JP2004040491A - Video communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide video communication equipment having enhanced usability in a camera-attached cellular telephone. <P>SOLUTION: In the video communication equipment used in the camera-attached cellular telephone 1, when an image pick up distance L1 is different from an image pick up distance L2 due to the preference or the physical constitution of a user, or a surrounding circumstance, a volume output level outputted from a speaker 6 in accordance with a zoom magnification ZM of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera 8 is corrected by referring to a volume correction value VC in suitably image-picking up the face of the user at the angular field of view Ang2 of the CCD camera 8 by changing the zoom magnification ZM. Thus, the voice of a speech party outputted from the speaker 6 is easily heard regardless of the image pick distance L2, enhancing usability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a video communication device, and is suitably applied to, for example, a camera-equipped mobile phone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of information technology, camera-equipped mobile phones having a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera at a predetermined portion of the mobile phone body have been commercialized.
[0003]
2. Description of the Related Art In a camera-equipped mobile phone, in a video / audio communication mode, a video signal obtained by capturing an image of a subject by an imaging unit can be transmitted to a communication partner together with an audio signal.
[0004]
In addition, when the camera-equipped mobile phone receives a video signal and an audio signal transmitted from the other party, the camera-equipped mobile phone can display an image based on the video signal on a display unit and output an audio based on the audio signal from a speaker. It has been done.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the camera-equipped mobile phone having such a configuration, in the video / audio communication mode, when a user talks with the other party while taking an image of the user's own face, the distance between the camera-equipped mobile phone and the user's face is a preference of the user. However, there is a problem that the voice of the other party output from the speaker is difficult to hear depending on the distance, and the usability is poor depending on the distance and the physical condition or the surrounding situation.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to propose a video communication device capable of improving usability.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, in the present invention, in a video communication apparatus for imaging and transmitting an imaging target, at least one of an imaging unit having a zoom function, a sound collection unit for collecting audio, or a notification unit for notifying the audio. And control means for controlling the sound volume level according to a change in the zoom magnification of the imaging means.
[0008]
Therefore, in the video communication device, even when the distance between the video communication device and the user changes, the user can collect or notify the sound at the optimum volume level according to the distance without performing a complicated operation, thereby enabling the user to perform the operation. Good sound collection and notification can be performed irrespective of the distance between the device and the video communication device.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention as a whole, which includes a first housing (hereinafter referred to as an upper housing) 2 and a second housing (hereinafter referred to as a lower housing). 3) are formed so as to be foldable via a hinge portion 4.
[0011]
The upper housing 2 has a transmitting / receiving antenna 5 attached to the upper right part so as to be able to be pulled out and contracted, and a speaker 6 serving as a notifying means provided at the upper center part. The voice of the other party is output via the terminal.
[0012]
In addition, on the front of the upper housing 2, a display unit 7 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is provided below the speaker 6, and menus and radio waves corresponding to various functions are provided via the display unit 7. Displays all information such as reception status, battery level, outgoing history, incoming history, e-mail text, and simple homepage.
[0013]
On the other hand, the lower housing 3 is provided with a microphone 9 as a sound collecting means at the lower front part thereof, and the microphone 9 collects a user's voice during a call.
[0014]
Further, the lower housing 3 has a plurality of operation keys such as numeric keys “0” to “9”, a call key, an end key, an e-mail key, a zoom key, etc. An operation unit 10 including a jog dial that can be pressed and operated is provided, and various processes such as menu item selection, call processing, video / audio communication, and data communication are executed by operation of the operation unit 10. ing.
[0015]
In addition to the above configuration, in the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, a CCD camera 8 having a digital zoom function of electronically changing an imaging magnification is provided on the hinge unit 4, and a zoom key (not shown) of the operation unit 10 is operated. By changing the zoom magnification via the camera, the imaging target can be imaged by the CCD camera 8 at an arbitrary magnification of the user and displayed on the display unit 7.
[0016]
Incidentally, the digital zoom changes the imaging magnification by enlarging a part of the image captured by the CCD camera 8 while maintaining the information amount. As a result of the enlargement, the image becomes coarser, but compared to the optical zoom. There is no need to provide a zoom lens, and the CCD camera 8 can have a simple structure.
[0017]
In this case, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 displays an image in which the user's face is closed up or long shot on the display unit 7 by changing the zoom magnification of the CCD camera 8 and performing zoom up or zoom down. It has been made to be.
[0018]
Thus, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 displays the image picked up by the CCD camera 8 on the display unit 7 so that it can be displayed on the other party's camera-equipped mobile phone in the video / audio communication mode in which the image is communicated with the sound. The user can confirm the image to be displayed to himself / herself.
[0019]
Actually, as shown in FIG. 2, in the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20 that comprehensively controls various functions of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 is read from a ROM (BUS) 30 via a BUS 30. Read only memory (RAM) 21, RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, display unit 7, CCD camera 8, transmission / reception unit 23, signal processing unit 24, operation unit 10, and external devices such as a personal computer to perform data communication. And the speaker 6 and the microphone 9 are connected to the signal processing unit 24.
[0020]
In the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, the volume adjustment processing program and various application programs are stored in the ROM 21, and the CPU 20 appropriately reads out these various application programs and executes them on the RAM 22 so as to realize various functions. It has been made.
[0021]
In the voice communication mode in which only voice communication is performed, the CPU 20 receives a voice communication command including a telephone number of a communication partner, a call request, and the like via the operation unit 10 and according to the voice communication command, the base station (not shown). ) To connect a line with a telephone (not shown) of the other party to maintain a communication state.
[0022]
At this time, the CPU 20 sends the audio signal collected by the microphone 9 to the signal processing unit 24, and performs digital conversion processing, error correction processing, and modulation processing by the signal processing unit 24 in order to obtain audio data. Is sequentially subjected to frequency conversion processing and analog conversion processing by the transmission / reception unit 23, and is transmitted to the communication partner via the antenna 5 as a transmission signal.
[0023]
Further, the CPU 20 fetches a reception signal received from the telephone of the other party via the antenna 5 by the transmission / reception unit 23 and sequentially performs predetermined frequency conversion processing and digital conversion processing by the transmission / reception unit 23 to obtain audio data. Are sequentially subjected to demodulation processing, error detection processing, and analog conversion processing by the signal processing unit 24, and the resulting audio signal is output via the speaker 6.
[0024]
On the other hand, in the video / audio communication mode, the CPU 20 supplies power to the CCD camera 8 when a video / audio communication command including a telephone number of a communication partner and a call request is given via the operation unit 10. By doing so, it becomes an operating state.
[0025]
In this state, the CPU 20 secures a call state by connecting a line with another camera-equipped mobile phone (not shown), which is the call partner, via the base station in accordance with the video / audio communication command.
[0026]
The CPU 20 sends an audio signal obtained from the sound collected by the microphone 9 and a video signal obtained from the image of the user's face imaged by the CCD camera 8 to the signal processing unit 24, and performs the signal processing. The audio data and the video data are obtained by sequentially performing digital conversion processing, error correction processing, and modulation processing by the unit 24, and the transmission and reception unit 23 sequentially performs frequency conversion processing and analog conversion processing to convert the antenna 5 as a transmission signal. Send to the other party through.
[0027]
As a result, in the other camera-equipped mobile phone of the other party, the voice of the user is output from the speaker, and the image captured by the CCD camera 8 of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 is displayed on the display unit. .
[0028]
Further, the CPU 20 fetches a reception signal received via the antenna 5 from another camera-equipped mobile phone of the other party through the transmission / reception unit 23, and performs frequency conversion processing and digital conversion processing by the transmission / reception unit 23 to thereby obtain audio data and video data. Data is obtained, demodulation processing, error detection processing, and analog conversion processing are sequentially performed on the data by the signal processing unit 24, and the resulting audio signal is output from the speaker 6 and the video signal is transmitted to the display unit 7.
[0029]
Thereby, the speaker 6 outputs the voice of the other party based on the audio signal given from the signal processing unit 24, and the display unit 7 displays the video of the other party based on the video signal given from the signal processing unit 24.
[0030]
At this time, the CPU 20 initially sets the zoom magnification of the CCD camera 8 to 2 times as the initial setting of the video / audio communication mode based on the volume correction value table T100 described later, so that the CCD camera 8 closes the subject twice. -The uploaded image can be displayed on the display unit 7.
[0031]
In addition, the CPU 20 controls the signal processing unit 24 as an initial setting of the video / audio communication mode based on the volume correction value table T100, and sets the volume output level of the speaker 6 set by the user using the reception volume adjustment key of the operation unit 10. (Hereinafter referred to as a reference volume output level) by the correction value of the volume output level (hereinafter referred to as a volume correction value) (for example, +3 [dB]) to increase the volume from the speaker 6. The output level is raised, and the sound output from the speaker 6 is raised.
[0032]
Thus, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 can output the sound from the speaker 6 to the user in the video / audio communication mode without using the earphones, although the ear of the user is farther away from the speaker 6 than in the audio communication mode. It is made enough to hear.
[0033]
Actually, the ROM 21 stores a volume correction value table T100 as shown in FIG. 3, and the volume correction value table T100 has the zoom magnification ZM of the CCD camera 8 divided into five levels of zoom levels LE. The volume correction value VC is stored in association with the zoom magnification ZM.
[0034]
That is, at the level “1” of the zoom level LE, the zoom magnification ZM is set to one, and +1 [dB] is associated with the audio correction value VC for the zoom magnification ZM.
[0035]
Similarly, at the zoom level LE of level “2”, level “3” (initial setting), level “4” and level “5”, the zoom magnification ZM is 1.5 ×, 2 ×, 2.5 × and 3 ×. And +2 [dB], +3 [dB], +4 [dB], and +5 [dB] are respectively associated with the zoom magnification ZM as the volume correction value VC.
[0036]
Thus, when the zoom magnification ZM of the CCD camera 8 is changed to the magnification desired by the user by pressing the zoom key provided on the operation unit 10, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 performs the processing based on the volume correction value table T100. By increasing the reference volume output level by the volume correction value VC corresponding to each of the zoom factors ZM, the volume output level corrected according to the zoom factor ZM can be automatically changed. ing.
[0037]
For example, when the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 shifts from the audio communication mode to the video / audio communication mode, the zoom level LE is automatically set to the level “3” (FIG. 3) as an initial setting value. The zoom magnification ZM is set to 2 times.
[0038]
Then, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 displays an image captured by the CCD camera 8 on the image screen 100 of the display unit 7 as shown in FIGS. Send to
[0039]
Here, on the video screen 100, the video of the user himself imaged by the CCD camera 8 is displayed in the main display area 100A, and the video of the other party being imaged by another camera-equipped mobile phone is displayed at the lower left of the screen. The image is displayed in the provided sub display area 100B.
[0040]
By the way, on the video screen 100, the video displayed on the main display area 100A and the video displayed on the sub display area 100B are exchanged according to the user's preference, so that the video of the other party is displayed on the main display area 100A and the sub display area is displayed. The user's own video can be displayed in the area 100B.
[0041]
At this time, in the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, the distance between the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 and the user's face (hereinafter referred to as an imaging distance) differs depending on the user's preference, physique, surrounding conditions, and the like. As shown in (A), when the imaging distance L1 is short, the angle of view Ang1 of the CCD camera 8 may excessively image the user's face.
[0042]
Further, in the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, when the imaging distance L2 is long as shown in FIG. 4B, the angle of view Ang1 of the CCD camera 8 may cause an image of the user's face to be too small.
[0043]
Therefore, for example, when the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 is imaging the user's face too small at the imaging distance L2, the zoom magnification is changed via the zoom key, as shown in FIG. 4C. The angle of view Ang2 of the CCD camera 8 can be adjusted to capture an image of the user's face at an optimum size.
[0044]
At this time, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 reads the volume correction value VC corresponding to the zoom magnification ZM based on the volume correction value table T100, and outputs the reference volume output level by the volume correction value VC (for example, +4 [dB]). Is increased, the audio output level output from the speaker 6 is increased as compared with the level “3”.
[0045]
Thus, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 corrects the volume output level from the loudspeaker 6 in accordance with the zoom magnification ZM of the CCD camera 8 even when the imaging distance L varies depending on the user's preference, physique, etc. In the above, the voice of the other party is output from the speaker 6 at the optimum volume output level so that the user can sufficiently hear it.
[0046]
Next, a procedure for adjusting the volume of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
[0047]
Actually, when the power is turned on, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 starts from the start step of the routine RT1 and moves to step SP1.
[0048]
At step SP1, the CPU 20 of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 determines whether or not an instruction to shift to the video / audio communication mode is given via the operation unit 10 and shifts from the audio communication mode to the video / audio communication mode, and obtains a positive result. Wait until.
[0049]
If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the mode has shifted to the video / audio communication mode, and at this time, the CPU 20 shifts to the next step SP2.
[0050]
In step SP2, the CPU 20 turns on the power to the CCD camera 8, sets the zoom magnification of the CCD camera 8 to twice based on the initial set value level "3" of the volume correction value table T100, and sets the reference volume of the speaker 6 The output level is increased by the volume correction value VC (+3 [dB]), and the routine goes to the next step SP3.
[0051]
In step SP3, the CPU 20 determines whether or not a zoom-up command to increase the zoom magnification has been given by pressing the zoom key of the operation unit 10.
[0052]
If a positive result is obtained here, this means that the zoom-up command has been given by pressing the zoom key of the operation unit 10, and the CPU 20 proceeds to the next step SP4.
[0053]
In step SP4, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the zoom level LE (FIG. 3) is at the maximum level “5”.
[0054]
If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the zoom level LE is the maximum level "5", that is, the zoom cannot be further zoomed up. At this time, the CPU 20 proceeds to the next step SP7. Move on.
[0055]
On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP4, this means that the zoom level LE can raise the zoom level LE by one instead of the maximum level “5”, that is, by zooming up, the user's face is This indicates that the close-up video can be displayed on the display unit 7. At this time, the CPU 20 proceeds to the next step SP5.
[0056]
In step SP5, the CPU 20 increases the zoom level LE by one, and reads the zoom magnification ZM and the volume correction value VC associated with the increased zoom level LE based on the volume correction value table T100 (for example, the level “3”). ”, The zoom magnification ZM becomes 2.5 times and the sound volume correction value becomes +4 [dB]), and the routine goes to the next step SP6.
[0057]
In step SP6, the CPU 20 displays a close-up image on the display unit 7 by increasing the zoom magnification ZM of the CCD camera 8 in accordance with the zoom magnification ZM and the volume correction value VC read in step SP5, The reference volume output level is increased by the volume correction value VC to raise the volume output level and raise the sound output from the speaker 6, and then proceed to the next step SP7.
[0058]
On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP3, this means that the zoom key of the operation unit 10 has not been pressed and the zoom-up command has not been given, and at this time, the CPU 20 proceeds to the next step SP8 Move to
[0059]
In step SP8, the CPU 20 determines whether or not a zoom down command has been given by pressing the zoom key of the operation unit 10.
[0060]
If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the zoom key of the operation unit 10 has not been pressed and neither the zoom-up command nor the zoom-down command has been given, and at this time, the CPU 20 sets the following. Move to step SP7.
[0061]
On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP8, this means that the zoom down command is given by pressing the zoom key of the operation unit 10, and at this time, the CPU 20 proceeds to the next step. Move to SP9.
[0062]
In step SP9, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the zoom level LE (FIG. 3) is at the minimum level “1”.
[0063]
If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the zoom level LE is the minimum level "1", that is, the zoom cannot be further reduced. At this time, the CPU 20 proceeds to the next step SP7. Move on.
[0064]
On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP9, this means that the zoom level LE can be lowered by one instead of the minimum level “1”, that is, by zooming down, the user's face is This indicates that the long shot video can be displayed on the display unit 7. At this time, the CPU 20 proceeds to the next step SP10.
[0065]
In step SP10, the CPU 20 lowers the zoom level LE by one, and reads out the zoom magnification ZM and the volume correction value VC associated with the lowered zoom level LE based on the volume correction value table T100 (for example, the level “ When the level falls from “3” to level “2”, the zoom magnification ZM becomes 1.5 times and the volume correction value becomes +2 [dB], and the routine goes to the next step SP11.
[0066]
In step SP11, the CPU 20 causes the display unit 7 to display a long shot image by lowering the zoom magnification ZM of the CCD camera 8 according to the zoom magnification ZM and the volume correction value VC read in step SP10. By increasing the reference volume output level of the speaker 6 by the volume correction value VC smaller than the zoom level LE before zooming down in SP8, the volume output level is reduced and the sound output from the speaker 6 is reduced. Thereafter, the process moves to the next step SP7.
[0067]
In step SP7, the CPU 20 determines whether or not an instruction to end the video / audio communication mode has been given via the operation unit 10 and the mode has shifted from the video / audio communication mode to the audio communication mode. Here, if a negative result is obtained, the CPU 20 returns to step SP3 again and repeats the above-described processing.
[0068]
On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP7, this means that a command to end the video / audio communication mode is given via the operation unit 10, and the mode has shifted from the video / audio communication mode to the voice communication mode. At this time, the CPU 20 moves to the next step SP12 and ends the volume adjustment processing procedure.
[0069]
In the above configuration, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 zooms up or down by changing the zoom magnification ZM of the CCD camera 8, and displays an image in which the user's face is close-up or long-shot. It is displayed in the section 7.
[0070]
At this time, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 corrects the reference volume output level by the volume correction value VC associated with the changed zoom magnification ZM based on the volume correction value table T100, thereby outputting from the speaker 6. The volume output level can be changed automatically.
[0071]
As a result, in the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, even when the imaging distance L varies depending on the user's preference, physique, or surrounding conditions, the volume output level is corrected in accordance with the zoom magnification ZM of the CCD camera 8, whereby the imaging is performed. The user can hear the voice of the other party via the speaker 6 at the optimum volume output level according to the distance L.
[0072]
In the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, the volume output level is corrected according to the zoom magnification ZM of the CCD camera 8, so that the user does not have to worry about whether or not the voice of the other party output from the speaker 6 cannot be heard. By using the digital zoom function of the CCD camera 8, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 can be displaced to an imaging distance L desired by the user.
[0073]
Furthermore, when the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 shifts from the audio communication mode to the video / audio communication mode, the reference volume output level output from the speaker 6 is increased by the volume correction value VC based on the volume correction value table T100, When the mode shifts from the video / audio communication mode to the audio communication mode again, the volume output level output from the speaker 6 is reduced to the reference volume output level, so that the audio output mode is determined by, for example, 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) or the like in the audio communication mode. In addition to meeting the standard of the maximum volume output level when used as a normal telephone, the user's ears are farther away from the speaker 6 in the audio / video communication mode than in the audio communication mode, but the earphones and the like are not used. Without using The sound from over mosquito 6 can be sufficiently heard to the user.
[0074]
According to the above configuration, in the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, even if the imaging distance L changes according to the user's preference and physique, or the surrounding conditions, the volume output level output from the speaker 6. Is corrected to the optimum volume output level based on the volume correction value VC associated with the zoom level LE, so that the voice of the other party output from the speaker 6 can be easily heard regardless of the imaging distance L, and thus, Usability can be improved.
[0075]
In the above-described embodiment, a case where the user changes the zoom magnification ZM via the zoom key in accordance with the imaging distance L so that the display unit 7 displays the user's face in an optimal size. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the CPU 20 determines the outline of the user's face as the subject via the CCD camera 8 according to the imaging distance L, and the user's face is determined based on the determined outline. By automatically controlling the zoom magnification ZM so as to fall within the angle of view of the CCD camera, the display unit 7 may display the user's face in an optimal size.
[0076]
In this case, the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 increases the reference volume output level in accordance with the zoom magnification ZM automatically changed under the control of the CPU 20, thereby causing the user to press not only the reception volume adjustment key but also the zoom key. It is possible to obtain the optimum image desired by the other party without the need, and thus to further improve the usability.
[0077]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the reference volume output level of speaker 6 is corrected by volume correction value VC in accordance with zoom magnification ZM, but the present invention is not limited to this. The volume input level for collecting the user's voice by the microphone 9 may be corrected according to the magnification ZM. In this case, the imaging distance L becomes longer and the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 is separated from the user. Can also correct the sound collection sensitivity.
[0078]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the CCD camera 8 having the digital zoom function is applied as the imaging means having the zoom function. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and has an optical zoom function. Another kind of imaging means such as a CCD camera may be applied.
[0079]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where the volume correction value VC predetermined by the volume correction value table T100 is associated with the zoom magnification ZM. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The user may set a numerical value set by the user as the volume correction value VC in association with the zoom magnification ZM.
[0080]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the CPU 20 is applied as the control means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other control means such as a microprocessor may be applied. Is also good.
[0081]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the CPU 20 is applied as the zoom control means has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other control means such as a microprocessor may be applied. May be.
[0082]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 is applied as the video communication device of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is used in a home or a video conference system. Various other video communication devices such as a videophone and an interphone may be applied.
[0083]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even when the distance between the video communication device and the user changes, by collecting or notifying the sound at an optimal volume level according to the distance without performing a complicated operation, Good sound collection and notification can be performed irrespective of the distance between the user and the video communication device, and thus a video communication device capable of improving usability can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an external configuration of a camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the camera-equipped mobile phone.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a volume correction value table.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of imaging by a CCD camera.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a volume adjustment processing procedure.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cellular phone with a camera, 6 ... Speaker, 7 ... Display part, 8 ... CCD camera, 9 ... Microphone, 10 ... Operation part, 20 ... CPU, 21 ... ROM, 22 ... RAM , 23... A transmitting / receiving section, 24... A signal processing section, 30.

Claims (5)

In a video communication device for imaging and transmitting an imaging target,
Imaging means having a zoom function;
Control means for controlling at least one of a sound collecting means for collecting the sound and a notifying means for notifying the sound, and controlling a volume level of the sound according to a change in a zoom magnification of the imaging means. Video communication device. The control means includes:
2. The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a volume input level at which the sound is collected by the sound collecting unit is controlled in accordance with a change in a zoom magnification of the imaging unit. The control means includes:
2. The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a volume output level for notifying the sound by the notifying unit is controlled according to a change in a zoom magnification of the imaging unit. When capturing an image of a person's face by the image capturing means, the image capturing apparatus includes zoom control means for controlling a zoom magnification of the image capturing means so that substantially the entire face of the person falls within an image capturing range of the image capturing means.
The control means includes:
2. The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a volume level of the audio is controlled in accordance with a change in a zoom magnification of the imaging unit controlled by the zoom control unit. The control means includes:
2. The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the audio volume level is controlled by correcting a reference volume level set by a user according to a change in the zoom magnification.

Images