JPS63288592A - Video telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To bring an image to a color moving image display in a real time by connecting color moving image transmitter-receiver by a high speed digital exclusive line, and connecting telephone sets by a public telephone circuit. CONSTITUTION:A color moving image high efficiency coding transmitter 5 generates an image of a speaker as a color moving image data, and transmits it to a calling destination through a high speed digital exclusive line 12. Also, by a telephone set 6, a voice calling is sent out to the calling destination through an existing public telephone circuit 13, and simultaneously, by receiving an operating signal from the telephone set 6, an adaptor 8 sends out a start control signal 9 to the transmitter 5, and commands the generation of a color moving image and the transmitting/receiving operation. Therefore, callers can call each other, while looking at a face through a color television receiver.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a video telephone system that performs voice calls and transmits image data of callers in real time.

[Prior Art] FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a conventional videophone system for monochrome still images.

In the figure, (1) is the camera, (2) is the camera output signal, and (3)
is a monitor, (4) is an analog video output signal, (5) is a monochrome still image coding transmission device, (6) is a telephone, (7)
) is an analog voice signal, (10) and (11) are control signals for controlling the monitor and camera, respectively, (13) is an analog public telephone line, and (14) is a public network telephone exchange.

Next, the operation will be explained. The telephone device (6) activates the public network telephone exchange (!4) via the analog public telephone line (13) by calling (handset off-hook and destination dialing) and incoming call (handset off-hook by calling) operations. , analog public telephone line (1
3) is connected. Camera (1) and monitor (3) are
When the monochrome still image encoding/transmission device (5) receives the control signals (10) and (11) that are output when the handset off footer of the telephone (6) is detected, the power is turned on and the camera output signal (2) is output. ) is output as an analog video output signal (4) to the monitor (3) and the self-portrait is displayed. Normally, voice calls are made using only analog audio (7) from the telephone (6), but only when you want to send a still image, the camera output signal (2) is sent to the monochrome still image encoding/transmission device (5).
is encoded and transmitted to the other party through an analog public telephone line (13), decoded by the monochrome still image encoding/transmission device (5) of the other party, and displayed on a monitor (3). Still image transmission is only possible in one direction alternately (half-duplex transmission), and voice communication is not possible while still images are being transmitted.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Conventional videophone systems are configured as described above, and since image transmission is half-duplex (alternating on one side), both parties have to wait a long time until they receive the other party's image, which causes operational problems. It was not easy to use, it was impossible to make a voice call while images were being transmitted, and since the images were monochrome still images, they lacked real-time performance.

This idea was devised to solve the problems mentioned above, and aims to provide an economical videophone system that can display images in color in real time and effectively utilizes the existing public telephone network. .

[Means for solving problems]

The videophone system according to the present invention includes a color image capturing device and a color image receiving device on the calling side and the called side,
A color video data transmitting/receiving device for transmitting and receiving color video images to be captured and received is provided, each color video data transmitting/receiving device is connected by a high-speed digital signal line, and each telephone is connected via a public telephone line, The device is equipped with an adapter that outputs activation control signals to each of the above devices in conjunction with telephone operations when making a voice call.

[Effect]

According to the videophone system according to the present invention, an image of a caller is generated as color video data and transmitted to the callee via a high-speed digital signal line, and voice calls using a telephone are carried out via existing public telephone lines. At the same time, the adapter receives an operation signal from the telephone and sends an activation control signal to the color video image circuit, instructing the generation and transmission/reception of color video images. You can talk on the phone while seeing your face through the TV.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
In the figure, (1) is the camera, (2) is the camera output signal,
(3) is a monitor, (4) is an analog video output signal, (5) is a color video high efficiency coding transmission device, (6) is a telephone, (7) is an analog audio signal, (8) is an adapter, ( 9) is a control signal for controlling the power supply of the color video high-efficiency encoding/transmission device (5), (lO) is a control signal for controlling the power supply of the monitor (3) and switching between self-portrait and other party's image;
1) is a control signal that controls the power supply of camera (1), (12
) is a high-speed digital leased line equivalent to 64 kbps, (13
) is an analog public telephone line, and (14) is a public network telephone exchange.

Next, Figures 2 (a), (b), (c) and Figure 3 show the color video high-efficiency coding transmission device (5) and adapter (8).
The block diagrams of each are shown. In Figure 2(a),
(15) is an analog video input signal, (16) is an analog video signal for self-portrait display, (17) is an A/D converter,
(18) is a digitized video signal, (19) is a pre-processing circuit for facilitating encoding processing, and (2) is a pre-processing circuit for facilitating encoding processing.
0) is a preprocessed digital video signal, (21) is an encoding circuit, (22) is an encoded digital signal equivalent to 64 kbps, (23) is a transmission buffer, (24)
is a digital signal read out at the speed of the transmission line, (2
5) is a frame configuration circuit for matching the transmission path frame, (26) is a digital transmission signal to the transmission path,
In FIG. 2(b), (27) is the digital reception signal from the transmission line, (28) is the frame decomposition circuit, and (2
9) is a digital signal written at the speed of the transmission line,
(30) is receive buffer 1, (31) is receive buffer (3
0), (32Ht decoding circuit), (33) is the decoded digital signal, (3
4) is the post-processing circuit opposite to the transmitting side, (35) is the digital video signal to the D/A converter, (36) is the D/A converter, and (37) is the decoded analog video output signal. shows. In addition, (38) in Fig. 2 (C) indicates that the power is on/off.
The off control signal (39) is the device power supply section, and (40) is the DC voltage that is controlled on/off.

In Fig. 3, (41) is a 2w1re analog public telephone line, (42) is a circuit for detecting the on/off footer of the telephone handset, and (43) is a camera (1), a monitor (3), and a transmission device. (5) power supply control signal, (44
) is the DC voltage (-
(48V) is a circuit that detects the polarity of the voltage (48V), and (45) is a control signal that controls switching between self-portrait and other party's image.

Next, the operation will be explained. In FIG. 1, by off-hooking the handset of the calling telephone (6), the adapter (8) detects this, and the control signals (9), (
lO), (11) immerses power into the camera (1), monitor (3), and color video high-efficiency encoding/transmission device (5), and the camera output signal (2) is output as an analog video signal (4) to the monitor ( 3) is displayed (self-portrait display). Next, by dialing the destination on the telephone (6), the public telephone exchange (14) is activated via the analog public telephone line (13), and the called telephone (6) is called.

By off-hooking the handset of the called side telephone (6), power is turned on to each device in the same sequence as the calling side. At the same time, the image is converted into a digitized coded data by the color video high-efficiency coding/transmission device (5) and transmitted to the other party via the high-speed digital dedicated line (12), and the decoded analog video output signal (4
) is displayed on the monitor (3). Calling side monitor (3)
Switching to the other party's image is performed by the public network telephone exchange (14) that detects the handset off-hook of the called party's telephone (6).
is sent to the calling party via the analog public telephone line (13).
The adapter (8) detects this and operates the control signal (10), and at the same time, the analog voice signal (7) is transmitted to the other party, making it possible to talk.

As a result of the above, the high-speed digital private line (12) and analog public telephone line (13) are 2f! i! Simultaneous two-way (full duplex) color video and audio video calls using the neck line will be possible. The end of the call is completed by putting the handsets of both telephones (6) on hook.

Next, the operation of the video telephone when making a call will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, and the operation when receiving a call will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when you lift the handset of the telephone (6) when making a call, a handset off-hook signal passes through the adapter (8) to the public network telephone exchange (14), activates the exchange, and transmits the signal between the calling and called parties. (4a). The caller then turns the destination dial and sends a selection signal to the public network telephone exchange (14) via the adapter (8) (4b).
, (4C). Additionally, the adapter (8) connects the camera (1) and monitor (
3) Output power-on control signals (9), (10), and (11) to the color video high-efficiency encoding and transmission device (5) (
4e). As a result, the camera output signal (2) of the caller's self-portrait captured by the camera (1) is input to the color video high-efficiency encoding device (5), and after being converted into an encoded color video signal, the signal is sent to the monitor. It is sent to (3) and displayed as a self-portrait (4
f). Meanwhile, the person on the other end of the call was captured and the public telephone exchange (12) called the public telephone number! When the adapter (8) detects the DC telephone polarity detection signal via (13), the camera (
1), send control signals (9), (10), and (11) to the monitor (3) and color video high-efficiency encoding/transmission device (5);
The image display on the monitor (3) is changed from the self-portrait to the other party's image (4h). This allows the caller to have a face-to-face conversation while viewing the caller in color video on the monitor (3).
1).

When the face-to-face conversation is completed and the calling party hangs up, the phone (6
) passes the handset on-hook signal through the adapter (8) to the public network telephone exchange (14) requesting restoration to the exchange. As a result, the telephone line between the calling party and the called party is released (4j). In addition, when the adapter (8) detects footer-on, it sends power-off control signals (9), (10), (11) to the camera (1), monitor (3), and color video high-efficiency encoding/transmission device (5). (4k), (4
1).

On the called side, when the telephone rings and the other party picks up the handset, the adapter (8) detects the hook-off signal sent from the telephone (6), and the camera (1) and monitor (3) , power-on control signals (9), (10), and (11) are output to the color video high-efficiency encoding and transmitting device (5) to turn on the power (4a), (4d), and (4e). Also, when the adapter (8) detects the DC voltage polarity from the exchange,
Instructs the monitor (3) to display the image of the other party (calling party). The subsequent operations are similar to those shown in FIG. 4 during call origination.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, color moving image data of a caller is transmitted via a high-speed digital communication line, and
The audio signal is transmitted via the existing public telephone line, and the image data circuit and audio signal circuit are organically connected via an adapter, making the entire system including the signal transmission path economical. This has the effect of providing a color video automatic exchange type videophone system with a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video telephone system according to an embodiment of this invention, FIGS. 2(a), (b), and (C) are block diagrams of a color video high-efficiency encoding and transmitting device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the adapter, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for making a call, FIG. 5 is a flowchart for receiving a call, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional video telephone system. In the figure, (-1), (1) are cameras, (3),
(3) is a monitor, (5), (5) is a color video high efficiency coding transmission device, (6), (8) is a telephone, (8)
), (8) is an adapter, (12) is a high-speed digital dedicated line, (13) is an analog public telephone line, and (14) is a public network telephone exchange. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a video telephone system in which a telephone device on a calling side and a called side are respectively provided with a television image data transmitting/receiving device to perform face-to-face conversation, a color imaging device and a color image monitor device are provided on each of the calling side and the called side. and a color moving image data transmitting/receiving device, each of the color moving image data transmitting/receiving devices are connected by a high-speed digital signal line, and the operating signal of the telephone device is received and a start control signal is output to each of the above devices. A videophone system characterized in that the adapter is further provided with an adapter for inputting an audio signal, and the adapters are connected via a public telephone line.