JP3367063B2 - Image complement communication method and image complement apparatus, and image complement communication service providing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for adding video information to audio information, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for adding video information to audio information in a communication network such as a public telephone network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional communication using a public telephone network, when both terminals of a calling side and a called side are communication terminals capable of displaying an image, the calling side sends a video information to the called side. Can be sent. Therefore, when communication is requested between the communication terminal that allows the calling side to transmit only voice information and the communication terminal that can display video on the called side, only the calling party's voice information is sent to the called side. To be done.

[0003]

Normally, even when both the calling side and the called side are communicating using a communication terminal capable of displaying images, for example, the calling side is a destination or the like. There is a case in which the called party wants to communicate the contents including the video information by using the communication terminal capable of transmitting only the voice information. In such a case, the conventional communication method has a problem that the information that can be transmitted from the calling side to the called side is limited to voice information.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an image complementary communication method for complementing and communicating even if there is a communication capability difference between a calling side terminal and a called side terminal in a public telephone network. And an image complementing device, and an image complementing communication service providing method and device.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. In order to achieve the above object, a method of providing an image complementary communication service according to the present invention for providing a communication service to a subscriber in a communication network includes an image accumulation step (step 2) of accumulating a registered image from the subscriber and the subscription. An image retrieval step (step 4) of receiving the connection request to the called side via the voice information communication terminal of the person and searching for and acquiring the stored registered image, the acquired registered image, and the subscriber. A signal synthesizing step (step 6) of superimposing the voice information inputted from the above to generate a synthetic signal, and a synthetic signal sending step of sending the generated synthetic signal to the communication terminal capable of displaying an image on the called side ( Step 8) and.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the principle of the image complementing apparatus of the present invention for image communication in a communication network. The image complementing apparatus 1 of the present invention includes an image storage unit 12 that stores a registration image from a subscriber of the communication network, and a subscriber that manages subscriber information that associates the registration image from the subscriber with the subscriber. The information management means 11, the signal synthesizing means 13 for superimposing the registered image and the voice information, and the changeover switch means 14 for switching the communication line of the communication circuit at the time of image transmission and at the time of image registration.

According to the image complementing apparatus 1 of the present invention, the image from the calling subscriber, that is, the registered image, is transferred to the image complementing communication apparatus 1 by the changeover switch means 14 via the communication line at the time of image registration. Subscriber information that is stored in the image storage unit 12 and associates the registered image with the subscriber is managed by the subscriber information management unit 11. When the calling subscriber requests communication from the calling communication terminal capable of transmitting only voice information to the called communication terminal capable of displaying an image, the voice information from the calling side is stored in the subscriber information management means 11 From the subscriber information of the calling-side subscriber obtained in step 1, the changeover switch means 14 sends the signal together with the registered image to the signal synthesizing means 13 via the communication line at the time of image transmission. The synthesizing means 13 superimposes the registered image and the voice information, and the superposed signal is sent to the called communication terminal.

In this way, the communication capability difference between the calling communication terminal capable of transmitting only voice information and the called communication terminal capable of displaying the image is complemented, and the image registered by the calling subscriber is called. Displayed on the side.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image complementing communication service providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image complementing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 accumulates registration images from subscribers of a communication network, manages subscriber information for identifying subscriber registration images, and superimposes registration images and voice information. Is a device for generating a combined signal. The calling side exchange 2 is an exchange that accommodates the communication terminal 4 on the call side, and the called side exchange 5 is an exchange that accommodates the communication terminal 5 on the call side.

The image complementing apparatus 1 is connected to the called-side exchange 2 via a control line 6 for transmitting and receiving control signals, and is also connected to the called-side exchange 2 via a call line 7. The calling side exchange 2 and the called side exchange 3 are connected via a telephone line 7. As shown in the figure, the image complementing apparatus 1 has a changeover switch 14 for switching the connection of a communication circuit for information from a calling side subscriber through the calling side exchange 2 in more detail. The image complementing device 1 includes a changeover switch 1
4, the image storage unit 12 for storing the registration image from the calling side subscriber, and the subscriber information for associating the registered image with the calling side subscriber It further includes a subscriber information management unit 11 that retrieves the registered image associated with the calling subscriber in response to a call from the calling subscriber to the called subscriber. The subscriber management unit 11 stores, in the image number correspondence table 111, sender identification information assigned to each subscriber and information for identifying a registered image of the subscriber.

The image complementing apparatus 1 superimposes the voice information from the calling subscriber and the registered image retrieved from the image storage section 12 by the subscriber information management section 11 to generate a composite signal. And a synthesizing unit 13. The changeover switch 14 switches the communication line of the communication circuit between when the registered image is received from the calling side subscriber and when the calling side subscriber makes a call to the called side subscriber. , The combined signal generated at the time of calling is the changeover switch 14
Then, it is transmitted to the terminal 5 of the called subscriber through the calling exchange 2 and the called exchange 4.

A control line 61 is provided between the subscriber information management section 11 and the image storage section 12, and the subscriber information management section 11 is provided.
A control line 62 is provided between the subscriber information management unit 11 and the changeover switch 14, and a control line 63 is provided between the signal synthesis unit 13 and the signal synthesis unit 13. A control signal from the section 11 is generated. Further, a call line 71 is provided between the image storage unit 12 and the signal synthesizing unit 13, and a call line 72 is provided between the signal synthesizing unit 13 and the changeover switch 14.
However, a communication line 73 is provided between the image storage unit 12 and the changeover switch 14, and image information and voice information are transmitted.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image supplementary communication service providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the caller identification information assigned to each subscriber and the image number for storing the information for specifying the registered image of the subscriber are shown. It is a figure explaining the structure of a correspondence table. As shown in the figure, for example, an identification ID, which is the identification information of the subscriber who transmitted the registered image, and the image number of the registered image may be stored as a pair. The format is not limited to the correspondence table in the above example as long as the registered image can be searched from the subscriber information.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for displaying a registered image in the image complementing communication service providing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, with reference to the same figure, the communication terminal 4 capable of transmitting only voice information to the communication terminal 5 capable of displaying an image
A procedure for displaying the registration image of the calling party subscriber on the called party side during communication with the callee will be described.

When the caller makes a call from the communication terminal 4 (step 100), the calling exchange 2 should add a registration image from the caller identification information, the calling terminal type information, and the called terminal type information. It is determined that the communication terminal 4 and the image complementing apparatus 1 are connected via the call line 7 (step 10).
2). Further, the calling side switching device 2 is connected via the control line 6 to
The sender identification information is notified to the image complementing apparatus 1, and the image complementing apparatus 1 is requested to synthesize the registered image and the voice information (step 104).

The subscriber information management unit 11 of the image complementing apparatus 1
Receives a control signal from the calling exchange 2 via the control line 6. The subscriber information management unit 11 searches the image correspondence table 111 for the image number associated with the subscriber based on the received control signal to determine whether the registration information for the subscriber exists. (Step 106). When the registered images are accumulated, the subscriber information management unit 11 instructs the changeover switch 14 via the control line 63 to switch the communication path so as to connect the communication line 7 to the signal synthesis unit 13 (step 108). .

Changeover switch 14 instructed to change over
While connecting the signal synthesizing unit 13 to the changeover switch 14 via the call line 72 (step 110), the subscriber information managing unit 11 sends the voice information and the image information to the signal synthesizing unit 13 via the control line 62. Superimposition is instructed (step 112), the image number obtained by the above search is notified to the image storage unit 12 via the control line 61, and the image storage unit 12 is notified.
Controls to send the image information corresponding to the image number to the signal synthesizing unit 13 (step 116).

When the image storage section 12 sends the image information to the signal synthesis section 13 (step 118), the signal synthesis section 13 is started.
Superimposes the image information sent from the image storage unit 13 and the voice information input from the communication terminal 4 via the calling side exchange 6 and the changeover switch 14, and sends a combined signal to the call line 72 (step 120).

The composite signal sent from the signal composition unit 13 is received by the calling side exchange 2 (step 12).
2), the exchange 2 starts connection processing to the called-side communication terminal 5, sends the telephone number of the communication terminal 5 to the called-side exchange 3 to which the communication terminal 5 is connected, and sets up the communication line 8. (Step 124). The called exchange 3 receives the telephone number of the communication terminal 5 from the exchange 2 (step 126), calls the communication terminal 5 (step 128), and puts the communication terminals 4 and 5 into a call state (step 130).

Thus, at the time of communication from the communication terminal 4 capable of transmitting only voice information to the communication terminal 5 capable of displaying an image,
It is possible to display the registration image of the calling side subscriber on the called side communication terminal. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a subscriber to register an image in the image complementing communication service providing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a procedure for registering an image in the image complementing apparatus 1 from the communication terminal 4 ′ capable of transmitting image information will be described with reference to FIG.

When the subscriber, that is, the caller makes a call from the communication terminal 4'with the special number for image registration (step 200), the exchange 2 uses the special number for image registration and the sender identification information to identify the sender. It is determined that the request is an image registration request, and the communication terminal 4'and the image complementing device 1 are connected (step 20).
2). The exchange 2 further notifies the image complementing device 1 of the caller identification information via the control line 6 and requests registration of the image (step 204).

The subscriber information management section 11 of the image complementing apparatus 1
Receives a notification and request from the exchange 2 via the control line 6 (step 206), and determines whether or not there is a registered image associated with the caller based on the received control signal. The subscriber information management unit 11 first detects the exchange 2
The image number correspondence table 111 is searched based on the caller identification information notified from, and the presence or absence of the image number associated with the subscriber is searched. If the image number is present, the image number from the correspondence table 111 is searched. Is acquired, and if the image number does not exist, a new image number is added (step 20).
8). The subscriber information management unit 11 instructs the changeover switch 14 via the control line 63 to switch the communication path in order to connect the communication circuit 7 to the image storage unit 12 (step 21).
0). The instructed changeover switch 14 connects the image storage unit 12 to the changeover switch 14 via the call line 73 (step 212). The subscriber information management unit 11 controls the image storage unit 12 via the control line 61 so that the image information of the subscriber sent from the call line 73 is registered (step 2).
14), the image information is registered in the image storage unit 12 (step 216).

Thus, the image is registered in the image complementing apparatus 1 from the communication terminal 4'which can transmit the image information.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the calling communication terminal is a terminal capable of transmitting only voice information, the video information can be displayed on the communication terminal capable of displaying the video according to the intention of the calling side. Since it is possible to display the image, the chances of displaying the image on the terminal capable of displaying the image are increased, so that there is an advantage that the discomfort that may occur when the image display is small in the multimedia communication is reduced.

Further, according to the image complementing apparatus of the present invention, the subscriber can perform more accurate transmission of video information by registering the image to be combined, so that the discomfort in multimedia communication is reduced. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an image complementing communication service providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image number correspondence table in the image complementing communication service providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for displaying a registered image in the image complementing communication service providing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a subscriber to register an image in the image complementing communication service providing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image complementing device 2 Calling side exchange 3 Called side exchange 4 Calling side communication terminal 5 Called communication terminal 6 control lines 7,8 call line 11 Subscriber video management means 12 Image storage means 13 Signal synthesizer 14 Changeover switch means 61, 62, 63 control lines 71, 72, 73 call lines 111 Image number correspondence table

Front page continued (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00 102 H04N 1/00 H04L 12/56 H04M 3/42 H04M 11/06

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1.Provide communication services to subscribers in the communication network
A method of providing, When the registered image is received from the subscriber's communication terminal,
Switching to a first communication circuit leading to the image storage section, The registered image is stored in the image storage unit via the communication path.
Image accumulation stage to accumulate, Connection to the called party via the voice information communication terminal of the subscriber
Receives the request, retrieves and acquires the above registered images.
Image search stage, Signal synthesis when the above registered images are acquired
Switching to a second communication circuit leading to the department, The registered image acquired via the first communication circuit, and
Sound given by the subscriber via the second communication circuit
A signal combining step of generating a combined signal by superimposing the voice information
When, The generated combined signal can be displayed on the image of the called side
A step of sending a composite signal to be sent to the communication terminal, An image complementing communication service providing method including: 2.Terminal of the first subscriber and end of the second subscriber
In a communication network whose ends are connected to each other via an exchange
Connected to the exchange, the first subscriber and the second subscriber are connected.
A device for providing an image communication service to an entrant, From the first subscriber entered via the exchange
A first communication circuit and a second communication circuit for transmitting information, Upon receiving the registration image from the first subscriber, the first
Switching to the communication circuit, from the terminal of the first subscriber to the first
When making a call to the terminal of the second subscriber, the second communication circuit is disconnected.
Replacement switch means to replace, The registration from the first subscriber is performed via the first communication circuit.
An image storage means for storing recorded images, Subscriber information that associates the registered image with the first subscriber
The second subscriber from the terminal of the first subscriber,
The first subscriber in response to the call to the user's terminal Associated with
Subscriber information management means for retrieving the above registered image
When, Sound from the first subscriber via the second communication circuit
Acquire voice information, and use the subscriber information management means to
Obtain the above registered image retrieved from the image storage means, and
Generates a synthetic signal by superimposing the voice information and the registered image above.
Signal synthesizing means, Have The combined signal generated by the signal combining means is
Through the changeover switch means and the exchange,
Sent to the terminal of the second subscriber, Image complementary communication service providing device.