JPH04282949A - Video still picture transmission facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the video still picture transmission facsimile equipment able to send a video still picture sent precedingly for many number of times as well as an original. CONSTITUTION:The above facsimile equipment is provided with an ADC means 101 digitizing a video signal, a memory 102 storing digital data from the ADC means 101, a transmission means 100 extracting one frame of the data in the memory 102 and sending it as the coded data, a secondary storage device 120 storing the data by one frame as a picture file, and a means 122 managing a picture file. When the picture data sent precedingly is in use, the picture file stored in the secondary storage device 120 is designated by a file management section 122 and the picture data of the secondary storage device 120 is sent to the transmission means 100 while the transmission prodecure is managed by the transmission procedure management section 121. The data is stored in the memory 102 of the transmission means 100 and the stored signal in converted into an analog signal to be a video still picture signal and the data is sent to a communication line 109 again by the transmission means 100.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video still image transmission facsimile device which is capable of transmitting original documents and video still images multiple times.

0002

[Prior Art] A facsimile machine optically reads a document to create digital data, sends the digital data to the other party via a communication line, and receives the digital data sent from the other party and records it on paper. It is well known as a device for obtaining original documents etc. by doing this.

[0003] Such facsimile machines are connected through a communication line, and a document can be transmitted from one facsimile machine to another facsimile machine.

0004

However, although the conventional facsimile machine described above can send original documents, it cannot send video still images, which are similar image signals. Furthermore, when transmitting video still images, it is necessary to prepare a separate device, which increases the number of parts and costs.

[0005] Therefore, the present inventor proposed an apparatus for transmitting video still images using a facsimile machine. However, this device has a capacity to store only one still image, and because it does not have a hard copy or the like, it can only temporarily hold the image. On the other hand, if the still image to be sent is made into a hard copy by connecting to a video printer or the like, the same image can be sent out any number of times, but there is a drawback that the image quality deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a video still image transmission facsimile device which is capable of sending original documents and can transmit video still images any number of times.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a video still image transmission facsimile device performs digitization (analog-to-digital conversion (AD)), which digitizes a video signal to produce digital data.
C)) means 101, a memory 102 for storing digital data from the ADC means 101, and a still image for one frame stored in the memory 102 in response to a freeze switch;
a transmission means 100 that stores the encoded data in the memory 102, encodes it and sends it to the communication line 109, and receives the encoded data from the communication line 109 and stores it in the memory 102;
Analogization (digital-to-analog conversion (DAC)) means 106 converts the received data stored in the memory 102 into an analog signal into a video signal; a secondary storage means 120 that can store encoded image data as an image file; an image file management means 121 that manages the image files stored in the secondary storage means 120; A video still image transmission section and a facsimile section 107.
is switched by the selector 104. The transmission means 100 includes a CODEC means 103 that extracts one frame of data from the memory 102, compresses and transmits the still image for one frame, and transmits coded data from the CODEC means 103 to a communication line 109. transmission control means 105, these and ADC means 101, DA
and a control means 108 for controlling the operation of the C means 106.

[0009]

[Operation] [Video still image transmission side] A video signal from a video camera inputted from the video input terminal is digitized by the ADC means 101 and stored in the memory 102, and simultaneously converted into an analog signal by the DAC means 106 and output as a video signal. The terminal sends the images to your TV, allowing you to monitor the images you are shooting with your video camera on your TV. If there is an image to be transmitted at that time, by pressing the freeze switch, the video still image to be transmitted can be determined and stored in the memory 102 as a still image. The still image is taken out from the memory 102 as one frame of data, and the one frame of data is COD
The image is compressed by the EC means 103 and sent from the transmission control means 105 to the communication line 109.

[Video still image receiving side] Code data sent via the communication line 109 is received by the transmission control means 105 and sent to the CODEC via the selector 104.
It is sent to means 103. The CODEC means 103 expands the received signal into the original signal and stores it in the memory 102. The data stored in the memory 102 is transferred to the DAC means 109.
The video signal is converted into an analog signal and provided to a monitor television receiver as a video still image signal.

[Storing and reproducing the same image] The encoded data sent from the transmission control means 105 to the communication line 109 on the sending side is stored in secondary storage under the control of the file management means 122 as necessary each time it is sent. It is stored and accumulated in the means 120 as an image file.

When it is desired to use the image files stored in the secondary storage means 120 in this way again, a desired image is specified from the image files under the control of the file management means 122, and the image is sent to the transmission procedure management means 121. The selector 10 reads out the secondary storage means 120 under control.
4 to the CODEC means 103. CODE
The C means 103 expands the signal from the secondary storage means 120 to the original signal and stores it in the memory 102. memory 10
The data stored in 2 is converted into an analog signal by a DAC means 106 and is provided to a monitor television receiver as a video still image signal. Therefore, when it is confirmed that the desired image is displayed on the monitor television receiver, the memory 10
CODEC one frame of data stored in 2.
The image can be compressed by the means 103 and sent from the transmission control means 105 to the communication line 109. In this way, the image file stored in the secondary storage means 120 can be transmitted as many times as necessary. It is also possible to monitor previously sent still images.

[0013] By adding a function for performing such an operation to one facsimile machine, a previously sent video still image can be transmitted between a plurality of facsimile machines any number of times.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the video still image transmission facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, a video still image transmission facsimile device 1 is connected to a video (VTR) via a cable 2.
) A camera 3 is connected to a television receiver 5 via a cable 4. This facsimile device 1 is connected to a communication line 6, and can send or receive a document to or from a counterpart facsimile device (not shown) connected to the communication line 6. The facsimile device 1 is capable of transmitting and receiving video still images in addition to transmitting and receiving original documents. This facsimile device 1 is provided with a freeze button 7 for determining the video still image to be transmitted. Further, this facsimile device can also utilize an existing facsimile device as a facsimile section.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of the transmission means 100 and image file storage section of the video still image transmission facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

The configuration of the facsimile section in FIG. 3 will be explained. The original is optically read by a scanner section (not shown) and converted into an electrical signal. The facsimile encoding section 11 and the header information adding section 12 are connected to the facsimile section 107.
is located inside. The facsimile encoding unit 11 converts the electrical signal into code data. This facsimile encoding section 11 is connected to a header information adding section 12, and adds header information to the encoded data from the facsimile encoding section 11 and outputs the coded data. The header information adding unit 12 includes a multiplexer 13 that constitutes the selector 104.
It is possible to connect to the transmission control section 14 via the header information addition section 12, and data from the header information addition section 12 can be supplied to the transmission control section 14. The transmission control unit 14 transmits the data to the communication line 15.
Send to.

Furthermore, data sent from the communication line 15 is supplied to the transmission control section 14. The transmission control section 14 can be connected to the header information reading section 17 via the demultiplexer 16 forming the selector 104, and supplies the received data to the header information reading section 17. The header information reading section 17 can extract code data from the read data and supply it to the facsimile decoding section 18 (inside the facsimile section 107). Facsimile decoding section 1
Reference numeral 8 supplies the decoded electrical signal to a printer section (not shown) to record the image on paper.

On the other hand, the configuration of the video still image transmission section in FIG. 3 will be explained. For example, a video signal from the VTR camera 3 is supplied to the still image encoding section 21 (inside the CODEC 103). The still image encoding unit 21 extracts one frame's worth of stored data, compresses it, and sends it out. This still image encoding section 21 is connectable to the multiplexer 13 via a header information adding section 22, and adds header information to still image encoded data and provides it to the transmission control section 14. The transmission control unit 14 sends video still image data to the communication line 15.

Further, video still image data sent from the communication line 15 is supplied to the transmission control section 14. The transmission control section 14 can be connected to the header information reading section 27 via the demultiplexer 16, and supplies the received data to the header information reading section 27. The header information reading unit 27 extracts code data from the read data,
It can be supplied to the still image decoding unit 28 (inside the CODEC 103). The still image decoding unit 28 takes in the encoded data, decompresses it, restores it to the original data, and stores the data. The stored data is retrieved and analogized into a video still image signal.

Furthermore, the header information sections 12 and 22, the header information reading sections 17 and 27, the multiplexer 13, the demultiplexer 16, and the transmission control section 14 are controlled by a control section 30.

Next, details of the image file storage section shown in FIG. 3 will be explained. The output of the multiplexer 13 is also connected to a secondary storage device 40 via a secondary storage information header adding section 39, and the coded data of one frame of still images from the multiplexer 13 is sent to the secondary storage device. 40 can be supplied. The secondary storage device 40 is capable of storing the encoded data of the still image as an image file, and may be configured with, for example, a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, or the like. The files stored in the secondary storage device 40 are managed by the file management unit 41 of the secondary storage management unit 43, which includes a file management unit 41 and a transmission procedure management unit 42. Furthermore, when sending out files stored and stored in the secondary storage device 40, a desired file is first selected by the file management section 41. The selected file is sent from the secondary storage device 40 to the demultiplexer 16 via the secondary storage information header reading section 44 while the transmission procedure is managed by the transmission procedure management section 42 . The storage operation of this secondary storage device 40 is controlled by a secondary storage control section 45. Secondary storage control unit 4
5, the storage operation is controlled by the secondary storage control unit 31. Note that the secondary storage information header adding section 39 and the secondary storage information header reading section 44 are controlled by the secondary storage management section 43. Further, the secondary storage management section 43 is capable of communicating necessary information between the secondary storage control section 45 and the control section 30.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of the video still image code conversion section.

The video signal code conversion section in FIG. 4 performs analog-to-digital conversion (A) for digitizing the video signal.
DC) means 101, a memory 102a for storing digital data from the ADC means 101, and a memory 102a for storing digital data from the ADC means 101;
The codec means 103A extracts one frame of data of 02a, compresses it, and sends it out. A
The DC means 101 outputs a luminance signal [Y] and a color difference signal [CR
], [CB], a luminance/color difference separation unit 101a;
A/D converters 101b to 101 that digitize each signal
It consists of d. The memory 102a stores a luminance signal [Y]
Data separated for each color difference signal [CR] and [CB] can be stored. The CODEC means 103A is
A two-dimensional DCT unit 103Aa that processes data from the memory 102a, and a quantization unit 103 that quantizes the output thereof.
Ab and an encoding unit 103Ac that performs DPCM encoding on the DC component and Huffman encoding on the AC component of the data from the quantization unit 103Ab to obtain encoded data.
It is equipped with

The video signal code conversion section in FIG. 4 includes a CODEC means 103B for decompressing code data from the header information reading section 27 and a CODEC means 103B for decompressing the code data from the header information reading section 27 for the reception mode.
It is provided with a memory 102b for storing data from the means 103B, and a digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) means 106 for extracting the data stored in the memory 102b and converting it into an analog signal to obtain a video still image signal. COD
The EC means 103B performs D for the DC component of code data.
An encoding section 103Bc that performs PCM encoding and Huffman decoding on the AC component of the coded data to obtain data; an inverse quantization section 103Bb that inversely quantizes the output thereof; and a dequantization section 103Bb that processes the data and stores it in the memory 102b. 2D ID to remember
It consists of a CT section 103Ba. The memory 102b can store data of a luminance signal [Y] and color difference signals [CR] and [CB]. The DAC means 106 includes D/A converters 106a to 106a to analogize each data from the memory 102b.
06c, and a luminance/color difference synthesis unit 106d that synthesizes the luminance signal [Y] and color difference signals [CR], [CB] from each D/A converter 106a to 106c to obtain a video still image signal. .

The operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

[Video still image transmission and transmission image storage operation] The video signal from the VTR camera 3 is displayed on a monitor television receiver. Check the image you want to send and press the freeze button 7. Then, call the person you want to send the message to, and once the connection is established, do the following: At this time, the video signal from the VTR camera 3 is transferred to the ADC means 1.
The luminance signal [Y] and the color difference signals [CR] and [CB] are separated by the luminance/color difference separation unit 101a of No. 01 and input to A/D converters 101b to 101d. A/D converter 1
01b to 101d digitize the input signals and provide them to the memory 102. When the freeze button 7 is pressed, the image data at that time is stored in the memory 102 and the transmission data is determined. The video still image determined in this way is taken out from this memory 102 as data for one frame. This one frame's worth of data is orthogonally transformed in a two-dimensional DCT section 103Aa, then quantized in a quantization section 103Ab, and then encoded in a coding section 103A.
c is used as code data. This data is supplied to the transmission control unit 14 via the multiplexer 13. This data is sent from the transmission control section 14 to the communication line 15.

Further, the data sent from the multiplexer 13 is added with a secondary storage information header by the secondary storage information header adding section 39 under the control of the file management section 41, and then is stored in the secondary storage device 40. be remembered. Secondary storage device 4
Storing data to 0 can be performed each time data is sent out from the multiplexer 13.

[Video still image reception operation] On the other hand, still image data sent via the communication line 15 is received by the transmission control section 14 and sent to the header information reading section 27 via the demultiplexer 16. . Header information reading section 2
In step 7, a synchronization signal is found from the header and code data is obtained. This code data is the CODE of the still image decoding unit 28.
It is sent to C means 103B. In the CODEC means 103B, the coded data is DP
After CM decoding and Huffman decoding, the inverse quantization unit 10
Supplied to 3Bb. The data dequantized by the dequantization unit 103Bb is subjected to signal processing by the two-dimensional IDCT unit 103Ba, and then stored in the memory 102b. Memory 102b
The data is converted into analog data by D/A converters 106a to 106c, respectively, and supplied to a luminance/color difference combining section 106d. In the luminance/color difference combining section 106d, the luminance signal [Y]
and the color difference signals [CR] and [CB] to form a video still image signal, which is supplied to the television receiver 5.

[Transmission of image files stored in the secondary storage device, etc.] When you want to use the image files stored in the secondary storage device 40 again as described above, first send the image files under the control of the file management section 41. Specify the desired image from the file. This designated image data is read from the secondary storage device 40 by the secondary storage information header reading section 44 under the control of the transmission procedure management section 42 and sent to the CODEC means 103B via the demultiplexer 16. In the CODEC means 103B, the secondary storage device 40
The signal is expanded to the original signal and stored in the memory 102b. The data stored in the memory 102b is converted into an analog signal by the DAC means 106d and provided to the monitor television receiver 5 as a video still image signal. therefore,
When the monitor television receiver 5 confirms that the image is the desired one, the encoded data in the secondary storage device 40 can be sent from the transmission control section 14 to the communication line 15.

[0032] In this way, the image file stored in the secondary storage device 40 can be transmitted as many times as necessary. It is also possible to monitor previously sent still images.

[0033] The encoded data of the received still image is also
It can also be stored in the secondary storage device 40.

As described above, since one facsimile device has a video still image transmitting circuit and a video signal receiving circuit, video still images can be transmitted between the facsimile devices.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing the facsimile machine with a video input terminal, the VTR camera 3 and television receiver 5 in each home can be effectively utilized. Furthermore, since the encoded data of a still image transmitted once can be stored, the stored image can be transmitted as many times as necessary. Therefore, according to the present invention, a color image can be provided as a video signal output, and a black and white still image can be provided as an output of a facsimile machine in response to inquiries regarding mail order catalogs and various information. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the transmission control section 14 of the facsimile machine can be shared, so the number of parts is reduced. This embodiment can be realized entirely by electronic processing and does not require a color image printer, so it can be realized with the current size.

[0036]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to transmit video still images and store the transmitted still images by simply adding a few parts to an existing facsimile machine, so that the transmitted still images can be transmitted as many times as necessary. This has the effect of allowing the stored image to be sent out. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the usage pattern is expanded.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of a transmission unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a code conversion section of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 Transmission control section 15 Communication line 21 Still image encoding unit 22 Header information addition section 27 Header information reading section 28 Still image decoding unit 39 Secondary storage information header addition section 40 Secondary storage device 41 File management department 42 Transmission procedure management section 43 Secondary storage management department 44 Secondary storage information header reader 45 Secondary storage control unit 101 ADC means 102 Memory 103 DODEC means 106 DAC means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Digitizing means for digitizing a video signal to obtain digital data; a memory for storing the digital data from the digitizing means; and storing one frame worth of still image in the memory in response to a freeze switch. Then, it is encoded and sent to the communication line, and
a transmission means for receiving encoded data from a communication line and storing it in the memory; an analogization means for converting the received data stored in the memory into an analog signal into a video signal; and a still frame for one frame by the transmission means. secondary storage means capable of storing encoded data of the still image as an image file when transmitting the image; and image file management means managing the image files stored in the secondary storage means;
A video still image transmission facsimile apparatus comprising: a sending procedure management means for managing a sending procedure for sending out the image file stored in the secondary storage means.