Picture codec and teleconference terminal equipment

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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A picture codec to which an analog picture signal, coded still picture data for playback and coded motion picture data for playback are input, and from which coded picture data obtained by coding the input analog picture signal and an analog picture signal obtained by decoding either of the input coded still picture data for playback and coded motion picture data for playback are output, comprising: 
 an analog-to-digital converter which converts the input analog picture signal into digital picture data;    a still picture coder which codes said digital picture data produced by said analog-to-digital converter, so as to deliver coded still picture data;    a video coder which codes said digital picture data produced by said analog-to-digital converter, so as to deliver coded motion picture data;    a selector which selects either of said coded motion picture data delivered from said video coder and said coded still picture data delivered from said still picture coder, and which delivers the selected picture data as the output coded picture data;    a still picture decoder which decodes the input coded still picture data for playback, into decoded still picture data;    a video decoder which decodes the input coded motion picture data for playback, into decoded motion picture data;    a picture-in-picture processor which generates picture-in-picture frame data on the basis of said decoded still picture data delivered from said still picture decoder, said decoded motion picture data delivered from said video decoder and said digital picture data delivered from said analog-to-digital converter; said picture-in-picture frame data forming a picture-in-picture frame which concerns at least two of said decoded still picture data, said decoded motion picture data and said digital picture data; and    a digital-to-analog converter which converts said picture-in-picture frame data generated by said picture-in-picture processor, into the output analog picture signal, and which delivers said output analog picture signal.    
     
     
         2 . A picture codec IC, comprising the picture codec as defined in  claim 1 , which is built in as an integrated circuit.  
     
     
         3 . A picture codec as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said picture-in-picture processor includes: 
 a still-picture frame memory which stores therein said decoded still picture data delivered from said still picture decoder;    a video frame memory which stores therein said decoded motion picture data delivered from said video decoder;    a self-picture frame memory which stores therein said digital picture data delivered from said analog-to-digital converter;    fetch control means for fetching the picture data items for said picture-in-picture frame to-be-formed, from the corresponding ones of said frame memories in accordance with a display timing of said picture-in-picture frame to-be-formed; and    multiplex means for multiplexing said picture data items fetched by said fetch control means and then delivering the multiplexed picture data.    
     
     
         4 . A teleconference terminal equipment, comprising: 
 the picture codec as defined in  claim 1;     a communication control unit which transmits either of said coded still picture data and said coded motion picture data delivered from said picture codec, through a digital communication channel, and which receives either of said coded still picture data for playback and said coded motion picture data for playback through said digital communication channel and then delivers the received picture data to said picture codec;    a camera which delivers the analog picture signal to said picture codec; and    a display unit which displays a picture indicated by said output analog picture signal of said picture codec.    
     
     
         5 . A camera codec as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said still picture coder performs the coding in accordance with coding rules which conform to the JPEG algorithm of the ISO Standard, said still picture decoder performs the decoding in accordance with decoding rules which conform to said JPEG algorithm of said ISO Standard, said video coder performs the coding in accordance with coding rules which conform to CCITT Recommendation H. 261, and said video decoder performs the decoding in accordance with decoding rules which conform to said CCITT Recommendation H. 261.  
     
     
         6 . A teleconference terminal equipment as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said still picture coder performs the coding in accordance with coding rules which conform to the JPEG algorithm of the ISO Standard, said still picture decoder performs the decoding in accordance with decoding rules which conform to said JPEG algorithm of said ISO Standard, said video coder performs the coding in accordance with coding rules which conform to CCITT Recommendation H. 261, and said video decoder performs the decoding in accordance with decoding rules which conform to said CCITT Recommendation H. 261.  
     
     
         7 . A teleconference terminal equipment for exchanging pictures and video of a plurality of persons in real time through a digital communication channel, comprising: 
 communication control means for transmitting and receiving multiplexed video data and audio data through said digital communication channel;    multiplex/demultiplex means for multiplexing and demultiplexing the video 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 video data to said multiplex/demultiplex means;    a camera which includes a wide-angle lens, and which supplies said picture codec with a picture signal of a picked-up picture as the picture signal to-be-coded;    a display unit which displays a picture indicated by the picture signal decoded by said picture codec;    an audio codec which decodes a speech signal from 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 loudspeaker which emits speech based on said speech signal decoded by said audio codec; and    a housing in which said communication control means, said multiplex/demultiplex means, said picture codec, said camera, said display unit, said audio codec and said loudspeaker are housed, and which has a size permitting said teleconference terminal equipment to be placed on a desk.    
     
     
         8 . A teleconference terminal equipment as defined in  claim 7 , comprising an echo canceler which cancels an echo having developed between said input speech signal to-be-coded and the output decoded speech signal to said loudspeaker, and which is also housed in said housing.  
     
     
         9 . A teleconference terminal equipment as defined in  claim 7 , comprising an echo suppressor which suppresses a selected one of the output of the decoded speech signal to said loudspeaker and the input of said speech signal to-be-coded to said audio codec, and which is also housed in said housing.  
     
     
         10 . A video information equipment, comprising a body in which, at least, a camera and a display unit are housed, a base which supports said body, and a console which includes a plurality of key switches; wherein said body is connected above said base through a tilt/swivel mechanism so as to be vertically and horizontally turnable by predetermined angles relative to said base, and said console is pivotally mounted on said base under said tilt/swivel mechanism so as to be horizontally turnable relative to said base.  
     
     
         11 . A document photographing stand, comprising a work surface for placing a document thereon, a camera which photographs said work surface, a link which connects said camera with said work surface and supports said camera, and an illuminator which is embedded in either of a central position and a corner position of an area of said work surface to be photographed by said camera.  
     
     
         12 . A document photographing stand, comprising a work surface for placing a document thereon, a camera which photographs said work surface, and a link which connects said camera with said work surface and supports said camera; wherein said camera is connected to said link so as to be turnable from its position for photographing said work surface in a direction perpendicular to said work surface, to its position capable of photographing in a direction parallel to said work surface.  
     
     
         13 . 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, and a camera which is pivotally mounted on said upper link; 
 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; and    said camera is turnable relative to said upper link to its angle capable of photographing said work surface in a direction perpendicular to said work surface, at said position at which said camera is supported above said work surface; and    wherein said lower link is turnable relative to said work surface, up to a position at which it overlies said work surface;    said upper link is turnable relative to said lower link, up to a position at which it overlies said lower link in said direction perpendicular to said work surface, in a state in which said lower link overlies said work surface; and    said camera is turnable relative to said upper link, up to a position at which it overlies said upper link in said direction perpendicular to said work surface, in a state in which said lower link overlies said work surface and in which said upper link overlies said lower link.    
     
     
         14 . A teleconference system, comprising a teleconference terminal equipment, a console which remote-controls said teleconference terminal equipment, the document photographing stand as defined in  claim 12 , which supplies said teleconference terminal equipment with a picture signal of a photographed picture as a first possible transmission picture signal, a microphone which supplies said teleconference terminal equipment with a speech signal as a speech signal to-be-coded, and a blackboard which is arranged facing said document photographing stand in said direction parallel to said work surface, said camera of said document photographing stand being capable of photographing in the parallel direction; 
 said teleconference terminal equipment including: 
 communication control means for transmitting and receiving multiplexed video data and audio data through a digital communication channel;  
 multiplex/demultiplex means for multiplexing and demultiplexing the video 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 video data to said multiplex/demultiplex means;  
 a built-in camera which includes a wide-angle lens, and which delivers a picture signal of a picked-up picture as a second possible transmission picture signal;  
 a display unit which displays a picture indicated by the picture signal decoded by said picture codec;  
 a transmission picture selector which selects either of said first possible transmission picture signal supplied from said document photographing stand or said second possible transmission picture signal delivered from said built-in camera, and which delivers the selected picture signal as said picture signal to-be-coded;  
 an audio codec which decodes a speech signal from 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 loudspeaker which emits speech based on said speech signal decoded by said audio codec; and  
 a housing in which said communication control means, said multiplex/demultiplex means, said picture codec, said built-in camera, said display unit, said audio codec, said transmission picture selector and said loudspeaker are housed, and which has a size permitting said teleconference terminal equipment to be placed on a desk.  
   
     
     
         15 . A teleconference terminal equipment as defined in  claim 7 , comprising means for offering a graphic user interface for operating said teleconference terminal equipment, through said display unit, wherein the graphic user interface offering means is also housed in said housing.  
     
     
         16 . A video information equipment as defined in  claim 10 , comprising: 
 communication control means for transmitting and receiving multiplexed video data and audio data through a digital communication channel;    multiplex/demultiplex means for respectively multiplexing and demultiplexing the video data and the audio data to be transmitted by said communication control means and having been received by the same;    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 video data to said multiplex/demultiplex means;    an audio codec which decodes a speech signal from 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; and    a loudspeaker which emits speech based on said speech signal decoded by said audio codec;    wherein said camera includes a wide-angle lens, and it supplies said picture codec with a picture signal of a picked-up picture as the picture signal to-be-coded;    said display unit displays a picture indicated by the picture signal decoded by said picture codec; and    said communication control means, said multiplex/demultiplex means, said picture codec, said audio codec and said loudspeaker are also housed in said body.    
     
     
         17 . A teleconference terminal equipment as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said digital communication channel is one which is offered by a basic interface of an ISDN.  
     
     
         18 . A teleconference terminal equipment for realizing a teleconference in which pictures and speech of a plurality of persons are exchanged in real time through a digital communication channel, comprising: 
 communication control means for transmitting and receiving communication frames through said digital communication channel, said each communication frame being capable of containing video data, audio data, user data and control data;    multiplex/demultiplex means for multiplexing and demultiplexing the video data, audio data, user data and control data of each communication frame to be, respectively, transmitted and received by said communication control means;    a picture codec which decodes a picture signal from said video data demultiplexed from within said communication frame 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 video data to said multiplex/demultiplex means;    a camera which includes a wide-angle lens, and which supplies said picture codec with a picture signal of a picked-up picture as the picture signal to be-coded;    a display unit which displays a picture indicated by the picture signal decoded by said picture codec;    an audio codec which decodes a speech signal from said audio data demultiplexed from within said communication frame 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 loudspeaker which emits speech based on said speech signal decoded by said audio codec;    an echo canceler which cancels an echo having developed between said input speech signal to-be-coded and the output decoded speech signal to said loudspeaker;    data control means for externally supplying at least part of at least either of said user data or said control data demultiplexed by said multiplex/demultiplex means, and for supplying said multiplex/demultiplex means with external input data as either of said user data or said control data to be multiplexed by said multiplex/demultiplex means; 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 echo canceler and said data control means are housed, and which has a size permitting said teleconference terminal equipment to be placed on a desk.