JPH0690446A - Video phone - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A videophone device that separately transmits a background image signal and a person image hospital number. In a videophone device equipped with a transmitting device for transmitting an image signal and a receiving device for receiving the image signal, the transmitting device 40 transmits a background image signal which does not include a person such as a caller. , 42, 45, 46, 1
8, 19, 20, 21, 22 and a difference person image transmission unit 41 that subtracts a background image signal transmitted by the background image transmission unit from a background image signal including a person such as a caller and transmits the subtracted background image signal as a difference person image signal. 43, 46, 19, 20, 21, and 22 are provided, and the receiving device 44 includes background image storage units 50 and 51 for receiving a background image signal transmitted by the background image transmission unit.
And a difference person image storage unit 49 that stores a difference person image signal transmitted by the difference person image transmission unit, a difference person image signal stored in the difference person image storage unit, and a background image stored in the background image storage unit. A television monitor unit for reading out signals, adding and combining and displaying the signals is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a videophone device, and more particularly to a videophone device which synthesizes a background image signal and a difference image signal for display on a television monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a videophone device is provided with a transmitter 10 and a receiver 11 as shown in FIGS.

The transmitter 10 is provided with a television camera 12 for photographing a person image of a caller or the like and a background image thereof. An analog / digital converter 13 is connected to the television camera 12, and the analog image signal photographed by the television camera 12 is converted into a digital image signal. A pre-processing unit 14 is connected to the analog / digital conversion unit 13 to perform noise removal, pattern restoration, segmentation, etc. of the digital image signal. A speed conversion unit 15 is connected to the pre-processing unit 14 and speed conversion of the image signal is performed.

A subtraction unit 16 is connected to the speed conversion unit 15, and subtracts the transmitted image signal from the image signal of the previous screen stored in the frame memory unit 17. An encoding unit 18 is connected to the subtraction unit 16 to encode the subtracted image signal. A variable length coding unit 19 is connected to the coding unit 18, and variable length processing of the coded signal is performed. The variable length coding unit 19 includes a speed smoothing unit 20.
Are connected and the encoded signal is smoothed. A line interface unit 21 is connected to the speed smoothing unit 20, and the encoded signal is transmitted to the receiving device 11 via the line 22.

A decoding unit 23 is connected to the encoding unit 18 to decode the encoded signal. An adding unit 24 is connected to the decoding unit 23, and the decoded signal and the image signal of the previous screen of the frame memory unit 17 are added.

The adder unit 24 includes the frame memory unit 17
Are connected, and the current image signal is restored and stored. The subtraction unit 16 is connected to the frame memory unit 17, and subtracts the image signal of the next screen transmitted from the television camera 12 and the current image signal.

A line interface unit 25 is connected to the receiving device 11 so as to receive the transmitted encoded signal. A variable length coding unit 26 is connected to the line interface unit 25, and variable length processing of a coded signal is performed. A decoding unit 27 is connected to the variable length coding unit 26 to decode the coded signal. An adding unit 28 is connected to the decoding unit 27, and the decoded signal and the image signal of the previous screen stored in the frame memory unit 29 are added.

A post-processing unit 30 and the frame memory unit 29 are connected to the adding unit 28. The post-processing unit 30 performs noise removal, pattern restoration, segmentation, etc. on the decoded signal, and the frame memory unit 29. Storage of the decoded signal is performed. The post-processing unit 30 includes an image storage unit 31.
Are connected and the decoded signal is stored. A television monitor 32 is connected to the image storage unit 31, the decoded signal is read out, and an image is displayed.

In this way, the image signal taken by the television camera 12 is displayed on the television monitor 32 of the receiving device 11 as an image.

[0010]

In this videophone apparatus, a person such as a caller and the background thereof are normally transmitted without distinction. Therefore, for example, a person moves from position Aoo in FIG. 3A to position Ao1 in FIG.
When it moves to, the receiving device 11 receives the image signal as shown in FIG.

In this movement, there is a problem that a machine under development, a product, a drawing, or an image of something which is not desired to be displayed is simultaneously sent to the background of the person.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a videophone device in which a background image signal and a person image signal are separated and transmitted separately.

[0013]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a videophone apparatus provided with a transmitting device for transmitting an image signal and a receiving device for receiving the image signal, wherein the transmitting device does not include a person such as a caller. A background image transmission unit that transmits an image signal, and a difference person image transmission unit that subtracts a background image signal transmitted by the background image transmission unit from a background image signal including a person such as a caller and transmits the difference person image signal. The receiving device is provided with a background image storage unit that receives the background image signal transmitted by the background image transmission unit, a difference person image storage unit that stores the difference person image signal transmitted by the difference person image transmission unit, and this difference. A television monitor section for reading out the differential person image signal stored in the person image storage section and the background image signal stored in the background image storage section, and adding and synthesizing and displaying the television monitor section. There is provided a telephone apparatus.

Further, the background image transmission section is provided with a storage section for storing a plurality of background image signals, and an arbitrary 1 is stored in the storage section.
One background image signal is selected and transmitted, and the background image storage unit is provided with a background image storage unit that stores a plurality of background image signals, and any one background image signal is selected and read from this background image storage unit. The present invention provides a videophone device characterized by being additively combined and displayed on a TV monitor unit.

Further, a zero detection unit is provided in the difference person image storage unit, and the background image signal stored in the background image storage unit and the difference person image signal stored in the difference person image storage unit depending on the presence or absence of the person image signal. The present invention provides a videophone device characterized by selectively reading out, adding and combining these, and displaying them on a TV monitor.

[0016]

The image captured by the television camera is transmitted to and stored in the background image storage section and the differential person image storage section of the receiving device, the background image signal that can be seen by the other party and the person image signal of the party. The background image signal and the difference image signal are combined and displayed on the television monitor.

The background image signal is appropriately selected, combined with the differential person image signal, and displayed on the television monitor.

Furthermore, a person image signal is embedded in the background image signal, and this embedded image signal is displayed on the television monitor.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the video telephone device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The videophone device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is basically constructed in substantially the same manner as the conventional videophone device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and therefore the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. The detailed description will be omitted.

The transmitting device 40 of the videophone device includes the first background storage unit 41 via the TV camera 12, the analog / digital conversion unit 13, the preprocessing unit 14, and the speed conversion unit 15.
The second background storage unit 42 and the subtraction unit 43 are connected.

In the first background storage section 41, a background image of a room not including a person such as a caller or a conference room (not shown) can be displayed on the TV monitor section of the other party without any problem. Such an image signal is stored. Similar to the first background storage unit 41, the second background storage unit 42 has no problem even if it is a background image signal such as a landscape or a pattern (not shown) preferred by the caller and displayed on the other party's TV monitor unit. Such an image signal is stored.

The subtraction unit 43 subtracts an image signal obtained by subtracting the background image signal stored in the first background storage unit 41 from the image signal of the person including the caller photographed by the television camera 12, that is, the difference person from which the background image is removed. The image signal is taken out.

A first switching unit 45 is connected to the first background storage unit 41 and the second background storage unit 42, and the background image signal stored in the first background storage unit 41 or the second background storage unit 42 is selectively selected. It is designed to be switched to and taken out.

The subtraction unit 43 and the first switching unit 45 have a second
The switching unit 46 is connected so that the differential person image signal or the background image signal is selectively switched and taken out. The second switching unit 46 includes a subtraction unit 16 and an encoding unit 1.
8, the variable length coding unit 19, the speed smoothing unit 20, the line interface unit 21 and the like are connected, and respective image signals are transmitted to the receiving device 44 via the line 22.

The encoder 18 includes a decoder 23 and an adder 2
4. The subtraction unit 16 is connected via the frame memory unit 17 and the like, and subtraction of the difference object image signals before and after is performed.

Reference numeral 47 denotes a CPU, which is operated by the operation unit 48 or the like, so that the first background storage unit 41 and the second background storage unit 4
2, an operation signal is sent to the first switching unit 45, the second switching unit 46, the frame memory unit 17 or the line interface unit 21, or a switching signal is sent to control them.

Next, in the receiving device 44 of the videophone device, the difference person is passed through the line interface unit 25, the variable length encoding unit 26, the decoding unit 27, the adding unit 28, the frame memory unit 29, and the post-processing unit 30. The image storage unit 49, the first background image storage unit 50, and the second background image storage unit 51 are connected.

The difference person image storage unit 49 stores the difference person image signal sent from the transmitting device 40, and the difference person image signal is sent from the transmitting device 40 to the first background image storing unit 50 and the second background image storing unit 51. The received first background image signal and second background image signal are stored separately.

The difference person image storage unit 49 includes a zero detection unit 52.
Are connected, and the zero image signal that does not include a person and the differential person image signal are identified and detected. This person image storage unit 49
And an addition unit 53 is connected to the first background image storage unit 50,
The differential person image signal and the first background image signal are added together.

The addition unit 53 and the second background image storage unit 51
A switch control unit 54 is connected to and so that the added image signal and the second background image signal are combined. The switch monitor 54 is connected to the television monitor 32, and the added image signal and the like are displayed by the control of the zero detector 52 and the like.

A CPU 55 is connected to the line interface unit 25, the frame memory unit 29, the difference person image storage unit 49, the first background image storage unit 50, the second background image storage unit 51, and the zero detection unit 52. These are operated and controlled.

Next, the operation of the videophone device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In advance, a background image which does not include a person in the first background storage unit 41 and which is displayed on the partner TV monitor 32 without any problem is displayed in the second background storage unit 42 on the partner TV monitor 32. A background image signal of a landscape or the like, which does not hinder the display, is stored.

Thus, the first background storage unit 41 and the second background storage unit 41
After storing the background image signal in the background storage unit 42, the receiving device 44 is called from the transmitting device 40 by dial operation or the like,
Establish a videophone line.

Then, the CPU 47 is operated by operating the operation unit 48.
For controlling the control signal from the first switching unit 45 or the second switching unit.
It is sent to the switching unit 46. When the first background storage unit 41 or the second background storage unit 42 is connected to the subtraction unit 16 by this control signal, the CPU 47 sends a control signal not to store the background image signal in the frame memory unit 17. .

As a result, the first background storage unit 41 or the second background storage unit 41
The background image signal of the background storage unit 42 is sent as it is to the line interface unit 21 via the coding unit 18, the variable length coding unit 19, the speed smoothing unit 20, and the like. The line interface unit 21 attaches an identification code to the scene image signal and transmits it to the receiving device 44.

When the second switching section 46 is connected as shown in FIG. 1 by the control signal from the CPU 47, the background image signal including the person displayed on the television camera 12 is stored in the first storage section 41. It is sent to the subtraction unit 43 together with the background image signal. In the subtraction unit 43, the background image signal stored in the first storage unit 41 is subtracted from the background image signal including the person, and the subtraction image signal including the person, that is, the difference person image signal is extracted.

This difference person image signal is sent to the variable length coding unit 19 via the subtraction unit 16 and the coding unit 18, and to the frame memory unit 17 via the decoding unit 20.

In the frame memory unit 17, a portion excluding a person is stored as a zero image signal, that is, a black image signal, a portion including a person is stored as a difference person image signal, and the difference image signal is sent to the subtraction unit 16. To be

The subtraction unit 16 subtracts the difference person image signal one screen before in the frame memory unit 17 from the difference person image signal, and the subtracted difference person image signal is encoded.
8, variable length coding unit 19, speed smoothing unit 20, and line interface unit 21. Line interface unit 2
In No. 1, like the background image signal, the differential person image signal is attached with an identification code and transmitted to the receiving device 44 via the line 22.

When the receiving device 44 receives the background image signal and the differential person image signal, the line interface section 25 identifies which of the image signals, and the differential person image storage section 49 and the first background as follows. It is stored in the image storage unit 50 and the second background image storage unit 51.

First, when the line interface section 25 identifies the background image signal of the first background storage section 41, the identification signal is sent to the CPU 55. When the CPU 55 receives the identification signal, a control signal is sent to the frame memory unit 29 to control the background image signal so that it is not stored, and the first background image storage unit 50 also stores the background image signal.

After performing such an image processing operation, the background image signal of the first background storage section 41 received by the line interface section 25 is sent to the addition section 28 via the variable length coding section 26 and the coding section 27. send. The addition unit 28 sends the frame to the first background image storage unit 50 via the frame memory unit 29 and the post-processing unit 30. Although the background image signal is not stored in the frame memory unit 29, the background image signal is stored in the first background image storage unit 50.

Similarly, the background image signal of the second background storage unit 42 received by the line interface unit 25 is identified by the line interface unit 25 and is not stored in the frame memory unit 29. It is stored in the second background image storage unit 51 via the unit 27, the addition unit 28, and the post-processing unit 30.

Next, when the line interface unit 25 receives the differential person image signal, it sends the recognition signal to the CPU 55. A control signal is sent from the CPU 55 to the frame memory unit 29 to perform control such that the background image signal is stored in the frame memory unit 29, and the difference person image storage unit 4
It sends to 9 and it controls so that a difference person image signal may be memorize | stored.

After the image processing operation as described above, when the line interface unit 25 receives the differential person image signal or the like, the variable length coding unit 26, the coding unit 27, the adding unit 28, and the post-processing unit 30 are used. It is sent to and stored in the frame memory unit 29. The frame memory unit 29 stores the differential person image signal from the adding unit 28, and this differential person image signal is added to the person image signal one screen after. This image signal is stored in the difference person image storage unit 49 via the post-processing unit 30.

In this way, the difference person image storage unit 49, the first
First, a case will be described in which the background image signal stored in the first background storage unit 50 and the differential person image signal are combined from the image signals stored in the background image storage units 50 and 51.

First, the CPU 55 is controlled to activate the difference person storage unit 49 and the first background storage unit 50, and to control the zero detector 52 and the second background storage unit 51 in the inoperative state.

As a result, the image signals of the difference person storage unit 49 and the first background storage unit 50 are added by the adder 53,
This addition signal is transmitted to the TV monitor 3 via the switch unit 54.
2, the background image including the person image is displayed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the background image on the television monitor 32 is an image which does not cause any trouble even if the caller moves or is seen by the caller on the other side, so that the call can be carried out at ease.

Next, a case where the background image signal stored in the second background storage unit 51 and the person image are combined will be described.

First, the CPU 55 is controlled to control the differential person storage unit 49, the first background storage unit 50, the second background storage unit 51, and the zero detector 52 to the operating state.

As a result, the image signals of the difference person storage unit 49 and the first background storage unit 50 are added by the adder 53,
This addition signal is sent to the switch unit 54. Also, the second
The background image of the background storage unit 51 is sent to the switch unit 54 as it is.

In the switch unit 54, if the difference person storage unit 49 is a zero image, the background image of the second background storage unit 51 is sent to the television monitor 32 as it is, and if the difference person storage unit 49 is not a zero image, that is, If it is a person image signal, the zero detector 52 extracts the person image signal from the combined signal of the difference person storage unit 49 and the first background storage unit 50, and the person image signal is sent to the television monitor 32.

Therefore, the background image of the second background storage unit 51 and the person image from the combined signal of the difference person storage unit 49 and the first background storage unit 50 are displayed on the television monitor 32 in a fitted manner.

Therefore, the television monitor 32 displays a person image and a favorite background image. As a result, even if a person moves during a call, an image is displayed in the background that does not cause any trouble even if the person on the other end sees it, and the secret leakage is prevented.

In the above description, two storage units are provided for storing the background images of the transmission device and the reception device, but the same result can be obtained by storing them in one storage unit.

[0059]

As described above, the present invention provides a videophone device equipped with a transmitting device for transmitting an image signal and a receiving device for receiving the image signal, wherein the transmitting device transmits a background image signal which does not include a person such as a caller. And a background image signal transmitting unit that subtracts a background image signal transmitted by the background image transmitting unit from a background image signal including a person such as a caller and transmits the difference image signal as a difference person image signal. The apparatus includes a background image storage unit that receives the background image signal transmitted by the background image transmission unit, a difference person image storage unit that stores the difference person image signal transmitted by the difference person image transmission unit, and this difference person image storage unit. Since the difference person image signal stored in and the background image signal stored in the background image storage unit are read out, and the television monitor unit for adding and combining and displaying is provided, even if the caller moves during a call, Image has no problem even seen.

Further, the background image transmission section is provided with a storage section for storing a plurality of background image signals, and an arbitrary 1 is stored in the storage section.
One background image signal is selected and transmitted, and the background image storage unit is provided with a background image storage unit that stores a plurality of background image signals, and any one background image signal is selected and read from this background image storage unit. Since the images are added and combined and displayed on the television monitor, the background image can be selected and used.

Furthermore, a zero detection unit is provided in the difference person image storage unit, and the background image signal stored in the background image storage unit and the difference person image signal stored in the difference person image storage unit depending on the presence or absence of the person image signal. Is selectively read out and these are added and combined to be displayed on the television monitor section. Therefore, the background image can be a background image that suits the preference of the caller.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a transmitting device of a videophone device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a receiving device of the videophone device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display image on a television monitor.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of a transmission device of a conventional videophone device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of a receiving device of a conventional videophone device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 transmitter 11 receiver 12 television camera 16 subtraction unit 17 frame memory unit 18 encoding unit 21 line interface unit 25 line interface unit 28 adder unit 29 frame memory unit 31 image storage unit 32 TV monitor 40 transmitter 41 first background Storage unit 42 Second background storage unit 43 Subtraction unit 44 Reception device 45 First switching unit 46 Second switching unit 47 CPU 49 Difference person image storage unit 50 First background image storage unit 51 Second background image storage unit 52 Zero detection Part 53 adder part 54 switch part 55 CPU

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video telephone apparatus comprising a transmitting device for transmitting an image signal and a receiving device for receiving the image signal, wherein the transmitting device transmits a background image signal for transmitting a background image signal which does not include a person such as a caller. And a differential person image transmission unit that subtracts a background image signal transmitted by the background image transmission unit from a background image signal including a person such as a caller and transmits it as a difference person image signal. A background image storage unit that receives the background image signal transmitted by the background image transmission unit, a difference person image storage unit that stores the difference person image signal transmitted by the difference person image transmission unit, and a difference person image storage unit that stores the difference person image storage unit. And a television monitor section for reading out the differential person image signal and the background image signal stored in the background image storage section for addition-synthesizing and displaying. 2. A background image transmission section is provided with a storage section for storing a plurality of background image signals, and any one background image signal is selected from the storage section and transmitted, and the background image storage section is provided with a plurality of background image signals. A background image storage unit for storing a background image signal is provided, and one arbitrary background image signal is selected from the background image storage unit, read out, added and combined, and displayed on the television monitor unit. The videophone device according to claim 1. 3. A zero detection section is provided in the difference person image storage section,
The background image signal stored in the background image storage section and the difference person image signal stored in the difference person image storage section are selectively read out depending on the presence or absence of the person image signal, and these are added and combined to be displayed on the television monitor section. The videophone device according to claim 1, wherein the videophone device is provided.