JPH0376475A - Controller for television telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a video telephone device, and more particularly,
A videophone control device that controls the camera of the videophone device to take pictures of a desired location based on instruction code signals from the outside, and controls it to record images of telephone lights, messages, etc. that are received while the user is away. Regarding.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, videophone devices have been provided that transmit and receive still images via telephone lines and display the still images on display devices such as cathode ray tubes and liquid crystal panels built into the telephone device. This videophone device is configured to convert the still image captured by a camera into a low-frequency signal and transmit it, and it has become possible to broadcast multiple still images. It is also possible to send different image information.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

An object of the present invention is to make effective use of the features of the videophone device as described above, forcefully operate the videophone device by a control signal instructed from the outside via a telephone line, and direct the camera in a desired direction. To provide a control device for a videophone that can be rotated to monitor the situation at the installation location even from a remote location.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a video telephone that has an answering machine function and records not only messages received while the user is away, but also images of the other party.

[Means to solve the problem]

The videophone control device of the present invention movably supports the imaging surface of the videophone device, and includes a storage unit that stores instruction codes such as camera movement and its angle, and an identification unit that identifies these instruction codes. The present invention is characterized in that it has a drive unit that moves the camera, and a control unit that controls the drive unit to move the camera in the direction and angle identified by the identification unit.

The videophone control device of the present invention also includes a message recording section in which a predetermined message and image information are recorded in advance, a recording section for recording an image and a message of the calling party, and a telephone call after receiving a preset calling signal. The apparatus is characterized in that it has a control section that controls the calling side to record the video and message of the calling side in the recording section after transmitting the information in the message recording section.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below. As shown in the construction drawing, the videophone device 1 includes an image display unit 2 composed of a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal panel, etc., a camera 3 that displays the person on the phone, and a camera 3 that displays brightness adjustment, image switching, and transmission instructions for the image display unit 2. This is a conventionally well-known device that is provided with operation buttons 4 such as the above. This videophone equipment engineer is
It is placed on the turntable 6 of the mounting table 5. The turntable 6 is configured to be rotated by a predetermined angle by a step motor or the like, although its details are not shown. The videophone device 1 includes a control section W shown in FIG.
7 to a telephone line 8.

The control device 7 includes a control section 11 configured with a microcomputer or the like, a code identification section 12 that identifies various control codes set from the PB double signal of the telephone line, and stores these control codes. It has a memory 13 for storing operation control information of the turntable 11, and a turntable drive section 14 for rotating the turntable 6 in a desired direction. The control unit 11 also includes a message recording and reproducing unit 16 that records and reproduces a message and video informing the other party that the other party is away via a switching unit 15, and a digital memory that records the voice and video of the other party. A recording unit 17 is connected thereto.

Next, these configurations will be explained in more detail along with their operations. First, a password code for operating the control device, a rotation instruction code for the turntable 6, a direction instruction code indicating the direction of rotation, an angle instruction code indicating the rotation angle, and information recorded in the recording unit 12. A transmission instruction code or the like is set in advance to reproduce and transmit the data, and these codes are stored in the code identification section 12.

For example, if you have no choice but to go out when a sick person is present, the videophone device 1 is installed in the sick person's room. When the person calls home from outside using a videophone device and sends the password using the button on the telephone, the code identification section 12 identifies the password, establishes a call state, and displays the patient's identity. If the camera 3 is in a bad position or if you want to see the outside of the room, then send a rotation instruction code. Code identification section 12
identifies the rotation instruction code, transmits the information to the control section 11, and puts the turntable drive section 14 into an opening state.

Next, by transmitting a direction instruction code and an angle instruction code, the turntable 6 is rotated in a predetermined direction and by a predetermined angle. To instruct the rotation angle, for example, you can set one code in advance that instructs to advance by 5 degrees, and even if you instruct it multiple times to rotate the desired angle, the numerical information by the button will be used as the angle value. It may be processed as follows. In this way, by rotating the turntable 6, the position of the camera 3 can be changed to photograph a desired location. This allows you to see the patient's face and check the condition of the bed.

Next, explaining about answering machine recording, the switching unit 15 is manually operated to set it to the answering machine recording state. In this state, when an acquaintance calls from outside, the control unit 11 controls the number of predetermined times as in the case of a conventional answering machine. After the ring tone, the user enters a talking state, takes out a message and video informing that he is away from the message recording and reproducing section 16, sends it to the other party, and informs the other party that the video and message of the other party will be recorded. Thereafter, the control section 11 switches the switching section 15 to the recording section 17 side in order to record images and messages from the other party. Therefore, when the owner returns home, for example, by reproducing the message using the reproducing mechanism of the message recording/reproducing section 16, he or she can know the telephone calls received while the owner was away. In this case, similar to a conventional answering machine, a reproduction instruction code is set in advance, and by instructing this reproduction instruction code from the outside, the control section 11 transfers the information recorded so far in the recording section 17 to the telephone line. The information may also be transmitted to an external videophone device via a videophone.

In the above embodiment, the control section 7 has both the rotation control function of the turntable 6 and the answering machine function, but it is of course possible to use only one of them. Also, turntable 6
Although the camera is horizontally rotated by the rotation of the videophone device, the videophone device may be placed on a tilt mechanism that changes its direction up and down, and its tilt angle may be adjusted.

Furthermore, if the video telephone device is equipped with a video input terminal, it is possible to transmit video signals from an external camera.
The OD camera may be installed above a corner of the room so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and its connection line may be connected to the video input terminal.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the videophone control device of the present invention movably supports the imaging surface of the videophone device, and also includes a storage unit that stores instruction codes such as camera movement and its angle, and a storage unit that stores instruction codes such as camera movement and its angle. Since it has an identification section for identifying, a driving section for moving the camera, and a control section for controlling the driving section to move the camera in the direction and angle identified by the identification section, it is possible to receive calls from outside. The camera can be directed to a desired position by operation, and the condition of patients, infants, etc. can be monitored from a remote location.

The videophone control device of the present invention also includes a message recording section in which a predetermined message and image information are recorded in advance, a recording section for recording an image and a message of the calling party, and a telephone call after receiving a preset calling signal. The system has a control unit that controls the recording unit to record the calling party's video and message in the recording unit after transmitting the information in the message recording unit. You can record videos, messages, etc.

Since the control device of the present invention can be installed without making any improvements to the videophone itself, these functions can be easily added to existing videophones.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a video telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control section. In the drawings, 1 is a video telephone device, 2 is an image display unit,
3 is a camera, 6 is a turntable, 7 is a control device, 8 is a telephone line, 11 is a control section, 12 is a code identification section, 13 is a memory, 14 is a turntable moving section, 15 is a switching section,
16 is a message recording/reproducing section, and 17 is a recording section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A control device that causes the videophone device to perform operations according to the codes by transmitting various preset codes to the videophone device from the outside via a telephone line, the device comprising: a storage unit that movably supports an imaging surface of the camera and stores instruction codes such as movement and angle of the camera; an identification unit that identifies these instruction codes; a drive unit that moves the camera; and a control section that controls the drive section to move the camera in a direction and angle identified by the videophone controller. (2) A control device that causes the videophone device to perform operations according to the codes by transmitting various preset codes from the outside via a telephone line, the device transmitting predetermined messages and images. A message recording section that records information in advance, a recording section that records the calling side's video and message, and a call state after receiving a preset calling signal, and transmitting the information in the message recording section, and then recording the recording section. 1. A control device for a video telephone, comprising: a control section for controlling the calling side to record an image and a message of the calling party.