JP2000013519A - Video telephone device provided with remote control function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video telephone device capable of controlling the video telephone device of an opposite party making communication. SOLUTION: At executing of video telephone communication between a local terminal 12 and a remote terminal 40, when the operator of a telephone set 14 depressed a dial key, DTMF signals are outputted from the telephone set and detected in a DTMF detection part 28 and a CPU 22 generates control signals, based on the detection. The control signals are received by the remote terminal 40 of a communicating party via a modem 20. In the remote terminal, when the CPU analyzes the control signals and interprets them as the control signals of a camera 16, the camera is controlled through the control interface 44a of the camera. For the control of the camera, tilting, panning and zooming, etc., are performed, depending on the kind of dial key depressed on the telephone set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video telephone. In particular, the present invention relates to a videophone device capable of controlling a videophone device of a communication partner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, video telephone apparatuses have become widespread, and it is possible to have a conversation while viewing images at a partner station. Such a videophone device can transmit not only voice but also an image, and thus is widely used in a monitoring system, a remote medical diagnosis, and the like.

As described above, when the videophone device is used for telemedicine diagnosis or the like, a doctor examines a camera device provided in the videophone device in order to observe the patient in detail. Often, it is desired to freely adjust the angle and the like. In such a case, in a conventional videophone device, the examiner informs the patient of the other party of the call, and the patient operates the videophone device to control the direction of the camera.

[0004]

As described above, it is necessary for the patient to be examined to operate the videophone device by himself, but it is also assumed that the patient's limbs are inconvenient, and the videophone device is not necessarily operated properly. Not always. Therefore, it was assumed that the degree of freedom of medical examination was limited.

[0005] Therefore, there is a long-felt need for a method that allows the examiner to control the partner station without bothering the patient of the other party.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a videophone device capable of controlling a communication partner station in the videophone device. In particular, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a videophone device capable of easily controlling a partner station using a dial key.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video telephone apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving voice data and image data to and from a communication partner and performing video telephone communication. Is characterized by having the following configuration.

That is, the present invention includes control data generating means for generating control data for controlling a partner station, and transmitting means for transmitting the control data to the partner station. And the control of the partner station can be performed at the same time.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain a videophone device capable of controlling the videophone device of the other party during videophone communication.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the videophone device of the first aspect of the present invention, the control data generating means further includes the following configuration.

That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control data generating means operates the dial key to operate D.
DTMF generating means for generating a TMF signal;
A control data converting means for converting the F signal into digital data based on a predetermined conversion rule and generating the control data, wherein the control of the partner station is performed by operating an operator's dial key. Data transmission is performed.

Therefore, the other station can be controlled by pressing the dial key.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving means for receiving the control data transmitted by the video telephone of the first aspect of the present invention, and the control of the own video telephone based on the control data received by the receiving means. Control means for performing control,
A videophone apparatus characterized by being able to simultaneously control its own videophone apparatus while performing videophone communication with the videophone apparatus according to claim 1.

With such a configuration, so-called far-end control can be performed in combination with the videophone device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the videophone device of the third aspect, the control means controls the direction of the video camera of the videophone device.

With such a configuration, the direction of the camera of the partner station can be changed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the videophone device of the third aspect, the control means controls zooming of a video camera of the videophone device. .

With this configuration, zooming of the camera of the partner station can be controlled.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the videophone device of the third aspect, the control means controls selection of a video camera used by the videophone device. is there.

With such a configuration, it is possible to select a camera to be used when the partner station is provided with a plurality of cameras.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a state in which the video telephone device according to the present embodiment is connected via a public line 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a local video telephone 100 and a remote video telephone 20 are connected via a public line 10.
0 is connected.

The video telephone 100 on the local side is configured around a local terminal 12. The local terminal 12 includes a telephone 14, a camera 16 equipped with a control interface, and an LCD 1 as a display device.
And 8 are connected.

The telephone 14 has the same configuration as a conventional analog telephone. Further, the camera 16 is a camera for capturing an image to be transmitted to a partner station as a videophone device, and is equipped with a control interface for controlling the zooming and the direction from the local terminal 12. The LCD 18 is a display device for displaying an image sent from the partner station, and a signal of an image to be displayed here is supplied from the local terminal 12.

The local terminal 12, together with the telephone set 14, the camera 16, and the LCD 18, is a main part for constituting a video telephone apparatus. The specific constitution is shown in FIG.

Now, the remote video telephone 200
Also, the remote terminal 40 is mainly configured like the videophone device 100 on the local side. The remote terminal 40 has a telephone 42 in the same manner as the local terminal 12.
, A camera 44 equipped with a control interface, and an LCD 46 as a display device are connected.

The telephone 42, like the telephone 14, has the same configuration as a conventional analog telephone. The camera 44, like the camera 16, captures an image to be transmitted to the partner station as a videophone device. The camera 44 is also provided with a control interface for controlling the zooming and orientation of the camera 44 from the local terminal 12. The LCD 46 displays an image sent from the partner station, similarly to the LCD 18 described above.

The remote terminal 40 has the same configuration as the local terminal 12. In addition, the remote terminal 40
Together with the telephone 42, the camera 44, and the LCD 46, it is a main part for configuring the remote-side videophone device 200.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram showing the functions of the local terminal 12 (or the remote terminal 40). As shown in FIG. 1, the local terminal 12 has a modem 20 for connecting to the public line 10. In the present embodiment, an analog line is assumed as the public line 10.

The local terminal 12 has the modem 2
A CPU 22 is provided for receiving digital data from 0 and for supplying digital data to the modem 20 in reverse. The CPU 22 controls not only the local terminal 12 but also the telephone 14, the camera 16, the LCD 18, and the like.

A CODEC 24 is connected to the CPU 22. The CODEC 24 is an encoder for expanding digital data transmitted from the CPU 22, compressing digital data transmitted from an AD / DA unit 26 described later, and the like. AD / DA unit 2
Numeral 6 serves to convert digital data sent from the CODEC 24 into analog data, or convert analog data supplied from the outside into digital data. These configurations, modem 20, CPU 22,
The CODEC 24, the AD / DA unit 26, and the like have a configuration that also exists in a conventional videophone device.

The feature of this embodiment is that D
That is, a TMF detection unit 28 is provided. This D
The TMF detection unit 28 is configured to constantly observe the audio signal supplied from the telephone 14 and detect a DTMF signal when a dial key on the telephone 14 is pressed. When detecting the DTMF signal, the DTMF detection unit 28 notifies the CPU 22 of the detection.

The CPU 22 has a DTMF detection unit 28
When a notification indicating that the DTMF signal has been detected is received from, a control signal is created in accordance with the type of the DTMF signal and transmitted to the modem 20. This control signal is a control signal for controlling the partner station. Specifically, this control signal is transmitted to the camera 16
It is used for controlling zooming, panning, and the like.

A feature of the present embodiment is that during the videophone communication, when the operator presses the dial key on the telephone 14 to generate a so-called DTMF signal, the DTMF detection unit 28 detects the DTMF signal. That is, it is detected and transmitted to the CPU 22. And this CPU2
2 transmits a control signal based on the generated DTMF signal to the partner station via the modem 20. In the present embodiment, the control of the partner station can be performed only by pressing the dial key in this manner, so that the control of the partner station is performed even when the other party is not familiar with the operation of the videophone device. It is possible to provide a highly convenient videophone device.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to control the videophone device of the partner station without bothering the partner. Therefore, for example, in remote diagnosis or the like, remote diagnosis can be performed without bothering the patient.

In this embodiment, zooming and panning of the camera 16 are specifically controlled by such control signals.

The control signal transmitted via the public line 10 is received by the remote video telephone 200 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, it is received by the remote terminal 40 of the videophone device 200 on the remote side.

The detailed configuration block diagram of the remote terminal 40 is shown in FIG. 2 as described above. Therefore,
The control signal transmitted via the public line 10 is received by the modem 20 in the remote terminal 40. Then, after the demodulation processing is performed in the modem 20, the control signal is applied to the CPU 22.

When receiving the control signal, the CPU 22 determines whether the control signal is for zooming control or pan control of the camera 44. The CPU 22 transmits an instruction signal indicating zooming and panning control to the control interface 44a of the camera 44 according to the content of the control signal. A feature of the present embodiment is that the camera 44 is provided with a control interface 44a controlled by the CPU 22. By providing such a control interface 44a, the CPU 22 can control zooming and panning of the camera 16 based on the transmitted control signal.

As shown in FIG. 2,
The telephone 14 (42 on the remote side, the same applies hereinafter), the camera 16 (44), and the LCD 18 (46) as a display device are connected to the AD / DA unit 26. AD /
When the DA unit 26 converts a digital audio signal or video signal into analog data, if the analog data is an audio signal, it is transmitted to the telephone 14 (42).
If the analog data is an image signal, the LCD 1
8 (46). Then, the audio signal (analog data) is reproduced by the telephone 14 (42), and a sound wave is provided to the user. The video signal (analog data) is displayed as an image on the LCD 18 (46).

The image signal sent from the camera 16 is converted from analog data to digital data in the AD / DA section 26. The converted digital data is sent to the CPU 22 after being compressed by the CODEC 24. Also, the AD / DA unit 26 from the telephone 14 (42)
Is converted from analog data to digital data, compressed by the CODEC 24, and then sent to the CPU 22. These telephones 14 (42)
The operation itself of the camera 16 (44) and the LCD 18 (46) is the same in a conventional videophone device.

Hereinafter, the control operation of the videophone device of the partner station in the present embodiment will be described in more detail. In addition,
Controlling the partner station in this way is generally referred to as Far End Control.
Call.

(1) First, a communication state is established between the local terminal 12 and the remote terminal 40 by the modem 20. The establishment of this communication state is achieved by making a call from the telephone 14 connected to the local terminal 12 to the remote videophone 200 of the other party. As a result, a state is reached in which so-called videophone communication is performed.

(2) Next, the operator presses a dial key provided on the telephone set 14 connected to the local terminal 12. By pressing the dial key in this manner, the telephone 14 sends a so-called DTMF signal to the local terminal 12. As is well known, this DT
The MF signal is different for each dial key.

(3) Next, the local terminal 12 detects the DTMF signal transmitted from the telephone 14. This detection is performed as described with reference to FIG.
8 is performed. This DTMF detection unit 28
When the transmission of the F signal from the telephone 14 is detected, the fact is transmitted to the CPU 22. At this time, based on the type of the DTMF signal, the CPU 22 can know which dial key of the telephone 14 has been pressed.

(4) In this embodiment, when performing the so-called far-end control, a unique function is assigned to each dial key. For example, the key for shifting to the mode for controlling the camera 44 of the remote videophone device 200 as the communication partner is set to “#”. That is, when the operator presses the “#” key of the local telephone 14, the videophone device 100 on the remote side of the communication partner detects that the control of the camera 44 has been requested. More specifically, C in the remote terminal 40
The PU 22 detects this.

When the operator presses the dial key "#", the DTMF detection unit 28 in the local terminal 12 on the local side transmits the fact to the CPU 22 as described above.
Based on the “#”, the CPU 22 transmits a control signal representing the “#” to the remote terminal 40 via the modem 20. The CPU 22 of the remote terminal 40 can know that "#" has been pressed based on the transmitted information signal. Thus, in the videophone device including the remote terminal 40, it is possible to know that the control of the camera 44 has been requested.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the pressing of the “#” button is set to indicate a request for control of the camera 44.

In the present embodiment, only the control of the camera 44 (16) will be described as a specific example of the control.
It is, of course, preferable to apply it to its own control. For example, when the “*” key is pressed, it is of course preferable that the setting is made to indicate a request for control of the LCD 18.

(5) Next, when “1” is pressed by the operator immediately after the “#” key is pressed, a control signal based on the “1” is transmitted to the television including the local terminal 12. The information is transmitted from the telephone device 100 to the remote terminal 40 via the public line 10. When recognizing the control signal based on “1”, the videophone device 200 including the remote terminal 40 pans the camera 44. In the present embodiment, “1” is determined to execute the pan function of the camera 44 as described above.

When the "1" key is pressed, the local terminal 12 recognizes that the pan function has been executed, and sends a control signal to the remote terminal 40 to that effect. That is,
This control signal in the present embodiment can be said to be a control command for controlling the other party's videophone device. The remote terminal 40 receives this control command,
The pan function of the camera 44 is executed according to the content of the control command. To execute this pan function, the control interface 44
a is used. The CPU 22 of the remote terminal 40
By using the control interface 44a, the control of the camera 44 can be performed (pan function or zoom function).
It is carried out.

In this embodiment, for example, pressing of the "2" key is defined as execution of the zoom function.
Therefore, for example, when the operator presses the "2" dial key on the videophone device 100 including the local terminal 12, the camera 44 of the videophone device on the remote terminal 40 performs zooming.

(6) As described above, the remote terminal 40 controls the camera 44 based on the control signal (control command) sent from the other party's videophone device. In general,
Various command systems for controlling the camera are known. In such a command system, various commands such as a pan command, a tilt command, and a zoom command of the camera are generally defined in many cases. The control interfaces 16a and 44a in the present embodiment are also interfaces for executing such various commands. The CPU 22 of the remote terminal 40 controls the camera 44 by transmitting such various commands to the control interface 44a of the camera 44.

As described above, in the present embodiment, during videophone communication using the videophone device,
The operator can control the camera of the other party's videophone device by pressing the dial key. Thus, even when the other party is unfamiliar with the operation of the videophone device, even when the operation is difficult, by controlling the camera 44, good videophone communication can be performed. In particular, in telemedicine diagnosis and the like, even if the patient to be diagnosed does not operate the videophone device, the examiner can control the camera 44 of the videophone device 200 of the other party by himself. Will be able to

In the embodiment described above, the camera 44 of the communication partner is controlled by pressing the dial key. However, the control by the dial key may be, of course, the control of other functions of the partner station. For example, when the "*" key is pressed as described above, it is of course preferable to control other parts of the videophone device such as adjusting the brightness of the LCD 46.

Further, in the present embodiment, the dial key is used to control the video telephone of the partner station. However, special operation keys or buttons for controlling the partner station are specially provided. It is also preferable to provide them. The provision of special buttons and the like increases the number of buttons and the like, but has an advantage that the operation is easy to understand because functions are assigned to the buttons.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, only the control of a single camera 44 such as tilting, panning, or zooming of the camera 44 has been described. However, there may be a case where a plurality of cameras 44 are provided depending on the videophone device. For example, depending on the videophone device, five cameras 44 are provided, and among the images taken by the five cameras, an image to be transmitted to the partner station is selected.
In some cases, one image is selected and sent.
In such a case, the image transmitted from the remote terminal 40 side can be selected from the five images photographed by the five cameras on the videophone device 100 side including the local terminal 12. Become. That is, the camera used by the videophone device 200 of the remote terminal 40 can be designated from the videophone device 100 including the local terminal 12.

The operation of selecting one camera from a plurality of cameras as described above is particularly suitable when the videophone device is used as a monitoring device. Since the videophone device can see the image of the other party, it is often considered to be used as a monitoring device. However, as the monitoring device, a plurality of cameras 44 are often provided. As described above, when the remote videophone device 200 including the remote terminal 40 is used as a monitoring device and has five cameras 44, the local videophone device 100 including the local terminal 12 is used. Therefore, if the camera 44 to be used can be selected, the monitoring operation can be freely and smoothly performed. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0059]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a video telephone apparatus capable of controlling a partner station while performing video telephone communication is realized. Therefore, even if the other party is unfamiliar with the operation of the videophone device, or if the operation of the videophone device is difficult due to illness or injury, the control data is transmitted from this side to the other station, and the other station is controlled. Can be performed, so that smooth videophone communication can be performed. In particular, in the case of telemedicine diagnosis, the patient to be diagnosed does not need to operate the videophone device, and a smooth medical diagnosis can be expected.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control data is transmitted to the partner station by operating the dial key.
As a result, it is possible to obtain a videophone device capable of controlling a partner station with a simple configuration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when control data is sent from a partner station while performing videophone communication, the control of the videophone device of the own station is performed based on the control data. As a result, there is an effect that smooth videophone communication can be performed as in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the control means controls the direction of the television camera, a video telephone device capable of freely controlling the direction of the other party's television camera can be obtained. .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the zooming of the television camera of the other party can be controlled freely, the television which can control the size of the image viewed by the user can be freely controlled. A telephone device is obtained.

Further, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select the TV camera used by the video telephone device of the other party, so that the desired image can be freely selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram illustrating a configuration of a local terminal (remote terminal).

[Explanation of symbols]

10 public line, 12 local terminal, 14 telephone,
16 cameras, 16a control interface,
18 LCD, 20 modem, 22 CPU, 24 C
ODEC, 26 AD / DA section, 28 DTMF detection section, 40 remote terminal, 42 telephone, 44 camera, 44a control interface, 46 L
CD.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C054 AA02 CF06 CG05 CH08 DA01 DA09 HA18 HA24 5C064 AA01 AC04 AC07 AD08 AD18 5K101 KK04 KK11 KK19 MM04 MM05 MM06 NN02 NN06 NN18 NN34 TT06 UU03 UU08 UU19

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A videophone device capable of transmitting and receiving audio data and image data to and from a communication partner and performing videophone communication, comprising: control data generating means for generating control data for controlling a partner station; A transmitting means for transmitting the control data to a partner station, wherein the video telephone apparatus is capable of simultaneously controlling the partner station while performing video telephone communication with the partner station. 2. The video telephone according to claim 1, wherein the control data generating means generates a DTMF signal by operating a dial key.
TMF generating means, and control data converting means for converting the DTMF signal into digital data based on a predetermined conversion rule and generating the control data, Transmitting the control data to the other station. 3. A receiving means for receiving control data transmitted by the video telephone apparatus according to claim 1, and a control means for controlling its own video telephone apparatus based on the control data received by said receiving means. 2. A video telephone device comprising: a video telephone device that controls the video telephone device while simultaneously performing video telephone communication with the video telephone device according to claim 1; 4. The videophone device according to claim 3, wherein said control means controls a direction of a video camera of the videophone device. 5. The videophone device according to claim 3, wherein the control means controls zooming of a video camera of the videophone device. 6. The videophone device according to claim 3, wherein said control means controls selection of a video camera used by its own videophone device.