Apparatus and method for converting control information

Abstract

Picture and speech communication between plural terminals connected to different networks, such as a circuit-switched network and IP network. A converting apparatus 400 for control information or media information for picture/speech communications is provided across first and second terminals 301, 302 connected to respective different types of networks. Converting apparatus 400 includes control information converter 420, transcoder 450 and ability information converter 460. In case the ability information extracted from the decoding information, received from the first terminal 301, is not coincident to the ability information extracted from the call control information received from the second terminal 302, it is further checked whether or not there is picture format size coincidence. If the picture format size coincidence persists in one direction, processing is carried out for converting part of the decoding information or the control information, without causing the operations of the transcoder. In case there is no picture format size coincidence, the transcoder 450 is booted to convert the bitstream.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for converting control information or of the media information for picture/speech communication between first and second terminals connected to respective different types of networks, comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive, from the first terminal through a first type of network, first decoding information; 
 a converter for effecting converting processing in a first direction for convertingconvert first decoding information acquired through the first type of network from said first terminal into first call control information;  
 to outputtransmit, through a second different type of network, the resulting first call control information to said second terminal; and 
 receive, from the second terminal through the second different type of network, second call control information;  
 for effecting converting processing in a second direction for convertingconvert second call control information acquired through the second different type of network from said second terminal into second decoding information;  
 to outputtransmit the resulting second decoding information to said first terminal through the first type of network, wherein 
 at least Decoder Configuration Information DCI is received as the decoding information from said first terminal employing MPEG-4 as a system for encoding a moving picture for compression the first decoding information is Decoder Configuration Information (DCI) based on an MPEG-4 standard, and the DCI is converted into the first call control information. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A method for converting control information or media information for picture/speech communication between first and second terminals connected to respective different types of networks, comprising:
 receiving, from the first terminal through a first type of network, first decoding information; 
 a first converting step of a converting apparatus, provided between said terminals, for converting the first decoding information, acquired through the first type of network from said first terminal, into first call control information,;  
 to outputtransmitting, through a second different type of network, the resulting first call control information to said second terminal; and 
 receiving, from the second terminal through the second different type of network, second call control information; 
 a second converting step of said converting apparatus, for converting the second call control information acquired through the second different type of network from said second terminal, into the second decoding information,;  
 to outputtransmitting the resulting second decoding information to said first terminal through the first type of network, wherein 
 at least the Decoder Configuration Information DCI is received as the decoding information from said first terminal employing MPEG-4 as a system for encoding a moving picture for compressionthe first decoding information is Decoder Configuration Information (DCI) based on an MPEG-4 standard, and the DCI is converted into the first call control information.