Multi-media communication terminal capable of performing special reproducing modes

• US 6,012,089 A
• Filed: 02/12/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Personal Computers, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/797,060
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 345/327, 345/328, 395/200.47-200.49, 705/217-219, 386/69
• US Class Current: 725/89
• 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 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

In a multi-media communication terminal apparatus, when a slow reproducing operation is commenced, a supply of video data transmitted via a communication line is stopped. A video data decoding unit reproduces each image of screens plural times corresponding to the slow reproducing operation based upon the video data previously stored in a video data buffer memory. When the repeating reproduction for the respective screens by the plural times corresponding to the slow reproducing operation is accomplished and the reproducing operation of a new screen is commenced, a video data decoding unit issues an interrupt to a CPU. Upon issue of the interrupt, the CPU checks a data remaining amount of the video data stored in the video data buffer, and sends a request to transmit a predetermined amount of video data to a data transmission source when the checked data remaining amount is lower than, or equal to a reference amount. Since the remaining data amount is checked only when the video data for a single screen is consumed, a workload to execute the process operation is low.

Claims

1. A multi-media communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a video data buffer memory for temporarily storing video data transmitted via a communication line;

a slower-than-normal reproduction designating unit for designating a slower-than-normal reproduction of said video data;

a video data reproducing unit for reproducing each screen image indicated by said video data when said slower-than-normal reproduction is designated by said slower-than-normal reproduction designating unit, and for outputting a predetermined control signal when the reproduction of a new image is commenced, said each screen image being reproduced a plurality of times corresponding to said slower-than-normal reproduction;

a transmission stop requesting unit for requesting a transmission source of said video data to stop the transmission of said video data which is transmitted via said communication line when said slower-than-normal reproduction is designated by said slower-than-normal reproduction designating unit;

a remaining amount acquiring unit for checking the amount of video data remaining in said video data buffer memory when said control signal is outputted from said video data reproducing unit; and

a transmission requesting unit for requesting said transmission source to transmit a predetermined amount of said video data when said amount acquired by said remaining amount acquiring unit is lower than or equal to a predetermined reference amount.

2. A multi-media communication terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said reference amount corresponds to a predetermined amount which is larger than the amount of video data reproduced by said video data reproducing unit during a overhead time required after a transmission request of video data is issued until the video data is transmitted via said communication line; and

the storage capacity of said video data buffer memory is greater than an amount defined by adding said predetermined amount when transmission is requested by said transmission requesting unit to said reference amount.

3. A multi-media communication terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmission requesting unit requests transmission of video data for a predetermined number of screen images; and

said remaining amount acquiring unit includes;

an initial screen number acquiring unit for acquiring the number of screen images which can be reproduced by said video data stored in said video data buffer memory when said slower-than-normal reproduction is designated by said slower-than-normal reproduction designating unit; and

a reproducible screen number calculating unit for calculating the number of screen images which can be reproduced by said video data stored in said video data buffer memory based on said screen number acquired by said initial screen number acquiring unit, the times when said control signal is outputted, and the times when said transmission requesting unit issues said transmission request.

4. A multi-media communication terminal apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said video data transmitted through said communication line is coded;

and said video data reproducing unit includes;

a decoding unit for decoding said video data;

a reproducing unit for reproducing a screen image indicated by video data decoded by said decoding unit;

a reproducing time counting unit for counting the frequency of reproducing when each screen image is repeatedly reproduced by said reproducing unit;

a subsequent screen decoding instruction unit for instructing a decoding operation of said video data as to a subsequent screen image by said decoding unit when the counted value of said reproducing time counting unit reaches a reproducing time corresponding to the slower-than-normal reproducing operation; and

a control signal output unit for outputting a predetermined control signal when said decoding operation for a single screen image by said decoding unit is accomplished.