Method and apparatus for selectively transmitting image of mobile communication terminal
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorHag Soo Kim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus implements video telephony by selectively transmitting voice and image signals from a mobile terminal. The method includes comparing a network transmission rate to a pre-set threshold value, and if the transmission rate is not greater than the threshold value blocking transmission of a moving picture signal derived from a terminal camera and transmitting a still image. The still image may be mixed with a voice signal prior to transmission, or the still image may be transmitted alone after which voice signal transmission may resume. Thus, even when transmission of a moving picture signal is not possible due to a low transmission rate of the wireless network, video telephony can be implemented by transmitting a still image selected by the user.
Claims17
A method for controlling communications in a mobile communication network, comprising:
- establishing a call between a calling terminal and a called terminal;
- comparing a network transmission rate to a first pre-set threshold value during the call;
- and if the transmission rate is not greater than the first threshold value, then:
- blocking transmission of video frame data from a camera of the calling terminal;
- accessing a still image of a user of the calling terminal in response to a user input signal;
- and transmitting a voice signal and the still image to the called terminal over the network, said method further comprising:
- after the video frame data is blocked, transmitting only the voice signal for a first period of time;
- interrupting transmission of the voice signal and transmitting only the still image during a second period of time;
- and resuming transmission of only the voice signal after transmission of the still image is completed.
A method for controlling communications in a mobile communication network, comprising:
- (a) comparing a network transmission rate to a first pre-set threshold value during a call between a calling terminal and a called terminal;
- (b) if the transmission rate is not greater than the first pre-set threshold value, informing a user accordingly;
- (c) blocking input of video frame data from a camera of the calling terminal;
- (d) if the user selects a still image, determining whether the network has a transmission rare greater than a second pre-set threshold value;
- and
- (e) based on a result of (d), transmitting only the voice signal for a first period of time, interrupting transmission of the voice signal and transmitting the still image during a second period of time, and resuming transmission of only the voice signal.
An apparatus for controlling a mobile communication terminal, comprising:
- a controller which compares a network transmission rate with at least one pre-set threshold value during a call connected to the terminal and outputs a control signal for selectively blocking video frame data input from a terminal camera;
- and an input selector which blocks the video frame data and passes a still image of a user of the terminal in response to the control signal, the terminal transmitting a voice signal and the still image over a network during the call, wherein:
- if the network transmission rate is not greater than a first pre-set threshold value and not smaller than a second pre-set threshold value, the selector selects the still image and the voice signal for simultaneous transmission, and if the network transmission rate is not greater than the second pre-set threshold value, only the voice signal is transmitted for a first period of time. After which the transmission of the voice signal is interrupted and only the still image is transmitted during a second period of time, and then only the voice signal is transmitted after the second period of time.
A method for controlling a mobile communication terminal, comprising:
- comparing a network transmission rate to a first pre-set threshold value during a call coupled to the terminal;
- and if the transmission rate is not greater than the threshold value, blocking transmission of a moving picture signal derived from a terminal camera and transmitting a still image and a voice signal over a network, wherein said blocking and transmitting include:
- transmitting only a voice signal for a first period of time;
- interrupting transmission of the voice signal and transmitting only the still image;
- and resuming transmission of only the voice signal after transmission of the still image is completed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.