JPH071909B2 - Image communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a drawn image communication device for receiving a handwritten drawn image together with voice using a general telephone line, and for receiving the handwritten drawn image.

(B) Conventional technology A handwritten drawn image communication device has been developed that transmits and receives handwritten drawn images with voice over a normal telephone line (for example, see Tsuken Bulletin-36-4 (1983), P13-P16). ).

This drawing image communication device transmits and receives voice signals as usual via a telephone, and handwritten drawing images electrically input the trajectory of a drawing pen drawn on the input surface of a drawing pad using a pressure-sensitive tablet or the like. Then, this is converted into a digital image signal and transmitted. At this time, the audio signal is multiplexed with the image signal and simultaneously transmitted through a general telephone line. The signal thus output to the telephone line is received by the other party, separated into an image signal and an audio signal, the image signal is displayed on a display device such as a monitor television, and the audio signal is output as voice from the telephone. .

Now, some of the conventionally developed developed image communication devices are provided with a hard copy device for making a hard copy of a drawn image.

In a drawn image communication device equipped with a hard copy device, a hard copy of a drawn image can be taken by pressing a hard copy switch during communication. When the hard copy switch is pressed, the transmission right is first obtained (in the slave mode) and the carrier is sent out so that the drawing image signal is not sent from the partner drawing image communication device as in the case of transmitting a normal drawing image signal. Then, the hard copy device is started.
The carrier is continuously sent during the hard copy operation, and the carrier is stopped when the hard copy operation is completed. In this case, the other drawing image communication apparatus is in the receiving state as long as the carrier of the own apparatus continues, and therefore most operations such as pen input, full erasure, and hard copy activation are prohibited.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a transmission signal format transmitted on the line when the hard copy switch is pressed during communication. In slave mode, pressing the hard copy switch will spend about 200 msec on the transmission right. Then, the hard copy is activated before the transmission right is surely acquired, and the carrier is continuously transmitted during the hard copy operation.

Further, in the master mode, the transmission right can be preferentially acquired, so when the hard copy switch is pressed, the hard copy is immediately activated and the carrier is continuously transmitted during the hard copy operation.

FIG. 5 shows a transmission signal format when both the own device and the partner device request a hard copy during communication, and at least two hard copy operation times are required until both devices finish making a hard copy. Specifically, assuming that the hard copy operation time is t (sec), the time T for both the own device and the partner device to make a hard copy is T ≧ 2t + α (where α is
Is the time for the transmission right dispute + the time until the operator of the other device depresses the hard copy switch after the carrier from the own device is lost).

Further, as another conventional technique, there is one which does not prohibit the carrier input to the partner device and the pen input of the partner device even during the hard copy of the own device. This system requires a memory for storing the drawn image signal sent from the partner device during the hard copy.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-described first conventional technique, not only the pen input of the device itself, the entire erasure and the like are prohibited during the hard copy, but also by transmitting the carrier to the partner device, the partner device In the receiving state, pen input from the partner device, full erase, etc. were prohibited, but since the carrier is sent to the partner device, always draw image signal so that it may be sent at any time. You must be monitoring the incoming data. In addition, the operator of the partner device may wonder if the device is operating normally because the screen does not change even in the receiving state. Furthermore, when both the own device and the partner device request a hard copy, a very long processing time is required.

In addition, the second conventional technique requires a memory, and as the transmission speed increases, the amount of information sent during hard copy increases, and more memory is required. Also, if the own device is in the process of hard copy, the drawn image signal received from the other device cannot be decoded and expanded on the screen of the own device, so the images displayed on the other device and the own device do not match. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a drawing image communication apparatus capable of activating a hard copy even when the partner apparatus makes a hard copy.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention relates to a hard copy device or a drawing image communication device equipped with an interface to which the hard copy device is to be connected. Means for sending a start signal indicating the start of the hard copy device, a means for continuously sending the carrier to the partner device during the hard copy operation, and a pen input or full erase when the carrier is received from the partner device. And a means for permitting the activation of the hard copy device while receiving the carrier after receiving the activation signal from the partner device, the drawing image communication apparatus.

(E) Action Even if only the carrier that does not contain the drawn image signal is received from the partner device and the pen input, full erase, etc. of the own device are prohibited, the partner device sends a start signal indicating the start of the hard copy device. If received, the hard copy device of the own device can be activated.

(F) Example Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing an example thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a drawn image communication apparatus according to the present invention.

A control unit (4) controlled by a microprocessor (43) is interposed between the telephone set (3) and the subscriber line (5), and a drawing pad (2) and a monitor TV (1) are provided on the control unit (4). ) Is connected. When a pen is used to draw on the pressure-sensitive pad of the drawing pad (2), a coordinate signal due to the touch of the pen and a pen touch signal indicating the up and down of the pen are input to the microprocessor (43) via the interface (41), and here, Is encoded. The encoded signal is modulated by the modem (44), and the drawn image signal is further demultiplexed (4
At 5), it is multiplexed with the voice signal from the telephone set (3) and sent to the subscriber line (5). Meanwhile, the subscriber line (5)
The signal sent from the other device via the demultiplexer is separated into a voice signal and a drawn image signal by the demultiplexing circuit (45), the voice signal is sent to the telephone (3), and the drawn image signal is then sent to the microprocessor. Decoded in (43), written in video memory (42), and monitor TV (display device)
Displayed in (1).

Further, (6) is a hard copy device, and a microprocessor (43) is provided via a hard copy interface (46).
It is connected to the.

The operation of the hard copy device, which is a feature of the device of the present invention, will be described below.

FIG. 2 shows a transmission signal format transmitted on the line when a hard copy switch (not shown) is pressed during communication.

The figure shows the case where the device is in slave mode.
First, send out a carrier of 100 ± 20 msec, and then the next 100 ± 20
msec stops the carrier transmission and sees the reaction of the partner device. If the carrier from the other device is not detected within this 100 + 20msec, it means that the transmission right has been obtained, and 200 ± 20m
Continuing on the carrier (start signal) of sec, ISP + HCP + I
SP (however, ISP is an information separation code, HCP (start signal) is a command defined in this embodiment, and is assigned to an appropriate location in the command table to indicate that the device itself is currently in hard copy. After ISP + HCP + ISP, it promises that the picture signal will not be included until the carrier is disconnected.).

In addition, when the device itself is in the master mode, the transmission right can be given priority, so if the carrier device is not sent from the partner device when the hard copy switch is pressed, the carrier (start signal of 400 ± 20 msec ) Continued I
Send SP + HCP + ISP.

On the other hand, in the device that receives ISP + HCP + ISP, a message such as “Hard copy of other device” is displayed on the monitor TV to inform the operator. Thereafter, until the carrier is cut off, operations that cause changes in the screen, such as pen input and blank erase, are prohibited, but the pressing of the hard copy switch is detected. When the hard copy switch is pressed, the message on the monitor TV is erased and the hard copy device is activated. Monitor the disconnection of the carrier from the partner device while the hard copy device is operating. If the hard copy of the device is not completed when the carrier is disconnected, the carrier device sends the carrier to the partner device. Is sent. This carrier is sent in the same format as in the master mode. In other words, the carrier (start signal) of 400 ± 20 msec is followed by ISP + HCP + ISP. When this command is received by the partner device, a message such as "hard copy of partner device" is displayed on the monitor TV of the partner device. This display is erased by stopping the carrier transmission at the end of the hard copy of the own device.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of this embodiment.
When the carrier from the partner device is detected, this reception flow is entered. When entering the reception flow, operations such as pen input and full erase are prohibited (S1). It is monitored whether the carrier from the partner device is disconnected (S2), and if it is disconnected, operations such as pen input and full erase are enabled (S10). While the carrier continues, it is checked whether the received data is sent (S3). If it is sent, it is checked whether it is HCP (S4). If it is not HCP, it is decoded and drawn as normal drawing data ( Do (S11) and return to (S3). (S4)
When the HCP is received at, a message is displayed on the monitor TV (S5), and thereafter, if the hard copy switch is not pressed, it is monitored whether the carrier from the partner device is disconnected (S7). If the carrier is disconnected without pressing the hard copy switch, the message is erased (S8), and operations such as pen input and full erase become possible (S9).

When the hard copy switch is pressed in (S6), the message is erased (S12) and the hard copy device is activated (S1).
3). During the hard copy operation, it always monitors whether the carrier from the partner device is disconnected (S14), and when the carrier is disconnected, the hard copy operation of the own device ends (S1).
5) If yes, transition to (S9). If the hard copy operation is not completed in (S15), the carrier is sent for 400 ± 20 msec (S16) and ISP + HCP + ISP is sent (S17). Next, it is judged whether the hard copy operation is finished (S18),
When it is finished, the carrier transmission is stopped (S19). Partly
Wait 130msec after turning off the carrier (S20). And (S
Transition to 9).

The carrier sending time and the like in this embodiment were in accordance with the standard communication system proposal of the teleriding device described in the CCITT research report on teleriding.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the drawing image communication device in which the display device, the drawing pad, the control unit, the hard copy device and the like are separately provided is shown, but the respective constituent elements are integrated together (for example, the display device). It is obvious that a drawing image communication device or the like may be used by using an LCD and installing a drawing pad on the LCD.

(G) Effect of the Invention As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, even when the hard copy device of the partner device is operating, the device itself always receives the reception data as long as it receives the activation signal from the partner device. You don't have to monitor it, and if the hard copy device can be activated and both the partner device and the self device make a hard copy,
Significant time savings may be contemplated over conventional devices.

Further, when the other device is in the process of hard copy, pen input, full erasure, etc. of the own device are prohibited, so the images on the display devices of both devices are the same, and no additional objects such as memory are required.

Further, by displaying a message on the display device of the partner device by the activation signal, the operator of the partner device can easily recognize that the device itself is in the hard copy process.

Further, the present invention is practically effective because it can be realized only by changing the software of the conventional device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a drawing image communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a transmission signal format diagram when a hard copy switch is pressed according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an operation of the embodiment of the present invention. 4 and 5 are transmission signal format diagrams when the conventional hard copy switch is pressed. (1) ... monitor TV (display device), (2) ... drawing pad, (3) ... telephone, (4) ... control unit, (5)
...... Subscriber line, (6) …… Hard copy device, (43)
…… Microprocessor, (46) …… Hard copy interface.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Tetsuo Tajiri 1-2356 Take, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Pref., NTT Communications Corp. (72) Inventor Yuichi Sato 1-2356 Take, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation In the compound communication laboratory (56) Reference JP 63-116553 (JP, A) Actually open 61-93067 (JP, U) Actually open 63-40057 (JP, U)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hard copy device or a drawing image communication device equipped with an interface to which the hard copy device is to be connected, wherein when the hard copy device is started during communication, the other device starts the hard copy device. A means for transmitting a signal, a means for continuously transmitting a carrier to the partner device during a hard copy operation, a means for prohibiting an operation such as pen input or full erase when the carrier is received from the partner device, A picture image communication device comprising: means for permitting activation of a hard copy device while receiving a carrier after receiving an activation signal from the device. 2. A means for detecting disconnection of a carrier from a partner device when the hardcopy device is operated by means for allowing activation of the hardcopy device, and a partner device when the disconnection is detected by this means. The drawing image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a means for sending an activation signal to the. 3. The picture image communication according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for displaying a message on a display device when the activation signal is received from the partner device. apparatus.