Abstract: This invention relates to a coding method for motion-image data and others effective in a special interactive environment for transmitting motion-image data with information concentrated on only a partial region of a display image as in a two-way interactive system implementing real-time two-way interaction. The coding method involves dividing an image frame forming motion-image data into a plurality of rectangular regions, and grouping each of these rectangular regions into a preset ROI and a non-ROI. These rectangular regions are sequentially compressed so that a code length of a rectangular region grouped into the ROI is larger than a code length of a rectangular region grouped into the non-ROI, thereby generating coded data of each image frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to a coding method for motion-image data and others effective in a special interactive environment for transmitting motion-image data with information concentrated on only a partial region of a display image as in a two-way interactive system implementing real-time two-way interaction. The coding method involves dividing an image frame forming motion-image data into a plurality of rectangular regions, and grouping each of these rectangular regions into a preset ROI and a non-ROI. These rectangular regions are sequentially compressed so that a code length of a rectangular region grouped into the ROI is larger than a code length of a rectangular region grouped into the non-ROI, thereby generating coded data of each image frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a video editing system and others enabling editing of training video data suitable for training of counselors and others engaged in counseling and others in a direct or indirect face-to-face state and to a recording/reproducing method of visual information and others enabling useful personal learning even in an environment without direct appearance of an instructor or the like in the fields in which instruction or learning using the visual information is effective. Particularly, the video editing system is provided with image pickup capabilities for picking up images of respective, first and second interlocutors facing each other, and first editing capabilities for editing video data in which at least the videos of the first and second interlocutors retrieved from the image pickup means are combined in a state in which display timings thereof are substantially synchronized with each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical communication system of a structure permitting the communication carrier side to select a delivery service content to be finally provided from a terminal in a communication network through an optical fiber to a subscriber home. The optical communication system comprises a terminal as a final repeater in a predetermined communication network for delivering signal light with multiple signal channels multiplexed, to a plurality of subscriber homes; and an optical fiber network with one or more branch points installed between the terminal and the subscriber homes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a coding method for motion-image data and others effective in a special interactive environment for transmitting motion-image data with information concentrated on only a partial region of a display image as in a two-way interactive system implementing real-time two-way interaction. The coding method involves dividing an image frame forming motion-image data into a plurality of rectangular regions, and grouping each of these rectangular regions into a preset ROI and a non-ROI. These rectangular regions are sequentially compressed so that a code length of a rectangular region grouped into the ROI is larger than a code length of a rectangular region grouped into the non-ROI, thereby generating coded data of each image frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a videoconference system and others of structure enabling smooth progress of interlocution even in distance interlocution among many people through a plurality of terminal devices. The videoconference system is a network system enabling transmission and reception of data by several types of media through a plurality of terminal devices connected by a transmission means, and is provided with a management table for managing users of the respective terminal devices in a state in which the users are sorted in an interlocutor mode for interlocutors mainly engaged in progress of a specific subject and in an observer mode for observers other than the interlocutors, and a communication control means for editing interlocution information by media selected from interlocution information among users sorted in the interlocutor mode and delivering the edited information to the terminal devices of the respective users sorted in the observer mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a videoconference system and others of structure enabling smooth progress of interlocution even in distance interlocution among many people through a plurality of terminal devices. The videoconference system is a network system enabling transmission and reception of data by several types of media through a plurality of terminal devices connected by a transmission means, and is provided with a management table for managing users of the respective terminal devices in a state in which the users are sorted in an interlocutor mode for interlocutors mainly engaged in progress of a specific subject and in an observer mode for observers other than the interlocutors, and a communication control means for editing interlocution information by media selected from interlocution information among users sorted in the interlocutor mode and delivering the edited information to the terminal devices of the respective users sorted in the observer mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a video editing system and others enabling editing of training video data suitable for training of counselors and others engaged in counseling and others in a direct or indirect face-to-face state and to a recording/reproducing method of visual information and others enabling useful personal learning even in an environment without direct appearance of an instructor or the like in the fields in which instruction or learning using the visual information is effective. Particularly, the video editing system is provided with image pickup means for picking up images of respective, first and second interlocutors facing each other, and first editing means for editing video data in which at least the videos of the first and second interlocutors retrieved from the image pickup means are combined in a state in which display timings thereof are substantially synchronized with each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a video editing system and others enabling editing of training video data suitable for training of counselors and others engaged in counseling and others in a direct or indirect face-to-face state and to a recording/reproducing method of visual information and others enabling useful personal learning even in an environment without direct appearance of an instructor or the like in the fields in which instruction or learning using the visual information is effective. Particularly, the video editing system is provided with image pickup means for picking up images of respective, first and second interlocutors facing each other, and first editing means for editing video data in which at least the videos of the first and second interlocutors retrieved from the image pickup means are combined in a state in which display timings thereof are substantially synchronized with each other.

Abstract: An optical switch of the present invention comprises an optical fiber arranging member in which tip ends of a plurality of first optical fibers are juxtaposed, a movable arm facing the optical fiber arranging member and fixing a tip end of a second optical fiber, and a drive mechanism for driving at least one of the optical fiber arranging member and the movable arm, for switching of optical connection, in an arrangement direction of the first optical fibers and in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first optical fibers to optically couple the second optical fiber with the first optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber arranging member and the movable arm are encased in a sealing case and wherein an antireflection agent is filled in the sealing case.

Abstract: An optical switch of the present invention comprises an optical fiber arranging member in which tip ends of a plurality of first optical fibers are juxtaposed, a movable arm facing the optical fiber arranging member and fixing a tip end of a second optical fiber, and a drive mechanism For driving at least one of the optical fiber arranging member and the movable arm, for switching of optical connection, in an arrangement direction of the first optical fibers and in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first optical fibers to optically couple the second optical fiber with the first optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber arranging member and the movable arm are encased in a sealing case and wherein an antireflection agent is filled in the sealing case.