KR20020008858A - Video phone and Method for operating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A video phone and a method of operating the video phone are provided, the video phone having additional functions of storing, reproducing, and transmitting video data obtained by a camera to satisfy a user's request. CONSTITUTION: A video phone includes an operation unit(110) for generating an input signal corresponding to a touch of screen or a key operated, and a path switching unit(180) for switching a path of video data transmitted to an image display from a signal processor to an image input part or switching an output path of video data obtained through the image input part from an image output part to a storage path. The video phone further has an image capturing unit(190) for signal-processing the video data transmitted through the path switching unit and storing it, or signal-processing a stored image to output it to the image output part, and a controller(160) for controlling the path switching unit when a signal that requests capturing an image is inputted from the operation unit and for controlling image data stored in the image capturing unit to be signal-processed and transmitted to the image display when a signal that requests reproduction of the stored image is inputted from the operation unit.

Description

Video phone and method for operating the same}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a video telephone and a method for operating the same, and more particularly, to a video telephone and a method of operating the same, capable of storing and reproducing image data to be worn through a camera and transmitting the data to an external device. .

Recently, with the remarkable development of digital technology, various multimedia devices can be contacted around us, and video phone is one of such multimedia devices, which makes it possible to talk face to face with each other. And with these videophones, we can send and receive much more information than we had previously only spoken by voice.

1 is a block diagram of a general video telephone, the important component of which is composed of an operation unit 1, a microphone 2, and a CCD camera 4 which generate an input signal corresponding to a touch or operation of a screen. There is an input device, there is an output device consisting of a speaker (3) and LCD (5), a signal processing device (6) for signal processing of transmission and reception voice data and image data, and a transmission and reception unit for transmitting and receiving voice and image data ( 7) and a storage device 8 for storing data or outputting the stored data and a control device 9 for controlling the system.

Looking at the above configuration, it can be seen that it has all the components of a general computer. In particular, the structure of the system is configured to easily process and transmit and receive voice and image data.

As the structure of a multimedia device is similar to that of a computer, more and more functions are required. Likewise, a video telephone is required to add more and more functions in addition to a face-to-face call.

An object of the present invention is to provide a video telephone with a function of storing, reproducing and transmitting image data acquired through a camera mounted on a device in response to the needs of users who want to add various functions to the video telephone as described above. To provide a method of operation.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional video telephone.

2 is a view showing the appearance of a video telephone according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a video telephone according to the present invention;

4 is a block diagram of an image post-processing unit of FIG. 3.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an image capturing method of a video telephone according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of reproducing an image of a video telephone according to the present invention.

7 is a flowchart for explaining an image transmission method of a video telephone according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols in the drawings

10,110: control panel 20,120: microphone 30,170: speaker

40,130: CCD camera 50,200: LCD 60,140: Signal processor

70,150: transceiver 80,145: memory 90,160: controller

180: path switching unit 190: image capture unit 300: interface means

The video telephone of the present invention for achieving the above object is an operation unit for generating an input signal corresponding to the touch of the screen or the key to be operated; A voice input unit for converting a voice signal into an electrical signal; An image input unit which obtains image data of the subject through photoelectric conversion; A voice output unit configured to output an electric voice signal as a voice that a user can hear; An image display unit which displays the input image data on the screen; A signal processing unit which processes the voice and image data input through the voice input unit and the image input unit, and processes the received voice and image data to be output to the voice output unit and the image display unit; A transceiver for transmitting a signal transmitted from the signal processor or detecting a received signal and transmitting the signal to the signal processor; A path switching unit for switching the path of the image data transferred to the image display unit from the signal processing unit to the image input unit or switching the output path of the image data acquired through the image input unit from the image output unit to the storage path; An image capture unit for signal processing and storing the image data transmitted through the path switching unit or for outputting the stored image to the image display unit; And when a request signal for capturing a screen is input from the operation unit, controlling the path switching unit to store image data currently acquired through the image input unit to the image capture unit, and when a request signal for reproducing the stored image is input from the operation unit. A control unit is provided to control the stored image data to be transferred to the image display unit.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the video telephone and the operation method of the present invention.

2 is a view showing the appearance of a video telephone according to the present invention, showing the operation keys for performing the function of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a video telephone according to the present invention, the operation unit 110, the microphone 120, the CCD camera 130, the signal processing unit 140, the transceiver 150, the controller 160, the speaker 170 ), The path switching unit 180, the image capturing unit 190 and the LCD 200 shows that the important components are made.

The signal processor 140 is composed of an audio encoding and decoding unit 141, an image encoding and decoding unit 142, a data multiplexing and separating unit 143, a modulation and demodulation unit 144, and a memory 145.

The image capture unit 190 is composed of an image encoding and decoding unit 191, an image storage unit 192, and an image post-processing unit 193.

Here, the terms image and image have the same meaning, and are used only to distinguish different flows of blocks and signals.

The operation of each of the above components is as follows.

The operation unit 110 generates a corresponding switching signal or key signal when a user touches a screen or operates a key. In particular, an image capture request signal, a captured image reproduction request signal, and a captured image transmission request signal of the user to be described in the present invention are generated. The microphone 120 converts a user's voice into an electrical voice signal. The voice encoding and decoding unit 141 converts the voice signal from analog to digital through a sampling process, compresses the digitized voice data, expands the received voice data, and converts the digital signal into an analog signal. . The CCD camera 130 converts the electrical signal to the subject located in front of the camera. In this case, to reduce the amount of data to be compressed, Y (luminance signal) and UV (chrominance signal) components should be 4: 1: 1 or 4: 2: 2. The image decoding unit 142 compresses the image data to be transmitted and expands the received image data. The data multiplexing and separating unit 143 multiplexes the audio data stream and the image data stream compressed and delivered by the audio encoding / decoding unit 141 and the image encoding / decoding unit 142 into a single data stream. Received data, which is multiplexed into a data stream, is transferred to image data and audio data, respectively. The modulator 144 demodulates the multiplexed data stream transmitted from the data multiplexer and separator 143 into a transmittable signal and demodulates the modulated received data into a data stream. The transmission / reception unit 150 transmits the modulated transmission signal transmitted from the modulation / demodulation unit 144 through a transmission line or transmits a reception signal received from the transmission line to the modulation / demodulation unit 144. The controller 160 controls the entire system, and when the screen output mode change request signal is input from the operation unit 110, the path section so that the image data obtained through the CCD camera 130 can be output from the LCD 200. The display unit 180 generates a screen output mode switching control signal. In addition, when the image data obtained through the CCD camera 130 is displayed on the LCD 200 screen through the path switching unit 180, when the capture request signal is input from the operation unit 110, the CCD camera 130 The capturing control signal is generated so that the image data currently input from the signal is processed and stored. When the image output request signal for displaying the stored image on the LCD 200 is inputted, the stored image data is output. Signal processing to generate an image output control signal to be delivered to the LCD (200). The storage unit 145 is divided into a portion storing a program for executing the calculation and a portion temporarily storing the transmission / reception data transmitted from the audio encoding unit 140 and the image encoding unit 142 to perform an operation accordingly. . The speaker 170 outputs the analog signal transmitted through the voice encoding / decoding 140 as a voice that a user can hear. The path switching unit 180 performs a mode switching operation by the output mode switching request signal given by the operation unit 110, and captures image data at that time by the capture request signal given by the operation unit 110. The mode selected at the time of mode switching includes an input image display mode for outputting the sequence of images input through the CCD camera to the LCD in RGB form, and enabling video communication while watching the other's face. There is a video call mode for outputting the image data transferred from the image decoding unit 142 to the LCD (200). The image encoding / decoding unit 191 compresses the image data captured by the path switching unit 180 or expands the selected image data among the stored image data. The image storage unit 192 stores the compressed image data transferred through the image encoding / decoding unit 191 or outputs the stored image data. In particular, the image storage unit 192 to maintain the data even if the power is turned off. The image post-processing unit 193 converts the stretched image data transmitted from the image encoding and decoding 191 for color conversion and screen display. The LCD 200 displays the transferred image data and image data on the screen.

Herein, the operation of the image post-processing unit 193 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

The image data extended through the image encoding / decoding unit 191 may require some deformation in order to be displayed on the LCD 200. For such deformation, a color upsampler (upsampler: 193-1) is shown in FIG. 6. And a color converter (converter: 193-2) and an image resizer (resiner: 193-3) to process the upsampling of the color scheme, convert the color space, and adjust the image size. And output to the LCD 200.

The color upsampler 193-1 has a 4: 1: 1 or 4: 2: 2 YUV image transmitted from the image encoding and decoding 191 so that the U and V components have the same size as Y, that is, 4: 4: 4. Perform the function that makes it.

The color converter 193-2 converts the YUV-type image data used to reduce the amount of data before compression into an RGB form that can be expressed by the LCD 200.

The image resizer 193-3 performs a function of converting the image data of the RGB form transmitted through the color converter 193-2 into a size for being displayed on the LCD 200 screen.

Hereinafter, the additional functions of the video telephone according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an image capturing operation of a video telephone according to the present invention, in which the controller 160 checks whether a user generates an output mode switching request signal through the operation unit 110 to view his current image. When the output mode switching request signal is detected (S1), a control signal is output to the path switching unit 180 to display an image acquired from the CCD camera 130 on the LCD 200. Switch (S2). In addition, the controller 160 checks whether a capture request signal is generated through the operation unit 110 while the image is displayed on the LCD 200 through the output mode switching step (S2) (S3). do. If a capture request signal is detected during such a check operation, the control signal is output to the path switching unit 180 to capture a path of the image data input through the CCD camera 130. Switch to S4. When the data path is switched for one second through the image data capture step (S4), the image storage unit 192 receives the image data transmitted through the path switching unit 180 from the CCD camera 130 and processes the signal. It is stored in (S6). At this time, the signal processing is a process of compressing the transmitted image data through the image encoding unit 192 (S5).

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of reproducing an image of a video telephone according to the present invention, wherein the controller 160 checks whether a user generates an image reproduction request signal through the operation unit 110 to view a previously captured image. (S11). If an image reproduction request signal is detected during such an inspection operation, a control signal is output to the image storage unit 192 and brief information such as a storage date of stored image data or a reduced screen of stored images is signal-processed to the LCD 200. Display (S12). The signal processing at this time extends the compressed and stored image data through the image encoding and decoding 191, and performs color conversion and size conversion through the image post-processing unit 193. In addition, the control unit 160 causes the user to select an image by displaying the brief information on the screen (S12) so that the user selects an image, and the user selects the image through the operation unit 110. It is checked whether or not the image selection decision signal is generated (S13). When the selection determination signal is detected, the selected image data is signal processed (S15) to be displayed on the LCD 200 (S16). In this case as well, the signal processing extends the compressed and stored image data through the image encoding / decoding 191 and performs color conversion and size conversion through the image post-processing unit 193.

7 is a flowchart illustrating an image transmission method of a video telephone according to the present invention, wherein the control unit 160 generates an image transmission request signal through the operation unit 110 to transmit a previously captured image. Check (S21) is made. Then, when the image transmission request signal is detected, the control signal is output to the image storage unit 192 and brief information such as a storage date of the stored image data or a reduced screen of the stored images is signal-processed and displayed on the LCD 200 (S22). ) In addition, the controller 160 allows the user to select an image by displaying the brief information on the screen through the screen display step (S22), and selects an image to be transmitted through the operation unit 110. It is checked (S23) whether to generate an image selection decision signal. Thus, when the selection determination signal is detected, the signal processing unit S25 processes the signal through the signal processing unit 140 so that the transmission signal is transmitted through the transmission line, and the image is transmitted through the transmission and reception unit 150.

In addition, further comprising the interface means 300, and further comprising the step of selecting a transmission location (S24) when the user selects the location to be transmitted to the PC as an external device to transmit to the PC via the interface means 300 (S24-1).

As described above, according to the video telephone and the operation method thereof, the video data can be stored, reproduced and even transmitted, thereby meeting the needs of users who want to add more functions to the video telephone.

Claims (7)

An image display unit for displaying an image so that the user can make a call while viewing the other party, an image input unit for inputting an image of a subject, and a signal processing unit so that the received image data can be displayed on the image display unit or through the image input unit. In a video telephone having a signal processing unit for signal processing to transmit the input image data, An operation unit for generating an input signal in response to a touch of a screen or a key operated; A path switching unit for switching the path of the image data transferred to the image display unit from the signal processing unit to the image input unit or switching the output path of the image data acquired through the image input unit from the image output unit to the storage path; An image capture unit for signal processing and storing the image data transmitted through the path switching unit or for outputting the stored image to the image display unit; And When a request signal for capturing a screen is input from the operation unit, the path switching unit is controlled so that the image data currently acquired through the image input unit can be stored in the image capture unit, and when a request signal for reproducing the stored image is input from the operation unit. And a control unit for controlling the image data stored in the image capture unit to be signal-processed and transferred to the image display unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the image capture unit An image encoding / decoding unit configured to compress the image data transferred through the mode switching unit or to expand the selected image data among stored image data; An image storage unit for storing the compressed image data transmitted through the image encoding / decoding unit or outputting the stored image data; And And an image post-processing unit configured to transfer the stretched image data transmitted from the image encoding and decoding to the image display unit by performing size conversion for color conversion and screen display. The method of claim 1 And an interface for transmitting image data stored in the image capture unit to an external device. The method of claim 3, wherein And the control unit transmits the stored image data through a transmission line or a selected path of the interface when the stored image data transmission request signal is input from the operation unit. In the operation method of the video telephone which allows you to talk while looking at the other party, Detecting whether an output mode change request signal for inputting image data acquired through an image input unit mounted on the device is displayed on the screen; Switching a screen output mode when a request signal is detected in the screen output mode switch request signal detection step; Detecting whether a capture request signal is input from an operation unit when image data obtained through the image input unit is displayed on a screen through the output mode switching step; Capturing image data currently input when a request signal is detected in the capture request signal detection step; And And storing the image data captured by the image data capturing step. The method of claim 5, Detecting whether an image reproduction request signal for reproducing stored image data is input through the image data storing step; Displaying brief information on a stored image or images when a request signal is detected in the image reproduction request signal detecting step; Detecting which of the displayed images or images is selected when the image brief information screen displaying step is completed; Performing signal processing to display the selected image data on a screen when any one image is selected through the image selection detecting step; And And displaying the image data signal-processed through the image data signal processing step on the screen. The method of claim 5, Detecting whether an image transmission request signal for transmitting the stored image data to the outside through the image data storing step is input; Displaying brief information on a stored image or images when a request signal is detected in the image transmission request signal detection step; Detecting which image is selected from the displayed image or brief information of the images when the image information screen display step is completed; Determining a transmission path of the selected image data when any image is selected through the image selection detecting step; And And transmitting the data to the selected path when the transmission path is determined through the image data transmission path determining step.