Push-button type telephone set and image sharing system, method and program

The present invention relates to a mechanical push-button telephone, and more particularly to a push-button telephone capable of displaying data such as characters, images, and figures.

Compared to mobile phones and systems that realize telephone functions using software, push-button telephones are easier to use in making calls. Therefore, even today, home telephones and public telephones use these push-button telephones. Is the mainstream. Recently, there is also a push-button telephone that can store data such as images and characters and display the data on an LCD screen (see Patent Document 1).<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-87435</text></patcit>

<p> Unlike an input device (keyboard) such as a personal computer, the arrangement of push buttons in a push-button telephone is designed in consideration of ease of use for inputting a telephone number. Therefore, in a push-button telephone, it is not easy to edit image or character data using the push button.</p><p> Further, since the display unit of the push-button telephone is an auxiliary one, its display screen is small. A small display screen is not suitable for data editing work, and it is difficult to display detailed data when displaying data such as images and characters.</p><p> In addition, since the push-button telephone has poor workability in data editing as described above, it is edited in a situation such as editing and transmitting image or character data to another telephone connected to a call. The work is time consuming, resulting in increased call connection time. As the call connection time increases, so does the telephone charge charged.</p><p> An object of the present invention is to provide a push-button telephone capable of solving the above problems and easily editing data such as images and characters.</p>

<p> In order to achieve the above object, the push button type computer of the present invention is a push button type computer provided with a plurality of buttons and outputting a dial signal in response to an input operation using the buttons, and has a display unit and an external device. The display unit includes an interface unit for transmitting and receiving an image signal to and from the device, and a computer unit for displaying an image based on an image signal received from the external device through the interface unit on the display unit. It is characterized in that it operates as a display screen of the external device.</p><p> Further, the image sharing system of the present invention includes a push button type computer having a plurality of buttons and outputting a dial signal in response to an input operation using the buttons, and information processing connected to the push button type computer. The push button type telephone has a terminal, and has a first display unit and a computer unit that displays an image based on an image signal received from the information processing terminal on the first display unit. In the information processing terminal, a second display unit, an input unit capable of inputting and operating information, and a first image data displayed on the first and second display units are mapped, respectively. And a storage unit having a second memory area, and a first image signal based on the image data mapped to the first memory area are transmitted to the push button type telephone, and based on the first image signal. An image processing unit that displays an image on the first display unit and displays an image based on a second image signal based on image data mapped to the second memory area on the second display unit. The image processing unit receives a signal corresponding to an input operation from the input unit, and controls to operate the images displayed on the first and second display units according to the received signal. It is characterized by.</p><p> In the image sharing system, the image processing unit may control the movement of the displayed image between the screens of the first and second display units.</p>

<p> According to the push-button telephone of the present invention, the display unit of the push-button telephone is configured to operate as a display screen of an external device, so that the user of the push-button telephone can use the display unit of the push-button telephone. While looking at the screen, it is possible to perform operations such as editing the displayed image using the input unit (keyboard, etc.) of the external device. This improves workability in data editing, and as a result, in situations such as editing and sending image and character data to other telephones connected by calling, editing work can be performed in a shorter time. It will be possible.</p><p> Also in the image sharing system of the present invention, the first display unit of the push-button telephone operates as the display screen of the information processing terminal, so that the user of the push-button telephone can use the first display unit of the push-button telephone. While looking at the screen of, it is possible to perform operations such as editing the displayed image using the input unit (keyboard, etc.) of the information processing terminal. This improves workability in data editing.</p><p> In addition, since the displayed image can be moved between the screens of the first and second display units, for example, it is displayed on the screen of the first display unit of the push-button telephone. The image can be moved onto the screen of the second display unit of the information processing terminal. Normally, the screen of the second display unit of the information processing terminal is larger than the screen of the first display unit of the push-button telephone, so that the screen of the first display unit is displayed on the screen of the second display unit. By moving the image to, it is possible to display the image on a larger screen. This makes it possible to display the data in detail.</p>

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a push-button telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is an overview view of the telephone as viewed from the front, and (b) shows an operation panel portion of the telephone. It is a schematic diagram. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the push-button telephone.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the push-button telephone is a desktop telephone, and its main part is a main body 4 and a handset 1 connected to the main body 4 by wire. The communication between the main body 4 and the handset 1 may be wireless communication.

The main body 4 has a telephone operation unit 5a on a board surface 5 at the upper part of the housing, and has a handset unit 1 and a computer unit 3 connected to the telephone operation unit 5a inside the housing. The main body 4 is provided with a hook for placing the handset 1, and the hook switch 2 is provided on the hook.

The hook switch 2 is a switch that mechanically detects a state in which the handset unit 1 is placed on the hook unit (on-hook state) and a state in which the handset unit 1 is picked up from the hook unit (off-hook state). The hook switch 2 outputs an off-hook / on-hook signal indicating the state of the handset 1. The off-hook / on-hook signal is supplied to the computer unit 3 via an interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).

The computer unit 3 is equipped with an IP softphone that communicates using the Internet protocol, and also has a videophone function.

As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the display unit 11, the line button unit 12, the key unit 13, the function button unit 14, the digitalless button unit 15, the camera unit 16, and the speaker unit 17 are on the board surface 5 of the main body unit 4. , A microphone unit 18 and a pointing device (mouse) unit 19 are provided.

The display unit 11 is composed of a liquid crystal display or a liquid crystal touch panel. When the display unit 11 is a liquid crystal touch panel, the pointing device unit 19 can be omitted. The line button unit 12 is composed of a plurality of buttons connected to the computer unit 3 via an interface such as USB. These buttons perform input and output to and from the softphone's external interface. Specifically, the line button on / off signal or the like is received from the softphone as an input, and the line button pressing signal is passed to the softphone as an output.

The key unit 13 has a mechanical push button 13a for performing a dial operation. The on / off of the push button is detected by the mechanical contact. The push-button telephone outputs a dial signal corresponding to an input operation using the push button 13a. Of the keys provided on a standard computer keyboard, such as arrow keys and return keys, only the keys that are mainly used when operating a telephone with a softphone are arranged.

The arrangement of push buttons on a general telephone is different from the arrangement of the numeric keypad on a computer, but here, the arrangement of push buttons on a telephone is used. By focusing on push buttons and narrowing down the keys to the required keys, it is possible to obtain an appearance, size, and operability that are closer to those of a telephone than a computer. If you want to use a standard keyboard, you can also use it by connecting the USB keyboard to the USB interface of the computer unit 3.

The function button unit 14 includes a reset button 14a, a hold button 14b, a transfer button 14c, and a hook button 14d. These buttons are connected to the computer unit 3 by an interface such as USB, input / output to the external interface of the softphone, and pass the function button press signal to the softphone as an output.

The reset button 14a is a button for forcibly returning the telephone to a preset state when it is desired to make a call regardless of the state of the telephone.

The Digiless button unit 15 is connected to the computer unit 3 via an interface such as USB, inputs / outputs to the external interface (API: Application Program Interface) of the softphone, and presses the Digiless button to the softphone. Pass the signal as an output. The purpose of the Digiless button unit 15 is to enable the softphone to display the function of the Digiless button on the part of the screen of the display unit 11 adjacent to the Digiless button, and depending on the state of the softphone. The display is changed so that the softphone can interpret the meaning of the digitalless button press signal according to the state.

The camera unit 16 is connected to the computer unit 3 by an interface such as USB. The camera unit 16 is used when the softphone or application software installed in the computer unit 3 cooperates with the camera for the purpose of videophone / video conferencing function or the like. The speaker unit 17 is connected to the audio output of the computer unit 3. The microphone unit 18 is connected to the voice input of the computer unit 3.

The pointing device unit 19 is a pointing device equivalent to a touch pad / mouse or the like, and is connected to the computer unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the push-button telephone is an RGB consisting of a LAN (Local Area network) interface 23, a digital image signal USB interface 25, an RGB analog image signal input interface 26, and an RGB analog image signal output interface 27. It has an analog image signal interface and a DVI digital image signal interface including a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) digital image signal input interface 28 and a DVI digital image signal output interface 29.

The digital image signal USB interface 25 transmits / receives a digital image signal to and from a digital image signal USB interface of another terminal or the like via a communication line. The computer unit 3 can perform data communication with other terminals through the USB interface 25 for digital image signals.

The RGB analog image signal input interface 26 is an interface for inputting three RGB analog image signals. The RGB analog image signal output interface 27 is an interface that outputs three RGB analog image signals, and a D-SUB connector is used as an interface.

The DVI digital image signal input interface 28 is an interface for inputting a digital image signal. The DVI digital image signal output interface 29 is an interface for outputting a digital image signal, and a DVI connector is used as an interface.

The LAN interface 23 is a LAN interface for Ethernet. The computer unit 3 is connected to an external network through the LAN interface 23.

The computer unit 3 is a computer operated by a program, and is a control device necessary for operating an operating system such as that used in a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants). 21 and storage device 32 are provided. Further, the computer unit 3 includes an image processing unit 22, a videophone communication unit 24, and a power supply 38.

The computer unit 3 is connected to the push button 13a via a keyboard interface that is standardly used in personal computers, PDAs, and the like. The computer unit 3 is connected to the display unit 11 via a display interface that is standardly used in a personal computer / PDA or the like. The computer unit 3 is connected to the pointing device unit 19 via a pointing device interface that is standardly used in a personal computer / PDA or the like. When the display unit 11 is a touch panel, the display unit 11 is connected to the operating system 36 via a pointing device interface that is standardly used in a personal computer / PDA.

The videophone communication unit 24 makes a call connection with a plurality of telephones at the same time via the LAN interface 23, and simultaneously performs image or voice communication with the other telephones connected by the call. This videophone communication unit 24 is realized by the IP softphone installed in the computer unit 3.

The image processing unit 22 displays the image signal input via the RGB analog image signal input interface 26, the DVI digital image signal input interface 28, or the digital image signal USB interface 25 on the display unit 11.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image sharing system using the push-button telephone of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the image sharing system includes a plurality of telephones 6 to 8 connected to the LAN 53, an information processing terminal 9 connected to the telephone 6 via the communication line 51, and the telephone 8 via the communication line 52. It has an information processing terminal 54 connected to. The telephones 6 to 8 are all push-button telephones shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Both the information processing terminals 9 and 54 are computer terminals having a communication function, such as a personal computer and a PDA. Since the information processing terminals 9 and 54 have the same configuration, the configuration will be specifically described below by taking the information processing terminal 9 as an example.

Figure 4 shows the hardware configuration of the information processing terminal 9. Referring to FIG. 4, the information processing terminal 9 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, an image processing unit 33, a power supply 34, a display unit 35, a pointing device 36, a keyboard 37, and an interface unit.

The interface unit includes a LAN interface 41, an RGB analog image signal interface, a DVI digital image signal interface, and a USB interface 42 for digital image signals.

The RGB analog image signal interface includes an RGB analog image signal input interface 43 and an RGB analog image signal output interface 44. The RGB analog image signal input interface 43 is an interface for inputting three RGB analog image signals. The RGB analog image signal output interface 44 is an interface that outputs three RGB analog image signals, and a D-SUB connector is used as an interface.

The DVI digital image signal interface includes a DVI digital image signal input interface 45 and a DVI digital image signal output interface 46. The DVI digital image signal input interface 44 is an interface for inputting a digital image signal. The DVI digital image signal output interface 45 is an interface for outputting a digital image signal, and a DVI connector is used as an interface.

The USB interface 42 for digital image signals inputs or outputs digital image signals using a USB connector. The image processing unit 33 converts the image signal to be transmitted into a digital image signal that can be transmitted via the USD connector, and conversely, the digital image signal input via the USD connector can be processed by the information processing terminal 9. Restore to a new image signal.

The image processing unit 33 has a multi-display screen function. The multi-display screen function divides one display area generated by the information processing terminal 9 into a display area displayed by the information processing terminal 9 and a display area displayed by the telephone 6 according to the setting information input in advance. Further, the multi-display screen function extracts the image signals of the display area displayed by the information processing terminal 9 and the display area displayed by the telephone 6, and converts them into one independent image signal that can be displayed on the display. ..

Next, the operation of the image sharing system shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

Telephones 6 to 8 can be call-connected to each other and can communicate by videophone. For example, when the telephone 6 is called and connected to the telephone 7, the videophone communication unit 24 of the telephone 6 transmits an image signal to the telephone 7. In the telephone 7 that has received the image signal, the image processing unit 22 generates a window-type image signal in which the image is stored in the window from the received image signal, and displays it on the display unit 11. By this operation, the image taken by the camera unit of the telephone 6 can be displayed on the display unit of the telephone 7. On the contrary, the image taken by the camera unit of the telephone 7 can be displayed on the display unit of the telephone 6.

Further, the telephone 6 and the information processing terminal 9 are connected by a communication line 51 using one interface selected from the RGB analog image signal interface, the DVI digital image signal interface, and the digital image signal USB interface.

When the RGB analog image signal interface is selected, the RGB analog image signal output interface 44 of the information processing terminal 9 and the RGB analog image signal input interface 26 of the telephone 6 are connected by the communication line 51.

When the DVI digital image signal interface is selected, the DVI digital image signal output interface 46 of the information processing terminal 9 and the DVI digital image signal input interface 28 of the telephone 6 are connected by the communication line 51.

When the digital image signal USB interface is selected, the digital image signal USB interface 42 of the information processing terminal 9 and the digital image signal USB interface 25 of the telephone 6 are connected by the communication line 51.

In the information processing terminal 9, the image processing unit 33 generates one display area that can be operated by the operation unit of the pointing device 36 or the keyboard 37. The multi-display screen function provided in the image processing unit 33 divides one generated display area into a display area to be displayed on the display unit 35 of the own terminal and a display area to be displayed by the telephone 6. The display area may be divided into two parts on the left and right, or two parts on the top and bottom.

Figure 5 shows an example in which the display area is divided into two parts on the left and right. In the example shown in FIG. 5, one display area 55 generated by the own terminal is divided into two left and right, the left side facing the drawing is the display area 56 displayed by the own terminal, and the right side is the display displayed by the telephone 6. Area 57. Figure 6 shows an example in which the display area is divided into upper and lower parts. In the example shown in FIG. 6, one display area 55 generated by the own terminal is divided into upper and lower parts, the upper side is the display area 56 displayed by the own terminal, and the lower side is the display area 57 displayed by the telephone 6. To.

The image processing unit 33 maps the image signal of the display area 55 to the storage unit 32. Then, the multi-display screen function divides the mapped image signal of the display area 55 into two parts, left and right or vertically. In the display area 55 in which the memory area is divided into two in this way, the generated image (for example, a window format screen) is moved between the display areas 56 and 57 by a move operation through the operation unit of the pointing device 36 or the keyboard 37. Can be done.

The multi-display screen function extracts the image signal of the display area 56 displayed on the own terminal and the image signal of the display area 57 displayed on the telephone 6 from the image signal mapped to the storage unit 32, and extracts the extracted image signal. Each of these is converted into a single displayable independent image signal. The first image signal to be displayed on the telephone 6 is generated from the image data mapped to the first memory area (memory area corresponding to the display area 57) of the storage unit 32, and the second memory of the storage unit 32 is generated. A second image signal for display on the own terminal is generated from the image data mapped to the area (memory area corresponding to the display area 56).

In the information processing terminal 9, the image processing unit 33 displays the image signal extracted from the display area 56 and converted into an independent signal that can be displayed on the display unit 35 under the control of the control unit 31. Further, the image processing unit 33 transmits the image signal extracted from the display area 57 and converted into an independent signal that can be displayed to the telephone 6 through the communication line 51.

In the telephone 6, the image processing unit 22 causes the display unit 11 to display the image signal received from the information processing terminal 9 through the communication line 51 under the control of the control unit 21.

By the above image processing operations of the image processing units 22 and 33, multi-screen display based on the display area 55 using the display unit 35 of the information processing terminal 9 and the display unit 11 of the telephone 6 becomes possible.

In the state where multi-screen display is possible, in the information processing terminal 9, the multi-screen display function of the image processing unit 33 is displayed based on the signal supplied from the pointing device 36 or the keyboard 37 according to the input operation of the user. In the area 55, data processing such as display, movement, editing, and erasing of image and character data is executed. In the execution process of this data processing, the data in the display area 56 is displayed on the display unit 35 of the information processing terminal 9, and the data in the display area 57 is displayed on the display unit 11 of the telephone 6.

According to the above-mentioned multi-screen display, the user can display images, characters, figures, etc. on the display unit 35 of the information processing terminal 9 and the display unit 11 of the telephone 6 through an input operation using the pointing device 36 or the keyboard 37. You can display and edit the data of.

In addition, the user may move, for example, a window-format image (including data such as characters and figures) between the display screens of the display units 11 and 35 through an input operation using the pointing device 36 or the keyboard 37. Can be done. Since the screen size of the display unit 35 of the information processing terminal 9 is sufficiently larger than the screen size of the display unit 11 of the telephone 6, when editing the window format image displayed on the display unit 11 of the telephone 6. By moving the image onto the display screen of the display unit 35 of the information processing terminal 9, editing work on a large screen becomes possible. By performing the editing work on a large screen, the work time can be shortened, and more detailed editing work becomes possible. The user can move the image edited on the display screen of the display unit 35 onto the display screen of the display unit 11 of the telephone 6 through an input operation using the pointing device 36 or the keyboard 37.

Further, in the telephone 6, the image processing unit 22 displays the image signal received from the information processing terminal 9, and the videophone communication unit 24 transmits the received image signal to another telephone connected to the call. Can be done. The transmission of the image signal by the videophone communication unit 24 is performed via the LAN 53. The number of other telephones to which the videophone communication unit 24 transmits an image signal may be one or a plurality.

For example, when the telephones 6 and 7 are in the call connection state, the videophone communication unit 24 of the telephone 6 transmits the image signal received from the information processing terminal 9 to the telephone 7. In the telephone 7, the videophone communication unit displays the image signal received from the telephone 6 on the display unit. According to this display operation, the user displays the window-format image displayed on the display unit 35 of the information processing terminal 9 on the telephone 6 through an input operation using the pointing device 36 or the keyboard 37 of the information processing terminal 9. When it is moved to the front screen of the unit 11, the moved window-format image is also displayed on the display screen of the display unit of the telephone 7. On the contrary, the user displays the window-format image displayed on the display unit 11 of the telephone 6 through the input operation using the pointing device 36 or the keyboard 37 of the information processing terminal 9 on the display unit 35 of the information processing terminal 9. When moved to the screen, the window-format image displayed on the display screen of the display unit of the telephone 7 moves to the outside of the display screen.

Further, when the user edits the window format image displayed on the display unit 35 of the information processing terminal 9 through an input operation using the pointing device 36 or the keyboard 37 of the information processing terminal 9, the editing result is displayed. It is also reflected in the window format image displayed on the phone 7.

When the telephones 6 and 8 are in the call connection state, the videophone communication unit 24 of the telephone 6 transmits the image signal received from the information processing terminal 9 to the telephone 8, and the videophone communication unit of the telephone 8 provides information. It is also possible to perform an operation such as transmitting an image signal received from the processing terminal 54 to the telephone 6.

Since the configuration consisting of the telephone 8 and the information processing terminal 54 is the same as the configuration consisting of the telephone 6 and the information processing terminal 9, the user of the telephone 8 can use the telephone through an input operation using the pointing device or the keyboard of the information processing terminal 54. It is possible to perform image movement operations and editing work similar to the configuration consisting of 6 and the information processing terminal 9.

Therefore, the user moves the window-format image displayed on the display unit of the information processing terminal 54 onto the front screen of the display unit of the telephone 8 through an input operation using the pointing device or the keyboard of the information processing terminal 54. Then, the moved window format image is also displayed on the display screen of the display unit of the telephone 6. On the contrary, the user moves the window-format image displayed on the display unit of the telephone 8 onto the display screen of the display unit of the information processing terminal 54 through an input operation using the pointing device or the keyboard of the information processing terminal 54. Then, the window-format image displayed on the display screen of the display unit of the telephone 6 moves out of the display screen.

Further, when the user edits the window format image displayed on the display unit of the information processing terminal 54 through an input operation using the pointing device or the keyboard of the information processing terminal 54, the edited result is sent to the telephone 6 on the telephone 6. It is also reflected in the displayed window format image.

In the image sharing system shown in FIG. 3, the number of telephones may be four or more.

Further, the number of telephones to which the information processing terminal is connected may be three or more.

Further, the number of telephones that are called and connected at the same time may be three or more.

Further, when a plurality of telephones are in a call connection state at the same time, the number of telephones to which the information processing terminal is connected may be three or more.

Further, instead of the information processing terminal connected to the telephone, a display device provided with at least one of an RGB analog image signal input interface, a DVI digital image signal input interface, and a USB interface for digital image signals may be used. However, it is desirable to connect an input device such as a keyboard to the display device in this case by using a USB interface or the like.

According to the push-button telephone described above, the display unit of the own telephone is configured to operate as the display screen of the information processing terminal which is an external device. Therefore, the user of the push-button telephone can use the push-button telephone. While looking at the screen of the display unit, it is possible to perform operations such as editing the display image (including creating and editing sentences) using the input unit (keyboard, etc.) of the external device. This improves workability in data editing, and as a result, in situations such as editing and sending image and character data to other telephones connected by calling, editing work can be performed in a shorter time. It will be possible.

Further, even in the image sharing system including the push-button telephone of the present invention, the first display unit of the push-button telephone operates as the display screen of the information processing terminal, so that the user of the push-button telephone can use the push button. While looking at the screen of the first display unit of the touch-tone telephone, it is possible to perform operations such as editing the display image using the input unit (keyboard, etc.) of the information processing terminal. This improves workability in data editing.

In addition, since the displayed image can be moved between the screens of the first and second display units, for example, it is displayed on the screen of the first display unit of the push-button telephone. The image can be moved onto the screen of the second display unit of the information processing terminal. Normally, the screen of the second display unit of the information processing terminal is larger than the screen of the first display unit of the push-button telephone, so that the screen of the first display unit is displayed on the screen of the second display unit. By moving the image to, it is possible to display the image on a larger screen. This makes it possible to display the data in detail.

Furthermore, by editing the image (including creating and editing sentences) while looking at the screen of the second display unit, and then operating the input unit (keyboard or mouse) of the information processing terminal after editing, the second display unit is used. The image (edited image) on the screen of the display unit of 2 can be moved to the screen of the first display unit of the telephone.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned processes such as displaying, editing, and moving an image in the push-button telephone and the information processing terminal can be realized by executing a program by a computer. The program may be provided through a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, or may be provided via the Internet.

<figref num="1">It is a figure for demonstrating the push button type telephone which is one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is an overview view which looked at the telephone from the front, (b) is the schematic diagram which shows the operation panel part of the telephone. .. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the push-button telephone.</figref><figref num="2">It is a block diagram which shows the hardware configuration of the push-button telephone shown in FIG.</figref><figref num="3">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image sharing system using the push button type telephone of this invention.</figref><figref num="4">It is a block diagram which shows the hardware configuration of the information processing terminal shown in FIG.</figref><figref num="5">It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which divided the display area into two left and right.</figref><figref num="6">It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which divided the display area into upper and lower parts.</figref>

Code description

1 Handset 2 hook switch 3 Computer section 4 Main body 5 board 5a Telephone operation unit 11 Display 12 line button 13 key part 13a push button 14 Function buttons 15 Digiless button 16 Camera section 17 Speaker section 18 Microphone section 19 Pointing device