JPH10136340A - Interactive image communication system and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a bidirectional image communication system and a recording medium comprising a terminal device and a center device connected via a network, and registers a moving image or a still image from a terminal to a center. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible for a related person to view the information at any time when necessary, and to transmit the information to another necessary terminal. A center device includes a database system including an image storage device and a processing device. In response to a request for registration of image data from a terminal device having means for reproducing and storing image data and a display means, the center device checks the qualification and accepts the registration request if there is qualification, and transmits the image data and related data. Registers in the database system, checks the qualification in response to the image data transmission request from the terminal device, and if qualified, sends the relevant data of the registered image data from the database system to the terminal device, and specifies the image. Is configured to transmit corresponding image data to the terminal device according to.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bidirectional image communication system and a recording medium for performing bidirectional image (still image and moving image) communication between terminal devices connected to a line.

In recent years, mutual communication in which a personal computer is connected to a telephone line or a high-speed dedicated line and data communication is performed with another personal computer via a center device has been generally used. Further, a technique for connecting a dedicated data reception device to a high-speed dedicated line to a television receiver and receiving an image from a CATV (cable television) center is also well known. In such a technique, the moving image communication is a form in which a moving image is transmitted from a center to each user, and the user simply desires to improve the communication.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image communication technique, CATV is used.
A receiving-only device is connected from the center to a coaxial cable or a high-speed dedicated line, and a moving image and a still image are received by a television receiver. There is also known a technique in which a personal computer is connected to a telephone line or a high-speed dedicated line to receive still image (and moving image) data from a center.

[0004] In addition, when a large number of video images created by the user are stored, it is not easy to find out which tape contains the desired image. Further, there is a demand to obtain statistics as to whether or not the other party has seen contents recorded on paper such as direct mails and product information, but statistics cannot be reliably obtained.

[0005]

According to the above prior art, if a large amount of image data is stored on a video tape or the like, it takes a long time to search for a necessary tape, and the necessary tape cannot be used. If you are at home, you have to go to your home if you want to see it from another place.

Another problem is that when a direct mail is sent as a mail, it is not possible to determine whether the mail has been read or not read without receiving a reply mail or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a two-way image communication system and a recording medium in which a moving image or a still image can be registered from a terminal to a center so that persons involved can view the image at any time.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a center device, 10 is a processing device that performs control processing of the center device by a center device control program stored in a recording medium (medium such as a built-in RAM, hard disk, or ROM), and 10a is input. A command interpreting unit for interpreting the command and performing a corresponding process; 10b, a command processing unit for performing various processes such as image registration and retrieval in accordance with the command interpreted by the command interpreting unit 10a; 11 a database system; 1
2 is an image storage device, and 13 is a communication control device. Reference numeral 2 denotes a network (including exchanges and dedicated lines), 3 denotes a number of terminal devices connected to the network and provided with image storage / reproduction means and display devices. This terminal device 3 also controls communication with the center device 1 and performs various operations. And a recording medium (not shown) for storing a program for controlling transmission / reception of commands and transmission / reception of image data.

According to the present invention, when a command requesting registration to the center device 1 is received from the terminal device 3 via the network 2, the processing device 10 identifies the command by the command interpreting section 10a. Checks whether the terminal device 3 has qualification by transmitting / receiving data to / from the terminal device 3 by the command processing unit 10b. If the user has the qualification, the image data sent from the terminal device 3 is processed (compressed or the like), the management data of the image data is stored in the database system 11, and the image data is registered in the image storage device 12. The image data to be registered is not only a moving image, but also a direct mail image (still image or moving image) that can be seen by many people (specified people)
Alternatively, a moving image to be transmitted can be registered by designating a destination.

When a command indicating a request for image reception is sent from the terminal device 3 to the center device 1, the processing device 10 of the center device 1 identifies the command and requests the command based on the data added to the command. When the image data is searched in the database system 11 and the searched image is taken out from the image storage device 12, the processing device 10 performs data processing (decompression or the like) and sends a request to the terminal device 3 which has issued the request to the communication control device 13 Via the network 2.

When the terminal device 3 accesses the center device 1 and an image mail or direct mail transmitted to the terminal device 3 exists, the terminal device 3 that has transmitted the mail is notified to the terminal device 3 that transmitted the mail. Send. On the other hand, when the terminal device 3 transmits a command for requesting the contents of the mail, the center device 1 retrieves the image of the requested mail from the image storage device 12 by searching the database system 11 and transmits the image to the terminal device 3. When the mail is read out, the processing device 10 of the center device 1 stores the data as statistical data corresponding to the mail.

[0012]

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a processing device (10 in FIG. 1) of a center device.
Microprocessor unit (M
PU), 101 is the R in which the control program is stored
OM, 102 is an R for storing data for program processing.
AM, 103, an image data buffer controller for controlling input / output of an image data buffer when transferring an image between a database system and a terminal;
4 is an image data buffer for temporarily storing image data transferred between the terminal device and the database system;
105 is a database system interface, 106
Is a communication control device interface. The control program and data are stored in the ROM 101, RA
Not only recording media such as M102, but also recording on a hard disk, external flexible disk or CD
It can be recorded in a ROM or the like and downloaded to an internal memory.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the terminal device (3 in FIG. 1). In the drawing, reference numeral 30 denotes a terminal processing device for performing control processing of the terminal device;
3, a data processing control unit for controlling an encoding / decoding processing unit, etc., 32, a communication control unit for transmitting and receiving data and commands to and from a center device via a network, and 33, for transmitting image data, command data, etc. A memory for temporarily storing data and storing a control program of the data processing control unit, and encodes (including compression) image data to be transmitted to the center device and decodes (decompresses) image data from the center device. Encoding / decoding processing unit for performing
Reference numerals a to 35c denote interfaces (indicated by IF) with the respective units.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a display device for displaying images; 37, an input device for inputting commands and the like; 38, a video image to be stored in the terminal device when the video image is registered in the center device; This is a video system capable of displaying and recording the obtained image on a display device.

FIG. 4 is a processing flow of image data registration from the terminal device, and the registration is executed by the mutual operation of the terminal device and the center device. The image data registration process of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the configurations shown in FIGS.

First, the terminal device 3 accesses the center device 1 via the network and transmits a command for executing a data registration request process (S1 in FIG. 4). Upon receipt of the request, the center device requests the terminal device 3 to input a sender identifier (ID) and a password (S2).
When the center device receives the sender identifier (ID) and the password from the terminal device 3, the center device refers to a table (not shown) held by the center device (including a database system) and checks the password with the password corresponding to the sender. If they match, an input of the file name of the image data and an instruction to transmit the data are sent to the terminal device (S3). On the other hand, when a file name is input from the terminal device 3, the center device sends a sender identifier (ID) to the database system (11 in FIG. 1).
And the file name of the image data, and request database registration processing (S4 in FIG. 4). In the database system, a search file (not shown) composed of a sender identifier, a file name, and registered image data (storage location)
Create

After the center device receives the image transmission start command from the terminal device, image data is transmitted from the terminal device, and the center device transfers the received image data to the database system (S5). At this time, it is determined whether the data is to be transmitted to another terminal (identifier, ID) (S6). This determination is made based on whether the terminal has designated another terminal as the transmission destination. If it is determined that another terminal is designated, a corresponding process (described later with reference to FIG. 6) is performed. If not specified, a data transmission end command is received from the terminal, and then a registration end command is requested (instruction to end registration) to the database system (S7), and the registration process is ended.

The images registered in the database system of the center device by the registration processing shown in FIG.
There are moving images such as videos held by the user, still images of the electronic camera, and the like, but also images such as direct mails that are to be sent to many people. In the case of direct mail, a request is made to the database system for the registered image to save data such as to which terminal device or user the direct mail was sent. The stored data can be used as statistical data by reading it out later.

FIG. 5 is a processing flow of reproducing image data from the terminal. A command for executing data reproduction processing is sent from the terminal device to the center device (S1 in FIG. 5). The center device that has received this command requests the terminal device to input a sender identifier (ID) and a password (see S
2). On the other hand, the sender identifier (ID),
When the password is entered and the sender identifier and the password match with reference to the table held by the processing device, the processor identifier and the file name search command (according to the sender identifier are stored in the database system from the processing device). (The command for searching for the file name) (S3). When the file name search result is returned from the database system, the file name is transmitted to the terminal device (S4).

At the terminal, a list of file names is displayed, and a file name to be reproduced is selected from the list and transmitted. When receiving the file name to be reproduced from the terminal, the center device requests the database system to transmit the image data of the file (S5). After that, the image data is being transmitted (S6), and after receiving a data transmission end command from the terminal, instructs the database system to stop the transmission process (S7).

With respect to direct mail, when the terminal device is turned on and mutual communication with the center device becomes possible, the center device uses the terminal device or user identifier to perform the following processing in the database system, namely, The database system is searched to determine whether direct mail has been sent to the terminal device or the user, and if so, the image data of the sent direct mail is extracted and transmitted to the terminal device.

FIG. 6 shows a processing flow of an image data transmission request. In step S6 of the processing flow of image data registration from the terminal device shown in FIG. 4, after the image data is registered in the database of the center device, This is executed when there is a request to send image data to another terminal and an identifier (ID).

First, a terminal device which requests transmission has a transmission destination device number or a sender identifier (S1 in FIG. 6).
The center device receiving the request requests the database system to register the relationship between the sender identifier or device number and the image data (S2). Thereafter, upon receiving a transmission end command from the terminal, the processing device instructs the database system to stop the transmission process (S3).

FIG. 7 is a processing flow when the terminal device is connected to the center device. When a network connection request is issued from the terminal device to the center device (S1 in FIG. 7), the center device requests the terminal device to input a sender identifier (ID) and a password (S2). When the sender identifier (ID) and the password are input from the terminal device in response to this, the sender identifier (ID) and the password registered in the center device are compared with each other. It is checked whether the sender identifier and the image data having the terminal device as the destination are registered (S3). When the registered contents are returned from the database system, the file name, sender name, etc. are transmitted to the terminal device (S
4). When an input for selecting a file name or the like is transmitted from the terminal device, the terminal device requests selection input such as retransmission, discarding, and saving (S5). If the selection input is a retransmission request, the corresponding file (image data) is transmitted (S6 in FIG. 7). After receiving the data transmission end command from the terminal device, the terminal device instructs the database system to stop the transmission process (S7).

[0025]

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to save a large amount of image data on a video tape or the like by itself, and it is possible to access the center device when necessary and reproduce and view the desired image. Furthermore, the image can be distributed to another designated terminal device. If an image such as a direct mail is designated and registered as a transmission destination, the image is transmitted to the terminal when the transmission destination terminal is connected to the center device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a processing device of a center device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of image data registration from a terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of image data reproduction from a terminal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of an image data transmission request.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing flow when a terminal device is connected to a center device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 center device 10 processing device 10a command interpretation unit 10b command processing unit 11 database system 12 image storage device 13 communication control device 2 network 3 terminal device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 3/42 G06F 15/40 320B 11/00 303 370B H04L 11/20 101B

Claims (6)

[Claims] In a two-way image communication system including a terminal device and a center device connected via a network, the center device includes a database system including an image storage device and a processing device, and the terminal device includes: Means for reproducing and storing image data, the center device checks the qualification in response to the image data registration request from the terminal device, accepts the registration request if there is qualification, and sends the registration request to the terminal device. The relevant data of the image data is registered in the database system, and in response to a request for transmission of image data from the terminal device, the qualification is checked and the terminal device is registered from the terminal device. The relevant data of each image data is transmitted to the terminal device, and the corresponding image is input according to the input specifying the image from the terminal device. A two-way image communication system, wherein the database system retrieves data and transmits the data to the terminal device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the center device comprises:
The apparatus includes a sender identifier and a password registered in advance as data of a qualification check performed in the image data registration request and the image data transmission request, and instructs input of the sender identifier and the password in the registration request or the transmission request. A two-way image communication system, wherein each information input from a terminal device is detected as coincident with registered contents. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the center device receives a request for registering the image data together with the destination information of the image data from the terminal device, and transmits the destination information together with the relevant data of the image data to the database. When destination information is registered in the system and each terminal device accesses the center device, the database is accessed to search for the registered destination information. A two-way image communication system, wherein the two-way image communication system takes out and transmits the extracted terminal device to the terminal device. 4. The database system according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of pieces of information are specified as the destination information, and the center apparatus transmits the registered image data to the terminal apparatus specified as the destination. A two-way image communication system, characterized in that a record is left in the system. 5. A recording medium which is connected to a terminal device via a network and records a program for controlling a center device provided with a database system for recording image information, and instructs a registration request from the terminal device. When the terminal receives the image data, it instructs the terminal device to check the input. If the image data is good, the terminal device transmits an instruction for transmitting the image data. When the terminal device receives a request for sending image data from the terminal device to another terminal, the information of the received destination is registered in the database in association with the image data. Inquires the database system about the existence of image data destined for the terminal device, A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling a center device, characterized in that a program is transmitted to an image forming apparatus to transmit image data corresponding to a request. 6. A recording medium storing a program for controlling a terminal device connected via a network to a center device provided with a database system in which image information is recorded, wherein a request for registering image data to the center device is provided. In the event of occurrence of an error, the center device is accessed to send a registration request command, and in response to the notification from the center device, the information for checking the sender and the file name of the image data are sent to the center device. The center device transmits data to the center device, sends an image data reproduction command to the center device when an image data reproduction request is issued, and transmits information for sender check in response to an input instruction from the center device. Display the information of the image data sent from the device and addressed to the sender, and select from the displayed information Transmitting the received information, and receiving and displaying the image data from the center device.
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for controlling a characteristic terminal device is recorded.