Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for attaching an image to a message/email sent by a wireless terminal such as a cellular or mobile phone comprising a main body, a folder pivotally provided on the main body so as to be turned either to a first lengthwise position at which the folder is arranged parallel with the main body or to a second crosswise position at which the folder is arranged crosswise to the main body, and a display provided in the folder. The method comprises the steps of detecting the rotational position of the folder in message/email write mode, and switching the wireless terminal to image attach mode when the folder is turned to the second crosswise position. The message/email write mode is enabled when the folder is in the first lengthwise position.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) of Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 7, 2005 and assigned Serial No. 2005-48289, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for attaching an image to a message or email sent by a wireless terminal such as a cellular or mobile phone. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of attaching an image to a message or Email sent by a wireless terminal comprising a main body, a folder pivotally provided on the main body capable of being in a first lengthwise position where the folder is arranged parallel with the main body or to a second crosswise position where the folder is arranged crosswise to the main body, and a display provided in the folder.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Presently, wireless terminals are developed with structures to facilitate high-speed data transmission in addition to conventional voice communication. Namely, the mobile communications network according to International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT 2000) specifications may facilitate high-speed data communication in addition to voice communication with the wireless mobile terminal. The data transmitted through the wireless terminal in data communication may include packet data and video data. The wireless terminal has also been provided with a camera and TV receiver to add a video displaying function. This function facilitates the display or transmittal of moving or still pictures taken by the camera, and the display of received TV signals.  
         [0006]     The image data taken may be attached to a message or email sent by the wireless terminal, or stored into a photo phone book of the wireless terminal. Conventionally, the wireless terminal had to be switched to an image attach mode by entering a prescribed key in order to attach the image data to a message. Once the wireless terminal was switched to the image attach mode, the image to be sent was taken by using the camera or selected from the images stored in the wireless terminal.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method of attaching image data to a message without manually switching the wireless terminal from the message/Email write mode to the image attach mode.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An aspect of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below.  
         [0009]     It is an object of exemplary embodiments of the present invention to provide a method to automatically switch the wireless terminal from a message/email write mode for writing a message or email to an image attach mode for attaching an image to the message or email by turning the folder.  
         [0010]     According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method to switch the wireless terminal from a message/email write mode for writing a message or email to an image attach mode for attaching an image to the message or email is provided. The rotational position of the folder in the message/email write mode is detected and the wireless terminal is switched to the image attach mode when the folder is turned to the second crosswise position. The message/email write mode is enabled when the folder is in the first lengthwise position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The above and other exemplary objects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram for illustrating a functional structure of a wireless terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are flowcharts illustrating a method of switching the wireless terminal to the image attach mode by turning the folder according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0014]     Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a radio frequency (RF) unit  123  for wireless communication comprises an RF transmitter (not shown) for modulating and amplifying the frequency of a transmitted signal and an RF receiver (not shown) for demodulating and for low-noise amplifying a received signal. A modem  120  transforms the digital signals from a microprocessor  110  into the corresponding analog signals delivered to the RF unit  123 . The modem  120  transforms the analog signals from the RF unit  123  into the corresponding digital signals delivered to an audio processor unit  125  or the microprocessor  110 . The audio processor unit  125  comprises a data codec for processing packet data and an audio codec for processing audio signals such as voice signals. The audio processor unit  125  converts the digital audio signals from the modem  120  into the corresponding analog signals delivered to a speaker. Alternatively, the audio processor unit  124  converts the analog audio signals from a microphone into the corresponding digital signals delivered to the modem  120 . The audio processor unit may be a separate unit or a built-in element of the microprocessor  110 .  
         [0017]     A memory  130  comprises a program memory and a data memory. The program memory stores the programs for controlling the general operations of the wireless terminal including the programs for controlling the automatic switching of the wireless terminal to the image attach mode by turning the folder according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Meanwhile, the data memory temporarily stores the data generated during execution of the programs.  
         [0018]     The microprocessor  110  controls all the functions of the wireless terminal and may be designed to include the modem  120  and the audio processor unit. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the microprocessor  110  controls the wireless terminal to automatically switch to the image attach mode when the user has turned the folder to the second crosswise position.  
         [0019]     The folder rotating detector unit  170  generates a first or second position detection signal when the folder is in a first lengthwise or a second crosswise position. The microprocessor  110  switches the wireless terminal to the message/email write mode or the image attach mode in response to the first or second position detection signal. If the folder is returned from the second crosswise position to the first lengthwise position, the microprocessor  10  controls the wireless terminal to switch to the message/email write mode. Therefore, the message or email written in the message/email write mode may be transmitted or stored together with the image attached in the image attach mode, or the message or email continues to be written.  
         [0020]     A phone book may be written in the message/email write mode and stored in the wireless terminal. After writing the phone book, the folder is turned to the second crosswise position. The folder rotating detector unit  170  generates the second position detection signal applied to the microprocessor  110  to control the wireless terminal to automatically switch to the image attach mode, so that an image may be attached to the phone book.  
         [0021]     Where the folder is turned to the first lengthwise position from the image attach mode, the folder rotating detector unit  170  generates the first position detection signal. The first position detection signal is applied to the microprocessor  110  to control the wireless terminal to switch to the message/email or phone book write mode, so that the phone book may be stored together with the attached image, or the writing of the phone book is resumed.  
         [0022]     A camera module unit  140  comprises a camera sensor and a signal processor. The camera sensor converts the optical signals of a captured image into the corresponding electrical signals and the signal processor converts the analog electrical signals from the camera sensor into the corresponding digital data. The camera sensor may be a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor, and the signal processor a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The camera sensor and the signal processor may be integrally combined or separately formed.  
         [0023]     An image processor unit  150  processes the video signals from the camera module unit  140  by frames to generate the frame video data fitting the characteristics and size of a display  160 . The image processor unit  150  includes a video codec to compress the frame video data or decompress the compressed frame video data according to a prescribed process. The video codec may be JPEG, MPEG4, or Wavelet, among others. The image processor unit  150  is provided with the OSD (On Screen Display) function to generate the OSD data according to the screen size under the control of the microprocessor  110 .  
         [0024]     The display  160  displays the video signals from the image processor unit  150  and the user&#39;s data transferred from the microprocessor  160 . The display  160  may comprise an LCD device, LCD controller, and memory for storing the video data. The LCD device may be formed with a touch screen mode to serve as an input device. The display  160  displays a switching message to represent the image attach mode by turning the folder. The display  160  also displays a selection menu for selecting transmission/storing data or resuming the write mode if the folder is returned to the first lengthwise position from the image attach mode. A key input device  127  includes the keys for inputting information on numbers and characters and the keys for setting various functions.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 2A , when the folder is in the first lengthwise position, the folder rotating detector unit  170  generates the first position detection signal applied to the microprocessor  110 . In this case, if the user selects message/email writing from the selection menu in step  201 , the microprocessor  110  controls the wireless terminal to switch to the message/email write mode of step  202 , where the user may write a message or email by entering characters.  
         [0026]     Where the folder is turned to the second crosswise position, the folder rotating detector unit  170  generates the second position detection signal applied to the microprocessor  110  in step  204  to control the wireless terminal to switch to the image attach mode of step  205 . When the user selects one of the images stored in the memory device  130  of the wireless terminal in step  206 , the microprocessor  110  proceeds to step  207  to attach the selected image to the message prepared in the previous message write/Email mode. Alternatively, if the user does not attach, but selects the image shoot mode to take a picture in step  205 , the microprocessor  110  controls the wireless terminal to take a picture in step  208 , then proceeds to step  209  to attach the taken image to the message. In this case, the wireless terminal may be set to display a list of stored images or to be switched directly to the image shoot mode as soon as the folder has been turned to the second crosswise position. Alternatively, the microprocessor  110  may control the terminal to switch to the image shoot mode, if a camera rotation detector (not shown) detects the right position of the camera module unit  140  to take the user&#39;s image in the upright position.  
         [0027]     Where the folder is turned to the first lengthwise position after attaching the image, the folder rotating detector unit  170  detects the position in step  210  to generate the second position detection signal applied to the microprocessor  110  to control the display  160  to present a selection message asking the user to select transmission or message/email write mode. If the transmission is selected, the microprocessor  110  detects it in step  211 , causing the wireless terminal to transmit the message prepared in the message/email write mode of step  202  together with the image attached in the image attach mode in step  212  to a distant party. The distant party may be designated in the message/email write mode or image attach mode or just before transmission. Alternatively, selecting the message/email write mode from the selection message, the microprocessor detects in step  211  to return the wireless terminal to that write mode to resume message writing in step  202 .  
         [0028]     Alternatively, instead of displaying the selection message, the user may set the wireless terminal to carry out the transmission or to enter the phone book mode when the folder returns to the previous rotational position. For example, the user can set the wireless terminal to carry out the transmission or to enter the phone book mode when the folder returns to the first lengthwise position. When entering the phone book mode with the folder rotating detector unit  170  generating the first position detection signal, the microprocessor  110  detects it in step  220 , causing the wireless terminal to be switched to the phone book write mode in step  221  as shown in  FIG. 2B .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 2B , if the folder is turned to the second crosswise position while writing the phone book, the folder rotating detector unit  170  generates the second position detection signal applied to the microprocessor  110  in step  223  to control the wireless terminal to switch to the image attach mode in step  224 . The image attach mode may be called photo phone book mode. The microprocessor  110  controls the display to present the list of the images by selecting the image data stored in the memory device  130 . If one of the images is selected in step  225 , the microprocessor  110  goes to step  226  to attach the selected image. When selecting the image attach mode in step  224 , the microprocessor  110  controls the wireless terminal to be switched to the image shoot mode to take a picture in step  227 . Then the microprocessor  110  goes to step  228  to attach the image taken. The user may set the wireless terminal to display the list of the image data stored or to enter the image shoot mode once the folder is turned to the second crosswise position by, for example, omitting the step of selecting the image data stored or image shoot mode.  
         [0030]     Alternatively, the microprocessor  110  may control the terminal to switch to the image shoot mode, if a camera rotation detector (not shown) detects the right position of the camera module unit  140  to take the user&#39;s image in the upright position.  
         [0031]     Where the folder is turned to the first lengthwise position after attaching the image in the image attach mode, the folder rotating detector unit  170  generates the first position detection signal applied to the microprocessor  110  in step  229  to control the display  160  to present a selection message for selecting data storing or phone book write mode. If data storing is selected in step  230 , the microprocessor  110  goes to step  231  to store the character data entered in the phone book write mode together with the image data attached in the image attach mode. Where the phone book write mode is selected from the selection message in step  230 , the microprocessor  110  resumes writing the phone book in step  221 . Alternatively, the user may set the wireless terminal to carry out the data storing or to resume the phone book write mode once the folder is turned to the first lengthwise position by omitting, for example, the step of selecting the data storing or the phone book write mode.  
         [0032]     The method according to exemplary implementations of the present invention may simplify the attachment of an image to a message by turning the folder to the second crosswise position of the image attach mode.  
         [0033]     While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.