Image communication apparatus, image communication method and recording medium which stores the sound and image

• US 6,947,447 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Okamura, Shuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsegaye, Saba
• Application Number:
  US09/057,556
• Time in Patent Office: 2,721 Days
• Field of Search: 370/470, 370/493, 370/465, 370/471, 370/473, 370/474, 370/475, 370/394, 386/98, 714/719
• US Class Current: 370/470
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• 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

Abstract

An image communication apparatus includes a packet transmitting unit for transmitting image data or sound data in packets and a detecting unit for detecting the amount of sound data to be transmitted in packets. The apparatus also includes a control unit for switching the packet size of image data to be transmitted in packets by the packet transmitting unit, according to the result of detection performed by the detecting unit. Sound data accompanying image data is smoothly transferred to the receiving side in packet transmission of image data and sound data.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus that performs data communication via a communication network, said apparatus comprising:

a packet transmitter adapted to transmit image data in packets and to transmit sound data in packets, wherein the sound data is divided into packets of invariable packet size and the image data is divided into packets of variable packet size;

a detector adapted to detect an interval of sound data to be transmitted in packets; and

a controller adapted to decrease the variable packet size of the packets of image data to be transmitted, in proportion to a decrease in the interval of sound data to be.

2. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller changes the packet size of the image data gradationally according to the interval of the sound data to be transmitted in packets.

3. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image input unit for inputting the image data by photographing an image.

4. A communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image input unit includes one of a motion-picture camera and a still-picture camera.

5. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sound input unit for inputting the sound data.

6. A communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said sound input unit includes a microphone.

7. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a compression unit for compressing at least one of the image data and the sound data.

8. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver for receiving image data and sound data transferred in packets; and

a player unit for playing the image data and the sound data received by said receiver.

9. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said player unit includes an expansion unit for expanding the received image data and the received sound data.

10. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said player unit includes a display for visibly displaying an image corresponding to the received image data.

11. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said player unit includes a speaker for outputting sound corresponding to the received sound data.

12. A communication method of performing data communication via communication network;

said method comprising;

a packet transmission step of transmitting image data in packets and transmitting sound data in packets, wherein the sound data is divided into packets of invariable packet size and the image data is divided into packets of variable packet size;

a detection step of detecting an interval of sound data to be transmitted in packets; and

a control step of decreasing the variable packet size of the packets of image data to be transmitted, in proportion to a decrease in the interval of sound data to be transmitted in packets, as detected in said detection step.

13. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for performing data communication via a communication network, the program comprising:

program code for a packet transmission step of transmitting image data in packets and transmitting sound data in packets, wherein the sound data is divided into packets of invariable packet size and the image data is divided into packets of variable packet size;

program code for a detection step of detecting an interval of sound data to be transmitted in packets; and

program code for a control step of decreasing the variable packet size of the packets of image data to be transmitted, in proportion to a decrease in the interval of sound data to be transmitted in packets, as detected in the detection step.

14. A communication apparatus that performs data communication via a communication network, said apparatus comprising:

a packet transmitter adapted to transmit image data in packets and to transmit sound data in packets, wherein the sound data is divided into packets of invariable packet size and the image data is divided into packets of variable packet size;

a detector adapted to detect an amount of sound data to be transmitted in packets; and

a controller adapted to control the variable packet size of the image data based on the invariable packet size of the sound data, as detected by said detector,

wherein, when said detector detects the amount of sound data, said controller changes the packet size of the image data to be substantially equal to the packet size of the sound data, and wherein, when said detector does not detect sound data, said controller changes the packet size of the image data to a maximum size.