KR0126889B1 - Cd-1 with video phone punction - Google Patents

Abstract

An interactive compact disc apparatus having a video phone function is disclosed. The interactive compact disc apparatus has a base system(CD-i decoder)(12) being capable of processing an audio information and a video information on a block-by-block basis. A camera(18) is connected to the base system(12) to provide a video signal. A voice inputting apparatus(19) is connected to the base system(12) to provide a voice signal. The base system(12) comprises a video signal processing unit and an audio signal processing unit.

Description

Interactive Compact Disc Device with Video Phone

1 is a schematic block diagram of an interactive compact disc apparatus having a videophone function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the CD-i decoder including the video phone function of the interactive compact disc apparatus with the video phone function shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operating system for realizing a videophone function provided in the interactive compact disc apparatus shown in FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: CD player 11: disc

12: base unit (CD-i decoder) 13: user interface

14 television monitor 18 imaging device

19: voice input device 20: communication channel

21: CPU 23: nonvolatile RAM

25: CD control unit 26: decoder

28: video decoder 40: cell

41: kernel

The present invention relates to an interactive compact disc device having a video phone function, and more particularly, to an interactive compact disc device providing various information by a menu method, which is captured by a video camera with support of a graphical user interface (GUI) environment. The present invention relates to an interactive compact disc apparatus having a video phone function for processing an image and displaying the image on a screen of a television monitor.

At present, as a result of a study for adding a function as an audio / video medium to enable the output of video information on a compact disc containing audio information, a so-called 'interactive compact disc device' (CD-interactive; Is called a CD-i device).

According to such a CD-i device, it is possible to support audio signals and natural images not handled by a computer. In general, data handled by a CD-i device is recorded in units of CD-i blocks. In view of this, a wide range of applications are considered for CD-i devices, and a menu of all information fields that can be provided for CD-i is connected to the CD-i device as a screen output device. Displayed on an active television monitor allows the user to select a desired block of information, and the menued information field is selected by, for example, a mouse, a joystick or a remote control input device. It can be optimally used as a home, educational information medium.

That is, the fields that can be provided by the CD-i device as the information carrier include entertainment, music playback by still images and caption processing, various kinds of games, travel guides, animations, etc. As for the information, the dictionary includes a voice guide, an encyclopedia, a family medicine book, a home study, a mail order catalog, a phone book, and the like, and a vehicle includes a navigation map or traffic information.

In general, the CD-i device is a base device or CD-i decoder called 'Green Book' which controls the overall operation for providing various information, and a CD player, base device for playing CDs. A screen output device (television monitor) that outputs information processed by the system. A user interface for selecting menu type information displayed on the screen output device, for example, a mouse, a joystick or a remote controller, and an amplifier for amplifying an audio signal provided by a base device. A voice output device (speaker, etc.) for reproduction is provided.

The base unit of the CD-i device is equipped with a function of processing video signals and audio signals necessary for various applications, and an operating system for processing such video signals and audio signals is installed in the CD-i device. It is pre-programmed and provided in a read only memory. Thus, although such applications are possible from music to electronic publishing as described above, such CD-i devices are expected to be developed for such applications in order to add more extended functions to the CD-i devices. to be.

For example, in a video phone that transmits an image from a long distance through a communication channel, for example, a still image or a moving image is captured and displayed on a monitor equipped with the video phone. Such a video phone generally includes a video camera for capturing an image. It consists of a monitor which reproduces the image picked up by the video camera. According to such a video phone, there is a disadvantage that the monitor displaying the image picked up by the video camera is not only small but also low in resolution.

Therefore, in the present invention, the video signal processing function provided in the CD-i apparatus and the output device for outputting the processed video signal are assumed to implement the video phone function using a television monitor.

That is, an object of the present invention is to compress and process a video signal captured from a video camera to a CD-i device capable of providing a variety of information by the MPEG (Motion Picture Expert Group) method, and then processed by the television monitor. It is to provide an interactive compact disc with a video phone function so that the video phone function is well realized.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a base apparatus for processing the video information and audio information recorded in block units, the video information and audio information in the block unit based on a predetermined operating system as a menu selection method. An interactive compact disc device configured to provide an image, comprising: an image pickup device for capturing an image to the base device to provide a video signal, and a voice input device capable of inputting a voice signal (and exchange of the video signal and an audio signal); A communication channel for connection and a communication device for connection are connected, the base unit compresses the video signal captured by the imaging device through a predetermined moving image compression algorithm when the menu of the video phone function is selected, and the compressed video signal is A first video to be transmitted to a counterpart video phone via a communication device and the communication channel; A first audio processing means for compressing an audio signal input through the audio processing device and the audio signal inputted through the voice input device, so that the compressed audio signal is transmitted to the opposite video phone through the communication device and the communication channel; And second audio processing means for restoring (decoding) the audio signal input via the modem, and outputting the audio signal through a speaker, and restoring the video signal input via the communication channel and the modem. There is provided an interactive compact disc apparatus having a videophone function comprising (decoding) second video processing means for outputting the video signal to a television monitor.

Preferably, according to the present invention, the image pickup device includes a video camera or a CCD image pickup device, the voice input device includes a microphone or a telephone receiver, and the video phone function is executed in a menu selection manner by a user under a GUI environment. It is executed upon selection from an input device that is output on the television monitor and input through the user interface.

The file management level, the device drive level, and the device descriptor level, which constitute an operating system provided in the base apparatus, are processed and exchanged between the video signal and the audio signal. Function to control is added.

According to the interactive compact disc device (CD-i device) having the video phone function according to the present invention configured as described above, the video signal and audio signal processing system is selected when the video phone function is selected for the base device constituting the CD-i device. In this case, the video signal of the image captured by the video camera and the audio signal input from the audio input device are compressed and transmitted, while the received video signal and the audio signal are reconstructed to reproduce the original video signal and the audio signal. The video phone function displayed on the television monitor is enabled.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention will be described in detail.

1 is a block diagram of an interactive compact disc device (CD-i device) having a videophone function to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 10 shows audio information and / or video from a CD or CD-i disc 11; A CD player for reproducing information, and 12 is a base device or CD-i decoder for processing information reproduced from the CD or CD-i disc 11 by the CD player 10, and in the corresponding CD-i device. It controls the operation of processing the information of the menu on the basis of a predetermined operating system for the menu selection function and the selected menu for the various information provided.

13 is a user in charge of interfacing with an input device such as, for example, a mouse, a joystick, or a remote control, which is assigned to the user to enable operations such as selection of a menu for the information provided by the base device 12. Interface 14, which outputs a screen of information provided by the base apparatus 12 in response to an input for selecting a videophone function, for example, applied via a user interface 13 from an input apparatus such as a mouse or a remote controller. It is a television monitor.

15 is an audio amplifying unit which amplifies the audio information processed by the base apparatus 12 and provides it to the left and right audio output devices (speakers) 16 and 17 for reproduction. An imaging device 18 is provided in accordance with the present invention for capturing an image and outputting a video signal. Preferably, the imaging device 18 is composed of a video camera or a CCD imaging device. 19 is a voice input device for inputting an audio signal when performing the video phone function, and preferably comprises a microphone device or a telephone receiver. Further, in the interactive compact disc apparatus having a BIO phone function according to the present invention, the base apparatus 12 is inputted by a video signal captured by the imaging device 18 and by the audio input device 19. A built-in modem (FAX MODEM) 12a connected to a telephone line 20 that provides a communication channel for the video signal and the audio signal to transmit an audio signal or to receive an external video signal and an audio signal from a counterpart video phone. Video signals and audio signals inputted from the imaging device 18 and the audio input device 19 to be transmitted to the other party through the communication channel 20 by the telephone line or from the other videophone. You will receive a signal.

According to the CD-i device configured as described above, a video signal and an audio signal are included in a menu of various information which can be provided to the corresponding CD-i device displayed on the television monitor 14 under the control of the operating system of the base device 12. A selection for a videophone function for transmission or reception via 12a is included, and a user interface from a menu displayed on the television monitor 14 for such videophone function using an input device such as a mouse or a remote control, for example. Device 13, and when the video phone function is selected, the television monitor 14 displays an item related to transmission or reception of a video signal and an audio signal for selection by the input device again. To the image pickup device 18 and the audio input device 19 when the video signal and audio signal are transmitted. While the video signal and audio signal inputted through the modem 12a and the communication channel 20 are transmitted to the other side, the video phone and the video signal transmitted through the communication channel 20 when the video signal and the audio signal are received. The video and audio signals under the function are reproduced by the television monitor 14 and the speakers 16 and 17.

That is, the image pickup device 18 and the audio input device 19 to which the video signal and the audio signal to be transmitted through the communication channel 20 are inputted to the base device 12, while the base device 12 is connected. The video signal captured by the image pickup device 18 and the audio signal input from the voice input device 19 are transmitted to the opposite video phone through the communication channel 20 or through the communication channel 20. A modem 12a is provided for receiving video signals and audio signals from the opposing video phone. In addition, the video phone function is realized by selection from an input device applied through the user interface 13 by adding a video phone function to the menu displayed on the television monitor 14 from the base device 12. Will be done. In addition, for such a video phone function, the video phone function is activated in response to a menu selection for a video phone function from an input device in the CDRTOS (Compact Disc Real-Time Operating System) built in the base unit 12. Adds a system call for processing in one block unit, and exchanges video and audio signals in the videophone function at the file management level, device drive level, and device descriptor level of the operating system. The system application is created by modifying and adding the function for.

Thus, the video and audio signals inputted from the image pickup device 18 and the audio input device 19 at the time of transmission of the video signal and the audio signal in the video phone function by such a configuration are provided in the predetermined CD-i. After compression by an algorithm, for example, an MPEG compression algorithm, it is transmitted to the other party's video phone via the communication channel 20 through the modem 12a. On the other hand, for the video signal and the audio signal transmitted from the counterpart video phone through the communication channel 20, the television monitor 14 is decoded by the reconstruction processing method corresponding to the compression algorithm in the corresponding CD-i device. And output from the speaker (16, 17).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a processing system of a video signal and an audio signal including a video phone function in the base apparatus (i.e., CD-i decoder) 12 shown in FIG. A central processing unit (CPU) 21 for performing compressed digital signal processing or decoding digital signal processing of a video signal and an audio signal transmitted or received under the function of a video phone while controlling the overall operation of the CD-i device; Non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) 22 storing the CD-i operating system (CDRTOS) described with reference to FIG. 1, and a compact disc interface chip 23 for interfacing with the CD player 10. It is comprised. In addition, the base apparatus 12 has an MPEG for decoding the audio signal in an MPEG manner while forming an audio system for processing the audio signal from the CD or CD-i disc 11 reproduced by the CD player 10. An audio decoder 24 and a digital-to-analog converter 25 for analog-converting audio signals decoded by the MPEG audio decoder 24 to be reproduced through the speakers 16 and 17 are provided. -i analog conversion of the video signal decoded by the video decoder 26 of the moving picture decoder 26 which forms a video system for processing the video signal from the disc 11 and decodes the video signal in full motion video (FMV). A digital-to-analog converter 14 is provided for playback via the television monitor 14.

In addition, the base apparatus 12 includes an analog-to-digital converter 28 and a digital-to-digital converter 28 for digitally converting video signals captured and input from the imaging device 18 when the video phone function is selected. A video encoder 29 for compressing a digitally converted video signal based on a video compression algorithm stored in a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) DRAM 30, and an analog for digitally converting an audio signal input from the audio input device 19. An audio encoder 32 for compressing the audio signal digitally converted by the digital converter 31 and its analog-to-digital converter 31, and an audio signal compressed by the moving picture encoder 29 and the audio encoder 32 And a modem 12a connected to the communication channel 20 for transmitting an audio signal or receiving a video signal and an audio signal transmitted from an opposite video phone. A serial port IC 33 connected by an RS232C cable is provided.

According to the present invention, the audio system and the video system for processing audio signals and video signals from the CD or CD-i disk 11 are connected to the modem 12a via the communication channel 20 under the video phone function. The video signal and the audio signal from the counterpart video phone input through the video signal are restored.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operating system including a video phone function provided in the nonvolatile RAM 23. The cell generating internal commands in response to an input from an input device through a user interface 13 is illustrated in FIG. Shell (40), Kernel (41) responsible for managing calls to the system, I / O control, interrupt management, etc., and the directory programmatically connected to the kernel (41) to configure the operating system. A file management level 42 representing a program for the device, a device drive level 43 and a device descriptor level 44 to which a peripheral device connected to the CD-i device is connected; The memory management level (NR M) and the moving picture management level (MP M) for managing the contents of the nonvolatile memory, and the video phone management level (VP M) according to the present invention. The device drive level 43 includes a memory device drive level (NVRAM D), a moving picture decoder device drive level (FMV D), and a video phone associated with driving the device by the file management level 42. A device drive level (PHONE D) and a moving picture encoder device drive level (FMV D), and the like, wherein the device descriptor level 44 controls the actual driving of the device based on the device drive level 43. Descriptor level (NVRAM) and audio decoder decoder level (MPEG AUD), moving picture descriptor level (FMV DEC), network device descriptor level (T1, T2) for controlling the exchange of information via the serial port IC 33, Video encoder device descriptor level (FMV ENC) and audio encoder device descriptor (AUD ENC) .

Next, an operation of the interactive compact disc apparatus having a facsimile function according to the present invention configured as described above will be described.

First, a corresponding CD-i having a facsimile function on the television monitor 14 under the control of the CPU 21 constituting the base apparatus 12 by a start command from an input apparatus provided via the user interface 13. When a menu of various information that can be provided to the device is outputted, and a user selects a menu through the user interface 13 by a mouse or a remote control based on such output, the selected menu is displayed on the CD or CD-i. In the case of an input related to a video signal and an audio signal recorded on the disk 11, the CPU 21 stores the file management level 42 and the device drive based on the operating system shown in FIG. 3 stored in the nonvolatile RAM 23. The CD-i device included in the level 43 and the device descriptor level 44 is driven. In this case, the CD controller 10 is driven by the DC controller. The information of the selected menu from the CD or CD -i disk 11 is read.

The audio signal of the read-out information is decoded by the MPEG audio decoder 24 through the CDIC 23 under the control of the CD control unit 25 and then analog-converted by the digital-analog converter 25 so that the speakers 16 and 17 The video signal of the read-out information is decoded by the moving picture decoder 26 and then analog-converted by the digital-analog converter 27 and provided to the television monitor 14 for reproduction.

On the other hand, when the field of information supported by the CD-i device on the television monitor 14 is displayed in the form of a menu, the input from the user interface 13 is a menu for the videophone function (e.g., VIDEO PHONE). Is selected, the video screen for selecting an item related to the videophone function is displayed on the television monitor 14, and a window screen for inputting the call number of the videophone is displayed. Dialing is enabled. In such a state, the video signal picked up by the imaging device 18 is digitally converted by the analog-to-digital converter 28 and subjected to MPEG compression processing by the moving picture encoder 29. In addition, the audio signal input from the voice input device 19 is digitally converted by the analog-to-digital converter 31 and then compressed in the same manner as the compression of the video signal by the audio encoder 32. The compressed video signal and the audio signal are transmitted via the serial port IC 33 as an RS232C serial signal from the modem 12A through the communication channel 20 to the counterpart video phone.

On the other hand, the serial port IC 33 requests an interrupt to the CPU 21 in response to a call ring signal upon reception from the other party's video phone or a call signal input via the communication channel 20 during operation of the CD-i device. Upon recognition of the interrupt, an audio signal is output to indicate the state that the call signal of the video phone has arrived.

Accordingly, the user selects the video phone function by menu selection under the GUI environment of the CD-i device. Then, the video signal input through the communication channel 20 is subjected to MPEG restoration by the moving picture decoder 26. A digital conversion is then performed on the analog-to-analog converter 27 and displayed on the television monitor 14. The received audio signal is reconstructed by the audio decoder 24 similarly to the video signal, and then converted into an analog signal by the digital-analog converter 25 and reproduced through the speakers 16 and 17. . Therefore, the video signal and the audio signal are exchanged under the video phone function set in the CD-i device.

As described above, according to the present invention, by adding a video phone function to the interactive compact disc device, compression and transmission of the video signal and the audio signal input through the image capturing device and the audio input device are possible, and through a communication channel. Since the video signal and audio signal from the opposite video phone being received can be recovered, the field and function of the CD-i device can be extended.

Claims (6)

And a base unit (CD-i decoder; 12) for processing video information and audio information recorded in block units, and configured to provide video information and audio information in block units in a menu selection method based on a predetermined operating system. In the compact disc device (CD-i device), an image pickup device 18 which picks up an image with respect to the base device 12 and provides a video signal, a voice input device 19 capable of inputting a voice signal, and A communication device 12A for connection with a communication channel 20 for exchanging said video signal and an audio signal is connected; The base apparatus 12 compresses a video signal captured by the imaging device 18 through a predetermined moving image compression algorithm when selecting a menu of a video phone function so that the compressed video signal is compressed with the communication device 12a. First video processing means (28,29) and the audio signal input through the voice input device (19) to be transmitted to the other party's video phone via the communication channel (20). First audio processing means (31,32) for transmitting to the opposite video phone through the communication device (12a) and the communication channel 20, the audio signal input via the communication channel 20 and the modem (12a) Is input via the second audio processing means 24 and 25 and the communication channel 20 and the modem 12a to restore (decode) the audio signal to output the audio signal through the speakers 16 and 17. Reconstruct (decode) the video signal And a second video processing means (27) for outputting a video signal to the television monitor (14). The interactive compact with a videophone function according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup device (18) comprises a video camera or a CCD image pickup device, and the voice input device (19) comprises a microphone or a telephone receiver. Disk device. 2. The videophone function according to claim 1, wherein the videophone function is executed upon selection from an input device which is output on the television monitor 14 and is input through the user interface 13 in a GUI environment so as to be executed in a menu selection manner by the user. Interactive Compact Disc Device with Video Phone Feature The device drive level 43 and the device descriptor level 44 constituting the operating system provided in the base apparatus 12 are added with a function for controlling the processing and exchange of video and audio signals. Interactive compact disc device with a video phone function characterized in that the above. The video encoder according to claim 1, wherein said first video processing means (28, 29) comprises: an analog-to-digital converter (28) for digitally converting the imaging device (18), and a moving picture encoder for compressing the digitally converted video signal. Consisting of 29; The first video processing means (26, 27) includes a video decoder (26) for decoding a video compressed video signal input through the communication channel (12a), and a television monitor by analog converting the decoded video signal. An interactive compact disc apparatus with a videophone function, comprising a digital-to-analog converter 27 applied to (14). 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first audio processing means (31, 32) converts the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter (31) for digitally converting the audio signal input from the voice input device (19). And an audio encoder 32 for compressing with a compression algorithm. The second audio processing means 24 and 25 are configured to receive an MPEG compressed audio signal input through the communication channel 20 and the modem 12a. MPEG compact audio decoder 24 to decode, and analog-to-digital converter 25 for converting the decoded audio signal to the speaker (16, 17) is an interactive compact with a video phone function Disk device.