TV conference communication device and method of controlling the same

Claim 3

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said network comprises ISDN (integrated services digital network).

Claim 4

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of setting said first moving-picture-image parameters in a video coder/decoder unit of said at least another one of said TV conference communication devices.

Claim 5

The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a step of setting second moving-picture-image parameters in said TV conference communication devices before said exchanges, so that said exchange can be carried out based on said second moving-picture-image parameters before said first moving-picture-image parameters are used.

Claim 6

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: setting said first moving-picture-image parameters during said exchange in a video coder/decoder unit of said one of said TV conference communication devices so as to transmit said moving picture images by using said first moving-picture-image parameters.

Claim 7

The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a step of setting second moving-picture-image parameters in said TV conference communication devices before said exchanges, so that said exchange can be carried out based on said second moving-picture-image parameters before said first moving-picture-image parameters are used.

Claim 8

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of setting second moving-picture-image parameters in said TV conference communication devices before said exchanges, so that said exchange can be carried out based on said second moving-picture-image parameters before said first moving-picture-image parameters are used.

Claim 9

The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said network comprises ISDN (integrated services digital network).

Claim 10

The method of claim 1, wherein said step setting said first and second values comprises one of: a user selecting at said control panel said image quality settings including one of a first image quality setting, a second image quality setting, and a third image quality setting; and a user selecting at said control panel said transmission speed settings include one of a first transmission speed setting, a second transmission speed setting, and a third transmission speed setting.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9, wherein said first image quality setting is lower in image quality than said second and third image quality settings, and said second image quality setting is lower in image quality than said third image quality setting; and wherein said first transmission speed setting is lower in transmission speed than said second and third transmission speed settings, and said second transmission speed setting is lower in transmission speed than said third transmission speed setting.

Claim 12

A TV conference communication device having exchanges of first moving picture images and second moving picture images with at least one of other TV conference communication devices, said TV conference communication device comprising: an image pickup device picking up said first moving picture images regarding first participants at said TV conference communication device; a monitor system showing said second moving picture images regarding second participants at said at least one of other TV conference communication devices; an input device receiving an instruction during said exchanges from said first participants with regard to image quality of said second moving picture images; and a control device sending first moving-picture-image parameters to said at least one of other TV conference communication devices, wherein said first moving-picture-image parameters define said image quality so that said at least one of other IV conference communication devices can send said second moving picture images with said image quality; and wherein said first moving-picture-image parameters comprise a quantization threshold value and said control device sets said quantization value to a first value for transmitting said second moving picture images at a first speed with a first image quality, and said control device sets said quantization value to a second value greater than said fast value for transmitting said moving picture images at a second speed higher than said first speed with a second image quality lower than said first image quality; and said first and second values are set as a function of said first participants selecting at said input device one of image quality settings and transmission speed settings at said TV conference communication device, wherein said first and second values comprise a video balance setting; said TV conference communication device and said at least one of other TV conference combination devices a set with the video balance setting, if said first participants select changing the video balance setting for a transmission from said TV conference communication device; and said at least one of other TV conference communication devices is set with the video balance setting, if said first participants select changing the video balance setting for a reception from said at least one of other TV conference communication devices.

Claim 13

A TV conference communication device having exchanges of first moving picture images and second moving picture images with at least one of other TV conference communication devices, said TV conference communication device comprising: an image pickup device picking up said first moving picture images regarding first participants at said TV conference communication device; a monitor system showing said second moving picture images regarding second participants at said at least one of other TV conference communication devices; an input device receiving an instruction during said exchanges from said first participants with regard to image quality of said second moving picture images; and a control device sending first moving-picture-image parameters to said at least one of other TV conference communication devices, wherein said first moving-picture-image parameters define said image quality so that said at least one of other IV conference communication devices can send said second moving picture images with said image quality; and wherein said first moving-picture-image parameters comprise a quantization threshold value and said control device sets said quantization value to a first value for transmitting said second moving picture images at a first speed with a first image quality, and said control device sets said quantization value to a second value greater than said fast value for transmitting said moving picture images at a second speed higher than said first speed with a second image quality lower than said first image quality; and said first and second values are set as a function of said first participants selecting at said input device one of image quality settings and transmission speed settings at said TV conference communication device, wherein said first and second values comprise a video balance setting; said TV conference communication device and said at least one of other TV conference combination devices a set with the video balance setting, if said first participants select changing the video balance setting for a transmission from said TV conference communication device; and said at least one of other TV conference communication devices is set with the video balance setting, if said first participants select changing the video balance setting for a reception from said at least one of other TV conference communication devices.

Claim 14

The TV conference communication device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control device sets second moving-picture-image parameters sent from said at least one of other TV conference communication devices, said second moving-picture-image parameters regarding image quality of said first moving picture images, so that said TV conference communication device can send said first moving picture images with said image quality.

Claim 15

The TV conference communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first moving picture images, said second moving picture images, and said moving-picture-image parameters are exchanged through ISDN.

Claim 16

The TV conference communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said input device receives an instruction during said exchanges from said first participants with regard to image quality of said first moving picture images, and said control device changes said image quality of said first moving picture images.

Claim 17

The TV conference communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said input device can receive an instruction during said exchanges from said first participants with regard to image quality of both said first moving picture images and said second moving picture images.

Claim 18

The device according to claim 11, wherein said image quality settings include one of a first image quality setting, a second image quality setting, and a third image quality setting, and said transmission speed settings include one of a first transmission speed setting, a second transmission speed setting, and a third transmission speed setting.

Claim 19

The device according to claim 16, wherein said first image quality setting is lower in image quality than said second and third image quality settings, and said second image quality setting is lower in image quality than said third image quality setting; and wherein said first transmission speed setting is lower in transmission speed than said second and third transmission speed settings, and said second transmission speed setting is lower in transmission speed than said third transmission speed setting.