JP3320080B2 - Image reproduction method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reproducing method and apparatus capable of switching and displaying still image information from a plurality of data sources.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, specific examples of using still image information include a command system using a TV telephone, a CATV, a service TV in a supermarket, a still image broadcast, and the like. Here, a still image communication system that transmits still image data using a line will be described as an example.

FIG. 2 shows the concept of a conventional communication system.

[0004] A still image transmitting device 201 is a device for transmitting the same still image information to a plurality of image reproducing devices 202 via a public line 204. The still image output device 203 transmits another still image information to the image reproducing device 202 via the local line 205. Thus, the image reproducing device 20
Reference numeral 2 selects one of the still image information sent from the public line 204 and the local line 205 to reproduce the still image.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of such an image reproducing apparatus 202.

A digital signal (still picture information) sent from the public line 204 and the local line 205 is switched by an input selector switch 306, and one of the still picture information is selected by the selector 301 and inputted. . The still image information thus input is processed by the control signal separation circuit 302 into still image data (stored in the frame memory 303 via the signal line 310) and control data (frame memory control unit via the signal line 309). 3
07 is input). The frame memory 303 is a frame memory capable of storing still image data for a plurality of screens. Reference numeral 311 denotes a frame memory dedicated to freeze.

Reference numeral 307 denotes a frame memory control unit that controls writing to the frame memory 303, reading (display) from the memory 303, and freezing in accordance with control data output from the control signal separation circuit 302. 30
Reference numeral 4 denotes a D / A converter for converting the still image data read from the frame memory 303 into an analog signal. The output signal from the D / A converter 304 is displayed on a monitor 305. Also, the frame memory control unit 3
07, the currently displayed frame memory 30 is displayed.
By transferring the data of No. 3 to the freeze memory 311, the contents of the frame memory 303 can be frozen and displayed on the monitor 305. Furthermore, by outputting the contents of the frame memory 303 to the printer 308, a still image can be hard copied.

On the other hand, the control data separated by the control signal separation circuit 302 includes time management data and display management data. Among them, the time management data is data for managing (setting) the internal clock (clock) of the image reproducing apparatus 202, and is usually data for setting the time. The display management data is data for setting a display time of an image and a frame memory number to be displayed. With such control data, a required still image is displayed based on the set time of the time management data according to the setting of the display management data.

[0009]

In the image reproducing apparatus in such a conventional system, when the input signal is switched, the following problems occur.

The signals input from the public line 204 and the signals input from the local line 205 are generally not under the same time management because their input sources are independent. . Under such circumstances, for example, the local line 205 is selected as an input signal, and after setting the internal clock of the image reproducing apparatus 202 by the time management data, the input selector switch 306 is switched to the public line 204. Suppose you can switch. Thereafter, when the display management data is input from the public line 204, the display management data is displayed and managed based on the time management data in the local line 205 before the line is switched. There is a possibility that the display times will not match due to the difference in the time management data of the local line 205. Such a problem may occur even when the input source of the still image information is switched from the public line 204 to the local line 205.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a problem that occurs when the input line is switched. First, it is assumed that a public line is selected first. First, time management data 4
When 01 is input from the public line 204, the internal clock of the image reproducing apparatus 202 is set to 13:00. Then, the display management data 402 is similarly stored in the public line 20.
4 and the display time is set to 13:05. As a result, the display ON counter is set to 5 minutes, and after 5 minutes, the frame specified by the display management data (not shown) is displayed. The above description is a normal operation when there is no input line switching.

Next, an example will be described in which the input line is switched halfway and does not operate correctly. Public line 204
It is assumed that the input selector switch 306 is switched after the time 13:00 is set to the internal clock at 401 based on the input signal from Then, the local line 20
When the display management data 404 is input from No. 5, the display setting time is set to 15:05. Accordingly, the display on counter is set to (15: 05-13: 00 =) 2 hours and 5 minutes. In this way, originally, in the time management data on the local line 205, the set time of the time management data is 15:00, so the screen that should be displayed at 15:05 after 5 minutes is 2 hours in the above case. Will also be displayed with a delay. Similarly, if the time is first set at 15:00 on the local line 205 as indicated by 403 and then switched to the public line 204 and shifted to the state indicated by 402, a delay of 22 hours occurs. Become.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example. After a data source of image information is switched, display control is performed based on time data from the new data source, thereby providing a data source. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reproducing method and apparatus which can prevent the display time from being shifted due to the switching of the image.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement.
That is, an image reproducing apparatus for displaying image information from a data source selectively switched from a plurality of data sources,
Input means for inputting , from a data source, image information, time setting information for setting a reference time for displaying the image information, and display time information for setting a display time at a time set by the time setting information. And the input means
Setting means for setting the time according to the time setting information input, a memory means for storing said image information input by said input means, setting of in accordance with the time setting information
Display control means for time to display time becomes the image information stored in said memory means of said display time information,
Switching means for selectively switching any of the plurality of data sources, wherein the display control means controls the display means based on time setting information input from a data source newly selected by the switching means. image display until time reconfiguration of Ru is performed in accordance with the display time information input
Time setting, and reset the time by the setting means.
After the setting has been performed,
Control is performed so as to perform image display according to the display time information input after the reset from the new data source obtained .

In order to achieve the above object, the image reproducing method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, an image reproducing method for displaying image information from a data source that is selectively switched from a plurality of data sources, wherein the data source uses the image information and a time as a reference for displaying the image information. time setting information for setting and display time information for setting a display time at the time set by the time setting information
An input step of inputting a setting step of setting a time in response to the time setting information input in said input step, a memory step of storing the image information input in the input <br/> step in the memory, the A display control step of displaying the image information stored in the memory when the time set according to the time setting information reaches the time of the display time information , and selecting one of the plurality of data sources and a switching step of switching a manner, the display control step, until said switching step at time resetting of the said setting step based on the time setting information input from the newly selected data source Ru been performed input
Not display images according to the displayed display time information
After the time is reset in the setting step,
From the new data source switched in the switching step.
The present invention is characterized in that control is performed such that an image is displayed in accordance with the display time information input after the resetting .

[0016]

In the above configuration, the image information is transmitted from the data source.
And set the reference time for displaying the image information
Time setting information and the time set by the time setting information
TimeInSet display time and display time informationinput
And thatinputThe time according to the time setting information
Along withinputThe obtained image information is stored in the memory.
If the data source is switched,
From the newly selected data sourceinputTime setting information
The time is reset based onDisplay entered until
Do not display images according to the time information,
After the time is reset in the fixed process,
From the new data source that was switched in step
Entered inDisplay images according to display time information
To control.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a selector for switching an input digital signal, which is switched in accordance with an instruction from an input selector switch 106. In this embodiment, the input signal selected and switched by the selector 101 will be described as still image information from the public line 109 and the local line 110, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these. It goes without saying that there is no limit on the number selected. Still image information selected and output by the selector 101 is output to the control signal separation circuit 1.
02 separates into still image data and control data. These separated data are supplied to the signal lines 112, respectively.
And 117. Reference numeral 103 denotes a frame memory capable of storing a plurality of still images. Reference numeral 120 denotes a frame memory dedicated to freeze, and still image data is written to the frame memory 103 via the signal line 112.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a frame memory control unit which controls a freeze using the memory 120 for writing, reading and freezing of the frame memory 103 via a signal line 118. Reference numeral 104 denotes a D / A converter that converts digital image data read by the frame memory control unit 107 into an analog signal. The analog signal output from the D / A converter 104 is connected to the signal line 11
4 is displayed on the monitor 105. Further, under the control of the frame memory control unit 107, the data of the frame memory 103 being displayed is temporarily saved in the freeze memory 120 and transferred to the D / A converter 104, so that the contents of the freeze memory 120 can be displayed. . Further, by reading out the data in the frame memory 103 in a format that can be output to the printer 108, a hard copy of the still image information can be obtained.

In the above-described configuration, the image reproducing apparatus of the embodiment operates as follows when the input selector switch 106 is switched. That is, the input selector switch 10
When the input is switched by the selector 101 according to the signal 119 from the signal line 6, the signal from the selector 101 to the signal line 116 is output.
, A signal indicating that the input line has been switched is output to the frame memory control unit 107. As a result, an interrupt occurs in the frame memory control unit 107, and the frame memory control unit 107 immediately outputs the frame memory 10 being displayed.
3 is transferred to the freeze memory 120. By displaying the data in the freeze memory 120 on the monitor 105 in this manner, the contents are kept frozen, and thereafter, the display management data input via the signal line 117 is discarded, causing a failure at the display time. To prevent

When the time management data is input to the frame memory control unit 107 via the signal line 117, and the time management clock provided inside the apparatus is set, the display management data which is input next is set. And performs display management control according to it. Therefore, after the time management data is inputted, the display time and frame memory of the next image to be displayed are set by the display management data which is inputted next, and when the display time of the image comes, the display time until that time is reached The newly set data of the frame memory 103 is displayed instead of the data of the freeze memory 120 that has been set.

Thereafter, the operation returns to the normal operation, the internal clock is set by the time management data, the display time and the frame memory to be displayed next are set by the display management data, and when the predetermined display time is reached, the specified time is specified. It operates to display the data of the frame memory.

The operation of the image reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment has been described above with reference to FIG. 1. Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the control operation of the frame memory control unit 107. In this apparatus, when the power is turned on, an initialization operation is performed, and an internal clock, a frame memory, and the like are set to initial values. In this state, step S
The process proceeds to step 1 and the normal control sequence is entered only here.

First, time management data is input, and an internal clock is set. Next, proceeding to step S2, the display time is set based on the internal clock, and the frame memory to be displayed is specified. Thereafter, the input image data is written to the designated frame memory. Next, the process proceeds to step S3, where it is determined whether or not the display time has come. When the display time has come, the process proceeds to step S4 to display the contents of the designated frame memory. The normal sequence is step S1 → step S2 → step S3 → step S4, and returns to step S1 to repeat the same operation.

At this time, when the input line is switched by the selector 101 according to the instruction of the input selector switch 106, an interrupt is generated by the interrupt signal 116, and the program jumps to step S5. Step S5
Then, the data in the frame memory 103 that has been displayed so far is transferred and saved in the phrase memory 120, and the saved data in the freeze memory 120 is stored in the D / A converter 104.
Through the monitor 105. In this way, the display data is kept frozen, and the display management data input thereafter is discarded.

This is because when display management data is input after the input signal is switched by the selector 101, the time management data before switching by the selector 101 may be erroneously used as a reference. This is to prevent subsequent display management from failing.

Next, the process proceeds to step S6, where the selector 101
, New time management data is input from the line switched, and it is determined whether the internal clock has been set. Thus, the process does not proceed to the next step until the internal clock is newly set.

When the internal clock is newly set, the process proceeds from step S6 to step S2, and when the display time of the next image to be displayed comes, the process proceeds to step S4 to replace the freeze memory 120 previously displayed. Then, a free memory to be displayed next is selected and displayed. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1, and the image information from the newly switched line is input, and the normal sequence is repeated.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the input signal is switched, the display is continued until the time management data is input from the newly switched line and the internal clock is reset. Display on the screen. Further, until the resetting is performed, the input display management data is discarded, so that it is possible to prevent a failure in the management of the subsequent display time.

Further, various effects can be obtained, such as that the present invention can be carried out without largely changing the conventional device.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. The present invention can of course be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a system or an apparatus with a program for implementing the present invention.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, after the data source of the image information is switched, display control is performed based on the time data from the new data source, whereby the data source of the data source is switched. This has the effect of preventing a shift in display time due to switching.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional still image system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional image reproducing device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a problem that occurs when an input line is switched.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of a frame memory control unit of the image reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 selector 102 control signal separation circuit 103 frame memory 104 D / A converter 105 monitor 106 input selector switch 107 frame memory control unit 108 printer 109 public line 110 local line 120 freeze memory

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 7/14

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image reproducing apparatus for displaying image information from a data source selectively switched from a plurality of data sources, comprising: a data source for displaying image information and a reference for displaying the image information; input means for inputting and displaying time information for setting a display time at the time set by the time setting information for setting the time and the time setting information, the time according to the time setting information input by the input means setting means for setting a memory means for storing the image information input by said input means, time set according to the time setting information is stored in said memory means to be a time of the display time information Display control means for displaying the selected image information; and switching means for selectively switching any one of the plurality of data sources. Is input to the time resetting of Ru carried out by the setting unit based on the time setting information input from more newly selected data source
Not display images according to the displayed time information
After the time is reset by the setting unit,
New data source switched by the switching means
An image reproducing apparatus for controlling image display according to display time information input after the resetting . 2. The display control unit, after the data source is switched by the switching unit, resets the time by the setting unit based on time setting information input from a newly selected data source. 2. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image from the data source before the switching is continuously displayed until the switching. 3. The display control means, after the data source is switched by the switching means, resets the time by the setting means based on the time setting information input from the newly selected data source. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a freeze image is continuously displayed until the image is displayed. 4. An image reproducing method for displaying image information from a data source selectively switched from among a plurality of data sources, the method comprising: displaying, from the data source, image information and a reference for displaying the image information; an input step of inputting and display time information for setting a display time at the time set by the time setting information for setting the time and the time setting information, the time according to the time setting information input in said input step A setting step of setting, a memory step of storing the image information input in the input step in a memory, and a time set in accordance with the time setting information is stored in the memory when the time of the display time information comes . A display control step of displaying image information; and a switching step of selectively switching any one of the plurality of data sources. Newly from the selected data source to the time resetting of Ru is performed in the setting step based on the time setting information input is input
Not to display images according to the displayed time information,
After the time is reset in the setting step,
From the new data source switched in the replacement process
An image reproducing method, characterized in that control is performed so as to display an image in accordance with the display time information input after the setting. 5. In the display control step, after the data source is switched in the switching step, the time is reset in the setting step based on the time setting information input from the newly selected data source. 5. The image reproducing method according to claim 4, wherein an image from the data source before the switching is continuously displayed until the switching. 6. In the display control step, after the data source is switched in the switching step, the time is reset in the setting step based on the time setting information input from the newly selected data source. 6. The image reproducing method according to claim 4, wherein the freeze image is continuously displayed until the image is displayed.