Abstract:
A video communication device includes an image capturing module for capturing a video image, and an image processing system. The image processing system includes a face detection module, and a processing module. The face detection module detects a face region and a head region corresponding to the face region in the video image. The processing module generates a processed video image by masking all areas of the video image except the head region, and outputs the processed video image.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to video communication devices and, particularly, to a video communication device with an image processing system and a method for masking a setting in which a person is viewed. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    With rapid development of communications technology, video communication is increasingly becoming a feasible communications medium for broad adoption. Various video communication devices, such as videophones, are now widely used. 
         [0003]    In video communication, a first camera of a video communication device may be employed by a first user and a second camera of another video communication device employed by a second user for sending video signals through a network for each other to see. The first user may see images of the second user through the video communication device and may also see an environment or setting from which the second user is communicating, such as a view of an interior of a room the second user is in. However, sometimes the first user or the second user may not want to transmit more than a simple image of their person. In other words, the first user or second user may not want to transmit imagery of the environment they are communicating from. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In accordance with one embodiment, a video communication device includes an image capturing module for capturing a video image, and an image processing system. The image processing system includes a face detection module, and a processing module. The face detection module detects a face region, and a head region corresponding to the face region, in the video image. The processing module generates a processed video image by masking all areas of the video image except the head region, and outputs the processed video image. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the present video communication device and image processing system and method of the same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawing are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the video communication device, image processing system, and method of the same. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a function block diagram of a video communication device according to a preferred embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of an image processing method according to a first embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an image processing method according to a second embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an image processing method according to a third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    Embodiments will now be described in detail below, with reference to the drawings. 
         [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a video communication device  100  according to a preferred embodiment may include an image capturing module  10 , an image processing system  20 , and a display module  30 . The image capturing module  10 , the image processing system  20 , and the display module  30  may be electrically coupled in series in that order. The video communication device  100  may be a videophone. 
         [0012]    The image capturing module  10  may capture video images at demanded intervals. For example, the image capturing module  10  may capture 25 images per second. The image capturing module  10  typically includes a capture lens (not shown) and an image sensor (not shown) disposed behind the capture lens for converting an optical image signal into an electrical image signal. 
         [0013]    The image processing system  20  may mask areas, or portions, of the video images captured by the image capturing module  10  to generate processed video images. The display module  30  may display the video images processed by the image processing system  20 , so that a user of the video communication device  100  may preview the video images processed by the image processing system  20 . 
         [0014]    The image processing system  20  may include a face detection module  22 , a memory module  24 , and a processing module  26 . 
         [0015]    The face detection module  21  may obtain video images from the image capturing module  10  and determining whether a person&#39;s face is present in the video images by using features, properties, parameters or values of the person&#39;s face. If the person&#39;s face is present in the video image, a face region within the video image, and a head region corresponding to the face region, can be identified by the face detection module  21 . 
         [0016]    The memory module  24  may store preset images. Format and size of the preset images may be similar to those of the video images captured by the image capturing module  10 . The preset images may be landscape photos, abstract color photos, cartoon photos, and the like. 
         [0017]    The processing module  26  may mask a portion of the video image that does not include the head region, then output the processed image. In order to mask the portion not including the head region, the video image may be processed to generate a processed image by deleting image information of the portion of the video image that does not include the head region, and setting values of pixels of the portion of the video image deleted to preset pixel values, replacing the image information deleted with that of the preset image stored in the memory module  24 . The processed video image may also be formed by generating a new image by extracting the portion of the video image corresponding to the head region. Furthermore, the processing module  26  may output the processed video image to the displaying module  30  of the video communication device  100  or output the processed video image to an another video communication device communicating with the video communication device  100 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an image processing method for the video communication device  100  according to a first embodiment is also provided. The method includes steps of: receiving an image; determining whether a person&#39;s face is present in the image; identifying a face region and a head region corresponding to the face region in the image if the person&#39;s face is present in the image; deleting image information of the image that does not include the head region and setting values of pixels of the portions of the image deleted to preset pixel values; and outputting the processed image. 
         [0019]    The image processing method according to the first embodiment may also include outputting a preset image if no person&#39;s face is present in the image. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an image processing method of the video communication device  100  according to a second embodiment is provided. The method includes steps of: receiving an image; determining whether a person&#39;s face is present in the image; identifying a face region and a head region corresponding to the face region in the image if the person&#39;s face is present in the image; forming a new image by extracting a portion of the image corresponding to the head region; and outputting the new image. 
         [0021]    The image processing method according to the second embodiment may also include outputting a preset image if no person&#39;s face is present in the image. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an image processing method of the video communication device  100  according to a third embodiment is also provided. The method includes steps of: receiving an image; determining whether a person&#39;s face is present in the image; identifying a face region and a head region corresponding to the face region in the image, if the person&#39;s face is present in the image; replacing image information of a portion of the image that does not include the head region with a preset image to generate a processed image; and outputting the processed image. 
         [0023]    The image processing method according to the third embodiment may also include a step of: outputting a preset image, if no person&#39;s face is present in the image. 
         [0024]    While certain embodiments have been described and exemplified above, various other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. The present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described and exemplified but is capable of considerable variation and modification without departure from the scope of the appended claims.