JPH08251567A - Television conference device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a television conference device which is inexpensive and displays attendants of a conference on the screens of respective terminals when the number of the terminals is relatively small. CONSTITUTION: Video decoding parts 13A-13E extract picture start codes(PSC) and group numbers(GN) of a QCIF format from respective video signals demultiplexed by multiplexing/demultiplexing parts 12A-12E and then a video composition part 15 allocates one frame of four video signals from other terminals A-E except its image to 2×2 small screens, delays the signals by picture start codes(PSC) of a QCIF signal so that the signals are composed on buffer parts 16A-16E in CIF format, and rewrites the group numbers(GN). The respective composed video signals are sent to the respective terminals A-E and displayed on monitors 2A-2E.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video conference device for conducting a video conference between multiple points.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a video conference apparatus for conducting a video conference between multiple points, for example, a plurality of terminals and a controller are connected to a loop-shaped transmission line, and the controller detects the audio signal from the terminal and displays the video of each terminal. It is configured to switch screens.

[0003]

However, in the conventional video conference apparatus, since a large number of terminals are assumed, there is a problem that a system having a relatively small number of terminals becomes expensive. Further, since the screen of each terminal is switched to the video in which the audio signal from the terminal is detected, there is a problem that the response at the time of screen switching is slow.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a video conferencing apparatus which is inexpensive and can display each participant of a conference on the screen of each terminal when the number of terminals is relatively small. The purpose is to

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 has a QCI from a maximum of four terminals.
An image synthesizing means for synthesizing an F format video signal into a CIF format video signal by allocating one frame to each small screen of 2 × 2 is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the video synthesizing means converts a CIF format video signal from a terminal into a QCIF format video signal, and the QCIF format video signal is used for each small frame of 2 × 2. It is characterized by synthesizing into a CIF format video signal by allocating to a small screen.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the video synthesizing means synthesizes the video signals from a maximum of four other terminals with the terminal which has transmitted the video signals, and sends the synthesized video signals.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the video synthesizing means, the video synthesizing means synthesizes video signals from a maximum of four other terminals with a terminal which has transmitted the video signals, and a picture from the terminal is pictured. It is characterized in that it is composed in-picture and transmitted.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, one frame contains 2 × the QCIF format video signals from a maximum of four terminals.
Since it is combined with the CIF format video signal by assigning it to each of the two small screens, it is possible to realize an inexpensive video conferencing device with a maximum of five terminals with an inexpensive configuration, and each of the conferences. Participants can be displayed on the screen of each terminal.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, CIF format video signals from a maximum of four terminals are converted into QCIF format video signals, and each QCIF format video signal has a small frame size of 2 × 2. Since it is combined with a CIF format video signal by assigning it to a small screen, it is possible to realize an inexpensive video conferencing device with a maximum of five terminals with an inexpensive configuration, and to make each participant of the conference a terminal of each terminal. Can be displayed on the screen.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the video signals from a maximum of four other terminals are combined and transmitted to the terminal that transmitted the video signal. Images can be combined and displayed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the video signals from up to four other terminals are combined with the terminal that has transmitted the video signal, and the pictures from the terminals are combined in picture-in-picture and transmitted. It is possible to display a composite image of an image from another terminal and its own image at the terminal that has transmitted the image signal.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control device of an embodiment of a video conference device according to the present invention. First, FIG. 2 and FIG.
The format of the video conference apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As a moving image coding format of this kind, ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector) Recommendation H.264. In the H.261, the number of pixels per line and the number of lines per screen are CIF (Common Intermediate
Format) signal is 352 pixels / line, 288 lines / line
Defined on the screen, 176 for Q (Quarter) CIF signal
Pixels / line, 144 lines / screen are defined.
That is, since the resolution of the CIF signal is four times that of the QCIF signal, the image quality is excellent. On the other hand, the resolution of the QCIF signal is ¼ of the CIF signal, so more information can be sent. Therefore, it is possible to follow the movement.

In the CIF format shown in FIG. 2, one frame is composed of 2 × 6 groups, and one block is 11
It consists of × 3 macroblocks. Picture start code (PSC) and CIF /
A QCIF ID code is provided, and a group start code (GBSC) and a group number (GN) are provided at the beginning of each group. A macro block address (MBA) is provided at the head of one macro block.

On the other hand, the QCIF format shown in FIG. 3 is composed of the first, third and fifth groups in the CIF format, that is, 1/4 of the CIF format. Therefore, QCIF format 4
It is possible to generate a CIF format video signal by allocating and synthesizing one frame to each small screen divided into 2 × 2 frames.

Next, the system configuration of the video conference apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This system has a maximum of five terminals A to E, and each of the terminals A to E has a TV camera 1A to 1E, a monitor 2A to 2E, and a codec 3.
A to 3E, and a microphone, a speaker, and the like (not shown). Codecs 3A to 3E are lines 4A to
4E through a control device (MC
U) 10, which multiplexes / separates a video signal and an audio signal, and encodes / decodes a video signal in the CIF format as shown in FIG. 2 or the QCIF format as shown in FIG.

Next, the MCU 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The codecs 3A to 3E of the terminals A to E respectively include the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 12 via the communication procedure units 11A to 11E.
Connected to ~ 12E. The video signals and audio signals from the terminals A to E are separated by the multiplexers / demultiplexers 12A to 12E, respectively, and the audio signals are added by the adders 14A to 14D except those of the terminal, and the multiplexer / demultiplexer 12A is added.
Sent to ~ 12E. Here, the video signal transmitted from each of the terminals A to E is configured in the QCIF format as shown in FIG.

From the video signals separated by the multiplexing / separating units 12A to 12E, the picture decoding units 13A to 13E extract the picture start code (PSC) and the group number (GN) in the QCIF format, and then the video synthesizing unit 15 4 frames of 4 video signals from other terminals A to E excluding own video are 2x
The picture start code (PS) of the QCIF signal is assigned so that it is assigned to each of the small screens of No.
Delay every C) and rewrite the group number (GN).

That is, the buffer section 16A is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the images of the terminals B, C, D, and E are combined, and in the buffer unit 16B, the images of the terminals A, C, D, and E are combined as shown in FIG. , Buffer unit 16
The images of the terminals A, B, D, and E are combined in C as shown in FIG. 5 (c), and the buffers 16D of the terminals A, B, C, and E are shown in FIG. 5 (d). The respective images are combined, and the terminals A, B, as shown in FIG.
The C and D images are combined.

The video signals thus synthesized are multiplexed with the respective audio signals by the multiplexing / demultiplexing units 12 to 12E, transmitted to the terminals A to E via the communication procedure units 11A to 11E, and the monitors 2A to. It is displayed on 2E. Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the video signals from the terminals A to E
Since it is transmitted in the CIF format and the video of other terminals except the video of itself is synthesized in the MCU 10 into one frame consisting of a 2 × 2 small screen, an inexpensive video conference device can be realized, and the conference Each participant can be displayed on the screen of each terminal. Further, according to the present embodiment,
Two small screens are vacant when there are three terminals, and one small screen is vacant when there are four terminals.

In addition, the video signals from the terminals A to E are transmitted by QCIF.
When transmitting in the CIF format without transmitting in the format, the QCIF format is generated by extracting the first, third and fifth groups of the CIF format as shown in FIG. 2 and thinning out the other groups. , Consisting of 2x2 small screen from this QCIF format 1
It is also possible to combine it into a frame. In addition, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to display in nP).

[0022]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, the video signals of QCIF format from a maximum of four terminals are assigned to each of the small screens of 2 × 2 small screen. Since it is combined with the video signal, it is possible to realize an inexpensive video conference apparatus with a maximum of five terminals with an inexpensive configuration, and it is possible to display each participant of the conference on the screen of each terminal.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, CIF format video signals from a maximum of four terminals are converted into QCIF format video signals, and the QCIF format video signals are transmitted for each small frame of 2 × 2. Since it is combined with a CIF format video signal by assigning it to a small screen, it is possible to realize an inexpensive video conferencing device with a maximum of five terminals with an inexpensive configuration, and to make each participant of the conference a terminal of each terminal. Can be displayed on the screen.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the video signals from a maximum of four other terminals are combined and transmitted to the terminal that transmitted the video signal. Images can be combined and displayed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the terminal that has transmitted the video signal is combined with the terminal that has transmitted the video signal from the video signals from up to four other terminals, and the video from that terminal is displayed as a picture. Since the pictures are combined and transmitted, the terminal that has transmitted the picture signal can compose and display the picture from another terminal and the self picture.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control device of an embodiment of a video conference device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a CIF format.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a QCIF format.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a video conference device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a composite screen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another combination screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A to E terminals 13A to 13E Video decoding unit 14 Video combining unit 15A to 15E Buffer unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A video conference comprising video synthesizing means for synthesizing video signals of QCIF format from a maximum of four terminals into CIF format video signals by allocating to each small screen of 2 × 2 small screen per frame. apparatus. 2. A video synthesizing means converts a CIF format video signal from a terminal into a QCIF format video signal, and assigns this QCIF format video signal to each small screen of a 2 × 2 small screen in one frame. The video conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video conference apparatus synthesizes the video signal into a CIF format video signal. 3. The video conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video synthesizing means synthesizes and transmits the video signals from up to four other terminals to the terminal which has transmitted the video signals. . 4. The video synthesizing means synthesizes video signals from a maximum of four other terminals with a terminal which has transmitted the video signals, and synthesizes the video from the terminals in picture-in-picture and transmits the pictures. Claim 1 or 2 characterized
The video conferencing device described.