signal that controls the video signal transmitted from the transmitting station to be recorded in the video disk device of the first receiving station R1. Furthermore, FIG. 3(d) shows the structure of a code signal that controls the video signal transmitted from the transmitting station to be output to the fax machine of the second receiving station R2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the reception control circuit 10 of FIG. 1.

A video signal from the RF tuner 9 is input to a video signal input terminal 40 and then input to a buffer circuit 50 via a sync separation circuit 41, a clamp circuit 44, a buffer circuit 47, a buffer circuit 48, and a switch 49. The video signals input to each of the buffer circuits 47, 48 and 50 are output to a video signal output terminal 55 to a video disc device, a video signal output terminal 53 to a fax machine, and a video signal output terminal 51 to a monitor television, respectively.

The video signal input to the synchronization separation circuit 41 is separated into a horizontal synchronization signal Hsyπ and a vertical synchronization signal V5sync. This horizontal synchronization signal HsynC is applied to the clock generation circuit 42.
, gate pulse generation circuit 43 and video signal detection circuit 6
0, and the vertical synchronization signal V5sync is input to the gate pulse generation circuit 43.

A clock generation circuit 42 generates a clock based on the horizontal synchronization signal Hsy, and the clock is supplied to a code signal extraction circuit 46. In the gate pulse generation circuit 43, the horizontal synchronizing signal 16th edition and the vertical synchronizing signal V5y
nc, a gate pulse is generated that specifies one horizontal period 2H of the vertical retrace period of the video signal into which the control signal is inserted, and the gate pulse is applied to the code signal separation circuit 4.
5 and is input to the code signal extraction circuit 46.

On the other hand, the video signal input to the clamp circuit 44 is clamped by the clamp circuit 44, and then the data separation circuit 45 separates only the code signal based on the gate pulse, and the separated video signal is input to the code signal extraction circuit 46.

In the video signal detection circuit 60, the horizontal synchronization signal H5
Count the ync pulses and after 2048 counts,
A video gate signal, which is a high signal, is output to the code signal extraction circuit 46. That is, the video gate signal is output only when the video signal is stably input to the receiving station Rn.

A circuit diagram of this circuit 60 and its circuit operation will be described later.

Based on the input code signal, clock, and gate pulse, the code signal extraction circuit 46 outputs a control signal for controlling each video output device on the receiving side only when a video gate signal is input. That is, when the received code signal contains the designated pulse of the own station and also the pulse that starts the monitor television 11, the switch 49 is turned on and the control signal output terminal to the monitor television is turned on. A control pulse is output to 52. Further, when the received code signal includes a designated pulse for its own station and a pulse for activating the fax machine 13, a control pulse is output to the control signal output terminal 54 for the fax machine. Further 1. Two received code signals? Here, the designated pulse of the own station is included and the video disc device 12 is started.1. When the pulse for setting the recording state is not included, a control pulse is outputted to a control signal output terminal 56 to the video disk device.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the video signal detection circuit 60 of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 5, the horizontal synchronizing signal 1-(syncLt, which is the output of the synchronization separation circuit 41 in FIG. 4, is input to the input terminal of the mono multi-bi break 61. is inputted to the input terminal of the mono multi-by-break 62 of the Riga type and the CK input terminal of the counter 63. Further, the output of the 6-output terminal of the mono multi-by-break 62 is connected to the CL input terminal of the counter 63 and the CL input terminal of the flip-flop 64.
The output of the Qn output terminal of the counter 63 is input to the flip-flop CP input terminal.

The D input terminal of this flip-flop 64 is connected to a positive power supply, and the output from the Q output terminal of the flip-flop 64 is input as a video gate signal to the coat signal extraction circuit 46 of FIG. 4. Note that the output pulse width of the mono multi-bi break 61 and the mono multi-bi break 62 in FIG. 5 can be adjusted using variable resistors (hereinafter referred to as VR) 65 and 66, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a time chart of each signal in the video signal detection circuit 60 of FIG.

The operation of the video signal detection circuit 60 shown in FIG. 5 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

By adjusting VR65 of the mono multi-bi break 61, the pulse width of the output of the Q output terminal of the mono multi-bi break 61 is approximately 1 of the period of 635 μsec of the horizontal synchronizing signal Wηi.
/4, which is 16 μsec.

Also, by adjusting the VR66 of the mono multi-vibrator 62, the pulse width of the output terminal of the mono-multi vibrator 62 is adjusted to the period of 63.5 μs of the horizontal synchronizing signal “inε”.
c], 27 μsec.

When the video signal is manually transmitted to the receiving station, that is,
When the horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync is input to the input terminal of the mono multi-bi break 61, the output pulse of the Q output terminal of the mono multi-bi break 61 has the same period as the horizontal synchronizing signal "1" and has a pulse width of 16 μsec. As mentioned above, the mono multi-bi break 62 is of the retrigger type, so as long as the horizontal synchronization signal H5ync is input to the input terminal of the mono multi-bi break 61, the mono multi-bi break 62 continues to be set. A low signal is output to the positive output terminal of the mono multi-by-break 62. Therefore, the counter 63 counts the pulses input to the CK input terminal of the counter 63, and if the number of stages of this counter is n = 12 stages, then , 2048 counts, τ = approximately 0.] 3 sec
Afterwards, a pulse is output to the Qn output terminal of the counter 63.

Since the pulse is input to the CP input terminal of the flip-flop 64, after the pulse is input, the Q output terminal of the flip-flop 64 outputs a video gate signal which is a high signal.

=16- Here, when no video signal is input to the receiving station, no pulse is output to the Q output terminal of the monomulti-dubabrator 61, so no video game 1 signal is output to the Q output terminal of the flip-flop 64. . Also, when a fax signal with a period of, for example, 4 to 8 μsec is input to the receiving station, the output of the Q output terminal of the mono multi-by-break 61 becomes a continuous high signal, so no video gate signal is output. . Further, as described above, since the video gate signal is not output unless the counter 63 counts 2048 consecutive pulses, the video gate signal is not output when noise is input to the receiving station.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the code signal extraction circuit 46 of FIG. 4.

7, the outputs of the code signal separation circuit 45 and clock generation circuit 42 of FIG. 4 are input to a shift register 72. In FIG. Further, the gate pulse that is the output of the gate pulse generation circuit 43 and the video gate signal that is the output of the video signal detection circuit 60 are input to an AND gate 71, and then a product logic is performed in the AND gate 71, and the output is shifted. It is input to the τ" terminal of the register 72.

In the soft register 72, when the signal input to the terminal ■ is a high signal, that is, when the video signal is input at the receiving station and the horizontal synchronization signal is separated, the shift register 72 operates; The code signal is captured based on the clock input to the
A pulse is outputted to the corresponding output terminal for each bit of the code signal shown in FIG. 3(a). Therefore,
The address bit, which is the receiving station designation code, is output to the address verification circuit 73, while the function bit, which is the mode designation code, is output to the monitor television (MON).
If the pulse is sent to the counter 76, the fax (FAX)
If the pulse is sent to the counter 78, the video disc device (
RFC), a pulse is output to the counter 80.

When the address bit is input to the address verification circuit 73, it is verified against a preset address of the own station, and if they match, a high signal is output to the counter 74, and if they do not match, a low signal is output to the counter 74. counter 74
The input signal passes through the flip-flop 75,
It is output to AND gate 82, AND gate 83, and AND gate 84.

The pulse input to the counter 76 is sent to the AND gate 84 via the flip-flop 77 and to the counter 76.
The pulse input to counter 8 is output to AND gate 83 via flip-flop 79, and the pulse input to counter 80 is output to AND gate 82 via flip-flop 81. and gate 84.83 and 8
2 outputs are MONO to start the monitor TV respectively.
N signal, FAX ON signal that starts the fax machine, and RECO that starts the video disk device and puts it into recording mode.
NEC top. Since the code signal extraction circuit 46 is configured as described above, the bit designated by the receiving station is the own station, and any bit designated by the mode is the bit designated by the shift register 72.
The corresponding AND gate 82.
A pulse is output from the output of 83 or 84, and it is possible to control the corresponding device of the corresponding receiving station specified by the transmitting station.

An operation method for controlling the video signal output device on the receiving station Rn side in the cable television broadcasting system shown in FIG. 1 will be described below.

First, in order to select the video signal input that you want to transmit to the receiving station Rn side, press the input select button 1 on the switch panel 2.
By pressing the corresponding manual number button 4, the switch 21 of the transmission control circuit 1 is switched.

Next, in order to specify the video signal input device on the receiving station Rn side, press the mode select monitor TV specification button (MO
N) ] 5 a. Video disc device specification button (R
FC] 5b, Fax designation button (FAX) 15
This is done by pressing either c. Also,
In order to specify the receiving station Rn to be controlled, it can be specified by pressing the corresponding receiving station number button of the receiving station specifying button 16 of receiving station selection, or by pressing the all set button 17 in the case of specifying all stations. Furthermore, if you want to reset the receiving station selection, press the all clear button 18.
Just press .

After performing the above input selection, mode selection, and reception station selection, by pressing one transmit button, an enable signal is applied from the switch panel 2 to the RF converter 4, and the video signal selected above is transmitted to the reception station Rn.
Directions are sent.

In addition, in the video disk device 12 described above, several lO
Although it is possible to record a static television screen on the order of one sheet, if this is used for things that do not require hard copies, it has the advantage of eliminating the need to make unnecessary hard copies by fax or the like.

Furthermore, since the control signal is inserted into the video signal and transmitted, there is no need to provide a separate line for transmitting the control signal, which is economical.

In the above embodiments, a video device is provided as a receiving device, but it is also possible to provide an audio device that outputs or records only an audio signal, and sends the audio signal from the transmitting side and controls the audio device.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, a means for transmitting a video signal, etc. from a transmitting station to a receiving station (in the R-square image communication system, a means for generating a control signal η, and a means for transmitting the generated control signal) are provided. a transmitting means, a receiving means for extracting a control signal, and - a control means for controlling a video output means such as a monitor television and a video recording and reproducing means on the receiving station side based on the control signal extracted by the receiving means; By providing the above-mentioned video output means and video recording and reproducing means of only a specific receiving station, the desired video signal is transmitted to the receiving station and received by the desired video outputting means and video recording and reproducing means. Since only a specific receiving station can be designated, there is an advantage that the information can be kept confidential since it is transmitted only to the necessary receiving stations depending on the video content to be transmitted.Furthermore, the video signal is received by the control means. The video output means and video recording/playback means are controlled only when
Even if a signal other than a video signal or noise is received at the receiving station, the video output means and the video recording/reproducing means will not be erroneously controlled. Therefore, this device allows reliable control of the receiving station.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a cable television broadcasting system showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the transmission control circuit of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a control at the video signal output terminal of Fig. 1. 4 is a block diagram of the reception control circuit of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the video signal detection circuit of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the video signal detection circuit of FIG. 5. Signal timer in the detection circuit 1.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the code signal extraction circuit of FIG. 4. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Transmission control circuit, 2... Switch panel, 4... RF converter, 7... Transmission amplifier circuit, 9... RF tuner, 10... Receiving control circuit, 1... Monitor television, 12...・Video disk device, 13...Fax, R1-RI6・Receiving station.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an image communication system that transmits video signals etc. from a transmitting station to a receiving station, a control signal is generated to control the video output means such as a monitor TV and the video recording and reproducing means of a specific receiving station based on instructions input from the outside. a transmitting means for inserting the generated control signal into the video signal in accordance with the timing of the video signal and transmitting the generated control signal; and a receiving means for receiving the video signal into which the control signal has been inserted and extracting the control signal. , control means for controlling a video output means such as a monitor television and a video recording and reproducing means on the receiving station side based on the control signal extracted by the receiving means, and the video signal is received by the control means. An image communication device characterized in that the video output means and the video recording and reproducing means are controlled only when