JPH02108384A - telephone terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the noisy reproduced sound of a modulated video signal by muting the reproduced sound when a reception message containing the modulated video signal being stored by a remote operation is reproduced. CONSTITUTION:When an automatic answering function is started and an operator sends out a remote operation command, it is discriminated by a remote operation signal discrimination part 19. When a video signal mute command is decoded by a command decoding part 20, the instruction of a reception message reproduction is fed to a cassette tape deck part. When the reproduction is started and a video signal discrimination part 10 detects an audio and video switching signal in the reception message being under reproduction, a video detection signal is outputted to a video signal mute part, when a mute command detection signal is already inputted, a reproduction signal is muted only for video signal reproduction period. Thus, the noisy modulated video signal can be muted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone terminal device, such as a video telephone, which transmits and receives video and audio through a telephone line.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there have been video telephones, for example, which transmit and receive audio and still images through telephone lines, and in recent years this type of device has been attracting attention as the amount of information has increased.

This device is equipped with a video input section such as a CCD (charge-coupled device) camera or image pickup tube, and a video output section such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or liquid crystal display.
The video input section and the image output section are used to exchange images.

However, with conventionally configured videophones, even if an incoming call occurs when you are not present, you cannot receive or receive messages from the other party; in other words, there is a problem in that it is impossible to automatically receive messages. The present applicant has developed a still image videophone that has an answering machine function, automatically stores audio and video signals from the other party, and is configured so that the stored information can be output from an audio output section and a video display section. Proposed.

Hereinafter, a still image videophone, which is an example of a telephone terminal device proposed by the present applicant, will be explained.

The configuration of the videophone proposed by Akito Mizumoto, for example,
It looked like this and Figure 4.

In the figure, 1 is a video input section composed of a COD camera, image pickup tube, etc., 2 is a video display section composed of a CRT, liquid crystal display panel, etc., 3 is the main body of the device, and 4 is a video input section 1
An image sending button 5 is operated to send the captured image to the other party via a telephone line, and 5 is a cassette tape deck for storing the received audio and video signals on a cassette tape 6.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration. In the figure, 7 is a telephone line, 8 is a line interface section,
Reference numeral 9 denotes an audio signal/video signal changeover switch that switches the flow of signals arriving on the telephone line between the audio side (A) and the video I (B), and 10 denotes a signal sent from the other party via the telephone line 7 or the above-mentioned signal. This is a video signal discriminator that detects whether or not there is an audio/video switching signal in the signal played by the cassette tape deck 5, and when there is an audio/video switching signal, it outputs a signal indicating that the audio/video switching signal is present. The signal is sent to the signal changeover switch 9. 11 is an audio output section such as a speaker, 12 is an audio input section such as a microphone, 13 is a video signal modulation section that modulates the video signal taken in by the video input section 1 into a signal that can be transmitted over a telephone line, and 14 is an audio input section such as a microphone. A video signal demodulation unit demodulates the modulated video signal sent through the telephone line 7; 15 and 16 are respectively a first video memory and a second video memory; 17 is a video telephone unit and an answering machine unit that are manually operated; This is an answering machine function switch that selectively switches between the two terminals, and when it is on, it is connected to the (D) side, and when it is off, it is connected to the (C) side. 18 is an incoming call detection unit that detects a calling signal arriving from the telephone diagram 17;
Reference numeral 1 denotes a response message sending unit comprising a voice synthesis unit 1c and a voice storage memory IC; 22 and 23 a received message storage unit and a received message playback unit using the cassette tape deck 5; and 19 a remote control unit which arrives from the telephone line 7. A remote control signal discriminating section 20 that detects a signal decodes a control command from the detection signal from the remote control signal discriminating section 19 and sends the control signal to the response message transmitting section 21 and the received message reproducing section 23. Department.

Further, in the figure, the part surrounded by a dashed-dotted line 24 shows the audio communication section, the part surrounded by 25 shows the video communication part, and the part surrounded by 26 shows the answering machine part.

Next, the operation of the still picture video telephone configured as described above will be explained. In the following description, it is assumed that a plurality of still image video telephones having the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are connected via the telephone line 7.

First, when the user is at home, the answering function switch 17 is set to the (C) side, and the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9 is connected to the audio side (A). When a call is made or received in this state, the calling party and the called party are connected via the telephone line.
Thereafter, normal voice communication is performed between the voice output section 11 and the voice input section 12.

Also, if you want to send an image to the other party, press the image sending button 4 to activate the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9, which switches the signal flow from the audio side (A) to the video side (B). The video information taken into the first video memory 15 by the video input section 1 is modulated by the video signal modulation section 13 into a signal that can be transmitted over a telephone line. After that, the modulated video signal is added with a signal for audio/video switching at the beginning, and is added to the line interface section 8.
The message is then sent to the other party via the telephone line 7. Then, the audio/video switching signal is detected by the video signal discrimination unit 10 of the telephone terminal device of the other party, and the audio/video signal switching switch 9 is operated to change the flow of the signal from the audio side (A) to the video side (B). ), the video signal demodulation section 14 demodulates the video signal, stores it in the second video memory 16, and displays it on the video display section 2.

After the video transmission ends, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9 automatically returns to the audio side (A).

On the other hand, when the other party sends a video, the same process as described above is performed, and the received video is displayed on the video display section 2 on the user's side.

In addition, when the user is absent, the answering function switch 17 is set to ON, that is, to the (D) side. When a calling signal arrives from the telephone line 7 in this state, the calling signal is detected by the incoming call detection unit 18, and after the telephone line is automatically closed, the response message sending unit 19 is driven and the voice storage memory IC is The response message stored in the message is sent to the telephone line. When the sending of the response message is completed, the audio signal sent from the calling side via the telephone line 7 and the video signal modulated into a signal that can be sent over the telephone line are stored in the message storage section 20 and sent to the cassette tape 6. to be memorized. In this way, an incoming call while the user is away is automatically answered, and the audio and video signals from the other party are stored.

Next, when the operator returns home and operates the received message playback unit 21 to start playing back the received message stored on the cassette tape 6 while he was away, the voice message of the playback signal is output from the audio output unit. 11, the video signal is reproduced, and the audio/video switching signal added to the beginning of the video signal is detected by the video signal discriminator 10, the audio/video signal switching switch 9 is switched to the video side (B), and the video signal is demodulated. The second video memory 1 via the section 14
6 and is reproduced on the video display section 2.

When the output of the video signal is finished, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 9 is switched to the audio side (A).

Furthermore, if the operator calls a videophone call at home from a videophone call at home, the telephone line is automatically closed, and while a response message is being sent, if the operator remotely commands the playback of the received message using a DTMF signal, a remote control signal is generated. The determination section 19 detects the remote control signal and inputs it to the command decoding section 20. When the command decoding section 20 decodes the remote control signal as a signal indicating a command to reproduce the received message, the command decoding section 20 sends a control signal to the response message sending section 21 to immediately end sending the response message. issue. Then, this response message sending section 21
rewinds the cassette tape 6 of the cassette tape deck 5 and reproduces the received message. On the other hand, the operator can reproduce the video and the message by receiving the reproduced received message on the still picture video telephone when the telephone number 1117 is reached.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above configuration, when an operator instructs the playback of a received message from a telephone that does not have a video communication function while away from home, there is no modulation in the message that is played back and sent. However, when a video signal appears, a very harsh reproduction sound is heard.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a means for muting the playback sound of a received message when a video signal discriminator detects an audio/video switching signal in a playback signal, and a muting function. The 0N10FF was also configured to be remotely controlled.

Effect: With this configuration, when a received message containing a modulated video signal stored in a still picture video telephone with an answering machine is played back by remote control from a telephone without a video communication function, the mute function can be turned on to prevent harshness. It is now possible to mute the modulated video signal.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a still image video telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention, and 27 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a still image video telephone in an embodiment of the present invention. When the discrimination section detects an audio/video switching signal, the video signal muting section is controlled by a signal indicating the detection.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the same numbers are given to the same parts as in the conventional example described above, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The operation of the video telephone configured as described above will be explained below.

The normal operation when at home, the playback of received messages, and the answering function when absent are capable of transmitting and receiving audio and video in the same way as conventional systems, and the operator can use remote control commands from a telephone that does not have a video communication function while away from home. The operation of reproducing the received message and listening to the message will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the operator leaves the house, the answering function switch is turned on, that is, set to the (D) side, so that the answering function is started (step a). When a calling signal arrives from the telephone line 7 in this state, the incoming call detection section 18 detects it, step b), and automatically closes the telephone line (step c). Thereafter, the response message sending unit 19 is driven and the response message previously stored in the voice storage memory IC is sent out (step d). If the operator sends a remote control command using a DTMF tone while this response message is being sent, the remote control signal discriminator 19 detects it (step e), and the command decoder 20 reproduces the received message. Whether it is a command or not is decoded (step, j). If it is a received message playback command, it is decoded to see if there is a video signal mute command in the signal (step k). If a video signal mute command is decoded in the signal, the command decoder outputs a video signal mute command detection signal to the video signal mute unit 27,
and a step of forcibly sending a signal to the response message sending unit to terminate sending of the response message; m)
Then, a command is issued to the cassette tape deck unit 5 to rewind the tape and reproduce the received message (step n). Then, playback begins. During the reproduction of this received message, when the video signal discriminator 10 detects an audio/video switching signal in the received message that is being reproduced (
Step 0) Output a video detection signal to the video signal mute section 27, and if a mute command detection signal has already been input (Step p) mute the playback signal for the video signal playback period (Step q); If the mute command detection signal is not input, the reproduced video signal is sent out to the telephone line 7 as it is. When all received messages have been played back (step r), the caller waits for on-hook, and when an on-footer is detected, the process moves from step S to step t to automatically close the line. Return to step b and wait for the next calling signal.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention allows an operator to use a remote control command from a telephone without a video communication function while away from home to play and listen to received messages stored in a still picture video telephone with an answering function at home. In this case, by sending a video signal mute command, only the harsh reproduced sound of the modulated video signal can be heard, which is very effective in practice.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a still picture video telephone which is a telephone terminal device in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the same embodiment.
4 and 4 are perspective views of a still picture video telephone which is a conventional telephone terminal device, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an open circuit configuration of the still picture video telephone which is a conventional telephone terminal device. 1...Video input section 2...Video display section 3...Device main body 4...Picture sending button 5...Cassette tape deck 6...Cassette tape 7...Telephone line 8... Line interface section 9...Audio signal/video signal changeover switch 10...
-Video signal discrimination section 11...Audio output section 12...Audio input section 13...Video signal modulation section 14...Video signal demodulation section 15...First video memory 16...Second Video memory 17...Answering function switch 18...Incoming call detection section 19...Remote operation command discrimination section 20...Command decoding section 21...Response message sending section 22...Received message reproducing section 23 ...Received message storage section 24...Voice communication section 25...Video communication section 26...Answering machine section 27...Video signal mute section Name of agent Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other person

Claims (1)

[Claims] An audio communication section including an audio input section and an audio output section, a video signal discrimination section for detecting a video signal, a video communication section including a video input section and a video display section, and a remote control signal coming through a telephone line. a remote control signal discriminator for detecting a remote control signal; a command decoder for decoding a control command issued by the remote control signal from the remote control signal detected by the remote control signal discriminator and outputting a control signal to each section; an answering machine section comprising a response message sending section for sending out a response message, a received message storage section for storing the audio signal and video signal arriving on the telephone line, and a received message playback section for playing back the stored received message; a video signal muting unit that mutes the video signal and controls the video signal so that it is not sent to the line when the command decoding unit detects a specific remote control signal and the video signal discriminating unit detects a video signal in the received message being played; and a connection means for connecting a reproduction signal from the received message reproduction section to the audio output section and the video output section.