DE3722954A1 - Telephone communication system for transmitting/receiving hand-written image signals - Google Patents

Abstract

Telephone communication system which is suitable for simultaneously transmitting/receiving a hand-written image signal and an audio signal and which exhibits a transmitting section which is formed by an image signal input device for generating an image signal in correspondence with information of an image which is drawn by a user, a colour designating device for generating a colour designation signal which indicates a colour of the drawn image, a modulating device for modulating the image signal by synthesising the image signal and the colour designation signal, and a memory for storing the modulated image signal. The stored image signal is read by the memory and output to a telephone line. The telephone communication system also exhibits a receiving section which exhibits a separating device for receiving the audio signal and the modulated image signal from the telephone line in order to separate the image signal therefrom, a demodulation device for demodulating the separated image signal, and a colour printer for printing the image information with the designated colour in accordance with the demodulated image signal and the colour designation signal which is contained in the image signal.

Description

The present invention relates to a communication system, for simultaneous and bilateral transfer supply of sound information and picture information by tele is capable of telephone management, and relates in particular to a system which displays the image information with any given color show and save the image information.

The communication system of the present invention is with equipped with a function that a sound transmission is added, d. H. a function of transferring the information mation of a handwritten image using a sound Transmission line or telephone line. This communicati on system differs from a facsimile machine (facsimile) in that the former send image information and / or can receive the characters and / or figures points, drawn or written by a user and sending or receiving the image information can happen simultaneously with the sound information.

The type of communication system described above will Teletype called. A communica design standard cation procedure of the teleprinter is shown in "Report of Investigation and Research on Telewriting", which by teletype investigation and Research Committee was published by the Japan Ministry of Post was convened on April 17, 1985.  

A graphic input device based on a remote image is applicable, is open in JP-A-60-1 11 564 Beard turned on by Tokyo Denki K.K. on November 21, 1983 was enough.

An object of the present invention is to provide a to create objective device through which an image Telegraph can be realized to the standard is adapted, which in the above-mentioned examination and research report was shown. In particular, poses The present invention provides a teleprinter supply that has not yet been proposed, d. i.e., one Teletype machine, which is a hard copy of a paper Color image can be obtained, and the color image can be saved.

For this purpose, a transmission section of the fiction system: An image signal input device for Generation of an image signal in accordance with the In formation of an image drawn by a user is a color designator for generating a Color label signal that is a color of the drawn Displays a modulation device for Syntheti sieren of the image signal and the color designation signal to modulate the image signal, a storage device for Storing the modulated image signal, and a device to read the picture signal to send it to the telephone line give. A receiving section of the system has: A Device for receiving a sound signal and the modulator th image signal from the telephone line to the image signal separate from a device for demodulating the obtained image signal, and a multi-color printing device to print the image information with the designated color in accordance with the demodulated image signal and the Color designation signal contained in the image signal is.  

By sending and receiving the image information with a A variety of different colors allows communication system of the present invention the transmission of a larger amount of information compared to a mono chromatic printer. Furthermore, the present communication tion system can store the image information, it can same information any number of times to one Send a variety of different receptions. The addition of these functions becomes the area of use of the communica expansion system.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention result from the following Description of exemplary embodiments in connection with the Drawing.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a Anschlussvor direction of a communication system according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view for explaining an example of the transmission method applicable to the communication system of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a circuit block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the connector of the communication system of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the communication system of the present invention.

Fig. 5 through 9 show flow diagrams for the detailed state ment operation of the communication system of the present invention.

An embodiment of a communication system of the vorlie invention is described below with reference to FIGS . 1 and 2.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a connection device of the communication system according to the present invention. The communication terminal system includes a telephone set 2 , a controller 1 for controlling the processing of a sound signal and an image signal in a separate manner, an image input unit 3 such as an electromagnetic coupling type tablet for inputting a handwritten image, and an image recording voltage unit 4 , for example a color plotter printer for printing the image.

If a user wants to send a drawing to a receiver while communicating with the receiver, the user first presses an image transfer switch 12 indicating an image send mode and then turns on an image display switch 8 to change the type of color to be printed to choose. When the drawing is drawn on the image input unit 3 by means of a pen 6 , the drawn drawing is printed on a roll paper 5 with a designated color by a print head 10 while being sent to the recipient through a telephone line 9 . In a similar union device on the receiver side, an image signal of the transmitted drawing is processed by a control unit 1 , so that the drawing is printed out on paper 5 in an image recording unit 4 . The recipient can also send another drawing back. In this case, both drawings are printed on paper 5 . In Fig. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a memory copy switch for drawing image information stored in a memory to be mentioned later as a paper copy on the image recording unit 4 . Reference numeral 11 represents a memory clear switch for clearing the image information stored in the memory.

A transmission method used in the embodiment of the present invention may be a frequency division multiplexing method as shown in FIG. 2. This method is advantageous in that an image signal can be transmitted without changing the existing frequency band. For example, if the frequency transmission bandwidth of the telephone line is 0.3 to 3.4 KHz, as in the general telephone subscriber line, part of the bandwidth or a range of 1.6 to 1.9 KHz is allocated to the picture signal and the image signal is inserted in this area in a frequency-modulated manner.

Fig. 3 shows a circuit block diagram of the communication system according to the Invention. The controller 1 performs communication control for encoding information of a handwritten image to be sent and decoding received handwritten image information, controlling the operations of the image input unit 3, 6 (including the tablet and pen) and the image recording unit (Color plotter printer) 4 , and mode control based on signals from the color designation switch 8 , the memory copy switch 7 , the memory clear switch 11 and the image transfer switch 12 . The control unit 1 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 13 , a read-only memory (ROM) 14 in which a control program is stored, a free access memory (RAM) 15 for storing the coded handwritten image signals, a modulating and demodulating Circuit 16 , an interface 17 for performing the signal conversion between the image recording unit 4 , the image input unit 3 and the CPU 13 , a changeover relay 18 , and a hook circuit 19 . The modulating and demodulating circuit 16 consists of a modem 16-1 for modulating an image signal, which is transmitted from the RAM 15 by the CPU 13 , into an analog signal and for demodulating an image signal from the telephone line 9 into a digital signal, and a bandpass elimination filter (BEF) 16-2 and bandpass filter (BPF) 16-3 for separating a synthesized signal from sound and image signals into the audio signal and the image signal. The CPU 13 is composed of a microprocessor 13-1 and a parallel / serial conversion circuit 13-2 for converting a parallel signal into a serial signal. In a state in which the relay 18 is not activated, the system assumes a communication mode of "only sound", wobie the Telefonappa rat 2 and the telephone line 9 are connected by contacts 18 a . When the relay switch is overturned b in the contacts 18, the system takes up a communication mode of both "audio" and "image". When the handset of the telephone set 2 is picked up, the hook circuit 19 detects a direct current flowing through the associated telephone line to detect the start of a transmission or reception operation.

The encoding and decoding of handwritten image signals is carried out in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 14 . A zone coding method can be used as the coding method, which is described in the "Report of Investigation and Research about Telewriting" mentioned above. The zone encoding method is a type of predictive encoding system in which data from coordinate values corresponding to the movement or traces of the pen on the tablet are encoded in a compressed form. Further details of the zone coding process can be found in the "Report of Investment and Research" mentioned above. The image recording unit 4 draws a handwritten image in the image input unit 3 or an image corresponding to an image signal sent through the telephone line 9 onto a recording paper 5 by a pen of a color designated by the color designation switch 8 . The printhead 10 is equipped with a variety of pens of different colors. A known color plotter printer can be used for the image recording unit 4 . The image is printed on the paper 5 in such a way that the print head 10 is moved in a transverse direction of Fig. 1 by a head or pen carriage (not shown) while the paper 5 is moved in a longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the image recording unit 4 may be an ink jet printer, an ink dot printer or a thermal transfer printer in which multi-color printing is possible. A known electromagnetic coupling type tablet can be used for the image input unit 3 which generates an image drawn on its surface by the pen 6 in the form of a signal representing the development of coordinate values.

The color designation switch 8 is provided to select a large number of colors. When a desired color is selected by the color designation switch 8 , the CPU 13 generates a selection signal representative of the selected color on the print head 10 of the image recording unit 4 and further generates a color designation command which is then used for synthesis is encoded with the image signal.

The RAM 15 stores a signal drawn in the image input unit 3 and encoded in the CPU 13 . The stored content of the RAM 15 can be deleted by the memory clear switch 11 .

Next, the control program stored in the ROM 14 will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.

In an original state, when a power supply of the communication system is switched on, the contacts of the relay 18 are or remain connected to positions 18 a . The memory subroutine is executed next. The image input by the memory input unit 3 can be stored in the RAM 15 by this program. More details will be explained later. Next, the hook circuit 19 detects picking up the handset of the telephone set 2 , and the hook circuit 19 is turned on.

The CPU 13 monitors the state of the image communication switch 12 . Thereafter, it is determined whether the image communication switch 12 is in its ON or OFF state. When the image communication switch 12 is ON, the contacts of the relay 18 in positions 18 b are changed, thereby enabling the transmission (transmitting and / or receiving) an image signal. The subroutine of the image communication will be explained later with reference to FIG. 5. On the other hand, the contacts of the relay, when the image transfer switch 12 is OFF, remain at positions 18 a . Under this condition, the Telefonappa rat 2 is connected directly to the telephone line 9 , so that only a sound transmission is possible. When the image transmission is finished so that the user hangs up the handset, the hook circuit 19 is turned off, so that the contacts of the relay 18 are returned to the positions 18 a .

Further details of the control program of the present invention will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9.

Fig. 5 explains the content of the subroutine of the image communication control flow shown in Fig. 4. In an image transmission mode, the CPU 13 determines whether a transmission signal is received (reception condition) or the image transmission switch is switched on (transmission condition). In the case of the transmission condition, it is decided whether or not an image signal is stored in the RAM 15 . When the image signal is stored in the RAM 15 , the signal is read out from the RAM 15 , modulated by the modem 16-3 and then given to the telephone line 9 by the BPF 16-3 . At the same time, data is decoded by the RAM 15 and then transferred to the image recording unit (color plotter) 4 on the transmitter side for printing the image. On the other hand, in the case of the reception condition, a received image signal is decoded and printed by the image recording unit 4 .

FIGS. 6 to 8 explain the other subroutine of the steps shown in FIG. 5. Fig. 6 shows the subroutine of the decoding step (DECODE DATA). Referring to FIG. 6, it is first determined whether a decode of the image signal is a signal representative of coordinate values of the image or a color designation command. In the case of the coordinate value signal, the signal is converted into coordinate values. In the case of a color designation command, a corresponding color code is generated.

Fig. 7 shows the subroutine of the plotter printing step (PRINT IMAGE). It is first determined whether an incoming signal is a signal related to the coordinate values of the image or a color code. In the case of a coordinate value signal, a difference between the present position of the head 10 of the plotter and a new coordinate value of the image is calculated. Printing is carried out after the head 10 has been moved by the calculated difference. If the calculated difference is zero, the head remains motionless. In the case of the color code, however, it is decided whether or not a color corresponding to the color code is the same as the color of the present head 10 . Under the condition of a different color, the head is rotated to provide the designated color. Under the same color, the head remains as it is.

Fig. 8 shows the subroutine of the memory copy step (COPY MEMORY). This step is started by turning on the memory copy switch 7 . It is first determined whether the data is stored in the RAM 15 or not. When the stored data is present, the data is read from RAM 15 , decoded and printed by the plotter.

Fig. 9 shows the subroutine of a step of the SpeI assurance of an image signal in the RAM 15. A state of the memory copy switch 7 is determined first. When the switch 7 is in its ON state, the memory copy subroutine illustrated in Fig. 8 is executed. Next, a state of the memory clear switch 11 is determined. When the switch 11 is ON, the data of the RAM 15 is cleared. Then it is decided whether an input (or drawing) is present in the image input unit (tablet) 3 or not. If the input is present, the coordinate values of the drawn image are encoded and the encoded data is stored in the RAM 15 . Next, the plotter printing subroutine as shown in Fig. 7 is executed.

The CPU 13 , ROM 14 and RAM 15 which control the control program described above can be represented by a known micro computer.

It should be noted that the present invention is not based on the special embodiment as described and ge above shows is limited and that any changes or Variations can be made by professionals who remain within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. Communication system for the simultaneous transmission of an audio signal and a handwritten image signal which is modulated in accordance with a predetermined modulation on by a telephone line, characterized by :
image signal input means ( 3, 6 ) for generating an image signal in accordance with information of an image drawn by a user;
color designation means ( 8, 13 ) for generating a color designation signal corresponding to an externally designated color;
generating means ( 13, 14, 16 ) for generating a handwritten image signal which synthesizes the image signal generated by the image signal input means and the color designation signal generated by the color designating means into a handwritten image signal and modulates the handwritten image signal in accordance with the predetermined modulation manner;
storage means ( 15 ) which stores the modulated handwritten image signal; and
a device ( 13, 16, 18 ) which outputs the handwritten image signal stored in the storage device onto the telephone line ( 9 ). 2. Communication system for the simultaneous transmission of a sound signal and a handwritten image signal, which is modulated in accordance with a predetermined modulation, by a telephone line, characterized by:
means ( 16-2, 16-3 ) connected to the telephone line ( 9 ) for receiving the audio signal and the modulated handwritten image signal therefrom to separate the audio signal and the modulated handwritten image signal from each other, the handwritten image signal comprises an image signal and a color designation signal;
signal demodulating means ( 16-1, 13, 14 ) which demodulates the separated handwritten image signal and separates the demodulated signal into the image signal and the color designation signal; and
printing means ( 4 ) for printing a handwritten image based on the image signal demodulated by the signal demodulating means, the printing means having a plurality of different color display means ( 10 ), and the handwritten image being one of the plurality of Color indicators are printed according to a color designated by the color designation signal. 3. Communication system for the simultaneous transmission of a sound signal and a handwritten image signal which is modulated in accordance with a predetermined modulation mode, characterized by:
an image signal input device ( 3, 6 ) which generates an image signal in accordance with information of an image drawn by a user;
a color designation device ( 8, 13 ) which generates a color designation signal which corresponds to an externally designated color;
generating means ( 13, 14, 16 ) for generating a handwritten image signal which synthesizes the image signal generated by the image signal input means and the color designation signal generated by the color designating means into a handwritten image signal and modulates the handwritten image signal in accordance with the predetermined modulation mode ;
storage means ( 15 ) which stores the modulated handwritten image signal;
means ( 13, 16, 18 ) which outputs the handwritten image signal stored in the storage means to the telephone line ( 9 );
a signal separator ( 16-2, 16-3 ) connected to the telephone line to receive the audio signal and the modulated handwritten print signal therefrom to separate the audio signal and the modulated handwritten image signal,
signal demodulating means ( 16-1, 13, 14 ) which demodulates the separated handwritten image signal and separates the demodulated signal into an image signal and a color designation signal; and
a printing device ( 4 ) which prints a handwritten image on the basis of the image signal demodulated by the signal demodulation device, the printing device having a plurality of differently colored display devices ( 10 ), the handwritten image being printed by one of the plurality of color display devices becomes, corresponding to a color designated by the color designation signal. 4. Communication system according to claim 3, characterized in that the image signal input device has a pen device ( 6 ) through which the user draws the image and a tablet device ( 3 ) which has a surface which contacts the pen device and the upon movement of the pen device on the surface of the tablet device, coordinate positions along the traces of movement of the pen device are detected to generate a coordinate position signal corresponding to the detected coordinate positions. 5. Communication system according to claim 4, characterized records that the tablet device is a coding device tion to the coordinate positions of the tracks the pen device into a coordinate position signal to convert according to a zone coding method. 6. Communication system according to claim 5, characterized in that the generating device for generating the handwritten image signal has a frequency multiplex modulation device ( 16 ) to modulate the handwritten image signal so that the handwritten image signal in a predetermined range of a frequency Transfer band of the telephone line is inserted, which is assigned a sound signal. 7. Communication system according to claim 6, characterized in that the signal separating device has a band elimination filter ( 16-2 ) only to pass the sound signal through and a bandpass filter ( 16-3 ) to pass only the modulated handwritten image signal and wherein the signal demodulation means comprises a frequency division multiplex signal demodulation means ( 16-1 ) for demodulating the handwritten image signal which has been modulated by the frequency multiplex modulation means and separated by the bandpass filter. 8. Communication system according to claim 7, characterized in that the printing device ( 4 ) has a decoding device to generate a signal which drives the color display device in accordance with the coordinate position signal which encodes in accordance with the zone coding method and is supplied by the frequency multiplex signal demodulation device ( 16-1 ). 9. Communication system according to claim 8, characterized records that the display devices of the Druckeinrich a variety of pens of different colors and have a pen carrier that carries the pen on it and is movable in a predetermined direction, and that the printing device further a device has to print paper in one direction move that is orthogonal to the predetermined direction is.