Picture codec and teleconference terminal equipment

• US 5,689,300 A
• Filed: 07/31/1995
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsushima, Hitoshi, Yoshikawa, Hiroshi, Takizawa, Masaaki, Maruyama, Yukinobu, Yamada, Takehiko, Shibata, Yoji, Ebihara, Toru, Furuya, Jun, Yoshida, Atsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/509,591
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93, 379/94, 379/90, 379/96-100, 379/201, 379/202, 379/110, 358/400, 358/479, 358/487, 361/679-683, 364/180, 364/189, 364/709.01, 364/709.12, 248/917-923, D18/36, D16/232, D16/208, 348/14-16, 348/373-376, 355/230, 355/231, 355/21, 355/39-41, 355/61, 355/64, 355/75
• US Class Current: 348/14.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/00 Image coding bandwidth or redundancy reduction for static pictures H04N1/41; coding or decoding of static colour picture signals H04N1/64; methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1004 using two-dimensional electrical scanning, e.g. cathode-ray tubes using two-dimensional arrays H04N1/195
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 : ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 : Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/204 : ISDN protocol; ISO 7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/337 : Picturephone

Abstract

In a teleconference terminal equipment; a picture codec for simultaneously displaying a still picture and video on a single screen, comprising an analog-to-digital converter which converts a picture signal into digital picture data, a picture-in-picture processor which is supplied with the digital picture data as self-picture data of the terminal equipment, a video decoder or a still picture decoder which decodes input picture data and delivers the decoded data to the P-in-P processor, and a digital-to-analog converter which is supplied with picture data for forming a P-in-P frame, having been produced from the self-picture data and the decoded data by the P-in-P processor, and which converts the supplied picture data into an analog signal and delivers the analog signal as an output.

Claims

1. A document photographing stand, comprising:

a work surface for placing a document thereon;

a lower link which is pivotally mounted on said work surface;

an upper link which is pivotally mounted on said lower link;

a camera which is pivotally mounted on said upper link; and

a marker for emitting a spot light;

wherein said lower link and said upper link are respectively turnable relative to said work surface and to said lower link up to a position at which said camera is supported above said work surface;

said camera, at said position at which said camera is supported above said work surface, photographs a reflection from a front surface of said document placed on said work surface; and

said marker, being inlaid on said work surface in one of a central position and a corner position of an area to be photographed by said camera, displays a spot mark on said front surface of said document placed on said work surface by the spot light which has been emitted from said marker and has passed through said document form a back surface of said document to said front surface of said document.

2. An equipment for a teleconference in which a few persons utilize the equipment, and for exchanging pictures and video of persons in real time through a digital communication channel, comprising:

communication control means for transmitting and receiving multiplexed video data, user data, facsimile data and audio data through said digital communication channel;

multiplex/demultiplex means for multiplexing and demultiplexing the video data, user data, facsimile data and the audio data to be transmitted by said communication control means and having been received by the same, respectively;

a picture codec which decodes a picture signal from said video data demultiplexed by said multiplex/demultiplex means and then delivers said picture signal as an output, and which codes an input picture signal to-be-coded into said video data and then transfers said vide data to said multiplex/demultiplex means;

a camera which includes a lens having an approximately 60°

field of view, and which supplies said picture codec with a picture signal of picked-up-picture as the picture signal to-be-coded;

an external video input terminal which receives a video signal from outside of the equipment and which supplies said picture codec with the video signal as the picture signal to-be-coded;

a display unit which displays a picture represented by the picture signal decoded by said picture codec;

an external video output terminal which outputs the picture signal decoded by said picture codec to outside of the equipment;

an audio codec which decodes a speech signal form said audio data demultiplexed by said multiplex/demultiplex means and then delivers said speech signal as an output, and which codes an input speech signal to-be-coded into said audio data and then transfers said audio data to said multiplex/demultiplex means;

a loud speaker which emits speech based on said speech signal decoded by said audio codec;

an external audio output terminal which outputs said speech signal decided by said audio codec to outside of the equipment;

an external data input/output terminal which receives user data from outside of the equipment and which transfers the received user data to the multiplex/demultiplex means, said external data input/output terminal outputting user data demultiplexed by said multiplex/demultiplex means to outside of the equipment;

an external facsimile signal input/output terminal which receives facsimile signal form outside of the equipment and which transfers the facsimile data represented by the received facsimile signal to the multiplex/demultiplex means, said external facsimile signal input/output terminal outputting facsimile signal represented by the facsimile data demultiplexed by said multiplex/demultiplex means to outside of the equipment; and

a housing in which said communication control means, said multiplex/demultiplex means, said picture codec, said camera, said display unit, said audio codec, said loudspeaker, said external video input terminal, said external audio output terminal, said external video output terminal, said external data input/output terminal and said external facsimile signal input/output terminal are housed, and which has a size permitting said equipment to be placed on a table and removed by a person.

3. Equipment for teleconference as defined in claim 2, wherein

said camera includes an automatic focus means for letting the camera be on focused on the few persons who utilize said equipment.

4. Equipment for teleconference as defined in claim 2, wherein

when said equipment is placed at an end of a table, said camera picks up the picture of the few persons who are sitting on the opposite end of the table and are about 1.5 meters from the equipment.

5. Equipment for teleconference as defined in claim 2 wherein

said display unit has an 11 inch screen for displaying the picture.