Video conference device with facsimile function
First Claim
1. A videoconference device comprising:
- video input means for receiving an image to generate an image signal;
image encode/decode means for encoding/decoding the image signal;
means for outputting a received decoded image signal;
voice input means for receiving voice to generate a voice signal;
voice encode/decode means for encoding/decoding the voice signal;
means for outputting a received decoded voice signal;
a telephone network simulator for interfacing a facsimile unit;
signal converting means for converting a signal from a facsimile unit to a digital signal and converting a digital signal to a signal for the facsimile unit;
facsimile control means for controlling said telephone network simulator;
multiplexing/demultiplexing communication control means for multiplexing voice, image and facsimile communication data and sending the multiplexed data to a communication network and demultiplexing multiplexed data from the communication network into respective voice, image and facsimile communication data;
control data inputting means for inputting data on dial or other function selection; and
videoconference control means connected to said control data inputting means for controlling said image encode/decode means, voice encode/decode means, signal converting means, facsimile control means, and multiplexing/demultiplexing communication control means,wherein said facsimile control means detects an operative state of a facsimile unit on the basis of a control request from said videoconference control means and a signal from said telephone network simulator, controls said telephone network simulator and requests said videoconference control means to send/receive data on the facsimile unit;
wherein said telephone network simulator is controlled by said facsimile control means and simulates an external telephone set for the facsimile unit;
wherein said telephone network simulator comprises;
a telephone connection terminal for connecting to a telephone connection terminal of a facsimile unit,second switching means for selecting whether two lines from said telephone connection terminal should be short-circuited or opened, andsecond current detecting means for detecting the flow of a current on the basis of short-circuiting of the two lines from said telephone connection terminal,whereby said facsimile control means controls said second switching means and said second current detecting means detects the operative state of the facsimile unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A videoconference device connected to a general commercially available facsimile unit and having a function of sending/receiving a facsimile signal during communication. The videoconference device 1 has a facsimile connection terminal connected to a facsimile unit line connection terminal; a call unit for outputting a call signal for a general analog telephone; a 2W/4W convertor for converting a signal from a 2-line facsimile unit to a signal in a 4-line system where the sending and receiving of signals are separated; a voice band signal encode/decode unit for encoding/decoding a facsimile voice band signal; a power supply for supplying to the facsimile connection terminal a voltage/current which meets the standards of a general analog telephone set; a first current detector for detecting the flow of a current on the basis of supply power from the power supply; a first switching unit for selecting whether a signal from the facsimile connection terminal should be connected to the call unit or to a circuit composed of the power supply, 2W/4W converter, and first current detector; a videoconference control unit: and a multiplexing/demultiplexing control unit for multiplexing the encoded/decoded facsimile voice band signal with a video/voice signal and for demultiplexing the multiplexed signal into facsimile voice band signal, a video/voice signal.
28 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A videoconference device comprising:
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video input means for receiving an image to generate an image signal; image encode/decode means for encoding/decoding the image signal; means for outputting a received decoded image signal; voice input means for receiving voice to generate a voice signal; voice encode/decode means for encoding/decoding the voice signal; means for outputting a received decoded voice signal; a telephone network simulator for interfacing a facsimile unit; signal converting means for converting a signal from a facsimile unit to a digital signal and converting a digital signal to a signal for the facsimile unit; facsimile control means for controlling said telephone network simulator; multiplexing/demultiplexing communication control means for multiplexing voice, image and facsimile communication data and sending the multiplexed data to a communication network and demultiplexing multiplexed data from the communication network into respective voice, image and facsimile communication data; control data inputting means for inputting data on dial or other function selection; and videoconference control means connected to said control data inputting means for controlling said image encode/decode means, voice encode/decode means, signal converting means, facsimile control means, and multiplexing/demultiplexing communication control means, wherein said facsimile control means detects an operative state of a facsimile unit on the basis of a control request from said videoconference control means and a signal from said telephone network simulator, controls said telephone network simulator and requests said videoconference control means to send/receive data on the facsimile unit; wherein said telephone network simulator is controlled by said facsimile control means and simulates an external telephone set for the facsimile unit; wherein said telephone network simulator comprises; a telephone connection terminal for connecting to a telephone connection terminal of a facsimile unit, second switching means for selecting whether two lines from said telephone connection terminal should be short-circuited or opened, and second current detecting means for detecting the flow of a current on the basis of short-circuiting of the two lines from said telephone connection terminal, whereby said facsimile control means controls said second switching means and said second current detecting means detects the operative state of the facsimile unit.
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2. A videoconference device comprising:
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video input means for receiving an image to generate an image signal; image encode/decode means for encoding/decoding the image signal; means for outputting a received decoded image signal; voice input means for receiving voice to generate a voice signal; voice encode/decode means for encoding/decoding the voice signal; means for outputting a received decoded voice signal; a telephone network simulator for interfacing a facsimile unit; signal converting means for converting a signal from a facsimile unit to a digital signal and converting a digital signal to a signal for the facsimile unit; facsimile control means for controlling said telephone network simulator; multiplexing/demultiplexing communication control means for multiplexing voice, image and facsimile communication data into a single multiplexed signal including said voice, image and facsimile communication data and sending the multiplexed data signal to a communication network and demultiplexing a multiplexed data signal including voice, image and facsimile communication data from the communication network into respective voice, image and facsimile communication data; control data inputting means for inputting data on dial or other function selection; and videoconference control means connected to said control data inputting means for controlling said image encode/decode means, voice encode/decode means, signal converting means, facsimile control means, and multiplexing/demultiplexing communication control means, wherein said facsimile control means detects an operative state of a facsimile unit on the basis of a control request from said videoconference control means and a signal from said telephone network simulator, controls said telephone network simulator and requests said videoconference control means to send/receive data on the facsimile unit. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A videoconference device comprising:
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video input means for receiving an image to generate an image signal; image encode/decode means for encoding/decoding the image signal; means for outputting a received decoded image signal; voice input means for receiving voice to generate a voice signal; voice encode/decode means for encoding/decoding the voice signal; means for outputting a received decoded voice signal; a telephone network simulator for interfacing a facsimile unit; signal converting means for converting a signal from a facsimile unit to a digital signal and converting a digital signal to a signal for the facsimile unit; facsimile control means for controlling said telephone network simulator; multiplexing/demultiplexing communication control means for multiplexing voice, image and facsimile communication data and sending the multiplexed data to a communication network and demultiplexing multiplexed data from the communication network into respective voice, image and facsimile communication data; control data inputting means for inputting data on dial or other function selection; and videoconference control means connected to said control data inputting means for controlling said image encode/decode means, voice encode/decode means, signal converting means, facsimile control means, and multiplexing/demultiplexing communication control means, wherein said facsimile control means detects an operative state of a facsimile unit on the basis of a control request from said videoconference control means and a signal from said telephone network simulator, controls said telephone network simulator and requests said videoconference control means to send/receive data on the facsimile unit; wherein said telephone network simulator comprises; a facsimile connection terminal connected to a line connection terminal of the facsimile unit, call means for outputting a call signal of a general. analog telephone set, power supply means for supplying to said facsimile connection terminal a voltage and current which meets the standards of the general analog telephone set, first current detecting means for detecting the flow of a current based on power supply from said power supply means, and first switching means for selecting whether a signal from said facsimile connection terminal should be connected to said call means or to a circuit composed of said power supply and an input/output circuit of said signal converting means, whereby said facsimile control means detects the operative state of the facsimile unit on the basis of a signal from said first current detecting means and controls said first switching means and said supply means. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification