JPH0318192A - Video telephone set with picture file information transmission function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To expand the application of the telephone set by sending a picture from a built-in camera stored in advance when the picture by the built-in camera is not desired to be sent because of the convenience of the operator. CONSTITUTION:When a picture by a built-in camera is not desired to be sent to a destination because of the convenience of the operator, an operation section 21 is operated to instruct message transmission, then a system control section 15 outputs a control signal to a picture file memory 14 to select a picture data number of a video RAM in the memory 14. Then the pattern data is transferred to an input switching circuit 13 and an input switching control signal switching the picture data of the built-in camera 10 and the picture data in the memory 14 is outputted to store the picture data fetched in the picture memory 6 in advance. Thus, the picture of the operator before transmission instruction is sent to the destination equipment to expand the application of the telephone set.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention "Field of Industrial Application" This invention relates to a videophone with an image file information transmission function that transmits audio information and video information using a public telephone line, etc. The present invention relates to a video telephone with an image file transmission function capable of transmitting previously captured and stored image information to a video information pool.

``Prior Art'' Generally, an example of image transmission using a video telephone will be described with reference to FIG.

First, an image showing the operator 27 is converted into an electrical signal by the built-in camera 10, and after the signal level is adjusted by the video human power section 11 for sampling, the image is sent to the A/D.
It is input to converter l2.

The analog data is converted into digital data in the A/D converter 12 where the image data is input manually, and the image memory 6
Temporarily stored in

Here, the operator 27 uses an operation instruction switch (not shown)
Instructs to send the image. In response to an image transmission instruction, the data stored in the image memory 6 is subjected to processing such as compression by the image processing section 5, and encoded by the encoding circuit 4. Further, the information is multiplexed in the communication interface 2, output to the communication line 1 such as a public telephone line, and transmitted to the other party's video phone.

``Problem to be Solved by the Invention'' The image that can be transmitted with conventional videophones is the image taken by the built-in camera at the time when the operator gives the instruction to transmit, so it is difficult to transmit images when the operator is taking a bath and is not properly dressed. In cases where the operator is in poor health and does not want to show his or her face to the other party, the image at the time of the transmission instruction is sent regardless of the operator's convenience.

Furthermore, if the operator is inconvenient, he or she should issue a transmission instruction, but at that time, no image is displayed on the other party's video phone, and the video phone cannot function as a video phone.

This invention was made in view of the above points. For example, if you receive a phone call while taking a bath or putting on makeup, and you answer the phone in a hurry, the system does not send an image of the operator, but instead sends appropriate image information. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a video telephone with an image file information transmitting function that enables answering by exhibiting the functions of a video telephone.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a videophone that transmits and communicates audio information and video information from a built-in camera, and includes means for capturing images by the built-in camera, and a built-in camera. It is equipped with an image memory for storing and storing images captured by the system, and an encoding means for transmitting this image information using a public telephone line. This is characterized in that the image information previously captured and stored is transmitted.

"Function" According to this invention, when the operator does not want to show his/her face to the other party due to convenience, such as when applying underwear after taking a bath, applying makeup with a pack, or having messy hair, the built-in camera can be used. Instead of the image at the time of the transmission instruction, an image of the operator before the transmission instruction can be sent, and the image can be sent without impairing the function of the videophone.

"Example" Next, an example of the implementation of the video telephone with an image file information transmission function according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video telephone with an image file information transmission function according to the present invention, which is roughly divided into an audio processing system and a video processing system, each of which is controlled and processed by a system control section 16.

Audio information, video information, and control information (dial number) input and output from the video telephone are connected to a communication line 1 (digital line) via a communication interface 2 and transmitted. In this communication interface 2, two information channels and one control signal channel are demultiplexed. That is, separation is performed when going from the communication line l to the image processing unit 5 and audio processing unit l6, while multiplexing is performed when going from the image processing unit 5 and audio processing unit l6 to the communication line l. First, we will explain the audio signal processing system. As shown in FIG. 1, the audio processing unit 16 to which the handset 17 and the transmitter @1B are connected is controlled and processed by the system control unit 15.

That is, at the time of reception, the system control unit 15 supplies the digital audio information signal from the other party via the information channel to the audio processing unit 16, and performs processing such as D/A conversion to form an analog audio signal. and this audio signal is supplied to the receiver l7. Also, when sending,
An analog voice IS signal is supplied from the transmitter of the voice processing unit 16 on the first day, and is processed by A/D conversion etc. to form a digital voice information signal, which is then sent to the communication interface 2 under the control of the system control unit 15. It is supplied as an information channel signal, multiplexed, and sent to the other party (receiver) via the communication line.

Note that 19 is a call control section, and this call control section 19 is connected to the system control section 15. The call control unit 19
Call origination and call reception processing for line connection is performed using the control signal channel.

Further, the first operation word from the operation unit 2 for inputting the dial number when making a call is supplied to the system control unit 15 via the operation interface 20 and processed.

Next, the video signal processing system will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 11, the image memory 6 to which the display 9, built-in camera 10, and image processing section 5 are connected temporarily stores image information at the time of transmission and reception under the control of the system control section 15. When receiving image information, the received image information is separated by the transmission interface 2, then manually decoded by the decoding circuit 3, where it is decoded from serial digital information to parallel digital information, and further processed by the image processing section 5. After the compressed received information is decompressed, it is temporarily stored in the image memory 6. The image data stored in the image memory 6 should be output to the display 9. It is converted into an analog video signal by the D/A converter 7, adjusted to an appropriate level by the video output section 8, and output to the display 9. The image of the other party is displayed.

In addition, when transmitting image information, the analog video signal (one author's image) received by the built-in camera lO is adjusted to an appropriate level by the video human power unit l1 and A/D converted ``8''.
12, it is converted into digital data, and is temporarily stored in the image memory 6 via a manual switching circuit 13, which will be described later. The image data stored in the image memory 6 is transferred to a D/A converter 7,
The image is monitored by the display 9 via the video output section 8, and under the control of the system control section 5, the image processing section 5 performs processing such as image compression, and the encoding circuit 4 performs high-efficiency encoding processing. is applied to form a digital image information signal. This signal is then supplied to the communication interface 2 as an information channel signal, multiplexed, and transmitted to the other party via the communication line 1 (digital line).

Now, if the operator does not want to send the image to the other party due to reasons such as, for example, the operator is in underwear after taking a bath, is wearing makeup or has messy hair, etc., the image can be sent instead of the image from the built-in camera IO. Then, the image previously stored in the image file memory [4] is transmitted. At that time, when the operator operates the operation unit 2l to instruct message transmission, the system control unit 15 outputs a control signal to the image file memory l4, and at the same time switches the manual switching circuit II3 to send an image of the built-in camera Instead, a pre-stored image is transmitted.

The operation around the image file memory 14 is illustrated in Figure 2.
￥Explain in detail.

In FIG. 2, a CPU 22 that controls operation instructions, switching, etc. has a program ROM 23 and a work RAM 2.
Move at 4. First, the CPU 22 receives the operation instruction signal A for transmitting the contents of the image file, and the image file RAM 25
An input switching system i that selects the image data number in the image data number, transfers the pattern data of the instructed image data to the manual switching circuit 19, and switches between the image data of the built-in camera 10 and the image data in the image file memory 14. # Output signal B and store previously captured image data in image memory 6. In addition, the registration of image data is performed by the CPU.
22 receives the operation instruction signal A for image file registration, outputs a human switching control signal B to the human switching circuit 13 in order to process the image data of the built-in camera at that time, and converts the image data of the built-in camera 10 into an image. The data is transferred to the designated image data area of the file RAM 25 and registered.

The images stored in the image file RAM 25 are, for example, as shown in FIG. (Image data 2) "Below the image of ponytail 7 x month x day" (Image data 3) "Below the ribbon hair image ☆ month ☆ day" (image data n) etc. This image file R A Rn of the image data stored in M25 is the image file RAM25.
determined within the capacity of

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the video telephone 26 with a message transmission function that transmits such a message pattern has a display 9 that displays the transmitted image message, etc., and an operator 25 (in the state of 1!1). A built-in camera 10 for taking an image is disposed on the front, and a message changeover switch (manual changeover) 13 is included, as well as a k switch block 28, a numeric keypad 29, and a handset 30 are disposed on the slanted front. As described above, according to the present invention, in addition to the video information from the built-in camera at the time when the transmission instruction was issued, image information before the transmission instruction can be transmitted. It is possible to send a previously memorized image when the operator does not want to send an image due to the operator's circumstances, such as when responding with a face down, wearing a face mask, or having unruly hair. This has the effect of broadening its use as a videophone. Figure 2 is a detailed diagram of the message pattern generating section l4, Figure 3
The figure is a front view showing several examples of image data, FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a video phone with an image file information transmission function, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram of a conventional example.

1 6 9 l　0 1 3 1 4 l　7 l　8 ・Communication line ・Image memory ·display ・Built-in camera ・Manual switching circuit ・Image file memory ・Telephone receiver ・Telephone

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A videophone that transmits and communicates audio information and video information from a built-in camera, which is equipped with means for capturing images from the built-in camera, and an image memory for storing and storing images captured by the built-in camera, An image file comprising an encoding means for transmitting using a public telephone line, and transmitting not only the video information at the time of transmission instruction from the built-in camera but also the above-mentioned image information captured and stored before then. Videophone with information transmission function.